Perlis Picks: DRY CREEK VALLEY ON TOUR

March 26, 2016 by evebushman

Last week’s article wrapped up our day in Dry Creek Valley. Before moving on to our last day in Sonoma County [finally, right?] I wanted to interrupt the regularly scheduled programming with a great event that happened recently in Los Angeles involving the Dry Creek Valley.

On February 20^th, 2016, the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley took their show on the road. Dry Creek Valley On Tour, along with Ian Blackburn’s Wine LA, hosted a very appreciative crowd of wine lovers, including my wife Karen and me, at Smashbox Studios in Culver City.

Now if anybody knows how to put on a great event it is Ian, and the WDCV couldn’t have picked a better partner to help showcase all the Dry Creek Valley has to offer.

Of the more than 60 wineries in the Dry Creek, which is just outside of Healdsburg in Sonoma County, twenty of them made the trip south to share a great sampling of what has become one of my favorite wine regions, especially for zinfandel:

32 Winds Wine
Amista Vineyards
Bella Vineyards
Cast Wines
Collier Falls
Comstock Wines
DaVero Farms & Winery
Dry Creek Vineyard
Dutcher Crossing Winery
Ferrari-Carano
Frick Winery
Fritz Underground Winery
Mazzocco Winery
Mounts Family Winery
Pedroncelli Winery
Quivira Vineyards
Rued Wines
Sbragia Family Vineyards
Seghesio Family Vineyards
Wilson Winery

The event started at noon for the VIP ticket holders.

[Note to readers: WineLA events typically include General Admission tickets and VIP tickets. The VIP option provides early entry and other benefits. When possible, I recommend you go for the VIP experience, although if you opt for General Admission you won’t be disappointed either.]

The VIP portion started with the Hog Island Oysters traveling oyster bar on the studio patio, with a selection of white wines being poured by participating wineries. I like oysters but am not an aficionado. Karen is from Boston and knows whereof she speaks – she said they were excellent. Some of our favorite wines with the oysters were the Frick Winery 2013 Grenache Blanc, Comstock Wines 2014 Sauvignon Blanc and Cast Wines Sparkling Blanc de Noirs.

We then went back into the main tasting area, where Ian presented information about the event as well as talked about the beneficiary of the silent auction proceeds – the T.J. Martell Foundation, which raises funds for cancer, leukemia and AIDS research. [Just another reason to attend WineLA’s events.]

As more food was served [thanks to Chef Bob Blumer, Baby Blues BBQ, One World Beef and Cowgirl Creamery], writer Dan Dunn [whose book American Wino is due out in April] interviewed a few of the winemaking luminaries in attendance, including:

Clay Fritz of Fritz Underground Winery

Diane Wilson of Wilson Winery

Joe Healy of Bella Vineyards

Julie Pedroncelli of Pedroncelli Winery

Tim Bell of Dry Creek Vineyard

And the legendary Ed Sbragia of Sbragia Family Vineyards.

Just as our thirst for wine could wait no longer, the grand tasting was opened to the VIP tasters in advance of access by the general admission ticket holders. The added benefit to early access was the opportunity to sample limited quantities of “special” wines that the wineries had brought down from the Dry Creek Valley. Plus, with most wineries having winemakers in attendance, there was ample opportunity to have one-on-one time with them.

With twenty wineries in attendance and each winery pouring from three to six wines, I only tasted at about half the tables, even with the extra time. Of those I tasted, these were my favorites [if a winery isn’t listed below, it probably just means I didn’t make it to that table; also note that the wines in bold were in limited quantities for the VIP tasters, although they were still poured for the general attendees if any was left].

Bella Vineyards

2007 Bella Canyon Zinfandel

2013 Florence Zinfandel

2012 Lily Hill Petite Sirah

Cast Wines

NV Sparkling Bland de Noirs, Sonoma County

2012 Grey Palm Estate Petite Sirah

2013 Grey Palm Estate Zinfandel

2013 Grey Palm Estate Petite Sirah

Collier Falls

2012 Hillside Estate Primitivo

2012 Hillside Estate Cabernet

Comstock Wines

2014 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley

2012 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

2013 Zinfandel Old Vines, Dry Creek Valley

Dutcher Crossing Winery

2013 Bernier-Sibary Zinfandel

2012 Taylor Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Frick Winery

2013 Grenache Blanc, Dry Creek Valley Estate Owl Hill Vineyard

2006 Cinsaut, Dry Creek Valley

2013 Counoise, Dry Creek Valley Estate Owl Hill Vineyard

2013 Mourvedre, Dry Creek Valley Estate Owl Hill Vineyard

Fritz Underground Winery

2012 Reserve Zinfandel

2013 Estate Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

Mazzocco Winery

2013 West Dry Creek Zinfandel

2013 Smith Orchard Reserve Zinfandel

Pedroncelli Winery

2004 Mother Clone Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

2014 Dry Rose of Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

2012 Wisdom Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley

Sbragia Family Vineyards

2006 Gino’s Vineyard Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

2012 La Promessa Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

Wilson Winery

2011 Sawyer Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

2013 Sydney Petite Sirah, Estate Grown, Dry Creek Valley

2013 Nolan Zinfandel, Estate Grown, Dry Creek Valley

Usually at a tasting like this, I try to pick a favorite wine that really stood out for me. This time, the winner was…I can’t…I just can’t do it. There were so many great wines at this tasting. I did have some takeaways though:

I was surprised at how well the older wines, especially the zinfandels, were showing. It really belied the conventional wisdom that zins should be consumed young.

And while I’ve always been a fan of Dry Creek zins, I developed a new appreciation for the cabernet from the region.

Attending tastings that focus on specific areas, especially ones as well run as this, can really expose the wine lover to what a wine region is all about – a great way to expand your palate in a short period of time.

The Dry Creek Valley is producing some amazing wines. If you missed this event, don’t despair. Passport to Dry Creek Valley is happening April 23 and 24^th. Go to drycreekvalley.org and get your tickets now!

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com.

Perlis Picks: THE OTHER WINE COUNTRY, PART VI, Frick Winery

March 19, 2016 by evebushman

Wrapping up our day in the Dry Creek Valley, we visited Frick Winery. It is always interesting to compare and contrast large winery operations with smaller wineries. Having just left the sprawling grounds and breathtaking architecture [and great wines] of Ferarri-Carano, pulling up to Bill Frick’s one-man winery was a little bit of culture shock and between these two wineries, along with our visit to Mazzocco-Sonoma earlier in the day, a great example of the breadth of what the Dry Creek Valley has to offer.

I’ve tasted and enjoyed Bill Frick’s wines at events, but had never been at his winery. So I was delighted to have this as our final visit of the day. Specializing in some of my favorite varietals [Rhones], Bill got the wine bug early – when he was eight years old and he accompanied his parents to Italian Swiss Colony winery in Sonoma County. This was in the 1950s and it took another 20 or so years for Bill to realize his dream, when he and his late wife Judith founded Frick Winery in 1976.

And speaking of dreams, his wine list is truly a Rhone-lover’s dream come true. There were too many offerings for even me to taste everything, including some that you don’t often find:

Grenache Blanc, Estate, Owl Hill Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley – three vintages were being poured: 2010, 2012 and 2013.

Viognier, Estate, Gannon Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley – 2013

Cotes-Du-Dry Creek White Blend of Grenache Blanc and Viognier – 2013

Counoise, Estate, Owl Hill Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley – 2012

Grenache, Dry Creek Valley – 2012

Cinsaut, Dry Creek Valley – 2012

Mourvedre, Estate, Owl Hill Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley – 2012

Syrah, Estate, Owl Hill Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley – 2009 and 2011

C-cubed, Dry Creek Red Blend of Carignane, Cinsaut and Counoise – 2012

C-squared, Dry Creek Red Blend of Carignane and Cinsaut – 2012

Lucia, Dry Creek Red Blend of Cinsaut, Grenache, Syrah and Counoise – 2012

Cotes-Du-Dry Creek Red Blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsaut – 2012

Wow!

As I said, there was no way we could taste them all, but we enjoyed all we did taste, especially the Costes-Du-Dry Creek white blend, the Mourvedre and the Cotes-Du-Dry Creek Red.

Frick owns three vineyards and also sources grapes from two others, all in the Dry Creek Valley. The Frick Estate Owl Hill Vineyard is planted to Syrah, Counoise, Mourvedre and Grenache Blanc. The Frick Estate Gannon Vineyard is entirely Viognier, named after Bill late wife Judith Gannon. The Frick Estate Garibaldi Vineyard, named after Bill’s mother-in-law, is an old [100-years-plus] vineyard planted to a mix of Mission, Berger, Palomino, Zinfandel, White Muscat, Grenache, Valdeguie and Mataro. Grenache is sourced from a vineyard planted by the late Chris Conley and now owned by Cam Mauritson. Cinsaut and Carignane are obtained from a vineyard owned by John Teledeschi in the western Dry Creek Valley.

All wines are extremely small production and are available only at the tasting room or online. Bill Frick is the epitome of the hands-on artisan winemaker. Even at the small quantities he produces, I don’t know how he does it. Truly a labor of love and worth a visit – or an order!

TO BE CONTINUED…

Perlis Picks: THE OTHER WINE COUNTRY, PART V, Ferrari-Carano

March 12, 2016 by evebushman

When I think of Ferrari-Carano, I immediately think of Fumé Blanc. I’m sure I’m not the only one. Many years ago, I remember ordering a bottle of this delicious refreshing wine with the Ferrari-Carano label at a San Francisco restaurant. But this winery is about a lot more than that.

Photo courtesy Ferrari-Carano

The winery was founded in 1981 by Don and Rhonda Carano, The first wines were released in 1987 – the 1985 Chardonnay and the aforementioned 1986 Fumé Blanc. I’m pretty sure this was the same Fumé Blanc bottling I had enjoyed at that San Francisco restaurant; if not, then one from a vintage soon thereafter. Now, about 30 years later, this was my first visit to the winery.

Those who read my columns on any kind of regular or semi-regular basis will know that I tend to favor smaller wineries and am just as happy tasting in a barrel room as in a fancy tasting room. But, sometimes you have to “go big”. And in the Dry Creek Valley, one of the best places to do this is Ferrari-Carano.

When Karen and I drove through the gates of the Ferrari-Carano property, we were immediately impressed by the spectacular winery building and the immaculate grounds. But, would the wines do justice to the beauty of the scenery?

Well, the short answer is “yes”.

Here’s the longer answer…

The Caranos first visited Sonoma County in 1979. They initially purchased a vineyard in Alexander Valley, but kept acquiring vineyards as the winery expanded, currently owning 19 properties, not only in Sonoma but in Napa and Mendocino as well.

In Alexander Valley, they grow Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. [The Ferrari-Carano Mountain Winery is in this AVA as well, but more on this later.] In the cool climate of the Russian River Valley, they grow Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, while in the warmer Dry Creek Valley they also grow Sauvignon Blanc but, in addition, Malbec and Zinfandel. Chardonnay is grown in Napa Carneros and Pinot Noir on Mendocino Ridge and Anderson Valley.

With all those vineyards, they do make an abundance of wines, which they have conveniently divided into “families” for easy reference:

The Classics – Fumé Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Reserve Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir AV [Anderson Valley], Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Trésor [Bordeaux Blend].

Vineyard Selects – four Chardonnays [Emelia’s Cuvée, Fiorella, Dominique and Tré Terre], also the Sky High Ranch Pinot Noir and the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

Spirit of Italy – Pinot Grigio and Siena [a Sangiovese dominant red blend].

PreVail – West Face [a Cabernet Sauvignon dominant blend] and Back Forty [100% Cabernet Sauvignon].

So we tore ourselves away from the views and went downstairs to taste some of these wines.

First up was the 2014 Fumé Blanc from Sonoma County. Brought back great memories. Fresh, clean and refreshing. Excellent quaffing wine.

Then we moved onto the 2012 Reserve Chardonnay. The wine had gone through 100% malolactic fermentation and had spent 13 months in French oak. I was concerned that it might be overly buttery, but it was extremely well balanced.

The above two wines, along with Ferrari-Carano’s other white, are made at the winery we were visiting, the Estate Winery in the Dry Creek Valley. The reds are produced at the Mountain Winery on RockRise Mountain in Alexander Valley. That was where we were headed next – not literally, but figuratively, as the next wine up was the 2013 Zinfandel.

At 83% Zinfandel and the rest Petite Sirah with a little Carignane, this was another very well-balanced wine. Great fruit with a little pepper at the finish, I could drink a lot of this.

We finished up with the big boys, the two PreVails, both from the 2012 vintage. Both wines spent 21 months in oak and had the backbone to handle it. Great fruit and structure. Hard to pick a favorite but in this case I preferred the West Face slightly over the Back Forty due to its healthy percentage of Syrah in the blend.

I’d be remiss to not mention that Ferrari-Carano also owns Vintners Inn in Santa Rosa. A beautiful 42-room inn, it is on 92 acres of vineyards in the Russian River Valley, just a little south of Dry Creek. With the culinary delights of the onsite John Ash & Co. restaurant, this is definitely our favorite place to stay in the area. Service is impeccable, rooms are charming, and [wouldn’t you know it?] there’s a bottle of Vintners Inn Sauvignon Blanc waiting for you upon your arrival. Perfect!

TO BE CONTINUED…

Perlis Picks: THE OTHER WINE COUNTRY, PART IV, Mazzocco-Sonoma

March 5, 2016 by evebushman

One of the great things about Sonoma County is its size and diversity. While many people think of Sonoma as being about Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, nothing could be further from the truth. While excellent representations of these varietals do come from the area, Sonoma is also known for great Zinfandels and Rhones.

Winemaker Antoine Favero, photo courtesy Mazzocco-Sonoma

As Karen and I were heading to the Dry Creek Valley AVA, the first thing that came to my mind was Zinfandel.

First stop, Mazzocco-Sonoma.

As the self-named “Zinfan”, I actually had a pretty big hole in my resume. While I had heard of the incredible Zinfandels being produced by winemaker Antoine Favero, I had never actually tasted them. Well, that was about to be remedied.

We drove to the winery on Lytton Springs Road in the Dry Creek Valley and Antoine met us at the tasting room. We went upstairs to chat.

Antoine’s journey to ultimately become winemaker at Mazzocco is pretty unique. Born in France, he and his family moved to Peru and then when he was 9-years old they moved again to Northern California. Growing up in Nor Cal and experiencing all it had to offer as well as the start of the “farm to fork” movement, it seems pretty natural that Antoine would study enology at UC Davis and become a winemaker, eventually joining Wilson Winery in 2003.

In addition to owning Wilson Winery and Mazzocco (which was founded in 1984 but acquired in 2005 by the Wilsons), Ken and Diane Wilson also own:

Matrix Winery

deLorimier Winery

Jaxon Keys Winery & Distillery

Soda Rock Winery

Pezzi King

St. Anne’s Crossing

Besides being winemaker at Mazzocco, Antoine is winemaker at Soda Rock featuring his Bordeaux varietals as well as being co-winemaker with Diane Wilson at deLorimier Winery in Alexander Valley.

Mazzocco is not a “one trick pony” and makes other outstanding wines besides Zinfandel. Knowing that once we went to the Zin there would be no looking back, Antoine suggested we try a few of the other wines first…

2013 Meola Chardonnay – lightly oaked, bright fruit flavors.

2012 Fascination – blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot – yes, Zin can be used as a blending grape too.

2012 Caz – 50/50 blend of Zin and Cab. Really delicious.

All three were tasty, well made wines. But Antoine knew what we were there for and it was time to….drum roll…bring on the Zins!

The Mazzocco website lists 31[!] Zinfandels from the 2012 and 2013 vintages. Obviously, we couldn’t taste them all…well, maybe we could have if we didn’t have other commitments for the day….so Antoine put together a representative tasting of the varietal for which Mazzocco is best known.

2013 Beasley

2013 Maria

2013 Fog

2012 Seaton Reserve

2012 West Dry Creek Reserve

In addition, we tasted the 2012 Scholar Zinfandel, proceeds of which help to fund scholarships for children of vineyard workers.

It was easy to tell, after tasting all of these, which barely made dent in the number of Zins produced by Mazzocco, why the winery is so famous for this varietal.

“But wait, there’s more…”

Antoine produces three more very special Zinfandels, affectionately known as “The Three Amigos”. Named “Juan Rodriguez”, “Antoine Philippe”, and “Kenneth Carl” after the vineyard manager, winemaker and owner respectively, these were truly three of the best Zinfandels I have ever tasted. Ranging in price from $100 – $150, these are definitely special-occasion wines, but also definitely worth it.

But all these wines are worth seeking out, and I’m not the only one to think so, as borne out by the number of Gold [and Double Gold] medals received by Mazzocco at the recent 2016 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. That’s nothing new for Antoine, as the Golds and high scores have been coming in since he started with Mazzocco. Well deserved accolades!

TO BE CONTINUED…

From Wine Judge Rick Fraga: 2016 SF Chronicle Wine Comp, Part Two

February 27, 2016 by evebushman

If you noticed, my favorites were distinctly different than the selected winners, though some of the winners were my second or third choices. (Editor’s Note: Part One ran on this blog on 2/20/16.) It was impressive to see the variety and quality of the best of class entries into the Sweepstakes level of the competition, especially when noticing the price points of the sweepstakes winning wines. The panel I worked with, Bob Ecker and Dick Mercer, were tasked with some fun and interesting wines.
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We evaluated Chardonnays $10.00-$13.99 and Other Red Varietals on Tuesday. Tasted through Merlot $31-$34.99 and Barbera $20 and above on Wednesday. Then we finished with Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio over $20 and Petite Sirah $33 and above on Thursday. The afternoons were tough days working our way through young and big bodied red wines, but we were all up for it as our panel all were fans of both Barbera and Petite Sirah.

The first two nights of the competition were highlighted by Judges Dinners. The first on Tuesday night was hosted by Bob Fraser, the co-executive director of the competition. Due to the extreme weather it had to be relocated from his home to the Events Hall on the Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds. Even with the move it was an evening of good wine, good food, great company, a bit of blues harmonica and a few Sven and Ollie jokes (courtesy of Kent Rosenblum).

On Wednesday evening the Judges and Competition staff were hosted by the Wilson Family of Artisan Wines at their Mazzocco Winery Facility just outside of Healdsburg, CA. It was an evening of wine from each of the Wilson family of Wineries. This included Mazzocco, Wilson, Matrix, Soda Rock, DeLorimier, Pezzi King, Saint Anne’s Crossing and Jaxon Keyes. The meal was delicious, featuring Short Ribs and Polenta as the featured entree. A great time was had by all and the Wilson family along with the Mazzocco Winemaker, Antoine Favero, were gracious hosts.

The final evening, Thursday night, which is normally a free night for the judges to enjoy local area dinning in Sonoma County, had a new twist. One of our own Judges, Sue Straight (the Winewench as she is known to many) entertained many of her peers by performing with Manzanita Moon, a local area band that she fronts as a vocalist and harmonica player. The band played for a couple of hours at Ruth McGowan’s, a local brew pub in Cloverdale with dancing and general revelry being the evening’s theme.

The week was topped off on Friday morning with the Sweepstakes judging, whose results are listed earlier. There were over 50 judges participating with an audience to observe the finish to 4 days of extensive wine evaluation. It was a great week, as it has been for me for the previous 5 years as a judge.

The great part of this competition is that all of the results are publicly available at the competition’s website winejudging.com. On the site you can find all of the award and medal winners for the competition.

Once again I wish you all the best, as usual I believe, “Life is Too Short to Drink Bad Wine”. Have a Happy and prosperous 2016 and enjoy life! Cheers!

A Taste of HALL Returns in 2016 – Monthly Food and Wine Workshop Aims at Inspiring and Educating

February 25, 2016 by evebushman

HALL, one of the leading Cabernet producers in the world, has announced plans to renew its premiere culinary offering, A Taste of HALL, for 2016. The wildly popular food and wine pairing workshop is designed to engage, inspire and educate guests about seasonal food and wine pairings while channeling ones inner chef.

Taste of HALL – John & Chris

We are thrilled to be able to offer our guests an unparalleled wine and food pairing experience in the Valley, says Director of Hospitality, Jocelyn Hoar. This program combines our passion for quality winemaking with exceptional culinary arts, and our chef team has garnered significant recognition for their dynamic approach with this series.

The monthly workshops will feature a different, seasonal theme each month as selected by HALLs In-House Chef / Wine Education team made up of Chris Quillen and John Pelham. The dynamic duo bring a modern perspective to Napa cuisine while aiming to engage guests by sharing a fresh approach to pairing workshops. Chef Quillen and Chef Pelham bring a diverse background to the program, combining two decades of luxury wine and culinary education.

Each guest attending A Taste of HALL will receive a recipe card featuring the courses and wine pairings discussed in the Workshop and have the chance to purchase HALL and WALT wines. A Taste of HALL takes place on one Sunday per month during the lunch hour and will include a three course meal paired with a combination of HALL and WALT wines.

2016 A Taste of HALL Schedule includes:

Sunday, March 13: LUCK OF THE IRISH
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, April 10: SPRING FLING
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Bergfeld Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, May 8: COOKING FOR MOM
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Ellies Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, June 12: CHILLIN & GRILLIN
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Jacks Masterpiece Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, July 17: RED, WHITE & BLUE
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Eighteen Seventy-Three Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, August 7: A FOODIES VACATION
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, September 18:KATHRYN HALL YALL
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, October 9: HAPPY HALLOWINE
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, November 13:THANKSGIVING DAY FEAST
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, December 11: PERFECT HOLIDAY PAIRINGS
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon

Tickets are $125pp and are available to purchase at http://www.hallwines.com/hall-st-helena.

HALL Wines owns over 410 planted acres in Napa County, Sonoma County and Mendocino County that includes five California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) Estate vineyards in Napa and Sonoma Counties.

ABOUT HALL
HALL produces critically acclaimed artisan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, available to taste and buy at two tasting room and winery locations in Napa Valley. Owned by Craig and Kathryn Walt Hall, its vineyard collection features five Certified Organic estates producing classic Bordeaux varietals. Each vintage, Director of Winemaking Steve Leveque crafts distinct Cabernet Sauvignon wines which demonstrate the unique characteristics and diversity of Napa Valley. HALLs highly rated wines include two 100pt scores given by Robert Parker for its 2013 Rainin Vineyard Cabernet and its 2010 Exzellenz. HALL also earned the #2 spot in Wine Spectators Top 100 for its 2008 Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon. Since the first vintage in 2002, over 170 HALL wines have been rated 90 points and above. HALL employs high-density plantings and small vine viticulture combined with two cutting-edge, gravity-flow wineries to produce the highest quality wines. The HALL St. Helena winery was the first LEED® Gold Certified Winery in the State of California in 2009 and earned another LEED® Gold certification for its high tech production facility and Tasting Room in 2014. Each of HALLs state-of-the-art winemaking facilities and tasting rooms combine modern art and architecture matched with spectacular settings. HALLs partner winery, WALT, known for producing premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from distinctive vineyards, is located in Sonoma, California. For more information, please visit www.hallwines.com, @hallwines, or by calling 707.967.2626.

THE OTHER WINE COUNTRY? PART III: Perlis Picks Carlisle Winery

February 6, 2016 by Michael Perlis

From Petaluma we headed toward the town of Sonoma itself. With so much happening in the square itself, it is often hard to find affordable accommodations in heart of it all. But a great alternative is practically walking distance from the town square. The El Pueblo Inn offers great modern rooms just a mile or so from downtown Sonoma. Don’t let its modest exterior dissuade you. With the comfortable rooms and beautiful garden this is a terrific choice at an affordable price and puts you very close to all the action.

Photo provided by Mike Officer of Carlisle

But our own action was going to take us farther afield than the town square, so after a restful night, Karen and I left El Pueblo Inn and headed east toward Santa Rosa and then north to Windsor, where we were scheduled to connect with our old friend Mike Officer of Carlisle Winery.

Recently, I was talking about Carlisle with a friend of mine, who is a lover of all things Napa. I explained how Mike had left the software development industry to follow his passion of making wine. My friend equated the story to one of his favorite small Napa winemakers who made a boatload of money in tech, retired and dropped a fortune on some premium property to grow grapes and make $150 per bottle Napa Cabs.

Well, no, it wasn’t like that at all.

Mike developed a passion for wine at a young age and, after discovering that software development was not his passion, started making small batches of Zinfandel with his wife Kendall Carlisle and some friends. Accolades came, production grew, and eventually they went commercial [on a shoestring budget] in 1998.

[By the way, if you want to learn more about the Officers and other really passionate people who went all-in on their love of wine, I recommend you watch the movie American Wine Story.]

Since then Mike and Kendall Officer have been on the forefront of the efforts to save and promote the older and sometimes ignored vineyards in California, focusing primarily on Zinfandel, Syrah and some great field blends. They are truly two of my heroes in the Heritage Vineyard movement.

Eventually, Mike quit his day job and committed full time to the winemaking operation.

For several years, Mike and Kendall made wine at custom crush facilities. But, production eventually reached critical mass and when a winery facility became available in Windsor, they made the next logical move.

Acquiring the winery in Windsor in mid-2013, a lot of work was needed in order to bring it to their specifications to be ready for harvest 2014. And, wouldn’t you know it? Much like 2015, 2014 harvest was early, but they were ready for the first fruit in August of 2014.

There is no tasting room at Carlisle and visits are by appointment only, typically for existing customers who want to taste what’s in barrel for the next releases. And that’s what we did, tasting through a delicious array of barrel samples of the 2014 vintage of Zinfandels [including the Saitone, Carlisle, Papera and Montafi vineyards], Syrahs [Papa’s Block and Rosella] as well as the Palisades Vineyard Petite Sirah and Two Acres Vineyard field blend, among others. I can’t wait to get the next release email.

Now for the good news…

Of course, I wasn’t the only one to discover Carlisle early. Robert Parker’s scores in the Wine Advocate were immediately stellar, as were other ratings, and demand forced Mike to quickly create an allocation system. The mailing list soon became full and the length of the waiting list became somewhat legendary. Yet, Mike has always kept his pricing reasonable.

The good news is that, as Mike has continued to discover exciting old vineyards and slowly increase production in the new facility, there is actually some room on the Carlisle mailing list, at least as of our visit. But, don’t wait too long. Production of the 2014 vintage will be around 10,000 cases, 2015 will be a little less due to the smaller harvest. And who knows what the future will bring?

Masters and Makers @ Meritage – The Ultimate Napa Valley Food and Wine Experience

February 4, 2016 by evebushman

The Meritage Resort and Spa Hosts Third Annual Wine and Food Celebration

NAPA, Calif. (January 12, 2016) – The Meritage Resort and Spa will host the third annual Masters and Makers @ Meritage from February 12 -14, 2016. The Napa Valley food and wine experience will showcase Napa Valley and Sonoma County wines along with farm-fresh foods through creative wine tasting experiences, interactive seminars, and a culinary class. The weekend-long event will also feature a winemaker dinner in the Estate Cave featuring HALL Wines, and a grand tasting benefitting Community Resources for Children, a Napa Valley charity.

Masters and Makers @ Meritage is aimed at teaching attendees from novice to aficionado more about the famous wines of Napa Valley. Guests can choose from a variety of interactive, educational, and unique activities led by master winemakers and sommeliers – making it the wine event not to miss.

Friday, February 12 – Amuse Bouche:

4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., The Masters and The Makers

Learn about tasting wine from a winemaker, master sommelier, and winery proprietor. The panel of experts will lead a tasting session featuring wine from HALL Wines and Trinitas Cellars, and answer questions from attendees. This event is your opportunity to learn from the experts and try a selection of wines from HALL before the winemaker dinner. $60/person

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., HALL Wines Winemaker Dinner in the Estate Cave

A master sommelier and representatives from HALL Wines along with The Meritage Resort and Spa’s Executive Chef Ryan Rupp will take you on a wine and culinary journey. The event will feature a multi-course dinner paired with wines from HALL. $175/person

Saturday, February 13 – Á la Carte Saturday:

(Guests are able to choose from several activities)

11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Opposites Attract – The Most Unlikely Pairings of Food and Wine

Cabernet and Steak, Port and Chocolate – most wine enthusiasts believe they are knowledgeable about wine and food pairings, but sometimes the most unexpected items complement each other. Join Trinitas Cellars as we explore this idea with four unique pairings. After the tasting, enjoy a plated multi-course lunch with wine. $100/person

11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Cook to This! Cooking Class and Wine Pairing with Skywalker Vineyards

Wine, recipes, ingredients, and education. The Meritage Resort and Spa’s culinary team will lead a cooking class where you create your own lunch from custom recipes paired with Skywalker Vineyards wines. Sip wine as you craft each course, and then dine and enjoy your culinary creation. $100/person

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Blind Date – A Taste of Napa Valley Cabernet

In the dating world, blind dates can go really well or be very awkward. Luckily when it comes to wine, not knowing what to expect is a good thing. Taste a selection of Napa Valley Cabernets in varietal specific glassware and see if you can figure out which one is your favorite, then compare it with others. $40/person (optional event, not part of all-access pass)

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Shape of the Glass Tasting with RIEDEL: Relationships and Glassware Come in All Shapes and Sizes

Ever wonder why there are so many different shapes and sizes of stemware available? Join RIEDEL as we embark on a unique wine tasting experience focused on learning about the shape of the glass. Learn about how to match your stemware to your wine and enjoy the benefits of improved bouquet, texture, flavors, and finish. The experience will take you through some of the finest Napa Valley wines from Etude, world renown chocolates from Lindt, and explain the winemakers’ secrets behind each wine. This year we will feature four different glasses from RIEDEL while trying two white and two red wines. After the class, you keep the glassware, which is a $140 value. $100/person (optional event, not part of all-access pass)

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Grand Tasting

The Meritage Grand Salon will transform into a majestic tasting room with more than 40 Napa Valley and Sonoma wineries showcasing many of the finest wines produced in the region. These wines and a few brews from local breweries will be featured alongside endless creations from our incredible culinary team and favorite Napa Valley restaurants. Guests have the opportunity to walk around to each winery and pair a variety of exquisite wines with a wonderful selection of seafood, delightfully prepared meats, cheeses, and decadent desserts all while enjoying live music. A portion of the proceeds from the Grand Tasting will benefit Community Resources for Children, a Napa Valley charity. For an exclusive opportunity to taste some of the finest wines in Napa Valley, purchase access into our VIP area where wineries will offer tastings of at least one wine that sells for $75 or more. $125-$175/person (discounts available for Napa County residents)

Sunday, February 14 – Valen-Wines Day:

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Valentine’s Day Sparkling Brunch

Enjoy a fabulous Valentine’s Day brunch with your special someone as The Meritage Resort and Spa’s culinary team partners with some of the top sparkling wine producers from Napa Valley. In addition we will have spirits available and an expert mixologist to create all of your favorite breakfast cocktails. $69/person

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Meritage Blends, a Vino and Cioccolato Experience

Treat your Valentine to a casual afternoon tasting of Meritage blends from across the Napa Valley and Sonoma regions paired with the best chocolates Northern California has to offer. Did you know that Meritage wines must be a blend of two or more of the eight traditional Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Gros Verdot, Carménère, Saint-Macaire)? Taste some of the best blends while enjoying chocolates from our favorite local and regional candy shops. $60/person

“We look forward to highlighting what Napa Valley does best – wine and food— at the third annual Masters and Makers @ Meritage,” said Michael Palmer, general manager of The Meritage Resort and Spa. “From world-class, award-winning wines to fabulous food prepared with fresh ingredients by our resort’s talented chefs, this event is a must for all wine lovers. After the weekend, attendees will leave with an increased appreciation for the art of winemaking, winetasting, and wine pairing.”

Masters and Makers @ Meritage offers 3-Day All Access Passes for $549 per person that include the following events: The Masters and The Makers; HALL Wines Winemaker Dinner in the Estate Cave; Cook to This! Cooking Class and Wine Pairing OR Opposites Attract … The Most Unlikely Pairings of Food and Wine; Grand Tasting; Valentine’s Day Sparkling Brunch; and Meritage Blends, a Vino and Cioccolato Experience. Does not include: Blind Date … a Taste of Napa Valley Cabernet; Shape of the Glass Tasting with RIEDEL; or Grand Tasting with VIP Tasting (VIP Tasting can be purchased separately or through VIP All-Access Pass, other events can be purchased separately). Discounted room packages are also available, that include a two-night stay with rates starting at $299* per night and two 3-Day All Access Passes ($499 per pass not included in room rate). Use Promo Code ALLACCESS.

A portion of all ticket sales from the Grand Tasting will be donated to Community Resources for Children, a Napa Valley charity.

For tickets and information, visit MeritageResort.com/Masters. All ticket purchases can be made securely through The Meritage Resort website with a room reservation or through EventBrite.

About The Meritage Resort and Spa

The Meritage Resort and Spa is an extraordinary four-diamond Napa Valley luxury resort set against a hillside vineyard. A destination unto itself, it features 322 Tuscan-inspired guestrooms and luxury suites, seasonal farm-to-table cuisine at the Siena Restaurant and wine tasting in the Estate Cave featuring Trinitas Cellars. Regain a healthful balance with curative treatments at Spa Terra—a lavish underground spa with steam grottoes, soaking pools, treatment alcoves and tranquil walls of water. The resort boasts the most comprehensive event and meeting space in the wine country, including the two largest ballrooms in the Napa Valley, the Estate Cave and three covered terraces. Crush Ultra Lounge offers guests a chance to relax with a full bar, sports entertainment and six bowling lanes. Far more than a place for relaxation, our unique property is an Old World escape from the ordinary. The Meritage Resort and Spa experience is the perfect blend of gracious hospitality, unrivaled amenities and peerless personal care. The Meritage Resort and Spa, We are Napa. MeritageResort.com.

About Meritage Collection

The Meritage Collection is a lifestyle and luxury hotel brand that blends iconic, one-of-a-kind places with locally-inspired experiences designed for the curious traveler. Débuted in 2013, Meritage Collection is comprised of five hotels & resorts throughout California – The Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa Valley, Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, Paséa Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach (Opening May 2016), Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach and Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa. Reflective of its California roots, the Meritage Collection offers a laid-back luxury service culture that caters to the modern day traveler. The Collection properties are members of the Global Hotel Alliance and its DISCOVERY Rewards Program. DISCOVERY rewards travelers with local experiences and unique adventures not generally available to the public. For more information, please visit MeritageCollection.com or follow us on Twitter @MeritageHotels or Facebook Facebook.com/Meritage.Collection.Hotels.

*rate does not include taxes and resort fee

DRY CREEK VALLEY ON TOUR” BRINGS 25+ SONOMA COUNTY WINERIES TO LOS ANGELES, FEBRUARY 20TH

February 1, 2016 by evebushman

WineLA and the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley, with Food Network Chef Bob Blumer, Showcase the Diverse Wines and Food of the Dry Creek Valley Appellation

LOS ANGELES, Calif – Angelenos can experience a taste of Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley on February 20, when more than 25 of the region’s wineries convene at Culver City’s Smashbox Studios to pour more than 100 wines, alongside gourmet food pairings. For the events, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley (WDCV) has partnered with celebrity chef Bob Blumer, best known for the Food Network television series World’s Weirdest Restaurants, Glutton for Punishment, and Surreal Gourmet. WineLA is producing the event and offering it as an intimate opportunity to discover one of Sonoma County’s most revered wine regions. Tickets are on sale at winela.com/dcv

A grand tasting will include a general admission walk-around option, plus a VIP tasting seminar, “From the Library of Dry Creek Valley,” co-hosted by Wine Educator Ian Blackburn, host of wineLA, and Dan Dunn, author of the forthcoming book American Wino from Harper Collins. The VIP seminar will feature vintage large-format wines hand-selected from the winemakers’ cellars. Participating wineries range from some of the region’s best known, including Ridge Vineyards, Seghesio Family Vineyards, Ferrari-Carano Winery, and Dry Creek Vineyard; to small-production cult favorites, including Frick Winery, Mounts Family Winery, and Lambert Bridge Winery. Food partners will include One World Beef, Cowgirl Creamery, and other premium Bay Area and Los Angeles-based brands.
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The event will include a silent auction, with proceeds benefitting the T.J. Martell Foundation, which funds innovative medical research focused on finding cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS. Items will include rare large-format library release wines from Dry Creek Valley wineries and tickets packages to the event Passport to Dry Creek Valley.
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WHEN:

Saturday, February 20, 2016

VIP Tasting Seminar: 12:00p.m.-1:30p.m.

General Admission: 1:30p.m.-4:00p.m.

WHERE:

Smashbox Studios

8549 Higuera Street

Culver City, CA 90232

TICKETS:

VIP: $200.00

General Admission Price: $140.00

Grand VIP Suite: $2,500 (This option includes the Skyview Suite at Smashbox Studios for 8 guests and includes a private room, in-room food service, added beverages, and a personal hospitality server. This package includes 8 VIP tickets to this event.)

Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

About Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley

The Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley® (WDCV) is an association of more than 60 wineries and 150 growers, of which more than 95 percent are small, family-owned operations. WDCV is dedicated to advancing the recognition, enhancement and preservation of Dry Creek Valley as a premium winegrowing region. Anchored by the charming town of Healdsburg, the Dry Creek Valley appellation was officially designated in 1983. Known as a premier zinfandel growing region, Dry Creek Valley is one of California’s oldest wine producing regions and is home to many heritage vineyards ranging in age from 50 to 120 years. To preserve this history and the valley’s pristine beauty, the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley supports sustainable viticulture and low-impact farming practices. For more information, visit http://www.drycreekvalley.org.

THE OTHER WINE COUNTRY? PART II: Perlis Picks Sonoma Coast and the Petaluma Gap

January 30, 2016 by evebushman

I know I said that our time on the Sonoma Coast was going to be the wineless part of the trip. Well, I should have said “less-wine” instead of wineless, because “no wine” is just not doable.

The Kellers, photo provided by Ana Keller

Heading south from the Timber Cove Inn, passing through Bodega Bay, we came across a sign with a big SCV on it right on Pacific Coast Highway. Well, being from the Santa Clarita Valley, that definitely got our attention, but in this case the SCV stood for the tasting room for Sonoma Coast Vineyards. The winery had its first vintage in 2002 but the tasting room was just under one year old, so clean and fresh and overlooking the ocean. And just as the tasting room was clean and fresh, so were the wines.

The 2014 Sauvignon Blanc [Laguna Vista Vineyards] was exceptionally rich and not over-acidic as Sauv Blancs can sometimes be, while the 2013 Chardonnay [Antonio Mountain] was a classic California Chardonnay with all the expected flavor but stopping short of being over the top in oakiness or buttery-ness.

Primarily a “Pinot House” [this is the Sonoma Coast, after all], we especially enjoyed the cherry fruit of the 2012 Pinot Noir [Salmon Creek Block] as well the full bodied structure of the 2012 Pinot Noir [Petersen Vineyard].

I was happy to see they also had a Syrah, this one a 2012 from the Occidental Road Vineyard. Cold climate Syrahs are often somewhat subdued in fruit in my experience when compared with warmer climate bottlings of this varietal. This one fit that description, but still had plenty of good Syrah flavor and aroma.

Owned by John and Barbara Drady, the winemaker is Anthony Austin, who you may recall got his start as winemaker of Firestone Vineyards in Santa Barbara County, before starting his own Austin Cellars in that area.

It was now time for Karen and me to officially leave the beautiful Sonoma Coast and head inland. But not too far, as our next stop was the Petaluma Gap.

The gap is officially part of the Sonoma Coast AVA, although that is expected to change soon, perhaps even by the time you are reading this. The gap is known for its winds as well as the fog, which together create a long cool growing season. Its unique geography – proximity to San Pablo Bay to the south and the opening in the hills to the North – creates a terroir that will soon get its own AVA.

Keller Estate is one of the best known wineries in the area. First planted in 1989 with Chardonnay by Arturo and Deborah Keller, the initial harvests were sold to Rombauer. Eventually Pinot Noir was also planted and the state of the art winery was built in the early 2000s with the help of acclaimed architectural firm Legoretta+Legoretta.

Arturo’s daughter Ana has been directing the winery’s operations since 1998. Ana and winemaker Alex Holman both have scientific backgrounds, Ana as a biochemist and Alex as a chemist. That being said, one might expect that they would be heavily involved in how the wine gets to its final representation of the grapes. But, the opposite is actually true, as they truly have a hands-off approach to winemaking.

Ana’s leadership extends beyond Keller Estate to the Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance, and was kind enough to put together a representative tasting of not only Keller’s wines but some others from the gap as well:

Fogline Vineyards 2014 Chardonnay Zephyr’s Block – this had a nice zing with very little oak.

Keller Estate 2013 Chardonnay La Cruz Vineyard – I found this to be a delicious Chardonnay in a very classic style.

Then we moved on to the Pinot Noirs, which is probably what the gap is most famous for…

Pfendler Vineyards 2013

Bailiwick Wines 2012 Borderline

Keller Estate 2012 El Coro

Brooks Note 2013

I noted an earthiness and richness in these Pinots that I sometimes find lacking in this variety.

Keller Estate 2011 Rotie – my favorite wine of the tasting. I do like my Syrah, without a doubt, and the touch of Viognier just added to the flavor and aroma.

Pax 2011 Syrah Griffin’s Lair – I’ve had other Syrahs from this vineyard [eg. Bedrock Wine Co.], so I knew to expect something terrific, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Our short visit made me realize there is much to explore here and I am definitely looking forward to a return visit. If you look at the PGWA’s website, you’ll see there is a lot going on here.

TO BE CONTINUED…