Eve's Wine 101

Best Wine Destinations and Events in the Pacific Coast

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SEATTLE (PRWEB) – Where When Wine, the first woman-owned business to create an online directory and community dedicated to wine destinations and events launches thousands of listings featuring the best wineries, top tasting rooms, the most popular wine event venues, and the best places to stay and dine when wine tasting. The website also features fun and useful blogs on family-friendly wineries and dog-friendly vineyards, plus keeps wine aficionados informed on new wineries and winemakers to watch.

Napa has been world-renowned for producing the best cabernets and chardonnays for decades—but the Pacific Coast from the state of Washington all the way to the southern tip of California, has been producing some of the best wines in the world and some of the most scenic locations beyond the valleys of northern California.

“I built this online community for fun, for friends and families who wanted recommendations of my favorite wine destinations and wedding spaces along the west coast. Over the past year, it’s taken a life form of its own, since there is no website dedicated to all things wine for the vineyards of the Pacific Coast. So now we’ve launched it as an official online community for wine lovers who want to explore everything our west coast wine destinations have to offer,” remarked Where When Wine Founder, Christine Sternfels.

Walla Walla’s lush valleys in Washington State offers more than 120 wineries consisting of 2,900 acres of grapes. The Willamette Valley, Oregon’s leading wine region, has two-thirds of the state’s wineries and vineyards and is home to more than 700 wineries. And Temecula Valley in Southern California is one to watch with nearly 50 wineries populating the region’s rolling hills and sprawling valleys producing a variety of wines, including award-winning and artisan Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

WhereWhenWine.com features these regions and so much more including onsite and nearby lodging such as the quintessential hotels to stay at and vineyards that allow overnight stays for recreational vehicles. Onsite bistros and nearby eateries from a hole in the wall to restaurants with Michelin star chefs. Amenities such as spas, golf destinations and family and pet-friendly wineries. Many bucket list items to check off.

In addition to exploring the best in #winelife, wine aficionados can become members of Where When Wine to join an annual road trip planned by the founder so its like-minded community can explore the same destinations and share their experience in real life #IRL and on social media. Wine enthusiasts can sign up here to become members for free or follow Where When Wine on Instagram. Wineries, vineyards, wine bars, wine shops, hotels, spas, and wine-related vendors can also apply to become members of the community here.

New Frontier Wine Company Launches Boundary-Pushing Tasting Lounge in Downtown Napa

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NAPA, Calif. (PRWEB) – New Frontier Wine Company, a collection of international wine brands made by renowned winemakers Philippe Melka, Michel Rolland, Alberto Antonini, Mayaan Koschitzky and Matt Sands, has opened the doors to its luxury tasting lounge in downtown Napa. The living-room style space and outdoor patio upend tasting room norms, eschewing a tasting bar for customized alcoves designed to inspire conversation, discovery, and connection over exceptional wines. 

A global collection of 44 brands, New Frontier Wine Co. believes in bringing together the best vineyards and winemakers to craft wines of uncommon complexity. Featuring a range of Napa Valley Cabernets, including several top-scoring wines from Beckstoffer Heritage Vineyards, each New Frontier Wine Co. bottling showcases its origins through a distinctive lens. At the tasting lounge, a wide range of international wines complement New Frontier Wine Co.’s domestic offerings, presenting options for every drinker and embodying modern hospitality.

Opened in June of 2022, the New Frontier Wine Co. tasting lounge experience layers traditional tasting flights with by-the-glass pours and distinctive side-by-side comparative tastings that highlight both esteemed and up-and-coming terroirs. Guests are welcomed to enjoy wines from well-known Napa brands including Lithology, Waypoint, Justice, and Pursuit plus exquisite Southern Hemisphere wines from Otronia and Devoción. In addition, rotating offerings highlight esteemed vineyards from traditional and up-and-coming terroirs including Patagonia Extrema, Barossa, the Russian River Valley, and Bordeaux. 

“We are a collection of real wine innovators that are serious about making wines with a sense of place,” explains Consumer Sales Manager Chris Cardoso. “We feel grateful to have a wide range of wines to satisfy almost any palate, and the ability to share new and different wines anytime our guests come in.” 

With tastings available by appointment and on a walk-in basis, the New Frontier Wine Co. tasting lounge offers modern and warm hospitality in the heart of downtown Napa. Easily accessible from many of Napa’s hottest hotels and eateries, New Frontier Wine Co.’s curated menu of wines is a natural extension of downtown Napa and offers a fresh and original tasting experience for locals and visitors alike.

The name “New Frontier” was inspired by then-candidate John F. Kennedy’s 1960 democratic nomination acceptance speech. This historic address described the dual challenges and opportunities confronting the nation and the opportunities that could be realized by confronting them. The New Frontier Wine Co. team, led by managing director and California wine industry veteran Jim Silver, draws a parallel between these ideas and the challenges – and opportunities – confronting the wine industry today. New Frontier Wine Co. approaches these challenges – such as climate change, sustainability, and new generations’ evolving attitudes toward wine – with the same optimistic ethos as Kennedy. New Frontier Wine Co. believes in utilizing technology and team work to approach the novel challenges facing the wine industry today. By combining the expertise of world-renowned winemakers and farming experts, New Frontier Wine Co. believes it can overcome these challenges and push winemaking forward to proverbial new frontiers.

“There is always challenge on the road to opportunity, and the wine business isn’t immune to that,” says New Frontier Wine Company Managing Director Jim Silver. “And we’ve arrived at a place where we can offer incredible opportunity to visitors in a single place in Napa. The diversity of our selections is remarkable. There are 40 wines by the glass, 40 wines to taste, and 40 wines to purchase by the bottle. And the experience is enhanced by the quality of the wine.”

In addition to sharing values of sustainability, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of quality, the brands within the New Frontier Wine Co. collection share centralized ownership under global vintner and humanitarian Alejandro Bulgerhoni. This connection allows the wineries to pool their collective resources and expertise across continents, leading to the creation of exceptional wines that always over-deliver.

About Colangelo & Partners 
Colangelo & Partners specializes in premium food, wine, and spirits brands, and has long-established relationships with the key press that drive these business categories and help determine the industry leaders. Agency principals have years of experience in retail and distribution as well as communications, a rare combination that gives Colangelo & Partners invaluable insights into consumer purchasing behavior. The agency focuses on ‘closing the loop’ between creative communications programs, distribution, promotion, publicity, and the consumer in order to maximize the efficiency of its communications programs and deliver measurable results. http://www.colangelopr.com.

About New Frontier Wine Co. 
New Frontier Wine Company is a collection of 44 premier wine brands from around the world, linked by a commitment to excellence in farming and winemaking. Named for the “new frontiers” referenced by Democratic candidate John F. Kennedy in his 1965 presidential nomination speech, New Frontier Wine Co. strives to use technology and collaboration to explore both the literal and figurative frontiers in the modern wine industry. Based in the heart of downtown Napa, New Frontier Wine Co.’s flagship tasting lounge showcases some of California’s most prestigious vineyard sites to visitors daily. The collective is owned by global vintner and humanitarian Alejandro Bulgerhoni. 

ZD Wines In the Napa Valley Adds Winery Chef to Enhance Tastings And Events

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NAPA, CALIF. (PRWEB) – ZD Wines, located in the heart of Napa Valley in Rutherford, recently expanded their culinary program by adding Jill deLeuze Billeci, third generation of the winery’s founding family, as their winery chef.

Jill joined the family business in 2010, rounding out the third generation with her brother, Brandon, ZD’s winemaker. She worked many summers at the winery during high school on the bottling line, and later graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Nutrition from UC Davis. Following college, Jill became ZD’s California sales manager and tasting room manager.

After taking some time off to raise her two daughters with her husband, Scott Billeci, ZD’s regional sales manager, Jill decided to follow her passion for cooking. Further refining her skills during the pandemic, Jill recently began upscaling ZD’s experiences by offering quarterly Food & Wine Days featuring three food pairings to their Vineyard View Tasting.

With much acclaim and the popularity of these events, Jill was promoted to ZD’s winery chef. She now curates and oversees the supplemental food pairing options, currently a vegan white bean dip, smoked salmon rillette, and a beef short rib rillette. Jill also prepares the food offerings during the special events hosted by ZD Wines, most recently being the fundraiser Crush Challenge. Recent highlights were a 4-course lunch at their exclusive Winemaker’s Boots Tours in October, Harvest Wine Celebration benefit for the Teen Center at Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley in November, and the upcoming Holiday Open House in December.

To experience any of Jill’s wine and food pairing opportunities, visit zdwines.com/events to learn more information and book your next experience.

Founded in 1969, ZD Wines crafts award-winning Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, along with two small-production wines under the “Rosa Lee” label, named after the founding matriarch. ZD is also known for Abacus, a solera-style blend of Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Abacus XXIV, which includes 30 vintages of the winery’s 100% Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, is available this fall.

ZD Wines is open daily from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 8383 Silverado Trail in Rutherford. Reservations are required for all tours, and highly recommended for the Vineyard View Tasting. Appointments can be made by calling (800) 487-7757 or emailing experiences@zdwines.com.

About ZD Wines
ZD Wines is owned and operated by the deLeuze family, who is dedicated to producing world-class wines, sustainable winemaking, and giving back to the community. Located in the Rutherford region of the Napa Valley, the winery and hospitality center offer panoramic valley views of premium Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards and the Mayacamas mountain range to the west. The deLeuze family produces wines from their certified organic vineyards in the Rutherford and Carneros regions, as well as organic vineyards in Napa, Santa Barbara, Monterey, and Sonoma. With innovative winemaking practices, they produce wines of quality, consistency, and style. ZD Wines celebrates over 50 years of winemaking and can be found online at http://www.zdwines.com and @ZDWines on Facebook and Instagram.

The “Potato Chips Extravaganza” + Classic Wine Tasting = One Day in Napa

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As a tenured wine journalist I’ve had to force myself to seek out new experiences for readers – even at times where I just want to visit my favorites again. So in my latest – and quickest – trip to the Napa Valley I visited the best of both worlds: a winery I loved when I had tasted through their wines with the owner but never visited, and another winery that offered a unique potato chip wine pairing.

Silver Trident Winery

We visited the Silver Trident Winery, forever to be known as the potato chip winery in my head, and their “Tasting Home” collaboration with Ralph Lauren right on the main drag (Washington St.) in Yountville. There were several classy living spaces to taste wine in: living room, dining room and library. And we decided to try the one and only POTATO CHIP EXTRAVAGANZA that Eater San Francisco named as one of the “22 Premier Wineries with Excellent Food” experiences in Napa.

In front of us on a round table was a large placemat divided into five sections that listed the wines, the potato chips to pair with each, and the round circle for where the glasses would be placed. I had seen it all before – but definitely sans chips! So I did my thing: when the wines were served I evaluated the aromas and flavors I found in each, and then went back to try them with the chips. Come to find that the owner had been given a bag of potato chips with a mini bottle of screw-capped wine on an airplane during the pandemic, and had the epiphany to create the pairing.

The chip pairings for our party were as follows: Symphony No. 9 2021 Sauvignon Blanc with Route 11 Sour Cream and Chives, Benevolent Dictator 2021 Pinot Noir with Zapp’s Cajun Dill, Playing with Fire 2019 Red Blend with Zapp’s Voodoo, Twenty Seven Fathoms 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon with Zapp’s Sea Salt and Twenty Seven Fathoms 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon with Kollar Chocolates Bittersweet Chocolate Chip with salt added.

My takeaways on the pairings were that while all of the chips were fun, my favorites were the plain salted chip and the chocolate covered potato chip with the extra salt brushed off. One of the people in my party liked the chocolate chip with the Sauvignon Blanc, and I have to admit that was different. General manager Shane Soldinger commented that the potato chip pairing “showcases approachability of the wine’s fruit and ripeness.”

As for the wines, I enjoyed them all for their perfumy aromas and good fruit. My favorites included the 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, 2019 Playing with Fire blend of Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, and both the 2018 and 2019 Twenty Seven Fathoms Cabernet Sauvignon.

The tasting room also offered non-wine items for purchase – every Yountville store front has to offer 25% of their space for retail – and at Silver Trident they had their own olive oil, coffee and candles among the Ralph Lauren furniture and accessories. You could easily make a day of it just visiting other Yountville wine tasting rooms, art galleries, the Kollar chocolatier and, if you want to go classic get a reservation at the French Laundry for dinner.

Instagram: @SilverTridentWinery

Titus Vineyards

Next up I chose a winery I had never visited but I had the pleasure to taste through their wines with one of the owners, Eric Titus, in 2019: second-generation family-owned Titus Vineyards. The grounds were beautiful, as were the tasting areas both inside and out, the wines were buy-worthy, winemaker Stephen Cruzan even made time for us, and the welcoming tasting room hosts – thank you Drew – told us we would be “treated like family” when we returned!

Before moving onto the wine tasting we learned a couple of things from listening to and observing Drew that Napa wine lovers should know: There will be little to nothing offered from the big fire year, 2020, so stock up on what you need now. And if you are going to need to open a newly released Napa red do what is done in the tasting rooms, you can serve a wine that may have been opened 24 to 48 hours earlier and just re-corked. Like a great spaghetti sauce that only gets better the second day. Now to the wines, we tasted quite a few so I will share my favorites here:

2021 Sauvignon Blanc with 4% Viognier had beautiful honey, peach, cantaloupe and a nice minerality; their new 2021 Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir with bold red to dark fruit, green peppercorn and balance, an easy sipper; 2018 Cabernet Franc with notes of dark fruit, dark chocolate, leather and gripping tannins; 2019 Family Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon with dark, dusty and lingering spice notes; 2018 Lot 1 Napa Valley red blend with aromas and flavors that reminded me of pipe tobacco, bark and blackberry; and finally, their new 2019 Imperatus Cabernet Sauvignon for its huge nose, and a perfect balance of fruit and spice on the mouth.

The winery is located almost at the corner of Silverado Trail and Deerpark Road, on the northern edge of St. Helena: 2971 Silverado Trail.

Instagram: @Titus_Vineyards

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Perlises Pick – I. Brand and Family

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The San Francisco Chronicle named Morgan Twain-Peterson and Tegan Passalacqua their co-winemakers of the year for 2015. Why does this matter, you may ask? Typically, we don’t pay too much attention to these kind of awards. But since Morgan and Tegan are two of our very favorite winemakers (Morgan for Bedrock Wine Company and Tegan for Turley Wine Cellars as well as Sandlands), this award made us sit up and take notice of who the Chronicle named going forward.

Fast forward to 2018. The Chronicle named their winemaker of the year to be – Ian Brand. “Who?”, you may ask (we did). But further research resulted in us resolving to visit Ian’s winery tasting room in the Carmel Valley as soon as practical. It took us a while, but we finally made it.

Ian sources grapes from all over Monterey and San Benito Counties. You may not be familiar with many of the grapes and the vineyard sites are often historic and underrepresented in a land where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are king and queen.

Ian actually produces wine under three labels: Le P’tit Paysan (The Little Peasant) would be considered entry level, inspired by French Village wines; La Marea (The Tide) focuses on Spanish varietals; and I. Brand, which are single vineyard, old vine bottlings. Total annual production is about 15,000 cases, with the premium I Brand label representing the lowest production.

We tasted some of the wines from the I. Brand label when we visited the tasting room in Carmel Valley Village. Note that most of these vineyards are registered with the Historic Vineyard Society (HVS), an organization near and dear to our hearts.

2021 Arneis –from the Vista Verde Vineyard in the Paicines AVA of San Benito County

Bright, Asian pear, lemon notes. Medium to full mouth feel, long fish.  Impression of very slight sweetness, distinct and structured.

2021 Pinot Gris – from the Eden Rift Vineyard in the Cienega Valley AVA of San Benito County.

Eden Rift was planted in the early 1850s by Theophile Vaché, a pioneer of the California wine industry. Light blush color, since it spent five days on its skins. Complex tannins, strawberry raspberry notes in the mouth and on the nose. Long finish.

2021 Pinot Noir – from the Enz Vineyard in the Lime Kiln Valley AVA of San Benito County. This vineyard is registered with the Historic Vineyard Society. Temperatures are warmer in this area compared to Monterey County so harvest is earlier. The soil is limestone versus the granite of Monterey County. Great fruit nose.  Stone fruit complexity, medium mouth feel, medium to long finish.

2019 Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache – from the Chalone Vineyard in the Chalone AVA of Monterey County. This is another vineyard registered with the HVS. A perfect blend of these three grapes (56%, 32% and 12% respectively), this elegant wine had a cherry nose, red, ripe fruit and rosemary notes.  A nice long finish.

2019 Cabernet Sauvignon – from the Massa Vineyard in the Carmel Valley AVA of Monterey County

This is oldest vineyard in Carmel Valley. It was previously owned by the Durneys and is now owned by the Massas and is HVS registered. The wine was obviously still very young but was very structured and layered, with pomegranate and white pepper notes.

Ian is making outstanding wines from these great old vineyards. You should definitely take the drive to the end of Carmel Valley Village to see and taste for yourself.  It makes for a very leisurely ride.    

With the three labels, there is a variety to choose from.   The tasting room is comfy and cozy.  We enjoyed sitting outside looking at the scenery, the beautiful mountains and the surrounding areas. It only added to the overall experience.

I. Brand & Family

www.ibrandwinery.com

19 East Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley Village, CA 93924Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.

New Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room Opens Seaside In Ventura Harbor Village

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VENTURA, Calif. – The new Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room in Ventura Harbor Village is giving wine lovers a reason to toast the coast. Owned and operated by the Conway family of Santa Barbara/Ventura County, this modern wine tasting room is sure to be a popular spot with 15 different wines of interesting and unusual blends of reds and whites, each produced in small batch production. Along with their friendly and knowledgeable tasting room hosts, daily tastings offer a selection of both Conway and Deep Sea wines offering something for all palates.  https://www.conwayfamilywines.com/Santa-Barbara-Tasting-Room/Ventura-Tasting-Room

Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room, along with the Conway siblings John, Tom, Gillian, and Sally, have created a relaxed atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating in the picturesque Ventura Harbor setting. 

“We have been searching for the perfect location to open a second Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room (the original wine tasting room is at Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara) for years and have spent a lot of time here in Ventura Harbor.  We truly felt Ventura Harbor Village would be the ideal spot with its relaxed vibe overlooking the ocean just steps away,” says Co-Owner John Conway.

The siblings, and their parents, Chris and Ann Conway, have always shared a love for California wine, the wilderness and especially the Pacific ocean. Some of them surf, some of them sail, and the entire family are certified open water scuba divers. 

“We are thrilled to have Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room join the vibrant mix of shops, eateries and attractions at Ventura Harbor Village to serve residents and visitors alike,” says Brian Pendleton, General Manager of the Ventura Port District.  “The Conway family’s passion for wine is evident, and the sea-themed details in the design of their new tasting room is a perfect complement to our waterfront Ventura Harbor community,“ Pendleton said.

Sourced from the highest quality grapes from sustainably farmed coastal vineyards in Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley, Sta. Rita Hills and Los Alamos, the Conways strive to capture this special “sense of place” in all their wines. The maritime influence in their vineyard sources can be noted in the unique flavors of their wines. Most of their wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve the natural and existing flavors of the varietals, and some are then aged in French oak barrels.  

Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room offers wine enthusiasts the chance to savor wine by the glass ($13-18), by the bottle (average of $32) and as part of Tasting Flights (Signature Flight $18 and Reserve Wine Tasting Flight $24). The winery’s most popular picks include their top sellers:  Deep Sea “Seastar,” Rose of Pinot Noir, Deep Sea” Seaturtle” Chardonnay and the winery’s red blends.  A fan favorite is the Deep Sea, “The Duel,” that offers a blend of two different varietals:  50 % Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Malbec.  New vintages such as the CONWAY Cabernet Sauvignon and CONWAY Pinot Noir have been recently released.

As part of the ultimate wine experience, Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room provides several Wine Club Options with membership benefits that include 20% off ALL wines and merchandise, $9 wine-by- the-glass anytime, and one complimentary Signature Tasting Flight per month. 

Along with tastings, Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room hosts fun and creative special events, such as Oceanic Flow Yoga Class ($25) followed by a glass of wine on the harbor side patio on the first Sunday of each month from 10-11 AM and Live Music on Sundays from 3 – 7 PM.  Seasonal events such as Pumpkin Carving on the patio and holiday wreath making will also be on the calendar of events. Plus, the wine tasting patio is dog-friendly!

Wine lovers can also partake in delicious food pairings to accompany the fine wine selection at Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room, such as a chocolate flight created by Top This Chocolate in the Ventura Harbor Village, a curated meat and cheese plate locally sourced in Ventura, or delicious flatbread pizza.  Visitors are also welcome to enjoy takeout from Ventura Harbor Village restaurants while sipping on a glass of wine at the tasting room. 

With its scenic views, the Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room and outdoor patio are perfect celebration spots to host private events, weddings, and intimate gatherings.  Stop in to shop “Deep Sea” themed merchandise, including hats, T-shirts, stickers, wine glasses, wine openers, wine chillers, and “Deep Sea” scented candles or purchase a bottle or case of wine to enjoy at home.  

Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room is located on the waterfront at 1591 Spinnaker Dr. Ventura, California, 93001 in Ventura Harbor Village near the Village lawn.  Open daily at 11 AM with hours Sunday through Thursday until 8 pm and Friday and Saturday until 9 PM.    

For more information about Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room call 805-321-9463 or visit https://www.conwayfamilywines.com/Santa-Barbara-Tasting-Room/Ventura-Tasting-Room, https://www.venturaharborvillage.com/directory/deep-sea-wine-tasting-room/. 

About Ventura Harbor Village:                                                                                

Situated along the picturesque California Central Coast, endowed with breathtaking views, Ventura Harbor Village also offers visitors an escape for coastal visitors and residents. This waterfront attraction boasts seaside dining, coastal shopping & boutiques, galleries, wine tasting, pampering services, on the water rentals, entertainment venues, live music, sweet treats, dog-friendly facilities, soft adventure, and spectacular beaches with sunset views of the Pacific coastline. Home to the Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center, (open daily with free admission, within walking distance to the Village), this stunning national park center features its own viewing tower, exhibits, movie theater, and bookstore. It is here that visitors can learn more about exploring the Channel Islands for world-class island diving, snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, sea cave exploration, photography, camping and wildlife viewing via Island Packers and a number of local outfitters.

Ventura Harbor is 20 miles from Santa Barbara and is 60 miles from Los Angeles International Airport. It is accessible in just minutes from scenic US Highway 101/Highway 1 and via the 126 from the 5 Freeway.  For additional visitor information, contact Ventura Harbor Village at 805-477-0470, or visit www.VenturaHarborVillage.com.  Ventura Harbor Village is located at 1583 Spinnaker Drive in Ventura.

Perlises Pick: Morgan Winery

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Visiting Monterey County Wine Country can present some challenges. The area is huge and getting to wineries can result in a lot of driving time. Fortunately, many wineries have established tasting rooms in and around Carmel, often several miles away from their winemaking facilities.

Morgan Winery is one of these. While the winery itself is in Salinas, in 2007 their tasting room called Taste Morgan was opened in the Crossroads Shopping Center just south of downtown Carmel and at the gateway to Carmel Valley.

The winery itself was actually founded a couple of decades earlier in 1982 by Daniel Morgan Lee and his wife Donna. Morgan is not only Daniel’s middle name but also his mother’s maiden name. Prior to founding Morgan, Dan graduated from UC Davis – he had planned on studying veterinary medicine but then discovered their wine program. After stints at Jekel Winery and Durney Vineyard, he and his former banker [now his wife] started their own label.

In 1996, they purchased property in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA that would become the Double L Vineyard, commemorating the Double Luck of having their twin daughters. Planted primarily to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, this vineyard is certified organic and is the source of the winery’s estate bottlings. As a result, our tasting focused on these varietals, which is what Monterey County has built much of its reputation on. Morgan does produce some other wines as well and we were fortunate to taste of few of those too:

2021 Sauvignon Blanc – sourced from a few vineyards in the Arroyo Seco appellation: Cedar Lane, Ranch Ten, Riverbank and Zabala. Nice peach notes with a medium to long finish and medium mouth feel. Soft and tasty. 

2021 Metallico Un-Oaked Chardonnay – a combination of Santa Lucia Highlands vineyards, including the Double L along with the Leavens and McIntyre Vineyards. Pleasant citrus nose with Meyer Lemon notes on the palate and a full mouth feel.

2021 Rosé of Grenache from Mission Ranch Vineyard, Arroyo Seco– a light nose with mixed berry and raspberry notes. Very slight hint of saltiness and a medium finish.

2020 Double L Chardonnay (Clone RR – Roger Rose) – from Morgan’s estate vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. White flower and jasmine nose.  Asian pear, buttery notes. Big, ripe, creamy, full mouthfeel, long finish. Stunning example of what chardonnay can be.  

2019 Double L Chardonnay- also from the estate vineyard. Pleasant mixed citrus nose and a fitting little brother to the Double L Chardonnay (Clone RR).

2019 Twelve Clones Pinot Noir – from a few Santa Lucia Highlands vineyards: Double L, Leaven, Boekenoogen, Tondré, and Rosella’s. Light color, classic Pinot Noir.  Ripe, red berry fruit notes.  Light and delicate on palate.

2019 Tondré Pinot Noir – from the Tondré Grapefield Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Red stone fruit notes. Big mouth feel, medium to long finish.

2019 Double L Pinot – from the Estate vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. White pepper notes, a touch of smoke, firm structure, supple and subtle.

2020 Tempranillo – from the Riverbank Vineyard, Arroyo Seco. Raisin notes with a big, smooth mouth feel. Velvety and elegant.

The tasting room is roomy, comfortable and very inviting. There are options of tasting at the bar, or enjoying window seating or at a table.  Outside seating is also available. The tastings were served in individual carafes so you can enjoy at your own pace. 

Taste Morgan is definitely worth a visit next time you are in the Carmel area.  

Taste Morgan  www.morganwinery.com/Visit-Us/Taste-Morgan                                             

204 Crossroads Boulevard
Carmel, California 93923

Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.

Behind the Wine by Dawn Abasta-Poulsen: Jamie Slone Wines

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When you talk to Jamie about wine, his passion for wine and his community shine through!  He loves the Santa Barbara region and the wine community there. Jamie, like many wine makers did not start out his adult life as a winemaker. He was an entrepreneur. Up until the early 2000s he ran five radio stations in the Tucson area of Arizona, then once he sold those stations he fulfilled his lifelong dream and became a racecar driver from 2005-2013. To say he is driven to succeed at everything he touches is an understatement. After having conquered the race world by coming in second at almost every one of his championship races.  Jamie decided he wanted to fulfill another dream of his, owning a winery. So thus began Jamie Slone Wines. He chose Santa Barbara, because in his and many others opinion, it is the best wine region to grow wine grapes. 

Santa Barbara is rich with a variety of soil types and this gives winemakers like Jamie the tools to really be creative with their wines and create one of a kind distinctive blend. In 2014 he released his first wines.  First his red blend called BoRific, which is Jamie’s nickname for his wife Kym. BoRific is a Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cabernet, Malbec and Petit Verdot. It’s rich and delicious! He also released a Pinot Noir, a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay. 

Most of his wine is sourced from vineyards in Santa Rita Hills and Happy Canyon; these offer him the best of both worlds, one is lusher and cooler at night and the other is dryer and hotter.  He spends a lot of time analyzing and choosing the best possible process for that season’s harvest.  To quote Jamie “Each year is a fresh new painting, I use fruit to sculpt that year’s wine.” 

When asked what the inspiration behind his wine was, Jamie said he wanted flexibility and a creative outlet. Something he could be proud of.  In his words he wanted to create a “fabulous experience.”  

We then talked about his favorite over the years.  He said consistently his Super Tuscan, but every year there is a special one he likes most.  Right now, he says his 2019 Grenache is outstanding!

I then told him a firsthand story about his Super Tuscan. It was September 2017 and my wine group and I were on our summer excursion. My friend Jeff had told me I needed to go and check out Jamie Slone, so we made it one of our stops that day. It was late afternoon and we were just about done with our tasting. All of us had loved everything we tasted and three of us joined the winery club that very afternoon. Then when we were about to leave it started to rain pretty hard outside. So, we decided why walk around in the rain when we could just chill there and ride out the storm. We ordered a bottle of the Super Tuscan and road out the brief storm in the comfort of his beautiful tasting room. It was the highlight of that trip! Jamie shows passion in every wine he serves and he works hard to personally craft his wine so that every one of them gives his customers a truly “fabulous experience.” You can check out his winery at 23 E De La Guerra St in Santa Barbara CA 93101

Third Generation Family-Owned Sangiacomo Vineyards Celebrates 95 Years of Farming in Sonoma County

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SONOMA, Calif.,/PRNewswire/ — The pioneering Sangiacomo family, leaders in sustainable grape growing in Sonoma County, are honored to celebrate 95 years of farming and stewardship in Sonoma.

The Sangiacomo family’s roots in Sonoma County began on August 30, 1927, when founder Vittorio Sangiacomo signed the deed to the 55-acre Eden Dale ranch, at the southern end of the Sonoma Valley in what is now the Carneros appellation. The historic agricultural property, dating back to the mid-1800s, was at the time an award-winning fruit tree farm, planted to apples, pears, peaches, prunes and cherries. Though Vittorio and family first found success focusing on the cultivation of pear trees, the Sangiacomos shifted their agricultural focus when they planted their first Sonoma vineyard, Green Acres, in 1969. For the past 53 years, the family has continued their farming heritage by growing premium cool-climate wine grapes from their 1,600 acres of certified sustainable estate vineyards in Carneros, the Petaluma Gap, and Sonoma Coast. Along with launching their namesake wine brand in 2016, they are proud to continue to work with over 70 wineries, many with long-lasting relationships spanning decades.

The original Eden Dale property, now known as the Sangiacomo family “Home Ranch,” is the heart and soul of the family business. It’s where the second and third generations of the family learned the value of stewardship and sustainability, and where, 95 years later, they continue their long-standing tradition in farming. The 110-acre Home Ranch is also home to the Sangiacomo Family Wines tasting room, where visitors can taste small-lot Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon wines from the family’s historic vineyards, while gaining insight into the history of the family and the land they’ve farmed for nearly a century.

“When my brother Mike, sister Mia and I reflect on 95 years of farming, commitment, passion, and family heritage come to mind,” says Steve Sangiacomo, third-generation partner. “From the progression of growing pears to wine grapes, three generations have worked side-by-side and have shared the vision to seek opportunity, take risks, and evolve our family business. We would not be where we are today without the knowledge and values we learned from our grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunt. It’s an honor to continue our family’s agricultural journey, planting the seeds to enable future generations to build upon this legacy.”

To celebrate this near-century milestone, the Sangiacomos are releasing the remaining amounts of their Home Ranch Chardonnay from their library, including the inaugural 2016 vintage, along with many of their other exclusive estate bottlings. All are available at the Sangiacomo Home Ranch tasting room, located two miles south of the Sonoma Plaza.

About Sangiacomo Vineyards

As multigenerational Sonoma farmers with roots tracing back to 1927, the Sangiacomo family have continued their farming heritage by growing premium cool-climate grapes from their 1,600 acres of certified sustainable estate vineyards. Widely recognized as leading growers in California, the Sangiacomos also make estate wines for their own label, Sangiacomo Family Wines. A true family business with over 50 years of grape growing experience, they bring unparalleled knowledge and expertise, and lead with a commitment to quality and authenticity in all areas of operations. Working with acclaimed winemaker James MacPhail, the family produces limited quantities of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon wines that express the character of the land they’ve farmed for 95 years, and hope to call home, for generations. For more information, visit www.sangiacomowines.com.

Napa Valley’s Vice Versa Announces Groundbreaking for New Winery and Caves in Calistoga Late Summer 2022

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CALISTOGA, Calif., /PRNewswire/ — Vice Versa Wines founder Patrice Breton has announced that Vice Versa, the luxury Napa Cabernet Sauvignon-focused brand he founded in 2003, will break ground on a new winery and cave at his recently acquired estate vineyard in Calistoga in late Summer 2022. Breton tapped San Francisco-based architect Olle Lundberg of Lundberg Design to design the 10,000-square-foot cave and winery. The winery and cave, which boast three private hospitality spaces, have a planned completion date of Summer 2024. Lundberg has also designed the caves for Screaming Eagle, Ramey Wine Cellars and Hourglass Winery.

The winery building will have a singular aspiration – to act as a gateway to the surrounding soil and vineyards. Lundberg hopes the winery will express the direct connection between the land, the grapes, the cave, and the winery.  The ground floor of the winery will serve as the production facility, and the second floor will be reserved for hospitality spaces for private tastings.  

“Think of the building as a traditional long gable barn, split in half, and the two volumes pulled apart and offset, twisting the roof and the connecting deck between, so that the result opens to the sky, the hillside beyond, and the cave underneath, stated Lundberg.

The construction utilizes three dominant wall surfaces – Corten, a weathering steel that seals as it rusts, Kalwall, an insulated translucent panel system, and glass. The upper hospitality level has 360-degree views from the fully glazed exterior walls. The covered crush pad is in the center of the winery’s ground floor, with a second-level entertainment deck overlooking the production area.  The crush pad opens up to the hillside behind, with the vines cascading down the hillside, the tableau framed by the structure above.

Patrice Breton commented, “Olle’s designs are pure, modern, organic, and holistic. I wanted an avant-garde, timeless, unique, and efficient design with clean lines, a structure that merged seamlessly into the surrounding vineyard, and a fireproof building.  Olle’s idea of choosing Corten steel for the superstructure was pure genius, as the building will age well and be impossible to burn down. It will be a true architectural masterpiece that will stand the test of time.”

The vineyard is home to beautiful, 25-year-old vines — primarily Cabernet Sauvignon — that grow at 500 ft. elevation on rocky white tufa soils and benefit from a cool marine breeze in the afternoon. Set in the Chalk Hill Gap area, the microclimate is eight-twelve degrees cooler in the afternoon on average than in other parts of Calistoga, resulting in wines with freshness, beautiful purity, minerality, and seductive richness.

Winemakers Philippe Melka and Maayan Koschitzky of the renowned winemaking consultancy Atelier Melka have crafted Vice Versa’s wines since 2015. Since the brand’s inception in 2003, Vice Versa has been growing from strength to strength and today has secured its place as one of Napa’s elite wineries, with multiple 98-100-point scores from top wine critics.

ABOUT VICE VERSA
Founded by French Canadian vintner Patrice Breton in 2003, Vice Versa produces coveted small-lot, single-vineyard wines from Napa Valley’s most highly acclaimed vineyards. Art, culture, and history are at the core of the pure yet bold expressions of Vice Versa’s limited-production wines, which are reflected in the brand’s new art-driven labels, released in conjunction with the 2019 vintage. For more information, please visit www.viceversawine.com.

FOR: VICE VERSA WINES
707.412.8423
www.viceversawines.com