Vindulge

WillaKenzie, Aquariva and a Great Food & Wine Pairing

Trying to explore as much Oregon as I can before moving to the Northeast, I accepted an invitation to a wine and food pairing lunch a couple weeks back hosted by WillaKenzie Estate Winery.  Lunch consisted of a five-course food and wine pairing prepared by Chef Andy Arndt of Aquariva that turned out to be very memorable experience.

The Winery
Located in the northern Willamette Valley in Yamhill County, WillaKenzie Estate sits on a beautiful 420-acre property overlooking the Chehalem Mountains with just over 100 acres of vines planted.  The focus of the vineyards is Pinot Noir, with over 10 different Pinot Noir clones planted, along with additional plantings of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier, and Gamay Noir. 

With the first plantings in 1992 the vineyards were planted with the belief of sustainable agriculture with the goal of producing high quality fruit with minimal use of any chemicals or fertilizers in order to protect the environment surrounding the estate.  The vineyards of Willakenzie are both L.I.V.E. (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) and Salmon-Safe certified.   In addition to sustainable practices in the vineyard they also aim to extend that to their employees.  Winemaker Thibaud Mandet shared that over half of his vineyard staff have been with the winery for over ten years.   To me that’s an impressive fact.

WillaKenzie produces over ten different Pinot Noirs, most of them single vineyard, along with a representation of some of their other bottlings.  Throughout lunch we experienced a variety of their wines carefully paired with small plates created by Chef Arndt.

The Restaurant
Aquariva Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
Located just south of downtown Portland, next to the Avalon Hotel and Spa, Aquariva sits along the banks of the Willamette River with outdoor seating and fantastic river views.  They have a large and open indoor dining room, with a private event space upstairs that is well equipped for anything from business meetings to weddings. 

The restaurant boasts 40 wines by the glass.  That combined with outdoor riverfront seating on a warm summer evening, you don’t have to twist my arm to try out this restaurant.  Although I did not dine at the actual restaurant for this particular lunch, we did receive a brief tour before venturing to the winery for the five course pairing while snacking on popcorn with black truffle oil, sea salt, and toffee prepped by Chef Arndt.  Probably the most creatively delicious popcorn I’ve had in years.  The crunchy toffee combined with the salty and earthy flavors in the popcorn hit the spot!

The Pairings
What struck me most about the event was the attention to detail Chef Arndt put into the lunch to highlight both the wines and his own creative dishes.   When asked about his thought process in the pairings he described how he really hoped to enhance the flavors of the wine through his food pairings.  To me he succeeded.  I loved the 2007 Triple Black Slopes Pinot Noir (earthy, tobacco and spice meets spicy red and dark berry fruit) paired with Lamb Rillet Tortellini, Lamb Jus and Candied Black Pepper, with tender lamb that brought out the earthy nature of the wine.
 
The most impressive pairing for me, however, was the 2008 Pinot Meunier paired with a Braised Pork Belly, Turnip and Rhubarb Syrup (pictured right).  As if it wasn’t good enough that the pork melted in my mouth like butter, the delicate syrup paired magically with, while enhancing, the pretty fruit of the Pinot Meunier.  

Wine Highlight:  2008 Pinot Meunier
Pinot Meunier (pronounced mehr-n-yay) is one of the three varieties used in making traditional champagne (along with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), and is rarely seen alone as a still wine.  I was very intrigued even before tasting it.  The wine immediately struck me as a perfect summer red. It reminded me of a light, earthy, and yet fruity Pinot Noir.   It was light bodied and fresh with aromas of bright cranberries, raspberries, and strawberries.  The mouth followed with more cran-strawberry flavors with the addition of spice, toast, and very light tannins.   A nice alternative to a wine you don’t want to, or need to, lay down for ten years.  It is intended to and ready to drink now.  Served slightly chilled this wine would be the perfect accompaniment to a nice summer day if you’re craving something red. 
Appelation:  Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton District 
Retail:  $25
Alcohol:  14.2%
Screwcap closure

While it was my first time being at the WillaKenzie Estate and also tasting food from Aquariva Chef Andy Arndt I have decided that if the food at the actual restaurant is anything like the food Arndt prepared for this lunch then I’m certainly looking forward to a visit there. I think I’ve discovered another restaurant to add to my “Portland to do list”.  

As for the wines, if you’re into single vineyard Pinot Noirs then it would be worth a visit to check out their diverse selection along with beautiful views of the valley.  But make sure to also taste the Pinot Meunier while you are there.  You won’t likely find this variety as a stand alone still wine at most places you visit here in Oregon.  It is unique and most certainly tasty.

Cheers

5 Reasons to visit Columbia Gorge Wineries this Memorial Day Weekend

It’s that time of year again, Memorial Day Weekend, which symbolizes the beginning of the summer tourism season.  And for most Oregon Wineries that means one of the biggest weekends of the year to visit their tasting rooms.

Now while most people are already in full swing planning their Willamette Valley weekend getaways I am here to offer five reasons to NOT go to the Willamette Valley, but instead venture east from Portland to the Columbia Gorge Wine Region over this holiday weekend.

*Now before you start sending me hate mail for not being a Willamette Valley lover this weekend you should know that I sincerely love me some Willamette Valley as much as the next person and spend my fair share of time venturing around the wineries there and appreciating all that gorgeous region has to offer. But in all honesty there are two weekends where I have learned to avoid the Willamette Valley like the plague… Memorial Day Weekend and Thanksgiving Weekend. Why?  

These five reasons:

1. Traffic: 
I should admit that traffic is one of my biggest pet peeves on any given day, but over this particular weekend traveling down Hwy 99W to get to Dundee and onto McMinnville traffic is doubly horrible.  So expect stop and go traffic and bring a double dose of patience.

On the other hand, you can chose to venture out east along I-84, on arguably the most scenic and beautiful drives in all of Oregon, along the Columbia River and hit virtually no traffic and get to your winery of choice in roughly half the time as driving to any Willamette Valley winery from Portland.

2. Price: 
In general many wineries in the Willamette Valley charge double their normal tasting fees so expect to pay an average of $10-$20 per person per winery (if not more).  But hey, you get to keep a pretty souvenir logo glass!  Remember, however, that your tasting fee paid for that glass.  If you’re like me, and have too many logo glasses to even fathom another one, just skip the “free” glass and just go for the wine.

Wineries of the Columbia Gorge, on the other hand, are not doubling their fees, but instead charge an average of anywhere from free (yes those wineries still exist) to $5 per person for a flight.  On top of that, many of the wineries will waive that fee with a bottle purchase.  And if that didn’t sell you, many are also offering great 6-pack and case discounts over the holiday weekend, in addition to the live music, events, chocolate and cheese that is luring you to the Willamette Valley wineries.

3. Crowds: 
If there is anything more irritating than traffic, for me, it is elbow-to-elbow crowds lining up blocking a winery tasting bar.  In my experience, many wineries will be so crowded you are lucky to even get to hear the name of the wine you are sipping on let alone any additional information you may be interested in hearing about the wines, the winery, or the people.  

The Gorge?  Although it may be busy at times, still fewer people have discovered this unique region enough to anticipate the crowds that are inevitable in the Willamette Valley over this particular weekend.  Bonus is that many of the actual winemakers and winery principals will likely be behind the bars pouring their own wines and talking to you, the consumer, about the details about their hard work!

4. Scenery: 
Although the Willamette Valley can provide some breathtaking scenery of vineyards and rolling hills, you are not likely to see the breadth of offerings a drive along the Gorge will expose you to; like the stunning Columbia River below the high ridges of the Gorge, with the snow capped Mt. Hood visible to your south, and Mt. Adams to your north.  What’s not to love about that?  Plus you’ll see much less strip malls and fast food joints, not to mention bumpers from the traffic in front of you (mentioned above), on your drive to get there.

5. Wines: 
Believe me, I am a Pinophile if ever I lived in the state of Oregon.  But I, like many wine lovers, exist on more than cool climate varietals alone.  If all you are interested is in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and a few additional offerings, then you will not be disappointed by the Willamette Valley's wines.  However, in the Gorge you literally get a world of wine in 40 miles.  Expect to see Rhone varietals of Syrah, Grenache, Viognier, Roussanne, big reds like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  And don’t forget Zinfandel, Barbera, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, and many many more in addition to your cool climate favorites. Oh yeah and they are all actually grown in the Gorge. 

Again, I write this not to shun the Willamette Valley.  I LOVE the Willamette Valley, but for these busy weekends, I do recommend exploring new regions where you are likely to have a more relaxed time and possibly find some new gems.  Why not explore something new that this great state has to offer and avoid excessive fees, traffic, and crowds?

*If there was to be an exception to my rule, I’d have to say if you do chose to visit the Willamette Valley seek out the wineries that are ONLY open specifically on these holiday weekends.  Many wineries do not have regular open tasting room hours (like, a-hem, Soter), and for these wineries it is definitely worth waiting in traffic and paying the fees to experience. 

But if you were planning to visit wineries that do have regular tasting room hours throughout the year, I say skip them, head to the Gorge, and visit those Willamette Valley wineries on a less crowded weekend for a better overall experience. 

Tips: 
Whatever wine region you chose this Memorial Day weekend, make sure to have a good breakfast, use those dump buckets (they are there for a reason), drink lots of water, snack often, use a designated driver, and most importantly explore, try new things, and have fun! 

Cheers!

*You can find more information on specific Memorial Day Weekend wine events for the Columbia Gorge Wine Region here, and for the Willamette Valley here.

Winery Spotlight: Phelps Creek Vineyards, Hood River OR

In a continued series of winery spotlights in the Columbia Gorge and furthering my article in the Gorge Guide, below is a snapshot of the winery, their story and their wines.  Make a point to visit and add your experience as a comment.  Cheers!

Phelps Creek Vineyards, Hood River, Oregon  

In 1989 Bob Morus moved to Oregon with the goal of planting Burgundian varietals (Chardonnay and Pinot Noir).   In an area known for pears and cherry orchards, Morus took a chance Hood River, an area not yet well known as a wine-growing region.

In a recent interview with Morus he explained that although his property is higher in elevation than many in the Willamette Valley (around 1,000 feet) the area has the same heat units as the Willamette Valley, which is key for growing good Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.   Morus ended up purchasing 60 acres total, on south facing slopes, and started planting grapes in 1990. 

For the first few years he sold fruit to the well-known Willamette Valley wineries of King Estate, and then to Ponzi Vineyards, who also saw the potential of the grapes from this region. Eventually Peter Rosback (owner/winemaker of Sineann), who was just ascending as a cult winemaker in Oregon, started courting Morus for his Pinot Noir.  That is when Morus knew this area was one to be taken seriously.

Around the turn of the 21st century Morus decided to hold back some of his best fruit and made the decision to create his own wine label.  Morus started Phelps Creek Vineyards in 2000.

From 2000-2006 Peter Rosback made the Phelps Creek Pinot Noirs.  By 2005, with the opening of their tasting room (located at the Hood River Golf Course), they had been producing only Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and were ready to expand, so in 2005 Morus came up with the idea of Brimstone.  
He explained that he always wanted to make a wine dedicated to the Reverend Billy Sunday, who “captured the nation's attention as he vigorously preached by 'fire and brimstone' the virtues of prohibition and creationism.  Following a nation-shaking career, Sunday sought tranquility in Oregon's Hood River Valley”.

The wine started out as an exploration of other varietals succeeding in the area, Syrah and Merlot.  The blend today also has Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir added to the mix.  He soon followed Brimstone with a white wine counterpart, Hellfire, which is an incredibly refreshing and tasty blend of Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc, other varietals that also grow well within the Columbia Gorge AVA.

What is Morus most proud of?  His Pinot Noirs.

Rich Cushman, born and raised Hood River, and educated in wine making at UC Davis, is now director of winemaking for Phelps Creek, in addition to making his own wines at Viento.  Topping off Phelps Creeks winemaking team is Alexandrine Roy, 4th generation winemaker from Gevrey-Chambertin in the Burgundy region of France, who visits Hood River a few times a year to make their Cuvée Alexandrine Pinot Noir along with other projects for Phelps Creek.  Together the two winemakers add their unique touches to the winemaking program at Phelps Creek.  In particular, Morus is most excited about the reserve Pinot Noir line.  With Cushman in charge of the Estate Reserve Pinot Noir and Roy who creates the Cuvee Alexandrene, both wines providing a very unique story as they contrast two different styles of winemaking with fruit from the same vineyards.  Just taste the two wines side by side and you’ll know exactly what I am talking about. They display the unique winemaking styles of each winemaker and are both equally delicious.

Don’t just take my word for it, Phelps Creek wines are deservedly beginning to receive not only regional but national attention and accolades.  Recently Jay Miller of the influential Robert Parker's Wine Advocate wrote,  “This is an impressive collection of wines from Phelps Creek Vineyards located in the Columbia Gorge AVA,” awarding many of their wines 90 points or above.   In their July/August 2009 article Northwest Palate Magazine wrote, "Phelps Creek is building a solid reputation as a quality-focused Columbia Gorge AVA winery."

If you live in the Northwest, now is a great time to discover the wines of Phelps Creek. 

Here are some of my favorites of their current lineup:


2008 Estate Reserve Chardonnay, Columbia Gorge, $26 (probably my favorite Chardonnay within the Columbia Gorge and Columbia Valley combined).  An excellent comparison to their:  2008 Unoaked Chardonnay, Columbia Gorge, $18
Taste two different styles of the same grape.

2008 Dry Reserve Gewurztraminer, Columbia Gorge, $20

2007 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Columbia Gorge, $42
make sure to taste side by side with Alexandrine Roy’s, 2007 Cuvee Alexandrine Pinot Noir, Columbia Gorge, $42 (which may be sold out as of now, but they should be onto the 2008)

2007 Becky's Cuvee Pinot Noir, Columbia Gorge, $26 (one of my personal favorite Pinot Noirs from the Columbia Gorge)

And of course the:
2008 Hellfire White Blend, Columbia Gorge, $15
2007 Brimstone Red Blend, Columbia Valley, $16.50

Make sure to check them out on your next wine country excursion.
For more information about Phelps Creek check out their website.
And for more information on wineries in the Columbia Gorge please check out my recent article in the Gorge Guide.

#WAMerlot: Merlot's Big Night

Last Thursday Josh Wade from the blog Drink Nectar, with the help of a few other bloggers and tweeters, organized a worldwide twitter tasting in honor of Washington Merlots titled #WAMerlot, further validating in the wine world the growing power of twitter.  The goal was simple, get a bottle (or many) of Washington Merlot, drink it, and tweet about it, either from home, a winery, wine shop, alone or with friends.

Since my mom and sister were still in town I thought I’d pop a few bottles of Washington Merlots and taste with the family.  And if you remember from my post last week these two are hard to please so I wanted to have a decent selection to chose from in hopes to finally find a wine that my mom would not add Sprite to (yes, she visited for 8 days, I sampled approximately 12 wines for her throughout the week, and she poured Sprite into the majority of them).    

As for the twitter event, I thought it would be fun for my mom and sis to witness my passion for wine met with my interest in the social media aspect.  I followed along with the #WAMerlot hashtag for about an hour, tasting the three Merlots I had brown bagged, along with my panel of four judges total (including the hubby).  After an hour I could barely keep up with the electronic portion of the tasting.  People were posting on twitter, it seemed, hundreds of tweets a minute.  Too fast for me.  I added my two cents and revealed my favorites of the evening, then it was back to QT with my mom, and finally closed my laptop.  I was, however, very fascinated by some of the results recently posted by Josh on his site.  Some of my favorites include:

• Wineries and businesses having events had anywhere from zero to more than 30 people in attendance. From preliminary returns average attendance ran about 10. If my 6th grade math serves me right, 100 locations x 10 people average is approximately 1000 people.
• Tweets were observed from Europe, Australia, Asia (China), and North America (Canada, Mexico, and USA) – 4 out of 5 continents.
• Web site www.wthashtag.com tracked almost 2000 tweets by nearly 500 tweeters.
• Potential bottle consumption of Washington Merlot for the night is between 2000-3000 bottles
• People had fun. People drank some effin’ Merlot!

Sounds like a complete success to me!  And he’s right, sounds like people drank lots of effin’ Merlot… simply because of this event!  Powerful thing, that twitter eh?   It is just one of the many examples that show how powerful word of mouth can be.  And that’s one of the powerful things about twitter, it is an electronic word of mouth and I urge folks (whether you are a business owner, employee, blogger, or other) to not discount what is possible through social media. 

As for the wines we drank here at my household, we brown bagged three wines. Two of them I had received as samples prior to the tasting, and one I purchased a few months ago while visiting the Woodinville wine area, outside of Seattle.  All three wines were from the same vintage, 2007, and we drank them while dining on my soon to be famous Spaghetti & Meatballs.  It was my night to cook for my mama, so I went for something I thought would pair nicely with the Merlots.  The Spaghetti received a thumbs up from all on our panel ;)  As for the wines….

2007 Hogue Columbia Valley Merlot

Hogue has three tiers in their wine making program with this wine being in their lower everyday value tier.  

The wine had bright light fruit flavors, finished dry, with medium tannins.  I found the wine a bit thin and one dimensional, and not quite as lush and rich as I tend to like them in a Washington Merlot.  My mom wasn’t a huge fan either, however it was one of my sisters favorites.  She thought it was easy drinking and “just fine”.  

Appellation:  Columbia Valley

Grapes:  99% Merlot, 1% Syrah
Retail:  Approx $10

Alcohol:  13.9%
Food Pairing of the evening:  Spaghetti and Meatballs

2007 Boomtown Merlot from Dusted Valley Vintners

Family owned and operated winery out of Walla Walla, WA.  Boomtown wines fall into Dusted Valley’s “entry level” wine category.

This wine has strong aromas of vanilla and bright cherry from the start and continued throughout.  Medium bodied, with strong acidity and spice on the finish, the wine continued to display vanilla tones from beginning to end.  Brighter fruit, and more complexity than the Hogue, but still light and lacking a rich and lush body.  To me it was nice, simple, and a pleasant everyday Merlot.  My mom started coming around with this wine but still didn’t love it.  My husband was a bigger fan and continued to drink this wine throughout the night.  

Appellation:  Columbia Valley

Grapes:  78.8% Merlot, 8.8% Malbec, 7.1% Syrah, 5.3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Retail:  Approx $15

Alcohol:  14.4%
Food Pairing of the evening:  Once again Spaghetti and Meatballs   

2007 Stevens Yakima Valley Merlot

My husband and I discovered this winery while visiting the Woodinville Washington wine area last December.  A very bizarre area to find wineries since it is surrounded by lots of warehouses, but incredibly close to Seattle and therefore close to millions of potential visitors.  

Husband and wife team, Tim and Paige Stevens, founded the winery in 2002 and started with just 100 cases of wine in their first vintage. They have now grown to over 2,500 cases and focus on a small assortment of solid, focused, and well structured wines (four reds and two white wines).

As for the Merlot, my first reaction was “that’s what I’m talking about! Rich, lush, deeper fruit and lots of spice.”  I could tell from the beginning that this would be a more full-bodied wine. Just how I like my Washington Merlots.  The nose was floral with dark berry and plum flavors. The wine had well integrated oak and mild vanilla flavors that didn’t compete with the rich dark fruit flavors. Rich, bold, yet refrained, and more balanced and complex than the other two with great lush fruit, spice, and pepper.

Thoughts from the family?
My husband liked the complexity, richer flavors, and that it wasn’t just about bright fruit flavors.  My sister liked the smell more than the taste.  She described it as having “jammy” fruit but didn’t want to drink on its own, but instead would prefer it with food.  My mom liked it! A lot! She said it reminded her of port, concentrated and rich, but there’s nothing she didn’t like.  Her only criticism of it was that she wished it was “sweeter”, but would still drink it without Sprite… which was a big deal for her considering she added Sprite to every wine I gave her to taste throughout the eight days she visited!  Finding my mom a wine that she wouldn’t add Sprite to was a sign of success to me, and because of that I think the Stevens was the big winner of the night!

Appellation:  Yakima Valley

Grapes:  100% Merlot
Retail:  $30

Alcohol:  14.2%
Production:  only 140 cases produced
Food Pairing: You guessed it, Spaghetti and Meatballs

Nice job to all who helped to make #WAMerlot a success.  I look forward to more twitter tastings… perhaps one representing the fine state of Oregon someday?!  Attention Oregon wineries and bloggers, I'm ready to help out on this one!!!

Meeting Tom Mackey from St. Francis Winery...

... and a stroll down memory lane

Most wine lovers have quite a few bottles of wine that they would categorize as “most memorable” wines.  Some have many, others have one or two. I’d have to say I've had many great wines in my life, but few have left a mark on me that I will remember forever.  Among those was the 1997 St. Francis “Kings Ridge” Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine I was drinking when my husband proposed. (Okay, I know this sounds like it's going to be a cheesy sappy story, but it's not, so please read on if you’re not into sappy stuff). 

You see, St. Francis was one of the first wine clubs we joined after moving to San Francisco and becoming seriously interested in wine, and we remained members until a year after moving to Oregon (six years later).  It wasn’t just the wines we fell in love with, but the experience they provided when visiting.  They didn’t just have a tasting room that offered the average 4-6 wines in a flight, but also offered guests a whole food and wine pairing experience, lasting close to an hour, where they would pair 4 or 5 of their wines with appetizers created by their chef.  For me, it was the first time I started to understand the art and science behind a good food and wine pairing while falling in love with their wines.  We visited often and brought family and friends to experience this place that almost became synonymous with Sonoma to us.  

 So, it was fitting that my boyfriend (now husband) brought out that bottle the night he planned to pop the question.  And, cheesy as it sounds, I kept the label to that very bottle, had it professionally framed, and gave it to my hubby on our first wedding anniversary as the traditional first anniversary symbol of “paper" (Okay now THAT was cheesy!  But it was true nonetheless). 

St. Francis wines were also among the first that I tasted enough times to be able to identify a specific “winemaking style” to their wines.  That became more evident when I was studying for the CMS Certified Sommelier exam and had my husband blind taste me daily on new wines to prep me for the tasting portion of the exam.  Anytime he brought out a browned bagged St. Francis (whether it be a Cab, Merlot, or other), I would smell and immediately respond, “I’m not sure the exact varietal yet, let me taste a little more, but it smells like St. Francis”.  And 9 times out of 10 I was right.  I still don’t know what it is (anybody like to share?), the barrels, the vineyards the fruit is sourced from, a magic potion?  But whatever it is there is definitely a distinct style to most of their wines.  Some may call this Terroir, and I would just call it distinctly good. 

So, needless to say I was very excited to have been invited to meet Tom Mackey, who has been the winemaker at St. Francis since 1983, last week for lunch along with other local wine bloggers, Tamara Belgard from Sip With Me!, Jim Eastman of The Wine Cyclist and Bernie Gehret and Eva Schmole of PortlandOregonWine.com.   I’ve met many winemakers before, but there was something special and exciting about meeting Tom, since I had been enjoying his wines for years and had never met the man behind them.

Tom was warm and genuine and it felt like we were conversing with a friend rather than a stranger.  He spoke of the early days when he first joined the winery.  “Times were more simple then, yet the work was hard.  We had a small crew, about four people that did everything from working in the field, working all through harvest, doing the prep work, the cleaning, the bottling, etc.”  

He spoke of the changes he has witnessed in the Sonoma valley over the decades.  Times have changed, wineries have evolved and learned from their mistakes and experiments.  “We prune differently now… we space our vineyards differently… we pick our fruit later”.  He described that, in his early days, they used to pick fruit much earlier in the season.  Now he has learned that if you leave the fruit on the vines longer you get more developed and deeper flavors out of the wines. 

They have also learned how to be better stewards of the land, and now strive for green and sustainable practices, including installing a solar electrical system on the roof of the winery, a water conservation program, recycling programs, and more. 

In 2001 they opened up their visitors center on Highway 12, in Santa Rosa (about the time I started visiting), where they offer tastings, events, and my favorite, their wine and food pairing experience.

When I asked Tom about the Kings Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon and their other reserve wines (ok, I had to, I got engaged over a bottle of that wine for goodness sake. Did I also mention we shared another bottle of the same wine and vintage at our actual wedding?), he shared that the 1997 was probably the best vintage of that wine, but that they are no longer making that specific wine anymore.  He went on to explain the evolution of the once “reserve wine” program to their now Wild Oak wines.  Tom described that he felt, over the years, wineries started using the term “reserve” too loosely, and that it had lost value and meaning (in the U.S. there is no legal designation for the term “reserve” on a bottle of wine), and that they decided to create a new label to distinguish the “best of the best” for their wines.  Their Wild Oak label represents just that, the best fruit from the best vineyards in each vintage. 

"So, Wild Oak represents the best of the best, but what is your favorite wine to make, each year? The one you get most excited about?" I asked.  "Our blends", Tom responded.  "Including our Sonoma Red, our Claret, and our Anthem".  The Anthem in particular is a unique "reverse Bordeaux-style blend", meaning instead of focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot as the primary grapes, the focus is on Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc.  I have had a few vintages of the Anthem and I have to say it is indeed a unique and special wine, not to mention delicious!    

The Wines

Tasting through the flight of wines was like going down memory lane for me.  That distinct “St. Francis flavor” was evident in each of the reds.  The one white we had was their outstanding 2007 Sonoma County Chardonnay, and I say outstanding because you can’t really find a better Chardonnay for the price point (retail between $10-$12/bottle). Oak, vanilla, toast, with balanced lemon, spice and acidity.  Seriously, for $10?  Yes please! 

Another one that blew me away because of the $10 price point was the 2006 Sonoma Red blend (Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Zinfandel).  It had bold black berry fruit, with chocolate, vanilla and spice throughout. 

My two favorite wines of the flight, however, were both Zinfandels.  First off was the 2007 “Old Vines” Zinfandel, which was a blend of fruit from fourteen vineyards throughout the valley.  Typical dark berry Zin aromas with oak spice, lushness, black cherries with a long finish without any distinguishable “hot” characteristics. 

The second Zin that won over my heart was the 2006 Wild Oak Zinfandel.  My notes for that wine simply said “Woah!” with a smiley face J.  You know, I’ll be the first to admit, sometimes you find a wine that you just want to savor and not be too analytical about, and this was one of those.  I loved it. 

 As I think back to the lunch, I feel honored to have been invited to sit down with such an intimate group (seven people total), with a winemaker whom I’ve respected since I started seriously learning about wine almost ten years ago.  And I am so glad to have meet Tom.  He was sincere and genuine, and as talented and experienced a winemaker he is, he was very unpretentious.  As we ended lunch, we just sat and chatted.  Not about wine, but about our lives, comparing San Francisco stories (Tom grew up there), and he talked about his passion for motorcycles and surfing, although he does much more motorcycling now and no more surfing.  He even got excited when I shared with him my first experience surfing last summer in Hawaii.  He asked if I would do it again… “of course” I answered.

I feel that meeting the man behind one of my most memorable bottles of wine makes the wine even more memorable now.  Almost making the story complete.  

You can read more about Tom Mackey and St. Francis wines on their website.  

Oregon Zinfandel to Pair With an Oregon Snow Storm!

This month for Wine Blogging Wednesday #65 wine bloggers were asked by Michelle Lentz from the blog  Wine-Girl to write about “Snow Day Wines”:

 “I want you to look out your window and imagine Snow. Snowmen, snow balls, igloos, snow trucks, snow … cold, cold snow. Then I want you to imagine what that makes you want to drink.”

Michelle also encouraged participants to include a snow day story from their youth.  Quite frankly I grew up in Phoenix, AZ, and therefore have no snow stories to tell from my youth!  However, this week I’ve been working on an article I am writing for a regional magazine on the Columbia Gorge Wine Region, and after hearing the theme for this month I was immediately reminded of my only major “snow day” experience in recent adult history.  Coincidentally, it happened here in Oregon, in the Columbia Gorge.  The event that will forever be known by locals as “Arctic Blast 2008”. The storm that shut down schools, businesses, and pretty much a good chunk of the city, for almost an entire week. 

I happened to be working in Hood River, OR (50 miles east of Portland) when part one of the storm hit. Hood River was the opening round for the whole area, leaving a couple feet of snow on the ground, but the worst was yet to come.  I was at a local Columbia Gorge wine event the night before the larger, more news worthy, part of the storm hit, drinking the very wine I will describe below. 

The view from our Hood River house, the day before the "big storm"

The next morning I had planned to stick around and visit a few wineries but something told me to head back home to Portland.  Just minutes after I returned home they shut down highway I-84, the only major highway connecting east and west from Portland, in both directions due to ice and hazardous conditions. 

The view from the drive home on I-84

I-84 was closed, indefinitely, just days before Christmas. It continued to snow throughout the region, causing numerous traffic accidents, road, school and business closures.  Unlike other parts of the country where snow storms are the norm, Portland was not equipped with the necessary resources to plow roads for safe driving conditions.  I was lucky enough to make it back to Portland safe, and since I couldn’t get back out east to go to work I was able to enjoy a few “snow days” while the city of Portland was virtually shut down.  Even the mall… THE MALL… had half its stores closed the Sunday before Christmas because nobody could drive on the roads, and thus get to work.  I remember thinking, “only in Portland would a snow storm cause Victorias Secret to close during the busiest shopping days leading up to Christmas.”

Now, the most important part was that I was safe and that I had plenty of wine to keep me warm during this Arctic Blast.  I assure you I did.  And the wine that most reminds me of this incident was the wine I was drinking on the eve of that memorable storm, The Pines 1852 Old Vine Zinfandel.

The Pines 1852

To many people in the Pacific Northwest the wine “Old Vine Zinfandel” is often associated with cult winemaker Peter Rosback of Sineann.  What many of them don’t realize is that the Old Vine Zinfandel grapes come from The Pines Vineyard in The Dalles, OR, owned and managed by Lonnie Wright who also makes an Old Vine Zin, from the same vineyard, for his own winery The Pines 1852. 

Lonnie Wright learned the art and science of grape growing in the 1970’s helping to build 2,000 acres of vineyards for Columbia Crest (a winery now owned by Washington’s Chateau St. Michelle) in Patterson, WA.  In the two years it took for the vineyard to be built Lonnie learned from many viticulture experts in the region, and eventually became the area manager for 650 acres of grapes and supervised the first harvest there. 

A few years later, in the early 1980’s, Lonnie met his wife in Hood River, and wanting to settle in the area had heard about an orchardist in The Dalles (20 miles east of Hood River, 70 miles east of Portland) needing help renovating a century old vineyard that had been neglected for over twenty years.  Lonnie stepped right in and help to revitalize this vineyard that was almost dead and eventually brought the original eight acres of century old vines back to life. 

Soon after, Wright decided to follow his gut and his dream by starting his own vineyard management company in The Dalles, and eventually moved his family onto the original property to manage “The Pines” Vineyard, and continued to plant more and more vineyards.  Back then, when very few vineyards were planted, he saw the potential for world class vineyards in the Columbia Gorge.

Wright began selling his Old Vine Zinfandel grapes to winemaker Peter Rosback of Sineann who has made a cult following of his Sineann labeled “Old Vine Zin”, and also sold other grapes to various local wineries.  By 2001 Wright decided it was time to start his own winery.  Since Rosback had been doing such a great job with his Sineann label, Wright asked him to be the winemaker of “The Pines 1852” wines. And with the shake of a hand the deal was done, and Rosback has been making the wines for The Pines ever since.

A few years later they opened up a tasting room in downtown Hood River.  Managed by Wrights daughter Sierra, the tasting room not only provides an elegant showcase for their well-crafted wines, but has also has become a favorite local spot for watching live music on the weekends, events, and gallery displays by local artists.

Today Lonnie Wright manages over 200 acres of grapes in the Columbia Gorge and consults for many other vintners in the region. Over the last 25 years Wright has become an integral part of the growth and success of the Columbia Gorge Wine Region.

Although The Pines produces a wide variety of beautiful wines, if you ask both Lonnie and Sierra what wine they are most proud of, of course they will say their Old Vine Zinfandel.  This is their flagship wine.  A wine you are not likely to find outside the winery, as this limited production wine sells out quickly.  But you can still find some of the 2008 Old Vine Zin through their tasting room or website. 

To me this wine represents a speck of what is possible in the Columbia Gorge and will also be an ever reminder of my experience during the Arctic Blast 2008.   It is not only a great “Snow Day” wine, but also a great Oregon Zinfandel.  And if you are one of the many people thinking “What? You can’t grow Zinfandel in Oregon!”, then I challenge you to try this wine!  A wine that could easily stand up to some of its California counterparts.

2008 Old Vine Zinfandel

This wine is one of the few using the alternative glass closure.

Immediately this wine hits you with a bouquet of dark berry fruit, rich black cherries, plums, and freshly ground black pepper.  A deeper sniff will introduce intriguing roasted meat and bacon fat aromas. The mouth is full-bodied with rich cherry and more black berry flavors along with a dark chocolate cherry lushness, with a velvety smooth finish.  The wine has a nice balance of fruit and spice without being a “fruit bomb”. 

With the fruit coming from the oldest Zinfandel vineyard in the Pacific Northwest this is definitely a wine any Northwest wine enthusiast (or one wanting to learn more about Northwest wines) should experience…. Snow day or not! 

Winery:  The Pines 1852 (tasting room located in Hood River, OR)
Region:  Columbia Valley (the winery, however, is a part of the smaller community within the Columbia Gorge Winegrowers Association.  Technically the vineyards in The Dalles are considered within the larger Columbia Valley, AVA, just a few miles east of the Columbia Gorge AVA cutoff)
Grapes:  Zinfandel
Retail:  $38
Alcohol:  15.3%

The Columbia Gorge is an exciting and quickly growing region and The Pines 1852 is definitely a winery to keep your eyes on.   For more information on this diverse region please continue to check in here as I continue to write about Columbia Gorge wines.  And for more information on the family behind The Pines check out this video.

Cheers

Quivira Vineyards & Winery

2010 will likely present an interesting year for wineries with the ripple effect of lagging inventory and an economy not necessarily buying wines in the $50.00 plus range as was the case two or three years ago.  The last couple of years have seen a lot of changes in all areas of the world, but this post highlights how quickly things can change at one winery in Dry Creek, Quivira, and how important it is to take a finer look at perhaps changes in winemaker or owners without judging from past experiences.

Here’s my story, years ago I spent a lot of time in Sonoma.  We would drive all over the place, regularly visiting some while trying to discover new wineries.  Quivira was one of those places we had stopped at a few times and is located along a track in Dry Creek Valley, near wineries that many of which don’t seem to exist anymore or have changed ownership, like Belvedere for example, which I just discovered is closed and is now C. Donatiello Winery (see the crazy things that change in just a few short years!).  We visited them a couple of times and liked the wines, but not enough to really stand out.  So when I recently was sent Quivira wines to review I thought, “hmm some Quivira, cool, I remember them, I’ll check it out”.  Then after opening the wines was very surprised with how much they stood out, much more than what I remember from years ago.  So I did a little research and “surprise”, many changes have taken place in the winery since 2006 (after I had already settled into Oregon), and apparently in the Dry Creek Valley during that time as well, and I began to take closer notice.

Quivira Vineyards & Winery
Healdsburg, CA |  Dry Creek Valley

 “In the 16th to 18th centuries, the area we know as Sonoma County appeared on European maps as a mythical kingdom called “Quivira” whose streets were said to be paved with gold. Today, the region’s “gold” is the acres of grapevines that thrive there.”

Quivira, named after this “mythical realm” was founded by Holly and Henry Wendt in 1981.  In 2006, 25 years later, the winery was sold to Pete and Terri Kight who quickly began making significant changes to the winery, but continuing a focus on Biodynamic and organic farming techniques used by the Wendts.  They also brought in Steven Canter, who had training in many regions throughout the world, as their winemaker and vineyard manager, or rather “winegrower” as he calls himself (not to separate the two roles).

Today they continue a focus on Biodynamic and sustainable practices throughout the vineyards, wine making, and property, including an organic garden they created in 2008 designed to educate visitors on their organic farming and viticulture practices.  Touring the property today you’ll find their gardens, a pond, greenhouse, chickens and even goats. 

2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Fig Tree Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley

One of their flagship wines, the Fig Tree Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, named for the 130-year old fig tree that stands amongst the vines, is certified organic and Biodynamic.

The wine represents my new found excitement for California (not to generalize) Sauvignon Blancs.  As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am not a huge fan of Sauvignon Blancs in general.  They can be too grassy, grapfruity, or acidic to me, or they represent the opposite spectrum and are too minerally.  Throughout last summer I discovered numerous Sauvignon Blancs, from both the Napa side and Sonoma, that I loved and would easily drink everyday.  This wine is no exception.

The wine had just a slight enough grassiness and fresh grapefruit on the nose to identify itself as Sauv Blanc, but by no means harsh or overpowering.  In addition there were aromas of fresh tropical fruits, green apple, and some slightly sweet apricot on the nose.  The mouth had bright citrus notes, lemon peel, and steely minerality, with a clean and crisp finish. 

This style of Sauvignon Blanc (a nice balance between some of the harsh grassy New Zealand style, and the minerally Loire Valley style) is the style I will be keeping my eyes out for come summer 2010 to pair with my summer ceviche. 

Appellation:  Dry Creek Valley
Grapes:  100% Sauvignon Blanc
Retail:  $18.00
Alcohol:  13.9%

2007 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

I enjoyed this wine over the course of two different nights to see how the flavors and body would change with the extended time opened.  

Upon first opening, this wine felt slightly hot and almost medicinal (concentrated) and needed a little time, but by the second day had softened and opened into a nicely balanced and mild Zinfandel.

The wine, subtle, with moderately high alcohol (at 14.9% vs. 16+% Zins), has plenty of dark berry fruit with moderate plum notes.  The smell is unmistakably Zin without being an overpowering jammy fruit-bomb.  The mouth is slightly peppery with soft tannins. 

Overall I found the wine balanced, although not overly complex, but a great value (at $20) if you’re looking for a nice, everyday, non-fruit-bomb, Dry Creek Zinfandel.

Appellation:  Dry Creek Valley
Grapes:  93% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah
Retail:  $20
Alcohol:  14.9%
Food pairings:  I drank this wine with Chicken Parmesan which turned out to be a great pairing as the sweetness of the sauce balanced the heat and spice of the wine.

Learning of some of the many changes that have been going on at Quivira since the changeover of ownership (around the same time I moved to Oregon and stopped visiting the area and winery regularly) I was no longer surprised that I truly enjoyed the two wines I was sent to taste.  Lesson learned.  Good businesses, like good people, continue to grow, evolve, and change (quite often for the better).  And not judging the book by its cover is always a nice reminder since so much variation can occur from vintage to vintage and from owner to owner.  I was pleased with these wines and look forward to making a point to go back to the estate next time I visit the area.

These wines were provided as media samples for review.

Yes, Twitter Can Generate Revenue For Your Winery!

I’ve read arguments up and down, left and right, about social media and wineries, specifically whether it is beneficial for a winery to use Facebook or Twitter to promote their brand, and more importantly whether or not it helps to generate revenue, and all I have to say is “why not”?  It’s free, and it really doesn’t “need” to take up any unnecessary time.

Long story short.

I was visiting Sonoma back in September with a few friends. I used to live in San Francisco, so I was used to going my same ‘ol route to visit many of my favorite wineries.  But since I’ve lived in Portland for almost four years now I feel out of the loop for what’s new there.  So, on a whim I sent out the following tweet on Twitter “On my way to Sonoma, anything new I shouldn’t miss? Haven’t been here in awhile. First stop Gloria Ferrer”.  And low and behold I got a response immediately from a winery I hadn’t heard of, Anaba (@AnabaWines on Twitter), who responded “Visit Anaba. We are new. Very close to Gloria Ferrer. Come on by.”  And we did. 

When we walked into the quaint tasting room we were the only customers and saw only one person working at the bar.  As the woman greeted us she asked if we were the ones who sent the Twitter message.  We asked how she found us and her response was simple, “There was nobody in the tasting room so I just went on Twitter and searched the key words ‘Sonoma’ and ‘wine’ to see if I could drive folks in here, found you, and responded right away”.  Simple as that.  And because of that simple interaction we were able to discover a new winery, that we were not intending to visit, but enjoyed and look forward to visiting again.  Even people (like myself) who pride themselves on keeping up with the industry, changes, and news, can’t keep up with all the new wineries that pop up in Sonoma, or elsewhere for that matter.  That’s where social marketing can help.

Anaba Winery, Sonoma California

While on sabbatical from a career with IBM, Anaba owner John Sweazy traveled through Europe and discovered the beauty, land, and people of both Burgundy and the Rhône Valley, and fell in love.  Upon his return he worked in real estate finance before selling his company in 2003 and dedicating himself to starting his own winery in Sonoma, where the lands reminded him of what he loved about his two favorite regions in France. Thus Anaba was created, named after the unique upward anabatic wind patterns in the Western Carneros region of Sonoma.  Not being a winemaker himself he brought in UC Davis graduate, Jennifer Marion, to direct the wine making and vineyard operations.  In just a few short years this team appears to be doing something right so far because I was very impressed with what we experienced in the wines.  

Fitting for their location they source Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the cooler Carneros region, near the winery, and Russian River appellations, but also source Rhone varietals from some of the warmer areas within the Sonoma Valley.  The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were delightful, but my two favorites and the ones we purchased quite a few bottles of that day were: 

2007 Anaba “Coriol” White Rhone Blend
Mineral (think stones, wet stones) on the nose, with lots of lemon peel, green apple, peach and melon, with a hint of oak aging mellowness.  The mouth had a slight peppery spice, with somewhat of an oily texture residue (typical of Viogner) with additional mineral, lemon, and an almost salty aftertaste (more like wines with a Mediterranean feel).  This wine would go with a wide variety of seafood dishes along with more rich foods where the weight and body of the wine could hold up to a heavy white sauce. Intriguing.  I drank this bottle with grilled Mahi Mahi with a side of quinoa and roasted broccoli... topped with some quality salts this was a winning pair!

Appellation:  Sonoma Valley
Grapes: 69% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, and 6% Grenache Blanc.
Alcohol:  14.1%
Retail:  $28


2007 Anaba "Coriol" Red Rhone Blend
On the nose this wine was smoky and meaty with cedar, dark fruit, and fresh ground pepper throughout.   In the mouth the wine was a bit bold at first, but this full-bodied wine quickly opened up with a beautiful array of red and black fruit, vanilla and cedar, with a strong backbone.  With the richness and peppery touches I see this as a great steak wine, perhaps a grilled peppered steak! 

Appellation:  Sonoma Valley
Grapes:  38% Grenache, 27% Mourvedre, 25% Petite Sirah, 10% Counoise
Alcohol:  14.5%
Retail:  $28


Now the point of this story is that Twitter alone didn’t sell me on their wines, but by using it their employee did get my attention and sparked my interest in wanting to stop at this new winery.  It was the wines, combined with the great hospitality that we received, that ultimately motivated me to make my purchases.  And because of that, I will likely visit them again on my next visit, and certainly recommend a stop to friends wanting to check out new wineries in the Sonoma area.  So, next time you’re visiting a wine region and looking to explore something new it may be worth a tweet to see who’s listening.  And for wineries, it may be a good opportunity to give Twitter a shot (if you’re not already doing so) to see who you may be able to invite to your winery that was not planning to do so.  You just never know…

Mumm Napa

Winter is apparently in full effect this week in Portland, with temperatures as low as the teens (brrr), and guess what’s in my glass… bubbles. Yes, bubbles indeed!  Just because it’s cold that doesn’t keep me from drinking bubbly this time of the year.  I am of the school of thought that bubbles are appropriate all year round and for any occasion.  But if you happen to be a “New Years only” bubbly drinker then pay attention to some of the wines in this post as they make great additions to your New Years party, or whatever you chose to do to celebrate the end of 2009. 

I do have to admit here that on my first visit to Mumm Napa I did not have a great experience. The person that helped us that particular day was rude and inattentive, and it just left a negative impression with me for a long time.  Maybe he was just having a bad day, who knows, but it certainly reminded me of the extreme importance of customer service at all levels.  Wineries should really pay attention to those individuals who represent their brand.  Anybody can walk into the door of a wine tasting room and should expect a favorable tasting experience... I mean... they are gtting paid to serve the customer, right?  I only write this here because I truly believe that a customers first experience with a winery can make or break their overall impression of that brand. 

It is also why I was anxious about trying this lineup of wines, because after a couple years I was more than ready to give them another chance… besides how could I stay mad at someone that makes bubbles?   Whoever said diamonds are a girls best friend was wrong, bubbles are!

Mumm Napa
Rutherford, CA | Napa Valley

Mumm Napa’s history began in 1979 when the French Champagne house, G.H. Mumm, began looking for a place in the U.S. to make American sparkling wine.  The experienced winemaker, Guy Devaux, searched until he found a location where he could make sparkling wine in the traditional French méthode champenoise (I promise I will someday explain at length what this process actually means, but for now understand that it is the highest quality method for producing sparkling wine, and the method used by any quality Champagne from the Champagne region of France, as well as most sparkling wine outside of France.  If you really want more information, the Mumm Napa website has a nice, yet brief, description of the process here).  Devaux eventually found his ideal location in the Napa Valley.

A majority of the fruit for their wines is grown in southern Napa, in the Carneros region, where the temperature is cooler and more conducive to growing the traditional Champagne style grapes (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier).

Although Guy Devaux passed away in 1995, the winery still honors his legacy in all the work they do and even produce the DVX (below) in his honor.  Today Ludovic Dervin, born and trained in France, continues to honor Devaux in making the highest quality sparkling wines he can using the traditional méthode champenoise.

The winery is located Rutherford, CA, along the beautiful Silverado Trail featuring a full-service tasting patio, tours and a Fine Art Photography Gallery hosting year round exhibits.

The Wines

2001 DVX

This is Mumm Napa’s most premium blend made each year to honor the visionary work of Guy Devaux, utilizing their very best lots of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

This wine is bright golden in color, with a nose that is delicate and floral with fresh strawberries, cherries, dried cranberries, green apple, and brioche, followed by a creamy and layered mouth with a luscious body and lingering crisp acidity.  As the wine warmed a few degrees it took on a beautiful smell of Panettone, the Italian holiday bread, along with many other intriguing notes that kept changing every time I went back for another smell. Even after sitting in the glass for a while the bubbles remained fresh and lively.  This was by far my favorite of the lineup and definitely recommended if you’re looking for a special bottle of bubbly.

Appellation:  Napa Valley
Grapes:  50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay
Retail:  $55.00
Alcohol:  12.5%
Occasions for drinking this wine:  Well, anytime.  But I can imagine it being great for the holidays, and since it had the sweet smell of brioche and Panettone I’d bet it would be a great pairing with that as well.


Brut Rosé

Light salmon pink color, this wine has a very berried bouquet of strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries along with some orange peel on the nose.  The mouth is bright, full, and slightly tart with strong acid on the finish.  Recommended if you like fuller bodied bubblies.

Appellation:  Napa Valley
Grapes:  85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay
Retail:  $24.00
Alcohol:  12.7%
Occasions for drinking this wine: This wine was the most robust and full of the four and was definitely a food wine.  I did enjoy the wine, but it’s almost a bit too big (for bubbly) to drink alone.  Would pair beautifully with a wide range of meals (and not just limited to hors d’oeuvres).  I’m thinking roasted chicken with roasted root vegetables for a warm winter treat. 


Mumm Brut Prestige

This wine is floral with white blossoms on the nose along with peaches, green apple, lemon peel, and white cherries.  The mouth is creamy with soft bubbles that dissipate faster than the other wines.  Though not overly complex and not much acidity on the finish, this is a bright and fruit forward (think apple cider) easy drinking wine that is a great everyday sipper for its price point.  Recommended.

Appellation:  Napa Valley
Grapes:  51% Pinot Noir, 46% Chardonnay, 2% Pinot Meunier, 1% Pinot Gris
Retail:  $20.00
Alcohol:  12.5%
Occasions for drinking this wine:  Bright, fresh this would be a refreshing summer sipper or a simple everyday bubbly.  Drink alone as an aperitif, or with hors d’oeuvres or with brunch.

Cuvée M

This wine is golden in color with a slight peach hue.  The nose was bright with aromas of citrus (mostly lemon) along with honey, caramel, pear, peaches, tart green apple, and slight brioche.  The mouth was lively with bright lingering bubbles and finished slightly sweet.  
I tasted the wine before reading any of the notes and was shocked to find that the wine was Sec (semi-sweet) at 3% residual sugar (RS), but with such strong acidity it is not distracting to those who don’t love sweet wine. I’ve tasted tons of still wines with that level of RS that were too sweet for my taste, but this one was barely noticeable.
It is a very intriguing wine that would satisfy both those who enjoy sweeter style bubbles and those who prefer them drier.  Recommended.

Appellation:  Napa Valley
Grapes:  48% Chardonnay, 43% Pinot Noir, 6% Pinot Gris, 3% Pinot Meunier
Retail:  $20.00
Alcohol:  12.5%
Occasions for drinking this wine:  This would be a great wine to introduce new sparkling wine fans to.  I find that people who (think they) don’t like sparkling wine tend to start with sweeter style wines first then start exploring other options from there (I've said it before and I'll say it again, I believe there is a wine for everyone!).
As for food pairings, scallops or hors d’oeuvres would be a lovely paired with this wine.  It would also be great with a fruit or custard based dessert.  Mildly sweet paired with mildly sweet.


If you’re interested in trying out new bubblies this holiday season, any of these would be safe bets for everyday bubbles (except for the delicious DVX which is solid enough for a special occasion).  As for a winery visit, I will be sure to give them another chance next time I am in Napa. 

These wines were provided as media samples for review.

Donati Family Vineyards

This post is long overdue.  I first encountered the wines of Donati Family Vineyards when I attended the Wine Bloggers Conference (WBC) last July.  I happened to be in search for a roommate when I met Brandy Bell, of Donati Family Vineyards, through the WBC forum and we formally met at the conference where I had the opportunity to learn about their wines.

Donati Family’s tasting room is located in the Paso Robles Wine Country, but they source fruit from their vineyards further north in Paicines, in California's Central Coast.  This is situated between San Jose and Monterey CA, where they are the only brand making wines for this appellation. 

According to their website, their winemaking philosophy is “to grow grapes of the highest possible quality, so that wines made from our fruit can meet the quality expectations of our customers,” says Matt Donati. “This requires attention to detail, evaluation of new grape growing and winemaking methods and technologies, and a passion for serving our customers.”

One thing I can say for sure, from my experience with them, is their attention to detail for serving their customers.  They are among a few wineries to be successfully utilizing a variety of social media outlets to connect and build relationships with their customers.  In fact, Brandy was asked to lead a conference session on effectively using social media for wineries.  You can check out their social media space, called Wine Space, where customers and staff are open to share recipes, blog posts, and forums in one location, or on their website.  You can also follow Donati Family Vineyards on Twitter.

As for their wine, I was able to sample a few at the conference and took two bottles home with me to try. 

2005 Merlot, Estate Vineyard, Paicines 
$30.00
Blend: 92% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot

My first impression with the Merlot was that the wine had a strong and pungent nose, almost medicinal.  But that quickly went away after a few more swirls and instead opened up into a very aromatic explosion of dark fruit.  The wine had aromas varying from black cherry, cassis, plum, blueberry, ground black pepper and baking spices to vanilla and chocolate.   In the mouth the wine was spicy, and by that I mean strong hints of fresh ground pepper and smoke.  Something screaming for a rich peppered steak perhaps. 

On the second day the spice had smoothed and balanced into an intriguing mix of mellow dark fruit, rich body, and softened tannins.  The wine was still big and bold but the flavors seemed better integrated together.   I loved the wine on the second day.  My only regret was that I saved just enough for one glass.  It was, however, enough to spark my interest in wanting to buy more of this particular wine.  Especially now since winter is here.  I can see this being a fantastic winter wine, especially one to drink while decorating your house for the holidays. Must be the spice component of the wine that reminded me of the holidays or just the fact that I have holidays on the mind!   I do recommend decanting this wine, or opening it at least ½ hour before you plan to drink it, as it takes some time for the wine to open. 


2006 Syrah, Paicines 
$25.00

I immediately noted bacon fat on the nose, along with dark fruit, black cherry, blackberries, smoke, pepper, along with hints of dark chocolate.  The wine was medium bodied, yet had a deep lushness to it.  I drank the wine without a food pairing, but imagine it would taste great with grilled or smoked meats.  I would love to try it with smoked ribs or smoked beef brisket. 

One of the benefits about attending conferences like WBC is the opportunity to meet people from wineries I may not otherwise have known about, get to know more about their history, wines, and people.  As a sommeIier and educator I always try encourage anyone to try new wines, new regions and most importantly find their own expression in the wines that they like.  Because of my experience with Donati Family (along with many other wines I was able to taste during the conference) I too was able to experience a new AVA and varietals that I am familiar with but with great nuances and hope more people will try to seek out their wines.

I definitely recommend checking out Donati Family wines if you ever get the chance.  If you are in California you can find their wines distributed throughout the state or by visiting the tasting room.  Outside of CA you can find a list where they ship to here.  I hope they find an Oregon distributor soon so we can get some of their wines up here!

Cheers!