Category Archives: Rosé

Sparkling Wines for the New Year – Vertuze & Louis Bouillot Sparkling Rosé

Posted on December 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

With all the celebrating that goes on at this time of year, I find myself enjoying a lot more sparkling wine and champagne than I usually do.

Since I have less time to travel to wine country over the holidays, I’ve been exploring the world of sparkling wine at home with friends and family.  I recently tried a couple of bottles of sparkling Rosé that I thought were excellent and deserving of attention right before we ring in the New Year.

Vertuze Brut Sparkling Rose

Vertuze Brut Sparkling Rosé

The first bottle I tried was a brut sparkling Rosé by Vertuze.  It is produced in the Arroyo Grande Valley in California’s Central Coast from a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir.  Made in the traditional French méthode champenoise, the Vertuze Rosé had a very pale pink hue and a nice touch of sweetness.

Vertuze Brut Sparkling Rosé

Vertuze Brut Sparkling Rosé

For those who are unfamiliar, the méthode champenoise is the oldest and most traditional way of making sparkling wine.  It involves a long, detailed process which includes blending wine (typically some combination of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir) followed by a fermentation period that requires a secondary in-bottle fermentation that can last up to 6 years.

True Champagne comes exclusively from the Champagne region of France while bubbly from anywhere else in the world is referred to as sparkling wine.

Vertuze Brut Sparkling Rosé

Vertuze Brut Sparkling Rosé

Back to Vertuze.  Though I typically enjoy a drier sparkling wine, the Vertuze sparkling Rosé was nicely balanced, very easy to drink, and easy on the wallet at about $19 per bottle.  I could see this being a hit for sparkling wine drinkers with a wide variety of palates.

The second bottle I tried was a brut Cremant de Bourgogne Sparkling Rosé called “Perle d’Aurore” by Louis Bouillot.  Cremant de Bourgogne is the appellation (or defined geographical area) for the Rosé and white sparkling wines of Burgundy in France.

Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne Sparkling Rosé "Perle d'Aurore"

Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne Sparkling Rosé “Perle d’Aurore”

The Louis Bouillot “Perle d’Aurore” Rosé is a blend of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Gamay.  On the palate, it started with lots of strawberry, but finished drier than the Vertuze with a slightly finer effervescence and a nice minerality.  I could see this appealing to sparkling wine drinkers who prefer less sweetness.  Also crafted in the méthode champenoise, the Louis Bouillot Cremant du Bourgone “Perle d’Aurore” Rosé was a steal at $14.

Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne Sparkling Rosé "Perle d'Aurore"

Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne Sparkling Rosé “Perle d’Aurore”

Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne Sparkling Rosé "Perle d'Aurore"

Louis Bouillot Cremant de Bourgogne Sparkling Rosé “Perle d’Aurore”

Grab a bottle (or several bottles) of Vertuze Brut Sparkling Rosé and Louis Bouillot “Perle d’Aurore” Sparkling Rosé for your next holiday party.  I guarantee either sparkler will be a hit.  Cheers & Happy New Year!

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Posted in Burgundy, CALIFORNIA, Central Coast / Monterey, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Rosé, Sparkling Wine & Champagne, WINERY/VINEYARD

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2nd Annual Garagiste Festival – Paso Robles

Posted on November 27, 2012 | 1 Comment

By definition, the term “garagistes” refers to a group of innovative, renegade wine makers from the Bordeaux region who refuse to follow the strict French rules and instead, produce “Vins de garage” or “Garage wine”.

For the second year in a row, Paso Robles has celebrated the spirit of the garagiste movement by holding a festival focused solely on small production wines.   Local artisan wine makers – some familiar and some unknown – gather together for a long weekend, giving wine lovers from all over an opportunity to taste the fruits of their labor.

The Creekside Room at Creekside Bed & Breakfast – Per Cazo Cellars

This year was my first experience at the Paso Robles Garagiste Festival and I was thrilled to be part of it.  On this particular trip, we stayed at the Creekside Bed & Breakfast at Per Cazo Cellars.  I honestly can’t recommend Creekside B&B enough.  From the comfy bed to host Lynn Teckman’s delicious gourmet breakfasts that were delivered to our room each morning, the entire stay was perfect.  Creekside B&B was also very dog-friendly which made it extra convenient and comfortable.

The cozy Creekside Room at Creekside Bed & Breakfast

The cozy Creekside Room at Creekside Bed & Breakfast

The Creekside Room at Creekside Bed & Breakfast

Amazing breakfast #1: Egg & sausage scramble with fresh mixed fruit, fresh squeezed juice, and warm muffin

Amazing breakfast #2: French toast, thick bacon, and fresh berries

The Garagiste Festival opened on Thursday with a dinner at Thomas Hill Organics featuring the cuisine of celeb chef Ludo Lefevbre.  Unfortunately I did not attend the dinner, but having experienced Ludo’s pop-up restaurant LudoBites in Los Angeles, I’m sure diners had an unforgettable experience.

Windfall Farms – Paso Robles

We attended the Garagiste Festival on Saturday, which was the day of the big Grand Tasting.  We walked into the beautiful Stallion Barn at Windfall Farms where 48 independent and passionate wine makers were set up for tastings in the horse stalls.

Inside the Stallion Barn at Windfall Farms

It was difficult to decide where to begin, but I decided to head over to Liquid Farm.  On a rare occasion, I’ve seen Liquid Farm Chardonnay and Rose on menus at some of the finer restaurants in LA, but I had yet to actually try the wine.  Owners Nikki and Jeff Nelson took us through a tasting of two Chardonnays – both of which were unique and wonderfully balanced – as well as one Rose.  If you can get your hands on a bottle of Liquid Farm, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Nikki & Jeff Nelson of Liquid Farm

After Liquid Farm, we headed to Nicora Wine where winemaker Nick Elliot took us through some outstanding Rhones.  Right now, Nicora wines can be tasted by appointment only, but I highly recommend trying them next time you’re in Paso Robles.  I can’t wait to see what else Nick comes up with in the future.

Nick Elliott of Nicora Wine

From Nicora, we headed over to Cloak & Dagger where Ray Schofield walked us through his portfolio of exceptional wines – all of which are “handcrafted in secret”.  We were unsuccessful at uncovering any of the secrets of Cloak & Dagger wines, but we were very impressed with what we tasted.  We tried two Pinot Noirs, as well as a delicious 2010 Illuminatus Sangiovese and a 2010 Skull & Bones Zinfandel.

Ray Schofield of Cloak & Dagger Wines

After Cloak & Dagger, we headed to Red Zeppelin Winery where the eccentric Stillman Brown introduced us to a couple really good Central Coast red wine blends.  Finally, we ended our tasting with the latest offerings from our friends Lynn and Dave Teckman at Per Cazo Cellars.  The 2010 Epi Telos and 2010 Zing were so good that I had to take home a couple of bottles when we checked out of the Creekside B&B.

Stillman Brown of Red Zeppelin Winery

Overall, I loved being part of the 2nd Annual Paso Robles’ Garagiste Festival and feel like there were so many more amazing wines to try.  The wine makers who I met continue to inspire me and deepen my love for wine.  It was so wonderful to have the opportunity to taste new wines with the passionate people who are hand-crafting them.   I look forward to next year…

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Posted in Bordeaux, Burgundy, CALIFORNIA, Chardonnay, Grenache, Mourvedre, Paso Robles, Petit Sirah, Pinot Noir, Rhone, Rosé, Syrah, WINERY/VINEYARD, Zinfandel

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Presqu’ile Winery – Los Olivos, CA

Posted on September 12, 2012 | 1 Comment

Presqu’ile Wine – Los Olivos, CA

Every time I head up to Los Olivos, CA, I feel like the town just gets better and better.  With every trip, I seem to uncover an incredible new wine or a fun, new place to grab a bite.  This past weekend was certainly no exception.

Presqu’ile Wine – Los Olivos, CA

Presqu’ile Wine – Los Olivos, CA

I decided to try the wines of Presqu’ile and instantly fell in love.  The Presqu’ile Wine tasting room is located a couple of doors down from the recently opened Sides Hardware & Shoes restaurant.  The restaurant had a 45 minute wait, so we put down our names and headed to Presqu’ile.

Anna Murphy in the Presqu’ile Wine Tasting Room

We walked in the front door and I couldn’t help notice the incredibly cool decor.  The room was painted in a deep charcoal that was warmed with splashes of color, interesting art, and great lighting.  It was refreshing to see a tasting room with such a unique and contemporary design.

Proper pronunciation of Presqu’ile cleverly written on the tasting room wall

Colorful art on the wall at Presqu’ile

Presqu’ile Wine Tasting Room

I was also thrilled to see a doggy water bowl on the front porch when we arrived.  Our dog Booker was welcomed inside and instantly made friends with the tasting room dog, Hazel.

Booker and his new friend Hazel having a blast

While the dogs played, we sat at the bar and started our tasting.  They offer a Presqu’ile Flight for $10 which includes a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay, a Rose and a Pinot Noir.  They also offer a tasting flight of 3 Pinot Noirs for $15, or you can taste all 6 wines for $20.

Wine wall at Presqu’ile

Presqu’ile Wine Tasting Menu

We opted for the “taste them all” option, and tasting room manager Anna Murphy took us through the line up while she told us about the history of the winery.

We learned that the Murphy Family owns Presqu’ile and that the name means “almost an island” – an homage to a very special piece of land in the Gulf Coast that belonged to her family and was lost during Hurricane Katrina.  The family is working on a permanent Santa Maria winery/tasting room that will open Summer 2013.

Chandelier in the Presqu’ile tasting room

Back to the wine.  I thought the entire line up was pretty incredible and had a difficult time picking favorites.  Winemaker Dieter Cronje handcrafts the wines in a perfectly balanced, elegant, food friendly style which I really enjoyed – especially in an area with so many super-juicy Pinot Noirs and buttery Chardonnays.

Photo of winemaker Dieter Cronje

Presqu’ile Wine Tasting Room

Presqu’ile Wine Tasting Room

The hot day helped me narrow down my purchases to a 2010 Presqu’ile Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley ($35) and a 2011 Presqu’ile Rose of Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley ($18).  I will definitely be back for several bottles of Pinot Noir on my next visit.

Overall, I was so happy we visited Presqu’ile.  Anna was such a pleasure to chat with, the vibe of the tasting room was so welcoming and fresh, Booker got a great workout playing with Hazel, and the wines were fantastic.  I can’t wait for my next visit.

Click here to visit the Presqu’ile Winery website.

PRESQU’ILE WINERY – TASTING ROOM
2369 Alamo Pintado Avenue
Los Olivos, CA  93441
Phone: (805) 688-2022
Email: info@presquilewine.com
Tasting room hours: 11AM – 5PM Thursday through Monday

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Posted in Burgundy, CALIFORNIA, Chardonnay, Los Olivos, Pinot Noir, Rosé, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Sauvignon Blanc, WINERY/VINEYARD

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Carhartt Vineyard & Winery

Posted on March 2, 2011 | Leave a comment

Carhartt Vineyard

Along Grand Avenue in the quaint little town of Los Olivos, CA, there are enough tasting rooms to easily fill an entire weekend.  On a recent trip to the area, I decided to stop in town and try the wines of Carhartt Vineyard.

A view of Grand Avenue in Los Olivos

Grand Avenue is lined with tasting room after tasting room, each representing a winery or vineyard that is located in the surrounding area.  And the thing that makes the Carhartt Vineyard tasting room unique is that if you’re not paying attention as you drive along the avenue, you may just miss it.

Carhartt Vineyard Tasting Room

The Carhartt Vineyard tasting room is really, REALLY tiny.  In fact, the owners refer to it as the ”World’s Smallest Tasting Room”.  On the day I visited, the place was packed and there were probably only 8 of us in the room.  There was also a small outdoor patio in back that fit another handful of tasters.

Inside the cozy little Carhartt Vineyard tasting room

Even with a crowd in the tasting room, Carhartt had a wonderful, cozy feeling about it.  The entire Carhartt Vineyards tasting shack was constructed mostly of warm, rustic wood with select merchandise, pieces of artwork, and family photos covering the walls inside.  The front door was being guarded by a huge, intricately crafted fish sculpture that fit the whole environment perfectly.

Fish sculpture guarding the Carhartt Vineyard tasting room

Immediately upon entering, I was greeted by a friendly tasting room staff member who provided me with my first taste.  She told me that the owners & wine makers – Mike and Brooke Carhartt – were on a long-overdue vacation, but that their son Chase was managing the tasting room for the day.

Chase Carhartt explaining the wines his family hand-crafts

The Carhartt Vineyard tasting room menu

It was instantly clear that Carhartt Vineyard is a family affair.  I learned that Brooke Carhartt is the very talented winemaker, her husband Mike meticulously tends to the vineyard, and they all play their part in pouring wine for their guests at the tasting room.

Chase obviously shares his parent’s passion for wine.  Even though he was probably in his early 20′s, Chase explained each wine with such enthusiasm and knowledge, it seemed as though he crafted each one with his own two hands.  Everyone in the tasting room gave him unwavering attention as he talked us through each pour.

I tasted six wines for a $10 fee, which was gladly waived with the purchase of two bottles.  Carhartt Vineyard produces each wine in such small production and with such attention to detail that some of the varietals sell out to the wine club – before the general public even gets to try a sip.

Tasting notes from the Carhartt Vineyard menu

While I thought all the wines I tasted were pretty incredible, there were a couple that stood out from the rest.  The ’09 “Chase The Blues Away” Rose ($18) had just the right amount of dryness coupled with lots of juicy strawberry, watermelon and a touch of tartness.  The grapes for the Rose were harvested from the 10 acre Carhartt family vineyard.

Carhartt Vineyard '07 Estate Grown Merlot

The ’07 Merlot ($30) – also from the Carhartt family vineyard – was unique and complex with lots of plum and dark cherry with a subtle hint of smoke.  I took these two bottles home, but would have loved to purchase one of each bottle on the tasting list.

Be sure to stop in and say hello to the Carhartt family next time you’re visiting the Los Olivos area.  The wines of Carhartt Vineyard are not to be missed…

Click here to visit the Carhartt Vineyard website.

Carhartt Vineyard – Tasting Room
2990-A Grand Avenue
Los Olivos, CA  93441
Phone:  (805) 693-5100
Fax:  (805) 688-3004
Tasting room hours:  11AM – 5PM Daily

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Posted in CALIFORNIA, Los Olivos, Merlot, Rosé, Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley, WINERY/VINEYARD

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Woodinville, WA Wine Country

Posted on November 30, 2010 | Leave a comment

Last weekend, we left sunny southern California and headed up to Seattle to explore the wine country in Woodinville, Washington.

A rare sunny day in Seattle

Woodinville is an easy 30 minute drive from downtown Seattle along lush forests and over long, floating bridges.  I had never been outside the city and was blown away by how beautiful the area was.  When we arrived in the picture-perfect little town of Woodinville, it was foggy and misting which only made the colors on the changing trees more vibrant.   After what has been a really strange year weather-wise in Los Angeles, it FINALLY felt like fall.

Fall colors in Woodinville, WA

We decided to begin our day with breakfast at a local restaurant called Barking Frog.  The name comes from “the Native American storytellers use of the Frog as a symbol of wealth or abundance. When the frogs are barking, it is a sign of peace and harmony in nature.”

This cozy, rustic restaurant features both a chef (Chef Bobby) who was once invited to cook at the historic James Beard House in New York City and a wine list that has received Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence five years in a row.  Even more importantly, the restaurant had an incredible casual warmth to it and the food was absolutely delicious.  We watched the restaurant’s resident peacock roam the grounds as we enjoyed our food.  It was a great and highly recommended way to start a day of wine tasting – especially considering Barking Frog’s convenient location at the beginning of the wine country “loop”.

The beautiful grounds outside Barking Frog

Barking Frog's resident peacock entertaining diners

After breakfast, we were ready to begin our day of wine tasting.  Woodinville Wine Country is arranged in a loop composed of tasting rooms representing over 50 Washington wineries, ranging from one of the biggest wineries in the state to several small production boutiques.  Almost all Woodinville wineries grow their grapes in the warm, arid climate of Eastern Washington’s Columbia Valley which shares similar latitudes to the great wine regions of Northern Europe.

Woodinville Wine Country tasting map

We decided to start with the biggest and most well-known – Chateau Ste. Michelle – which was a quick 5 minute drive from the Barking Frog.  The Woodinville wine industry actually began with the establishment of Chateau Ste. Michelle in 1976 and the industry has been growing and flourishing ever since.

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Chateau Ste. Michelle

Map of Chateau Ste. Michelle

Chateau Ste. Michelle was a truly impressive winery with beautifully landscaped grounds, a large tasting room and a wine-focused gift shop.  Visitors can also take a tour of the facilities to learn more about the wine making process.  We each decided to do a tasting where we sampled 4 of the 8 wines they were pouring for a $10 fee.  Some of these wines can be found at major grocery stores while others can only be purchased at the Chateau.

Tasting selection at Chateau Ste. Michelle

I decided to try an ’08 Pinot Gris, ’05 Chenin Blanc, ’07 Cold Creek Cabernet Sauvignon and an ’05 Petit Verdot.  While I thought they were all quite good and nicely balanced, the Cabernet Sauvignon was a clear stand out for me.

Chateau Ste. Michelle tasting menu

After our tasting, we continued along the loop and stopped at Novelty Hill/Januik.  Novelty Hill and Januik are two independent wineries that share a tasting room and production facility in Woodinville.  Acclaimed winemaker Mike Januik makes the wine for both labels, working with leading Columbia Valley vineyards, including the wineries’ own estate vineyard Stillwater Creek.

Novelty Hill/Januik Winery

The Novelty Hill/Januik winery is a modern architectural masterpiece with a design that works in perfect balance with the natural environment.  Dominant use of cold gray concrete mirroring the often overcast Washington sky is warmed by rich woods, splashes of colored artwork, vibrant green gardens, an outdoor fire pit, an open cellar/barrel room, and lots of natural light coming in through the many glass features.

Entrance to Novelty Hill/Januik

Tasting room at Novelty Hill/Januik Winery

Novelty Hill and Januik are both committed to delivering consistent high quality wines using nurturing and innovative artisanal winemaking processes.  Visitors are able to taste wines from both labels, with 3 different tasting options.  The Colombia Valley Tasting allows for 4 wine samples from a combination of Novelty Hill and Januik for $5.  The “King Cab” Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting features 4 Cabernet Sauvignon tastes for $10, and the Single Vineyard & Reserve Tasting is a mix and match of 4 single vineyard and reserve wines for $10 (Friday through Sunday only).

I wanted to familiarize myself with wines from the different single vineyards in the Columbia Valley, so I opted for the Single Vineyard/Reserve tasting and found several of the Cabernet Sauvignon’s to be exceptional, rivaling some of the great Cabs of Napa Valley.  Novelty Hill/Januik is a definite “must see” for anyone visiting the area.

Artwork in the tasting room...

Barrels of wine aging in the open cellar at Novelty Hill/Januik

Filling barrels in the open cellar at Novelty Hill/Januik

We purchased a couple of bottles at Novelty Hill/Januik and headed on to Efeste.  Efeste is the northernmost winery along the Woodinville wine country loop, but it’s well worth the visit.  Stand outs here included a 2009 Babbitt Rosé Syrah made from 100% Syrah grapes, an ’07 Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah blend called Final Final, and a 2007 Big Papa made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Efeste also had a gratis cheese and cracker plate that complemented our tasting perfectly.

At this point, we were running out of time so we headed to one more winery – Mark Ryan.  Mark Ryan McNeilly is an artisan winemaker with a rock and roll edge whose wines have received several rave reviews from Wine Spectator.

Mark Ryan Winery

The tasting room at Mark Ryan was one of the coolest we saw on our tasting trip.  The walls were decorated with colorful rock and roll posters, restored vintage motorcycles were on display, and the tasting menu was written on a chalkboard above a wonderfully aged yellow credenza.

Mark Ryan tasting room

Mark Ryan tasting room

Tasting menu at the Mark Ryan Winery

Mark hand crafts all his wines in a garage in Bellevue, Washington and aims to create wines that are expressive of the region where the grapes are grown.  He lets his grapes ripen quite a bit resulting in wines that are big, flavorful, and juicy, but also very nicely balanced.

Mark Ryan tasting room

Most of the wines we tasted at Mark Ryan were Bordeaux blends (Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon), some with Syrah or Petit Verdot added which gave the wines bold body and unique personality.  I liked all the wines we tasted here, but my favorite was the ’08 The Dissident ($32).  We bought a bottle and brought it back to Seattle to enjoy at dinner.

I very much enjoyed our trip to Woodinville Wine Country and felt like we really only scratched the wine tasting surface in this beautiful area.  The wines we tasted were consistently very, very good.  Cabernet Sauvignon seemed to shine here, along with Merlot and Syrah.  In fact, I felt the Cabernet we tried was on par with some of the best I’ve tasted out of Napa.  I look forward to getting back to Woodinville to explore it further.  It is well worth a visit and recommend to anyone who has an appreciation for the natural beauty of the Northwest and a passion for great wine… all within a short drive from Seattle.

Click here to visit the Barking Frog website.
Click here to visit the Chateau Ste. Michelle website.
Click here to visit the Novelty Hill Winery website.
Click here to visit the Januik Winery website.
Click here to visit the Efeste Winery website.
Click here to visit the Mark Ryan Winery website.
Click here to visit the Woodinville Wine Country website.

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Posted in Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Rosé, Syrah, WASHINGTON STATE, WINERY/VINEYARD, Woodinville

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A trip down the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail…Solo.

Posted on July 13, 2010 | 2 Comments

I’ve never planned a wine tasting trip alone, but today seemed like the perfect day to try it. I woke up early and headed up towards Santa Maria, CA – a relatively quick and easy 2 hour drive north of Los Angeles.

Solvang, CA

My first stop was the little Danish town of Solvang for some coffee, snacks and water. The picture-perfect downtown area of Solvang is a great place to grab a bite and stroll around either before or during a day of wine tasting.

Solvang, CA

By the time I left Solvang, the last little remnant of  early morning fog had burned off and the sky was a sparkling shade of turquoise.  I was ready to start my journey down the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail.  I decided I would visit three wineries during my trip, taking my time at each to really learn about the wineries and the wines they produce while soaking up the beautiful day.

The first winery on my list was Curtis.

Curtis Winery

While I’ve visited the wineries of Santa Barbara County more times than I can recall, I had never been to Curtis and was excited for the new experience.  I was particularly excited because in an area that tends to be dominated by Burgundy styles like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Curtis focuses exclusively on Rhone varietals (Granache, Syrah, Mourvedre, & Viognier).  In fact, the Curtis tagline is “We live for Rhones”.  Winemaker Chuck Carlson recently held the position of president of the Rhône Rangers, “an organization dedicated to the appreciation, enjoyment and advancement of Rhône-style wines in the United States”.  I had a feeling I was in for a treat.

Curtis Winery

Vineyards at Curtis

When I first pulled in to the parking lot, I immediately noticed how beautiful the grounds were.  The winery is surrounded by vines that were full of grape bunches in the stage just before their skin becomes saturated with color.  Assorted plants and flowers added splashes of color around the vine-covered building and a couple of signs noted trailheads with paths meandering up into the hills.

Grapes in the early stages of ripening

One of the trailheads adjacent to the parking lot

I walked into the tasting room and was fortunate to be one of only a few tasters – one of the benefits of starting the day a bit early.  Nancy in the tasting room poured the current releases for me and explained each one (6 wines for $10 including a logo glass).  The line up included a ’08 Viognier, ’08 Heritage Rose, ’06 Mourvedre, ’06 Grenache/Syrah blend called The Crossroad, ’06 Syrah, and ’06 Cabernet Syrah.

Curtis Winery tasting room

I was pleasantly surprised as each wine I tasted exceeded my expectations.  They were well made, nicely balanced, reasonably priced, and just plain tasty.  After chatting a while with Nancy and a couple of fellow tasters, I walked out with two bottles of Rose ($14/bottle), one Mourvedre ($25/bottle) and one Syrah ($22/bottle).  Curtis was the perfect way to start my day.  It’s a must-try for anyone who enjoys great Rhone wines.

Next, I was on to Foxen.

Foxen 7200 "the shack"

Obviously Foxen isn’t a new place for me and it has already been a topic on my blog, but I was on a mission.  Just days ago, Foxen released a couple new wines and I was very eager to try them.  I also wanted to try their ’09 Rose of Mourvedre as I’ve been stocking up on Rose for the summer.

Foxen Winery & Tasting Room

Foxen's solar powered tasting room

I ended up doing a split tasting at Foxen (3 wines at the new tasting room and 3 wines at the Foxen 7200 “the shack” for $12).  I won’t spend too much time on Foxen, but once again, they’ve proven they can do no wrong in my eyes.  The newly released 2007 Grassini Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was fantastic, the ’09 Rose of Mourvedre (also referred to as “The Watermelon”) was fruity but not overly sweet – perfect for a warm day, and if you like Pinot Noir, the ’08 Block N – Bien Nacido Vineyard  Pinot Noir is an absolute must try.  But hurry… it was produced in such small quantities and is so delicious, they only had a case or two left as of today.  You will not be disappointed.

View from the deck at Foxen 7200

After lingering in the sunshine on my favorite back deck at  ”the shack”, I headed to my final destination for the day – Rancho Sisquoc.

Rancho Sisquoc Winery

Rancho Sisquoc Winery

Rancho Sisquoc has been a long-standing favorite of mine for a few simple reasons: a wide variety of really good wines at great prices.  For 30 years, Rancho Sisquoc has been hand crafting small batches of estate wines from grapes grown on their 37,000 acre ranch.  I also love the rustic and cozy little tasting room nestled far off the beaten path where lucky travelers might spot a group of deer roaming around in the fields or a few hawks flying overhead.  It’s a great place to spend the afternoon relaxing on their outdoor tables.

Rancho Sisquoc Winery tasting room

Visitors to Rancho Sisquoc can sample any 6 wines from their list of many for $8.  The list includes everything from Chardonnay to Riesling to Malbec and many more in between.  I usually walk away with a few bottles of two wines unique to Rancho Sisquoc – Tre Vini and Sylvaner.

Tre Vini ($20/bottle) is a blend of 58% Sangiovese, 22% Malbec & 20% Syrah that goes perfectly with Italian food.  Sylvaner  ($14/bottle) on the other hand is a white blend of the Sylvaner grape with 16% Riesling.  Rancho Sisquoc is the only producer of this varietal in California.  It’s another great wine for summer with hints of light lime, apricot, sweet pear and roasted peanuts on the nose and a crisp, slightly sweet finish.  It’s very unique and loved by many – including those who don’t typically enjoy drinking white wine.

So, with a great day of tasting behind me and a full trunk of wine, I started my journey back to Los Angeles.  While I had reservations about my day of solo wine tasting before I left, it ended up being a wonderful day and a fun new adventure.  Instead of feeling like the strange girl standing by herself in the tasting rooms, I met so many warm and friendly people both pouring the wines and tasting them.  Best of all, I was able to go at my own pace, relax, and see where the day took me.  Until next time!

Click here to visit the Curtis Winery website.
Click here to visit the Foxen Vineyard website.
Click here to visit the Rancho Sisquoc Winery website.

CURTIS WINERY
5249 Foxen Canyon Road
Santa Maria, CA  93454
Phone:  (805) 686-8999
Tasting room hours:  10AM – 5PM Daily

FOXEN WINERY & VINEYARD
(business address & tasting room)
7600 Foxen Canyon Road
Santa Maria, CA 93454
Phone: (805) 937-4251
Fax: (805) 937-0415
Tasting room hours:   11AM – 4PM Daily

(foxen 7200 “the shack”)
7200 Foxen Canyon Road
Santa Maria, CA 93454
Phone: (805) 937-4251
Fax: (805) 937-0415

RANCHO SISQUOC WINERY
6600 Foxen Canyon Road
Santa Maria, CA  93454
Phone:  (805) 934-4332
Fax:  (805) 937-6601
Tasting room hours:  10AM – 4PM Monday through Thursday.  10AM – 5PM Friday through Sunday.

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Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, Grenache, Mourvedre, Pinot Noir, Rhone, Rosé, Santa Barbara, Solvang, Syrah, WINERY/VINEYARD

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L’Aventure Winery….

Posted on May 4, 2010 | 1 Comment

L'Aventure Winery

During the last weekend in February, I had the honor of attending L’Aventure Winery’s unveiling of the 2008 vintage.  I joined Club L’Aventure last year on my birthday and have developed such a passion for these wines, I was waiting to taste the new vintage like a little kid waiting for Santa to arrive.  I wasn’t going to let torrential downpours and hurricane-like winds stop me from getting up to Paso Robles.  More on that later.

L’Aventure is very near and dear to my heart.   The Optimus blend is the single wine that turned me from a casual wine drinker to someone who truly appreciates and understands incredible wine.  Flash back to very early 2005.  I was at a wine tasting in Los Angeles called “The Best Wines for $20 or Less”.  As I meandered my way from table to table, tasting a lot of better than average, relatively inexpensive wines, I came across a man who poured me the wine that changed my life.

L'Aventure Winery

He actually wasn’t even representing L’Aventure.  In fact, I don’t really recall which winery he was representing, but I tasted his wines and they were pretty good.  Nothing special, but not bad.  We started chatting about my favorite wines of the night, etc, etc and then…he reached into a bag behind him and said “you really need to try this.  Just keep it quiet… it’s from my personal collection.”  My new friend pulled out a bottle of 2002 L’Aventure Optimus and poured a little into my tasting glass.  I smelled it (wow…incredible.  So much more complex than any wine I’d experienced).  I tasted it (unreal).  I literally stood there and savored every little bit of berry, spice, cassis and minerality I was tasting.  This wine was unlike anything I’d ever tried.

I pulled out my tasting note brochure I got for the evening and scratched in pen “L’Aventure Optimus.  DELICIOUS!!”.  I thanked my friend for opening my eyes to a whole new wine world, tasted a few more wines – none of which could stand up to what I just experienced – and I left the tasting event with a whole new perspective.

Winemaker Stephan Asseo at the L'Aventure Winery

I’ve been following L’Aventure ever since and have been equally impressed by each and every vintage.  Winemaker and owner Stephan Asseo has been making wine since 1982.  Since then, he has “developed into an artisan winemaker of fastidious craftsmanship, and gained a reputation as a maverick vigneron”.  Stephan’s passion for winemaking and his desire to raise the bar for other wine makers in his league is evident in each and every bottle he produces.

The estate vineyards at L'Aventure

I’m particularly drawn to the fact that Stephan is truly a trailblazer in his craft.  He grew tired of the strict AOC laws in his native France and decided to venture out on a quest – a great adventure – to find the perfect terroir to craft his remarkable wines.  After traveling the world from South Africa to Argentina to Napa Valley, Stephan fell in love with Paso Robles and has been there ever since.

Artwork on the wall at L'Aventure

So, back to that weekend in February.  I first visited the L’Aventure tasting room 4 years ago and have made a yearly pilgrimage to Paso every year since, just to taste the latest vintage.  But this weekend was my first visit as a wine club member.  The winery was closed to the public so this was our exclusive opportunity to see what 2008 was tasting like.  Unfortunately Mother Nature wasn’t sure if she wanted us to make the trip.

We left Los Angeles on Friday evening, fully aware of the fact that it might rain.  When we got in the car, things were dry as could be and we though we may have dodged the storm.  Unfortunately half way up to Pismo Beach (where we were spending the night), it started raining.  Really, REALLY hard.  There were a few moments where I wasn’t sure if we should press on or pull over.

L'Aventure Winery

Fortunately we made it to Pismo Beach and checked into our lovely hotel room at the SeaCrest Resort.  This hotel was recently renovated and is highly recommended.  The attention to detail throughout the hotel and the gorgeous seaside location are unsurpassed for a relatively inexpensive hotel.  After a night of more rain and wind that nearly convinced us there was a hurricane blowing outside, we woke up to clearing skies and were excited for our day of wine tasting.

SeaCrest Resort after the storm...

We left Pismo Beach and were in Paso Robles in less than 30 minutes.  We drove down the beautiful gravel road toward L’Aventure, parked, and quickly made our way towards the tasting area.  Before we could enter the winery, we were stopped by a voice declaring “wait a minute… you have to see me first”.  At a small table near the door to the winery was the artist himself.  Stephan was pouring his ’09 Estate Rose and personally greeting his visitors.

The entry gate to L'Aventure Winery and Estate Vineyard

The vineyards at L'Aventure...

My moment with master winemaker Stephan Asseo

After chatting with Stephan about his newest releases, this past growing season, and about what he has up his sleeve for the next year at L’Aventure, we headed inside to taste the rest of the wines.  I honestly can’t say which were my favorites.  They were all poured directly from the barrels so they were all perfectly “open” and so delicious.

View from inside the tasting at L'Aventure Winery

The ’09 Estate Rose was an incredible start.  We decided to purchase 3 bottles right off the bat.  The ’08 Optimus was perhaps one of the best to date.  The ’08 Le Grand Verdot – a new release for members only and inky purple in color with just the right amount of tartness on the palate – was another stand out.  The Estate Cuvee and Cote a Cote are always favorites and this vintage certainly didn’t disappoint.

Freshly bottled '08 Le Grand Verdot...delicious!

'08 Estate Cuvee...

We got home and placed our order for a mixed case without hesitation.  L’Aventure wines are a bit on the pricey side, but well worth it if you appreciate quality wine.  We’ve already received our shipment and finished off 2 bottles of Rose which were just as delicious as when Stephan handed me my first taste.  If you’re in the Paso Robles area, L’Aventure is an absolute must see.  I can’t wait for our next visit…

Click here to visit the L’Aventure Winery website.

L’AVENTURE WINERY
2815 Live Oak Rd.
Paso Robles, CA  93446
Phone: (805) 227-1588
Fax: (805) 227-6988
Tasting room hours:  11AM – 4PM Thursday through Sunday.  Monday through Wednesday by appointment.

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Posted in Grenache, Mourvedre, Paso Robles, Petit Verdot, Rhone, Rosé, Syrah, WINERY/VINEYARD

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