My Blog Has Moved!

I have switched over and my new blog site is www.tastefultannins.com . It is still under some construction but check it out! Happy holidays everyone! :)

California Wine and its History

In the world of the wine industry, California is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Presently, this state alone makes up for about 90% of the entire US wine production. If California were to be its own country, it would rank as the 4^th largest producer in the world. With its beautiful landscapes and reputation for many extraordinary wines, California is a major player in both domestic and international wine tourism.

It wasn’t always the situation here in the Golden State. As recent as the mid-1970’s, California was still very unobserved for the quality of its wines being produced. It took British wine merchant Steven Spurrier to challenge US wines and organize the infamous Judgement of Paris in 1976, for California to finally catch its break. A panel of nine French judges blindly tasted Burgundy whites and Bordeaux reds against California chardonnays and cabernet sauvignons. California astonished the world when the results showed Chateau Montelena’s 1973 Chardonnay and Stag’s Leap’s 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon as the winners. This was the monumental breakthrough that California needed in order to establish itself as one the world’s finest wine regions.

The history of California wines date back to the 1770’s when the Catholic monks first introduced vitis vinifera to the area. The “Mission Grape”, as the monks called it, was the only planting of that time and was primarily produced for religious use.

Years later, it was Hungarian-American Agoston Haraszthy who brought European vines over to California and was nicknamed the “Father of California Viticulture.” During this time, the Gold Rush of California was also heavily influencing the wine industry to increase, introducing Napa and Sonoma counties to the wine world.

After having developed for some years, like many other industries, California wine was significantly depleted by the Prohibition of the 1920’s. It took decades of industry pioneers such as Robert Mondavi, the Gallo brothers, and many others to get California wine back on its feet again.

Over the years, California has been known to produce dozens of different varietals. Of these grapes, this state is best known for its Meritage (Bordeaux) blends, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc (or “Fumé Blanc”). In more recent years with the help of the “Rhone Rangers”, California is also becoming a renowned region for Rhone style blends.

The different wine producing regions of California are spread throughout the lengthy state. Up north is recognized by the AVA’s of Napa Valley, Sonoma, Carneros, and Anderson Valley. The central coast is well represented by the AVA’s of Monterrey County, Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles, and Santa Barbara County. The southern portion of the state is not forgotten and wines are produced in areas such as the Malibu Mountains, Temecula, and San Diego County. The Central Valley makes up the majority of the state’s bulk wine production, while the nearby Sierra Foothills AVA is known to produce some interesting Zinfandels.

There are two major influences that endow the signature qualities to California wines. First, the lengthiness of the fruits’ hang time allows for the grapes to reach maximum ripeness and ensure its complexity. Secondly, the state is one of the industry leaders in high expensed vinification systems that promote meticulous and well-controlled winemaking. With lots of hard work and innovation, California has put itself on the map for providing the world with superior wines.

Exploring Red Burgundy at the San Francisco Wine Center

We ended a sunny and warm Tuesday by exploring the delightful reds of Burgundy and the region’s exceedingly intricate features that set it so far apart from others. Our class was lead by renowned sommelier and current General Manager for Meteor Vineyards, Jason Alexander.

Our focus for the night was on the Pinot Noir wines of both Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits. An incredible facet of these two regions is that although they are both located on the limestone ridge of Côte d'Or, the variances in the styles and characteristics of their wines are extraordinary. Even with such a wide range of experience levels in Tuesday’s class, these variations were easily and widely acknowledged.

During the first half of our tastings we concentrated on some of the communes of Côte de Beaune, such as Volnay and Pommard. With rather diverse opinions on the nose and palate of the wines, it was still generally recognized that these Pinots are distinguished as more elegant and fruit forward with floral and vegetal attributes.

In the second half of our tastings we continued north and focused on the communes of Côte de Nuits, such as Gevrey Chambertin and Nuits Saint Georges. These wines seemed to have perplexed many people in the class, causing much intrigue and discussion. What many of us concluded was that these wines were much more powerful and rustic with stronger meatiness and minerality.

My favorite of the night?

Domaine Jean Chauvenet Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Damodes 2000 – 1er Cru

This juxtapose vintage is fascinating and complex with strong secondary characteristics of black olives, wet leaves, and pronounced minerality. Despite these powerful features, this medium-body wine is still able to carry distinct fruit notes of strawberry jam and red cherry. I consider this wine a best of both worlds for Pinot Noir.

Thank you to Jason and Brian for a wonderful and educational class with an ingenious wine list!

Wine List:

Domaine Jean & Giles Lafouge Auxey-Duresses “La Chappelle” 2005 – 1er Cru

Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay 2003

Paul Pernot Pommard “Noizons” 2005

Domaine Denis Mortet Gevrey Chambertin Vielles Vignes 2006

Domaine Jean Chauvenet Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Damodes 2000 – 1er Cru

Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Grands-Echezeaux 2002 – Grand Cru

Chateau de la Tour Clos-Vougeot 2004 – Grand Cru

Domaine Drouhin-Laroze Chambertin Clos de Beze 2002 – Grand Cru

My Visit to Marchesi di Barolo

About two weeks ago I found myself driving through Italy’s Piedmont wine region and stopped by the beautiful village of Barolo. Mesmerizing with its continuous hills of vineyards and historic sites, the scenery of this region is as brilliant as the wine it produces.

I spent much of the day tasting the lovely wines at Marchesi di Barolo. A medium- sized winery controlling just over 100 hectares of vineyards, it produces wines ranging from Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Gavi, Arneis, and more. The Marchesi di Barolo estate, and the castle that it overlooks, formerly belonged to the Marquis Falleti. In the late 1800’s, Pietro Abbona purchased the estate and it has remained within the family ever since.

During my visit, I had the pleasure of meeting with Anna Abbona, wife of proprietor Ernesto Abbona. According to Anna, what sets their winery apart from others is that they emphasize the importance of keeping tradition. One of these traditions is blending wines that were oaked in French barriques with the same wines from medium-sized French oak casks. Not only using the traditional processing of their wines, the family has also prioritized growing simple grapes on traditional terroir. Rather than moving forward to modern technique, they look backwards and embrace the methods that made Marchesi di Barolo a monumental factor in gaining the world’s respect for Barolo wines.

Another notable asset to the estate is the Marchesi di Barolo Enoteca. This impressive wine repository contains their Historic Reserve Wines that date all the way back to 1861. Wandering through the numerous shelves of reserve wines organized by year, I felt as if I was stepping back through time. It was so fascinating to look back historically at how the style of wine labels evolved into what they are today. To be in the presence of a winery with so much history behind it was quite humbling to me.

In addition to having first-rate grapes and impeccable winemaking, wine is still only as good as the people who make it. Anna and Ernesto are absolutely incredible people who sincerely love what they do. Their sheer passion for the traditions of their estate and the wine that has been created there for centuries is inspiring. What is truly marvelous about Anna and Ernesto is that with as much success as their estate has had within the wine industry, they both still strive to share this fervor for quality wine with those who stop by the winery. Whether you are a connoisseur or a novice wine drinker, a visit to Marchesi di Barolo is an utterly splendid experience.

Top 3 Wine Choices:

Sarmassa Barolo 2007
A personal favorite of Anna’s, this 100% nebbiolo wine is both vibrant and elegant. Its aromas of spice and black cherry are harmonious to its taste characteristics of meat, black pepper, cigar box, and tobacco. With 2 years of aging in medium sized casks and in French oak barriques, this wine has undertones of wood that pleasantly fuses with the savory and spicy notes.

Paiagal Barbera d’Alba 2008
Paiagal is a hill that is typically ideal for the nebbiolo grape. Because of that, this is more full-bodied than most Barbera wines and has notes of crisp black fruits such as blackberry and blackcurrant. This bold wine is also enhanced by its traces of violet and earthy tones. Beautifully accented by hints of oak and vanilla, this Barbera is a rare and exceptional find.

Roero Arneis 2010
Arneis is a white grape variety that originates from the Roero region of Piedmont. This refreshing wine is fragrant with pear, almond, and herbal notes. What makes this wine remarkable is that although it is a dry white, it also has savory and peppery flavors that resemble a strong red wine. This superb white wine is both unique and memorable.

For more information, visit http://www.marchesidibarolo.com/

I've Passed the WSET!

I am in the middle of Namibia at the moment volunteering with animals and was finally able to check my email.

I had the wonderful surprise of finding out that I have passed the WSET Advanced with Merit! I am so thrilled that all of the hours of hard work, studying, and of course tasting has paid off.

Now just a couple of more weeks until I'm exploring the wine regions of South Africa! : )

The California Wine Club

Earlier this week, I had a lovely visit to the California Wine Club offices in Camarillo. I had the pleasure of meeting with Jon Boring, the CWC’s Director of Sales and Marketing. Jon gave me a tour of the facilities as we chatted about the company and its core values. For those who aren’t familiar with them, the CWC is a wine of the month club that partners with small family-owned wineries and provides high quality wines to its members.

Jon’s parents, Bruce and Pam Boring, shared a vision many years ago of wanting to provide exceptional wine recommendations to those who are not aware of, nor have time to choose from, all of the different labels on the market. Their approach was to simply suggest wine to buyers as they would to a good friend. Over 20 years later that vision of theirs continues to grow in success.

Bruce stopped by for a few minutes to chat with Jon and me about the many pleasures of his job. He and his wife Pam frequently travel to wine country to meet with wonderful winery owners and wine makers, taste their wine, and hear their story. Many of these undiscovered wines are then placed in the hands of thousands of CWC members. In addition to that substantial exposure, these wineries are also featured in the CWC’s magazine Uncorked. Included in each shipment, these magazines allow club members to learn the histories and back-stories to the wines they are enjoying. The CWC has featured some of my favorite wineries such as Truchard Vineyards (who I’ve previously blogged about), Ventana Vineyards, and many others.

What draws me to this company the most is the fact that they only work with smaller, mom & pop wineries that produce superb quality wine. With all of the corporate giants and bulk wine labels flooding the industry these days, it is refreshing to find a company who shares my passion for finding good people that make good wine.

There are so many exquisite boutique wineries out there that produce, in my opinion, the best wines you can buy. Everyday people are bombarded by mass production wine on the shelves of BevMo, Costco, grocery stores, liquor stores, and even restaurants. Many are under the impression that seeing a familiar label that is famous for its production size is a good thing. Since the reality of it is quite the opposite, I truly appreciate companies like the CWC who aim to educate and introduce these limited-production wineries to its large network of wine lovers. These family-owned wineries are what keep California wines up to par with old world standards and are the ones worth keeping in business.

The CWC currently offers four different wine clubs for its members; the popular Premier Club, the Signature Series, the International Selections, and the Aged Cabernet Series. All four clubs are backed by the CWC’s 100% guarantee so matter what your taste or budget for wine is, you can rest assure that you are in good hands.

To find out more, check out the California Wine Club website.

http://www.cawineclub.com/wine-clubs.php

Happy tasting!

Sunday Funday in Paso Robles

Nothing but blue skies, radiant sunshine, and splendid wine; another perfect day in Paso Robles wine country. Beautifully located in the central coast of California, this region is an easy and scenic drive from almost anywhere in the Golden State.

Here are two of the wineries that I had the pleasure of visiting...

Ecluse Wines:

If I had to choose a winery to recommend for all levels of wine experience, it would be this one. This boutique winery conducts its tastings in a barrel aging room, allowing visitors to have a better insight to the wine environment than most typical tasting rooms provide. Towards the end, visitors are also given two different barrel tastings; both containing the same wine, demonstrating just how different the outcome of two different types of barrels can be.

The owner of Ecluse Wines, Steven Lock, is an utter joy to talk to. It was a pleasure to meet a winemaker who has come so far in the industry, but didn’t resist a chance to talk wine with me. Between the long list of exceptional wines and chatting with Steven, our visit to Ecluse went from minutes to a couple of hours without us even realizing it. That is the true sign of a great winery experience.

My Top Wine Choice: 2006 Ecluse "Rendition"

Not for the faint at heart, this powerful Rhone-style blend is 59% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 13% Mourvèdre. The complexity of this wine is beautifully well-rounded by its flavors of black cherry, blackberry, savory meat, tobacco, and black pepper. This outstanding wine has the finesse and length to be enjoyed for years to come.

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Penman Springs:

Our visit to Penman Springs is something I will not soon forget. The very moment we walked in, we were joyfully greeted by two extremely bubbly ladies; one of which being owner Beth McCasland. With so much energy and enthusiasm in the room, it almost felt like we were at a local comedy club. In addition to some vibrant personalities, the winery also offered cupcakes, delicious homemade brownies, and bread with olive oil to treat ourselves to as we tasted.

The staff was so passionate about every wine that we tasted; it truly gave each wine its own story. I could easily sense how much pleasure the staff took with each sip of Penman Springs that we experienced. There are those who pour your tasting, walk away, and return to see if you are interested in making a purchase. At Penman, they pour your wine and then stay in front of you to join in your experience. Wineries as passionate as this are real treasures in the wine world.

Top Wine Choice: Penman Springs 2008 "Trembler Deux"

“Sugar and spice and everything nice”- this absolutely superb wine is a delightful blend of Petite Sirah, Petite Verdot, and Brandy. The palate presents a vibrant mix of blackberry and blackcurrant jam, nutmeg, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cocoa. The sweetness of this dessert wine is perfectly matched by its impressive elegance.

An Autumn Visit to Caldwell Vineyard

On a beautiful November afternoon, we made a visit to Caldwell Vineyard. Nestled in the hills of the Coombsville region, just east of downtown Napa, the drive up to the property was nothing short of breathtaking. Once at the top of the hill, the view of the valley was patterned with vibrant, autumn-colored rows of vines. Although many people favor the luscious green vines they see while visiting wine country in the summer, there is a special aura in the rows of red, yellow, and orange leaves that fill the landscape.

Unlike most wineries where you drive up to see a beautifully architected tasting room, we pulled up to the property only to think we had taken the wrong turn. We arrived only to see the winery workers throwing grapes into the destemmer, while others sorted through the grapes. In the midst of being convinced that we were in the wrong place, we were greeted by a man in a tan straw hat. Unsure if this man was one of the winery workers; I asked him where the tasting room was located. He proceeded to tell me that this winery has no tasting room, but then asked if I wanted to help out the workers. To my pleasant suspicion, this man was no winery worker, but John Caldwell himself.

After John laughed off his gag, he took us over to the destemmer to introduce us to the workers and tell us a little bit about what they were doing. For his top of the line wines, John uses some unique methods that are not only rare in this day and age, but expensive as well. First, the grapes are destemmed and sorted through a vibrating table to remove any raisins. Next, the grapes are hand-crushed by two workers at the far end of the sorting table. Afterwards, the grape must is put into oak barrels for fermentation.This is a very expensive alternative to machine-crushing and fermenting grapes in vats.

Another interesting part of John’s process is that he uses native yeast, as opposed to cultured yeast, for fermentation. Native yeast has a higher risk of spoilage and is highly unpredictable, but can also provide tastes and aromas that cultured yeast cannot. John has taken a considerably risky move and created some truly great wine.

After exploring the heart of his wine process, John took us over the tasting table that had been setup up outside overlooking the vineyard. A tasting at Caldwell is a tasting one does not soon forget. The table was beautifully arranged with plates of local farm cheeses, Spanish chorizo, and various breads. My absolute favorite of the cheeses was the Shropshire Blue cheese, which is pasteurized cow’s milk with vegetable rennet.

Next up, the wines arrived. In addition to the selection of Caldwell wines we were about to taste, we had another unexpected treat. Winemaker Drew Neiman (Neiman Cellars) was also there to join us with his bottles to taste. Both John and Drew conducted our informative wine tastings while telling us stories of their journeys into the wine world. John is quite the jokester, and with every story of his was a playful laugh at the end. His contagious positive attitude and sense of humor made our tasting session both intriguing and incredibly entertaining.

While John was in conversation with the others at our table, I spent some time getting to know Drew and his winemaking. I was extremely fascinated by the fact that Drew is a one-man operation and controls every aspect of his wine process. He pays precise attention to every part of the chemical process in which he creates his wine. When asked why he doesn’t use any assistance, he jokingly replied that if anyone is going to screw up his wine, it'd better be him.

After a few hours of wine and our enjoyable chats, we concluded our tasting. Although this might be the longest tasting I have ever been to, it went by much too quickly. Nothing is better than enjoying some remarkable wine in the presence of some genuinely wonderful people. Whether you are an experienced wine drinker, or a newbie to the scene, a visit to Caldwell is an experience that will leave its mark with you forever.

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My two favorite wines from this tasting…

Caldwell Rocket Science, 2008

This incredibly complex wine is full-bodied with strong oak, high tannins, and medium acidity. With strong aromas of plum, black cherry, and leather; this wine is powerful from the second the glass is in your hand. The remarkable combination of tastes includes black berry, black cherry, cloves, black pepper, licorice, tobacco, minerals, and forest floor. After the first sip, the only way to describe the experience is that this wine is purely Rocket Science.

Neiman Cellars Syah, 2007

This is a full-bodied wine that is highly tannic, with medium to high acidity. Its inky plum color is enhanced with the distinguishing aromas of black plum, black cherry, and black licorice. Earthy, leather, tobacco, spice, black pepper, and black cherry are the tastes that stand out to me when I taste this wine. It is beautifully influenced by the oak it was aged in. Without a doubt, this is one of the most genius combinations of flavors and aromas I have ever had in a Syrah.

My Success!

I passed my exam and am now officially a Certified Specialist of Wine!

All of the hours of studying, stress, solitude, and emotions paid off. I couldn't be more happy and am excited to continue progressing in my wine career!

A Short Break from my Blogging

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to let you know that I haven't forgotten about my blog, let alone my passion for writing about wine. I will be taking a break from blogging while I am heavily studying to become a Certified Specialist of Wine through the Society of Wine Educators. My blogs will be up and running again mid December.

Wish me luck! :)

Truchard Vineyards

Throughout my years of following the wine industry, I have enjoyed veering away from the corporate giants and seeking more family owned and exclusive wineries. Available by appointment only, away from the main highways, Truchard Vineyards is precisely my kind of winery.

During my visit to Napa in July, I made sure to plan ahead and visit some of these wineries. Although Truchard is mostly available for appointments during the week, I was very excited that they were able to squeeze us in on a Saturday.

The property is located in the Carneros region of Napa Valley, along Old Sonoma Road. The driveway to the winery is a bit tricky to find and we had to turn around a couple of times and drive past again. Upon finding the property, we pulled up the driveway toward the tasting room and were greeted by a friendly little goat.

Our tour and tasting was guided by none other than the gracious Jo Ann Truchard, co-founder of Truchard Vineyards. She began our tour by pouring us a glass of wine and taking us out into the vineyard. The property is quite stunning with a small pond sitting at the bottom of the vine covered hills. We walked through the cabernet-filled slopes and the chardonnay flat lands. Jo Ann gave us each a bottle label to show us this exact scene where the inspiration for the label design came from.

She then took us into the intricate wine cave. Shaped with tunnels in all directions, we walked through and acknowledged the different brands and oaks of the barrels the wines are aged in. Wandering through the cave tunnels not only gave us some insight to their wine process, but also provided a nice cool break from the summer heat of Napa Valley.

We followed the path back to the antique barn-styled tasting room where Jo Ann poured us several of their estate wines. While we tasted, she enlightened us on how her husband Tony and herself bought and converted the Carneros property into a vineyard during the 70's and began making wine in the late 80's. And only those who have tried wine from Truchard would know exactly how well that has worked out.

Now on to the wines! Truchard is one of the few wineries where you can literally go down the list and fall in love with each one of their wines that you taste. Here are some of my favorites...

• Truchard Vineyards, 2007 Pinot Noir- This particular one has to have the most elegant and fresh strawberry aroma of any pinot noir I have tasted. I found myself taking extra time to just inhale the amazing scent before tasting. The wine has a great oak flavor with creamy bold berries. This wine has a notable amount of substance for being a pinot noir.

• Truchard Vineyards, 2006 Tempranillo- This wine has to be my favorite at Truchard. Being a fan of oak, this wine has an utterly powerful oak flavor to it that lingers. The deep colored wine provides the palate with a spicy, citrus, and peppery taste; followed by a bold bitter ending that is perfect to finish off each sip.

• Truchard Vineyards, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon- Anyone who knows anything about the Cabernet Sauvignon grape would not expect this type of wine to be successful in a cooler climate area like Carneros. Truchard proves again that it knows no limits. This wine starts with an enticing aroma of sweet plum and dark berries. The bold taste consists of fresh oak, fruits, nuts, with a creamy gentle aftertaste.

• Truchard Vineyards, 2006 Roussanne- This wine is absolutely perfect for those looking to find a dessert wine that doesn't remind them of sugar syrup. Truchard's Roussanne has an impeccably natural honey taste that is dry and crisp, yet creamy. With its hints of citrus, this wine reminds me of sipping a cup of herbal tea with honey and lemon in it.

For anyone visiting Napa Valley's beautiful wine country, Truchard Vineyards is definitely a stop you'll want to make. With a gorgeous property, wonderful host, and incredible wine, you cannot go wrong.

http://www.truchardvineyards.com/

Closer to Home

When people think of California wine, one area typically comes to mind. Although Napa Valley has earned every right to its popularity and fame, other parts of California are not to be left unnoticed.

About two hours north of Los Angeles is the Santa Ynez Wine Country. From Los Angeles, it is a beautiful coastal drive up Highway 101. It is usually sunny with mild temperatures, making it perfect for any time of the year.

On a usual weekend visit, our first stop in the area always consists of breakfast in Solvang. For those who may not have heard of it, the Danish-styled city of Solvang is known for its Danish architecture, food, and overall atmosphere.

In the center of the Solvang, the Red Viking offers an amazing smorgasbord of meatballs, mashed potatoes, curry cauliflower, pickled herring, amongst other Danish food. It is definitely a meal for those who can eat an extremely heavy brunch. For the amazing food and price (about $12 per person), the smorgasbord is definitely worth the experience.

Just a few minutes north east of Solvang is where you will find yourself in wine country. This region has loads of wineries and tasting rooms to choose from. You can select wineries that have been recommended to you, or you may discover some amazing ones just by stopping by at random.

One winery that attracts a lot of attention by passing drivers is Lincourt Vineyards. This is one of the many vineyards that are located along Alamo Pintado Road. The long driveway passes a great field of grape vines and ends at the tasting room, which is a beautiful bright yellow country style building. Just outside the tasting room is a stunning white wooden patio that is perfect for an afternoon glass of Lincourt wine with friends.

Driving further north on Alamo Pintado Road, you’ll pass by several wineries, Shetland pony farms, and tranquil farmland. Just before you meet Highway 154, you suddenly arrive in the town of Los Olivos. This quant and peaceful town is full of wine tasting rooms in every direction. You can taste wines from ten different wineries without having to walk more than a block. Consider it, “power tasting.”

For those who have time to venture even further north, you will find gorgeous wineries and vineyards layering the landscape. Amongst these sporadic properties are Firestone Vineyards, Koehler Winery, and Fess Parker Winery. Each of these is well worth the slightly extended drive into the rolling hills.

For anyone in the Southern California area, no need for the long drive to Napa. Good wine is never far from home.