Wine Outlook

If you’re in or around Jackson, Mississippi, have I got news for you. This Saturday evening brings the wine event of the year: Sante South Wine Festival. Over 30 wineries will pour over a 100 wines, with a dozen local restaurants providing delectable treats.The center courtyard of Highland Village, a quaint outdoor mall, provides the perfect setting with its cobbled walkways, fountains, benches, flowers & trees, and scattered artwork.

Back story: when I attended the first one two years ago, I had just returned to the Jackson area with plans for finding a wine job. Thinking this festival would be a great opportunity to meet people in the industry, I did a little research on each winery being represented (and even had index cards with notes). However, a combination of my being shy and enjoying the wine a bit too much–this was before I began to spit–didn’t exactly lead to any offers. At the time, it didn’t matter. That was the first time I hung out with the sommelier, who is now one of my dearest friends. We bonded afterwards over the Guntrum “Yellow Fantasy” and rosemary & honey glazed chicken at Julep, right around the corner. Not that we needed any more wine, or food, at that point. (more…)

Jackson, Mississippi, Sante South, Wine Festival

When I went over to a friend’s last night for a little wine, I brought with me a bottle of 2003 Concannon Petite Sirah. I was telling her how it was the first bottle of wine anyone in California gave me. At some random off-site tasting, I had a nice conversation with Jim from Concannon, and when he was leaving, handed me a bottle, much to my delight. (That was one sign I had made the right decision in moving to California.)

I had told him how when I came out to the area in December 2005, trying to find a job, I decided to drive to Concannon. I have always had a special place in my heart for Petite Sirah and they produced the first. Perhaps he felt sorry for me because I mentioned it somehow took me 2 hours to make the drive from Palo Alto to Livermore, which should have taken 1. Actually, it was on that trip that I finally accepted my fate as bad with directions. Maybe it was when I had to call and cancel my appointment at Ridge, after driving back and forth on Highway 9 several times, explaining “the map sections of standardized tests were always my lowest score.”

I’ve been saying how I’d like to get, instead of individual AVA’s on separate maps, one map of all the California wine regions. Not that I could use it to get anywhere, but so I can see where I’ve been and where I still need to go.

2003 Concannon Petite Sirah, CA wine map, getting lost

….Farley Walker

Happy Easter, y’all.

Back before I knew any better, visions of brunch danced in my head. But the tasting room is open today, and I’m the only one who agreed to work. Since I’m there alone, it’s going to be terribly dead or crazy busy.

If you’re rambling around these parts, drive on up and keep me company. We’re (ok– I’m) probably closing around 4, unless it’s a ghost town and then maybe a bit earlier.

The other day I was seeking advice for where to go for the day, and my teacher friend was on spring break, so I had a partner in crime. We decided that morning to drive down to Big Sur. I haven’t been along that stretch of Highway 1 before, and it was a glorious day to view it. The greens and blues in the water and in the sky were quite a sight under all that glorious sunshine.

The weather was ideal, as well. Just the right amount of breeze for going on a pleasant hike– no sign of mountain lions–and then a picnic lunch. I was quite pleased with the split of 2004 E.Guigal Côtes du Rhône blanc which was corked the last time I tried. This time it was lightly floral with tons of fruit, mostly apricots and pears. Very nice with the turkey sandwiches and salad.

Then we had to hit at a couple of tasting rooms. (more…)

Big Sur, E.Guigal Côtes du Rhône

The other night a friend and I went to Vino Locale in Palo Alto. I’m ashamed to say it was the first time because it appeals to me on several levels. 1) It features local wines (go figure, with that name) by producers 7 to only 70 miles away. 2) Its setting is an old Victorian house, the walls covered with the work of local artists. 3) Vino Locale is a supporter of the Slow Food Movement, focusing on fresh ingredients from nearby sources.

We had a great time sitting at the bar, ordering tastes of Viognier, Marsanne, and two different Rosés. Then we had ‘Randy’s Special,’ a fun combo of sparkling wine with a splash of Syrah, which went very nicely with the crostini sampler (my favorite topping was the spicy tapenade). The finale was a Syrah flight to go with our sandwiches–mine had elk & cranberry sausage. Out of the 4, I really enjoyed the Martin Ranch and Zayante, though I found the Hunter Hill tasting very plastic. (more…)

Situation
Would like to go on a mini road trip tomorrow. Would like to keep the drive not much longer than 2 hours (from say, San Mateo)

Issues to consider
Places I’ve been that I don’t want to go this time: Napa or Sonoma
Other places I’ve been: Livermore, Healdsburg (very briefly), most wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains–except the most southern ones, couple of tasting rooms in Monterey

Other requirements
should have other fun activites besides winetasting (including, but not limited to, hiking, affordable shopping, ghost sightings)

It seems the places I really want to go are just a little too far (Paso, Amador, Mendocino….) So come on, readers and drinkers. Help a girl out!

wine suggestions, wine country advice

Thanks, Paul, for sending me this link for the Wine Dispenser. I’ve been to the Cafe Rosso & Bianco in Palo Alto (though I think when I went there it was called Cafe Niebaum Coppola) where they have the same kind of system–called enomatic– in place. You purchase a card with $10, 20, or 30 and then can dispense a taste, half glass, or full glass. This allows you to sample some fairly expensive wines you might not otherwise be able to afford. Another one that I haven’t been to yet is750 ml in San Mateo, but it’s definitely on my list of places to go.

wine bar, wine dispenser, enomatic

With a couple of phone calls, I set up an appointment to visit Montana’s only commercial winery. Located in the outskirts of Missoula, on the way to one of my favorite hiking trails, it sits a bit off Rattlesnake Drive, and once bore the name Rattlesnake Creek Vineyards until the threat of one of those pesky lawsuits that plague wineries trying to put the wrong word on a label.

Now named Ten Spoon Winery, the owners–Andy and Connie– are in the process of building a house, since they’ve been residing in the winery for 7 1/2 years. Cases of wine are stacked in their ‘living room’ and we tasted at the kitchen counter, where Freddy and Buya chased each other and tried to sample the Fat Cat organic white. That one comes from St. Pepin grapes grown right outside the door. Those and the other grapes they planted (about 9 years ago) are such that they can weather the harsh MT cold. (more…)

The other night, some friends and I decided to hop over to The Red Bird in downtown Missoula, with its newly added wine bar. We all began with the wine specials, so on the table were glasses of Sparkling Shiraz, a Spanish rosato, one French wine of Mourvedre and Grenache (the waitress didn’t tell us which region), and an Austrian blend with Riesling, Muscat, and Sauvignon Blanc. We had appetizers of champagne fondue and crab dip, which didn’t go with my sparkling red, I know, but for once I didn’t insist on a perfect pairing. And though all of our glasses were very empty when the food arrived, we still managed to have quite a good time.

With the meal, the girls ordered a bottle of 2004 Steele Zinfandel from the Catfish Vineyard, rather appropriate for two MS girls, don’t you think? It was pretty tasty, as I tried some before one of the sick girls drank from their glasses. From what I recall, I got vanilla and red fruit. However, I had the Austrian white with my tempura shrimp caesar, made with a curried vinaigrette, and thereby made up for my pairing inabilities earlier.

The Red Bird, 2004 Steele Zinfandel

Two friends are going to Spain this week for a belated honeymoon. Last week I had a meal that allowed my jealousy a form of release. Iberico cheese went into my cheese risotto as well as my Caesar dressing, replacing the parmesan. Along with the oven-roasted steak (from the freezer, not sure of the cut), the meal was a good pairing with my Tempranillo. Both the wine and cheese were quite affordable as they came from Trader Joe’s, which makes dinner taste that much better.

The 2002 Bodegas Iranzo Tempranillo (100%) proudly bears the stamp “made with organically grown grapes.” My quickly scribbled tasting notes (sometimes that happens when the food looks too good to concentrate on the wine alone) indicate aromas of raspberry and dirt, with more of the same on the palate, along with tobacco. It did go very nicely with the cheese risotto (something I’ve never made before but Wannabe Wino always raves about). I have to say, this wine didn’t hold well—the next afternoon it tasted of band-aids. The leftovers, however, were marvelous.

2002 Bodegas Iranzo Tempranillo, Spanish meal, good finds at Trader Joe’s

Hint: It’s not where you might think…

Next weekend is all about Pinot Noir (ok, and probably a little green beer) for Bay Area residents. If you can look to your left or right and see the Santa Cruz Mountains, you’ll be in the right place.

Here’s the scoop on what’s happening:

Saturday March 17: Pathway to Pinot Paradise
Participating SCM wineries will be pouring Pinot barrel samples and maybe even library wines. (For example, at Thomas Fogarty, we’ll be pulling from the cellar the much-talked-about ‘97, ‘01 magnum, and three small block-designated Pinot Noirs from the Rapley Trail
Vineyard). All that wine and unbelievable views to boot. Gas up the car (yeah, that’ll hurt) and grab a map.
Tickets–$25

Sunday March 18: Grand Cruz Tasting
2pm-5pm at Villa Ragusa in Campbell…where over 30 SCM wineries will pour their favorite Pinot and local restaurants & gourmet shops will provide tasty treats.
Tickets–$65 (But I’ll share a secret. If you mention you’re a friend of Thomas Fogarty Winery, you’ll get the second ticket 25% off)

Call the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association for more info (831-685-8463) or check out the website.

Pinot Noir event, Santa Cruz Mountains, winetasting, wineries

Sure, I studied France when taking the introductory sommelier class years ago and look up wines here and there… but I know I shouldn’t go into tonight’s winetasting quite so blind. And since I’ve been gathering info over the past few days, I thought I’d go ahead and share.

Here’s the breakdown on the Rhône Valley:

Located in southeast France, along 125 miles of the river, there is a distinct division between Northern and Southern Rhône, and between the wines as well as the land, climate, customs, and food.

Northern Rhône
The major grapes are Syrah and Viognier, along with Marsanne and Roussanne. And the appellations include Côte Rôtie, Hermitage(< --those two are known as some of the best Syrah in the world & both can include a heavy % of white grapes), Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas(excellent value), St. Joseph, and two that are recognized for great whites-->Château Grillet, Condrieu.

Southern Rhône
Covering more land and producing far more wine, Southern Rhône is all about blends. For red, the primary grapes are Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre, and Carignan. For white, Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Clairette, along with others, including the three from the northern neighbor. Some appellations here are the oh-so-fun-to-say Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas (more good value ), Côtes du Ventoux (fresh and fruity reds and rosés), Tavel (best known French rosé), and the generic AOC Côtes du Rhône.

For my contribution tonight, I first went to K & L, which was beyond my current budget. The cellar rat recommended Draeger’s, and it turned out to be the jackpot. I picked up two bottles, for myself and another attendee, and together both cost about $23. One was from E.Guigal, a well-known name in the Rhône Valley, and La Vieille Ferme, made by the Perrin family, of Château du Beaucastel merit.

I think I might make a tropical fruit salsa to accompany the wines, but I’ll have to let you know later. And of course, how the tasting goes…

The Rhône Valley, winetasting group, Draeger’s

Last week I met up with another blogger from 451 Press. Jenny from Coaching Cooking and I only live a few towns apart and so decided to go winetasting together.

What a good idea it was. We met up at Backyard Wineries in downtown Los Gatos. Only open a few months, this tasting room features the wines of Clos LaChance and Fleming Jenkins (Peggy Fleming making up one half of the pair of owners). Hours: daily, 11-6, tasting fees of $5 and $10 for 3 wines. Though I didn’t see it until nosing around the back room after tasting, my favorite thing was the table of wine glasses filled with different items, representing aromas in wine. There was coconut, vanilla beans, molasses, sage, cloves, and more. A homemade Le Nez du Vin (which, by the way, they had for sale, and which, by the way, I still want). (more…)

My two cohorts and I descended upon Fort Mason via BART and cab today around 1 pm. With dark clothing to conceal any spills and a good breakfast in our bellies, we made it though the slow line to enter into what is essentially Disneyland for wine drinkers: the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Having poured there last year, this time I wanted to to experience the tasting from the other side of the table.

With glasses and spit cups in hand, we made it through the crowds in a bit of a daze, no concrete plan in mind, as we’d forgotten the list of winners (and not all winners are present at the tasting anyway). Readers and drinkers, with a wine glass, paper cup, loaf of bread, etc. in hand, it’s hard to take notes or pictures. So we’ll have to rely on my memory for the stand-outs.

*Navarro, as usual, especially with the 2005 Late Harvest Muscat Blanc (a well-deserved Sweepstake winner) and the 2005 Edelzwicker (Double Gold)
* Fernwood Cellars Chardonnay
*1996 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Cuvee’
*Sarah’s Vineyard Roussanne (not yet released and still a Gold)
*Vie Grenache Blend
*Pinot Noir from Patz and Hall, Fritz
*B.R. Cohn Petite Sirah (another Sweepstake winner)
*Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon

And of course, finally meeting El Jefe from Twisted Oak Winery, however briefly, and tasting his Syrah and The Spaniard.

Sadly, I couldn’t find a few I was set on trying, including the Roederer Sweepstake Winner and the Escafeld Petit Verdot: Double Gold Best of Class. I don’t know if Elsbeth was hiding or unable to make it, but I was disappointed not to taste and meet.

The girls and I ended up leaving a little bit earlier than we’d planned. Not many seemed to be using the spit cups as we were so wise to do, and the noise kept increasing at almost the same rate as the jostling. We decided to high-tail it out and grab some food to keep our wits about us. Besides, we had some bottles of wine to open later for OTBN.

….Farley Walker

San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

My job provided an unexpected perk last night. What started out as a passing whim in conversation a couple of months ago actually and thankfully came to fruition. And we owe it all to a ghost…

With several loyal readers (ok, so maybe they’re also good friends), I spent the night in the Hill House at Thomas Fogarty Winery. At the end of my tasting room workday, I was met by a co-worker/friend and the teacher. We carted our supplies over to the events area, and I got to it at once in the kitchen I’ve had my mind set to cook in. While the spaghetti sauce simmered on the stove, we sipped on 2000 TF Blanc de Blancs and planned, waiting for the others.

The story goes that there is a ghost who haunts the events area. I knew of the man who died during a wedding reception (heart attack, I believe), but Dr. Fogarty also told us about a bootlegger who used to live in a little shack up on the mountain and make his whiskey back in the day.

Tales abound about the sounds of doors closing and things moving around, long after everyone is gone. People talking, gusts of cold air…again when no one is there.

Did we encounter a spirit? To be continued (just waiting on pictures)

Thomas Fogarty Winery, Hill House, haunted winery

….Farley Walker