Wine Outlook

I picked up a bottle of Pinot Noir earlier this year on one of my trips to Testarossa in Los Gatos. While I tend to like most of their Pinot, this particular bottle stood out to me because I knew Thomas Fogarty was also using grapes from the Schultze Family Vineyard. It’s always so interesting to me to compare wines from different vintners using the same grapes, seeing how skill coincides with the raw materials. The 2004 Testarossa Schultze Family Pinot Noir showed strawberry, mushroom, and white pepper on the nose, moving into rich earth, dried cherry, and more strawberry on the palate. Very nice overall and even better with the food.

This particular meal was one I tweaked to fit the wine. Since I had scallops, I needed some flavors in the food with a little more earthiness. Therefore, I made a version of a recipe in my Rachael Ray cookbook– 365: No Repeats. Instead of finishing with chopped bacon and raw scallions, I roasted both whole in the oven, then wrapped them around quickly seared scallops. With a side of truffled polenta, it was just the right fit for the Pinot Noir. It was also one of those meals that made me so happy I had to pat myself on the back.

Farley Walker

2004 Testarossa Schultze Family Pinot Noir

This Vintner’s Festival is two weekends long, and I was so wrapped up in my own issues, the first one smacked me in the back of the head. We were super busy filling glasses, and everyone seemed to have a great time, so don’t be shy–join in.

Split up to cover the eastern side of the mountains last weekend and the western side this coming Saturday and Sunday, here’s the explanation from the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association: (more…)

Vintner’s Festival

I’d like to extend yet another holiday invitation to Bay Area wine drinkers and readers. Thomas Fogarty Winery will be open for tasting today from 11 until 5 (we’re usually closed on Monday). Though I must admit, I hope it’s not quite as crazy as yesterday. I don’t think I had time to breathe until about 5:30 or so.

But I’m rested and ready to go again, so come visit us for tasty wine and spectacular views. There’s also plenty of hiking trails and the ever-fun Alice’s Restaurant to have some lunch. Or bring a picnic and have a bottle of wine at our tables out front.

We’re on Skyline Blvd/Hwy 35 between Page Mill Road and Woodside Rd/Hwy84. (call 650-851-6777 if you need directions.) If you tell me you came because of this post, I might even open something special for you.

Thomas Fogarty Winery, things to do in the Bay Area on Memorial Day, Skyline Boulevard

The other night the teacher and I continued our tradition of dinner and a movie– with wine, of course. She always tells me, “I have wine, too, you know.” But as I am trying to move some of my inventory to make more room, I usually supply it. The dinner was kabobs from Truly Mediterranean in the Mission–lamb for me, with feta added. Messy but sooo worth it. The wine was from a friend who works at a nearby SCM winery…some Pinot Noir from the bottom of the barrel, so to speak. Unnamed and unlabeled, it was a little hazy and quite spicy. Black fruits, cherry, and earthiness fought against the slight bitterness that finally subsided after being open half an hour. While the food and wine went quite well together, this time the movie didn’t fit. The Queen, despite its superb acting, was a little lacking in the spice factor. We both admitted later it was hard to keep our eyes open at the end. Our other friend (the biodegradable wine fan) had already seen it and had to tell us what we missed. She got a glass of wine for her trouble, though.

Truly Mediterranean, Pinot Noir

Monday I finally made it to La Nebbia on Highway 92, nestled among Christmas tree farms and garden supplies. It’s one of the wineries closest to where I work, and visitors are always asking for suggestions as to their next stop. As Half Moon Bay is a quaint little coastal town, people love to go there. So, it was about time. I met BK outside the tasting room and was surprised to find that it’s open 10-5, daily. For those wanting to get an early start, I suppose. While the room itself is small, it was welcoming, with a short bar, big window, and wall full of goodies–almost enticing me to buy a champagne stopper except A) I already have one and B) sparkling wine is usually the one bottle I have no problem getting through. (more…)

La Nebbia, Half Moon Bay

Last week my teacher friend kept me company while making use of a cookbook I recently received. Love Rachael Ray or hate her, but admit she knows how to make a good meal in no time. I chose to construct flank steak sandwiches, marinating one half in lemon and thyme as she suggested, and the other half in Worstershire, garlic, and dijon mustard. A nice sear before cooking in the oven, on the rack below sweet potatoes sprinkled with brown sugar and olive oil. The other side was salad dressed with a blue cheese/dijon vinaigrette and topped with pears.

I chose to serve the 2003 Ridge Independence School Zinfandel, thinking that grape would be a nice match for the blue cheese, as well as the spicy components of the mustard and garlic. It was. Turned out to also pair well with the spunky transvestite in Kinky Boots. Almost qualified as ‘a feel-good movie’ and while not quite making it (think Billy Elliot, The Full Monty), it was still a good choice. (more…)

flank steak sandwich, 2003 Ridge Independence School Zinfandel, Kinky Boots

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…)