Site Meter Wine Outlook » Blog Archive » Wine-hopping Over to Calaveras County

Wine-hopping Over to Calaveras County

by

Twisted chickensFinally made it over to Murphys and the Twisted Oak Winery. And even though it was a Monday and therefore not very busy, it was still the tasting room with the most personality I’ve ever been to. In fact, I came across the place where the twisted rubber chickens come from…or where they go to die…couldn’t really tell the difference. Just know that they’re everywhere. Even half disguised as frogs greeting you at the door.

El Jefe and his cracker-lovin’ companion, Nacha, (short for garnacha blanca and that dog really does know her wine) poured me the entire current release menu (which, by the way, is always complimentary). All were solid, but the ones that really did it for me were the crisp Verdelho, the “I already know I love it with French toast” Petite Sirah, and, of course, the Spaniard: a stand-out red blend that tasted more like a Cab at first and then moved into rich, red fruit. I admit, I didn’t spit that good %@#$! We also tasted from the outside tanks, including a Viognier with a deceptively fruity nose and then went into the cave for barrel samples. You won’t see it in stores, but the River of Skulls is quite the tasty Mourvedre.

Hatcher WineryA few minutes later and quick jaunt over to Main Street made for a little ducking under the low ceilings of Hatcher Winery’s tasting room. Also a fairly new winery, another similarity to Twisted Oak is that they both make a Verdelho from the same vineyard. In addition to the castle-like feel of the stone walls and the iron sconce of candles, I really enjoyed the smoothness of the Cabernet Franc and the Syrah.

Big Trees State ParkAfter the tasting, I perused a couple of the shops for gifts. A few more miles down Highway 4, contentment was to be found on a peaceful hike through the Big Trees State Park. With some snow still on the ground, and birds all around, it was a great way to finish the day. That and a Giant burger on the way back through Arnold.

, , ,

….Farley Walker

Did You Enjoy this Post? Subscribe to Wine Outlook. It's Free!

3 Responses to “Wine-hopping Over to Calaveras County”

  1. Megan Says:

    Sounds like fun!! Did you bring home a chicken?

  2. Farley Says:

    It was a lot of fun. I didn’t bring home a chicken because the one I have now strikes me as the jealous type.

  3. eljefe Says:

    Jeez am I behind in blogging or what? Thanks very much for coming out Farley - I also had a great time! And Henzilla already misses you…;)

Leave a Reply


About Wine Outlook

This site is your go-to for answers about wine, courtesy of someone in the business. Firsthand knowledge and hours of research logged each week provide informed and impassioned suggestions for what wine to serve with meals (sometimes with recipes), places to go for education or fun, and what to buy or not buy. Wine Outlook is where you go when you’ve had too much to drink or not enough.

Wine Outlook Author(s)

Blogging Flair

Add to Technorati Favorites Top Food & Drink blogs Food & Drink Blogs - Blog Top Sites As Seen on Delightfulblogs.com

Food, Cooking & Wine Channel Posts

  • Pancakes - or not
    Tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday. I know this because very year around this time I try to persuade friends to collect me throws from Mardi Gras parades. Some years I succeed, this year I didn't. I [...]
  • Great dinners: Stress relief through cooking
    [caption id="attachment_493" align="alignnone" width="1024" caption="Abstraction: Ability to move beyond photo by Mary MacIntyre"][/caption] At this time of night, I ought to geeting ready for my [...]
  • Sunday Evening Cookie Making
    • Shortbread Cookies Makes: 2 dozen 1-1/2 cup butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 6 egg yolks 2 tsp. vanilla extract 4 cups all-purpose flour In a large bowl, cream [...]
  • 2 Women Changing their local garden community
    [caption id="attachment_489" align="alignnone" width="1024" caption="Congratulations:Garden more!"][/caption] This a fantastic way to start farms across the nation! In our own backyards! [...]
  • Food we eat:Dr. Vandana Shiva - Part 1
    [caption id="attachment_486" align="alignnone" width="1024" caption="Real food for all species"][/caption] "Half the people in the world don't get the nutrition they need" paraphrased from Dr [...]
  • What's for Dinner Tonight?
    • Turkey, Black Bean and Corn Salad Wraps Serves: 4 Shred some cooked turkey and mix with 1 cup of corn, 1 cup of black beans and 3 cups shredded romaine lettuce. Mix that with 1 cup salsa [...]
  • Ways to a Healthier Heart
    February is heart health month and the best way to get your heart healthy is to practice a few heart health exercises and to adopt a strategy to keep your heart at it's best. Here is some ways right [...]
  • We met the chef
    I'm still a hothouse of minor ailments, but I really want to give you a banquet update because there's so much news. There are a hundred recipes being tested over the next ten days. I need to [...]
  • Have you had a Fig Lately?
    Did you know that many people when they go to purchase fruits, don't consider buying figs as a part of their fruit bowl, and you maybe one of those people. There are 150 Varieties of figs the [...]
  • Time out with the letter 'p'
    Today you have a miserable excuse for a post. I came down with something last night and today I still have that something, plus I had proofs to look at. Working through illness is seldom wise, so [...]

Hot Off The Press


Warning: Unknown: write failed: No space left on device (28) in Unknown on line 0

Warning: Unknown: Failed to write session data (files). Please verify that the current setting of session.save_path is correct () in Unknown on line 0