by Christina Waters | Jan 25, 2009 | Holidays, Home, Wine |
Join wine-loving lovers for a day of romance, wine and chocolate up at the newest winery located on one of the oldest vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Vine Hill makes stunning pinot noirs and syrahs that you’ll be able to taste along with desserts from top area bakeries. You can also purchase the perfect Valentines gift.
The beautiful tasting room is surrounded by acres of vineyards – very romantic for strolling – and awesome views of the canyons below. Valentine’s Day makes a nice excuse to check out this lovely spot – and treat your sweetie to some fine wine (AKA the elixir of love).
When: Saturday February 14th
Time: 12:00PM to 4:00PM
Cost: $15 per person or $5 for wine club members
Check the website for details and directions.
by Christina Waters | Jan 25, 2009 | Home, Wine |
Fragrant with violets, redwood and berries, the all-biodynamic 2006 Dolcetto from Ca’del Solo Vineyard in Monterey County is a beautiful wine. It takes nicely to food, especially omega-laden seafoods, pasta dishes and lamb. But it’s sumptuous all by itself.
On day two, we detected loganberry, geranium and a citrus/mineral center. The dolcetto contains enough tannic insistence to firm up the fruit-forward nature of the grape.
Another lovely landmark in the Ca’ del Solo domain — yes, from the folks of Bonny Doon Vineyards. Around $20 and 13.4% alcohol.
by Christina Waters | Jan 21, 2009 | Home, Wine |
From Sonnet winemaker Tony Craig, comes this supple profusion of raspberries and licorice. The 2006 Russian River Valley, Amber Ridge Vineyard, Pinot Noir opens into a fragrant center of cassis supported by a foundation of sassafras and forest bark. It is a killer pinot, even better the second day. And it loves fresh sardines, salmon of all kinds as well as mushrooms and sheep cheese.
Find it and luxuriate. Circa $40.
by Christina Waters | Jan 2, 2009 | Home, Wine |
Now here’s chardonnay intriguing enough to appeal even to diehard red wine lovers like me.
It’s the mighty Varner Santa Cruz Mountains, Spring Ridge Vineyard – Home Block – Chardonnay 2006. Yes it is a long name for a wine, but since winemakers Bob and Jim Varner also create several other very tasty chardonnays, the designation requires lots of specifics. Highly acclaimed by all the usual suspects — Robert Parker is a huge fan — this wine will take you for a better quality spin than you’re probably used to.
This very lightly oaked 14.3% creation is made from Portola Valley grapes. Actually, it’s only on the second day that the oak peeks through the firm mineral center.
Fraught with depth and tightly coiled, the Home Block chard is a Kundalini of a wine, opening into cascades of kumquat, winter apricot and white pepper. (more…)
by Christina Waters | Dec 9, 2008 | Home, Wine |
Lunch last week at downtown Santa Cruz’ Cafe Mare knocked me out – in two ways.
First off the kitchen had just received a huge harvest of fresh porcini mushrooms and was busy turning out a gorgeous variety of daily specials involving the sweet, earthy funghi. My companion and I sampled bruschetta topped (nicely over-the-topped) with melted tallegio and sauteed porcinis. It was incredible!
Another great revelation of the lunch was a bottle of Cumbre Pinot Noir Hicks Family Vineyard 2006, loaded with raspberries and licorice. This gorgeous wine made by Sal Godinez of the Wines of Vine Hill group (more…)
by Christina Waters | Nov 23, 2008 | Home, Wine |
Sean Baker has created a short menu of flavor gems at Le Cigare Volant cafe. The new tasting room for Bonny Doon Vineyard wines offers items like this supple hiramasa crudo, unctuous with fennel olive oil and garnished with pungent cress and shaved fennel. This is truly take-no-prisoners cuisine. Open from Thursday through Sunday, 11:30 – 5:30pm, the cafe will turn you on to Baker’s culinary metaphysics partnered by the exact, perfect, spot-on wines.
