A Toast to the Central Coast of California

A SHINING STAR IN CALIFORNIA'S WINE CONSTELLATION

A TOAST TO THE CENTRAL COAST

The drive between Los Angeles and San Francisco is about 7 hours.  In between these cities, lies one of the most beautiful stretches of wine country that you can find in the world.  The gateway to central coast wine country is the Pacific Coast Highway (ocean side) or “the 101" (inland) as it’s called in these parts.  If you find serenity in wine country the scenic wine trails in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties are well worth exploring.


Pick a month, any month to tour wine country on the Central Coast.  The weather doesn't change much all four seasons except for high heat in the summers where the Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfindel thrive.  It's always a good time to set out and visit.  Central coast wine country destinations continue to gain notoriety around the world, becoming one of the Golden State’s most popular tourism destinations with more visitors each year than San Diego, according to Visit California.

Two Nights in Santa Barbara County

It seems to me that most people outside the state seem to know four places in California:  Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Santa Barbara.  Santa Barbara is called the “American Riviera” where cruise ships disembark and tourists come for the beachside resort community.

 Not everyone seems to know that 45 minutes north of Santa Barbara, wine country begins with the Santa Ynez Valley.  Miles and miles of vineyards come into view for another five hours of cruising on this highway, along with rolling mountain ranges and coastal views. 

There are five wine trails in Santa Barbara County, home to over 170 wineries.  I have often visited, the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail which takes you out of the city and deep into wine country with exceptional tasting rooms. 

 The region has become a famous for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. However as one of the coolest wine growing regions in California, over 20 different types of wine grapes are cultivated here.  The Wine Ghetto in Lompoc and the Funk Zone in Santa Barbara have popped up in recent years to give visitors a unique wine tasting experience.

Santa Barbara offers a full range of hotels and accommodations to fit any travel lifestyle.  You can venture into small wine country inns such as the Fess Parker Inn in Los Olivos or the Santa Ynez Inn.  The quaint towns of Santa Maria, Buellton, and Solvang can be relaxing overnight stopovers with wine and craft beers native to the region offered to those who are inclined to drink local.   

Two Nights in San Luis Obispo County

SLO County (as you can call it) is the halfway stop between LA and SF.

With more than 280 wineries, it is California’s fastest growing wine region. I have never seen congested traffic when traveling on the wine country roads in SLO County.  That doesn’t mean people aren’t coming.  The tasting rooms are always occupied.  It’s still undiscovered by some measure and frankly it takes a little more effort to reach these beautiful wineries that are about 3 hours from the big cities. 

In the middle of the state, SLO feels like quintessential California. The wineries have prospered located next to one of the most highly regarded wine and viticulture programs in the world at Cal Poly.

SLO Wine near the town of San Luis Obispo is one of the must-see wine trails in America with fewer than 25 wineries.  The wineries boast an average distance of just five miles from the ocean, which in turn yields remarkable wines.  Wineries are on the seafront side of the Santa Lucia mountain range where you can enjoy stunning views from the tasting rooms. 

Traveling north from San Luis Obispo over a mountain pass lies Paso Robles. Paso Robles was discovered as one of the great new wine regions of the world about 40 years ago with soil and climate that is ideal for growing vineyards.   That’s not a secret to wine drinkers in California. Since the region is dominated by boutique wineries, you almost have to come here to taste some of the best wines. 

Popular hotels such as Apple Farm in SLO and La Quinta in Paso Robles act as ambassadors for the region with complimentary wine tastings for guests in the afternoons.  For a true wine country experience, Biddle Ranch and Justin are among the wineries that offer accommodations on their property. 

Two Nights in Monterey County

The first time I visited the coast of Monterey County I could only describe it as Shangri-La.  There are so many places of earthly paradise such as Carmel By-The-Sea, Pebble Beach and Big Sur. The northern most region of the Central Coast, Monterey County attracts visitors for everything from whale watching to golf. Many include trips to some of the 80 wineries in the region.

I chose to have a guided, educational tour, with Ag Venture Tours to learn how Monterey County is known as “America’s Salad Bowl.” A large majority of the salad greens consumed in the U.S. are grown within this region due to the leafy crops which share the land with the vineyards.

Carmel Valley Road takes you to a village that is home to 20 tasting rooms.   Cima Collina, Bernardus and Talbott are but a few.   Farm-to-table restaurants and art galleries enhance the neighborhood.  Carmel-By-The-Sea has luxury inns, art galleries and tasting rooms, all within a short stroll of the coastline.   

Venturing into the vineyards, Hahn Estate provides a stunning view of the Santa Lucia Highlands as you enjoy a glass of Pinot Noir or Chardonnay in their tasting room.   Some of the most well-known wine producers in California, such as J. Lohr got their start in Monterey. 

Just two hours from San Francisco, Monterey is growing in popularity as a first-choice wine country destination for many Bay Area residents. 

90+ scores from wine critics are most common among the cast of wineries along the central coast.  The tasting room fees range from free to $15.  The wines are not the most expensive from California just among the most hard-to-find until you visit. 

You can fly into Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria or Monterey to commercial airports.  I often travel on Amtrak.   Or pack up for a nice, long drive between LA or SF.   Taste and tour for yourself through this prime offering of California's abundant bounty of wine.

CAPTIONS (from top):  Santa Barbara County Vineyards; Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County; downtown Los Olivos;  Edna Valley along the SLO Wine Trail;  Chamisal on the SLO Wine Trail is renowned for their Pinot Noir;  Pismo Beach has wine and waves;  Halter Ranch Vineyards in Paso Robles; Hahn Estates vineyards in Monterey County;  Bernardus Winery patio in Carmel Valley

Republished from Delta Sky, September 2015, The Wine Traveler 

KINDRED SPIRITS OF WINE

KINDRED SPIRITS OF WINE

Wine People of Traverse City, Michigan

Take a priest, a carpenter, a pirate and what do you have? A sample of Traverse City’s remarkable wine-growing community.  These individuals now count themselves as some of the unique people who own wineries on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City, Michigan along the Great Lakes.

The Carpenters/Bonobo Winery

Brothers Todd and Carter Oosterhouse are from Traverse City. Todd moved to Texas to work in construction for 15 years.  Carter landed in Los Angeles and works construction and television.  Carter has been the host of national TV shows, including Trading Spaces and The Great Christmas Light Fight.

Meantime, their hometown’s reputation was growing as a wine and culinary destination.  They made a decision to join the movement and returned to Old Mission Peninsula to open Bonobo Winery in 2015.

“We wanted to come back to our hometown and move the needle as a mecca for food and wine, more than just a place where you come to play in the sand,” says Todd.  “We want to be as authentic as possible, to show the wine world that Traverse City is a special place and capture it in a bottle,” says Carter

                                       The Priest/Chateau Chantal

Bob Began and his wife Marie could write a book, “From Church, to Cherries, to Chardonnay.”   Bob, 81 started as a Seminary Priest and Marie was a Felician Nun in the Archdiocese of Detroit, devoting over two decades to the church. 

While in their forties, their lives came together in marriage and they welcomed a daughter, Marie in 1978.  Ready to leave city life,  Bob says he was “looking for land on the water.” He purchased a 65 acre cherry orchard on Old Mission Peninsula which would eventually be the site of Chateau Chantal.  “The winery is elevated so we have beautiful views of both bays,” says Began. 

Memories of an earlier station in life remain with Began who quoted the Bible, “I am the vine; you are the branches.”  Today their daughter, Marie Chantal Dalese has branched out to become the President & CEO of the winery.

                                       The Pirates/Villa Mari Vineyards

The Lagina Brothers, Marty and Rick, will soon open Villa Mari Vineyards, the most anticipated new winery in Traverse City, perhaps in history.  When they are not working on Villa Mari, you can see them looking for buried treasure on “Curse of Oak Island” on History Channel. 

The television show is the pursuit of something that fascinated them as boys, according to Marty.  The investment in a winery on Old Mission Peninsula is a different type of treasure hunt.  “When I realized grapes could be grown on the southern Peninsula, with the same sunlight as Bordeaux without the heat, we started growing,” says Marty. 

The brand new tasting room, winery facility and underground caverns will be open in late spring.  “It’s an Italian design and looks like it could come from Tuscany,” Lagina says.  To this day, Marty says he speaks Italian to the grapes so they think they are in Italy.  

Dad Rock/Ciccone Vineyards & Winery

On my first trip to Traverse City to visit wineries, someone mentioned in almost hushed tones, “Madonna’s parents own a winery here.”  That would be the Ciccone family, owners of Ciccone Vineyards & Winery on Leelanau Peninsula.

The pop superstar, Madonna is the oldest of eight children.  Today, Tony and Joan Ciccone enjoy a wine country lifestyle as owners of a popular winery on Leelanau Peninsula. 

Photos (top down) Todd and Carter Oosterhouse building Bonobo Winery; Bob Began at Chateau Chantel; Marty & Rick Lagina, the new Villa Mari Vineyards Madonna's dad, Tony Ciccone

Republished from Delta Sky, May 2016 with edits. The Wine Traveler.  

OTHER PHOTOS FOR THIS STORY

Todd and Carter Oosterhouse had some help but the brothers can say they built Bonobo Winery.  It's fantastic inside and out.  

Chateau Chantal's patio overlooks the water on both sides of the Leelanau Peninsula.  

Local cheeses at Cicccone Vineyards.  The Madonna labeled wine is sold out.   

Villa Mari Winery will elevate the region's reputation as a wine destination, opening in 2016

A Toast to Sky Mall

On my recent cross country flights over the holidays in December I had many hours to pass the time while up in the air.  It didn’t dawn on me until several weeks later that I didn’t see a Sky Mall magazine in the planes.

Who hasn’t been on an airplane without leafing through the pages of Sky Mall?   It was easily found 12 inches from your knees in the seat pocket in front of you, featuring a huge variety of products ranging from home decorating to dog pampering to colorful rain boots.

It was reported last week that Sky Mall has filed for bankruptcy.  Three of the largest airlines in the U.S. (Delta, US Air and American) all ended their distribution contracts with the publisher last fall.   What a pity. 

One of the long term advertisers in Sky Mall has been the California Wine Club.  “We were in it pretty much since it launched” says California Wine Club General Manager, Gerri Lin Baker.  She recalls that when they started it was during the time that the seat back in front of you was equipped with a built-in telephone specifically with the intention of placing an order from the Sky Mall catalogue.  Operators were standing by!  Now that's what I call a business model. 

I enjoyed checking out Sky Mall even if my reaction to some of the doodads was for amusement.  Since my occupation and vocation focuses on wine and travel these days, I thought this might be an appropriate time to give some attention to the wine-related accessories that graced the pages of this catalogue during its many years of spanning the globe with millions of travelers from all over the world.

 A HOLIDAY GIFT of GREAT TASTE!

The California Wine Club

 

The California Wine Club is a family-owned, first rate wine club and very successful.  They specialize in bottles of wine from California’s best “mom and pop” wineries.  They were always on page 3.  Monthly gift packages start at $49.95

 

ENJOY THE DELICIOUS FLAVOR OF 10 YEARS OF AGING IN JUST A FEW SECONDS

Vintage Express Wine Aging Accelerator

 

Extremely powerful Neodymium magnets realign particles in beverages.  So wine in a glass shows noticeable improvement in just a few minutes.  The longer a beverage remains in the Vintage Express, the greater the effect.  $59.99

 ADD YEARS OF FLAVOR AND BALANCE TO WINE IN ONLY 10 SECONDS

Vintage Express Rack

 

This five bottle rack transforms inexpensive red and white wines in premium vintages.  Powerful magnets are built in.  No moving parts, no batteries required and no additives needed.  $99.99

 

HAND BLOWN, EASY CLEANING, DISH WASHER SAFE AERATING WINE GLASS

The Aerating Wine Glass by Chevalier

 

Simply pour into the aerating cell.  The shower effect is laboratory proven to aerate your wine, enhancing its bouquet of flavors and aromas.  $19.95

 
YOU CAN’T NOT DECANT!

The Eve Decanter by Riedel

 

The sensuous, serpentine curves of Riedel’s lead crystal, mouth blown Eve decanter are not only seductive but functional.  Eve is a decanter that also speaks- it emits a sound akin to the gurgle of a King Cobra as the wine makes its trip through the curvaceous swirl of glass. Exactly what does the “gurgle of a King Cobra” sound like?  You can find out for $445.95

 

WHEN YOU NEED A BREAK FROM WINE

The Beer Machine Brew master

We all know it takes a lot of beer to make wine. This machine will make 28-12 oz servings per batch.  You get one beer mix, CO2 capsules, plus Bottling Kit.  I had my first homemade brew when I was in England back in the 1970s.  I hope the process has improved since then.  $120.00

 

BREATHE TASTEFUL LIFE INTO YOUNG WINES

Magic Coaster

 

 

 

 “We Will Sell No Wine Before Its Time” intoned Orson Wells on a Paul Masson TV commercial back in the day when you could smoke on an airplane.   However, why wait for aging with the Vintage Express Aging Accelerator for Wine, Whiskey, Scotch Bourbon, Tequila or any other liquor.  It ages beverages 10 years in 10 seconds.  AS SEEN ON TV

 

FOR THE WINERY DOG

 Go-Go Dog Pals

 

 

 This is a remote control toy to get your dog to exercise.  Now the fun can be shared by the dogs and their owners. Give your winery dog a good chase for $299.

 

 WHAT A GREAT HAIR RAISING IDEA!

Flair Hair Visor

 

If you are a guy who enjoys wine touring and tasting on a sunny day and you are bald, the Flair Hair Visor could be just for you.  The visor with a built-in ‘doo is a great gift idea for the man who has everything.  Machine wash; air dry. $19.99

 

The hair visor and the dog pal are a stretch as a wine accoutrement but I couldn't resist.  It's just a reminder of one of the many flavors of Sky Mall.  Almost all of the businesses that were promoting themselves in the catalogue are still in business. 


Salute! Sky Mall....we enjoyed your company up in the air.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Wine Tourism Awards Announced

Global Wine Destinations Celebrated in Mendoza

Mendoza, Argentina hosted the annual gathering of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network where the Best of Wine Tourism awards were announced.

The GWC is a network of some of the world's leading wine-producing areas created to promote international practices in wine tourism.  The awards are judged by a panel of experts in tourism, food, hospitality, architecture, landscape gardening and culture.  In all, 343 applicants were received this year.

And the winners are....

From Spain: Rioja's historic Bodegas Marques de Murrieta, for its splendid restoration of Ygay Castle founded in 1852 and built by Luciano Murrieta, the first owner and driving force of this iconic winery.

From France: The St. Emillion estate, Chateau La Croizille, for the eye-catching architecture of its new cellar and magnificent reception room in the stylish modern building which can accommodate up to 100 people.

From South Africa: Waterford Estate in Stellenbosch, famed for service excellence, in a destination estate, offering a variety of informative, authentic, fun and innovative tasting options.

From Germany:  The 17th-generation at Weingut Dr Hinkel in Framershein for its most innovative approach where the winery regularly offers color-wine tasting in its specifically equipped wine event room.

From Argentina:  Trapiche, which is Argentina's biggest wine producer and a multi-award winner as well as one of the first Argentine wineries to enter the international scene.

From Portugal:  The highly rated Museu do Douro-Museu de Territorio whose objective is to represent the Douro Demarcated Region's natural and cultural heritage designated World Heritage by UNESCO.

From USA:  The acclaimed Hall Wines of the Napa Valley where visitors are invited to explore the Gold Leed Certified state-of-the-art hospitality center and winery, the renovated historic Bergfeld Winery, and expansive art collection.

From Chile:  Casablanca Valley Restaurant Macerado at Vinamar aims to create an intense and enjoyable harmony between cuisine and sparkling wine, a careful task that embodies the Vinamar Spirit.

The eight international winners were announced during the GWC conference on November 6 at the Bodega Los Toneles in Mendoza, Argentina. 

Cab Proclaimed King in Paso Robles

There is a new wine movement taking place in Central California.  The movement is to designate Paso Robles, California as the most promising region in the world for producing Cabernet Sauvignon. 

It is a rather bold initiative that was founded in the last two years leading to the formation of the Cab Collective,  a group of Paso Robles wineries that is focusing on small production, elite Cabernets. 

Paso Robles is located almost midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. 

The Cabs of Distinction four-day event invited media, sommeliers, and consumers to Paso Robles April 23-26 for several days of tastings, winery visits, and discussion about why Paso Robles should be recognized as one of the leading terroirs for Bordeaux style wines.

The Paso Robles Inn hosted several wine tastings

The Paso Robles AVA (Agriculture Viticulture Area) is 617,000 acres, which is larger than Napa and Sonoma County combined.   26,000 vineyard acres are planted so there is room for major expansion as long as it rains every couple years.  Winemakers are hoping that the forecast for El Nino rains will hold true in 2015 following a well documented drought. 

Wineries took their first steps into Cabernet in the 1960s and 1970s in Paso Robles.  Cabernet Sauvignon remains the leading variety for the Paso Robles appellation, accounting for 38 percent of the regions planted wine grape acreage.  Wineries from Temecula, California to Texas continue to source the region for grapes and juice to produce their own wines. 

However, the Cab Collective members are changing the focus from crop farming of vineyards to more controlled viticulture practices.  “We discovered through sampling over several years we could control quality,” says Michael Mooney, owner and winemaker at Chateau Margene.  As a fifth generation Californian, Mooney settled on his vineyard property in 1997 and is continuing to discover the potential of the region for higher-end Cab production.  “We are hyper vigilant in our process,” said Mooney.

 

Barrel, New Release & Library tastings were offered to guests

David Parish, owner and winemaker at Parrish Family Vineyardsin Paso Robles worked for 20 years with Robert Mondavi  planting vineyards in Napa Valley.  He chose to establish his own winery in Paso Robles based upon the conditions he feels are most important for growing wine grapes.  Parish says the region offers an ideal climate.  “I feel Paso Robles is like the Goldilocks area.  It’s not too hot and it’s not too cold,” says Parish.    He also sights other contributing factors that are highly favorable to growing Cabernet Sauvignon related to water, soil, and the abundance of south/southwest facing slopes.

 

At the forefront of this movement is Daniel Daou, proprietor and winemaker at the relatively new DAOU Vineyards & Winery.  He came to Paso Robles with a colorful life history.  He carries a scar of from a war injury in his youth in Lebanon.  He and his brother, Georges grew up in France.  They came to San Diego for their college education.  As an engineer he and his brother founded a successful high tech company that went public.  This business success staked him to pursue a lifelong dream, to become a farmer and winemaker.  Daou Winery was founded on the highest elevation in the region (2200 feet) and the beautifully designed tasting room has quickly become well known for its magnificent vistas of the Paso Robles wine region. 

Daniel Daou, of DAOU Vineyards and Winery

 

The brothers were looking for a vineyard location that was reminiscent of where they grew up in France.  They also came in search of the right kind of soils for producing high end wine.  When they came to Paso Robles they found a new home.  “It was love at first sight,” said Daou.

Daou feels Paso Robles began a transformation 7 years ago that was similar to a great revolution that occurred in Napa in the 1990’s.  Like Napa, Paso winemakers began to transition to a Bordeaux style planting.  They also began to source higher end clones. 

“What we are doing now in Paso is we are starting to tap into the potential of what this terroir can do,” said Daou.  He says that Paso Robles is just beginning to recognize that it is a wine region where great things can happen.  “It’s like we had a Ferrari that we were driving at 50 miles per hour.  Today, we are actually thinking it can go 200 miles per hour,” he said.   With a greater focus on quality he feels that winemakers in the region are starting to “put the pedal to the metal” with high performance results from many wineries.

Paso Robles Cabs also have a characteristic which is not found in some of the old world wine regions.  The wines are accessible to the marketplace at a young age.   Consumers don’t have to wait 10-15 years for the wines to offer splendid results.   Daou is now producing Cabs that are aged 24 months in French Oak barrels.  His two-year old Cabs were sold out in two weeks for $100 per bottle directly through the tasting room, without the exercise of garnering high wine scores. 

“Paso is able to achieve the correct ripeness almost year to year.  So what you are tasting in Paso as a ripe wine is more reminiscent of a 1982 Bordeaux,” says Daou.

Paso Robles has long been recognized as an excellent point of origin for wines from California.   Winemakers such as Jerry Lohr at J. Lohr Vineyards & Wine, Gary Eberle at Eberle Wineryand Doug Beckett at Peachy Canyon have had their hands in the dirt in Paso Robles for several decades before the Cab Collective was declared a legitimate designation.   All three of these heritage wineries from the region have signed on as members of the Cab Collective.

Cynthia Lohr of J. Lohr Vineyards and Wine spoke to invited guests at the VIP BBQ

 

As the wine industry has flourished in Paso Robles in the past ten years, emerging winemakers are hoping to elevate the region’s reputation when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon.  “In the past, Paso Robles wineries were shy about selling a higher end bottle of cabernet,” said Daou.  Cab Collective members believe their wines can stand up with other regions that have a larger and more long-standing reputation. 

 

Bottles showcased at the Cabs of Distinction event included the 2012 Cask 4 from Chateau Margene ($75), 2010 Cab from Parrish Family Vineyards ($50), 2010 Ancestor from Halter Ranch Vineyard($50), and 2010 Soul of a Lion from DAOU ($100).

 

Most of what you find in Paso Robles is small, family owned wineries.  These are boutique wineries are successful in their own right.  J. Lohr is the biggest brand with distribution throughout North America and globally.  Without a major city nearby, the fan base for Paso Robles is primarily in Central California.   The Cab Collective hopes to expand its visibility and popularity through the massive southern California markets of Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.  The town offers visitors a quiet, rural, farm-to-table culture that is showing signs of growth with new and expanding hotel options. 

The newly renovated Justin Vineyards hosted VIP guests

 

 

Cabernet Sauvignon is now the most popular red wine varietal in America, slightly ahead of Merlot.  Members of the Cab Collective such as Daniel Parrish hope that consumers will focus their attention on Cabs from Paso Robles regardless of the price point.  “Taste the wines.  Evaluate for yourself,” said Parrish. 

 

 

 

 

 

World of Pinot Noir Reigns

After 13 years in San Luis Obispo County on California’s central coast, organizers of World of Pinot Noir moved their event 60 miles south to Santa Barbara this year.  The 14^th annual WOPN wine event was staged at the Bacara Resort & Spa   just outside the city of Santa Barbara in Goleta. 

One thing that would almost never have been predicted was three days of rain.  California is dealing with a well-publicized drought and Santa Barbara hasn’t seen rain in almost eight months.  This is a region that is known for its never-ending ideal weather. 

 

The rain was celebrated by the winemakers and Californians.  For attendees and exhibitors it meant that activities would be moved indoors.  In the previous year at the Cliff’s Resort in Pismo Beach the Grand Tasting events were under large white tents overlooking Shell Beach.   The move indoors this year made for a similar experience, albeit without the cooling ocean breezes.

I was particularly drawn this year to the Pinot Noir wines coming from Oregon.  There were 16 Oregon wineries represented at WOPN this year, which seemed like an increase from the past.  Considering that the Willamette Valley is branding itself as one of the world’s premier Pinot Noir growing regions, it seemed fitting to try and taste their wines instead of randomly approaching the nearly 200 California wineries on hand.  New Zealand, France and Spain were also represented this year along with a return visit from Heart & Hands Winery representing Finger Lakes, New York.

 

Willamette Valley and Oregon have a bit of an image problem.  “Willamette rhymes with Dammit,” explains Soter Vineyards National Sales Manager Michelle Cove.  Michelle travels nationally on behalf of Soter and she often hears, “Is Oregon first or Washington first?” when describing the upper left corner of America.   Oregon’s reputation for Pinot Noir is making gains at the same time that the varietal is moving onward as one of the most popular red wine choices by consumers. 

It was interesting to note that a handful of the Willamette Valley wineries have their roots in Napa Valley.  Soter Vineyards, Brittan Vineyards, Cornerstone Cellars, Pener Ash Wine-Cellars and Hamacher Wines all trace their history to winemakers and growers who worked in Napa but migrated to the cooler regions of Willamette Valley. 

 

Craig Camp of Cornerstone remains in Napa with his original winery but felt passionate that he needed to move north to produce world-class Pinot Noir.  “When I see vineyards in Napa that are growing Pinot Noir grapes right next to rows of Cabernet, I know it isn’t the best,” said Camp.   He feels that the Willamette Valley is “one of the few perfect places on earth” to grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

As I was able to taste through the Oregon Pinot Noir selections in the ballroom and media room, including Aberrant Cellars, Archery Summit, Left Coast Cellars, and Trisaetum, I found myself using the descriptor “elegant” quite often.  These beauties in a bottle were exceptional wines that would rate a 92 in my book.

 

Organizers estimated that WOPN attracted 2,000 attendees this year which may have included the trade and media.  Consumers seemed to enjoy themselves despite the light rain.  Mike Reed from Corralitos in Santa Cruz County, California  has been coming to WOPN for four years with a group of about 20 friends and family.  “Oregon is a new frontier for us” said Reed.  “When you spend $30 on a bottle in the store, you would like to have a tasting first,” he advised.  He had noted several of his favorites as he made his way through the ballroom.

 

The Bacara offered guests a $275 room rate if they were attending WOPN for the weekend.  There were several seminars in the morning hours, including a discussion about the parallels between Burgundy and Oregon.  A screening of the movie “Sideways” was held in the Bacara Theater to celebrate the film’s 10^th Anniversary.  A Silent Auction with rare wines was fetching bids as high as $300 per bottle.  There were also winemaker dinners on Friday and Saturday nights. 

Despite the rain and the logistics of moving to a new location, World of Pinot Noir continues its reign as one of California’s premier varietal-specific wine events. 

PHOTO CAPTIONS (top to bottom)

Pinot Noir tastings spread to the rotunda at the Bacara; Michelle Cover & friend pouring wines from Soter Vineyards from Oregon; Craig Camp of Cornerstone Cellars is passionate about the Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley; Sommerliers and media conducted self-guided tastings in a private room; C'est Cheese of Santa Barbara in the Grand Ballroom