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

 

 

 

 

 

A Central California Jewel

Wine Country travel enlivens all of your senses and also quiets your nerves at the same time.  While wine tasting takes center stage, the first thing noted at the Fess Parker Winery & Vineyards and the companion Fess Parker Wine country Inn and Spa is your sense of sound.  It is quiet, except for a few birds chirping and the friendly dogs greeting each other, as the sun rises over the property’s home town of Los Olivos, California,

The Fess Parker Winery and Vineyards is described as the “Jewel of Foxen Canyon Road” in the heart of Santa Barbara’s wine country.  Tucked into the foothills overlooking the low mountains of the Santa Ynez Valley, the winery tasting room is stylish and sophisticated yet warm and approachable.   Not only are you served by knowledgeable staff in the tasting room, the winery also serves as an entertainment center with a picnic area and VIP Barrel Room Lounge.  You can pack and picnic and enjoy the outdoors. 

Fess Parker was a well known actor who played Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone on successful television shows.  His family has established properties that are now renowned in the region. In addition to the winery and wine country inn, they also own the Fess Parker Double Tree-Hilton Resort in Santa Barbara.

 

 

 

 

“Fess envisioned growing grapes but not to this scale,” says Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard President, Tim Snider.  At the beginning of the winery business in the 1980’s, consumers still recognized the Fess Parker name.  However, the younger generations know Fess Parker as the name on the label of some extraordinary wine.  As they enjoy the wine they learn about the back story of his life as an actor. 

Snider became part of the Parker family after he met Fess’s daughter Ashley on a wine industry trip in Australia in 1999.    Tim and Ashley were married soon after.  Snider believes the winery is now cast in the lead role of Fess Parker’s legacy.  “Our family came in this business as a celebrity-family owned winery focused on quality and value.  We happened to have a founder who had a very successful acting career.  But today it’s not rooted in celebrity.” 

 

The wholly family owned and operated winery was established in 1989 and after several decades of hard work the name Fess Parker is now known to new generations as a world-class producer of Syrah, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The winemaking culture was originated by Fess Parker’s son, Eli who discovered a passion for winemaking at the outset of the business.  Eli Parker stepped aside as the winemaker with the 2005 vintage and turned over the reins to Blair Fox.  Both winemakers have won the prestigious Winemaker of the Year Award from the San Francisco Chronicle.

 

The Fess Parker Wine Country Inn is a Five Star boutique property located in the heart of Los Olivos.  Surrounded by the beauty of Santa Barbara wine country, this charming town is known for its tasting rooms, restaurants, and galleries.   

 

Guests at the19-room Inn enjoy luxurious rooms, the Champagne Spa and Boutique, the surprisingly hip Petros’ Restaurant specializing in Hellenic-California Cuisine, an outdoor patio with a warming fireplace, a library room , and the Bin 2860 International Wine Shop, showcasing wines from the region and from around the world.  Black and white photos of winemakers from the Santa Ynez Valley adorn the walls providing an introduction to the wine culture of the region. 

 

The American historical figure, Daniel Boone, who was portrayed by Fess Parker on television, would be pleased with the surroundings of this winery and inn. 

 

“One day, I undertook a tour through the country and the diversity and beauties of nature I met within this charming season expelled every gloomy and vexatious thought,” said Boone. 

www.fessparker.com

Traverse City Michigan's True North Wine Country

Traverse City, Michigan is a destination that changes noticeably with the seasons.  The slower tourist season from November until April brings cascades of snow offering a winter wonderland for those who enjoy skiing, ice fishing, and hunting.

As the climate changes in May and June with high temperatures in the 70’s and the summer months warm up to an average high temperature of 82 degrees, Traverse City is well established as one of America’s favorite destinations to celebrate spring and summer.   

The wine and food scene has exploded in the region.  Winemakers, chefs and local farmers are creating an experience that connects visitors to the land found amongst lakes, dunes, hills and sunlit fields.

Two of the area’s wine-growing regions, the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas, are home to nearly 50 wineries. The wine culture was born out of the cherry industry.  Traverse City still grows 80% of the cherries sold in America.  Winemakers and vineyard managers have discovered that the ideal conditions for growing cherries such as sandy soil, elevation, location near water, and seasonable temperatures, are closely associated with the ideal conditions for growing wine grapes as found in other northern wine regions of the world.

25 years ago, Traverse City would not have been recognized as a wine country destination.  However, that has changed.  The surroundings of the white sand beaches, the blue waters of Lake Michigan, the golf courses, the hiking and biking trails have been joined by the addition of beautifully designed wineries that produce an almost European style wine, with a Northern Michigan character. 

As the industry flourishes, new wineries and tasting rooms are opening.  Additions to the scene include a new tasting room with panoramic views at Bluestone Vineyards.  Bluestone’s owner Tom Knighton says that the wineries of the Traverse Bay region are “making wines that people respect.”

 The cool climate viticulture allows winemakers to achieve a nice balance between fruit and acidity.  Rieslings, Gewürztraminers and Pinot Blancs are at the forefront of the Northern Michigan white wines.  Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Gamay Noir, a Vinifera cultivar, are the leading varietals in red wines.

Dining on a waterfront is popular in this land of lakes.  Guests enjoy the sunset at the Boathouse overlooking the beautiful Bowers Harbor.  The 107 year old Riverside Inn is lovingly restored along the banks of the Leland River and offers an excellent selection of local wines.   Gastronomic destinations also include Leelanau Cheese, Grand Traverse Pie Company, and Tandem Ciders.

While Traverse City has long been popular as a driving destination by Midwesterners, the area’s growing reputation as a wine and food destination has led to impressive growth at the Cherry Capital Airport.  “People are choosing the ease and friendliness of traveling by air to Traverse City” says Brad Van Dommelen, Convention and Visitors Bureau president and CEO. 

“We consider the airport to be the first welcome mat to the region,” says airport spokesperson Susan Wilcox-Olson.  Traverse City connects direct to LaGuardia, Newark, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Denver.   The number of daily flights to Atlanta has more than doubled in the last 24 months. 

As a gateway to the local wine county, it seems only fitting that many of the acclaimed wines of Traverse City are offered for purchase at the airport gift shop after the friendly check point allowing travelers to bring wine on board.  “We want everyone to feel the heritage of the region, like they are walking down Main Street,” says Wilcox-Olson.

Air travel to a wine region like Traverse City is the recommended way to go if your drive is more than 1 day.  You will have plenty of time on the road while you are.  Touring the beautiful sights, visiting the excellent restaurants, and of course, wine tasting which has become the region’s newest claim to fame. 

Iron Chef Mario Batali, who has had a home in Traverse City for 15 years, remains an ambassador to the region.  “If you visit, you’ll understand there’s nothing this close to scratching those itches like Tuscany and Sonoma.  Traverse City is real and I love it.  It’s a remarkable place,” he says.

        Brys Estate Winery and Vineyards lets visitors celebrate summer on Old Mission Peninsula

     “We want to let visitors take part in this beautiful experience of visiting wine country,” says owner Tom Knighton of their new tasting room at Bluestone Vineyards

 

        Wining and dining at The Boat House is one of many outstanding local restaurants with waterfront seating

      The terminal at the Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City.  The airport continues to see ridership gains

              Pedestrian-friendly downtown Traverse City blooms with pear and crabapple trees in the
         spring and  offers nearly 150 boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and galleries.

Putting Sparkle into Prosecco

Mionetto Just north of the beloved city of Venice, the town of Valdobbiadene has been the home of the Mionetto Winery since 1887.  The celebrated winery is located in The Veneto wine region in northern Italy which is world renowned for producing prosecco, Italy’s most popular sparkling wine.  In the late afternoon, virtually every bar in Venice pours glass after glass of prosecco, which Venetians consider a pick-me-up.

Between the southern Alps and the Adriatic Sea, Mionetto’s vineyards enjoy ideal growing conditions with thin soil, giving way to stone, providing the grapes a mineral taste that is highly regarded.  Sunshine is prevalent year round.Mionetto USA


The town of Valdobbiadene and Mionetto Winery

Mionetto, owned by MW Imports, is now the top selling prosecco in the US and a leading prosecco selection around the world.  “It is an easy-to-drink wine,” says Mionetto USA CEO, Enore Ceola.  “People like it because it is light, food friendly, casual but elegant, and less dramatically crisp than champagne,” he explains.


Mionetto USA CEO, Enore Ceola

Visitors to the winery in the rambling hills of northern Italy will find Mionetto’s tasting room in the original home of the founding family.  Casa Mionetto is a store located within the winery property where visitors can taste and purchase wine.  There is a museum with a collection of old vinification implements and a collection of all the iconic wine Mionetto has produced.

Most visitors to the region start out in Venice.  Those who venture into wine country of The Veneto and the Mionetto Winery are in for a special treat. 

WINE RECOMMENDATIONS

 IL Prosecco Doc: Soft, gentle bubbles invite with fresh fruit forward aromas and flavors of apple, peach and citrus

Mionetto Prosecco Doc Treviso Brut: Fine, persistent bubbles with crisp notes of white pear, green apple and star fruit lead to a clean, elegant finish

‘MO’ Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG: The seductive perlage entices with exotic fruit flavors that build to a long, structured finish

 

 

 

 

 

New Frontier for California Wine

 New Frontier for California Wine

Lake County, California

It’s rugged and a little untamed.  You get to drive on winding and hilly roads to rendezvous with Mother Nature.  The vineyards and ranches are the natural habitat of coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, and bald eagles.  You can find historic communal natural soaking pools where clothing is optional.  This is all part of the wine country experience found in Lake County, California. 

Lake County is hidden in the hills north of the San Francisco Bay area sharing her southern border with Napa and Sonoma counties.  The people who venture to the region discover a scenic and rural environment, whose signature natural assets include a dormant volcano, Mount Konocti which rises to a height of 4,300 feet above sea level.  At the center of Lake County is Clear Lake, the largest natural lake in California.  Lake County has the distinction of being consistently rated as having the cleanest air in the California.

 “The history of Lake County wine is one of pioneering,” says Peter Molna, Chairman of the Lake County Winegrape Commission and owner of Tricycle Wine Co.   California grape growers have been looking for new places to spread their wings and investments are pouring in for land, vineyards, and wineries.   However, people say Lake County looks like Napa County did 40 years ago before it boomed. 

The vineyards are planted at higher elevations along the backbone of the great Cabernet regions of northern California.  “There are crazy soils up here.  It’s an exciting place that makes great wine,” said Molna.


 

“We are pioneering winemakers and we attract pioneering consumers.  People who are looking for something different.  They are looking for wine that’s fun to drink…that’s exciting,” says Paul Zellman, Education Director of the Lake County Wine Commission.

Clear Lake is surrounded by small towns, each with its own identity and each with its own wineries and tasting rooms.  Upper Lake and Lower Lake are historic towns with renovated buildings that still remind visitors of the Old West.  Kelseyville has decorative street lights and popular restaurants such as Saw Shop Gallery Bistro and The Brick Tavern.   Lakeport is the county seat presiding over just 65,000 local residents.

Lake County continues to be homeland to six tribes of the Pomo and Miwok Indians.  The area has been considered sacred ground.  The county has attracted a spiritual type of agricultural entrepreneur.    Sustainable farming practices abound.  Flocks of sheep are used in the vineyards to eat the weeds and provide fertilization.    Six Sigma Ranch & Winery sprawls over 4,300 carefully preserved acres of vineyards,  grazing land, and natural habitat.  “We think this is such a beautiful piece of nature that we want to protect it,” says Six Sigma proprietor, Kaj Ahlmann. 

Bird watching on designated water trails, fishing on the lake rated third-best for bass fishing in America, hiking and biking in the county’s publicly owned lands, and tasting the intensely beautiful local wines, are making Lake County, California a new frontier for wine lovers and adventure seekers.  It’s a wildly unique place.