Paso Robles, California

This is one of my favorite wine tasting areas.  Best known for Red Zinfindel and GSM Blends (Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedre) there are also many other excellent varietals as well.  I am going to outline a perfect 2 days of wine tasting in Paso Robles below with suggestions for wineries to try.  On my latest trip (late August 2014) the harvest had begun a few weeks early due to inconsistent weather patterns this year.  I wanted to go to a few of my favorite places but also try out some new wineries as well as this region has over 200+ wineries.  I checked out recent medalists in California State competitions this year to select the new wineries to try and came up with Sculpterra, Thacker and Niner as my new places to visit.



SCULPTERRA
5015 Linne Rd Paso Robeles CA 93446 
Open daily from 10am-5pm

The grounds at this winery are spectacular and include an emphasis on sculpture, art, and music in addition to the wine.  The sculpture artists featured are Dale Evers and John Jagger.  This is a great place to have a picnic and take in the atmosphere.  The winery also grows pistachios which are part of the wine tasting.  I purchased the 2011 CABERNET SAUVIGNON ESTATE wine.




THACHER
8355 Vineyard Dr. Paso Robles CA 93446
Open Thursday-Monday from 11am-5pm

We enjoyed our visit to this newer winery in Paso.  We had a chance to talk with the wine maker Sherman about wine sales and marketing and enjoyed a picnic as well.  We picked up a bottle of the VIN ROUGE 2011 which is a blend of Syrah 73% and Grenache 27%




Tolo Cellars
9750 Adelaida Rd Paso Robles CA 93446
Open Thursday-Monday from 11am-5pm

This is one of my favorite boutique wineries in Paso Robles.  We enjoyed talking with the wine maker, Josh, and often get food pairings with our wine which is a fun experience.  This winery consistently produces some excellent wines and I picked up a bottle of the Sangiovese 2008 which was excellent and  paired with a wonderful pork sausage.




NINER Winery
2400 CA Route 46 Paso Robles CA 93446
Open Daily from 10am-5pm

This was my favorite new winery find of the trip as I enjoyed each wine I tried here.  Food and wine pairing is available on the weekends for an additional fee.  I picked up the award winning Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 and also the Petite Syrah (my favorite varietal).  The winery has beautiful architecture and would make an excellent picnic spot!

EBERLE Winery

3810 E Hwy 46 Paso Robles CA 93446

Open Daily 10am-5pm

This is my Go-To winery that we visit on each trip as they produce excellent quality wines at reasonable prices.  This was one of the first wineries in Paso Robles and has been here over 30 years.  We picked up quite a few wines here but ones of note are the 2010 Barbera, a Gold Medal winner in the New World International; The 2010 Cotes du Robles Rouge, a Gold Medal winner in the LA International, and the 2011 Zinfandel a Gold Medal winner in the New World International.

Fall is a great time to make the trip to Paso Robles as the weather will be cooler and the laid back atmosphere of the area makes for a comfortable wine tasting experience.  Tasting at many places is often waived with the purchase of wine and many hotels often have discount coupons for many of the local wineries.  I hope you make the trip to Paso!
Cheers!

 

Becky Stahley

My mission is to inspire you to make wine a part of your daily life. To accomplish this I want to expose you to new wines and deconstruct the complexity of wine. I hope you learn something new along the way.

 

 

 

 

Alcohol Content in Wine

The alcohol content in wine has gone up dramatically over the past decade driven largely by the critics and a desire to produce intense, flavorful wine.  Wine makers have been leaving grapes on the vine well after they would have in the past.  The result of this is a fuller bodied wine with more alcohol.  To determine the amount of alcohol a bottle of wine has check the label as it is mandatory to be listed on the label.

Moderately Low Level of Alcohol (12.5%-13.5%)
Typical Varietals: French Beaujolais and Burgundy, Italian Chianti, and Spanish Rioja

High Level of Alcohol (13.5%-14.5%)
Typical Varietals California Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Pinot Noir

Very High Level of Alcohol (more than 14.5%)
Typical Varietals California Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Port

Alcohol Content and Wine as it affects Food

Food is best paired with wines which are low in alcohol content as they will not overpower the flavors of the food.  Here are some guidelines to follow that may prove helpful:

Put similar flavors together with your wine and food as a example;
1. pair a rich chardonnay with a rich butter based sauce
2. pair an earthy pinot noir with mushrooms

Here is another guide that may prove helpful:

If the food is......                                        The wine will seem.......

salty                                                              less sour

sweet                                                            less sweet or dry

spicy                                                             more alcoholic

tangy                                                             less acidic

fatty                                                               less tannic and lighter in body

smokey or toasty                                           less oaky

If the wine is...............                                             The food will seem...........

sweet                                                                    less sweet

high in acid                                                               less salty and less sour

subtle in flavor                                                       more intense

bold in flavor                                                                 less intense

tannic                                                                                 less oily (fatty foods) and less flavorful (low fat foods)

 

Wine Pick of the Month:

 









 

Cheval Quancard Reserve, Baordeaux 2010

$9.99 Bev Mo (on the 5 cent sale)

13.5% alcohol content will pair great with dinner

My mission is to inspire you to make wine a part of your daily life.  To accomplish this I want to expose you to new wines and deconstruct the complexity of wine.  I hope you learn something new along the way.






Wine Pick of the Month: Meritage
This is the name for blended style of red and white Bordeaux wine that do not originate in Bordeaux which has a protected designation.  In the rest of the world, this style of wine would be called a meritage. Wine makers must license the meritage trademark from its owner, the California based Meritage Alliance.  Members are found primarily in the United States.  The Meritage Alliance was founded in 1988 by a small group in the Napa Valley.  

The name Meritage was a blending of the words: merit and heritage.  Red Meritage must be made from a blend of at least 2 of the following varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, or Carmenere with no varietal comprising more than 90% of the blend.  White Meritage must be made  from a blend of two or more of the following varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillion, Or Muscadelle du Bordelais with no varietal comprising more than 90% of the blend.

What to serve with a Red Meritage: Grilled Tri-Tip

Recipe: 
2 lbs tri-tip
Dry Rub:
1 Tbs garlic salt
1 Tbs onion powder
1 tbs thyme
1 tbs rosemary
1 tbs pepper
1 tbs Lawry's seasoning salt
Marinade:
1 cup red wine (merlot)
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tbs Worchestershire Sauce
2 cans of beer

Rub spices onto tri-tip.  Add all marinade items together in a zip lock bag or glass dish.  Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.  Bring tri-tip to room temperature at least 30 minutes.  Cook tri tip for 25 minutes over medium heat grill (outdoor grill preferred) until it gets to internal temperature of 130-145 degrees.  Remove from heat and let rest for at least 5 minutes prior to serving.

Meritage Picks:

Meritage is typically a more expensive style of wine so my picks are a bit more expensive this month.

Francis Coppola 2010 Claret Black Dianad Collection, Black Label
Gold Medal 2012 Critics Challenge International Wine Competition $16.95

Trefethen 2010 Double T Red Wine, Napa Valley
$19.95

Hahn 2010 Meritage Central Coast
$15.95

Cameron Hughes 2010 Lot 335 Meritage (Oakville)
92 Points Wine Enthusiast 
$14.00

Glen Carlow 2003 Grand Classique Meritage (Pearl)
91 Points Wine Enthusiast
$20.00

For a splurge
Geyser Peak 2007 Reserve Alexandre Meritage (Alexander Valley)
$45.00

My mission is to inspire you to make wine a part of your daily life.  To accomplish this I want to expose you to new wines and deconstruct the complexity of wine.  I hope you learn something new along the way.







 


 A New Year

With resolutions at the top of the list for a new year, I thought it would be appropriate to make a resolution with wine. My resolution, try something NEW. A new wine varietal, a new wine region. With this in mind, I headed to my new place in Southern California called the Lompoc Wine Ghetto, located in northern Santa Barbara County. 

Having heard of this place from several wineries, I decided the beginning of 2014 was a good time to give this a try. Lompoc is a small town near the Pacific Ocean and known for its production of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The wine ghetto as it is called is located in an industrial complex and has tasting rooms for 20 local wineries; some who have been in the business for quite a while and others who are newer. 

 It might be an effort to keep costs down but still provided a satisfying wine tasting experience. If you are looking for lunch, I would suggest packing a picnic and if you are looking for dinner, I would suggest a 20 minute ride to Solvang or Los Olivos. I stopped at three tasting rooms and have my notes for you below. I also have a video of the Lompoc Wine Ghetto so you check it out.

Stolpman:

Hilltops Syrah 2011

This winery has had the same wine maker since 2001 and has been in this area for even longer.  

There is a large area for wine tasting and knowledgeable staff.  

I purchased the Hilltops Syrah 2011

Tasting fee $10.00

 La Vie Vineyards:

Pinot Noir 2009

This is a small winery run by a husband and wife team.  Music was part of this winery and they allowed us pick out our own selections of music to play.  They grow their grapes locally and do also source grapes as well.  

I purchased the Pinot Noir Black Mountain Vineyard 2009

Tasting fee waived

Tasting Room of St Rita Hill's:

Moretti Syrah 2011

This is a tasting room that features several of the smaller wineries
from the local area. They did a tasting of each varietal with a
cheese \ pairing. We especially enjoyed the Black Truffle Cheese and
purchased more of this. I purchased the Moretti Syrah, Santa Barbara
County 2011
Tasting fee $10.00

 






Everyday Wine Picks:

Clancy's 2010 Shiraz

 




 

Clancy's 2010 Shiraz

Merlot, and Cabernet Blend
90 Points Wine Spectator
$14.99

Still excellent values, that I have mentioned previously:
Shoofly Shiraz 2010
90 Points Wine Spectator
$13.99

Norton Cabernet Sauvingon Barrel Select 2010
#24 out of 100 Best Wine Buys, Wine Enthusiast
$9.99

My mission is to inspire you to make wine a part of your daily life.  To accomplish this I want to expose you to new wines and deconstruct the complexity of wine.  I hope you learn something new along the way.








New Year's is fast approaching so it seems a good time to discuss CHAMPAGNE

Champagne is a sparkling wine that comes ONLY from the Champagne region of France.  The primary grapes include; Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier.  The typical method used to create the fizz is a secondary fermentation process.  This is done either in the bottle or in the barrel and typically a mixture of sugar and yeast are added to the wine.  There are specific rules which govern the length of time to produce the champagne, grapes used etc.  Sparkling wine is the term used to describe champagne like wine produced outside of the Champagne region.  Sparkling wine is produced either in the traditional manner described above or via an injection of carbon dioxide to create the fizz.  Typically, champagne is either white or rose.  Brut is a term used to describe dry sparkling wine and Demi-Sec, Dolce or Doux is a term used to describe a sweeter sparkling wine.

Popular areas for sparkling wine are:
Spain, Cava
Portugal, Espumante
Italy, Asti and Prosecco
US, Sonoma was the area where sparkling wine production first began

Champagne Cocktails seem a good way to ring in the new year and I have a two recipes below:


Traditional Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients:
1 sugar cube
3 dashes Angostura bitters or soak in fresh lemon juice
5 ounces chilled Brut Champagne or sparkling wine
1 lemon slice

1. Soak sugar cube with Angostura bitters or fresh lemon juice
2. Fill flute with Champagne
3. Add soaked sugar cube
4. Garnish with lemon slice


Champagne Cocktail Margarita Style

Ingredients:
1 ounce blanco tequila
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
1/4 ounce agave nectar
3 ounce chilled Brut Champagne or sparkling wine
Lime Twist or Wheel

1. Fill cocktail shaker with ice
2. Add tequila, lime juice, agave nectar and shake well.
3. Strain into flute and top with sparkling wine
                                             4. Garnish with lime twist or wheel


Champagne Picks:

Chandon Brut California
90 Points Wine Enthusiast $12.99

Gloria Ferrer Brut California
90 Points Wine Enthusiast $13.99 

Mumm Napa Brut Prestiga California
90 Points Wine Spectator $14.99

Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley
91 Points Wine Spectator $18.99

Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut France
93 Points Wine Spectator $29.99

Cheers!  



   

My mission is to inspire you to make wine a part of your daily life.  To accomplish this I want to expose you to new wines and deconstruct the complexity of wine.  I hope you learn something new along the way. 






Tips for Giving Wine as a Gift

You may be planning to buy wine as a gift this holiday season for your boss, friends, family or the host of a holiday party.  Since there are many types of wine and personal wine preferences, I would recommend employing the following strategies to make sure your gift is a success.

1. Figure out whether your recipient is a wine novice, expert or somewhere in between.
2. Get information from them regarding their taste in wine.  Some basic questions would be:
preference for red/white wine, favorite wine region or winery, recent travel to a wine region.
3. Identify your budget and stick to it.  There are good wines out there at every price point.
4. If you are bringing a bottle of wine to a holiday party that will be consumed that evening make it a good bottle of wine but don't break that bank as chances are you it will be gone before you get any.
5. If this will be consumed with a special meal, select a bottle that will pair well with the menu. 
For example, Cabernet Sauvingen pairs well with steak, red Zinfendel pairs well with barbeque.  Go online to find out a good pairing for the menu that will be served.


Suggestions for the Wine Novice

I would recommend any of my everyday suggestions for this category of wine drinker.  Simply identify their preference for red or white wine.  Some recent standouts include:

Paringa Shiraz '10

Shoofly Shiraz- 90 Points Wine Spectator
Paringa Shiraz '10 - #52 Top 100 List for Wine Specator 2013

These would also be a great choice for a holiday party if they would be consumed that evening.

Shoofly Shiraz

Suggestions for the Intermediate Wine Drinker

I would recommend going to a wine shop (not a grocery store because they do not have an expert staff available to assist with your wine selection) with information you have gathered on wine preference (red/white), favorite wine region, winery, grape, recent travel.  Give the expert staff this information along with your budget and have them give you several selections to chose from.

A to Z 2011

A to Z 2011 Oregon Pinot Noir #55 Top 100 List for Wine Spectator 2013

Suggestions for the Wine Expert

I would recommend setting a higher price point and following the steps from intermediate wine drinker.  The higher price point will allow you to select a special bottle of wine from their favorite wine region, winery, or recent travels.





No Fail Selection

Champagne or sparkling wine is a festive holiday choice.  True champagne comes from the champagne region of France but there are many other great options including cava from Spain, Processo from Italy and sparkling wine from the US.  Please check back in about 2 weeks for further information on Champagne for my next installment.

Cheers!       
 

My mission is to inspire you to make wine a part of your daily life.  To accomplish this I want to expose you to new wines and deconstruct the complexity of wine.  I hope you learn something new along the way.






 Chardonnay to pair with Thanksgiving Dinner

The chardonnay grape is a neutral grape with flavors being derived from the terrior and oak.  Chardonnay is originally from Burgundy France but is now grown widely in other countries including Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.  To provide further guidance you will find Chardonnay described as "oaked", "unoaked" and balanced. 
Oaked would be best described as having flavors of vanilla, toast, butter and nuts.  This style of wine would be aged in oak barrels.
Unoaked would describe a wine that is made and matured in stainless steel barrels and would have flavors described as clean, crisp, fresh fruit notes.
Balanced would best describe a style of wine that has some portion aged in oak and another portion aged in stainless steel to decrease the oak flavor.

For Thanksgiving dinner I would recommend an unoaked or balanced Chardonnay as a heavily oaked wine may interfere with the food flavors.  Below would be a few suggestions to pair with your special meal:

Marimar Estate 2010 Acero Don Miguel Vineyard (Russian River) unoaked style $29.00

Fritz 2010 Russian River Valley Chardonny unoaked style $20.00

Roar 2010 Sierra Mar Vineyard Chardanny (Santa Lucia Highlands) balanced style $45.00