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Summer is for Grilling and Perhaps a Watermelon Granité

July 3, 2014 – 11:06 am

For the 4th of July or any day this summer plan to grill a special dish for your family and friends. Several recipes that are grilled are available on the Wine Trail Traveler website. Check these recipes depending on the food item you want to grill.

Beef Entrees: Grilled Marinated Beef Tenderloin

Seafood Entrées: Grilled Rock Lobster

Seafood Entrée: Grilled Bodega Salmon a la Marino

Seafood Sauce for Salmon: Grilled Salmon Cherry Sauce

Dessert: Grilled Peaches with Fresh Cherry Sauce

When these recipes don’t fit with the foods you want to use then consider what Hope from Doukenie Winery in Virginia told us a few years ago:

  • Add wine to leftovers.
  • Add wine to any tomato sauce.
  • Use white wine with any chicken dish. Use a white wine if you have some. If not use a red wine.

The recipe below is from the  J Vineyards & Winery Culinary Team in Sonoma, California

Watermelon Granité

Ingredients:

3 cups watermelon puree
2 cups J Sparkling vintage Brut
1 cup water
1½ cup simple syrup (or mint simple syrup)

Method:

To make simple syrup, put equal parts sugar and water in a small pot. Bring mixture to a boil then remove from heat. For mint simple syrup, add ½ cup mint leaves, roughly chopped, as soon as mixture is removed from heat. When syrup cools, strain out leaves.

For granité, combine all ingredients in a shallow pan and freeze. Scrape to serve.

The granité can be served before a main course as a refresher, or with fresh sliced fruits and berries for a summertime dessert.

Provided by J Vineyards & Winery Culinary Team

J Vineyards & Winery, Healdsburg, California

Wishing  everyone a wonderful 4th of July and summer!

Cheers,
Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Wine Notes, Wine/Food/Recipes | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

California Wine Appellation Specialist CWAS Course

July 2, 2014 – 8:15 pm

I have had my share of wine classes. The first class I took was a tasting class through the local community college. At the time the class was a bit intimidating. Then I took the intermediate level of the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. These classes I would group in the social sciences. I switched disciplines for two online winemaking courses I took through Washington State University. I believe what made those classes valuable was the wine I was making at Vint Hill Craft Winery in Vint Hill, Virginia. I was able to utilize what was taught in the class in the lab and winery.

It has been awhile since I took a formal wine class in either the math/sciences or social sciences disciplines. I was invited to take the California Wine Appellation Specialist CWAS course offered through the San Francisco Wine School. Since I live in Maryland, I took the ten week online version of the class. A decade ago I taught online classes at Towson University. I wish that then, I had the use of Canvas, the online platform that this wine course is using. As an online class, the Canvas portal makes everything easy to use and is user friendly.

Homework Roederer Estates Brut (Mendocino County) vs. Mumm Napa Brut (Napa Valley)

Homework Roederer Estates Brut (Mendocino County) vs. Mumm Napa Brut (Napa Valley)

Class Structure

Of the ten classes that make up the course, eight are content classes that focus on different wine regions of California and their appellations and sub-appellations. The first class is an orientation class that focuses on the wine tasting method, general information about California wine and wine law. The tenth class is the final exam.

The class content is made available on Canvas (via the Internet) on Monday. You have a week to complete the class, however one assignment is due on Wednesday. It is expected that you will spend several hours per week on the class. I’ve been spending about eight hours, in part because I find the discussions so interesting that I check back daily to read what others in the class have written.

My first task on Monday is to read the announcement the instructor made. I then read the discussion assignment that is due on Wednesday. I usually work on that on Monday and post it in the discussion area of Canvas on Monday. Throughout the week I read what others have posted and comment at times. We are required to make two comments during the week.

For one homework assignment I opened the 40th Anniversary of Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon.

For one homework assignment I opened the 40th Anniversary of Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon.

I then read the wine assignment. For each of the eight content classes there is a requirement to taste two wines from the region studied. Our instructor varies what we are to do. I had to evaluate the wines for one week, compare the wines to previous wines on another week, discuss how easy/difficult it was to find wines in a local wine store during one week and another week made a video convincing people to buy the wines. After I figured out what to do about getting the wines, I make a journey to my wine cellar, local wine store or Total Wine a bit of a longer trek.

My next task is to view the week’s objectives and the presentation that covers the content for the week. I make flash cards to quiz myself on the content; can use them in the future for a California wine party. I finish the week taking the quiz. I’ll add additional flash cards if there is a quiz question that I did not have a flash card about. This rarely happened. My first quiz took me over ten minutes, subsequent quizzes have been in the five-minute time frame.

Opinion of the Class

This class is fun. Perhaps this is due to the homework. How many opportunities is there to have homework that requires you to taste wine? I also like the discussions. This particular course session has several media people in it and discussions are often lively and always interesting. Of course it does help that I have visited five of the eight wine regions that are covered in the course content. Wine travel is a road that leads to wine knowledge. The quizzes reflect the objectives. This is educationally sound. The final WSET exam that I took was disconnected to the book and course content, not a good educational practice.

Recommendations

Our instructor gives our wine assignment on Mondays. I wish I had all the wine assignments at the beginning of the course. It would be easier to select the wines at one or two times rather than making a trip to a wine shop every week. I went to a Costco in Santa Maria while I was in Santa Barbara County this week. They had a good selection of Santa Barbara County wines from different appellations. Since I do not know the particular wine assignment when we learn about that region, I did not pick up any of the Santa Barbara County wines. Our Costco stores in Maryland do not sell alcohol so that resource is lost.

I enjoy making the flash cards. It would seem to be a good resource to provide a text document of the flash card questions/answers and have the students print them. That way they are definitely covering what you want them to learn.

If you like California wine, work in a wine shop or restaurant that sells California wine or are just interested in wine, this course is for you. The structure is well thought out, the discussions are entertaining and informative and homework is delightful. Find out more information about the course at the San Francisco Wine School. The next session begins on August 4th with orientation beginning July 28th.

Cheers,
Terry

By Terry | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Reflections on Sonoma

July 1, 2014 – 11:15 am

This week’s class for the California Wine Appellation Specialist program through the San Francisco Wine School has a focus on Sonoma. We made three trips to wineries in the Sonoma region in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Our first impression of the wineries is their laid back attitude. We did not encounter any snobbish people amongst the winery staffs or visitors. We do have some fond memories of several wineries.

A Rafanelli is a family owned winery in Healdsburg. Father and daughter lead the wine making team. There is an impressive underground tunnel system used for aging wines in French oak barrels. Surrounding the winery building, vineyards cover the hilly terrain in patches forming a quilt-like scene. We had another patch-work quilt-like vineyard tour at Michel-Schlumberger in Healdsburg. The grapevine leaves were showing their colors in mid-November as we ambled through the vineyards on a guided walk.

A. Rafanelli tasting room is inside one of the barrel rooms.

A. Rafanelli tasting room is inside one of the barrel rooms.

We enjoyed our visit to Saint Francis Winery in Santa Rosa. Our tasting was accompanied by a three-course light lunch. Each course was paired with a wine. The chef visited and answered questions about pairing foods and wines. The tasting was set up in a circle conference table. Guests could easily converse with people next to them or across the circle.

Wine and food pairing at St. Francis Winery and Vineyards

Wine and food pairing at St. Francis Winery and Vineyards

We visited Trattore in Geyserville prior to completion of their winery. Although it was still under construction we were able to visualize what it would look like. The vineyards and olive orchards surrounding the winery were on rolling hills some rather steep. Different varieties were planted in alternating rows painting a row of gold followed by a row of red and so on. It was a beautiful site for a November day in Sonoma.

Autumn colors at Trattore Estate Wines

Autumn colors at Trattore Estate Wines

Cheers,
Terry

By Terry | Posted in Wine Notes | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Steven Spurrier Santa Barbara County Wine Tasting

June 30, 2014 – 11:16 am
Steven Spurrier led our tasting of 48 Santa Barbara County wines.

Steven Spurrier led our tasting of 48 Santa Barbara County wines.

One of our highlights while in Santa Barbara County was a wine tasting with Steven Spurrier. In the United States wine trade, Spurrier is noted for organizing the 1976 blind wine tasting in Paris where a California Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon scored higher than prestigious producers from Burgundy and Bordeaux. That singular event put California on the world’s wine map. People having dinner at restaurants began demanding wines from California.

Our tasting took place at Clos Pepe Estate east of the town of Lompoc. We entered the gated property and drove along vineyards on the way to the Clos Pepe house. The tasting was in the dining area at a large table set for the seven of us to taste through flights of 48 Santa Barbara wines. Morgen McLaughlin of the Santa Barbara Vintners Association introduced us. When it was mentioned that Kathy and I made wine in the country Georgia, Steven Spurrier took a moment to recount a story about his visit to the country ten years ago. He commented on the wine made from Saperavi. He drank a lot of the wine during evening dinners that were Georgian Supras. Steven said he never had a hangover. Then on his last day, he drank Saperavi in the morning during breakfast and a hangover hit him. Steven had good things to say about Georgian wine.

White wine flight

White wine flight

On to our wine tasting, we tasted wines grouped in flights. There were two Chardonnay flights and a flight of other white wines. There were three Pinot Noir flights, two Syrah flights and a flight of other red wines. In total we tasted 48 wines only given the year produced and the appellation. As we tasted through the wines, we took notes. Steven then asked us for our top two wines from each flight. He added scores and declared which of the wines the group liked the best. This was a very congenial group of wine professionals. There were no major disagreements and even when there was a minor disagreement the group was pleased to go with the declared winner.

Throughout the tasting Steven Spurrier kept us on track and was always the perfect gentleman. He mentioned the potential that Santa Barbara has for wines especially Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. Of the three, he believes the Pinot Noir have world-wide appeal because they represent what most people want to drink. After our group chose the top wine of a flight, Steven often simply stated, “Brilliant!”

Steven Spurrier congratulating the winemakers

Steven Spurrier congratulating the winemakers

After the tasting we ambled to the beautiful patio when many of the winemakers that entered wines assembled for a lunch that was fabulous. Steven Spurrier spoke to the winemakers congratulating all of them for the work they were doing. He then mentioned the top choice for each flight. The assembled winemakers were congratulatory to the winemakers that made the top choice in the flights. We then socialized, drank wine and ate the wonderful dishes prepared by chefs at Clos Pepe.

Curious of how I scored compared to the group, on four of the nine flights I chose the same wine as the group for the top choice. There were only two of the flights that my top choice and second choice did not place. The group seemed well matched. The Santa Barbara wines showed well and we left the tasting with a positive outlook on Santa Barbara wines.

Cheers,
Terry

By Terry | Posted in Wine Notes | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Boutique Wineries in Los Alamos and a Visit to Presqu’ile Winery

June 29, 2014 – 11:20 am
Sonja, an enthusiastic winemaker and owner in Los Alamos

Sonja Magdevski, an enthusiastic winemaker and owner of Casa Dumetz in Los Alamos

Yesterday we made our way to Los Alamos a small quaint town dotted with antique stores, an odds and ends store and two wine tasting rooms. Our first stop was at Casa Dumetz where we met enthusiastic winemaker and owner, Sonja Magdevski. After discovering her wine journey and tasting several Casa Dumetz wines, Sonja walked with us to our next scheduled wine stop. On our way we asked how big Los Alamos, Sonja laughed and said, “It’s what you see.” She noted that it is smaller than Los Olivos.

Our second stop for the day was Bedford Winery, where we discovered that Stephan Bedford, owner and winemaker has an intense interest in many areas including honeybees, viticulture and books. Stephan has several shelves of books that look like very good reads ranging from honeybees to all types of foods.

Our third stop for the day was in the countryside of Santa Maria. Presqu’ile Winery is a relatively new winery and vineyard. Vineyards surround the winery/tasting room. A large patio with seating and white umbrellas adds to the ambiance of the winery.

What’s Up?

Today we are scheduled to visit three more Santa Maria Valley wineries: Riverbench, Kenneth Volk and Cambria Estate Vineyards & Winery. The day is starting off as “another fine sunny day” #afsd.

Cheers!
Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary, Winery Tasting Rooms and Cellar Doors | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Another Fine Sunny Day (#afsd) in Santa Barbara County

June 28, 2014 – 11:24 am
Steven Spurrier blind tasting at Clos Pepe

Steven Spurrier blind tasting at Clos Pepe Estate

Yesterday we visited Clos Pepe Estate where we met Steven Spurrier, the renowned wine critic. Located in Santa Barbara County, the Clos Pepe Estate winery accepts visitors by appointment only. Yesterday was a special event and we were invited to join in a blind tasting of 48 Santa Barbara wines. Spurrier led the blind tastings. Even though Spurrier has worldwide recognition in the wine world, he portrayed a warm and friendly personality. At the same time, he competently led the blind tasting keeping everyone on track. After the blind tasting, we were joined by numerous Santa Barbara winemakers for a delightful lunch at Clos Pepe.

Before we left for our next winery visit, we stayed for a little extra time to experience a Clos Pepe Estate wine tasting. This particular wine tasting reminded us of our visit to Shirley Roy’s wine tasting at Roy Estate in Napa. The typical wine tastings both take place in the high-end kitchens of the winery owners. It is worth the extra effort to plan a visit to Clos Pepe Estate.

What’s Next?

Tomorrow we will visit another area of Santa Barbara County where we will discover Casa Dumetz and Bedford Winery in Los Alamos. The last winery for the day will be Presquile in Santa Maria.

Cheers! Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary, Winery Tasting Rooms and Cellar Doors | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Santa Barbara County Wineries: Los Olivos

June 26, 2014 – 12:05 pm
Alta Maria in Los Olivos, CA

Alta Maria Vineyards in Los Olivos, CA

Yesterday was our second day in Santa Barbara County. After a delightful night’s stay in the city of Santa Barbara near what is sometimes referred to as America’s Riviera, we drove north on Route 101. At this time of year the dryness of the region has created many dried plants with occasional spots of green trees. The terrain is hilly to mountainous.

As we approached Los Olivos, we saw a couple of vibrant green vineyards. Just upon entering the town, a sign gave the population of Los Olivos as about 1,000. We soon discovered what appears to be the main street with numerous signs for winery tasting rooms. According to one person we met at a tasting room, the town has about 40 tasting rooms. We visited four tasting rooms and wished we had planned to spend longer in the town. Just before leaving we spied an olive oil store and stopped by to taste olive oils from Santa Barbara olive groves.

Alta Maria

Our first stop was Alta Maria where we discovered their signature wines are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The owners are Paul Wilkins, winemaker and James Ontiveros who focuses on the vineyards.

Qupé

Next we stopped at Qupé where we discovered that Qupé is the Native American word for California poppy.  The winery was started in 1982. Visitors to Qupé will discover an assortment of the Rhone varietal wines. They produce nine different Syrahs.

Saarloos and Sons Saarloos and Sons is a family-run vineyard and winery. The focus of Saarloos is on family and that can be seen with this quote, “Wines are meant to honor those who came before us and prepare the way for those yet to come.” Visitors to this tasting room will find Grenache Blanc and Syrah.

Dragonette Cellars Dragonette Cellars offers the story of three couples who share similar wine likes and made a barrel of wine for fun. In 2003 they decided to leave previous occupations to start their own winery. While they source fruit, they do most of the work in the vineyards. In the future they would like to have their own vineyard. The Dragonette tasting room is about a block off the main street and easy to find.

What’s Up?

Today we will be visiting three wineries: Andrew Murray at Curtis Estate, Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard and Demetria. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or LinkedIn for complete articles and photos of our winery visits.

Cheers, Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary, Winery Tasting Rooms and Cellar Doors | Comments (0)

Swirl, Sip, and Savor… at the Santa Barbara Wine Festival, June 28

June 25, 2014 – 11:57 pm

While visiting Jaffurs Wine Cellars, our first winery visit to Santa Barbara County yesterday, we learned that a special Wine Festival is coming up this weekend. The Santa Barbara Wine Festival, Saturday, June 28 benefits the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. More than 50 Santa Barbara County wineries will be participating in the Wine Festival. In addition to the wineries, more than 20 food vendors will be at the festival.

According to the website for the festival, “This annual summer Wine Festival helps support the Museum’s mission to inspire our citizens to explore, embrace, and take care of our natural world; 100% of the Wine Festival proceeds help us achieve these goals through science education and engaging exhibits.”

The museum was started in 1916 by William Leon Dawson under the name “Museum of Comparative Oology.” The current site of the museum opened in 1923. More details about the museum and what it includes are available online.

In addition to the wines and foods available, a special raffle will take place. For a $30 raffle donation, you will receive a prize. “Just donate $30 for a chance to pull a cork, and you will win a prize from one of the wineries or vendors, a Museum Membership, or even a pair of tickets to next year’s Santa Barbara Wine Festival. Average retail cost of prizes is $50, so don’t forget to bring your cash and take home a great prize.”

Tickets prices: Members $70; Non-members $95
(if purchased by Friday, June 27 at 5:00pm)

At the Door: $105/person

Museum Parking: $20 per vehicle
(Free offsite parking and shuttle service available)

Tickets can be purchased online.

If you enjoy wine and food and want to support a worthy organization, consider attending the Santa Barbara Wine Festival this Saturday, June 28.

Cheers!
Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

First Impressions of Santa Barbara

June 25, 2014 – 10:02 am

After a five and a half hour flight from Washington Dulles and a two-hour drive from LAX to Santa Barbara, we were ready for some wine and winery visits. What will we find as we explore the wine regions and wineries of Santa Barbara County? What will the weather reveal? Will we like the wines? Would I source grapes from a vineyard in Santa Barbara County to make wine back in Maryland?

Jaffurs Wine Cellars in Santa Barbara focuses on Rhone varietal grapes.

Jaffurs Wine Cellars in Santa Barbara focuses on Rhone varietal grapes.

I have some first impressions that shed light on some of these inquiries. Santa Barbara has several micro-climate areas. As a result they can grow a wine range of wine grapes. In our three visits yesterday, one winery focuses on Rhone varieties, another focuses on Bordeaux varieties while the third focuses on Burgundy varietal grapes. That is a diverse spread of varieties requiring different terroirs.

All our visits were in the city of Santa Barbara. Our first visit was to Jaffurs Wine Cellars. Craig Jaffurs and his wife built the winery building. Barrels were in two rooms, many being steamed and washed for future use. The tasting room was a small counter in a barrel/tank room. Visitors will certainly get the sense that this is a winery. Craig focuses on the Rhone varieties. We tasted a Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Grenache, Syrah and Petite Sirah. All the wines were impressive. Jaffurs specializes with the Syrah making seven different Syrah wines.

Grassini Tasting Room is in Santa Barbara. The focus is on Bordeaux grape varieties.

Grassini Tasting Room is in Santa Barbara. The focus is on Bordeaux grape varieties.

Our next stop was the Grassini tasting room. The attractive homey tasting room sets a wonderful ambiance to taste Grassini wines that have a focus on Bordeaux varieties. We tasted two Sauvignon Blancs both with a tropical fruit profile and a very fruity Cabernet Sauvignon that was delicious. We also tasted a Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The Cabernet Sauvignon and the blend were both over 15% alcohol. Neither wine had any tell-tale alcohol burn. The Cabernet Sauvignon was made with grapes that I would enjoy making a Cab with.

Au Bon Climat Tasting Room, also in Santa Barbara focuses on Burgundy varietal grapes.

Au Bon Climat Tasting Room, also in Santa Barbara focuses on Burgundy varietal grapes.

Our last stop was next door. At Au Bon Climat we learned that the owner/winemaker, Jim Clendenen, has a sense of humor. Every wine name has a story and touch of humor. Jim makes wines with Burgundy grapes. We tasted a Chardonnay, several Pinot Noirs and blends of Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Two of the white wines had a subtle hint of tannins. I enjoy tannins especially in white wines. Large maps show where the winery sources the fruit, including their estate vineyard.

After our first day in Santa Barbara County we learned of the vast number of microclimates that focus on a number of different grape varieties. If you have not visited the county, consider a wine journey to Santa Barbara.

Cheers,
Terry

By Terry | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Tasting Notes: A Wine and Music Pairing Fundraiser in Annapolis

June 24, 2014 – 1:09 am

On the 29th of June, Tasting Notes, a wine and music pairing event will take place at Bin 201 in Annapolis, Maryland. Bin 201 Wine Sellers will select the wines to be paired with Ravel’s Sonata for Violin and Cello. Whole Foods is providing light hors d’oeuvres.

This special event is a fundraiser for St. Andrew By The Bay Chamber Music Series. Zack Stachowski who is the Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Andrew by the Bay founded the music series. Beginning in 2012, each spring the group performs four concerts.

The music and wine event on June 29 features Zack as the violinist and Natalie Spehar as the cellist. They are working with Tony Foreman and Steve Thursby at Bin 201. Steve has a degree in musicology.

For the Tasting Notes event, Zak wrote, “We selected this piece because while it is a beautiful, provocative work, it also has its challenges for the listener. In the same way that it takes some requisite knowledge to appreciate complex wine at a high level, similar musical knowledge can help the listener wade through some of the harmonic and rhythmic challenges offered in the Ravel. We plan to speak about the music while the people at Bin 201 talk about the wine. We hope that this event can serve as a model for future events tailored for people who want to deepen their experience of great wine and great music.”

Tickets at $50 per person for this special music and wine pairing event are available by email at sabbchambermusic@gmail.com. (Tickets will not be available at the door.)

Cheers,
Kathy

By Kathy | Posted in Wine News/Commentary | Comments (0)

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