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UNCORKED WINE TRAVELS

Musings Along The Wine Trails

SD Vintners Debut 2014 Barrel Samples At Fall Harvest Event

November 26, 2014 by Deborah Mines 2 Comments


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San Diego wine aficionados were invited to the 2014 Fall Harvest Wine Symposium & Wine Tasting held at the prestigious rooftop Vintana Wine + Dine restaurant  in Escondido last weekend.

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IMG_8024The symposium, hosted by Cohn Restaurant Group Beverage Director Maurice DiMarino, featured a panel of seven San Diego County Winemakers and their 2014 barrel samples.

Each winemaker presented a barrel sample and discussed the particular wine presented for tasting with the specific challenges that were encountered in the 2014 growing and harvest season.

In addition to the 2014 barrel samples, the San Diego winemakers showcased previous vintages which were available for tasting and purchase.
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Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Montepulciano, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo, Petit Sirah, Petit Verdot, Rhone, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, urban winery, Vigonier

Calcareous Vineyard’s Journey To Excellence Continues…

June 30, 2014 by Deborah Mines Leave a Comment

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Aptly named for the terroir, Calcareous Vineyard is perched high atop a limestone plateau, aka calcareous soil, on the westside of the Paso Robles Wine Trail.  Situated in the Paso Robles AVA, the influence of the Templeton Gap and the Salinas valley fog and steep hillsides make this a spectacular setting for the vines to flourish.

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Calcareous Vineyard is the collaboration of a father-daughter team, Lloyd Messer and Dana Brown, who purchased the 442 acre estate in 2000.  Today, Calcareous Vineyard is woman-run, with Dana as the winemaker and her sister Erika at her side.  Their first harvest was in 2006, winning yearly accolades in wine tasting competitions ever since. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, wine and food pairing, Wine Tasting

Foxen Canyon’s Demetria Estate Is A Hidden Enclave

April 23, 2014 by Deborah Mines Leave a Comment

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Demetria Estate is truly a sight to behold!  Visitors must call ahead for an appointment, then find the hidden wooden sign off Foxen Canyon Road, buzz the gate, then head up the narrow, winding scenic road for about two miles.

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Absolutely blissful scenery at every turn!  Just when you think you can’t go any further, a stately Mediterranean-type chateau rises to meet you, which seems a little out of character on the rustic Foxen Canyon Wine Trail.  However, Demetria Estate‘s chateau’s colors are as welcoming and warm, as the Zahoudanis family.

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Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Burgundian, Chardonnay, Grenache, GSM, Marsanne Grenache Blanc, Mourvedre, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Rhone-style, Rose Grena he, Roussanne, Syrah, Viognier, Wine Tasting

Temecula’s Monte de Oro Shines Like Gold

November 29, 2013 by Deborah Mines Leave a Comment

IMG_5914One of the most architecturally impressive and trendy new wineries in Temecula is Monte de Oro.  Fashioned with a contemporary Tuscan theme, the soaring floor-to-ceiling windows are absolutely magnificent!  Opulence surrounds you in the center tasting room, in every direction.

ToursandTastingFPOOne of the most unique features at Monte de Oro is the glass-floored tasting room, which looks into the Barrel Cellar below.  I have to admit, it’s a little unnerving to walk across the glass floor.  You might be surprised to look down and see someone looking up!

Founded in 2002, Monte de Oro has 68 family owners from the Americas, South Africa and the United Kingdom who call themselves the OGB Parnters (One Great Blend).

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Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Cinsault., Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvedre, Petite Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Tempranillo, Viognier, weddings, Wine Tasting, Zinfandel

Let The Good Times Roll At Chamisal Vineyards

October 13, 2013 by Deborah Mines 3 Comments

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In the heart of the Edna Valley wine country, where the bucolic views stretch for miles in any one direction, and vineyards line the country roads, if you’re lucky, you’ll stumble upon Chamisal Vineyards.

Historically speaking, Chamisal Vineyards claims to have planted the first vineyard in Edna Valley in 1973. However, the planting of the first vineyards actually date back to the 1880’s when the Franciscan padres planted the first vines along the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa trail.

Chamisal Vineyards was initially known as Domaine Alfred. The vineyards changed hands a few times over the years and eventually were replanted in the 1990’s with numerous high-end Pinot Noir clones, Syrah, Chardonnay, Grenache and Pinot Gris.

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Aptly so, Chamisal Vineyards‘ namesake was derived from the fragrant native white-flowered shrub, the chamise. Keeping with the theme, Chamisal Vineyards features a top-line wine series labeled Califa, translated from the Modoc Indians to mean “the prettiest one”. And yes, they are the prettiest ones! Califa’s 2010 Pinot Noir recently earned 90 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and it is certainly deserving of every point. The blend of three Pinot Noir clones (115, 667 and 777) fills your mouth with lush blackberry, boysenberry and raspberry and is absolutely divine and worth the price ($60).

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Another favorite is the 2009 Califa Syrah, which is extremely rich on the palette with flavors of blackberry and black plum with a touch of violet and underlying oak. On a lighter note, the 2011 Estate Grenache is outstanding and easy to pair with all foods. The red cherry and black plum flavors offer the slightest hint of sandalwood, anise and allspice and is very characteristic of a Chamisal Vineyards‘ Grenache, vintage after vintage. For Chardonnay lovers, try the 2012 Stainless Chardonnay, (three Chardonnay clones), for a crisp, acidic wine tasting of lush tropical pineapple, peach and red apple without the overdone oaky taste of a typical California Chardonnay. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Burgundian, Chardonnay, Grenache, GSM, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir clones, Rhone-style, Robert Parker, Rose Grenache, Syrah, Viognier, Wine Advocate, Wine Tasting

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To many, I’m simply known as a wanderlust ~ a free-spirited adventuress with a passion for travel and a lover of great wines!Read more...

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