UNCORKED WINE TRAVELS

Musings Along The Wine Trails

SD Vintners Debut 2014 Barrel Samples At Fall Harvest Event

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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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Foxen Canyon’s Demetria Estate Is A Hidden Enclave

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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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Pop A Cork At Temecula Wine Country’s Wilson Creek Winery

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Content_BalloonWithVineyards_200910Attention Bubbleheads… Wilson Creek Winery and Vineyards is the perfect place to kickstart your weekend wine warrior tasting!  Wilson Creek Winery and Vineyards features  five sparkling wines (you know we can’t call them Champagne!), with the Almond Sparkling Wine topping the wine list.  Personally, I prefer the Peach Bellini Sparkling Wine, with hints of peach, which is not as sweet or the Orange Mimosa Sparkling Wine, which combines the Almond Sparkling Wine with the essence of orange.  There’s even a Sparking Sangria Wine, naturally fermented in the Southern Mediterranean style, tasting of red berry, pomegranate, lemon and blood orange.  Refreshing and delightful! [Read more…]

Temecula’s Monte de Oro Shines Like Gold

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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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Rhone Rangers Rule at Curtis Winery

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Curtis Winery in Santa Ynez Valley specialzes in Rhone-style wines
Curtis Winery in Santa Ynez Valley is dedicated to  Rhone-style wines

For a truly unique wine tasting experience, get off the beaten path on Foxen Canyon Road and check out Curtis Winery ~ one of the first wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley to push the envelope with Rhone-style wines.

Foxen Canyon wine trail
Foxen Canyon wine trail points the way to Curtis Winery

The highly touted Firestone family established the first estate winery in Santa Barbara County in 1972, later creating Curtiss Winery to showcase their Rhone wines.  Today, the true Rhone Rangers are Curtis Winery‘s wine grower Chuck “Calypso” Carlson and winemaker Ernest Storm.   Together they bring France’s renown Rhone Valley wines to Santa Barbara County.

Santa Ynez Valley stretches east to west making it an ideal Mediterranean climate
Santa Ynez Valley stretches east to west making it an ideal Mediterranean climate

Curtis Winery is a little understated, but worth a stop.  Belly up to the bar for a tasting of six artisan Rhone-style wines  for only $10.  The staff is not overly friendly, and the tasting bar is short on space, but the wines are certainly worthy. [Read more…]