Musings Along The Wine Trails
When it comes to Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard, nothing is understated! The grounds are perfectly manicured and stretch endlessly in all directions. Weddings are commonplace here and dogs are welcome!
Baby boomers will recall that Fess Parker was an American film icon in the 1950’s and 1960’s, playing the roles of frontiersmen Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett.
Call me a creature of habit. But whenever I visit Los Olivos, I make my way first to the delightful and unpretentious Koehler Winery on the beautiful Foxen Canyon Trail. There’s something endearing about Koehler Winery–perhaps its the peacefulness that you feel as you cross the one-lane bridge over the creek through the vineyards upon approach…
Or, perhaps it’s the baby emus that eagerly greet you at the split rail fence–a first time I’ve ever seen baby emus!
Or, maybe it’s the quaint tasting room which resembles an old farmhouse with lazy cats on the veranda… Or maybe it’s the hearty welcome from Dan Zurleine, fondly called “Dan The Man” who runs the show and Koehler Winery‘s wine club. [Read more…]
Driving down the bucolic country back roads of Edna Valley several years ago, I was lucky to discover the hidden jewel, Kynsi Winery. And, wow, what a treasure! Totally charming and renovated, Kynsi Winery was once a working dairy farm in the 1940’s. Today, it’s a forerunner in superb Pinot Noirs with a laid-back atmosphere with a fun, friendly and knowledgeable staff.
The signature barn owl logo for Kynsi Winery is actually a named after a Finnish word for “talon”.
No trip to Paso Robles is complete for me without a visit to Oso Libre Vineyards! Something magical happens when you step through the door. Within a few seconds, you are warmly greeted and welcomed by the Behr family. Chris and Linda Behr, along with Jeff and Liz Freeland have put their hearts and soul into making Oso Libre one of the most fun, top wineries in Paso Robles.
Oso Libre, Spanish for Free Bear, (a compilation of Behr and Freeland family names), is certified as Sustainability in Practice (SIP), which is no easy feat. To be certified as SIP, the goal is to grow crops and raise farm animals with the least impact to the environment, without the use of harmful pesticides. Not all wineries qualify for this coveted designation, and this is only one reason that makes Oso Libre so special.
Free range, grass-fed Black Angus cattle along with Babydoll sheep (used for organic weed abatement and organic fertilization) and a few alpacas (who protect the sheep), are raised side-by-side on the 90 acre spread. The outside patio is positioned as an observation area high above the working farm. [Read more…]
In the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside, outside the gated enclave of Montepulciano, a few miles down La Strada di Vino Nobile, you will find La Ciarliana winery. This little crown jewel is a small, family run winery, gently situated on 22 acres, that produces very notable Vino Nobile wines.
The winery’s logo pays tribute to La Chiesa di San Michele’s famous bell tower, which lay in ruin in the distance. The founder of La Ciarliana was Santo Pellegrino Frangiosa, who was born and raised on the podere (farm), just a stone’s throw from centro Montepulciano. Santo Pellegrino was one of the first wine pioneers in the valley to plant the famed Prugnolo Gentile, otherwise known as Sangiovese, in the early 1960’s.
