UNCORKED WINE TRAVELS

Musings Along The Wine Trails

Windsor’s Notre Vue Estate’s Unabashed Views Are Worth The Drive

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Always up for an adventure, I was curious about the seemingly bold name for a winery, Notre Vue, (translates to Our View), an off-the-beaten path winery situated a few miles east of the town of Windsor.   My directions were vague at best, so I proceeded up the lone dirt road, passing through the gates of the old Windsor Oaks vineyards, veering to the left, careening to the right, for what seemed a few miles, all the way to the end of the road.

All I can say is that the name Notre Vue is an understatement.  The expansive Notre Vue Estate sits high atop a ridge, surrounded by over 350 acres of wild preserved open space, with panoramic views stretching from the Russian River Valley all the way east to the Mayacama Mountains, with St. Helena as a backdrop.

Over 250 acres are planted to Bordeaux, Rhone and Italian varietals, allowing for small lot production. Notre Vue varietals include Dolcetto, Viognier, Chardonnay, Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Malbec, Mouvedre, Petite Verdot, Petit Syrah, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot and Grenache.  A second label, Balverne, produces a reserve Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.   [Read more…]

Top Paso Robles Wine Trail Picks

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When thinking of weekend wine destinations, Paso Robles is often overlooked.  Once a sleepy agricultural enclave, Paso Robles now touts 11 separate AVA’s (American Viticulture Areas) and more than 200 wineries.  Roughly three times larger than Napa Valley AVA, the soils are as diverse and the grape varietals produced here range from Burgundian Pinot Noir to Old Vine Zinfandel.  Vineyard elevations are between 700 feet to over 2,400 feet and are greatly influenced by the Templeton Wind Gap, which brings cooling ocean breezes to some of the most prized wine estates.

A great place to start your wine trek is at Calcareous Vineyards  off Peachy Canyon in the west hills of Paso Robles.  Perched high atop a limestone ridge, the panoramic views from the tasting room are absolutely stunning, as are the wines.

Burgundy, Rhone and Bordeaux grape varietals are sourced from three estate vineyards resulting in distinctive small lot handcrafted wines.  Still family-owned, this gem of a winery is a must visit.  Play a game of bocce ball or bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the never-ending vistas from Calcareous Vineyards.

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Especial Wine Stops in Historic Alexander Valley ~ Sonoma Wine Country

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It’s mind-boggling to imagine what the ex-fur trapper Cyrus Alexander might have seen when he managed a stock cattle ranch operation on Rancho Sotoyome in the 1840’s.  The pristine 48,000 acres, part of a Mexican Land Grant, spanned as far as the eye could see, extending to the Russian River and through the present day town of Healdsburg.  Years later, the valley would later be named in honor of Alexander  who reportedly said, “it was the best and brightest spot in the world.”   Cyrus Alexander Bio

To the casual wine day-tripper, time appears to have stood still in the sleepy remote valley.  The winding country roads meander aimlessly, dotted with small farms and vineyards at every turn.

A great way to experience the back roads of Alexander Valley is from The Wine Carriage, a half day guided horse carriage ride through the vineyards.  The Wine Carriage  provides an up close and personal view literally between the vines starting at Alexander Valley Winery and ending with the estate’s wine caves.   Owner and tour guide extraordinaire, Bret LeRolland, is an animated story-teller, bringing the colorful history of Alexander Valley alive.  [Read more…]

Cass Winery Teams With San Diego’s Wine Pairs For Winemaker Dinner

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cass-wineryCombine the high-energy of Ted Plemmons of Paso Robles’ Cass Winery and the savory gourmet small plates by Chef Erin Sealy of San Diego’s Wine Pairs and you’re in for a delightful wine-filled, palate pleasing evening!

La Costa Wine Company in Carlsbad recently hosted its second “Pop Up” 5-Course Winemaker Dinner, and has already created a loyal fan base.   Pop up dinners are trending now and are akin to a fancy food flash mob, often held at unsuspecting venues such as wine bars, parks or even in parking lots.  Often these venues have no kitchens, so much of the food is prepared ahead of time and hand-carried  to the event. www.lacostawineco.com

FullSizeRender 4Ted greeted guests zealously and was very excited to showcase his five hand-selected Cass Winery wines that would surely compliment Chef Erin’s menu.

Ted has been an integral part of Cass Winery for over 15 years, and now manages the vineyards in Paso Robles for owner Steve Cass. He commented on the Old World style winemaking philosophy at Cass Winery, 

“Cass Wines taste exactly what the vineyard gave us! ”

 

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Ballard Canyon’s Harrison-Clarke Winery’s Syrah Is Bedazzling

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Calling all California Syrah lovers…  Ballard Canyon AVA, near Santa Ynez, is an eclectic treasure trove of artisan Syrah and Rhone varietal producers.   Part of the larger Santa Ynez Valley AVA, this sleepy enclave is relatively unknown to the throngs of visitors as the mainstream tasting rooms are in downtown Los Olivos.

IMG_0461The scenery alone will take your breath away.  On recommendation from a San Diego winemaker, I contacted Harrison-Clarke Winery for a personal tour and tasting in February.  Co-owner Roger Harrison was kind enough to guide us on an in-depth walking tour of the vineyards.

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Harrison-Clarke Winery is situated on 12 acres, planted to Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and Viognier.  Neighboring vineyards include Beckman and Stolpman who also produce amazing Rhone varietals.   Interestingly, the week of our visit, many of the original Syrah vines had been grafted to a Spanish clone of Mourvedre for a wider spectrum of varietals.   [Read more…]