June 7, 2009 In 1944, Marian and Marino Crinello acquired a 72 acre ranch in Frank and Ramona added Pinot Noir grapes to their property, and now make three distinct wines, including a late harvest dessert wine called Glissando. That has certainly occurred—the 2003 Sauvignon Blanc (the first vintage from the Marino Vineyard) won a silver medal at the 2004 Sonoma County Harvest Festival, while the 2005 vintage garnered a gold medal at the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition. The World of Wine Barrel Tasting Weekend offers ticketed guests the opportunity to visit participating wineries one time each over the two day event for food and wine pairings. Fee includes a souvenir glass. Friday, February 27; from 7:00 to 9:00 PM INSALATA DI SONCINO Thinly sliced grilled marinated duck breast, mache lettuce, fennel, golden raisins, pine nuts and goat cheese; raspberry-balsamic dressing. 2007 Hess Su’skol Chardonnay, Napa Valley Thimble shaped pasta with lamb ragu’ and aged pecorino cheese. 2006 Hess Allomi Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley INVOLTINI DI VITELLO CON SPECK Braised veal rolled with smoked prosciutto, aromatic salt, with field mushrooms and demi-glace, served over soft polenta. 2005 Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley TORTINO DI MELE CON GELATO AL RUM Apple, walnuts, raisins and pine nuts torte with rum-raisin gelato 2003 Passito di Pantelleria, cantine Colosi, Sicily Guest Speaker: Wine Maker Mr. Dave Guffy For more info visit www.hesscollection.com Note: All the wines will be available for purchase at a reduced price after dinner. Cost: $59.50 per person, taxes and gratuity not included. For reservations call : 949-261-1444 Seating is limited. February 17, 2009 How would you like a taste of what Here's a novel event for those looking for new wine experiences: “Bud Break on the Highlights include ~ Grand Gourmet Dinner in the Special Gold Medal Tasting from the Witness bud break in the vineyard with a viticulture expert Meet and taste with notable Paso Robles winemakers Make your own cuvee to take home Sparkling wine tasting and brunch at Carmody McKnight Winery Wine Country Lunch at Jada Winery Small group size for an intimate, fun and educational experience Visits to ten premiere wineries and vineyards Escorted by an industry leader of over 20 years For a detailed itinerary visit www.reserveevents.com/budbreak Cost: $480 per person, which at first glance might seem a bit expensive, but you do get a lot for your money, and you'll enjoy myriad experiences not normally available to the public. One thing: Hotel is not included. The host hotel is the Marriott Courtyard Paso Robles, which offers special group rates. www.marriott.com/sbppr Group Code BBGBBGA King Room $209 Group Code BBGBBGB Two Queen $219 However, While Marriott is a great hotel group, there are other nearby hotels with competitive rates (for those on a budget who want to save money to spend on wine). The price is $90 per person plus tax and gratuity. Here's the deal I loved last year that's back again this year: From February 9th through February 15th (restaurant closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays) there will be a Valentine’s Lunch Special in the Pinnacle Restaurant. For $50 plus tax for two people, diners will be able to have one shared appetizer or salad for two, a choice of selected individual entrees, and a dessert. Also included is one glass of wine per person. This special will be available in addition to the normal menu. Call Falkner Winery at 951-676-8231 x1 for reservations. Down the road at Thornton Winery, enjoy a romantic dinner for two, a decadent dessert and premium wines at Café Champagne. This Valentines Day dinner offers flexible choices with intimate tables for two from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Guests can order off the regular menu or from the special Valentine’s menu, which offers such items as Sweet Bibb Lettuce Salad ($7.00), Petite Filet Mignon & Grilled Shrimp ($34.00), and Chocolate Raspberry Torte ($9.00). Dinner is by reservation only by calling 951-699-0099. The complete menu can be viewed on line at www.thorntonwine.com. January 24, 2009 Temecula wine country is little more than one hour from OC--no wonder it's my favorite wine country destination. Many of the wineries in Temecula now have upscale restaurants that make it easy to combining tasting with dining. And with Valentine's Day fast approaching, those restaurants are creating romantic dining treats for two. Here's a sample from Thornton Winery: Guests will be treated to a perfectly paired food and wine four-course meal beginning with tray passed hors d’oeuvres featuring PETITE CRAB CAKES - MEYER LEMON AIOLI, PONZU AHI WON TON BITES, CAPRESE BROCHETTES - BASIL VINAIGRETTE and Thornton NV Cuvee Rouge Champagne followed by a second course of SWERT BIB LETUCE, HEARTS OF PALM, CANDIED WALNUTS, TANGERINES, HONEY GINGER DRESSING and Thornton 2007 Viognier. The main entrée includes PETITE FILET MIGNON, GRILLED SHRIMP, LATE HARVEST ZINFANDEL REDUCTION, ROASTED ASPARAGUS SPEARS, MASCARPONE WHIPPED POTATOES and Thornton 2005 Cabernet-Merlot The evening ends with a delicious dessert as colorful and elusive as love itself –CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY TORTE with VANILLA BEAN CREME ANGLAISE paired with Thornton 2006 Late Harvest Zinfandel Dinner is by reservation only by calling 951-699-0099. Tickets are $80.00 per person plus tax and gratuity. The complete menu can be viewed on line at www.thorntonwine.com. January 8, 2009 January 6, 2009
Curious about the Crinella wines served at Pascal's wine dinner last Thursday? Here's what I wrote for the Spring 2008 print edition of OC Wine (updated with new award info):
Dr. Frank Crinella is a professor of pediatrics, psychiatry and human behavior at UCI, and has lived in
“Our parents were sticklers for doing things the right way,” notes Frank. “Whether playing a sport, musical instrument or studying, there was no substitute for excellence. We were taught to have patience and to take the time to do things right the first time. We have that same approach to our vineyards and winemaking—to make the best wine possible from the best grapes possible.”
But it's the 2006 vintage that has been garnering Crinella's greatest acclaim: 91 points in Wine Enthusiast Magazine, a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco International Wine competition, and a Gold Medal at the OC County Fair. Glissando was also awarded Gold at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.
The Crinella website offers additional information on the winery, plus an online Crinella Family Cookbook featuring dozens of delicious recipes handed down from Frank’s grandparents.
June 5, 2009:
Still savoring the amazing wine dinner I experienced last night at Traditions by Pascal in Newport Beach, with wine provided by Crinella Winery of Sonoma. Great appetizers (the foie gras shooters were terrific) and French champagne, wonderful meal of Alaskan salmon (paired with Crinella Sauvignon Blanc), Roasted Duck Duo with smoked cabbage (paired with Crinella Pinot Noir) and ending with raw milk cheeses paired with Crinella Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc. Yummmmmm!
June 3, 2009
I hosted a wonderful Wine Lovers event at The Laguna Playhouse tonight. The play they're presenting is "An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boeuf," a comedy about an American expartiate who owns a classy restaurant in Paris that is reserved for his sole enjoyment. I kept with the theme of the play and pitted French wines against American (California) wines. We had 12 wines total, mostly blends (Bordeaux and Rhone). The winner? Tobin James "5" which is a classic Bordeaux blend done the Paso way. I'll post photos later.
May 12, 2009
Toby came to town last weekend, and I survived to tell about it!
Yes, the man himself, Tobin James, was in the OC to pour his wines at several local wine boutiques, including Wine Lab Newport. I am a wine club member at Tobin James, and love to hang out with Toby because wherever he goes, he brings great wines - and a party - with him. This time was no exception. Wine Lab was packed with fans of Toby's luscious, bold wines. The tasting covered seven of Toby's most popular wines. Toby was signing bottles and posters for customers and having a great time. I asked if I could sneak a bottle of Fat Boy into the mix, which we did. It went fast--no surprise. After the tasting, a handful of us (including Toby and the folks from Wine Lab) went next door to Billy's at the Beach for a nightcap or two. Another memorable evening with Tobin James.
May 5, 2009
Disney's California Adventure is holding their annual Food & Wine Festival through June 7, and this year is by far the biggest and best lineup of wine and food events. So far, the highlight for me was not a wine seminar or tasting, but a cooking demo by Iron Chef Cat Cora. Iron Chef is one of my favorite shows, so seeing Cat in person was terrific. She was fun, funny and charming--and I found out she has a new restaurant at South Coast Plaza called CCQ (or Cat Cora bbQue). Meeting her afterwards and having her sign her cookbook for me was a thrill.
April 20, 2009
I love to bring people to wine country to go wine tasting, especially if they've never been before. Such was the case with my intern, Laura Robinson, a recent college grad who had never been to Temecula. She is partial to champagne and white wine, although she's been makng occasional forays into red territory. So, last Sunday we spent a day in Temecula and managed to hit several wineries before both our palates began to fade.
We started at Thornton winery for a flight tasting of four of their sparkling wines, which Laura enjoyed. Next we went to Briar Rose and spent a leisurely hour sampling a dozen premium wines. After lunch, we managed to make it to Stuart Cellars, but after sampling another handful of great wines we decided to head back to OC, with a back seat full of wine. Laura loved Temecula, and plans to bring her boyfriend there soon.
March 29, 2009
The Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival last weekend was, as usual, amazing! The Tobin James party was great, the Zin Event with the Far Out Wineries at Justin was both fun and educational. Overall, I tasted a lot of great wine, and learned more than I expected about growing Zinfandel grapes and making good Zinfandel wine. Check out my photos from the Zin weekend:
March 21, 2009
Had an amazing time in Temecula--went to Keyways, Thornton, Wilson Creek, Stuart Cellars, Doffo, and Briar Rose. More on this later, including photos. Right now I'm in Paso Robles for the annual Zinfandel Festival. Tasted some great Zins yesterday, and had a blast at the Tobin James party last night. Photos to come. Getting ready to head to Justin Winery for a walkaround tasting of 17 wineries and their zins, plus breakout seminars, discussions with winemakers, etc. More posting to come later this weekend.
March 11, 2009
Got plans this weekend? If not, head to Temecula (that's where I'll be) for a real WOW event! WOW stands for World of Wines, which is in essence the barrel tasting event that used to be held in Temecula every January.
Event details: Whether you’re crazy for Cabernets, serious about Syrahs, zoom in on Zins or are stoked about Sparkling, there’s an award winning Temecula wine waiting for you. More than 20 wineries will be pairing their wines with international food.
Cost per person is $89 for the entire weekend, or $69 for Sunday only. For more information, or to register, visit http://www.temeculawines.org/events.html.
February 27, 2009
The Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival is still a few weeks away (March 20-22), but I had an opportunity to do some early sampling of Paso wines at a special Paso Grand Tasting yesterday at the Marconi Auto Museum in Tustin.
Dozens of Paso wineries were on hand for an afternoon industry tasting, followed by an evening tasting for the general public. A few of my favorites were there (L'Aventure, Tablas Creek, Clautiere, Eberle), along with some new ones.
I really liked Cass, particularly their surprisingly smooth Mourvedre (usually a blending wine) and Petite Sirah (or was it the Syrah I liked--hard to remember with so many wines to taste). Clayhouse also had some good juice (the Bordeaux blend was great), as did Thacher Winery. Also had some tremendous Zin from J. Dusi (the J. stands for Janell). For those who don't know, the Dusi Vineyards are infamous for their Zinfandel grapes, which they sell to many other producers in Paso (including Tobin James, whch makes an outrageous Dusi Zinfandel). But the surprise find of the event was Roxo, which makes exclusively port wines. As a port drinker, I can say these were some of the best I've had from California producers. Their ports include a Cab Sauvignon/Cab Franc/Petit Verdot blend, and a Cab Sauvignon/Syrah blend.
For more info on all that Paso Robles wine country has to offer, check out www.pasowine.com
February 23, 2009
Seems like everyone is doing wine dinners these days, but here's one that won't break the bank, or your wallet. Il Fornaio in Irvine has one coming up this Friday, February 27. It's with Hess Winery in Napa, a beautiful facility with one of the best modern art galleries north of San Francisco. Their wines a pretty good too, particularly their reserves, which is what you get for this dinner, which is only $59.50 per person! Check out the menu:
Today I was reminded that the Pacific Symphony’s second annual Pacific Coast Wine Festival is coming up on March 21. That's the same weekend as the annual Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival. How could I be two places at the same time? Well, I'm going to try.
I plan to head to Paso on Friday March 20, sip some sensational Zin, attend the over-the-top Zin Fest Party at Tobin James, stay overnight, and make it back to OC in time for the Wine Auction. Why? Well, not only does it raise money for the Pacific Symphony's music education programs, but I just agreed to donate a home wine tasting for the live auction segment of the Wine Auction.
In case you're infamiliar with the Wine Auction, it's the perfect place to be if you're a wine enthusiast, collector or simply want to help a good cause (I grew up playing violin and know first hand how important it is to have music education programs available to kids).
The Wine Auction - which is limited to 300 attendees - will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2009, at the incredible Island Hotel in
“What could be more fun than music and wine—it’s the perfect combination," says co-chair Mike Kerr. "If it was good enough for the ancient Greeks, it’s good enough for us! And our guests will range from experienced collectors with extensive cellars to newcomers learning more about the world of fabulous wine.”
I'm told that the auction wines are still being collected, but expect to see names such as Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Colgin, Dumol, Dunn, Hundred Acre, Kistler, Lynch Bages, Marcassin, Peter Michael, Togni, Turley,
Tickets for the Wine Auction are $250 per person. For tickets or more information, call Sandra Gee at (714) 876-2363 or visit www.pacificcoastwinefestival.org.
In case you want to see how much fun we had last year, check out these photos:
Shana Bannert of Overture Young Professionals Auction volunteers Shana Bannert & Chris Trela
displays a magnum of L'Aventure "Opus One"
Pacific Symphony Prez John Forsyte, Pacific
Symphony League Prez Lynn Hackman, Ed
Selich (mayor of Newport Beach)
February 16, 2009
and grape growers are doing this spring?
Yes, this is a shameless plug, but I know the folks behind this and they are knowledgable and reputable. This event occurs April 24 – 26, when spring is bursting in
Bud Beak reservations and info: 866-912-0971
February 4, 2009
Still not sure what to do for Valentine's Day? Many Temecula wineries are offering some terrific suggestions:
One of my favorite wineries, Briar Rose, is offering a unique Valentine's Day treat. For $20 per couple for wine club members and $45 per couple non-wine club members, enjoy a wine tasting that includes specialty chocolates, roses, romantic music, and Briar Rose's signature salmon and smoked cream cheese. Call 951-308-1098 for reservations.
I've dined at the Pinnacle restaurant (located at Falkner Winery) several times, including last Valentine's day weekend. That's why I'm glad to see that on February 14th, Falkner Winery is hosting a Romantic Valentine’s Wine Dinner in their Pinnacle Restaurant. The dinner will be a four course meal with individual wine pairings of Falkner’s best wines. The Falkner’s will also include
I was checking my calendar and realized that the annual Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival is coming up March 20 - 22. If you love zinfandel, or want to love zinfandel, or just love to drink wine, this is a weekend you won't want to miss.
More than 100 wineries throughout Paso Robles will be pouring their best zinfandel, and special zinfandel-related events will be held at the Paso fairgrounds and other areas.
I'll be there. My favorite event is at Tobin James, which every year holds its own Zin Fest on Friday and Saturday nights. Tobin James features food from more than a dozen local restaurants, three live bands, a lots of wine, including a variety of amazing zins.
Check out the Weekend Getaway section of this website for details, or go to www.pasowine.com. For details on the Tobin James events, go to www.TobinJames.com.
January 15, 2009
Located in the heart of the Temecula Wine Country, Café Champagne at Thornton Winery promises to set the perfect mood for sweethearts to enjoy the ultimate evening rendezvous. This unique Valentines Day dinner, featuring intimate tables for two, takes place on February 14 2009, 7:00 PM. With three on-site dining locations to choose from (the Champagne Caves, the Vineyard View Room, or the Champagne Lounge), guests will be treated to a special evening with all the elegant and romantic touches possible.
Last year, I attended the Pacific Symphony’s inaugural Wine Festival. Well, I didn’t exactly attend, I agreed to be a volunteer, which means I helped make sure the proper wine lots made it to the auction room, and afterwards to the winner’s vehicles.
This year I plan to be one of the bidders at the 2009 Pacific Symphony wine festival, which this year has a new name to more appropriately describe its ambitious nature: “Pacific Coast Wine Festival, Supporting the Pacific Symphony.”
This year’s festival, which is perfect for wine enthusiasts, collectors and consumers, will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2009, at the Island Hotel in
Co-chaired by Symphony supporters and wine aficionados Valerie Van de Zilver, Mike Kerr and
Limited to just 300 attendees, the evening begins at 5 p.m. with appetizers and grand wine-tasting experiences, plus live music by Symphony musicians and a silent auction. A sumptuous dinner begins at 7 p.m., followed by entertainment and a live auction featuring some of the finest wines and auction lots in the
“This is a must-attend event for anyone who likes wine, music and having fun. Or even two out of three!” says co-chair Mike Kerr. “What could be more fun than music and wine—it’s the perfect combination. If it was good enough for the ancient Greeks, it’s good enough for us! And our guests will range from experienced collectors with extensive cellars to newcomers learning more about the world of fabulous wine.”
While the wines are still being collected, the auction currently includes Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Colgin, Dumol, Dunn, Hundred Acre, Kistler, Lynch Bages, Marcassin, Peter Michael, Togni, Turley,
Tickets for the auction, which are limited in number, are $250 per person. For tickets or more information, call Sandra Gee at (714) 876-2363 or visit www.pacificcoastwinefestival.org.
Went to Bistro West at The District in Tustin on Sunday night, found out that Bistro West has a seven-day-a-week Happy Hour! Early Happy Hour is 3:30 to 6:30, late Happy Hour is 9:30 to 11 pm. Appetizers are awesome (try the BBQ Chicken Pizza or the Thai Chicken Pizza), house wines are surprisingly tasty, or order by the glass from the lengthy wine menu. Lounge is roomy yet friendly (four large screen TVs in case you need to watch sports), dining room is comfortable yet classy. Check this place out: www.bistrowest.com.
January 4, 2009
Happy New Year! After several months of planning, we have done some revamping of the OC Wine website and of our mission. We're still providing a variety of articles, but they will be shorter and more focused on specific topics, such as wineries and wine makers.
We are also launching OC Wine Tasting Parties, a service that makes it easy and affordable to throw a fun wine tasting party for friends or business associates. Check out the new section of our website for more info.
And our New Year's resolution--more frequent updates to the site and this blog!
September 2, 2008
Hot off the press: Paso Robles Wine Country has begun preparation for the highlight of the growing season: the Paso Robles Harvest Wine Tour, October 17 - 19, 2008.
This colorful, three-day celebration is a combination of individual events held at over 100 wineries throughout Paso Robles Wine Country and always held the third weekend of October. Wineries from the region open their doors for an array of activities, including culinary arts and wine pairings, traditional grape stomping and barrel tastings, to name a few.
Paso Robles Harvest Wine Tour
Paso Robles, California
October 17 – 19, 2008
www.pasowine.com
info@pasowine.com
800-549-WINE (8463)
Autumn is the most vibrant and bustling time of the year in wine country and the 2008 Harvest Wine Tour is the perfect opportunity for wine enthusiasts to see the complete grape to glass experience. Come harvest your wine country experience at the 2008 Paso Robles Harvest Wine Tour.
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance represents wineries, growers and businesses in Paso Robles Wine Country. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country is California’s fastest growing wine region. It encompasses more than 26,000 vineyard acres and more than 200 wineries. For more information, visit www.pasowine.com.
August 13, 2008
Just got word that Tobin James himself (aka Toby) will be in The OC at the end of August for appearances at two noteable wine boutiques. His first stop will be on August 28 at Wine Lab Newport (2901 West Coast Highway in Newport Beach. 949-515-8466). He''l be there from 5 to 8:30 pm signing bottles of wine as the folks at Wine Lab pour his favorite Tobin James vintages. Next night, August 29, he'll be at the San Clemente Wine Shop (212 1/2 Avenida del Mar. 949-429-7067) from 5 to 8:30 pm. Reservations are recommended, and I can vouch for that disclaimer. Last time Toby was in town, I barely squeezed my way into the San Clemente Wine Shop. The fun didn't stop, however, when I was invited by Toby to join him and a couple of other James Gang wine club members for a late dinner at Morton's. Needless to say, we were the last ones out!
August 12, 2008
Congratulations to Dr. Frank Crinella, professor of pediatrics, psychiatry and human behavior at UCI. The longtime Costa Mesa resident is the co-owner (along with his sister, Ramona) of Crinella Vineyards in Sonoma County. They've been focused on making the best Sauvignon Blanc possible, and their efforts have been rewarded with a Double Gold Medal at the 2008 San Francisco International Wine Competition, one of the top wine judging competitions in the United States. Double Gold is particularly impressive in that the accolade means every judge voted the Crinella 2006 Sauvignon Blanc a Gold Medal.
If that's not enough, the 2006 vintage also won a Gold Medal at the most recent OC Fair, while Crinella's 2005 Sauvignon Blanc was awarded a Gold Medal at the 2008 Dallas Morning News Wine Competition. Crinella also makes a late harvest dessert wine called Glissando and a nice Pinot Noir, but the Sauvignon Blanc is making the name Crinella well known in the wine world. I've had the pleasure of dining with Dr. Crinella and sipping his wine, and it is indeed one of the best Sauvignon Blancs I have ever had. A handful of OC restaurants carry his wine, but you can also order it through the Crinella website: www.crinellawinery.com.
July 26, 2008
Last week, OC Wine editor Christopher Trela (hey--that's me!) served as gala chair for the annual OC Press Club gala awards dinner held at The Island Hotel in Newport Beach, where more than 100 editors and journalists from local newspapers and magazines gathered to listen to guest speaker Russ Stanton, editor of the LA Times. Five fantastic Temecula wineries donated wine for this event: Briar Rose, Keyways, Oak Mountain, Tesoro, and Wilson Creek. Guests raved about the wine, which is understandable since great wine is coming out of Temecula. If you have not been to Temecula, go! More than 30 wineries are now in Temecula, with more on the way. When you go, stop by one of the above-mentioned wineries and see for yourself just how good their wines really are.
June 29, 2008
Santa Rita Hills is a wine appelation located north of Santa Barbara between Buelton and Lompoc. Known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the dozens of vintners of Santa Rita Hills got together recently for a weekend of primo Pinot tasting. Naturally, I had to check out this - for me - unfamiliar area. What a weekend it was! Temps peaked at over 100 degrees, but the pinots were terrific. What fun to try various wines made from grapes of different vineyards, and compare the often distinct tastes. We'll have an article soon on this very topic, but if you're curious to discover a bucolic breath of fresh air and sample some fun (and often elegant) wines at their source, visit the area! Go to http://www.staritahills.com for a complete list of wineries.
September 24, 2007
So many events, so little time! Had dinner with Tobin James 2 weeks ago at Morton's in Costa Mesa. He was in town for a tasting of his wines, and I was invited to join him for dinner. We closed the place!
I am writing this blog post while sitting in my room at Paso Robles Inn. I am here for a media event called SIP Paso Robles. which includes winery and vineyard tours, wine seminars, and lots of food and wine! Look for photos here soon.
Also hosted another Trela Tasting, plus a wine tasting fund raiser (with all Tobin James wines) for Overture Young Professionals of the Pacific Symphony, held at French 75 in Laguna Beach. Had a great turnout, raised several thousand dollars for the Pacific Symphony's Arts-X-press education program.
More soon. -- CT
August 28, 2007
Crinella wines. Onotria restaurant. A match made in culinary heaven.
Just got back from a wine dinner at Onotria Restaurant in Costa Mesa. The wine was from Crinella Vineyards in Sonoma, which I wrote about several months ago (Frank Crinella is a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at UCI). Crinella makes a killer Sauvignon Blanc and a sinful Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, and as of today, an impressive Pinot Noir. The pinot, and the 2005 vintage Late Harvest, were introduced at a sensational wine dinner at Onotria. Chef and owner Massimo Navarretta paired the Crinella wines with some amazing dishes, starting with the 2004 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc "Glissando" matched with sformatino of eggplant & provoletta in a raisin-tomato coulee. This was followed by cal-rose rice with scallops, rock shrimp & lupe de mer in a saffron & zucchini blossom sauce, paired with the 2005 Marino Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc. Next was Brandywine tomato with Maui onions, kalamata olives and micro-greens in red wine vinaigrette followed by pecorino tartufato with Pinot Noir poached pair. Both courses were paired with the Crinella 2005 Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir. Finally, we had seasonal berries folded in a late harvest zabaglione (a dessert akin to creme brulee without the scorched topping) accompanied by 2005 late harvest Sauvignon Blanc "Glissando."
As you can imagine, this was an evening of countless culinary concoctions carefully crafted to elicit an awe-inspiring reaction from all who attended this event. Guess what--it worked! Massimo - a passionate advocate of pairing the correct wine with the corect food - perfectly matched the Crinella wines with the distinct and creative Onotria cuisine. The Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons song "Oh What a Night" could have served as a theme song. Great wines and great food--isn't that what life is all about?
For more info, check out Crinella wines at www.crinella.com, and www.onotria.com. -- CT
August 14, 2007
Wine Styles in Costa Mesa is one of my favorite places to taste wine, mainly because proprieters Jeff and Jen are so much fun and know a lot about wine, and because the theme tastings are always interesting and informative. Last week featured PGA Tour wines, a brand unknown to me and many others, but not for long. PGA wines are sanction by Pro Golf Association and are made by master vintners using grapes that come from Sonoma, Napa, Monterey and other notable appellations throughout California. I sampled a handful of wines at this tasting, and liked everything I tried, which is not usually the case when you're tasting eight wines. Most impressive were the Zinfandel, Syrah and Cab--although the Pinot Noir was pretty tasty, too. Wine Styles is the exclusive seller of PGA Tour wines. They make great gifts for golfers, for wine drinkers, or wine drinking golfers! -- CT
August 9, 2007
The fall issue of OC Wine is done--all 10 pages of it! Publication date (as part of OC Menus) is August 16. OC Menus will be inserted into 80,000 copies of OC Metro, to be distributed throughout Orange County. It will also be added to the all-new OC Menus website (www.ocmenus.com), where I have a separate food & wine blog that's updated weekly (something I'm striving to do with this blog). The two previous issues of OC Wine are also on the OC Menus website.
Been spending time at St. Regis Resort in Monarch Beach/Dana Point. Modern Gypsy guitarist Emilio and his band play there every Friday and Saturday night. I also have a favorite wine there: Rosenblum Syrah. Takes about half an hour to open up, but once it does, it's damn good. I took some friends there last weekend and brought some Sprinkles cupcakes to have with the wine. Talk about a decadent evening! -- CT
July 20, 2007
Noelle and I are hard at work on the fall OC Wine issue that will appear in OC Menus...is that enough of an excuse to not have updated this blog in several weeks? Maybe not, but we have truly been busy.
Went to Wine Styles tonight for a Tobin James tasting, which is ironic in that I recently interviewed Tobin James and co-owner Lance Silver about their crush, which occurs this fall. The tasting at Wine Styles featured seven Tobin James wines, all of which were terrific (yes, I am a Tobin James fan, but what's not to like about this premier Paso winery).
Tobin James (left) and Lance Silver of Tobin James Cellars
I'll be pouring Tobin James Chardonnay and Syrah at a special event for Laguna Playhouse this Sunday, and will be doing a Tobin James tasting for the Pacific Symphony's young professionals group, Overture, in September.
I have some terrific quotes from Lance on their crush, including how they know when to harvest the grapes, and the process they go thru to obtain their yummy wines. Look for those quotes in the fall issue of OC Wine. By the way, Tobin James recently released a Blue Moon Cabernet Sauvignon, and like their Blue Moon Syrah and Blue Moon Zinfandel, is an amazing expression of what a Paso cab is, and should be.
Also made a trip to Temecula to pick up some wine club shipments at Stuart Cellars (great reds), and to visit Wiens Family Cellars, which is quickly becoming another favorite.
Still to come--my lunch with a fourth generation Italian winemaker (Gaya wines) and how the OC Fair wine competition is judged. --CT
June 23, 2007
Starting a blog is easy. Keeping it updated is hard, even when you have a passion for wine as I do. Time has a funny way of slipping away when you're not looking :)
So many great wine events to talk about, which I will do over the next few days, and blogs. I do want to admit that I went to a blind tasting at Wine Styles in Costa Mesa a few weeks ago, and walking in I had a feeling my palate was off. I was tired, and had a feeling I might miss more than usual. I was right. Out of seven wines (2 white, 1 rose, 4 reds), I went zero for seven. Of course, they did throw in a few tough selections (Marsanne, a white from Burgundy, and Petite Rousse). Still, it was fun to try to identify the scents and tastes that came out of each sip of wine.
And if you have not seen the summer issue of OC Wine, check out the all-new http://www.ocmenus.com/ -- CT
ARCHIVED BLOGS
March 30, 2007:
Had dinner Wednesday night at Onotria restaurant in Costa Mesa with Frank Crinella, co-owner of Crinella Wines. He's a professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at UCI, and an avid wine fan. He and his sister own vineyards in Sonoma County and have started producing Sauvignon Blanc and late harvest Sauvignon Blanc, with a Pinot Noir to come later this summer. I am a red wine fan, but have been rediscovering whites lately. Good thing, because this Savignon Blanc is fantastic! We sipped the regular and the late harvest as the chef at Onotria brought out plate after plate of the most amazing food that paired perfectly with the wines. I had some friends try the late harvest, and they all wanted a bottle, which shows how good this wine is. Check out the winery at www.crinellawinery.com. -- CT
March 27, 2007:
Noelle and I are planning an excursion to Temecula this Sunday to research the June issue's cover story on Temecula wine country. Many fine wine fans turn their noses up at the mere mention of Temecula, but anyone who's been there lately knows that there is some great wine coming out of Temecula. There is mediocre wine there too, but I think Temecula is all about the experience of wine tasting. Thousands of people from OC make the trek to Temecula every month, and they're enjoying their experience, which means they're going to buy more wine. I'm a fan of Stuart Cellars, Hart Winery, and other like them who do make some top quality wines, particularly reds. Others like South Coast Winery and Ponte have become party places with packed tasting rooms serving wine that by all appearances is pleasing the masses. But with nearly 30 wineries now in Temecula, there's no denyng that the town has become a magnet for wine tasting in So Cal. Our story will cover the history of Temecula, the various tasting room, where to eat and stay, and also offer two Temecula wine tasting experiences--one via limo to high-end wineries, the other with a group to the "fun" wine spots. I think you'll find that no matter your taste or level of wine knowledge, you'll find something to like about Temecula. -- CT
March 25, 2007:
Been a busy wine week. On Thursday, I went to a lunch meeting at Antonello restaurant to discuss a wine tasting auction to benefit the Pacific Symphony's music education programs, and in the evening I volunteered to pour wine at a charity wine tasting event for Saint Joseph Ballet (six premium Pinot Noirs and five high end Chardonnays). This, to me, is yet another indication of the popularity of wine and how wine can be used as an enhancement to other activities. Friday evening I went to Wine Styles for their weekly tasting (blended wines) and met a few first timers who said they'd like to see OC Wine Magazine hold weekly get togethers at various wine boutiques and send out emails about these events. Great idea! So...stay tuned for us to start OC Wine Nights soon. We'll be launching a weekly email newsletter that will highlight various wine tasting events that week, and we'll pick one of them to host an OC Wine Magazine night. We'll hold free drawings for wine at each event we attend. Sounds like fun? It does to me. In fact, send us an email at ocwine@aol.com and we'll add you to our email list. As Noelle says, "Good Times!"
March 21, 2007:
I had written what I thought was a fun and witty summary of my trip to Paso, and before I could send it live my computer froze and I lost the entire entry! Oh well, let me relive it again for you...
Saturday: Rented a red Mustang convertible and Jen and I drove up the coast to Los Olivos, a tiny town with a lot of wineries compacted into one block. Sampled a few wines, bought a few wines, then continued on to Foxen Canyon Road, where I stopped at Fess Parker and Foxen. Fess Parker is a busy winery made all the more popular by the movie Sideways. Foxen is little more than a large shack with some pretty tasty reds, but they too have benefited from the Sideways association. Bought some wines, then drove the back roads up to San Luis Obispo, where we stopped at a tasting room called, appropriately enough, Taste. They have a unique system--buy a wine credit card in any denomination, walk up to one of several large round metal display cases with wine bottles attached to a delivery system, insert the card, select a wine, push a button, and a one ounce pour is placed in your glass. Taste range from $1.95 to around $3.50 depending on the wine. Great concept, fun store--and yes, I bought a bottle of Zin. Continued up to Paso, where I met a friend at Eberle and bought another bottle of Zin. Finished the evening at Tobin James, which held a Zin party for its wine club members and friends. The flyer boasted 20 restaurants, 4 live bands, and Wine, Wine, Wine! They delivered on all counts. The food was fantastic, the bands were fun, and the wine was incredible. Available to taste and retaste were Blue Moon Zinfandel, Dusi Vineyard Zin (which has quickly become my favorite Zin), Fat Boy, Reserve, and Ballistic, plus an assortment of other wines. As Tobin James says, "It's all good!"
Sunday: Made the rounds of a handful of wineries--Pipestone, Midnight, Opolo, Justin, Silverstone, Minassian-Young, and Tobin James. Bought Zins (and other goodies) everywhere. Came back with 30 bottles of wine. So did we have fun or what? Check out my photos below and see for yourself. -- CT
