Dunning Done Good!

Once in a while, something so amazing comes along in life that makes you realize how lucky, blessed, fortunate you are to be a part of it!  Being a member of a cohesive group of wine loving ladies called The Women's Wine Council of Temecula, is one of those rare treats.  Sharing our passion for wine, food, travel, and writing with each other gives us the opportunity to blend friendship, encouragement, tips, and fun all rolled up in a few hours once a month.

Our last council meeting found us transported (metaphysically speaking) to Paso Robles as we sipped on wines from Dunning Vineyards.  We've come to a point where, at first glance, an outsider may wonder whether we're a wine or food council!  By the looks of our table overflowing with luscious goodies (all strategically created to enhance and pair with specific wine varietals), we embark on our journey to find the perfect wine with its perfect mate!

Ladies, start your engines!  Straight out of the gate comes the underdog champion of the day, a stunning & a stunner of a Chardonnay.  Thier 2009 Estate Chardonnay was laced with vanilla and pear.  Aged in my favorite, a new French Oak, it only had mild hints of oak to the palette.  It paired superbly with a lovely Sage/Apricot cracker and made my Cranberry Tarragon Wine Dip from our own Orange Coast Winery literally pop in your mouth.  The winning Chardonnay was a stunner since our group is primarily a Big Red's kinda group.  But, the appealing full-mouth feel of this Chardonnay was a sleeper delight that none of us could resist!  This is one Chardonnay that I wouldn't mind paying the retail price of $24.

Next we sampled a fun 2008 Estate Vin De Casa ($24) that boasted of 45% Cab France, 35% Zin, and 20% Syrah.  What's not to love in this amazing blend?!  This deep, earthy, liquid saddle paired with espresso chocolate cookies and persimmons with a prosciutto wrap drizzled with balsamic olive oil.  We also were excited to find that Edam cheese and Wasabi crackers were super with the bold taste of this blend.  I have to admit that even though I loved the Chard, I'm still a sucker for a wonderful, full-bodied blend.  The Vin De Casa was my personal, number one pick of our Dunning taste test!

As our tasting progressed, we were mesmerized with the Dunning 2009 Estate Zinfandel ($28) with its full-body and hints of raspberry.  Is it no wonder that the little darlings of the day, the espresso chocolate cookies, also paired with this one as well?!

Admitting that the Vin De Casa was my favorite and the Chardonnay was a force to be reckoned with, the 2009 Private Reserve Estate Zinfandel ($35) that we rounded out our council soiree with was not to be upstaged!  This Zin had a richness that balanced between bold, spicy flavors and the perfect amount of oak.  Definitely old world charm abounds in this wine.  You're probably not surprised that yes, once again, the espresso cookies found their way into favor with the Zin as well; but, not to be forgotten was the incredible roasted sage, pumpkin, fontina, pancetta, and pepita flat bread.  Forgo the turkey dinner for Thanksgiving and just serve this dish and Zin.  How Zinfully easy would THAT be?

Since my husband and I recently purchased a little winery in Newport Beach, I couldn't resist showing off our gold medal winner from the recent Orange County Fair.  The ladies were exceedingly pleased with this Sauvignon Blanc and its light, citrus appeal.  It was wonderful with a plethora of the foods presented that day and nabbed the spotlight as the most versatile food wine of the day.

It is always bittersweet when our Women's Wine Council realizes that we've tasted through our selection of wines and had our way with the delicacies that we've each lovingly prepared...we've laughed, shared stories, toasted, sipped, and supped.  As all good things come to an end and we say our last adieu's, we leave our compadres with the reassuring thought that we get to do this all over again next month!!!

Project Paso

Project Paso

Paso Robles will always hold a special place in my heart as it played an intrical part in bringing a special winemaker into my life via my family's Five Oaks Vineyard just off Crestin Road.  In the rolling hills surrounding this beautiful wine region, where Zinfindels reign, Moonstone Beach beckons, and the elephant seals languish around the tide pools, one can truly be seduced by the allure of it all.  It is this backdrop that sets the stage for so many robust wineries in an ever-growing wine destination.

Enter, Project Paso.  A class act quietly blending wines in the Paso Robles appellation for 30 years.  The families of August Sebastiani Sr. and Sam Balakian started their project by mixing depth, spice, and complexity in an effort to share this region's rustic character in each bottle they lovingly produce.

Delicious flat bread with pesto and roasted garlic

The Women's Wine Council of Temecula began our research of the Project Paso wines with the classic varietal of a Sauvignon Blanc.  A crisp white with pleasant aromas of citrus and honey to greet you with first sniffs.  Blended with a Semillon to give it a smooth, green apple mouthfeel, this wine paired quite nicely with a bloodorange jam on simple wine crackers and allowed the zesty taste of garlic, pesto flatbread to shine through brilliantly.  A fun side note on the Project Paso bottling was the introduction of the "Zork!"  A quirky synthetic cork that is recyclable, reusable, and made in the good 'ole US of A!  Peel off the seal.  Pop the Zork.  Re-stop!  Handy dandy!

Next stop was a 2009 Chardonnay that packed a powerful oaky-punch as it was aged for 8 months on half French and half American oak.  Light flavors of apricot and Meyer lemon come from the cold marine air that flows into Paso Robles through the Templeton Gap.  Alone, it was a bit daunting for this true-blue red lover.  But, Ba-Zinga! when paired with a scrumptious (freshly caught!) Alaskan salmon slathered in a dill, cuke, and yogurt mixture.

Pinwheel roll ups with a kick!

Now, for the real stars of Project Paso, (in this Wench's opinion), as we sampled the Old Vine Zin.  Ah, yes, Paso Zins as alluded to earlier.  The concentrated white pepper, blueberry aromas, and warm indian spices help this Big Zin stand up to your barbiest of BBQ dishes and did a lively dance with our appetizer of cream cheese, shredded cheddar, salsa, dried cranberry, chopped green olive pinwheels that partied past the teeth and through the gums, look out tummy, here it comes.  (Yes, I love to mince nostalgia by using good old-fashioned sayings that I grew up on.)

Delightful figs with goat cheese, bacon, and drizled in Balsamic

Being more and more influenced by my own honey's love of blending, the Red Wine Blend definitely took first prize in my book.  So delicious that I savored every sip and forgot to even write any tasting notes except that it took my breathe away (Oliver, Oliver, I hear Berlin playing in the background! A little Green Acres reference since the original farmhouse in the opening shots is right up there in Paso).  The intense, jammy red cherry sips containing Grenache, Zin, Petite Sirah, and Mourvedre all melded beautifully together with subtle caramel, cinnamon, and walnut nuances strutting their stuff and marching with panache over my taste buds.  As I thoroughly enjoyed the exquisite taste of this wine, I was hard pressed to find a befitting hors d'oeuvre amongst our array and succombed to the sensation that some wines are just meant to be savored solo.  However, the goat cheese baked figs with bacon bits drizzled in balsamic was working it's way into my favor!

Savory bites of chicken with honey mustard and Tabasco!

The 2009 Cab on our list was definitely noteworthy and one of our Cab lovers in the group proclaimed this to be the best of all.  It certainly was a perfect example of high quality Paso Robles Cabernet with a multi-layered nose from dusty blackberry, hints of jalapeno, leather and dried mushrooms hailing from Paso's rich, red soils.  So complex was this wine, that the entire group was searching to find the best food mate for our sultry friend.  I enjoyed zesty honey mustard Tabasco chicken bites, albeit we unanimously voted a green and black organic dark chocolate bar with almond and currant as the divine match.  And, thusly, we closed out another hard day at the office!

One of our lovely council members, Carmen!

Chatting merrily, cheersing away, and hydrating with plenty of natural spring water, The Temecula Women's Council thoroughly embraced the wines from a sister appellation who started from humble beginnings, much like our Temecula region, fought hard and long to gain respectable standings in the world of wine, ditto to Temecula again, and are finally enjoying the fruits of their labors.  The Project Paso wines reviewed today retail for a modest $14 and may be found in Temecula Old Towne at Rancho Liquor.  For those times when you need to grab & go, Project Paso wines are a sure deal for a great price.

Guest member, Robin, debating with Carmen.

Scrumptious homemade chix salad w/ hints of curry & cranberries.

As the US just surpassed the French in total annual wine comsumption for the first time in history, we cannot sit back and rest on our laurels!  NO!  Indeed!  We still have a ways to go in catching them on amount of wine consummed by individuals...now, get out there and do your part!  Drink wine with every meal, toast every special occasion (like, it's a Tuesday and you live in Southern California!), take wine destination vacations, and support your local wineries!  Make the USA proud! 

To learn more about the Project Paso wines reviewed in The Winemaker's Wench blog, check on the Don & Sons at  http://www.donandsons.com/ourwine/projectpaso/redblend.php

Our hostess, Corie, with Judy in the background.

As always, giant thank you to Corie Maue at
 http://lifehalffull.co/ and http://www.docpros.net/contactus.html

And, of course, a huge thank you to our great guru, Linda Kissam, for having the vision (and patience) to pair this group of winey women together!

Little Black Riding Wench with her basket of goodies!  Delicious salmon in the foreground.

Bridlewood Winery and Bo-Beau Kitchen & Grill



Bridlewood Winery visits Bo-beau Kitchen & Grill


One would think that actually being The Winemaker's Wench, it wouldn't be a big deal to sit next to a winemaker at an event.  Wrong!  I was thrilled to find myself plunked down next to Bridlewood Winery's very own surfing winemaker, David Hopkins.  It's true.  Winemaker's really are the rock stars in the world of wine.  Although a colleague and I recently debated whether the general public could care less about who the winemaker of such and such winery is, I stay firm in my opinion that the winemaker is the lord and master of a winery.  True, also, that good wine begins with stellar vineyard practices; however, a great winemaker can turn a so-so wine into something delightful.  I digress.  Enough about the winemaker.  How about those Bridlewood wines and the chosen food pairings from the quaint, inviting setting of Bo-beau Kitchen and Grill of San Diego.

Thanks to an invitation from my travel & fun writer pal, Sue Richter, I was thrilled to accompany her to this perfect evening under the stars of the open air patio with walls at Bo-beau's in San Diego.  We opened our evening with a lovely 2009 Monterey County Chardonnay, which was creatively paired with...brussel sprouts!  Yep, brussel sprouts for grown ups and served as our starter...set in a crispy pancetta, parmesan, and basalmic mixture that was amazing.  The Chardonnay was also served with a delish spinach salad complete with shaved fennel, cumin toasted almonds, and tasty, crunchy chick peas.  Another advantage of sitting next to the winemaker?  No way is your glass ever allowed to be empty.  That's just insulting!  Thanks, David!

Next stop on our tour was David's self-proclaimed most prized child of all, his 2009 Monterey County Pinot Noir.  He compared this wine to your perfect child.  The one that never gave you any trouble, received all A's, and was the Valedictorian of her class.  That sums up this beautifully crafted Pinot Noir.  A few weeks later, I was thrilled to find this wine in a little Fareway grocery store while on a trip back to Omaha, Nebraska.  You can bet I was snatching up this little jewel with happy exclamations of oh's and ah's!  The chef at Bo-beau's, Katherine Humphus, surprised us all again with a unique pairing of croque madame tartine cooked to perfection. 


Chef Katherine and her pizza baker



The fourth course was far and above my favorite for both the wine and selected fare.  The 2009 Red Blend 175 was a symphony of flavors combining a cab, petite sirah, and a sirah in a bountiful blend. But, here's the real kicker...10% Viognier is ingeniously infused in this red blend.  Magic!  When complemented with an unreal chorizo flatbread with serrano, marinara, five italian cheeses, and basil, it was like a John Phillip Souza March in my mouth.  Stars & Stripes forever SALUTE to San Diego heritage and California Red Wines!

Chef



The Charm of Bo-beau Kitchen & Grill in San Diego

The taste madness (that's like the kids saying something is sic, that's really cool! In this case, madness is like so way good!) doesn't end there.  The fifth course cascades into our being with a fab cab from Paso Robles.  Also, a 2009, (there seems to be a pattern here in the year we were served!), this Cabernet Sauvignon stood solid with the bold taste of rib eye au poivre, herb butter, haricot verts, and pomme frites. 

Just when we think we will be like Mr. Creosote from Monty Python and truly EXPLODE if we eat one more bite, they launch one last course barrage of sweet delights with a lovely 2010 Late Harvest Viognier and tahitian vanilla bean + seasonal berries in a scrumptious creme brulee.  Both wine and dessert were incredible in their own rights.  Not being one for overtly sweet wines and desserts, the combination was not one of my preferences, not to diminish the quality of either.  I would have chosen a fluffy angel food cake or simple New York style vanilla cheesecake to accompany the honey goodness of the Late Harvest wine.

Oh, I know what some of my fans have been thinking while reading this post.  The Winemaker's Wench is all about keeping it real, boutiquey, and local.  Yes, true.  However, my main goal is to educate about all things wine and all wines.  Recent statistics just announced, that for the first time in history the USA finally showed as many wine drinkers as beer.  This is HUGE to those of us in the wine world.  There will always be those times when you are out of town (in Omaha, for example!) and you are in the mood for a solid wine that you aren't going to break the bank to purchase (a modest $14.99), and you can find it in a local grocery store (like Fareway!).  Don't you want to know what a sure bet will be?!?  I thought so!  Here you have it!! 

Bridlewood Winery is located in a picturesque setting outside of Santa Ynez, California and known for wines that reflect the eclectic diversity of their region.  The winery also combines the beauty of wine with the work of local artists and has recently unveiled a new gallery on the estate.  Enjoy strolling around the manicured grounds, gazing at art, and sipping on first class wine.  Oh, and on your way back home, if you're heading down the coast, be sure to wave at David as he's sure to be out catching the last wave of the day before making his way home.
 
Visit their website at http://www.bridlewoodwinery.com/our-estate/index.html



Our fun group!




Writer Sue Richter discusses wine with Bridlewood's Megan Verardi




Troy Johnson will appear on Food Network this fall on their new series, "Crave!"





Sue and The Loveable Wench toast a perfect evening!




Poetry in food and wine



Raising the Bar!

Many a day in the life of The Winemaker's Wench can be demanding.  Lacing my bustier and gathering up my petticoats, I dashed from one wine event to another the past two weeks.  Each outing as tasty and riveting as the next.  Each time I was left with a distinct impression that "...the times, they are a changing!" It has often been related to me that Temecula used to be nothing more than a gas and beer stop on the way to Tijuana, back in the day.  Further reminiscing, most folks remember when there were only two to three wineries in the area.

Against all odds, droughts, frosts, Pierce's Disease, and bad raps, Temecula Wine Country has persevered and evolved.  Thanks to the efforts of many, the images and reputation of wineries in our area are entering a new era.  There are the pioneers like Hart, Faulkner, and Bailey's that have remained a constant, producing solid wines year after year.  There are the people at Wilson Creek and Ponte's that helped put us on the map as a fun wine region.  And, there are the serious big red boys on the block like Wiens, Leonesse, Palumbo's, and Briar Rose, who are proving that first-class, premium wines are being produced in Temecula.  Least of all, shall we forget, South Coast who has nabbed the title of "Winery of the Year" two years running?!

Impressive and continuing to make an impact in the world of wine, we are!  I challenge those of you who tried Temecula Valley wines years ago and were underwhelmed, or those who heard through the grapevine that Temecula just can't be taken seriously, or those who had one negative experience in the area...Revisit and have an open mind.  Remember the French prior to Montelena taking them by storm in their own blind tasting?!  On a recent visit up north, I mentioned to dubious Napa wineries "Be ready"!  Temecula wineries, once written off by serious wine connoisseurs, are making a comeback stronger than ever!

Smoky, tobacco, hints of chocolate, earthy, and chewy.  Bold tannins and deep, rich colors.  Smooth and silky with fabulous legs.  These are the buzz words describing wines presently being made in Temecula with Temecula fruit.  This is not cellar blindness speaking nor is it blatant biasness.  This wining wench has tasted around the globe in over five countries and in numerous wine regions across the United States. My palette ranks up there amongst the sophisticated and well trained (if I do modestly say so myself!).  When I met my winemaker, he had to prove himself and his wares in order to win the affections of this aficionado!  When we were fighting over the last drops of his '02 Merlot at our first dinner date, there was no doubt that this fine fellow, "....had me at Merlot." 

Hey!  Wine Snobs!  Try a shoot-out French style!  Just like they did in 1976 when top French judges unwittingly chose a little known Napa Chardonnay as their #1 ranked wine.  Pick up 6-8 bottles of the same wine varietal from different regions and countries.  Choose a wide price range as well, just to make it interesting!  Have one person in your group cover the wine in paper bags with barely the lip showing and number them.  Then, let the fun begin.  Don't discuss the wines as you sample them.  Sip and savor.  Take notes.  Then vote.  You will be amazed!  Candid, honest opinions will emerge.  Even the most discerning wine lovers in the group will surprise themselves at which ones they favor and why.



Take a Cinderella carriage ride through the Vineyards of Temecula!

 Temecula Wineries.  Closer than you think.  Better than ever!  Come see for yourself.  Visit Temecula Valley for outstanding wine, fabulous weather, beautiful resorts, great restaurants, casinos, historic Old Towne, antiquing, ballooning, and world-class golf.  We've got it all right here in Southern California's little slice of heaven!

Sexy Senoritas Sipping Spanish Wines

“Well I never been to Spaiiiiin, but, I kinda like their music…” and, wine!  From the popular, Three Dog Night, song from 1971, I added my own flair to the end of that phrase, after sipping through the Navarro Region of Spain at the latest Women’s Wine Council.  Another delightful wine fiesta in the company of some savvy, spicy senoritas.  Out of six different wines that were sampled, there wasn’t a bad one in the bunch.  All of the wines were solid and enjoyable.  Were they all my personal favorites?  Now that’s a stretch!  But, as a hostess, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy or serve any of these wines.

We started the tasting with a 2009 Otazu Chardonnay.  I didn’t expect to be impressed.  After all, we mainly hear about vino tinto, tempranillos, or riojas associated with Spanish wines.  This Chard started off with aromas reminiscent of a Sauvignon Blanc.  However, once sampled, it had more of a green apple flavor and a flat finish.  The pleasant surprise came in how nicely it paired with several of the dishes; including a lovely homemade Spanish olive tapenade with almonds, parmesan, and a hint of anchovy and a spectacular cilantro and onion shrimp ceviche.  Ole!

The second wine in our lineup was the 2010 Torrecilla Rose.  It started flirting with me from the first scents of dry, earthy aromas and finished tempting me with hints of strawberry notes.  The Rose didn’t stop tantalizing there, oh, no!  It continued to tease with a very light mouth feel that slowly turned into some big, bold tannins.  The real treat came, once more, with how well it did the cha-cha with smoked salmon from The Fish House Veracruz, merengued with soft brie giving the wine a smart, fresh flavor; and, finally sizzled with chicken empanadas packed with roasted red and poblano peppers and cream cheese.  Hotchihuahua!

Next on our list was a lovely 2008 Malon de Echaide Tinto Roble (Granacha) with a modest 13.5% alcohol content.  Is it any wonder that this wine was a delight coming from 20+ year old vines?   It was a joyful sensory overload full of mushroom and earthy tones giving way to a deeper smoky and black licorice taste.  Can I just say, for the record, that if Pee Wee Herman had been around, he would have married this wine AND the incredible chocolate chip brownies with fresh ground cloves, on the spot!  And, YUM!  This Tinto Roble absolutely popped with the above mentioned chicken empanadas. 

On to number four, was the classic Marco Real Crianza (Tempranillo) from 2006.  More old vines, a year in oak, and all from a state of the art winery.  Big, black, coffee aroma with hints of vanilla.  The shocker was at how light and smooth tasting this Tempranillo was until paired with food.  The crowd pleasing empanadas brought out the bolder tones in this wine and served quite nicely with the brownies.

The 2008 Inurrieta Sur was a blend of Granacha, Syrah, and Graciano and one has to love this vino for being aged six months on American oak!  Bully for them!  (Or, should I say Toro!)  This blend had beautiful aromas with a mix of spicy smokiness and black pepper.  The strangest food combo of the day was a mint, prosciutto, brie bite that hit a homerun with our group and this particular wine.  A big thumbs up and double Ole’s from me on this one!

We ended our trip to Spain with a lemony fresh tasting 2010 Ochoa Moscatel.  Let me be the first to admit, I am not a syrupy dessert wine type-of-person.  However, when it partnered with the spicy mango slice on the chocolate chip brownie, all of my pre-conceived notions disappeared.  This stuff was muy bueno!

When the tallies were all in, I was surprised that my top three picks came in the top three spots with the group.  After only one other meeting, is our group already developing a sense of collective palates?!  The Inurriate Sur earned the number one spot.  Second place went to the smooth Malon de Echaide Tinto Roble and the Tempranillo nabbed the bronze.  Rounding out the roster was the Rose in fourth, the Chardonnay was fifth, and the desert wine rounded out our roster at sixth.  As one friend recently said to me, her dream was to drink her way across Europe.  After this tasting, I don’t think I would mind starting off in Spain!

For recipes used in this tasting, go to http://winesofnavarra.com/cuisine/.  Special thanks to The Wine Company, http://www.tvwineco.com/, of Temecula for our door prizes!

Some articles by "The Wench" can also be viewed at Temecula Nightout http://www.temeculanightout.com/.  Like them AND me, The Winemaker's Wench, on FB!