Picking a Holiday Wine

It's the time I start to think about it.

It won't be long until Thanksgiving and only a few weeks more until Christmas.  There will be mounds of turkey, roast beef, stuffing, creamed onions, green beans, heavenly rolls, cranberry sauce, au gratin potatoes and who know what all.

Most wine publications and the assorted experts will talk about pairing and matching and the difficult flavors of the season.  Maybe Pinot Noir they'll say.  Perhaps an un-oaked Chardonnay?  I don't pay attention to any of those things.

What I consider is what wines will bring out the most memories?  The most stories of wine country trips.  The smiles as we think about the people at the wineries that we visited this year. Last year. Years before.

For us there will be a Frank Family wine - probably one of their wonderful sparklers.  Did you know this winery used to be Hanns Kornell and specialized in sparking wine?  They did.  And Dennis and his group can tell you all about it.  Oh - and if you meet Dennis - ask him about teaching his grandson to drive.  Just remembering Dennis tell the story makes us smile.

They'll certainly be a Toad Hollow.  Why?  Because Frankie and her late husband Todd were so wonderful to us when we came tasting all those years ago.  Then they sat you down around a big table and Todd (or Toad as he was known) would tell you about their wines, their consulting wine maker Rodney Strong and keep pouring until the all the bottles were gone.  Oh - or Hank the Wonder Weiner Dog had go for a walk.

There will definitely be a Clos Pegase Hommage Cab (from our vertical that goes back to 2001 at this point) so that we can tip a glass to Jan Shrem, his new wife - and to the late Mitsuko - his wife when we met them both on a river cruise in France in 2004. 

You see - it's not just about the nose, the palate or the finish.  It's just as much about the memories.

Thanksgiving in Wine Country

It's been a few years, but instead of the traditional turkey at home for Thanksgiving, my wife and I decided to take both of our Mothers to wine country for the holiday celebration.  We were longing for something different and neither Mom had been to any of the California Wine Country valleys.

We booked the flights from LA to SFO and made reservations for all of us at our favorite wine country inn - The Honor Mansion in Healdsburg.  Kathy & Steve - the owners - are wonderful people and over the years they have developed Honor Mansion into the most luxurious bed & breakfast inn we are aware of. 

We landed on time, fought the traffic up the 101 and arrived in Sonoma ready to show "the Moms" why we love wine country.  And over the 4 days and 3 nights - wine country did not disappoint.

The post harvest time is calmer, slower and with less visitors in part due to the holiday.  But we felt there was a sense of satisfaction and pride that emulated from each of the wineries we visited.  They knew another year was put to bed and that all their hard work would pay off down the road with outstanding wines.

We visited wineries like: Jordan, Simi, Ferrari-Carano, Korbel, Matanzas Creek and more.

Both Moms - in their late 70's - thoroughly enjoyed themselves and we came back with fond memories of a Thanksgiving spent - for us - in a very nontraditional way.

The Road Less Traveled

Santa Barbara wine country.  Sounds peaceful doesn't it?  Not on any given weekend I can tell you.  Just getting there can be a headache.  So what's the advice?

One - start early.  If you're leaving from LA and it's environs get on the road early in the morning and get to Santa Barbara in time for breakfast.  Yep - breakfast.

Two - don't rush.  The roads - no matter which way you go - will be pretty open in the morning and besides, most wineries don't open until 10am for tasting. 

Three - consider taking highway 154 just as you get through Santa Barbara.  Why?  The highway winds it's way up the mountain through the Los Padres National Forest.  As you gain elevation take the temptation to pull off the road at one of the overlooks.  It's a breath-taking view back toward the Pacific Ocean and Refugio State Beach.

Continue on up the mountain - watching for bicycles - and consider a side trip to Chumash Painted Cave just a mile or so off the highway on Painted Cave Road.  Besides the cave - the views are staggering.  Once done, head back north on hwy 154 and the next thing you'll see as you start down the back side is Lake Cachuma.

Lake Cachuma is 3100 acres of water, camping and recreation.  Look carefully at the lake and you might see the UCSB rowing team practicing.  There is ample opportunity to pull off and get a closer look at the lake.  Who know - you might even see one of the American Bald Eagles that frequent the area.

But - back to our destination: wine tasting.  It's now only 10 miles or so to the left turn on Mission Drive (Hwy 246) that will take you almost immediately to Gainey Vineyards.  We think it's quite arguably The Best of wine country in this area.  If you like Chardonnay or Pinot Noir - you may just find yourself joining their wine club.  #gainey, #santabarbarawine, #pinotnoir, #winecountrytravel

Cheers!

When You Think California Wine Country...

Do you think - Temecula?  Probably not.  Napa, Sonoma, even Paso Robles or Santa Barbara but Temecula may not even be on your radar yet it's Southern California Wine Country.  Great wines - lot's to do - and easy to get to.  No flying.  No long car rides. 

Temecula is about an hour north of San Diego and an hour and 1/2 from LA.  There are so many things to do - don't take my work for it - watch this video.

Now - is Temecula on your next Wine Country itinerary?  It should be.

Visit a French Chateau in Sonoma?

Sitting high on hill just north of Healdsburg is a French Chateau.  It's reached by a winding private road that ascends through olive groves and huge trees.  As you arrive at the top you marvel at the vine covered structure that awaits.  It's simply breathtaking!  And now - it's open to the public.  Have you been?

After four decades of hosting tours and tastings by appointment at its iconic chateau, Jordan Vineyard & Winery is launching its first Estate Tour & Tasting experience. Guests will journey to remote corners of the nearly 1,200-acre Jordan Estate to enjoy a farm-to-table, wine-and-food-tasting excursion showcasing foods grown on the property with a backdrop of stunning vistas 

Jordan Estate is one of the few properties in Northern California wine country with more than 1,000 acres of contiguous land that is navigable by vehicle, owned by a private individual and available to be explored by consumers. More than three-quarters of the estate is dedicated to natural habitat— an oasis where craggy oak trees surround the vineyards, herons and geese swim the lakes, and rabbits and deer roam the rolling hills that define Sonoma County’s southern Alexander Valley. The property includes 110 acres of grapevines, 18 acres of olive trees, gardens, lakes, pastures and endless woods. Under the direction of second-generation vintner John Jordan, Jordan Vineyard & Winery has evolved into a working ranch with chickens for eggs, cattle for beef, bees for honey and even a cutting garden for floral arrangements.

“After having spent countless weekends fishing and driving around the Jordan property, I wanted to share the beauty of Sonoma with an experience that is truly singular in California,” says John Jordan.

Each 3 hour tour is limited to a few guests so reservation for the Thurday-Monday tours are critical.  Harvest is currently under way - here's a video of the process at Jordan. 

Did you know? Is it on your itinerary?  Cheers?

ordan Estate is one of the few properties in Northern California wine country with more than 1,000 acres of contiguous land that is navigable by vehicle, owned by a private individual and available to be explored by consumers. More than three-quarters of the estate is dedicated to natural habitat— an oasis where craggy oak trees surround the vineyards, herons and geese swim the lakes, and rabbits and deer roam the rolling hills that define Sonoma County’s southern Alexander Valley. The property includes 110 acres of grapevines, 18 acres of olive trees, gardens, lakes, pastures and endless woods. Under the direction of second-generation vintner John Jordan, Jordan Vineyard & Winery has evolved into a working ranch with chickens for eggs, cattle for beef, bees for honey and even a cutting garden for floral arrangements. - See more at: http://blog.jordanwinery.com/2013/06/jordan-winery-estate-now-open-to-the-public-through-estate-tour-tasting-experience/?utm_content=31438&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Estate%20Tour%20%26%20Tasting&utm_campaign=New%20estate%20tour%20and%20wines%20for%20your%20backyard%20barbecuecontent#sthash.e0yrV6E8.dpuf

After four decades of hosting tours and tastings by appointment at its iconic chateau, Jordan Vineyard & Winery is launching our first Estate Tour & Tasting experience. Guests will journey to remote corners of the nearly 1,200-acre Jordan Estate to enjoy a farm-to-table, wine-and-food-tasting excursion showcasing foods grown on the property with a backdrop of stunning vistas - See more at: http://blog.jordanwinery.com/2013/06/jordan-winery-estate-now-open-to-the-public-through-estate-tour-tasting-experience/?utm_content=31438&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Estate%20Tour%20%26%20Tasting&utm_campaign=New%20estate%20tour%20and%20wines%20for%20your%20backyard%20barbecuecontent#sthash.e0yrV6E8.dpuf

Travel Time

You've arrived at San Francisco International Airport!  You have your luggage and you just signed the papers for your rental car.  So how long will it take you to get to California Wine Country?  Well.....   That all depends.

On what you ask? "I've got the Google map directions and it says it will take 67 minutes to get to Napa" (the city).  Ah, yes, but you arrived on a Friday afternoon and it's 2pm now right?  Try more like 2-3 hours to get there!

 

Part of any trip is getting to - and from - your arrival point and just like at home that varies based on the day of the week and the time of the day.  Whether it's Napa, Sonoma, Anderson, Livermore, Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, Temecula or any of the other wine valleys you need to plan the time into your schedule.  California's freeways are notorious for heavy traffic volumes.

What we suggest of course is to let us here at Vineyard Visits plan your itinerary.  Your travel time is just one of the things that we take into account.  But, if you want to plan for this on your own, just know that from 1pm on the traffic leaving the cities starts to build and it can be well after 7pm before it starts to abate.  And that's on a good day with few accidents.

Is travel time part of your itinerary?  Cheers!

Fields of Lavender

Wine is a visceral pleasure.  What's that you say?  You've heard that expression but are not really sure what it means?  Here's a great explanation: "Any of the faculties by which stimuli from outside or inside the body are received and felt: hearing, sight, smell, touch, taste, and equilibrium"

When you visit Matanzas Creek Winery in Sonoma the last - equilibrium - comes into play first.  Not that the others don't.  It's just that when you turn into the lane leading up the hill to the winery itself you are so overwhelmed by the waves and unending rows of deep purple lavender that your equilibrium is challenged. You feel the earth move slightly.  You actually have to stop and touch some of the beautiful plants.

And then - you taste the wine.  Yes - that's right - you can actually taste the lavender in the wine.  Where?  Right there as you take in the sight of the deep purple in what is surely one the top 5 Merlots in Sonoma if not Napa as well.  You breathe in the smell of the lavender and try to decide - is it coming from the glass or the fields outside? 

As you leave, you hesitate one last time at the foot of the lane.  There it is. You hear the wine  and the lavender calling you back!

Is Matanzas Creek on your itinerary?  Cheers!