Pour + Explore – The Valleys Tasting, Winning Olive Oils, Wine and Mexican Food and a Generous Serving of Half a Glass and More in This Edition of Woody’s Whine!
by Woody Mosgers
Writing From the Edge of the Russian River in Sonoma County
Pour + Explore at Paradise Ridge Winery
The May edition of Pour + Explore – The Four Valleys Tasting – offered by The Sonoma County Vintners was held at the Paradise Ridge winery perched on the ridgeline at some 500 feet of elevation overlooking the Russian River Valley.
“It’s an amazing place that offers you the opportunity to see how Sonoma County is laid out and how it’s effected by the sun and the wind and is one of the best places to grow wine grapes in the world,” commented a breathless Chris Sawyer, collaborating sommelier to the Vintners Association, “It was a great place to host this tasting.”
Sawyer explained that the 30+ wineries offered white and red wines demonstrating the diversity of Sonoma County, allowing tasters to sample wines from the Russian River, Alexander Valley, Knights Valley and the Dry Creek Valley with amazing Sauvignon Blanc’s, high class Chardonnays, outstanding Cabernets and really amazing Zinfandels in a more intimate setting.
I enjoy getting Sawyers’ thoughts on wines that the tasting panel finds interesting; we’ll start with the Gary Farrell Pinot Noir.
“He has a really great brand out in Dry Creek, and he was the winemaker for Davis Burnham’s for a long time before he started his own brand. I could see that they showed very well at the tasting”, Sawyer offered.
“Rafanelli Zinfandel is legend, one of the best wineries in Sonoma County,” states Sawyer, “It’s got the great history, and it’s interesting and a bit culty”. Americo Rafanelli was the “real estate” agent that made what Dry Creek is today. He’d take people around to smaller wineries that were looking to sell and after some salami and cheese and wine he’d tell them to buy the property. Sawyer smiled.
“Knights Bridge’s is a really great winery that’s growing in popularity up in Knights Valley nestled against Mount St. Helena and making a wonderful Sauvignon Blanc, a red blend and a Cabernet, all highly rated,” Sawyer stated.
“The Martinelli Zinfandel, oh my god what a bottle, the Giuseppe & Luisa Zinfandel from the Russian River Valley was just flat out delicious especially for a place known for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay’s”, He expressed.
“Next month will be Chardonnay & Friends at the Kendall Jackson winery where we’ll be tasting some Chardonnay’s with high acid, some with low acid and there’s going to be some butter ones and there’s going to be more that are just in balance and that’s the most important thing, drinking wines that are in balance”, Sawyer stated.
I noticed that the attendance demo had a younger look to it and Sawyer suggested that other wine associations had been reaching out to their members and he was glad that they came out as they were exposed to a different set of wines, rather than simply straight ahead varietals and they seemed impressed and adventurous in what they were tasting.
His thoughts were echoed by Barbra Cox, Director of Communications & Engagement for the Sonoma County Vintners Association. “I was excited to see the sold out crowd who were at the tasting,” she shared. “70% of people who attend our tastings are new to the event and we encourage the participating wineries to promote the events to their members and on social media”
Cox stated. “I also think that with the focus of the tasting being on the various appellations such as Dry Creek rather than simply Chardonnay and Zinfandel attracted a lot more interest and of course the lovely Paradise Ridge Winery location offers its own attraction”, she offered.
June’s Pour + Explore event will focus on the most popular wine in the world, Chardonnay and will be held on the beautiful grounds of the Kendall – Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens. “Chardonnay and Friends” and will of course feature multiple Chardonnays from over 30 wineries as well as other white wine varietals on June 18th from 5;30 – 7:30. Tickets at Cellarpass.com
No. 1 Olive Oil in the World
Greece’s The Master Miller took the top global ranking with 10 gold medals and a perfect consistency score.
California’s Olive Ranch ranked as the top U.S. producer, placing fourth worldwide and earning awards for both its California Olive Ranch and Lucina Italia olive oils, including cold-pressed Italian varieties with green, peppery flavor notes.
Rankings are based on historical performance and calculated using a methodology developed by Olive Oil Times. The methodology rewards consistency and excellence over time.
This year, Greece’s The Master Miller secured the top global ranking. The producer earned 10 gold medals and holds the distinction of being the most awarded Greek olive oil producer in the world, with 587 international awards. Average retail price is $25 500ml.
The highest-ranking U.S. producer was California Olive Ranch, the brand placed fourth and earned a consistency score of 100 and an overall score of 51.75 points and also earned high marks for consistency and quality. “Ranking as the No. 4 brand globally is a testament to our ‘quality at scale’ philosophy,” says Mary Mori, vice president of quality.
Average retail price is $20 for 500ml.
We used this brand until we moved to Santa Rosa and started buying jugs at the Napa Valley Olive Oil company.
Food&Wine
Half a Glass
What Wines Would You Recommend Serving With Good Mexican Food?
“Well I’d never recommend pairing wine with bad Mexican food!”
Mexican cuisine is extraordinarily rich and varied—a lot depends on the specific dish and spicy, peppery foods can be difficult to pair with wine, so try bubblies or rosés (and why not bubbly rosé?). Cava, Prosecco or West Coast bubbles would be especially nice pairings. In general, I’d also lean toward wines with low or moderate alcohol content, since they tend to play better with spice.
Seafood dishes like ceviche will pair well with crisp white wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Albariño. Grilled dishes with smoky chipotle flavors might pair better with Malbec, Tempranillo or Syrah. Try Carnitas or other pork dishes with Pinot Noir. Moles would play nicely with a fruit-forward Zinfandel or Barbera.
For a mole, there’s no more rewarding pairing than a Zinfandel. Kokomo’s (we like) dynamic and sleek bottling with white pepper and savory sage accents and a zesty finish perfectly complements the mole’s complex spicy, sweet and savory characteristics.
White wines with their acidity and freshness are hard to beat with chips and salsa or fish tacos. Chimney Rock’s Elevage is a blend of Sauvignon Gris and Sauvignon Blanc that has a smooth and supple texture with a juicy thread of acidity. The brisk Decoy rosé would seem to be a good match for an al pastor.
And of course, there’s nothing wrong with a crisp Mexican lager…always drink what you like.
Advice by “Dr. Vinny” from the Wine Spectator
Rare and Mature California wines’ Come to Auction
Christie’s is auctioning the cellar of a single‑owner collection of breadth and depth assembled over 50 years “for the simple pleasure of enjoying great bottles with friends and family at the end of a hard‑working day”.
Highlights of the sale include wines from Bordeaux; Château Lafleur 1970 (estimate: $9,000–13,000), some rare Right Bank offerings including a full, unopened case of 1989 Gentaz‑Dervieux Côte‑Rôtie Côte Brune Cuvée Reservée (estimate: $24,000–35,000).
However, it is California that offers a selection comprising one of the greatest offerings of rare and mature California wines “ever to come to auction”, Christie’s said.
Christie’s head of wine, Americas, Chris Munro called it, “A true single owner collection in the purest sense, built not for investment, but for the joy of sharing great wine. Opportunities with the provenance of this quality, are extraordinarily rare,” he said.
Highlights include Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha’s Vineyard 1974 (estimate: $16,000–22,000), Ridge Monte Bello from the 1970s and 1980s, 1960s Inglenook, ten bottles of Mayacamas 1974 (estimate: $6,000-8,000); six bottles of the Judgement of Paris tasting winner and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars SLV Cabernet Sauvignon 1973 (estimate: $15,000–20,000).
“This sale offers a rare opportunity to acquire historic wines with flawless storage and provenance”, he said.
Drinks Business
Bet Greg Baise will be bidding on some bottles!
Wine Maker Montse Reece Has Gone Personal
When Montse Reece first arrived in California in 1998, the wine industry struck her as “exciting and different,” two qualities she fears are fading.
“Now, everyone is copying each other and making the same wines with the same grapes. Wine has become boring. I wanted to offer something different.”
Raised in Tarragona, on the doorstep of Spain’s famed Priorats wine region, Reece grew up surrounded by wineries with “strong personalities” that made each distinct. Early on she work harvests at Gloria Ferrer and later Ferrari-Carano Vineyards, she recognized a similar sensibility.
For nearly two decades, Reece has served as winemaker at the historic Pedroncelli Winery in Dry Creek Valley, overseeing production of its Mother Clone Zinfandel and other legacy bottlings.
In recent years, however, she has helped steer the winery toward lighter-style wines, including sparkling, an uncommonly bright Zinfandel rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and lower-alcohol Syrah.
For the inaugural vintage of Montse Reece Wines, she harvested the Tempranillo at a low 22.5 Brix (grape sugar). The resulting wine is fresh and bright, with notes of cherry, dried fig, cedar, cinnamon and just 13.2 % alcohol.
For her Albariño, Reece turned to Paradise Vineyards in the Petaluma Gap, where cool daytime temperatures and persistent coastal winds are optimal for preserving acidity.
“My Albariño ended up very textbook Rías Baixas,” Reece said. “I used stainless steel and fermented completely dry, so the wine is very zippy and refreshing, with just 12% alcohol. I’m very proud of how both my wines turned out.”
“I’ve never been in sales, so talking to the people tasting my wines is a new experience,” she said. “But I absolutely love it. I can explain why my wines are different and hear their opinions. These conversations are so rich and interesting.”
“I wanted the labels to be as unique as my wines, and each one is a piece of art,” Reece said. “They help me tell my story and show I’m trying to offer something different.”
“These wines represent my heritage and are an extension of myself,” she said. “Wine is really about discovery.”
Montse Reece Wines is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday — Sunday. 14210 Bacchus Landing Way, Healdsburg; 707-205-5858; montsereecewines.com.
It is my pleasure to share that Montse and I are professional friends and she has been a great help to me understanding the effects of weather and soil types on grape growing
Words at The End
In the end, wine will continue to win over new generations who learn to appreciate the pleasures, social connections, romance, and celebrations that wine can bring — when consumed in moderation.
Forbes
“Wineries that succeed in this next phase will be the ones that adapt how they price, package, and go to market, rather than waiting for consumers to come back on their own.”
Adam Beak BMO
“In my opinion, a lot of Napa Valley Cabernet has become overpriced relative to what it delivers in the glass and doesn’t automatically justify the price point. It’s often worth looking beyond Napa and trying other regions and price points. Places like Paso Robles and other regions can offer outstanding quality and value, and many drinkers end up just as happy discovering those alternatives.”
Nick Pascale general manager, Pascale’s Liquors in Liverpool, New York.
“Maybe Napa isn’t so important to this new consumer, it’s about something they like that they can afford, that they can share proudly with their friends. They also might want something different than what their parents were drinking.”
Chuck Wagner, owner Caymus wines
If people have a negative experience (with wine), they are done, they move to beer or vodka or stay in the space they are comfortable in.
It’s not the taste of the wine itself that deters new consumers, but rather the emotional and financial cost of choosing the wrong wine.
Wine Business
That’s my Whine and I could be wrong…
A recipe for – Turkey Ruben Sliders and a recipe for Red Rice (Arroz Rojo) are in fact right here. Enjoy!
Woody Mosgers, cooks, custom caters, writes, drinks, matches wine and food and offers wine country tour information and planning in Santa Rosa Sonoma, CA.