Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Morgan Makes the Most of Monterey

It's a chilly morning, even in early September, but that's just the Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH) showing off, modestly in a cloak of fog. People grow grapes here for the great swings of temperature, and the surge of marine layer that barrels down the Salinas Valley from Monterey Bay. That cool-in-the-morning-warm-into-the-day pattern leads to a long growing season. That's a lot of hang time for fruit, and the flavor just builds.

Want to read the rest then do so at KCET's Food Blog.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Sip This: Balletto Chardonnay

Balletto Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2013: Sonoma’s Balletto sells most of its fruit, so the top 10 percent of its 600 acres that it usually keeps makes lovely estate wines.

Want to read the rest then do so at the Independent's site.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

In The Ghetto with Lompoc Wines and Moretti

It's not every day the word "ghetto" gets used affectionately, but the wines that come from Lompoc in Santa Barbara County are far from ordinary too. As the closest town to the famed growing area of the Sta. Rita Hills, Lompoc has the honor of being the site of numerous winemaking facilities hidden away in affordable warehouses. Hence, the Lompoc Wine Ghetto.

One of the Ghetto's biggest boosters is Moretti Wines, run by Jeni and Antonio Moretti. In fact it was Jeni's "dumb or bright idea," as she calls it, "to start an association that was long overdue. We just added a new winery so are up to 31."

Want to read the rest then do so at KCET's Food Blog.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Paso's JUSTIN Winery Nominated for Winery of the Year

When winemaker Scott Shirley says, "I think this is the appellation for luxury and ultra-premium cabernet sauvignon in the United States," it really means something that he's referring to Paso Robles. Sure, he's been the winemaker at JUSTIN Winery since 2012, so you might think he has to say it. But given he moved to Paso to take the JUSTIN job, leaving Napa Valley after working at both the Hess Collection and Opus One, that claim bears a lot of weight.

Want to read the rest then do so at KCET's Food Blog.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Sip This: Refugio Ranch Ineseño

Refugio Ranch Ineseño 2012: As summer winds down, or warms up, as it tends to in Santa Barbara, it’s good to have a different white to enjoy.

Want to read the rest then do so at the Independent's site.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Grape Harvest 2015: Early, Tasty, Very Small

That I'm writing my harvest column a month earlier than last year, which featured winemakers talking about the surprisingly early 2014 harvest, is a hint something historic is afoot. Welcome to Drought Does California, 2015 edition.

Up in the Santa Lucia Highlands, long-time grape-grower Rich Smith (a veteran of 42 harvests) said a week ago, "We've already got hang-time. We've got color in syrah which is usually still green. That means low yield and smaller berries, so the skin-to-volume ratio goes up, which makes winemakers happy and growers not so much."

Want ot read the rest then do so at KCET's Food Blog.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Sip This: Arnaldo Caprai “Collepiano” Sagrantino di Montefalco

Arnaldo Caprai “Collepiano” Sagrantino di Montefalco 2009 There’s a reason this 2009 is a current release: Sagrantino is one of the most tannic grapes. That means, yes, this is a big chewy wine, but a delight with roasted meats, roasted vegetables, or the richest of cheeses. The varietal helped put Umbria on the Italian wine map, earning its DOCG status in 1992.

Want to read the rest then do so at the Independent's site.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Hahn's Got Monterey on the Wine Map

Hahn Family Wines has something to crow about, and not just because "Hahn" means rooster in German. The sneakily large outfit (producing about 400,000 cases annually) that builds its top wines from small lots is one of the stars in the blossoming Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH) Appellation. That's a still-under-the-radar spot you might have viewed while flying up the 101 from Gonzales on your way to San Francisco.

Want to read the rest then do so at KCET's Food Blog.