RANDOMOCITY

As we have not been out exploring new tasting rooms lately, I thought I'd share a few random, thoughts, ideas, tips and stories with you.

TASTING ROOM ETIQUETTE

A few thoughts about tasting room etiquette... There are certain things that you should and should not do in order to ensure a pleasant tasting experience for both you and the other guests in the tasting room. Number one on my personal list is - do not wear heavy perfume or cologne to the tasting room. The scents can overpower the delicate, subtle aroma of the wine. Remember the olfactory process affects not only smell, but also taste. A heavy, cloying scent can spread through a room and linger for quite some time afterward. I have had people come in for a tasting after someone wearing a heavy perfume had left and commented that they could not smell or taste the wines properly due to the heavy, lingering aroma. If you do wear perfume, consider tasting outside if the weather is nice.  

These heavy smells also are the reason you will not usually find hot coffee in a tasting room, the scent can overpower the wines. So, if you have a cup of your favorite joe, leave it in the car.

Another personal qualm of mine is gum chewing. I had a lady came in for a tasting, she said that she had heard everyone raving about our wines and she was eager to taste them. I took her through a whole flight and she did not like one single wine. I even brought out a few highly-rated, well-received wine to entice her.  When she finished, she was quite disappointed (and said so, she could not understand why everyone loved our wine). I told her I was sorry that we were unable to find any wines she liked and explained that sometimes it happens. I told her the tasting fee and as she paid, she asked for a napkin. To my surprise, she then proceeded to spit out a piece of spearmint gum. I inquired if she had had that in her mouth the whole time. "Why yes", she replied. At that point, I told her the tasting fee was on me and handed her my business card and an invite for her (and a friend) to come back for a free tasting, provided she did not chew any gum prior to arriving. She  incredulously asked if the gum would make a difference? I responded in the affirmative and again encouraged her to come back another day and give us a try. I was not present when she came back, but I know she did because I saw the card that I had given her.

The tasting room affords customers to experience the "Joy of Discovery" of both the wine and the winery.  The staff works hard to present both in a fashion appropriate to the needs of the customer, which brings me to my next point. The tasting room is just that, it is not a bar and loud, obnoxious or raucous behavior can lessen the experience for everyone. Save the loud banter, demanding presence and/or high-maintenance behavior for somewhere else. Tasting is supposed to be held in a casual, relaxing environment. I have had customers enter the tasting room and immediately leave due to a loud, high energy atmosphere that is not conducive to the tasting experience.  Have fun, just be respectful of others enjoying the experience.

TASTING ROOM TIPS

Okay, lest I sound like a shrill, demanding, schoolmarm, I would like to share a few tips with you. If you are tasting and see an Oregon Pinot noir glass (the really big one!) believe it when the server tells you it will hold a whole bottle (it will!) It always seems that within a big group, someone will pick up the Pinot glass and inquire about it. I share the story and tell people that it will even hold a whole bottle (although it shouldn't actually do so). Inevitably, one of the (almost always) guys will question if it really does. I would bet them that it did, "If it does, you buy the glass, if it doesn't, I will cover your group's tasting fees". More often that note, they'd take me up on it. I would pull an empty bottle, rinse it out and fill it with water to the fill line. Then, I would pour it right there in front of them, proving that it did, indeed, fit in the glass. I sold more of those glasses this way. :-)

Please remember that you are sampling alcohol, so do not taste on an empty stomach. I have had people who regularly taste become victim to this. I had one regular customer who came in for a tasting and then had a glass. In the middle of the glass, she commented that she had not eaten since breakfast and asked for a fruit and cheese plate. Before we could finish preparing the plate, she got woozy and all of a sudden, just pitched off her stool and onto the floor. We had no warning other that her stating she was hungry, she was not visibly intoxicated in the least. This is a scary occurrence - and not so much fun for the customer either. Please have a bit to eat!

A typical tasting pour is around one ounce (it can vary from place to place and server to server), you are not required to drink it all, feel free to either spit or pour it out, it will not offend anyone. That is what the spit buckets are there for. This is especially important if you are visiting multiple tastings throughout the day. Be safe!

Not the proper use of a spit bucket

I have people frequently ask me about wine and food pairing. I am not a "foodie" but know some simple rules. I have recently found this chart on the Brofeifei Blog...

Well, there it is, my rant blog for the time being. Until we meet again, I wish you well and hope you enjoy your wines. CHEERS!!!

Wine is older than history. Humans didn't invent wine. We discovered it.

                                 -PHILIP SELDON, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wine

Ashland Wine Cellar "Parte Seconda"

Back on 4/4/12, I wrote a blog about the Ashland Wine Cellar (AWC) being sold by long-time proprietor, Lorn Razzano. Since I had left the wine sales biz and live in Medford, I have not had the chance to revisit the AWC until recently. While I was at Cowhorn, I had the opportunity to visit the Cellar and work with Wine Steward Extraordinaire, Cheryl Garvey.  During this time, I also met Joy Light and owners Brian & Lisa Dunagan. Brian and Lisa have put together a wonderful team and have managed to keep the spirit of the Cellar, stocking unique, hard to find wines, still offering a great cigar selection, and strongly supporting the Southern Oregon wine scene, while updating and cleaning the old girl up. 

I recently received a Facebook event invite from Brian to attend a tasting. Each Thursday, the AWC hosts a "Sip & Swirl" at the store featuring different producers and distributors. Intrigued, I accepted the invitation and despite a serious downpour, I drove over to Ashland to sample and visit.  An old acquaintance, John Wren, was  pouring for Lemma Distribution and he had five wines to present, all unique and very tasty. Without getting into all of the tasting notes, I will call attention to one in particular, the 2013 Iris Vineyards Pinot gris (90 Points from Wine Enthusiast) from the Willamette Valley. It is  a crisp, medium-bodied gris with bright acidity, nice aromatics, and balanced fruit. I knew my wife, Jill, would love it and it did not disappoint. (NOTE: we will mark this for our next trip to Eugene)

During the tasting I had the chance to chat with staff member, Joy Light, who does custom hand-painted silks. I remarked how the place looked and even though I missed Lorn, they still had retained the inviting, hospitable feeling.  She told me that people still come in looking for Lorn for advice or to simply sit and shoot the breeze, as Lorn was want to do. She said that she takes messages for Lorn and gives them to him during his occasional visit to the Cellar. That is amazing and highlights the great customer service approach they all share.

I also had a chance to speak with owner Brian and catch up. I told him I loved how the place is doing and was happy that it seems to be quite successful under his leadership. I saw Brian interact with his customers and you can tell, his is a labor of love. He is very personable and takes an active, hands-on interest in his customers.

Cheryl and I had a few brief moments as she is a constant whirlwind of motion and activity. She is a first rate customer service professional and has amazing wine knowledge and palate. She never ceases to surprise me. She pulled out a few Bordeaux wines as a bonus, which were a real treat, I especially fell for a Chateau Lanessan Haut-Medoc 2002. Although it was showing a little age, it has very nice fruit with a pleasant herbaceousness, light earth and leather notes, and a complexity that was outstanding. If this is not your "cup of tea", just ask Cheryl and she will find the perfect fit for your palate and budget.

I am glad I went, I have since noticed that they also do Friday Sip and Swirls with select local producers. Hmmm, a revisit is shortly in order.

Photo courtesy of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce.

“Wine can of their wits the wise beguile, Make the sage frolic, and the serious smile” 

― Homer

                                        

Homer

Not this Homer

Winter Tastings.

Winter can be a great time to go visit wineries if you are truly interested in tasting, rather than just a day of drinking, partying and/or events.  The roads are less traveled, the crowds are gone, and often there is more time to explore the wines and hear the stories about the winery, vineyard, the people and individual wines.

While it is not as strikingly beautiful as a vineyard in all of its glory, the trade-off is worth it. Winter affords you the time to sit back and savor the experience. Having a tasting room all to oneself with the complete attention of the server is a treasure.

Personally, when I visit a winery during the winter months, I like to stretch my imagination and envision what the vineyard will look like come spring. I also like to poke about as see what treasures the tasting room might hold as there is more room to wander and explore. 

I highly encourage everyone to venture forth and visit Southern Oregon wineries during the winter. One caveat is that the hours can vary greatly during the winter. Many tasting rooms have abbreviated winter hours and days, or are closed for a lengthy period altogether. I suggest you visit their website, call or check out the Southern Oregon Winery Association for details.

"Give me wine to wash me clean of the weather-stains of cares"

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

ROAD TRIP: Pt. 2 King Estate

During our last roadtrip we had the good fortune to check out a few Southern Willamette Valley wineries. As we exited Silvan Ridge at around 5:30pm, we realized that time had slipped by and that most of the wineries were now closed. We had planned ahead for such a contingency, leaving King Estate for last on our list as it did not close until 8pm.

As we drove over the dark country road between wineries, we came around a corner and were greeted with the sight of what looked to be a medieval fortress perched upon a hill.

https://www.kingestate.com/

We drove up to what was obviously a large production, with lots of acreage and buildings. As we wound up the road we passed parking lots and a large complex that housed the tasting room, production facilities and much more. The parking lot even featured recharge stations for electric cars.

We let Cotton out for a run and then went inside to one of the largest Tasting Rooms I have ever been in, absolutely gorgeous. European-style, elegant, classy with lots of wood and warm tones. 

The Tasting Room is situated at one end of the large great room, with dining tables and rooms off to the side for formal dining.

Entryway to King Estate Tasting Room

We stepped up for a tasting and introduced ourselves. Our Server Extraordinaire, Shannon, got us situated and proceeded to share a generous tasting flight and the story of King Estate.  They have a number of flight options available for your tasting pleasure and be sure to explore. King Estate features multiple labels - King Estate Domaine, King Estate Signature, King Estate Vineyard Designated, NXNW and Acrobat. Each with their own distinctive style.

photo courtesy of King Estates

To say King Estate is large is to do a disservice to their growth and accomplishments. They have 1037 acres, of that 470 acres are grapes, 30 acres are fruits and flowers and 500 acres are oak groves.  The estate features estate honeybees, 200-300 turkeys for (insect) pest control and a raptor rehabilitation and release program in conjunction with the Cascade Raptor Center.  

The estate is also a great steward of the land, with 4144 solar panels (enough to power 1000 residential homes) and Oregon Tilth and Salmon Sage certified organic farming. The farm and vineyards provide them with hand-grown estate wines and delicious fruits and vegetables for the restaurant as well as donations to local food organizations.

But, how was the wine you may ask? In a word, fabulous! Across the board, we sampled Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir,  Chardonnay, Cab Sav, and an AMAZING Pinot Gris Sparkling wine! They also offer red blends, rose`, Riesling and more.  We were eager to try their Pinot Gris and they have many different styles to choose from, two memorable Gris' were the 2013 King Estate Backbone Pinot Gris  and the  2012 King Estate Paradox Pinot Gris.   

The Backbone was sourced from 6 vineyards and was rich, unctuous, full and round. It had great balance of fruit and acidity and layers of complexity.

photo courtesy of King Estates

The Paradox, it was explained to us, was "an experiment gone right."  King Estate's signature style for Pinot Gris has no oak. During 2011, a happy accident occurred when the winery crew thought they were filling barrels with Chardonnay, but in actuality they were filling it with Pinot Gris.  It spent 16 months in new French oak and resulted in a unique Gris where the subtly subtly integrated with the lively acidity of the wine.  It too is well rounded, has a wonderful, ample mouth-feel, offers great layers and a has gorgeous finish.

photo courtesy of King Estates

We went through the Pinot Gris flight and then Shannon asked us where we would like to go next, she had steered us along great and we threw our trust to her best judgement. We tasted innumerable wines (or so it seemed to us after a day of tasting). Each delicious and more amazing than its predecessor.  We sampled tasty Pinot Noirs, Syrahs from Washington, a few odds and ends and finished with the two brut-style sparkling wines produced in the traditional Methode Champenoise. 

We had a thoroughly wonderful evening. The restaurant features world-class, gourmet cuisine, but we decided to forego dining on this trip. It is something that we will definitely partake of on our next visit.

We looked at the clock and realized that it was getting late and we must head back into town and a late night snack at the Village Green Resort before we called it a night. As we were saying our good byes, Jill commented, "It seems later than it is.... What time IS it?" Yup, it was one of those kind of wine tasting days, where you get so immersed in the wines that time stands still!

We had a great time at King Estate and we would like to send out a special THANK YOU! to King Estates for their hospitality and to Shannon Lewis for a remarkable journey of discovery of King Estate's wines and story.

IN VINO VERITAS

ROAD TRIP: North to the Southern Willamette Valley

We recently had to go to Eugene and we decided to make an adventure out of it. Jill found a great internet deal at the Village Green Resort  in Cottage Grove that allowed us to take the yellow stinky (our lab, Cotton).  We thought since we were going to be done in Eugene at an early time, we could check in and then go wine tasting since there are an abundance of wineries in the area that we have not been to.

First on our list was Sweet Cheeks Winery. We picked it because of the cute, clever name and its proximity to other wineries we wished to visit.

Our server, Jessica, turned out to be the founder's granddaughter and she was able to familiarize us with the wines and the story. We were intrigued by the name and she explained that when the owner, Dan Smith, was first plowing for the vineyard, they were working toward a gully. As they stood on the hill overlooking the work, Pappa Charlie, Dan's father-in-law, said it looks like cheeks. To which Dan replied, "Yeah, they sure are some sweet cheeks". And a name was born.

Sweet Cheeks to be sure!

We loved hanging out in the Tasting Room, it had an eclectic, rustic Hacienda-style atmosphere, with rough wood beams, a central bar and expansive views. The tasting room sits on top of the cheeks and the huge outside patio offers a panoramic view of the countryside. 

The have a number of estate wines, as well as wines made with fruit sourced from the Rogue Valley. The also have a kegger-rator for the non-wine drinking clientele.   My favorite wine was the 2012 Pinot Fusion, a red blend of 61% Pinot Noir, 21% Syrah and 18% Merlot (the Syrah and Merlot were both sourced from the Rogue Valley).

Our next stop was right across the street at Silvan Ridge Winery. Silvan Ridge is the oldest winery in Lane County (home to Eugene and the Oregon Ducks). Although it was a grey, rainy day, the Tasting Room was warm, inviting and also reminiscent of the Hacienda-style.  

The Tasting Room has two rooms off to the side for events and large tastings. One room had a long, beautiful wooden table that could have easily seated 20+ people. Sorry, I did not get a photo,  The main tasting area has a cozy bar and warm, gorgeous wood shelves displaying the wine and a beautiful stained glass window over the entry doors. It was both a familiar and comfortable setting.

We were treated a nice selection of wines from both the Willamette Valley and, again, from the Rogue Valley. With a number of great wines, one caught our attention, the 2013 Semillion. While it is only the second vintage of this varietal, it exhibits crisp, floral notes with a touch of toast and a creamy mouthfeel. The wine I was eager to sample was the 2011 Malbec and it did not disappoint. This is Silvan Ridge's first LIVE Certified wine, sourced from the Gold Vineyards in Talent (thanks Randy!)

While we thoroughly enjoyed the wines, something special really stood out.  The gentleman standing next to us, Rod Morris from Oregon Travel Adventures, was a regular and we got into a wonderful conversation about travel and all things wine - Oregon (north and south), France, Varietals, the movie Sideways. 

Ok, a side(ways) note here... in Sideways, they filmed the wine bucket scene at Fess Parker Winery, but it was renamed Frass Canyon Vineyards for the movie. FPW did not want that type of behavior to be associated with their winery. Frass was chosen because it is guaranteed that no winery will ever use that name... Frass is a term for bug excrement. Eww!

Anyhow, we had the most delightful conversation with Rod, he was a charming and enlightened companion to an outstanding tasting. Rod did turn us on to a new, to us, varietal, Picpoul de Pinet, which is great paired with oysters! We are looking forward to trying it out soon.

After a nice visit it was past closing for most of the other local wineries, but King Estate was open until 8pm, so off we went. That story will be coming shortly...

IN VINO VERITAS

Autumn is neigh...

By all these lovely tokens September days are here, 

With summer's best of weather And autumn's best of cheer.
-Helen Hunt Jackson

Yes, Autumn is in the air. The days grow shorter and cooler, the nights crisper and the grapes... well, the grapes are well into Veraison, changing color, ripening, developing the complex sugars that will give them their wondrous flavor. The grapes sunning on the vine, enjoying the temperate nature of late summer/early fall, growing fat and fragrant.

This is a wonderful time to go wine tasting in the valley. The temperatures are comfortable, there is a buzz in the air at the wineries as harvest approaches and the colors are starting to change, the trees dressing in their autumnal plumage.

Get out, drive to one of the numerous wineries our area has to offer. It does not matter if it is a grand chateau or a little shack - explore, find the hidden treasures and experience firsthand the romance of wine. 

The Romance of Wine, it is not in the vineyard, that is farming. It is not in the winery, that is chemistry and hard work. It is not even in the tasting room, that is a commercial endeavor. It is in the glass, it is in the relationships between friends, and even strangers, in the enjoyment of the wine. 

 The wines that one best remembers are not necessarily the finest that one has ever tasted, and the highest quality may fail to delight so much as some far more humble beverage drunk in more favorable surroundings.
-H. Warner Allen

 So, my suggestion to you dear reader is to venture forth, take a Sunday drive any old day of the week, enjoy the wonderful weather and dare to experience an unknown wine. While you are there, take a look at the vineyards and imagine, if you will, the vintage that these grapes will become and the enjoyment of revisiting them in the bottle at some future date.

CHEERS

Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.

 -Ernest Hemingway

Linda Donovan Wines

Wine tasting comes in many forms.  It can be a friendly tasting with friends at home, it can be a big wine event, it can be at the local store as reps ply you with their latest releases, or it can be at a winery or tasting room.  Even within the confines of the tasting room, there are a myriad of approaches to presenting the wines. Some tasting rooms offer tastings and then wines by the glass and bottle for on-site consumption, often with musical accompaniment, food and other attractions to round out the experience. Others still take a more simple approach, invite you in, taste the wine, enjoy, tell the story and maybe sell you a bottle or twelve.

The latter approach is what is offered up at Linda Donovan’s new tasting room. Linda is an accomplishe winemaker who runs Pallet Wine Company in Medford and produces her own labels as well as labels for small wineries  throughout Southern Oregon. Pallet is a humming, busy place, but it does not offer wine tasting. Initially there were plans to do a tasting room at the facilities, but time and space concerns dictated otherwise.

Recently, Linda decided it would be good to open a small, simple tasting room where she could serve her wine and tell her story. She chose a site on her sister’s Valley View Orchard, right next door to the orchard’s historic farm stand. It has an open air feel with a large roll-up door, a bright, basic room and a wonderfully expansive vista overlooking Ashland. 

The Linda Donovan Wines Tasting Room takes a basic approach – it is only open Thursday – Sundays, from 1pm - 6pm and no glass or bottle consumption is available. She prefers to let the wines be the center of attention and the stars of the show. She certainly has accomplished this style. We had a great time sampling wines, playing with her large yellow lab Finnigan and taking in the information Linda was all too happy to share with us.

We opened with a 2011 “Le Jeune Chien” Sauvignon blanc. I love a nice, crisp sauv blanc and this did not disappoint. I had to ask as to the name and Linda explained that a while back, she had two old dogs that she had been with many years. After their passing, friends kept saying get a new dog, so she ended up living up to the belief that you should adopt, don’t breed or buy. This dog became Le Jeune Chien or the young dog.  

Next up was a 2011 Late Bloomer Dry Gewurtztraminer, which had “nothing sweet about it”. It was dry, dry, dry for a Gewurtz, a perfectly crisp wine on a hot day or for pairing with food.

We moved on to reds with a 2008 Linda Donovan Tempranillo, made with grapes from Fortmiller Vineyards, which always produces smooth, delicious fruit. This rich wine was a mouthful with beautiful, smooth-grain tannins. After the Tempranillo, we had a chance to taste a 2010 Long Walk Vineyard Mouvedre, grown on property at Valley View on the Corner Vineyard. Mouvedre is rarely a single variety, often paired as a GSM, but this wine is gorgeous with earthy spicy tones and a (savory) umami mouth feel. As a special treat we had the opportunity to sample the 2010 Orchard Red, a blend of Long Walk Vineyard consisting of 29% Mouvedre, 14% Gernache, 29% Cinsault and29% Carignan, a unique wine with surprising depth and character.

Before we left, Linda offered us a sample of her value label, Pick Me. These are the perfect Tuesday night wines, with a Pick Me White, a blend of Semillion, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc and the 2009 Pick Me Red Merlot. Priced at $8 each, these wines are perfect for the non-occasion occasion, a second bottle or a quick nip.  :-)

It is my belief that every wine producer in Southern Oregon would be well served to offer $8 bottles of wine, but that is for a later post. Linda subscribes to this theory as well, much to my delight.

So, for a simple, laid back and totally relaxing tasting, and great wines to boot, I highly recommend visiting Linda Donovan’s Tasting Room at Valley View Orchard in Ashland. 

I do not think you will be disappointed.

p.s. While camping at Howard's Prairie last weekend, we ran out of wine! A quick jaunt to the HP store and we found the Pick Me Red and White, which was enjoyed around a roaring campfire with wonderful company.

StoneRiver Winery

Talk about off the beaten (wine) path, StoneRiver Winery is hidden away on Pioneer Road in Talent.  The one time Brookbank Farms, the oldest, registered farm in the area, was registered in 1914 and was a heritage pear orchard. Up until 2001 is was still a working orchard that sold fruit to the public from an antique barn.  

Now, that same barn has been converted into their tasting room, but it still retains that historic, old-timey feeling.  The walls are finished with recycled wood from the orchard. The interior walls are made from wood that once was old water troughs. The bar is festooned with wine bottle lights and the tasting room has a few items from days gone by - there is an old jukebox filled with classic tunes from the 50s & 60s, a free regulation shuffle board table and an upright piano.

  

 

The owners, Paul and Virginia Lange, bought the orchard over 28 years ago and shifted their emphasis to 30 acres of wine grapes in 2001. They had been selling most of their grapes to other wineries but now are producing Syrah, Merlot, Grenache, Temparnillo, Mourvedre, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Viognier, and Pinot Gris. 

We had a chance to sample a few and really enjoyed the 2003 Merlot which exhibited dark fruit and nice, smooth grain tannins and a fruity, spicy 2003 Syrah. The wines show great promise with excellent fruit and made by a true local artisan, Velocity Cellars Winemaker Gus Janeway. In addition to their own wines, they do offer samples of their neighbor, Aurora Wines (more on them in a future post).

The StoneRiver name comes from the old river that ran through where the vineyard is now; leaving fertile soil and an abundance of river rocks in its place. How can grapes not love such a setting. We know we can't, we had a great time, playing tunes, drinking a glass of the merlot and goofing around on the shuffleboard table. We look forward to going back soon and discovering what new, or old, surprises await us.

If you are looking for a place, a bit off the beaten path, where you and friends can enjoy wine and each other's company in a quiet, rustic setting - head over to StoneRiver.

CHEERS!

Directions to StoneRiver, 2178 Pioneer Rd, Talent, OR ‎

Rosella Vineyard & Winery and others...

This weekend saw us revisiting many of our favorite haunts.  On Friday, we went to Dunbar Farms/Rocky Knoll Vineyards to checkout out their Belgian Draft horses, Bonnie & Clyde, they are using to cultivate their land. While there, we also enjoyed a nice glass of Rocky Knoll Dunbar Red, a very nice, easy to drink Cab Sauv, Cab franc & Merlot blend.

Afterward we went to to RoxyAnn for Friday night music where we were treated to TC & the Reactions rocking the house. Catch these guys, they are a vary talented band that performs "Power Rhythm & Blues". We enjoyed the RoxyAnn Viognier, always a tasty and refreshing wine on a hot summer eve, and got to share in some bubbly (not sure what we were drinking at that point, too busy dancing and visiting with the old gang).

On Saturday, we were off to the beautiful Applegate Valley. Local legend has it that there are more airline pilots per capita living there than anywhere on the west coast. Apparently, when flying from San Francisco to Portland and Seattle, there is always a break in the clouds over this little valley, revealing an amazing view from above. Upon visiting you can experience it yourself; the weather is beautiful, they have more blue sky days than the Rogue Valley and it is a gorgeous valley, unspoiled by development and "progress". It is also home to a growing number of excellent wineries. One can make a day of visiting the various tasting rooms, each with their own, unique story.  We spend a lot of time out there, as the in-laws are Applegate residents, so you will be hearing more about the Applegate in the future.

We enjoyed the day with the in-laws (out-laws?!) and ended up at Rosellas Vineyard and Winery.  Rex and Sandi Garoutte opened it back in 1998, concentrating on making quality wine from self-grown fruit.  They currently grow Cab Sauv, Merlot, Chardonnay, Zin and Syrah.  They produce nice, smooth wines with great fruit and low tannins. Rex achieves great balance with his wines and are always quite tasty.

I absolutely love going to Rosellas, it is the most unadorned, unassuming tasting room, very intimate... it must be 12' x 15' inside, but  Rex and Sandi have such effusive personalities, it feels much larger.  It may be small, but it is not lacking in the fun factor. Especially when Rex is holding court. He is a kick with a wealth of knowledge about grapes, farming, wine and the Applegate.

On this particular trip, we got to revisit his Merlot Blush. Wow, we loved it, it possesses great fruit, just a touch of sweetness and bright acidity with a light strawberry color. Rex has been kegging this wine for sale at the Britt Festival and was a huge hit last year!  His Cab Sauv is coming along great, the vines have been in the ground long enough that they are now well established and showing off some of the terroir of the property. Rex had a new wine, a sherry called Wai Kula "Liquid Gold", a fortified white blend. Amber in color, it shows nut and vanilla with spicy notes. It will make a great aperitif or as a special treat with some chocolate at the end of the evening. Rex called drinking the the Wai Kula, "running with scissors", meaning it is dnagerous- goes down easy and packs a bit of a wallop! Rex did assure us we can open it, put the cork back and forget about it, no hurry to finish this bottle, savor and enjoy!

We thank Rex and Sandy for their hospitality and friendship; do not miss this winery when you venture out to the Applegate. You will not be disappointed.

We will be back on the wine trail in coming weeks and we will share with you. Until then...

CHEERS!

WHERE ARE WE?

Can you tell which winery this is, just by the fabulous view?

 

Please make your response in the comment section below...

(it may say no comment  or comment and a #, just click on it

and you can enter you name and guess)

DANCIN VINEYARDS

After the craziness of the Memorial Day/Opening weekend, we ventured back out to Dancin Vineyards with a group of friends.

They stay open until 8pm on Fri & Sat, later than most vineyards, and we made an evening of it. We sat on the patio that provides a great view of the valley, but one of the day's frequent rain showers drove us under the covered alcove by the front door. Offering table-side service, we sat down to enjoy a few glasses of wine. The day's flight had a great offering of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Malbac and Malbec Rosé. Dancin is the only tasting room I know that serves in the big, beautiful Pinot Noir glass. Along side they have a small carafe in which they serve the 5 oz. glass pour. All in all, it is a wonderful presentation, classy and very unique.

We watched with great interest as a party left the wine cave. As curiosity overcame us, we just had to go see what was in there.

 Dan, one of the owners (Cindy being the other) offered to show us the Cave. We expected a giant, deep cave carved into the hillside. Instead we were treated to a beautiful, intimate, tastefully appointed room with a gorgeous dark wood dining table running down the middle that can seat 10 people. Dan informed us that they could serve more with different configurations. At this time, rental is based on food and wine sales, but Dan said they were customizing the rates for each occasion. We were intrigued and look forward to have a small party there in the near future.

As some members of our group departed for further

adventures, Dan came out an chatted with us, covering a wide range of topics from wine making philosophy, Cave rental, tastings and fees, wine club, the use of chickens, plans for music and more. Dan is the the wine grower and assists Eric Weisinger in the winemaking. It is good to see Eric back from New Zealand and being involved in this project. 

 Behind the gorgeous Tuscan-style tasting room is a lovely lawn area shaded by a Black Walnut and other big mature trees. Along side is an unusual Chicken Condo, where they rotate chickens out to mobile Chicken coops, called tractors,  in the vineyards. The tractors are large enough that the chickens can move about, scratch up the weeds and their waste helps fertilize the vineyard. The chickens seem to be a major hit, kids and adults alike are fascinated by their antics.

Dan told us, they they will be concentrating on making top flight Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, but are augmenting their line-up with Velocity Cellars wines- Velocity, Malbec and the aforemention Malbec Rosé (my drink of choice for the evening, that's right- Real Men Drink Pink!). The also have a delicious Dana Campbell Viognier and there are plans to add a Rosenblum Zinfandel. Love what they are doing, there is a certain synergy to their offerings that works great.

In addition to the wines, Dan's wife Cindy (Dan+Cindy= DanCin) runs a stunning little food service with fresh baked artisan breads, thin crust pizzas made in a wood-fired pizza oven, desserts, cheese and deli plates and a host of other delectable delights. Their tasting notes offering food pairings for each wine, so you can best experience the tastes.

Dan and Cindy have been together 17 years and have figured out what makes them function best. Dan said that within the name DanCin, they are "fine as long as they stay between the 'n & c'." In other words, perfectly balanced right down the middle. This shows through in their wines, food and atmosphere. It is a comfortable place with attentive staff that really puts it best foot forward. 

The logo itself encompasses their winery. The seven dots along the top represent the 7 Pinot Noir clones they use, the Dan and Cin and two distinct boxes, surround by one box, unifying them together.

We had a brilliant evening with our friends and Dan certainly added to the enjoyment of discovering Dancin Vineyards. We would certainly like to thank him for opening a very special bottle of Rosenblum 2001 Maggie's Reserve Zinfandel, it was a special treat and greatly appreciated. The wine has held up great and is delicious to the last sip.

For more information, please visit the...

Dancin website

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