 with Steve Dryden
Paso Robles Wines Featured in San Diego
Forty of the top wineries from Paso Robles, California will be featured at the NTC Promenade - McMillin Event Center 2875 Dewey Road San Diego, near the old MCRD and Rosecrans Blvd. in Point Loma. The 2010 National Grand Tasting Tour takes place during the week of February 23-25, offering a variety of scheduled tasting events, winemaker dinners, wine retailer tastings, a trade tasting and two ticketed tasting events that are open to the public. This is a great opportunity for wine lovers to explore wines from the third largest wine producing region in the US, meet winemakers, and match Paso Robles premium wines with several gourmet culinary establishments in our region.
A variety of winemaker dinners will take place on Tuesday, February 23 and Wednesday, February 24th at several locations. This is a fun way to meet Paso Robles winemakers and experience the culinary creations prepared by some of San Diego’s best restaurants. Here is a list of the winemaker dinners with the name of each restaurant and the multiple wineries they’ll be featuring. Alchemy Restaurant with Anglim Winery, Caliza Winery, Clayhouse Wines, Hope Family Wines, and Lone Madrone. Phil`s BBQ with Clavo Cellars, Four Vines Winery, Grey Wolf Cellars, Midnight Cellars, and Peachy Canyon Winery. Fleming`s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar with Ancient Peaks Winery, Edward Sellers Vineyards & Wines, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Kenneth Volk Vineyards, and Thacher Winery. The Linkery Restaurant with D`Anbino Vineyards & Cellars, J. Dusi Wines, Silver Horse Winery, Tablas Creek Vineyards, and Zenaida Cellars The Wine Seller and Brasserie with Eberle Winery, Kukkula, L`Aventure, Ortman Family Vineyards, and Victor Hugo. Urban Solace with Adelaida Cellars, Niner Wine Estates, Still Waters Vineyards, and Vina Robles.
Varivision Cable Channel 8 of Ensenada will be filming for their new wine and food show, The Grapevine, at a seminar on February 24th designed for members of the wine buying trade and the media. We’ll be exploring the dynamic wines from Hope Family Wines, L`Aventure and Tablas Creek Vineyard. Following the seminar we’ll take our viewers along with us as we sample wine from over 40 Paso Robles wineries.
International wine and food lovers among the general public can purchase tickets for the Paso Robles Wine Country Grand Tasting on Thursday, February 25 at Petco Park. Lucky attendees will visit the newest location for Wine Steals (East Village) located within Petco Park. Guests will explore award-winning Paso Robles wines paired with cuisine prepared by Wine Steals` newest Gastro Pub concept. For details, schedule of events, or ticket information contact: www.pasowine.com
Wine drinkers at all levels of experience and gourmet cuisine lovers can learn much by opening their minds and palates to wines from other regions. Paso Robles is a unique wine growing region with diverse vineyard soils and a climate of diurnal temperature shifts of up to fifty degrees. The limestone clay soils and the Mediterranean climate of hot days and cool summer nights are ideal for creating ripe fruit with complex flavors, especially Rhone style grapes. As in Baja California, it was the Spanish Missionaries who introduced grape growing and winemaking in Paso Robles. Six commercial wineries were established in the 1940’s, but it wasn’t until the 1980’s when quality wines from this region gained international attention.
Due to the similarities between the Paso Robles wine country and the Baja California wine country, I enjoy comparing the two regions. It’s enlightening to follow grapes varieties that grow both here and there, exploring the difference in taste, complexity and structure, influenced from soil types, climate, and the hand of the artists. For example here in Mexico and in Paso Robles, vineyard managers and winemakers are experimenting with Rhone varietals like Roussanne, Viognier, Mourvedre, Syrah and Counoise. Although, it was Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel that put Paso Robles on the global wine map in the 1980’s. Here in Mexico (during the same time period) it was Bordeaux varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc that caught regional attention. In addition, Mexico has encountered great results from growing grapes and producing wine from Tempranillo, Nebbiolo, and several white varietals. Paso Robles got a jump on Mexico’s wine renaissance by incorporating modern technology with old world methods, and by implementing innovative ideas from a large population of trained enologists. But, these days both regions are producing international award-winning wines of distinct character.
There is a Baja California and Paso Robles connection. We all know that the Spanish Missionaries introduced both regions to grapes and winemaking, first in Mexico about 100 years before bringing them to Paso Robles. But, few people know that several years ago a well known Paso Robles producer of premium Zinfandel wines purchased (old vine) grapes from L.A. Cetto’s vineyards near Tecate at Rancho Escondido and created an impressive Zinfandel that sold out in less than 24 hours. Another similarity between the two growing regions is that most of the wineries are small family-owned businesses, rather than large corporate operations. And, in both regions winemakers from around the world have moved into these areas to escape strict controls, over-regulation, and high land costs. Many of these artisans came with high hopes of expressing creativity and gaining the freedom to be innovative. That effort has resulted in wines that are impressive, unique and dynamic.
For those attending this event I have a few comments and suggestions. Eberle Winery is among the top ten gold-medal winning wineries in the US. Owner Gary Eberle is the founding father of the Paso Robles appellation and it was his Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1980’s that put this region on the global wine map. In addition, Eberle makes excellent Viognier, Chardonnay, Muscat Canelli, Syrah Rose, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Another “shining star” is Tablas Creek Vineyard. This winery is a partnership between the Perrin Family of Chateau de Beaucastel and Robert Hass of Vineyard Brands. These wizards of wine use vines imported from Beaucastel, cultivate them using organic farming methods, hand harvest, and use native yeasts during the fermentation process. The outcome is a portfolio of “world class” wines based on Chateauneuf du Pape style blends. Don’t miss their Espirit de Beaucastel, a dynamic blend of Mourvedre, Syrah, Grenache Noir, and Counoise.
Opolo Vineyards are respected for creating premium estate wines with a limited production of about 500 cases per varietal. They make excellent Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Grenache, Petite Sirah, and Syrah. Their whites are impressive, Viognier, Roussanne, Rhapsody, and Muscat Canelli. J. Lohr Vineyards has evolved to making “world class” wine from their Hilltop Vineyard in Paso Robles. Their handcrafted Cabernet Sauvignon wine is rich and smooth, with intense flavors of cherry, orange and blackberry. Robert Hall Winery is intensely focused on creating superior wine from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot. Robert Hall himself has over forty years of grape growing experience and is committed to making high quality wine with affordable pricing and value. His Rhone-style wines from Syrah, Grenache and Viognier are gaining international recognition and awards. Hope Family Wines have emerged to the forefront of quality Paso Robles wines. Under the guidance of Austin Hope and his dedicated team players their Rhone style wines have gained a global presence. Austin Hope Syrah has intense favors of blackberry and blueberry fruit, with hints of smoke and black pepper. Hopefully, at this show, you’ll discover that Syrah and other Rhone varietals are adapting well in the vineyards of Paso Robles. You can’t go wrong by letting Austin Hope and other talented winemakers show you that reality.
There is no question that Paso Robles has many wines of high quality with “world class” credentials. Every time I encounter wines from this region I’m impressed with the ripe fruit flavors, the diversity of the varietals and the creativity of the international winemakers who make their home in this remarkable appellation. This event offers wine and food lovers a golden opportunity to discover the Paso Robles region and to match these dynamic wines with gourmet cuisine created by the culinary wizards in the kitchens of San Diego’s best culinary establishments. When I enjoy Paso Robles wines I feel like Will Rogers, “I’ve never met a wine I didn’t like.” And, for those who can’t attend the event, be looking for our show of this event on Varivision Cable Channel 8 in Ensenada, Baja California.
Steve Dryden is a wine, food and travel writer living in Mexico’s premier wine country where he guides individual and small group wine tours. He hosts the international TV series, The Grapevine, along with enologist Veronica Santiago. Steve can be reached at: sbdryden@hotmail.com |