CentralCoastWineries’ blog

California Wine Festival

The 6th Annual California Wine Festival, a mid-summer tradition in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA, is July 16 - 18. Ticket prices are rolled back 30% this year for the three distinctively different tasting in three days. Wine lovers enjoy “Old Spanish Nights” ‘fiesta style’ tasting on the 16th,  “Sunset Rare & Reserve” tasting the 17th and the huge “Beachside Wine Fest” on Saturday the 18th, featuring unlimited wine, food and live music at each venue.

The Paso Robles Wine Festival was a hit this year with a great crowd, and some of the best wine offerings in memory. There was plenty of shade, plenty of wine and a fair amount of skin on display at this annual event.

The Friday afternoon reserve event was a treat in that you were able to actually taste some older vintages--some of it spectacular hooch. Wines three, four and even seven years old were being poured by winemakers and principle's not just the friendly tasting room folks.

On Saturday was the grand tasting and that is when things warmed up. But the good folks and our hosts, at the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance were prepared with plenty of water stations and excellent organization. The venue is really suburb and the crowd wine loving and fun loving.

Ken Volk had some of his amazing wines from his new brand located in the Santa Maria Valley. He made 23 wines in 2008 and will create some masterpieces to enjoy in the coming years.

Each year, HdR produces an exceptional three-day event that is globally regarded as the single most essential and enjoyable gathering of international Rhône wine producers and enthusiasts. Attendees expand their knowledge of the 22 Rhône varieties, while rubbing elbows with the winemakers whose passion spurs the inspiration and energy that sets the tone for every seminar, meal, and tasting.

The event begins on Thursday April 30th with the Rhône-n-Bowl event and continues through to Saturday evening at the Farewell BBQ. In between there are seminars, auctions, dinners, tastings and events. For more information check out Hospice du Rhône.

The annual Santa Barbara County Vintners' Festival attracts wine lovers from near and far for an opportunity to meet member vintners, taste their wines, and enjoy great food and music in a festive outdoor environment. The 2009 Vintners’ Festival will be celebrated from 1 to 4pm on Saturday April 18th at River Park in Lompoc.

The festival features the wines of our 100+ members of the Association, live and lively music, a silent auction and wine country cuisine by the area’s finest chefs.

And we'll make a weekend out of it, celebrating the arrival of Spring with the Vintners’ Visa - a four-day pass to twelve participating wineries, each of whom will waive tasting fees and offer something special just for Visa holders.

Call for more information (805) 688-0881 or information@sbcountywines.com

Event Website

On Saturday March 7 is the 5th annual Taste for Justice at the Santa Maria Discovery Museum form 2 to 6 pm.

Introducing the 'Gourmet Gavel Awards' a chefs' competition
featuring the Taste Makers, students of Allan Hancock College Culinary Arts Program You be the Judge!
Tickets: $45 in advance, $50 at the door,
Sponsored by the Legal Aiod Foundation of Santa Barbara
Location: Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum
705 S. McClelland Street, Santa Maria

More Info and tickets Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County

Wine and Food Providers:
Au Bon Climat
Bella Forno
Bridlewood Estate Winery
Byron Winery
Cambria Winery
Cielito Lindo Mexican Grill
Clendenen-Lindquist Vintners
eWoodart.com
Fess Parker Winery
Jovi’s Delights
Lucas & Lewellen Winery
McKeon-Phillips Winery
Mint Properties, Tni LeBlanc
Morning Star Café
Northern Santa Barbara County Bar
Association
Rancho Alamos Camp 1 Vineyard
Santa Maria Inn
Santa Barbara Downtown
Brewing Company
Telegraph Brewery
Third Coast Café
Tolosa Winery
Trattoria Uliveto
William James Cellars

Salisbury Vineyards has some kick-ass wine and some great events at their tasting room near Avila Beach, California. Just north of Pismo Beach and south of San Luis Obispo is their 100 year old schoolhouse property that has been restored and updated to be a popular tasting room and event center.

They operate a trolley service and offer tours of their nearby vineyard where they grow Pinot Noir. The vineyard is only a couple of miles from the ocean and has a unique micro-climate that is just warm enough to ripen the fruit. The long growing season allows extra "hang time" and adds to the complexity of flavors. To learn more check out www.salisburyvineyards.com.

The speciality at the tasting room is Pinot Noir, but they also produce excellent Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.  Try their very popular Devil Dog Red if you are looking for something well priced and of good quality.

Salisbury Events:

"Girls' Night Out" at Salisbury:  Thursday evenings:  Stroll through the Schoolhouse and patio with hors d'oeuvres and wine in hand. Each evening will have a different theme with new guest vendors, chefs, and live music.  $25 per guest, $20 for Club Avila Members, for dates see www.salisburyvineyards.com

"Schoolhouse Rock Concert Series" 2009 dates
Bands will be posted at their website.

Film Noir at Salisbury Vineyards - Summer 2009, Includes private tasting, plated dinner and dessert. Check website for details.

The best place to taste wine in SLO has got to be Salisbury Vineyards. Its on the way to Avila and the do some work with grapes they grow just up the street (see video) plus their Paso Robles vineyard.

Try their Devil Dog Red at one of their concerts or other events.

Just had a chance to visit the San Juliette Vineyards out on Cross Canyon Road near Paso Robles. There is over 100

acres of grapes growing, including Cab, Merlot, Sauv Blanc, Petite Sirah, and even some Alicante Bouché for blending. The grapes are grown using sustainable ag practices and they have started producing some sought after fruit.

There is a winery building being built as well as a boffo tasting room complex. They word is that it will be open this spring for regular visitors. They are listed as open for some events during the Paso Zin Fest in March.

The wine maker is Adam LaZarre who has made some great wines for Hahn, Smith & Hook, the HRM Rex Goliath brand and his own label. The guy is a pro and should do wonders at San Juliette.

This winery will be a nice destination for visitors and a great spot for events. There is a lot of space for tastings, parties and weddings. The rolling hills are dramatic and when complete the property will be one of the nicest in the Paso Robles Appellation.

We took a tour and taste at Kenneth Volk Vineyards the other day and were very impressed with the operation, the people and especially the wines. Ken Volk was the owner and winemaker for Wildhorse Vineyards in Templeton which he sold a couple years back. He then bought up the old Byron Winery near Santa Maria, which had languished for a number of years with old equipment and a tired old barn like building.

Ken has come in and revamped the whole place replacing, repairing, and replanting. The operation is now a testament to order, process, refinement and magic! Check out the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but don't miss the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. These four wines were the basis for the success of the Wildhorse label and he has recreated the same at Kenneth Volk Vineyards. In addition, the winemaker promotes and produces rare “heirloom” wines from less well know wine grapes, including, Mourvedre, Malvasia Bianca, Pinot Blanc, Tempranillo and Negrette.

To visit the winery it takes a little effort but worth it. My suggestion is to give them a call first and get directions from Santa Maria. The winery is located near Cambria Winery and the massive and magnificent Bien Nacido Vineyard. Rumor has it there may be a new tasting room in Paso Robles soon.

Terravant Wine Company, in Buellton California, had a coming out party in December when it hosted a benefit open house wine tasting at its new ultra premium winery. Eleven wine producers, all who used the central coast facility for their 2008 wines, were pouring their best to enthusiastic wine tasters.

The brand-spanking new 45,000 sq. ft. custom crush facility is a winemakers dream with all the latest wine making tools, toys and winemaking systems. President Lew Eisaguirre along with general manager Randy Pace, and real estate partner Tom Davidson, created the $27 million winery that provides a full service winemaking facility to small and medium-sized producers.

Terravant Winery is located in the Santa Ynez Valley on Industrial Way, just east of the Santa Rita Hills appellation. In addition to the production capabilities, the winery will be opening a 4700 sq. ft. full service hospitality center and tasting room with event capabilities in 2009 to showcase the area’s up and coming winemakers.

The tasting

Tasting tables were set up between the forest of tall jacketed stainless steel fermenters. Live music along with gourmet artesian cheeses and tasty nibbles contributed to the party-like atmosphere. The spacious winery and event layout allowed visitors ample opportunity to talk with the winemakers and leisurely sample dozens of wines.

Lots of rich Pinot Noir and Rhone varietals dominated the wine offerings. Micro producers such as Alere Vineyards, Pace Family Vineyard, Pacific Ridge Vineyards and Mojo Wines generously offered wines from their limited stocks of Syrah, Mourvedre, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Alan Phillips, director of wine making at Terravant, was sampling his own excellent 2007 Pinot Noirs, a 2008 Pinot Gris and a Rosé. Daniel Gehrs was showing his fine fruit forward 2005 Sangiovese and a bright floral 2008 Gewürztraminer.

Frank Ostini, in his trademark hard shell hat, along with winemaker Gray Hartley, were treating tasters to their flagship 2006 Hitching Post Highlander Pinot Noir, as well as the 2006 Syrah and Merlot. Nearby, Ken Brown poured from his own label, showing off his 2006 Nielson Vineyard Chardonnay, two excellent local Pinots and a ’05 Syrah. Huber Cellars with some of the oldest vines in the Santa Rita Hills Appellation was showcasing its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and a monster reserve Dornfelder.

Lyn Dee Rankin from Imagine Wine was in her holiday best, sporting swaying felt antlers while pouring their creamy Viognier and their yummy Paradise Mountain Syrah. Brad Macdonald traveled up from Malibu Wines to pour the Semler Merlot, Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc.

Twenty-five vintners used Terravant’s wine making facility in 2008, producing dozens of wines to be released over the next couple of years. To taste these wines, contact the winemakers directly for a private tasting appointment. Also look for the grand opening of the Terravant wine tasting room in 2009.