NotJustGrapes

We had a great tasting at Northstar Winery. We have been here before and always liked it but somehow on this visit we really loved it. I am wondering if the winemaker has done something different. He began working with Northstar Winery in 2001 as the assistant winemaker and then his first drinkage was in 2006. Is it even possible that we have not visited in that long?

The setting is lovely. It would be a great venue for an event, wedding, shower, birthday celebration. The facility is fabulous and has a couple of different private areas. There is also a great patio and lawn beyond. There were four girls playing volleyball when we were there – having a great time.

Jan was pouring for us. He was lot of fun with a distinctive Norwegian accent and ready jokes. He knew a lot about the wine he was pouring and it was obvious he was enjoying himself as much as we were (well almost as much since we were tasting wine and he was only pouring it.)

The Merlots were still our favorites. It was fun to try the 2010 Northstar Columbia Valley Merlot side-by-side with the 2010 Northstar Walla Walla Merlot. The Walla Walla was a bit more structured while the Columbia Valley was softer on the palette. Jan told us that Mrlot is 2/3 of their production and between 11,000 to 12,000 cases are distributed each year. These wines are priced at $41 and $50 repsectively. A bit pricier is the 2010 Northstar Premier at $85. This 100% Merlot is delicious. For us it will be a special occasion treat.

From the 2012 Northstar Stella Blanca Semillon to the 2009 Stella Maris Red Blend – we enjoyed all of the wines that we tasted and took home a bottle of each. There is a $7 tasting fee refundable with purchase. Definitely worth the visit.

On a recent trip to Walla Walla with friends Tim and Diane we stopped at Foundry Vineyards. The tasting room is a lovely venue set on the west edge of Walla Walla and combines two of my favorite things – art and wine.

We had visited before and were particularly taken with the art. I especially like a large bronze casting of a horse in driftwood. Al loved it too but the $300,000 price tag kept it out of our garden.
On this visit the art in the sculpture garden and the gallery was the art on this visit was from Maya Lin, an internationally recognized artist who created the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington DC.

We enjoyed the art and then settled in for a tasting with Allison, a recent graduate from Whitman College, she was friendly and knowledgeable, even inviting Angel to come into the gallery and relax. We were totally blown away by the wine. The new winemaker, Justin Basel, formerly of Basel Cellars, created some fabulous wines that really fit our taste. We particularly loved the 2010 Artisan cabernet Sauvignon and 201 Syrah.
Another fun feature of the winery is that photos of the art that is displayed is used on the wine bottle labels.

This fun and interesting winery with its delicious wine and great hospitality is a must visit for any Walla Walla trip.

A few years ago while wandering around Walla Walla looking for a taco truck on Telephone Pole Road, we stumbled upon a small family-owned winery called Castillo De Feliciana. Their focus is on Spanish varietals and it was the first time I had ever tried Tempranillo. It was spicy and rich and love at first sip. There was also a Malbec from Horse Heaven Hills and a delicious blend called Mericoles, which means “Wednesday Wine”. There is a special toast for this wine – you will need to ask about it.

We enjoyed ourselves immensely. Now every time we are in Walla Walla, we make a point of visiting. One time we arrived while they were crushing the grapes and we were taken back to watch. It was fascinating and nobody was stomping in a barrel. On this visit, we were celebrating and brought friends with us who had not done very much wine tasting. They also have become huge fans of Castilla de Feliciana. Deborah, the co-owner, was pouring for us and also getting ready to have a wedding at the winery that afternoon. Bridesmaids were relaxing out under the trees. (our dog Angel loved them – I think they fed her some wine!) When Deborah found out that it was our anniversary she insisted on a toast to all of us who had been married for more than two decades. That included our friends (Tim and Diane) and Deborah and her husband as well as a really nice couple we were chatting with at the tasting bar.

Deborah has shared a wonderful story with us about how the winery got its name. While they were thinking of a name they were sipping on the wine. It was rich and delicious and had the aromas of leather and tobacco and juicy fruit gum. The fragrance of the wine reminded Deborah of her childhood and her Aunt Feliciana, who had no children and wasn’t sure how to entertain Deborah and her sister when they visited. Aunt Feliciana would send the girls off to find her big black purse to get the gum inside. When she opened that purse there were the fragrances she would later find in the wine – leather, fruit and tobacco. I love that story – there are more – but it is much more fun to hear them yourself at the winery.

Recently a Castilla de Feliciana tasting room opened in Woodinville. We were delighted to find the same friendly spirit that we had discovered in Walla Walla. If you have never tried a Spanish varietal or if you have tried them and love them, I would highly recommend a visit to this winery – one of the friendliest and most fun wineries I have ever visited (and I have visited plenty….)

On Saturday we found ourselves with a little bit of free time on Whidbey Island (we are NEVER early so this may be a first) and so we popped into Blooms Winery on Whidbey Island. It is a very casual and charming little tasting room filled with eclectic art, cute wine-related gift items and of course…wine.
You take a seat at tables that have been converted from wine barrels and Ken came over and gave us a taste. (You can choose 5 tastes for $6).

Our companion enjoyed the Riesling and we started off with a yummy Syrah. By the time we got to the Bloom Vineyard Cabernet we were all old friends and Ken told us they source those grapes from his brother’s vineyard in California.
Their menu includes food which is a nice touch – cheese tray, antipasti, crackers and dip and bruschetta. On Sunday afternoons they have live music with no cover charge. An excellent way to spend part of your weekend.

Kendall-Jackson has always been a “go to” wine for me. It is consistently good, reasonably priced and readily available. It is also one of the largest super-premium wineries in the United States. They have a wonderful tasting room that they call the Kendall-Jackson Wine Center. It looks like a lovely chateau and has a gorgeous garden. Plan to spend some time here strolling the gardens, walnut grove and tasting their wine.
On a recent visit to their winery I learned about their focus on education and sustainability. On this particular day, Will was pouring for us. He was knowledgeable and friendly and happy to tell us all we wanted to know about Kendall Jackson.

Will explained how sustainability is the focus of the winery and that their goal is no waste. In addition to delicious wine they also produce single varietal grape seed oil. I tried a beautiful hand-pressed oil that is infused with Meyer’s lemon. Will also told us that the chardonnay oil is fabulous on popcorn – I can’t wait to try that! Kendall Jackson has been using grape skin flour to make cookies and crackers. Their goal is to use every part of the grape.
The winery has a very interesting history. In 1974, Jess Jackson and his wife Jane, purchased an 80 acre pear and walnut farm in Santa Rosa. He converted it to vineyards and in 1982 they produced their first bottle of Chardonnay under the Kendall-Jackson label.

They now own 15,000 acres of California coastal vineyards. They produce a host of award-winning wines and own and operate more than 40 labels around the world including: Cambria, Le Crema, Freemark Abbey and many more.
It is certainly worth a visit to this outstanding winery and if you are so inclined to become a member of their wine club. In addition to your shipments of delicious wine there are some extraordinary members-only events, in 2014 these included a crab and chard Fete, a Gumbo smack-down and a Tomato Festival.

Chateau Montelena Winery has to be one of the most beautiful spots in Napa. What began as a winery in 1886 with Alfred Tubbs, became a bucolic retirement spot for Yort Winn and Jeanie Frank in 1958. Frank was a Chinese engineer who had built the Manchurian Railroad. They added Jade Lake and the Chinese-inspired garden. This is an incredibly beautiful spot to relax and have a picnic (prior permission is needed) or just go for a stroll.

When the property was again sold in 1968, all the land was cleared and replanted under the direction of James Barrett, a lawyer from San Francisco. He then hired Mike Grgich, a Yugoslavian immigrant, as his winemaker. They began producing wines again in 1972. James, Barrett’s son, Bo Barrett, is currently operating the winery.

In May 1976, the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay was tasted against nine wines both French and Californian. It took first prize against white burgundies and Chardonnays in the “Judgment of Paris” wine competition. This put California on the global wine map and inspired some major European players to purchase vineyard land in the Napa Valley. You may recall the movie, Bottle Shock which is based on these events.

The chateau was constructed in 1882. It is a stone castle straight out of Grimm’s fairytales complete with turrets, fountains and ivy-covered façade. Upon entering you will be in the tasting room. On the day we visited, Jason was pouring for us. I was impressed with how knowledgeable he was both on the wines we were tasting and the history of Napa Valley. He truly has a passion for wine and is planning to make his career within the industry. It was exhilarating to meet someone with so much enthusiasm and information.

We learned that the tasting room hosts approximately 40,000 to 50,000 visitors per year and they produce approximately 45,000 cases of wine annually (this fluctuates with the harvests). There is a $20. Tasting fee for a nice selection of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignons. I especially enjoyed the Montelena Estate 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon but at $150 per bottle that will have to remain a very “special occasion” wine for me.

At the end of the main hall you will find the “Estate Room”. Here there are a number of historical artifacts as well as an exposed stone wall of the chateau. Especially interesting is the display of the soils that comprise the Montelena Estate vineyard.

If you have the opportunity to wander around the grounds you will find footbridges that connect the chateau to two islands which are available to the winery’s club members. The footbridges are crooked and Jason told us that was because Chinese legend has it that evil spirits can only travel in a straight line over water. If you look just beyond Jade Lake you will see the Estate Vineyard. The lake itself is a wonder with vegetation covered arbors and black swans swimming gracefully in the water.

Chateau Montelena is certainly worth a trip. Delicious wines and a one-of-a-kind location.

My friends who knew me when I lived in New York might remember “Champagne Thursdays”. There was a small group of us who decided we never drank enough champagne and so we designated Thursdays as the day to do so. Many years have passed but visiting Korbel, just a few miles north of Santa Rosa along the Russian River, made me wonder about that tradition again.

If you are not familiar with how sparkling wines are made then Korbel is a “must visit” for you. They offer a winery tour as well as a garden tour (spring/summer only) and wine tasting. There is also a charming little deli and gift shop.

I took the winery tour which lasts about an hour. During the tour I learned that the Korbel brothers emigrated from Czechoslovakia in the mid- 1800’s and founded a sawmill. In the 1870’s they planted their first vineyard. By the 1880’s they hired Frank Hasek from Prague to be their champagne master. He used méthode champenoise to create the very first California Champagne. In 1954, Korbel Champagne was sold to Adolf Heck. His son, Gary, is now the owner and president.

The tour includes a movie and a history museum with many photographs and antique wine-making implements. It is finished off with a tasting just for the tour group in the tasting room. Their most popular champagne is Korbel Brut. It was delicious but I also really enjoyed trying some of the lesser known varieties. The KORBEL Brut Rosé is such a gorgeous color and our tour guide told us it is one of the most served champagnes for bridal showers and weddings. I also enjoyed the Korbel Natural which has earned many awards.

The grounds are lovely. I am going to come back in the spring/summer to enjoy the garden tour. The grounds were planted in the 1880’s for the Korbel summer retreat. I was told that there are more than 250 varieties of roses including some antique varietals.

This was the second time that I have had lunch at the Gourmet Delicatessen. A creature of habit but I do love their tri-tip sandwich with gorgonzola and caramelized onions. It is worth the trip for lunch alone! There are several delicious salads and sandwiches and of course wines by the glass and champagne cocktails.

The Korbel website is also a wealth of information. From information on how much champagne you will need for a special occasion to tips on how to chill, pop and store – this is a great website. There is also a section that gives champagne cocktail recipes as well as recipes for pairing. It is a great resource.

One last interesting tidbit that I wanted to know and I bet you do too. I was under the impression that a beverage could only be called “champagne” if it came from the champagne region of France. This is due to an international treaty. That is why wine produced in the champagne – style in the US are called “sparkling wine”.  The short answer is this treaty was enacted decades after Korbel had started producing wine and calling it “California Champagne”. Personally I don’t care what they call it – it is delicious and a nice change of pace.

On our way to Healdsburg we stopped in at a charming family run winery called Graton Ridge Cellars. The Paul Family has three generations involved with their winemaking. The day we visited, Elliot was our very charming host. He told us how the Paul family had started their business in 1945 growing apples, but has since transitioned to grapes and winemaking. They primarily grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

The tasting room is small and has a very intimate feeling. The owners as well as the winemaker are often on-site. I always like to be able to chat and find out how people got involved in the winemaking industry and what their passions are.

We tried the 2011 Chardonnay from the Paul Family Vineyard. It was a very good white wine for someone who thinks she doesn’t like white wine. The Pinot Noir is made from grapes that are grown right next door. Only 600 feet away from the winery this is as close as you can get to being estate grown. The 2011 Zinfandel is gown eight miles away. This is the farthest away Graton Ridge sources their grapes. The Zin was nice and peppery. It won the Best in Class Harvest Awards.

A little more unusual was the 2011 A+ Apple Port. The recommendation is to taste this with a little blue cheese. The 2011 Zinfandel Port was very good. At $30 per bottle I would consider it a good value. Tastings are $10 refunded with a purchase.

The grounds are small and well-kept. There is a cute picnic area and bocce ball. A giant stone bottle is located next to the entry and there are interesting items scattered around that you can explore. Graton Ridge Cellars is a nice beginning to your adventure into Russian River Valley wines.

Kenwood Vineyards combines two of my favorite things – art and wine. I wanted to visit this tasting room because I was familiar with their Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon. For over 30 years Kenwood has been highlighting paintings by contemporary artists on a select Cabernet Sauvignon release.

The tasting room is located in the original circa 1906 Pagani Brothers Winery building. It sits on over 20 acres of vineyards. The tasting room is open daily and the day we visited they were offering five tastes for $5. It is warm and cozy with a very friendly vibe. There is a good collection of wine-related gift items for purchase as well as posters of the artist series labels. Yes, I was a sucker for these and purchased a print of the 1990 Sam Francis label.

The Artist Series Cabernet releases originated in 1978 when Kenwood Vineyards commissioned a local artist, David Lance Goines, to create a pastel art panel to enhance its 1976 Cabernet Sauvignon. The image Goines created featured a tasteful naked woman reclining on a vineyard slope. When the 1975 “Naked Lady” label, as it was affectionately referred to, was submitted to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for approval it was denied as obscene and indecent. Only 228 bottles with the “Naked Lady” label were permitted to leave the winery. The label was resubmitted with a tongue-in-cheek label featuring a skeleton in place of the woman and was also was rejected. The label eventually approved showed only a grassy hillside with a stream running by, but the notoriety and rarity of the original design launched the Artist Series.

Showing how times have changes, the label was resubmitted in 1997 for the 20^th anniversary and it was approved.

During its first decade, the Artist Series focused on works by contemporary artists. The 1987 vintage broke with tradition by featuring a painting by Joan Miro, and in the years since, the Artist Series has presented works by other important artists from the past, including Pablo Picasso, Henry Miller, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Henry Miller, Alexander Calder and Paul Klee.

Beginning in 1976, Kenwood Vineyards was allowed to produce wines from the Jack London Beauty Ranch, which is located in Glen Ellen. Jack London is a famous author, perhaps his most famous works include “Call of the Wild” and “White Fang”. Much of the original land was donated to what is now Jack London State Historic Park.  Additional land, a unique red-lava soil that was planted in grapes in the late 1800s, still produces outstanding – Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot and Syrah wines. These wines are defined by the unique wolf head logo from Jack London’s bookplate. Kenwood has an exclusive agreement to purchase the grapes from the Jack London Vineyard.

On this gorgeous Napa day, Dennis was pouring for us. We had several yummy wines including the 2010 Yulupa (which means “bright and shiny”) Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. These wines were specifically created for the restaurant community to serve by the glass. Our tour experience came to an end all too soon, but not before we got a quick peak at the original wooden tanks located in the back of the tasting room.