Cheers to the New Year!

Hello, hello to everyone! Boy, it's been a busy couple of months so my apologies for the lack of postings. But with the holidays came the WINE -- and lots of it! Back in November, I had the opportunity to travel up the coast and stay in Paso Robles, CA. Aside from spending 3 days at an incredible B&B, I visited plenty of fantastic wineries located on Highway 46.

The History

The town of Paso Robles is home to 170+ wineries that produce over 40 varietals. Franciscan missionaries planted the first vines in 1797 at Mission San Miguel Arcangel. Zinfandel became the leading grape in the 1920's and still remains the key varietal for numerous wineries in this area.

The Wineries

WINDWARD - Features only Pinot Noir. Great location with a grapevine covered outdoor patio. The server was pleasant and the 3 wines included in the $10 tasting were flavorsome, but the overall experience was nothing to write home about.

ZENAIDA - By far, my favorite place during the trip! This winery specializes in Zinfandel and Syrah and only offers estate wines. I spent about 2 hours here tasting 7 different types of wine (all included in the tasting fee), chatting with the pourer, and wandering around the grounds. Note, if you decide to become a wine club member you qualify to stay free for one night in the winery's "loft". Visit http://www.zenaidacellars.com/ to find out more! Don't miss the zins from this winery- they are fantastic! A wonderful blend, the Zephyr, is currently my pick of the month.

DONATI - For those of you white wine lovers, this winery produces a great Pinot Blanc. Its Hospitality Center is located right off of Highway 46- very easy to find and accessible. I walked away with a case of 2003 and 2004 Pinot Blanc, which pairs very well with fish and salads.

Fine Italian Wine

The other night I stopped at a little Italian Deli in Agoura Hills, California. I was looking for something quick to bring home for dinner. While the counter boy was preparing my two servings of lasagna in the back, I ventured over to the wine section. Here I stood, again staring at a wall of wine, a few I know, most I don't. Which brought me back to the reason we started this blog in the first place. Determined to try something new, I asked the woman next to me, who was also looking for a bottle of wine, if she had any suggestions. She pointed me in the direction of an Italian white wine. The name: 2006 Gavi di Gavi. She said it is one of her absolute favorites, and whenever she serves it to guests, they all enjoy it. So I thought, what the heck. Let's try it. Here I am, purchasing my two lasagnas and a bottle of wine, and the manager comes out of the back and asks me if I'd had this wine before. I comment no, and he tells me that its really 'excellent'. I am stoked. Off I go, amped for a 'bound to be' fantastic dinner.

Dinner and the wine were both great. I wouldn't go as far to say that this is one of my all time favorites, yet I would definitely buy it again. In fact, I plan on it, as I would like to give it another go. It was really refreshing, light, yet not too light, and would be great with any type of meal, or on a warm evening, just to sip.

Wino Joke

Costume Ideas for the Real Wino

Find these online at www.buycostumes.com.

Celebrate Halloween with Good Old Fashion Spirits

Halloween is, by far, my favorite holiday of the year. The leaves are turning (yes, even in California), the air becomes crisp, and night falls earlier. Halloween gives us an excuse, just for one day, to be anyone or anything we want to be (plus we get to consume a ton of candy doing it)! Here is a list of some ghoulishly good wine that no Halloween celebration should be without!

For the disturbed immortal soul, quench your blood-thirsty craving with Vampire Merlot (rumored to have actually been produced in Transylvania- now made in Paso Robles, CA- can be found at CostPlus World Market).
Vampire Wines: http://www.vampirewines.com/

Looking for a sinfully good time? Sip on Casillero del Diablo (or "Devil's Cellar") Cabernet Sauvignon from the Concha y Toro Winery in Chile. The interactive website is frightfully fantastic and explains the winery's haunting past.
Concha y Toro Winery: http://www.casillerodeldiablo.com/

Cast a spell with Eye of the Toad Rosé. "Eye of the newt" has disappeared thanks to this 9th vintage by Toad Hollow Vineyards.
Toad Hollow Vineyards: http://www.toadhollow.com/

Life is Too Short to Drink Cheap Wine...

So, let's make it instead!
Our latest VBLOG features Amardeep Mann, a cardiologist by profession and a garagiste for fun, leading us through his homemade winemaking process. Inspired by his father's hometown in Barnala, India, Amar has taken his passion for wine one step further in creating his own label. This is Amar's second year as a serious garagiste and he definitely plans on continuing-- hoping to establish his own wine shop in the future. Amar resides in Westlake, CA with his wife, Daisy, and two children, Jasmine and Jushin.

Tell us what you think by commenting on this post!

Wino Word of the Day - Pigeage

Pigeage: The process of punching grape skins and other solids (or the "cap") that float to the top of fermenting wine downward and back into the liquid. Remember, skins are the source of the tannins for the fermenting wine. Traditional winemakers will hand plunge or use the system of pigeage à pied (foot stomping) of the grapes in open fermentation tanks. Looks like Lucy was doing more than a comedy routine during her infamous grape stomping episode!