tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40368723065694835402023-12-24T22:55:03.124-08:00Jonesing For WineJonesing: To have a strong need, desire, or craving for something.
Nothing makes me crave good wine more than drinking bad wine. So I'll try to steer you towards the delicious and away from the swill.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-61195375519986649802017-03-13T18:44:00.000-07:002017-03-14T18:31:46.332-07:00Suds and Snow in the SierrasThis past January we went up to Tahoe. Seeing as I'm not a winter sports guy I don't go to Tahoe very often. Maggie hadn't ever been and a bunch of friends were renting a house in Tahoma so we joined the party. We got really lucky that the biggest storm in years just happened to dump hella snow a couple days before we got there and then the weather was gorgeous the entire time we were up there.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HMd-aIZq2tE/WMc1VldaROI/AAAAAAAAAgA/OJr0KCU9iOEc7EEBqhS-UidZ1yZk_OocQCK4B/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HMd-aIZq2tE/WMc1VldaROI/AAAAAAAAAgA/OJr0KCU9iOEc7EEBqhS-UidZ1yZk_OocQCK4B/s320/image1.JPG" width="320" /></a>On our way up, we stopped at <a href="http://fiftyfiftybrewing.com/">Fifty-Fifty Brewing</a> in Northstar Village for lunch and some delicious crisp beers. Their beers reminded me a lot of Maine Beer Company due to the crisp and bright flavors. I'm guessing they have a great water supply either a spring or snow melt. You can really taste the difference between breweries that use fresh water and those that are stuck with municipal supplies. We each got a flight of 5 beers. Maggie stayed on the lighter side ranging from a golden ale to pale ales while I started hoppy and ended dark and brooding with 3 IPAs, a porter, and a stout aged in a Cognac Barrel. I was a little apprehensive about ordering a barrel aged stout because the last few ones that I had tasted more than root beer than stout. The waiter talked me into it because apparently the brewery is known for their barrel aged stouts. Maggie loved all of her choices and there wasn't much sharing. I found the ale brewed with lemongrass to be interesting but much more of a summer beer than an its 30 degrees outside and I need something to warm me up sort of beer. The session IPA reminded me of Sculpin's Mango Even Keel so much it was uncanny. The Rye IPA was delicious. The porter was one of the best porters I've had in a long time with lots of vanilla and coffee notes. The stout was by far the best barrel aged beer I've ever had. Maybe its the Cognac barrel instead of the usual bourbon or maybe they have a superior technique. I'm not sure but either way its damn good. The Cognac isn't over powering it still tastes like a stout but with subtle notes that seemed just outside of my grasp. The only bad part of the experience was the pulled pork in our nachos was a little too sweet and we probably should have gone with the chicken because everything else in the nachos was just what we needed.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xGvMvpxIxto/WMc2VQ1_LqI/AAAAAAAAAgk/6K2SRrbOUn4qD8-PzoLc5bf9DOyrKqBDACK4B/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xGvMvpxIxto/WMc2VQ1_LqI/AAAAAAAAAgk/6K2SRrbOUn4qD8-PzoLc5bf9DOyrKqBDACK4B/s320/IMG_0116.JPG" width="320" /></a>When we got to the cabin the power was out. This was back in January when the big storms were rolling through California. In order to help warm us up we had an impromptu whiskey tasting. I brought <a href="http://www.tuthilltown.com/">Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey</a> and my friends brought <a href="http://fourrosesbourbon.com/bourbon/small-batch/">4 Roses small batch bourbon</a>, <a href="http://www.templetonrye.com/the-good-stuff/">Templeton Rye</a>, and <a href="http://www.basilhaydens.com/basil-haydens/">Basil Hayden</a>. The Hudson was my favorite. It was more smooth than the rest and the flavors are on point. The Basil Hayden and 4 Roses were also very good. The Templeton Rye was too harsh for me. I can't tell you too much about the night but there was a glow in the dark puzzle and lots of beers involved.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7hCW3WXV2tU/WMc2FQSdCWI/AAAAAAAAAgc/NosdbZvFCU8jiwcf_FwGI1X8z3T1n7rbACK4B/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7hCW3WXV2tU/WMc2FQSdCWI/AAAAAAAAAgc/NosdbZvFCU8jiwcf_FwGI1X8z3T1n7rbACK4B/s320/IMG_0492.JPG" width="212" /></a>The next day we went snowshoeing in Sugar Pine State Park. We rented snow shoes and poles for $11 for half a day at a nearby rental place. Parking in the park was $5. This was a great value day. The day started overcast but as we tromped through the powder the sky opened into a brilliant blue. Snowshoeing is a great way to enjoy the beauty that is Tahoe. Its not as easy as walking but its a hell of a lot easier than walking in deep snow. Its a good work out especially with the falling and getting up part. Thats just extra exercise and laughter. Nothing wrong with that...<br />
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On our way back home to the Bay we stopped at Kingvale to do some sledding. It cost $10 to park and then $10 each to sled. I always think of sledding as being just for kids and it looks kind of blah but in reality it's terrifying! I have no problem riding down a hill at 40mph on a bike but a sled just goes where it wants to go and any attempt to lean or steer results in an uncontrolled spin. Actually, sledding made me realize that its for kids because they heal faster and their spines are made of elastic. There was a short slope with lane dividers and a longer one without. As you may know its nearly impossible to steer a sled so the open one added extra adrenaline because at any moment my 230lbs could plow into some kid. Good thing we all signed waivers before we were allowed on the slopes. The two lower slopes were pretty busy so we wandered up the hill and found 3rd slope with divided lanes that we had pretty much to ourselves and a hispanic family a few lanes over. We didn't get injured and we had a blast. <br />
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We were famished after sledding so we stopped for burgers in Auburn at the <a href="http://auburnalehouse.com/craft-beer/">Auburn Ale House</a>. I have been through the upper portion of Auburn with all of its fast food joints numerous times but I didn't know there was a quaint little old town. The Ale House had the best burger I've had in a long, long time. It was cooked to perfection (medium rare) with just the right amount of juiciness and bacon. We both had burgers. I went with a stout on nitro and she had a golden ale we both enjoyed our beers but we were pretty much over drinking by the end of the weekend. Since it is in the heart of gold country all of the beers are named after the gold rush.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-10911556511640072212016-10-31T21:55:00.000-07:002016-10-31T21:55:17.704-07:00Tamayo Family VineyardsA little while back we visited <a href="http://www.tamayofamilyvineyards.com/">Tamayo Family Vineyards</a> in Brentwood. We had gone to Brentwood to pick Cherries last June. If you haven't gone to a U-pick Cherry orchard I highly recommend it. You get a bucket and there are ladders near most of the trees but you can just pick them without the ladder. We had planned on spending the afternoon picking. We didn't really know how many cherries there would be but when we got there the trees were dripping with cherries. After picking 9lbs of cherries in about 30 minutes we had some time to go wine tasting. (If this is a retelling of an older post I apologize. I could have sworn I already wrote this entry but I can't find it.) <div>
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So we went to google and yelp. I had originally thought we were a lot closer to Livermore and since I've never been wine tasting there I was a little disappointed to see that we were about an hour away. We found two wineries in the immediate area. </div>
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The first one Hannah Nicole Winery was not our jam. If you like sweet wines you might like these, but if you like sweet wines you will probably be more satisfied by wines from less expensive retailers as the tasting fee was $10 for 5 pours and the reds were in the $30-$50 range. We were less than impressed by their wines. However it did seem like a happening spot as the winery was pretty full of people and there was some sort of live music happening on the grounds.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tamayo Family Vineyards</td></tr>
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<br />Maggie found another winery about a mile away called <a href="http://www.tamayofamilyvineyards.com/">Tamayo Family Vineyards</a>. They do tastings by appointment only so we were lucky to get a last minute tasting. It is run by the husband and wife team of Jeff and Sara Tamayo. As we drove up the driveway there was a winery in a barn on the right and an impressive house further up on the left. So we drove to the quaint barn which didn't have any parking or people which of course was the wrong place. The Spanish styled estate has been in their family for generations and is a beautiful piece of property with a fountain, elegant stonework, and terra cotta roof. We definitely felt out of place with our cherry picking clothes on but Sara met us out front and put our worries at ease with a glass of their lovely Bailey Viognier which is super floral and reasonably priced at $24. </div>
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She then took us on a short tour of the vineyard, bee hives, chicken coop (because Maggie is obsessed with chickens), and the grounds where they have weddings and events. Jeff joined us as we sat on their porch to taste some reds and munch on cheese and crackers. Jeff had just come back from the East Coast (he arrived while we were walking on the grounds) and even though he was probably jet lagged he graciously joined us. He even showed us their wine collection which has a dining table in the middle of the room for special events. I smiled and nodded at the French wine's that he has since I don't really know much about old world wines other than generalities. He had some older California offerings like Jordan and Chateau Montelena that made the wine nerd in me very happy. Come to think of it, I feel like they did more to try to sell us on having a wedding/event there than trying to sell us wine, but when the wine is as good as there wine is they don't have to try to sell it. They just have to open the bottle.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n8KoqHeiNQg/WBgchOMeMoI/AAAAAAAAAeY/pI6e_EECx7U3fjdylInP7E0a1pR4TQ1nACK4B/s1600/TFV_PN08_temp150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n8KoqHeiNQg/WBgchOMeMoI/AAAAAAAAAeY/pI6e_EECx7U3fjdylInP7E0a1pR4TQ1nACK4B/s400/TFV_PN08_temp150.jpg" /></a>We loved their Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir and the estate grown CANA. The 2008 Pinot was dark and silky with sour cherry and earth notes accented by a touch of cola. This sells on their website for $32 but is on sale for $16! </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CgOYfcyRfqk/WBgcoKYIf3I/AAAAAAAAAeg/nZb_FSGLJOceLY09jxAXjyRcfl-JJ1PKQCK4B/s1600/CANA_Red07_main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CgOYfcyRfqk/WBgcoKYIf3I/AAAAAAAAAeg/nZb_FSGLJOceLY09jxAXjyRcfl-JJ1PKQCK4B/s400/CANA_Red07_main.jpg" /></a>The 2007 CANA is a red blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah, Mourvedre, Malbec, Carigagne, Alicante Bouschet, Tinta Cao, and Viognier. Since it is a 2007 it has had plenty of time to mellow out the tannins from the bolder grapes in the bunch. The wine exhibits dark berry aromas with hints of spices and layers of mocha and vanilla. It has a medium to full body and soft mouthfeel. The CANA retails for $30 on their website but is also currently on sale for half off! All the prices of their wines are more than reasonable and those two being on sale is truly amazing! </div>
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We also bought a jar of honey that their son makes from the bees on their property. Its delicious. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-21827912819110867622016-10-31T16:52:00.000-07:002016-10-31T16:54:19.114-07:00Lagunitas Night Time AleAutumn is finally kicking into gear here in the Bay Area. The leaves are changing color and the temperature is dropping. Time for some nice dark beers to warm our bellies while the rain pitter patters on the roof tops and the fire crackles in the fireplace. Well we don't have a fireplace but the yule log channel can't be too far away...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ASE6PROu5E/WBfX4vx02bI/AAAAAAAAAd4/pHxycbK8Yp8n58PhfD2xK1rcdNBa6zydwCK4B/s1600/IMG_6723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ASE6PROu5E/WBfX4vx02bI/AAAAAAAAAd4/pHxycbK8Yp8n58PhfD2xK1rcdNBa6zydwCK4B/s320/IMG_6723.JPG" width="240" /></a>I digress, last night I had the Lagunitas Night Time Ale. Sometimes <a href="https://lagunitas.com/">Lagunitas</a> really hits the nail on the head, this is one of those times. You get those coffee and chocolate notes that usually comes with a porter or stout and then there is the 71 IBU from the hops which provides some bitterness but also some floral notes as well. It comes in a 22 oz bomber and at 8% ABV that is enough for me these days. I know some people will see that 8% and be turned off by it but I really couldn't detect the alcohol as far as taste goes. So its a good offering to the night time ruckus and as always there is a fun bit of nonsense on the bottle which Lagunitas is known for and I always appreciate.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-27854885282354911802016-05-24T12:48:00.000-07:002016-05-24T12:54:11.377-07:00Ballast Point's Flavored IPAsLet me start this off by saying that I love many <a href="http://www.ballastpoint.com/">Ballast Point</a> brews. The Grunion and Sculpin are amazing true to form beers. The grapefruit Sculpin is the first flavored beer that I have enjoyed since Marin Brew Co's Stinson Beach Peach in high school. I doubt I could get down with that today, but at the time it was great. <br /><br /> Grapefruit Sculpin: <br />The bitterness of the grapefruit matching the bitterness of the hops and the citrus aromas of the hops and grapefruit mingling together. Really beautiful beer if you haven't tried it yet go get a sixer. <br /><br />Watermelon Dorado: <br />It just doesn't work for me. It's like a jolly rancher. I thought the bitterness of a double IPA would counter the sweetness of the watermelon but I was wrong. It's pretty much a wine cooler. Lame. <br />I hope this isn't what we will come to expect from BP now they were bought for a billion bucks by InBev or whatever inbev/budweiser/America is calling itself... <br /><br />Pineapple Sculpin: <br />This beer lands a bit in between the two above. It is certainly much much better than the watermelon. The sweetness of the pineapple flavor carries a little too strongly for my liking but its not candy sweet. The bitterness of the Sculpin is subdued in my opinion but the girlfriend finds it too piney for her liking. Either way I don't think we will purchase it again. I could see this as a good companion to spicy food like a curry or maybe tacos. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-67657594648086944912013-06-07T22:45:00.001-07:002013-06-07T22:45:32.562-07:00Knee Deep Brewing Company Citra Extra Pale Ale<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9fxhk6mVODM/UbK91nKLDDI/AAAAAAAAAZM/8T-3_bw93fE/s1600/Citra.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9fxhk6mVODM/UbK91nKLDDI/AAAAAAAAAZM/8T-3_bw93fE/s320/Citra.jpeg" width="240" /></a>Tonight I had a refreshing, crisp Extra Pale Ale from <a href="http://kneedeepbrewing.com/">Knee Deep Brewing Company</a> in Lincoln, CA in the Sierra Foothills. Its a single hop ale meaning they only used one varietal of hops in this case Citra which has been surging in popularity in recent years. As you would imagine from the name, Citra hops yield more citrus flavors such as grapefruit and lime than other hops.<br />
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At 7% alc/vol it is a little stronger than the average pale ale which I guess is where the "extra" in the label comes from. The "extra" could also be because this is a lot hoppier (45 IBU) than most pale ales. As you can see in the picture below it is definitely not an "extra-pale" ale as the color is about average for a pale ale.<br />
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At $6.99 for a 22oz at Whole Foods (you can probably find it cheaper elsewhere) its a special occasion beer and to be honest there are better beers at this price point or lower, but if you really want to know what Citra hops taste like this a great specimen. Its a great beer, but the price takes it out of being highly recommended.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-33143429406316153262012-12-24T21:50:00.001-08:002012-12-24T21:50:21.034-08:00Local Wines for the Holidays<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">This is my December column from the Marinscope Newspapers</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">When
you are enjoying the holidays with your friends and family try
pairing these wonderful local wines with your meals.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Point
Reyes Vineyard's non-vintage blanc de blanc ($29) is grown
sustainably just north of Point Reyes Station along highway 1. It is
a wonderful sparkling wine with citrus, pear and a slight yeastiness
on the nose. Upon the palate the citrus refines itself into lemon,
the yeast becomes baked bread and there is a floral note reminiscent
of orange blossoms. This is tart and crisp and would pair wonderfully
with shellfish.</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Pey-Marin's
2009 "Trois Filles" pinot noir ($39) is grown at several
vineyards in West Marin with the majority hailing from the dry farmed
and organically grown, Corda Vineyard. The wine was aged for 14
months on French oak barrels with 25% new oak. The long extraction
period with a moderate percentage of new barrels balances the aromas
of the fruit and the bouquet from the oak. The wine is a dark garnet
color. On the nose there are layers of earth and spice with notes of
sour cherry, raspberry, cinnamon, clove, and forest floor. On my
tongue I tasted rich earthiness, bright cherry, raspberry, and cloves
as well as some dark fruits and slight fresh leather notes. This is
an old world style pinot that is more bouquet driven than fruit
forward with a soft front to mid palate mouthfeel and bright acidity.
This pinot noir will pair nicely with turkey.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Pacheco
Ranch Winery's 2005 cabernet sauvignon ($25) is grown in Novato on an
East facing hillside along highway 101. The nose is earthy with
notes of eucalyptus and bell pepper. The earthiness carried through
to the palate where I noticed dark cherry, cranberry, cloves, and
rich tobacco. The tannins yield a gravely, astringent mouthfeel.
The bold tannins will enable it to pair nicely with beef as tannins
bind with the meat's proteins in your mouth making the meat more
tender and juicy. This wine would also be great for making mulled
wine.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Mulled
wine reminds me of visiting my dad in Berlin and going to the
Christmas markets where it is called g</span></span><span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">lühwein</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">.
It is pretty easy to make, all you need is a decent bold red wine, a
pot to heat it up in, spices, 1/3 cup of brown sugar, 1/4 cup of
brandy and an orange or a lemon, peeled and sliced (keep the peels
for adding zest). The spices vary on individual tastes and
traditions, but they all have cloves and cinnamon sticks at the
center with other spices including ginger, allspice, cardamon,
peppercorns, vanilla beans, and nutmeg. You put all of the
ingredients into a pot and heat them up together for 30-60 minutes
making sure not to let it boil. Play with the proportions to taste.
Strain the mulled wine into mugs and serve warm to hot.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">For
dessert I recommend Charbay's pomegranate dessert wine ($45) made
with 100% organic, tree-ripened pomegranates from the Central Valley.
It exhibits intense pomegranate flavors with a slight minerality.
The wine is sweet but not too sweet and is great when served chilled.
I find fresh orange peel makes it even more festive or a splash of
orange bitters will give it a bit of a kick. It goes great with
roasted chestnuts or chocolate.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Point
Reyes Vineyards is located at 12700 Hwy 1 in Point Reyes Station and
is open for drop-ins Saturday and Sunday from 12:00pm to 5:00pm. For
more information, call</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
(415) 663-1011 or visit ptreyesvineyardinn.com/winery.htm.</i></span></span></span></div>
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<i>Pey-Marin can be found at
Insalata's, Il Fornaio, Marin Beverage, Whole Foods, Mill Valley
Market, Ludwigs, and many other fine wine shops throughout Marin.</i>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>For
more information on Pey-Marin, cal</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>l
455-9463 </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>or
visit scenicrootwinegrowers.com. </i></span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Pacheco
Ranch Winery is </i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>located
at 235 Alameda Del Prado Road in Novato, Ca 94949. For appointments
call 883-5583. For more information visit pachecoranchwinery.com.</i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Charbay
is available at The Buckeye Restaurant, Mill Valley Market, Rick's
Wine Cellar, and other establishments throughout Marin. The tasting
room is located at 4001 Spring Mountain Rd in St. Helena,
California.. For more information, call </i></span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>(707)
963-9327 or visit charbay.com.</i></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-33671343292682589792012-12-18T18:10:00.001-08:002012-12-18T18:10:47.304-08:00Great Gift Idea - Tastingroom.com review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zVQjQzav88s/UFJj_FhSsbI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/EA9gu57-Plw/s1600/IMG_2109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zVQjQzav88s/UFJj_FhSsbI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/EA9gu57-Plw/s320/IMG_2109.JPG" width="320" /></a>A while back I received a free sample from <a href="http://tastingroom.com/">Tastingroom.com</a>. (They currently have a buy 3 for the price of 2 special going on right now! Guaranteed to ship by Christmas if you order by the 20th.) What sets TastingRoom.com apart from all the other online wine stores is they sell sample packs of the wine in 50ml or 100ml bottles so you get the "try before you buy" experience like you would in a real tasting room without the costs of traveling to wine country. Depending on the pack that you order you get 4 to 6 small bottles of wine per pack and then you can buy the wines you like. All the wines of this particular sample pack range in price from $15-20 per standard 750ml bottle. The price of the 50ml sample packs range from $20-50 with the majority being $20-33. The 100ml samples range widely from $4-18 dollars for a single small bottle. The wineries range from ones I've never heard of to heavy hitters like <a href="http://www.laetitiawine.com/">Laetitia</a>, <a href="http://www.silveroak.com/">Silver Oak</a>, and <a href="http://www.duckhorn.com/">Duckhorn</a>.
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<br />
I received the "<a href="http://www.tastingroom.com/samplers/1981342/A+Taste+Adventure+...+Food-Friendly+Wines">A Taste Adventure: Food Friendly Wines</a>" sample pack ($30). This consists of six 50ml bottles of wine. Three whites and three r<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">eds, the line up was: <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 18px;">2011 Lake Chalice Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand; 2008 Chardonnay by Urraca from Mendoza, Argentina; 2009 Lucas & Lewellen Chenin Blanc from Santa Barbara County; 2010 Il Cuore "The Heart" Barbera from Mendocino County; 2009 Stickybeak Syrah from California; 2009 Penley Estate "Condor" Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Down Under. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 18px;">A bit of a warning for anytime you have having wine shipped to you. First and foremost, if you can have it shipped to your work do that! Someone 21+ will have to sign for it so they can't just leave it on your door step. UPS is a pain in the butt to try and track what time something will be delivered. If you are receiving from UPS and you cannot get deliveries at work and don't want to feel trapped at home all day waiting for a delivery, then you need to set up an account online with UPS (or possibly call them up) and then you can have the package delivered to the store and you can simply pick it up during normal business hours.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 18px;">Now for the reviews:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 18px;">2009 Lucas & Lewellen Chenin Blanc from Santa Barbara, CA is a tasty pale greenish-yellow wine with scents of green apple, pear, and tropical notes. The wine is crisp and refreshing making it a very good summer white wine. Pair it with raw oysters, tilapia, or other subtle fish dishes.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 18px;">2011 Lake Chalice Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand is lacking the usual strong green/vegetative flavors that I have come to expect from an NZ Sauv. This wine features tropical notes and hints of grapefruit and herbs on the nose. On the palate there are more tropical notes as well as lemon, lime, and slight herb notes as well. Not the overpowering asparagus and such that we have come to expect from NZ. The wine is has racing acidity and saying it is crisp is an understatement. It is a little bizarre to have that much acidity without many green flavors, but as I'm not a fan of vegetative flavors (unless it pares with whatever I'm eating e.g. herbs in a Cab F. with an herb-encrusted roast) I liked it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #363636; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 18px;">2008 Urraca Chardonnay from Agrelo, Mendoza, Argentina: I very rarely review Chardonnays, this is no exception.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #363636; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #363636; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; line-height: 18px;">2009 Stickybeak Syrah is made with grapes from three counties in California: Monterrey (57%), Napa (25%), and Sonoma (18%). Monterrey and Sonoma are known for making great Syrahs and Napa is known for great Bordeaux varietals so I figured it would be pretty good and true to form which it is. The wine has a lovely dark ruby color and the bouquet has heavy oak, cedar, and dark cigar notes with aromas of black fruits. On the palate there is black plum, black pepper, vanilla, blackberry, concord grape, and a slight savory herbal element. There is a lovely little coffee nuance on the finish. The tannins are nice and round, but the acidity is a little high so it would be better with food than without.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; color: #363636; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
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2010 Il Cuore Barbera from Mendocino County, CA is very oaky and smokey with notes of concord grapes, sour cherry, and savory hints. The acidity is bright as one should expect from a Barbera. <br />
<br />
2009 Penley Estates "Condor" is a blend of 52% Shiraz and 48% Cab hailing from the Coonawarra region of Australia. This is my favorite red of the group. It was dark purple with a dark ruby rim. The wine exploded from the glass with jam, white peppercorns, and a little smokiness. On my palate the jam and white pepper continued and were joined by fresh dark berries with herbal notes. The tannins were soft and sultry with a little gravely astringency. The wine is ready now and it will continue being wonderful for a few years to come.<br />
<br />
So in conclusion this is a great way to try wines that you won't normally come across and if you aren't blessed with living near wine country then this is a much less expensive way to taste great wines than traveling to wine country. Of course, traveling and experiencing is far more enjoyable for most people, but this is a great substitute. This is also a great gift idea if you have a picky wine drinker (like me) on your Secret Santa list..<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-52424795856793526202012-12-18T14:48:00.000-08:002012-12-20T19:12:28.969-08:00Santa Con - Beer and Bars in SF review<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2v6RQp7a9wI/UND3wz19zYI/AAAAAAAAAWE/EDQVu51PvAA/s1600/Santa+Con.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2v6RQp7a9wI/UND3wz19zYI/AAAAAAAAAWE/EDQVu51PvAA/s400/Santa+Con.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Square shot by Jess Maron</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
December 15th was Santa Con, which is my favorite event of the year. Last year was my first Santa Con and I had an amazing time. This year was even better. For those that don't know, Santa Con is a spreading of joy and merriment. Thousands of people flock to a designated area of the city around noon (last year was the Civic Center and this year it was Union Square) dressed as Santa Claus and other holiday characters and objects such as menorahs. Some people stay at the gathering place but most drift off down the pre-planned routes which start the pub crawl aspect of the day. The rules can be found <a href="http://santacon.info/About.html">here</a>, but basically they state that Santas are always nice, to especially to kids, and Santas are respectful to businesses whether they are patrons or Santa-haters. The more fun rules are:<br />
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #3e3e3e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 6px 10px 3px; padding-left: 1.6em; text-align: justify;">
<li class="lispaced" style="margin-top: 8px;">You MUST address everyone as "Santa."</li>
<li class="lispaced" style="margin-top: 8px;">You SHOULD "ho-ho-ho" like Santa.</li>
<li class="lispaced" style="margin-top: 8px;">You OUGHT to give out gifts like Santa.</li>
<li class="lispaced" style="margin-top: 8px;">You MIGHT want to drink like Santa.</li>
</ol>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xG45KnqrnKY/UND36ADGtEI/AAAAAAAAAWM/GjmCCyEJTUs/s1600/Manorah,+Tree,+and+Con.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xG45KnqrnKY/UND36ADGtEI/AAAAAAAAAWM/GjmCCyEJTUs/s400/Manorah,+Tree,+and+Con.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cloudy skies above Union Square shot by Jess Maron</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The highlights for me were giving candy canes to kids, seeing children's eyes light up, the myriad of costumes, seeing my friend Jess who just got back from India on Thursday, beautiful women, and of course delicious beer!<br />
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The worst part was traffic and parking which was to be expected.<br />
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We took the China Town / North Beach route. The first couple of bars were packed so we continued onward. A few Santas and Mrs. Claus had bells on that make the most delightful sound track on our jaunt through China Town. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W6woZc8BFuE/UND4Xi1bbMI/AAAAAAAAAWU/GqEY4P6LV70/s1600/IMG_2419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W6woZc8BFuE/UND4Xi1bbMI/AAAAAAAAAWU/GqEY4P6LV70/s320/IMG_2419.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun with Mirror</td></tr>
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Eventually we made it to <a href="http://www.sforeillys.com/">O'Reilly's Pub</a> where we had planned on having lunch. It was packed, but luckily there was space at a table with a couple of girls who had also just arrived. So we made a foursome, had some delicious food, and shared some stories. I had the corned beef sandwich which was tender, juicy, and delicious. It came with thick cut fries which I like much more than thin cut. It was a smaller portion than I usually like to eat, but just the right amount to leave room for all of the beer I was consuming and planning on consuming. Speaking of which, I had a pint of <a href="http://lagunitas.com/">Lagunitas</a>' IPA which is my go to beer. I love this stuff. Hoppy, but not over hopped with some nice malt notes. It didn't seem like the bar was ready for this many Santas. When we sat down there was only one waitress (a pretty, tall blonde) and she was amazing. There were about 10 tables lined with people and she was friendly and courteous as she weaved her way through the crowd to each table. The food came out within 10-15 min far quicker than any of us were expecting. Everyone enjoyed their food, Jess had a burger, Shala had a lamb burger and <a href="http://www.anchorbrewing.com/">Anchor Steam</a>, and the other girl who's name is escaping me had some sort of scrambled eggs with spinach and country fried potatoes and a <a href="http://www.stellaartois.com/">Stella Artois</a>. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LxLbYI0Td-A/UND6d_V2juI/AAAAAAAAAWw/BtH5ln88CQ8/s1600/IMG_2422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LxLbYI0Td-A/UND6d_V2juI/AAAAAAAAAWw/BtH5ln88CQ8/s320/IMG_2422.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The restaurant area. The bar area was completely packed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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When Jess took off, to get some sleep since he had been up since 4am because he was still adjusting from India time, I stood up and joined the crowd. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lCvCbt0RNu0/UND4tJUcS4I/AAAAAAAAAWc/ABmZplyl8WM/s1600/Jess+and+I+at+O'Reilly's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lCvCbt0RNu0/UND4tJUcS4I/AAAAAAAAAWc/ABmZplyl8WM/s320/Jess+and+I+at+O'Reilly's.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jess and I at O'Reilly's Pub</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I realized that I should follow my Irish heritage while I'm in an Irish pub so I got a <a href="http://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/">Jameson</a> on the rocks. While standing by the bar a lovely, buxom lass (Katie) in a red and white corset and white fishnets bought me an Irish Car Bomb (<a href="http://www.guinness.com/">Guinness</a> and a drop shot of <a href="http://www.baileys.com/Gateway/">Bailey's Irish Cream</a>) which tastes and has the texture of a mocha milkshake. She was doing a Bingo scavenger hunt and I fit the "Santa with a real beard" box. We hung out with her friends for a while before leaving together to find a cocktail made with eggnog for the Bingo.<br />
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After walking past a couple of packed bars, we saw <a href="http://rogue.com/locations/locations.php">Rogue Ales Public House</a>. We both like stouts and porter so we tried to go in, but they were enforcing a no Santas Allowed policy. We found this rather annoying, but giving that some people act like douches when they are drinking all day I have no ill will towards Rogue (especially because their beer is delicious!).<br />
<br />
Then we went to a little bar/restaurant called <a href="http://www.bottlecapsf.com/">Bottle Cap</a>. It was lack luster: there was about half a dozen Santa's and it was much too quiet. The bartender wasn't very helpful with cocktail advice and referred us to a menu with cocktails with any questions we had. If he was busy then that would have been fine, but it was ssssslllllloooowwww. I had a beer that wasn't particularly memorable and Katie had a honey infused cocktail that she liked. <br />
<br />
We left Bottle Cap and found a liquor store (<a href="https://plus.google.com/103013009961643045430/about?gl=us&hl=en">Colt Liquors</a>) that had an awesome, but small beer selection. The store really focused on wine and liquor. While there a couple of Indian guys were having a hard time deciding what they wanted. Katie mentioned my blog so after hearing what they were looking for, I recommended a Pale Ale to one and a bottle of <a href="http://www.roedererestate.com/">Roederer</a> for the other. For the $15-20 price range Roederer can't be beat. I chose <a href="http://www.stonebrew.com/porter/">Stone Brewing Company's Smoked Porter</a> for us to share. We briefly went to a house party before heading back on the town.<br />
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We walked around and found a table and chairs to sit at in front of Bottle Cap. We shared stories and interests as we enjoyed the chocolate and coffee notes of the porter. Katie mentioned a hard cider bar somewhere in the city. Cider is not really my thing, but I do like new experiences so I'll have to check out <a href="http://upcidersf.com/">Upcider </a>at some point.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AJlsrYkGDuQ/UND-RDTa-3I/AAAAAAAAAXM/KRO_fQ1qGMo/s1600/Me+at+Santa+Con.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AJlsrYkGDuQ/UND-RDTa-3I/AAAAAAAAAXM/KRO_fQ1qGMo/s320/Me+at+Santa+Con.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Before I gave my beard to Jess</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
More Santa Con Pics by Jess Maron!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-51722491922850165442012-11-22T12:11:00.000-08:002012-11-22T12:11:15.772-08:00As seen in the Marinscope Newspapers: Pey-Marin a Primo Pinot Producer<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zq8SFOPUefQ/UK6DjAgKvBI/AAAAAAAAAVE/vn_M0DsRSwI/s1600/IMG_2401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zq8SFOPUefQ/UK6DjAgKvBI/AAAAAAAAAVE/vn_M0DsRSwI/s400/IMG_2401.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jonathan Pey in one of his blocks of Pinot at Corda Vineyard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I met with Jonathan Pey in the budding
Marin wine growing region of Chileno Valley at Corda Vineyards where
Pey-Marin sources their riesling and some of their pinot noir. The
vineyard is 22 years old; 15 to 40 years old is ideal for most
varietals. Pey-Marin has been managing their grapes from Corda for
the past 12 years using organic methods such as compost, cover crops,
and dynamic pest management including the use of beneficial insects
such as lady bugs to fight pests.
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hvOE4-g0EPY/UK6D9l3JsvI/AAAAAAAAAVM/R-ZzfchmWs4/s1600/IMG_2400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hvOE4-g0EPY/UK6D9l3JsvI/AAAAAAAAAVM/R-ZzfchmWs4/s320/IMG_2400.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hand Picked Pinot in the Rolling Hills of West Marin, CA</td></tr>
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The coolest part of the vineyard, for
an environmentally conscious wine connoisseur like me, is it's
organically, dry farmed. The vineyard has drip irrigation lines, but not the permit to use them. The advantage of successful dry farming is
putting the vines under lots of stress to reach their tap roots down
towards the water table helps produce more complex wines. The
downside of dry farming for a grape grower is the yields are lower
which means they have less tonnage to sell than their counterparts
who are using drip irrigation. Corda Vineyard averages about 2
tons/acre while many other pinot vineyards fall in the 3 to 5
tons/acre range.
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Jonathan is a friendly and talkative
winemaker who uses his 35 years of French vineyard management and
winemaking expertise to craft wonderful wines with a touch of old
world style. His wife Susan has dedicated her life to the wine
industry as well as a wine writer for Bon Appetite and is currently a
sommelier for Il Fornaio. In 1999 they started Pey-Marin together.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T2taf5X-ehs/UK6Etht2uUI/AAAAAAAAAVU/Lm93N1fvz2o/s1600/IMG_2406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T2taf5X-ehs/UK6Etht2uUI/AAAAAAAAAVU/Lm93N1fvz2o/s320/IMG_2406.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riesling Grapes in the Morning Sun</td></tr>
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Pey-Marin's 2011 "Shell Mound"
riesling ($29) is grown entirely at Corda Vineyard using the rare
neustadt clone. This dry, aromatic wine features scents of
nectarine, citrus, orange blossom, and other floral notes. On the
palate, I got more floral notes, nectarine, lemon, and a hint of
minerals. This wine goes great with spicy foods as the high level of
acidity, that rieslings are known for, will cut right through the
spice and bring relief to a burning tongue while delivering
refreshing flavors.</div>
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Pey-Marin's 2009 "Trois Filles"
pinot noir ($39) is grown at several vineyards in West Marin with the
majority hailing from Corda Vineyard. The wine was aged for 14
months on French oak barrels with 25% new oak. The long extraction
period with a moderate percentage of new barrels balances the aromas
of the fruit and the bouquet from the oak. The wine is a dark garnet
color. On the nose there are layers of earth and spice with notes of
sour cherry, raspberry, cinnamon, clove, and forest floor. On my
tongue I tasted rich earthiness, bright cherry, raspberry, and cloves
as well as some dark fruits and slight fresh leather notes. This is
an old world style pinot that is more bouquet driven than fruit
forward with a soft front to mid palate mouthfeel and bright acidity.
This wine is ready to drink now, but will also age beautifully for
several years.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LHTl6qO-y3o/UK6FAs1448I/AAAAAAAAAVk/Omul31KUKBo/s1600/IMG_2404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LHTl6qO-y3o/UK6FAs1448I/AAAAAAAAAVk/Omul31KUKBo/s320/IMG_2404.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tight Bunches of Pinot Noir</td></tr>
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Both of these wines encapsulate why
Marin County is a wonderful place to grow cool climate wines. They
also showcase what can be done with organic vineyard practices, dry
farmed vineyards, and stellar winemaking.
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Although they live in San Anselmo,
their winery is located in Napa, but is too small to offer tastings
or tours. Pey-Marin can be found at Insalata's, Il Fornaio, Marin
Beverage, Whole Foods, Mill Valley Market, Ludwigs, and many other
fine wine shops throughout Marin. They also have three other labels
(Textbook, Forager, and Spicerack) that source their fruit from Napa
and Sonoma counties.</div>
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<i>For more information on Pey-Marin, cal</i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>l </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>455-9463 </i></span></span></span><i>or visit scenicrootwinegrowers.com. </i></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kOWSD2IqAaQ/UK6FLs4KAuI/AAAAAAAAAVs/DnDNye1R9aM/s1600/IMG_2399.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kOWSD2IqAaQ/UK6FLs4KAuI/AAAAAAAAAVs/DnDNye1R9aM/s640/IMG_2399.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise over the Chileno Valley, Marin County, CA</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-45597529751489405652012-09-13T02:03:00.000-07:002012-09-14T11:53:04.973-07:00Heretics in MartinezEarlier this week I had a great first date at the <a href="http://www.creekmonkey.com/">Creek Monkey Tap House</a> in Martinez. The menu consisted of basic bar foods (like wings), salads, and sandwiches/burgers. Meghan had the Pulled Pork sandwich which was quite tasty and I had a bacon mushroom burger. It wasn't the best of burgers, but I've been spoiled lately by <a href="http://www.jonesingforwine.com/2012/09/awesome-wine-bar-in-san-anselmo.html">Lincoln Park</a>'s Wagyu Slider and M&G's 1/2lb organic burger in Fairfax. The patty didn't live up to my expectations, but the mushrooms and bacon on the burger were fabulous. Ugh, I'm becoming a food snob in addition to a wine snob. I miss the days when everything tasted great. I went from super picky as a kid to eating everything in my 20s and now edging back towards picky again. I guess the difference is now I'm trying things before I decide that I don't care for it.<br />
<br />
While the food was ok, the <a href="http://www.creekmonkey.com/menu">beer selection</a> was phenomenal with 19 craft beers on tap and one cider. Most of the brews are from Nor Cal. There is a wide variety of beer styles from light to dark, but I didn't see any sours. Meghan recommended the <a href="http://hereticbrewing.com/home">Heretic</a> Gramarye (4.4%) which is a spicy yet smooth rye beer. I loved it. I really should have started with a pale ale and then gone to the Gramarye later as the spiciness of the rye overpowered the <a href="http://www.grandtetonbrewing.com/">Grand Tetons</a> Sweetgrass (6%) that I tried to have for my second beer. I have enjoyed Grand Tetons beer before, but I'm never had the Pale Ale. Luckily they will give you a sip of the beer before you buy it. So after trying several lighter beers I tried another Heretic beer, the Evil Twin (6.8%) which is a hoppy red ale. I liked it, but it still wasn't quite what I was looking for so I made my own blend with the bit of Gramarye still in my glass and it was awesome. So I asked the very nice waitress if I could have it half and half. (I wonder how brewers feel about people blending their beer. Any brewers feel free to leave a comment.) It was awesome. So not only is the beer selection great, but the waitress was super patient, friendly, and happy to help me find the right beer. (Tasting notes are limited because I wasn't planning on writing it up.)<br />
<br />
I'm sure we will be back there soonish to take pictures and review more things like the stout float which is reminiscent of Doc's beer milkshake from Steinbeck's Cannery Row. I tried making a beer milkshake many years ago and it was kind of foul, but I probably used IPA and vanilla ice cream. So hopefully the CMTH can do it better.<br />
<br />
So in conclusion if you love craft beers and/or you could use a bite to eat then check out Creek Monkey Tap House. Also if you find Heretic pick up a bottle. I've never seen it before so good luck!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-69787152870029060472012-09-12T22:39:00.001-07:002012-09-13T12:07:19.967-07:00Awesome Wine Bar in San AnselmoPublished in the Marinscope Newspapers on 9/12 in section B1. Something happened with uploading to the net, link will be posted at some point.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_83D_NX16s/UFFvDnYtG9I/AAAAAAAAATA/LiAFxodWFdc/s1600/IMG_2112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_83D_NX16s/UFFvDnYtG9I/AAAAAAAAATA/LiAFxodWFdc/s320/IMG_2112.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The newest wine bar in Marin is located
less than a block from the hub in San Anselmo, <a href="http://lincolnparkwine.com/">Lincoln Park</a> was
opened on August 12th by renowned local chef Stephen Simmons. Much
of the produce comes from Skywalker Ranch where Simmons has been the
executive chef since closing the doors at Bubba's Diner in San
Anselmo and working at a long list of other fine establishments over
the past 30 years. Simmons describes himself as an old hand in the
restaurant business and considers Lincoln Park a place to have fun
with his creative side.</div>
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The white wines are arranged from
floral to full-figured and the reds are listed from fruit forward to
fat. There were five whites, five reds, a sparkling wine, two cold
sakes, and 10 beers to choose from. The wines ranged in price from
$6 to $11 for a 4 oz pour and $10 to $17 dollars for a small carafe.
These are exceedingly great prices for a wine bar, let alone a wine
bar in Marin. For $16 you can get three wines paired with little
nibbles of almonds, cheese, and fruit. The wines and beers fit a
variety of palates and come from small cult wineries and breweries.
Six out of the ten wines and nine out of the ten beers are from
Northern California which fits their buy locally philosophy.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ei7q3AlDFIY/UFFviUKlR4I/AAAAAAAAATI/-hUuYmqV7Bk/s1600/IMG_2120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ei7q3AlDFIY/UFFviUKlR4I/AAAAAAAAATI/-hUuYmqV7Bk/s320/IMG_2120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C4YCvUzgImI/UFFwstsjpOI/AAAAAAAAATc/jO8g4NhKRSU/s1600/IMG_2118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C4YCvUzgImI/UFFwstsjpOI/AAAAAAAAATc/jO8g4NhKRSU/s320/IMG_2118.JPG" width="320" /></a>I accidentally went for the two most
expensive wines on the menu because I love viogniers and I wanted to
try the Marin wine. Cowhorn's 2011 viognier/roussanne/marsanne blend
from Oregon had aromas of honey, lemon, and citrus blossoms. On the
palate, there were notes of lemon, mineral, pear, and slight hints of
lychee. Kendric's 2008 pinot noir from Marin is a bright,
fruit-forward wine with aromas of cherry, vanilla, earth, cinnamon,
and hints of mocha. The pinot exhibited both stewed and sour
cherries, dry earth, white pepper, and dark plum with hints of tar on
the palate.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The food is fresh, lively, and
intricate. The ingredients are nearly 100% local and organic. The
wagyu slider was sourced from Skywalker Ranch and the chicken from
Marin Sun Farms. I had the wagyu slider and the steamed mussels with
fennel. The slider was one of the best I've ever had. The meat was
tender, juicy, lightly seasoned with black pepper, and topped with
white cheddar on a ciabatta bun. The mussels were amazing as well.
The menu which consists of appetizers and desserts ($6-$12) changes
often and is written on a large blackboard in each room. A picture
of the menu is posted on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LincolnParkWineBar">their Facebook page</a> almost every day. (Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures when I was there the first time so I don't have any pics of the food.)</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rKgQgTtkpz4/UFFwI3A-UqI/AAAAAAAAATQ/DbaoHNtdad8/s1600/IMG_2115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rKgQgTtkpz4/UFFwI3A-UqI/AAAAAAAAATQ/DbaoHNtdad8/s320/IMG_2115.JPG" width="320" /></a>The space is divided into two rooms.
One room has a marble bar top with shelves of reclaimed wood, an old
typewriter, and early 20th century radio for decorations. The other
room has high backed leather booths with tables. Classic relaxing
jazz was playing lightly in the rooms while the patrons sipped their
wine and gossiped. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Both
rooms were pretty full, on the Tuesday evening that I dropped in,
with mostly women in their 30s and 40s and a few couples. Everyone
left with a smile on their face; I overheard many well deserved
complements to the staff and the chef.</div>
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I highly recommend Lincoln Park for the
food, wine, and atmosphere.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3cY1IdmhHxM/UFFxOkdkSYI/AAAAAAAAATk/A_MXKZkxvMo/s1600/IMG_2119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3cY1IdmhHxM/UFFxOkdkSYI/AAAAAAAAATk/A_MXKZkxvMo/s320/IMG_2119.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Lincoln Park is located at l98 Sir
Francis Drake in San Anselmo an</i><i>d is open </i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sunday
- Wednesday: 4:30 pm - 10:00 pm and Thursday - Saturday: 4:30 pm -
12:00 am</i></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
</i></span></span><i>. F</i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>or
more information, call </i></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">453-9898</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
or visit lincolnparkwine.com. </i></span></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Question for the readers: What is your favorite wine bar and what makes it special?</b></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-40637388638476034322012-08-31T13:36:00.001-07:002012-09-14T15:47:26.048-07:00Getting this started again with a kick: Ginger Kombucha BeerUnity Vibration's Kombucha Beer - Ginger<br>
<br>
This is kind of like the hippy version of a vodka Red Bull. It has alcohol and caffeine (at lower levels than a vrb) and it also has nutritional aspects from the kombucha.
<br>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IPzGzThybsg/UEAO31wsa9I/AAAAAAAAASo/SdTKDMFi1O8/s1600/kombucha+beer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IPzGzThybsg/UEAO31wsa9I/AAAAAAAAASo/SdTKDMFi1O8/s320/kombucha+beer.JPG" width="239"></a><a href="http://unityvibrationkombucha.com/kombucha-beer.php">Unity Vibration</a> makes two flavors of kombucha beer: ginger and raspberry. I tried their ginger beer. It tastes like a natural ginger ale with a slight twinge of funk/sourness, but hardly noticeable. It had more sweetness than I was expecting, but not as much as a soda. I was expecting it to be a sour beer. Their beer doesn't taste like any kombucha I've ever had. The ginger wasn't as spicy as a Bundaburg or Stewarts ginger beer (non-alcoholic, used for ginger flavor comparison only), but definitely more flavorful than a mainstream ginger ale. It was more like a candied ginger than a spicy ginger. If I hadn't read the label, I would have had no idea it was 8.0% alc./vol. The beer tastes and has a mouth-feel more like a lambic or a cider than a typical beer. This is probably because of the addition of ginger, residual sugar, and the open top fermentation in oak barrels. <br>
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<a href="http://www.jonesingforwine.com/2012/08/getting-this-started-again-with-kick.html#more">To Continue Reading Click Here »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-68200150303132711642012-08-04T23:51:00.000-07:002012-08-04T23:51:38.342-07:00Link to August Marinscope column and a quick updateWow I can't believe it has been a month since I last posted. It has been a tough, beautiful, rewarding month that has included a temporary change in my work schedule, my birthday, and the one year anniversary of my dad passing away from cancer. <br />
<br />
I'm planning on writing more this weekend, but here is a little teaser. I reworked a previous blog entry into a Marin County focused intro to winery tasting rooms column in the Marinscope Newspapers. So here is the link: <a href="http://marinscope.com/articles/2012/08/03/all/lifestyles/doc50197e16bb2dc435527072.txt">http://marinscope.com/articles/2012/08/03/all/lifestyles/doc50197e16bb2dc435527072.txt</a><br />
<br />
I have some free samples to taste and post as well as some tasting notes that I haven't gotten around to typing up so that should be coming soon.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-82593036057823693052012-07-01T15:59:00.000-07:002012-09-03T23:20:39.227-07:00Stubbs Vineyard - Organic Grapes At Their Best<br>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHGKS2n3uLk/T_DPcWXJy3I/AAAAAAAAARo/p4PpWtCaVpc/s1600/Vineyard+and+Mountains+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHGKS2n3uLk/T_DPcWXJy3I/AAAAAAAAARo/p4PpWtCaVpc/s320/Vineyard+and+Mountains+cropped.jpg" width="315"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">In April
(this took awhile to finish and still feels unfinished), I had the
opportunity to have a glass of wine and chat with Mary Stubbs of
Stubbs Vineyard at her home far above the vineyard. Mary is a
friendly, intelligent, lively Marinite with passions for the organic
movement, the environment, wine, art, and her family. Mary is steeped
in knowledge from her winemaker, Don Goldfield, and her former
vineyard manager Mark Pasternak.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">She grew up
in Mill Valley and graduated from Tam High. After working in San
Francisco and falling in love, Mary and her husband bought this ranch
in West Marin in the 1980s. They have two sons and a daughter. In 1996,
after taking some courses on vineyards and figuring out which clones
would be best for their soil and microclimate, Tom and Mary planted
6.4 acres of Pinot Noir and 4.6 acres of Chardonnay.</span></span><br>
</div><a href="http://www.jonesingforwine.com/2012/07/stubbs-vineyards-organic-grapes-at.html#more">To Continue Reading Click Here »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0Stubbs Vineyard38.179505197865019 -122.7329063415527338.173264197865016 -122.74277684155274 38.185746197865022 -122.72303584155273tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-5313377962207631312012-06-23T16:24:00.000-07:002012-07-07T14:23:38.145-07:00Symphony of the Soil<a href="http://www.symphonyofthesoil.com/the-films/symphony-of-the-soil/">Symphony of the Soil</a> is a very informative documentary by Deborah Koons Garcia (producer and director of <a href="http://www.thefutureoffood.com/">The Future of Food</a>). It features breathtaking cinematography and lots of information. The film teaches us about soil. It tells us of the dire state of farms across our nation and the world as well as the history of how they got into this mess. The documentary then informs us of ways to restore the soil. What I really like is the uplifting message of how easy it is to reverse the trends. By using compost to build the soil and other cost effective methods it is possible to create sustainable agriculture relatively quickly in both community gardens and large scale farms. There are numerous cases featured in the doc.<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.jonesingforwine.com/2012/06/symphony-of-soil.html#more">To Continue Reading Click Here »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-2393632925700367262012-06-21T15:23:00.000-07:002012-06-24T22:58:31.101-07:00The Benefits of Dry Farming a Vineyard Organically<br>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x7HZf5fHB1o/T-OcVTp1XMI/AAAAAAAAARI/GU5Rbq8FHws/s1600/Sonatas-of-the-Soil-Vol1-DVD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x7HZf5fHB1o/T-OcVTp1XMI/AAAAAAAAARI/GU5Rbq8FHws/s1600/Sonatas-of-the-Soil-Vol1-DVD.jpg"></a>I recently watched <a href="http://www.symphonyofthesoil.com/the-films/portrait-of-a-winemaker/"><i>Portrait
of a Winemaker</i> </a>featuring John Williams of <a href="http://www.frogsleap.com/flash/intro.html">Frog's Leap Winery</a>
in Napa Valley. This is part of <i>Sonatas of the Soil Volume One</i>
which is directed by Deborah Koons Garcia. Deborah directed the
widely acclaimed <i><a href="http://www.thefutureoffood.com/">The Future of Food</a></i> which focuses on
genetically modified foods. Her latest documentary, <a href="http://www.symphonyofthesoil.com/the-films/symphony-of-the-soil/"><i>Symphony
of the Soil</i></a>, premiered last weekend. I'll have a much shorter post about it in a couple of days since it isn't directly related to beer, wine, and/or spirits.</div>
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Having talked to
many winemakers and vineyard managers while working in the industry,
having family in the industry, being a wine writer, and going wine
tasting, I can safely tell you that every winemaker/grape grower can
talk about their product well and why their method is better than the
rest. With that being said I think John Williams is a straight
shooter and they have put forth a solid segment with strong
historical, viticultural, and visual reasoning.
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</div><a href="http://www.jonesingforwine.com/2012/06/benefits-of-dry-farming-vineyard.html#more">To Continue Reading Click Here »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com28815 Conn Creek Rd, Napa, CA 94558, USA38.474254 -122.40044138.424529 -122.479405 38.523979000000004 -122.321477tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-78740852049524722962012-06-06T18:57:00.002-07:002012-06-08T17:20:08.716-07:00Apparently June is Wine Tasting Month in MarinThis month there are four amazing wine tasting events in Marin County. It's too bad they didn't space them out over the summer. I'm highly jealous of anyone who can make it to all of these great events. There are two this weekend and another pair two weeks later. So it is possible to make it to all of them.<br>
<a href="http://www.jonesingforwine.com/2012/06/apparently-june-is-wine-month-in-marin.html#more">To Continue Reading Click Here »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-72202137735259293732012-06-06T11:37:00.000-07:002012-06-08T17:20:48.556-07:00Good Earth California Pale Ale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y3Ci1nP0srY/T8-hlDsp4zI/AAAAAAAAAQs/T5ywFN0cxCE/s1600/beer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y3Ci1nP0srY/T8-hlDsp4zI/AAAAAAAAAQs/T5ywFN0cxCE/s320/beer.JPG" width="239"></a></div>
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After years of IPAs and powerhouse stouts, I'm finding myself branching out into more and more styles of beer. As IPAs get hoppier and harsher I find myself reverting towards smoother beers. In the winter I mostly imbibed porters, softer stouts, and brown ales. Now that it is getting warmer I'm trying out the pale ales.</div>
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Yesterday I went for a ride on my new <a href="http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/globe">Globe Daily 02</a>
over the golden hills and through redwood groves with a meandering creek and vibrant green ferns. On the way back I stopped at <a href="http://www.goodearthnaturalfoods.net/retailer/store_templates/shell_id_1.asp?storeID=QLJS5N5JSASR2LHC0G03N0ET95QT2S43">Good Earth</a> (yes this is my new favorite store) for some groceries. Since nothing goes with biking quite like a good beer, I picked up a 22oz bottle of their California Pale Ale ($4). The beer is made across the street at Iron Springs Pub and Brewery. For my non-local readers, I highly doubt this is sold anywhere else. <br>
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</div><a href="http://www.jonesingforwine.com/2012/06/good-earth-california-pale-ale.html#more">To Continue Reading Click Here »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0720 Center Blvd, Fairfax, CA 94930, USA37.986252890365947 -122.5834751129150437.983124390365944 -122.58841061291504 37.989381390365949 -122.57853961291504tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-69547081945813573082012-06-01T15:37:00.002-07:002012-06-06T20:13:23.567-07:00Climbing Higher with Clif Family Winery's Sauv. Blanc<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-teIwofR8Mvc/T8lCg50jitI/AAAAAAAAAQc/fLk4lPJQGpI/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-teIwofR8Mvc/T8lCg50jitI/AAAAAAAAAQc/fLk4lPJQGpI/s320/photo.JPG" width="239"></a></div>
A little while back I went to <a href="http://www.goodearthnaturalfoods.net/retailer/store_templates/shell_id_1.asp?storeID=QLJS5N5JSASR2LHC0G03N0ET95QT2S43">Good Earth in Fairfax, CA</a> and found out that they have a small, but pretty amazing collection of wine. The amazing part was that in discussing with their wine dude, who was right on the scene to help with any questions customers have, I found out that all of their wines are either, organic, biodynamic, or at a minimum sustainable.<br>
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I picked up a bottle of the 2010 "The Climber" Sauvignon Blanc from <a href="https://www.cliffamilywinery.com/index.cfm">Clif Family Winery </a>($14). This is a blend of 80% Sauv. Blanc, 12% Riesling, 7% Viognier, and 1% Muscat Blanc. Before you ask, yes this is from the company that created delicious Clif bars (which I love when I'm biking or for a snack.) According to <a href="https://www.cliffamilywinery.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=productdetail&product_id=454">their website</a> they contracted the grapes from mostly sustainable and organic vineyards. Which in my mind extends this wine from a fair to a good qpr.</div>
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</div><a href="http://www.jonesingforwine.com/2012/06/climbing-higher-with-clif-family.html#more">To Continue Reading Click Here »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-19309388704008758502012-05-11T01:24:00.000-07:002012-05-15T22:43:33.665-07:00Mill Valley Market's Meet the Winemakers<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJQQ1Z-AhKQ/T6y9kAe0z6I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/rMYvL3dWjY4/s1600/DSC_3111_resize.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FJQQ1Z-AhKQ/T6y9kAe0z6I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/rMYvL3dWjY4/s400/DSC_3111_resize.JPG" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photograph courtesy of Brett Gulash</td></tr>
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Last week, I had the pleasure of being
invited by <a href="http://www.burkewinebrokerage.com/">Shannon Burke</a> to attend one of Mill Valley Market's "Meet
The Winemakers" events on the evening of May 3rd. Shannon is a wine broker for the five
wineries attending the event. They had large platters of various
cheeses (drunken goat and brie were our favorites), breads, crackers, and fruits to pair with the fabulous
wines. There were about six people around each table and the winemakers stayed at each table for about 20 minutes. We tasted 20+ wines from five up-and-coming boutique wineries along the Central Coast. It was divine. <br>
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</div><a href="http://www.jonesingforwine.com/2012/05/mill-valley-markets-meet-winemakers.html#more">To Continue Reading Click Here »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-66866113382079607822012-05-03T15:33:00.000-07:002012-05-03T15:33:33.592-07:00A link to my first Marinscope column.I've started a monthly column in the Marinscope collection of newspapers. These are hyper local Marin County newspapers so all the content in these columns will be Marin County orientated. My first column published about a month ago. Here is the link: <a href="http://marinscope.com/articles/2012/05/03/all/lifestyles/doc4fa2fd37e65c9516811644.txt">A wonderful winery in Marin County's backyard</a>. <br />
<br />
My next column should go to print and their website soon. I'll post the link when that happens.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-71680033537706069272012-04-30T12:36:00.000-07:002012-04-30T17:03:38.443-07:00A Taste of Stubbs Vineyard - Organic Grapes At Their Best<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pahrGdFoy3M/T57epby2t5I/AAAAAAAAAOY/8e8mYfgfQSw/s1600/Stubbs+Vineyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pahrGdFoy3M/T57epby2t5I/AAAAAAAAAOY/8e8mYfgfQSw/s640/Stubbs+Vineyard.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">having a
glass of wine and a chat with Mary Stubbs of <a href="http://www.stubbsvineyard.com/">Stubbs Vineyard</a>. The write-up of our conversation is taking on a life of its own as it spirals into the struggles of organic vineyards (both physical and perceptions) and a couple of other topics. I decided to post my tasting notes of the Pinot Noir while I try to figure out where I'm going with the rest of it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mary
poured me a glass of her 2004 Pinot Noir from Marin County ($44). The
wine exhibited scents of sour cherry, earth, cinnamon, ginger,
lavendar, and licorice. On my palate the sour cherries and cinnamon
continued while the ginger became spicier and the earth tones became darker and were joined by hints of black pepper and cloves. The tannins were
silky and the finish lingered. The wine had a good
level of acidity which enables it to age very well. This is truly a wonderful Pinot Noir of
the Burgundian style by which I mean it depends more on its structure
and bouquet than bright fruit aromas. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">I
am looking forward to tasting more of their wine at the </span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://malt.org/programs/index.php">8th
Annual Marin County Wine Celebration</a> on June 23rd</span></u></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Photograph courtesy of Sanae Burries.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-2689138000039783042012-04-27T01:00:00.000-07:002012-05-15T22:44:31.647-07:00Elk Cove Vineyards 2008 Pinot Noir Review<br>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2lzIMverDYY/T5pQw_P4v9I/AAAAAAAAAOE/uY3wLO3b9l0/s1600/Elk+Cove+Bottle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2lzIMverDYY/T5pQw_P4v9I/AAAAAAAAAOE/uY3wLO3b9l0/s320/Elk+Cove+Bottle.JPG" width="239"></a></div>
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The other day I opened a bottle of 2008
Pinot Noir by Elk Cove Vineyards from the Willamette Valley. I had
bought this on sale at Safeway a while back for about $25, but it
retails for $30. This wine took a while to open. Even after a day
(with a closure) it still tastes a little closed. Or maybe it is
simpler than I think it should be. At first, I gave it about 20 min
to open by pouring a little into my glass, giving it a few swirls,
and watching some Futurama. I gave it a sniff and it exhibited sour
cherry and volatile acidity (mostly ethyl aldehyde, but a little
acetic acid as well). Luckily with more patience and impatient
swirling the VA wafted away.
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</div><a href="http://www.jonesingforwine.com/2012/04/elk-cove-vineyards-2008-pinot-noir.html#more">To Continue Reading Click Here »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-59042003394776449112012-04-20T14:17:00.000-07:002012-04-20T14:17:05.677-07:00Sorry for the DelaySorry for the delay in posting. I have been working on an essay for the Bike Locally Challenge from the Marin County Bike Coalition. Now that it is done I can get back to wine writing right after I run some errands...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036872306569483540.post-1644650200656294082012-04-10T00:30:00.000-07:002012-04-30T17:03:38.236-07:00Rock Wall - A whole day's worth of tasting in one place (Part 2)<br>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VIDPudheh98/T3_uTIKISRI/AAAAAAAAAMM/ntxrj3PFn8c/s1600/New+Pics+027+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VIDPudheh98/T3_uTIKISRI/AAAAAAAAAMM/ntxrj3PFn8c/s320/New+Pics+027+cropped.jpg" width="320"></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since there are so many wines I had to split this post in two. The first half was the wineries that rent space from Rock Wall. The first half of the selected tasting notes from my delightful experience are located </span><a href="http://www.jonesingforwine.com/2012/04/rock-wall-whole-days-worth-of-tasting.html" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">here</a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">About half way down you will find the tasting notes and recommendations for Rock Wall Wine Company.</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br>
</div><a href="http://www.jonesingforwine.com/2012/04/rock-wall-whole-days-worth-of-tasting_10.html#more">To Continue Reading Click Here »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07499266698730201748noreply@blogger.com0