Christina Waters

A recent vertical tasting of Le Cigare Volant—the Bonny Doon Vineyard flagship creation—showed off the evolving style, and substance, of vintage 1993 through 2009 of Randall Grahm’s main squeeze.

Incidentally the odd-numbered years showed especially well. Doubtless something astrological.

Also showing well was the handiwork of The Cellar Door’s creative culinary team, especially in a gorgeous array of halibut cheeks, scallops and prawns with aioli, sumptuous cheese and fig platters and killer fig and Stilton pizzettas.

The loquacious winemaker, who walked us through the wine cellar interior for a sneak sip of 2010 and even infant 2011 vintages, was in top form. Those who haven’t been to the tasting room lately will want to pick up some of the gorgeous biodynamic produce (more…)

A great idea whose time is way overdue - a chance to see the wine harvest first-hand, tour and taste with the winemakers, learn the finer points of making and tasting wines.

It begins on October 9 and will continue with one class each month through February of 2012.

You absolutely must check out the details of this exciting idea. Here!

If you think this creation looks good, you should have tasted it. Sensational!

The Cellar Door kitchen knocked us out last week with an entree of whole roasted branzino, beautifully presented with panzanella and summer squashes (from Bonny Doon Vineyard’s own biodynamic garden in San Juan Bautista) encircled by a chartreuse zucchini mousse.

It was a terrific entree for the three of us to share, especially paired with Randall Grahm’s never-better dolcetto and nebbiolo. However, the experience was almost ruined by a waiter who had been trained to utter meaningless, pretentious phrases — “it’s my pleasure,” and “the grenache blanc is showing well.”  Perhaps there are visitors from (more…)

A charming idea, this First Thursday Brown Bag Wine Dinner concept. Especially the appealing price tag.

You can enjoy the authentic French cuisine of chef Lionel le Morvan, some pours of new Alfaro wines, plus the pleasure of a conversation with winemaker Richard Alfaro himself — all for $35 (per person; tax & tip extra).

It happens Thursday, June 2 (more…)

It happens @ Vinocruz, after hours. Farmgirls School of Food & Wine. And it is the vivacious brainchild of wine czarina Amanda Rehn and fromagista Tabitha Stroup.

The plan is simple and appealing. The duo will work you through the history, nuances, terroirist variations and highlights of wines of our own Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. They will do this while pairing all wine tastings with choice, and appropriate cheeses. You simply absorb all of this wisdom in the good company of fellow aficionadoes.

Starting today, May 4, the Farmgirls School of Food & Wine, convenes at Vinocruz every Wednesday in May, beginning at 6:30pm. Get in there right now and reserve your place. Here be the website.

The palest blush, the lightest minerality—the new vin gris from Birichino is the single most drinkable answer to your warm-weather wine needs.

Well-chilled, it is ready to partner everything from green olives and marcona almonds, to grilled salmon or pizza bianca.

A rumor of geranium in the nose opens into salted citrus, violets, even a hint of rosemary in the long, persistent center. This sophisticated, yet completely accessible wine is created from a blend of old vine cinsault, grenache and rolle.
Complex enough to form the centerpiece of a graduate seminar, this latest release from Birichino is also an effortless summer quaff with a feather-light 13% alcohol. @ Soif.

Make plans for a day in the country - this Saturday April 23 - for a visit to the brand new tasting room at Windy Oaks Estate, in Corralitos.

Especially beautiful this time of year, the rolling vineyards above Corralitos now boast a new venue for the Pinot Noirs and estate Chardonnay created by Jim Schultze and his family winemaking team.

From noon to 5pm this Saturday (and every Saturday from now on) the tasting room is open for free pours of new releases—including the 2009 “one-acre” Chardonnay and the 2008 Proprietor’s Reserve Pinot Noir, plus appetizers, cheese, Corralitos sausage and live music.

Bring your favorite easter bunny— please call to RSVP, 831.724-9562, so Jim and Judy can put your name on the list — and come up for this hilltop Grand Opening. ( If you don’t RSVP, there will be a $15 tasting fee.) You can find out how to get to the winery at 550 Hazel Dell Road, by following the directions on the website.

We discovered a great way to have our Pinot and drink it too, so to speak. These half-bottles of Windy Oaks Estate Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2007, are available at New Leaf for a mere $18.99.  You can enjoy the complex licorice and black cherry spice of winemaker Jim Schultze’s elegant creation for significantly less than the larger, full size bottle. Although, let’s face it, in the case of elegant Pinot Noir, more is always better.

Check out the glass-to-bottle ratio in this image. Rather Alice in Wonderland, no? We enjoyed a demi-bouteille recently with a dinner of homemade chile verde. Sensational combination.

An elegant Sauvignon Blanc, 2009  by bay area winery La Honda, made from Sonoma grapes. We loved its infusion of stargazer lily and cantaloupe, its middle of grassy minerals and grapefruit, and its crisp citrusy finish.

We loved the way it partners Black Forest ham as well as scallops.  And we also loved its $14.99 pricetag. At New Leaf.

Don’t miss next week’s Pinot Paradise festival, March 26-27, which begins with a self-guided tour of the region’s pinot-producing wineries $25, and culminates on Sunday with the Grand Cruz Tasting at Villa Ragusa in Old Town Campbell ($55/65). Find all the details you need at SCMWA website - or by calling (831)685-8463.