Instead of taking our usual route through the Central Valley back home to LA, we decided to take our time heading back, and stop off and visit friends in Monterey. Lucky for us, our friends were willing to indulge our need for wine tourism, and happened to be members at Morgan. So we went with them to the Morgan tasting room in Carmel.
Morgan Winery (member tasting, wines $13-$58)
'13 Sauvignon Blanc, Lee Family '13 Albariño, '13 "Metallico" Chardonnay, '13 "Highland" Chardonnay, '13 "Twelve Clones" Pinot Noir, '13 Pinot Noir - Gary's Vineyard, '13 Pinot Noir - Tondre Vineyard, '13 "G17 (Syrah/Grenache/Tempranillo), '13 "Double L" Syrah, Lee Family '13 "Rio Tinto"
(Touriga Francesca/Touriga Nacional/Alvarelhao)
The wines of the Monterey area are a mystery to me. I know that there are some large brands from the area, such as Hahn, Estancia and Morgan, but I know that there are many more to explore. Morgan's "Taste Morgan" tasting room is in a high end shopping center, not my idea of a quintessential venue, but clever I admit. The tasting room is long with lots of bar space and lots of seating. The decor was very much the rustic country club fare, as well were the other patrons. We grabbed a set of low chairs around a coffee table. Once we settled in, the tasting room attendant came out and introduced himself, poured the first round, and then would revisit with each subsequent tasting.
I gathered that we got a more expansive tasting, thanks to our friends being members. I found it interesting that there were a variety of sub-labels to the wines that we tried: Morgan proper wines are blends from the whole area, Lee Family are sourced from various wineries in or outside of Monterey, Double L from their home vineyard, and then other vineyard designates such as Gary's, Tondre, etc. I've seen lots of wineries doing some of these types of designations, but it seemed like Morgan did it to the greatest degree that I've seen.
No doubt that I was prejudiced coming in to the tasting room. Given the fact that Morgan is a huge wine producerI expected the wines to be widely appealing. And they definitely were that. But they were also kind of interesting, not amazing and definitely safe, but pleasantly intriguing. The Sauvignon Blanc was a burst of friendly tropical and stone fruit, simple with medium acid throughout. The Albariño was bland, or as I wrote in my notes: "All Cali no Spain." The "Metallico" (aged in stainless steel tanks rather than oak barrels) Chardonnay was enjoyable, but too sticky and too mainstream. The "Highland" Chardonnay was definitely mainstream, though well built. A good gateway drug wine. I enjoyed all of the Pinots. The "Twelve Clones" was quite conventional, but well built and enjoyable. The Gary's Vineyard Pinot was very smooth with mature fruit. The Tondre Vineyard was my favorite. Very pretty, very exciting - lots of acid. The G17 blend was pretty pedestrian - just came off as a bland Syrah, but the Double L Syrah was massively flavorful - blood orange, boysenberries - dense as hell. The Rio Tinto blend was also pretty fun - a big juice pop.
To credit Morgan - they are making broadly appealing wine that is interesting. It's not the sort of stuff that I'd hang my hat on, but at the same time, I respect their game. The prices varied pretty widely - Rio Tinto for $13, the vineyard designate pinots for $58 - so I can see that they are trying to include lots of folks in their pricing scheme, which is smart. I'd prefer to visit a tasting room that isn't in a shopping center, but they obviously know what they are doing.
Experience: C+ / Wines: B
Showing posts with label Urban Wineries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Urban Wineries. Show all posts
December '13 Napa Trip - A Little Bit of Personality Showing Through
The end of the year found us traipsing up to Northern California as usual. In addition to the El Dorado County and Amador wine country visits, we slipped over to Napa (and then Sonoma the next day) to enjoy the day with friends. I've been to Napa once before, but my wife has never been. So we planned to go to a place that I knew was good, a place that everyone is "supposed to go to," and a place that was highly recommended to me. Our trip took us up the valley in the morning, then back down in the afternoon.The day was mostly cloudy, but the sun broke in the late afternoon.
Frog's Leap Winery (member tasting, wines $30-$75)
I've never had so many people independently recommend a winery as much as people suggested that I try Lava Vine. Upon our arrival, I soon understood why. It's a funky old farmhouse building at a crossroads. Inside was a jovial crew with a number of well imbibed patrons. It is in ways the anti-Napa - shabby chic, irreverent, and friendly. And for that, I respect it. The guys working the counter were beyond friendly, and pretty knowledgeable. The space looked comfortable, though since it was really crowded we had to jockey for space.
Ceja Vineyards ($10 tasting, wines $20-$50)
'09 Chardonnay, '09 Pinot Noir, '09 "Vino de Case" Red Blend (Pinot Noir/Syrah), '09 Merlot, '08 Cabernet Sauvignon, '10 Syrah
We were serenaded by a gorgeous sunset as we made our way back down the Silverado Trail to hotel in Napa. Not quite ready for dinner we decided to strike out to one of the urban tasting rooms in downtown. An old friend of mine who lived in Napa had suggested Ceja to me awhile back - he's familiar with the family and thinks they're great folks - so we popped in to see what was going on. The space had a variety of seat areas - a long bar, tables with chairs, and couches .It was pretty packed when we first got there, and the staff seemed a bit frantic, but eventually things settled down, and we were able to have a nice conversation while we were there. The staff person who attended to us was knowledgeable about the wine, and proud of the Ceja family and the wine that they offered.
Ceja is a unique winery. It's owned a run by a proud Mexican-American family. Throughout the tasting room and on their website, there is a large amount of info about the family and Latino culture. Considering that almost all wineries in California are hugely dependent on folks that are either first or second generation Central Americans, it's refreshing to see a winery that touts it's heritage rather than ignoring it. What I like about Ceja is that it is celebrating itself, without seeming to need to eschew it's Napa-ness. It is an original that feels comfortable with its locale.
Frog's Leap Winery (member tasting, wines $30-$75)
'12 Chardonnay, '11 Zinfandel, '11 Merlot, '11 Cabernet Sauvignon, '10 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon
I had such an amazing visit the first time I was at Frog's Leap, there's no way that experience could have been beat. I wouldn't say that I was underwhelmed this time, but let's just put the experience at the "whelmed" level. We accompanied friends who were members this time around. One sure piece of advice that I have is: go on the tour. This time around we had the table tasting, which was nice - but the tour's top-notch, it's a must do, a can't miss... what I'm saying is: go do the tour. Regardless the regular tasting was good. We had a lovely table by the lawn, blankets in case we got cold, and snack plates to accompany the wines. One of the things that I've noticed about Frog's Leap is their attention to detail. They were so attentive that my lactose intolerant ass got a special plate sans cheese but plus additional fruit and crackers. Our table had a lovely view of the vineyard. We enjoyed watching the winery dog, Abby, goof off with a visitor's french bulldog puppy. Initially we were well attended to, staff would come by in regular intervals to bring us the next tasting. Toward the end of the tasting though, the service did taper off. It became difficult to locate a staff person to ask questions about the various wines, and to try to revisit. Eventually we decided to wander the sprawling grounds. We wandered by the chickens and the pond, we wandering into the barn - which luckily enough had a bar attendant that poured us more wine. It was a nice way to spend the morning, though not as enriching or as personable as the tour.
I had such an amazing visit the first time I was at Frog's Leap, there's no way that experience could have been beat. I wouldn't say that I was underwhelmed this time, but let's just put the experience at the "whelmed" level. We accompanied friends who were members this time around. One sure piece of advice that I have is: go on the tour. This time around we had the table tasting, which was nice - but the tour's top-notch, it's a must do, a can't miss... what I'm saying is: go do the tour. Regardless the regular tasting was good. We had a lovely table by the lawn, blankets in case we got cold, and snack plates to accompany the wines. One of the things that I've noticed about Frog's Leap is their attention to detail. They were so attentive that my lactose intolerant ass got a special plate sans cheese but plus additional fruit and crackers. Our table had a lovely view of the vineyard. We enjoyed watching the winery dog, Abby, goof off with a visitor's french bulldog puppy. Initially we were well attended to, staff would come by in regular intervals to bring us the next tasting. Toward the end of the tasting though, the service did taper off. It became difficult to locate a staff person to ask questions about the various wines, and to try to revisit. Eventually we decided to wander the sprawling grounds. We wandered by the chickens and the pond, we wandering into the barn - which luckily enough had a bar attendant that poured us more wine. It was a nice way to spend the morning, though not as enriching or as personable as the tour.
The pouring list was shorter than my prior visit, though my wife was able to score us a taste of the Reserve Cabernet. It's become her calling card to ask for special pourings. As before, the wine was delicious. The Chardonnay was bright and balanced. The Zinfandel had pillowy peppers and bright acid. While a bit too mainstream, the Merlot still showed some nice green notes. The regular Cab was a bit tight but promised lovely dust and tart blackberries. The Reserve Cab was tremendous - chocolate dust, dark and quiet, ripe green beans, tart red fruit jam. Easily the Reserve Cab was the best of the bunch, but if buying within my budget, I'd go with the Zinfandel.
'12 Sauvignon Blanc, '11 Chardonnay, '09 Chardonnay,'10 Cabernet Sauvignon, '09 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
I got a bad feeling about Chateau Montelena at the very beginning of our visit. As you walk from the parking lot to the tasting room, there is the iconic castle-style facade, pretty - yes I agree - but apparently a magnet for tourists. The winery had a photo guy posted up to take people's pictures in front of the castle for purchase - like on a cruise ship. I guess I shouldn't hold it against Chateau Montelena for doing that, obviously folks are going to take the pictures regardless, but a definite strike against the place for soaking up tourist bucks at the first opportunity. Once we got up to the entrance, were led past a good number of tasting counters. There were a probably fifteen different tasting counters that we walked past with attendees and patrons trying the wines. Eventually we made it to an open space where a super bouncy young dude warmly greeted us. He was a well meaning fella, but he lacked skill. He started off by asking us if we were familiar with the film "Bottle Shock" - while pointing to a handful of photos on the wall showing the movie that was filmed at Chateau Montelena. "That's the movie that's about us beating the Frenchies at the wine competition a while back" he said. He happily poured us through the list of wines, but he was not as knowledgeable or classy as the tasting room staff that I've interacted with at other Napa wineries.
The wines were well crafted, yet overt. The Sauvignon Blanc was zippy, had tropical candy notes, and showed late heat. The '09 Chardonnay was more impressive, subtle and complex than the '11. The top dog for us was this '09 Cabernet. It was a bit of a jock wine, but it filled the flavor spectrum well - cola, pepper, green leaves. It was complex and juicy, a quintessential Cali wine. The wines were good quality but too pricey.
'12 Chenin Blanc, '10 Viognier, '12 Petite Sirah, '11 Cabernet Sauvignon, NV Port (Petite Sirah/Mourvèdre), '12 Late Harvest Riesling
I've never had so many people independently recommend a winery as much as people suggested that I try Lava Vine. Upon our arrival, I soon understood why. It's a funky old farmhouse building at a crossroads. Inside was a jovial crew with a number of well imbibed patrons. It is in ways the anti-Napa - shabby chic, irreverent, and friendly. And for that, I respect it. The guys working the counter were beyond friendly, and pretty knowledgeable. The space looked comfortable, though since it was really crowded we had to jockey for space.
I had really looked forward to visiting Lava Vine, it was indeed my kind of space. But part of me feels like if it wants to be the anti-Napa, it shouldn't be in Napa. Already they are using some grapes from regions outside of Napa (North Coast, Suisun Valley), and given their expensive zip code, they are charging a relatively steep price for less-premier varietals. Lava Vine is like visiting one of the ultra hip Santa Barbara or Amador wineries. I guess if I didn't frequent those other places I'd be more excited about finding Lava Vine. Perhaps when I visit Napa, as much as I loath the stuffiness, I want to go to Napa-style places.
The wines were compelling. The flavors were distinct and authentic. Some of the wines were well orchestrated, and others were a little bit off, but still enjoyable. The two whites were unique, and had interesting layers that didn't play off perfectly for me, perhaps a bit too rambunctious. I enjoyed the Petite Sirah - darkly distinct with intricate herbal notes, and well balanced. The Cab was fun, macho and vibrant, and it had a tight grip. The dessert wines were both off-balance for me. The Port was enjoyable in the beginning, but then the back-end was too harsh. The Riesling was singularly toned, though it had a quality flavor.
Experience: B+ / Wines: B
The wines were compelling. The flavors were distinct and authentic. Some of the wines were well orchestrated, and others were a little bit off, but still enjoyable. The two whites were unique, and had interesting layers that didn't play off perfectly for me, perhaps a bit too rambunctious. I enjoyed the Petite Sirah - darkly distinct with intricate herbal notes, and well balanced. The Cab was fun, macho and vibrant, and it had a tight grip. The dessert wines were both off-balance for me. The Port was enjoyable in the beginning, but then the back-end was too harsh. The Riesling was singularly toned, though it had a quality flavor.
Experience: B+ / Wines: B
Ceja Vineyards ($10 tasting, wines $20-$50)
'09 Chardonnay, '09 Pinot Noir, '09 "Vino de Case" Red Blend (Pinot Noir/Syrah), '09 Merlot, '08 Cabernet Sauvignon, '10 Syrah
We were serenaded by a gorgeous sunset as we made our way back down the Silverado Trail to hotel in Napa. Not quite ready for dinner we decided to strike out to one of the urban tasting rooms in downtown. An old friend of mine who lived in Napa had suggested Ceja to me awhile back - he's familiar with the family and thinks they're great folks - so we popped in to see what was going on. The space had a variety of seat areas - a long bar, tables with chairs, and couches .It was pretty packed when we first got there, and the staff seemed a bit frantic, but eventually things settled down, and we were able to have a nice conversation while we were there. The staff person who attended to us was knowledgeable about the wine, and proud of the Ceja family and the wine that they offered.Ceja is a unique winery. It's owned a run by a proud Mexican-American family. Throughout the tasting room and on their website, there is a large amount of info about the family and Latino culture. Considering that almost all wineries in California are hugely dependent on folks that are either first or second generation Central Americans, it's refreshing to see a winery that touts it's heritage rather than ignoring it. What I like about Ceja is that it is celebrating itself, without seeming to need to eschew it's Napa-ness. It is an original that feels comfortable with its locale.
The tasting fee covered four wines, selected from a list of eight. Some in our group did the wine and chocolate pairing, which they renjoyed. I'd say that the wines varied from pretty good to very good. The Chardonnay was a bit tight, though had enjoyable acid.The red blend was nicely priced at $20, and was an easy sipper with a bit of a kick. The Merlot was the wine that demanded my attention - good variety and depth, exciting acid, a fun drink. The Syrah I found too dense. All of the wines were flavorful and authentic.
Experience: B / Wines: B+
The second time around for me, and I'm still a bit dubious of Napa. I've mused about visiting the hulking monolithic wineries, such as Sterling, Beringer, Robert Mondavi, etc. I hoped (hope) that since those place are so big that they would put on a good show. But Chateau Montelena makes me check back that hope. It was a soulless experience. Sure, wine tasting and wineries are commercial beasts, but I've had countless real experiences at wineries outside of Napa.
I am however thankful for the authentic places, which I will continue to seek out. Frog's Leap is hugely popular, and is widely distributed, but they manage to stay whimsical. Lava Vine is very friendly and definitely wants to hold onto it's renegade image. And Ceja's just plain real. I'm sure their a numerous other real wineries in Napa, it just may be a bit difficult to find them amongst the tourist traps.
The second time around for me, and I'm still a bit dubious of Napa. I've mused about visiting the hulking monolithic wineries, such as Sterling, Beringer, Robert Mondavi, etc. I hoped (hope) that since those place are so big that they would put on a good show. But Chateau Montelena makes me check back that hope. It was a soulless experience. Sure, wine tasting and wineries are commercial beasts, but I've had countless real experiences at wineries outside of Napa.
I am however thankful for the authentic places, which I will continue to seek out. Frog's Leap is hugely popular, and is widely distributed, but they manage to stay whimsical. Lava Vine is very friendly and definitely wants to hold onto it's renegade image. And Ceja's just plain real. I'm sure their a numerous other real wineries in Napa, it just may be a bit difficult to find them amongst the tourist traps.
November '13 Pitt Stop - R Wine Cellar Urban Winery
I found myself in Pittsburgh for a work trip (lovely city by the way), and decided take a break from the conference and wander around. Near downtown is a cool area called the Strip District. It's an old factory and warehouse neighborhood that's starting to convert over to hip restaurants, artsy spaces and schlocky shops. While walking around I happened across a "wine tasting" sign. Being unable to resist those two powerful words I followed the signs to R Wine Cellar.
R Wine Cellar Urban Winery
'11 Riesling, '12 Traminette, '12 "Lake Erie White" (Diamond Grapes), '11 "Fiona" Chardonnay, '11 "Lake Erie Red" (Concord Grapes), '11 Gluhwien
The space appeared to be divided into two sections, the front area for tasting - with a bar and normal tasting room decor, and the back for winemaking. I didn't go into the back, but it looked to be crowded with tanks and barrels. It being a Wednesday afternoon the tasting room was empty. After a few minutes a gentleman popped his head out of the back to let me know he'd be with me shortly. Kind of a smart setup, being able to work on the wine then being able to attend to customers when they come in.
The man that I interacted with wasn't super forthcoming with info about the winery, or even his name, but he took good care of me, pouring any wines that I was interested in, and answering the many questions that I asked. The winery was created a year and a half ago as a project for the whole family to work on - three generations. The man that I was speaking to was the patriarch, and his kids and his kids kids all have roles in the process. The wines they make come from a variety of sources, purchasing grapes from California, South America, and the nearby Lake Erie region. Since there was a variety of wines to try, I decided to focus on the Lake Erie wines, as an introduction to a region that I'd never tried before. The wines were poured in those small plastic cups - like the ones used in a dentist's office.
I wasn't blown away by the wines, but I appreciated the tasting. The Riesling was quite sharp and dry and had bland lemons. The Traminette - a hybrid grape developed at Cornell - had a silly, sweet Gewurtztraminer nose, but gave way to a high acid and dry body with hints of nice flowers. The Lake Erie White had some different flavors, not the most appealing on the palate. The Chardonnay had nice hints of peaches and apricots. I'd heard about folks making wine with Concord grapes, and so I was excited to try the Lake Erie Red. It was a bit sweet, thin, with medicine flavors - I'm not sure what food one would eat with it. Finally the owner suggested that I tried the Gluhwein. Gluhwein is a traditional mulled wine that's served at German Christmas festivals. It was mulled with fresh oranges and spices, and was served warm. It was sweet and chewy - fun to drink.
I've got to say that I'm a fan of urban wineries - especially ones that aren't adjacent to wine regions. They are truly bringing the wine to the people. Ordinarily the urban wine experience means that you're talking to a third party about the wines, but with people now bringing the grapes into old industrial districts and making them there, you're now able to have a conversation about the minutia of the wine with the person who is intimately aware of the process. I'm glad I tripped across R Wine Cellar and look forward to running into similar wineries in the future.
R Wine Cellar Urban Winery
'11 Riesling, '12 Traminette, '12 "Lake Erie White" (Diamond Grapes), '11 "Fiona" Chardonnay, '11 "Lake Erie Red" (Concord Grapes), '11 Gluhwien
The space appeared to be divided into two sections, the front area for tasting - with a bar and normal tasting room decor, and the back for winemaking. I didn't go into the back, but it looked to be crowded with tanks and barrels. It being a Wednesday afternoon the tasting room was empty. After a few minutes a gentleman popped his head out of the back to let me know he'd be with me shortly. Kind of a smart setup, being able to work on the wine then being able to attend to customers when they come in.The man that I interacted with wasn't super forthcoming with info about the winery, or even his name, but he took good care of me, pouring any wines that I was interested in, and answering the many questions that I asked. The winery was created a year and a half ago as a project for the whole family to work on - three generations. The man that I was speaking to was the patriarch, and his kids and his kids kids all have roles in the process. The wines they make come from a variety of sources, purchasing grapes from California, South America, and the nearby Lake Erie region. Since there was a variety of wines to try, I decided to focus on the Lake Erie wines, as an introduction to a region that I'd never tried before. The wines were poured in those small plastic cups - like the ones used in a dentist's office.
I wasn't blown away by the wines, but I appreciated the tasting. The Riesling was quite sharp and dry and had bland lemons. The Traminette - a hybrid grape developed at Cornell - had a silly, sweet Gewurtztraminer nose, but gave way to a high acid and dry body with hints of nice flowers. The Lake Erie White had some different flavors, not the most appealing on the palate. The Chardonnay had nice hints of peaches and apricots. I'd heard about folks making wine with Concord grapes, and so I was excited to try the Lake Erie Red. It was a bit sweet, thin, with medicine flavors - I'm not sure what food one would eat with it. Finally the owner suggested that I tried the Gluhwein. Gluhwein is a traditional mulled wine that's served at German Christmas festivals. It was mulled with fresh oranges and spices, and was served warm. It was sweet and chewy - fun to drink.
I've got to say that I'm a fan of urban wineries - especially ones that aren't adjacent to wine regions. They are truly bringing the wine to the people. Ordinarily the urban wine experience means that you're talking to a third party about the wines, but with people now bringing the grapes into old industrial districts and making them there, you're now able to have a conversation about the minutia of the wine with the person who is intimately aware of the process. I'm glad I tripped across R Wine Cellar and look forward to running into similar wineries in the future.
June '13 Local Visit - San Antonio Winery
I've built up a pretty good amount of animosity toward San Antonio Winery over the past three years. Three years ago was the summer when I really started to become enthusiastic about wine. That summer we went on a family trip basically in the middle of nowhere. We flew into Reno, picked up a rental car, stopped at a Costco and loaded up on provisions. We asked for some advice on which wines to choose from the Costco wine guy, and he enthusiastically directed us to a bottle of Stella Rosa, a wine we had never heard of before (somehow). We bought some other wines, but that was the one that he really got our hopes up about. So we get out to our vacation spot, and we're having a great time. I'm relaxed as all hell and have started to read Terry Theise's awesome book Reading Between the Vines. Reading this book, relaxing, and drinking wine, it was ideal - until we pop open the Stella Rosa. It was bad news. Sticky sweet nastiness. That's not to say it ruined the vacation, or turned me off wine - clearly that hasn't happened - but it kind of offended me. My dislike was further fueled over the many, many billboard's that have seemed to crop up across the state promoting Stella Rosa - "Stella gets around." Each time I saw those I remembered how much I disliked that wine. To draw it together, San Antonio Winery is the parent of Stella Rosa, as well as an grip of other wine labels: San Simeon, Maddalena, Sera Ambra, Riboli Family, Windstream, Opaque, Santo Stefano La Quita, Kinderwood, Sangria, Bow Tie, and I'm sure others. It's been around for a very long time, since 1917, it's the longest running winery in Los Angeles. It managed to survive prohibition because it produced sacramental wine for Catholic churches. It not only survives today it thrives.
San Antonio Winery ($12 tasting, wines $13-$30)
San Antonio '10 "Heritage Blanc" (Viognier/Riesling/Pinot Gris/Sauvignon Blanc), San Antonio '12 Rosé of Gamay, Maddalena '10 Zinfandel, , San Simeon '08 Syrah - Pretty Penny Vineyard, San Simeon '08 Petite Sirah, Opaque '09 Malbec, Sera Ambra NV Moscato Orange
First impression of the place - there is a ton of stuff being sold. A big space is filled with many displays of wine, beer, liquor and food. Off to one side is a cafe. There's a very long tasting bar that runs the length of the room, so there's lots of places for wine drinkers to plug in. Behind the bar is a wall shelved with more wine, beer and liquor. All of the beer, and most of the liquor for sale are not products from the San Antonio regime - they just have a really good alcohol selection for folks, which I find strange, basically making San Antonio Winery a liquor store with a winery theme.It was a Thursday afternoon, and there were plenty of patrons. We sidled up to the bar, and were immediately tended to by an enthusiastic youngish dude. He informed us of our options for tasting, three for free, and another four from the Artisan series for $12. We opted to pay - might as well put some skin in the game, right? The dude pouring for us was pretty hyped about the wines.
None of the wines impressed. I didn't hate them, honestly they were better than I expected, but after my Stella Rosa experience I had low expectations. The white blend was nicely crisp, though the fruits were jumbled. Additionally it had 14.9% alcohol per volume, which is a bit steep for a white. The Rosé - interesting that it was a Gamay - had watermelon notes, sneaky pepper and a too watery finish. The Zinfandel has a rough tart entry and was overly oaked. The Syrah had big tannins and unripe plums - it was my least favorite of the group. I couldn't locate a specific flavor within the Petite Sirah, just purple. The Malbec was the best, and the priciest of the lot. Pretty good length, the flavors were a bit clumpy, and there was a harsh sharp note that made the wine less enjoyable. Last, we finished up with the Orange Moscato. It was syrupy and industrial.
As far as I can tell, San Antonio Winery is a very successful business. They have a large presence in LA, and establishments in San Bernardino County and Paso Robles.The LA space is huge, and they obviously deal in high volume. The prices for the wines that we tried were steep for the quality, but I can imagine that people are willing to pay those prices. I found it a bit odd that on the way out there are road arrows for at least a block directing people out. Perhaps they've had patrons get turned around on the industrial streets around their place, but I more took them as a sign that I should be fine just visiting the one time. Experience: C+ / Wine: C-
September '12 Local Visit - D'Argenzio Winery
D'Argenzio is a Sonoma-based winery with a unique idea: since one brother lives up in Sonoma and makes wine, and the other brother lives in Los Angeles and has retail space, why not operate two tasting rooms? It's a pretty unique idea, and one that I think is pretty clever. LA's a big ass place, and there are tons of wine fans here, so why not create some brand loyalty from afar? After hearing good things from coworkers, a friend and I decided to check it out one evening.
D'Argenzio Winery ($10 tasting, wines $30-$36)
'06 "Old Vine Cherry Block" Pinot Noir, '06 Pinot Noir, '08 Super Tuscan (Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon/Petit Sirah), '10 Barbera, '09 Zinfandel, '06 Petit Sirah
All of the wines are sourced from Sonoma vineyards, some in the Russian River Valley, some in Dry Creek. Right out of the gate, I was impressed by the Old Vine Cherry Block Pinot Noir. Bright nose, mature color, subtle kick. The second Pinot did not perform as well, sweet - which was a less desirable characteristic that showed up to some degree in all of the wines. The Super Tuscan was a easy sipper with a variety of flavors, though I felt it was too chewy for its profile. They were kind enough to let us try the new Barbera, which was created by the son of the LA-based owner. We dug it - it was young and promising. I was fond of the Zinfandel - it was also sweet, but well balanced, some complexity, and not overpowering. The Petit Sirah was overtly sweet, and was bland on the back end.
It's a neat space, lots of old-style wood, with lots of attention to the decor. There are music nights frequently, thought while we were there, we were the only visitors. We were attended to by Anabel, the Tasting Room Associate, and Richard, the brother that lives in LA and decided to open up the tasting room. They were excited to share wine and talk about where to get great food in LA.
It's a nice opportunity to participate in the tasting room experience in town and not have to hoof it two or more hours away. The staff is knowledgeable, and the space is well maintained. I wasn't blown away by the wine, but a few - the Cherry Block Pinot and the Zinfandel - were quite nice. I'd recommend the place for folks looking for a nearby experience, but I wouldn't seek out their wine while up in Sonoma.
Experience B- / Wines: C+
D'Argenzio Winery ($10 tasting, wines $30-$36)
'06 "Old Vine Cherry Block" Pinot Noir, '06 Pinot Noir, '08 Super Tuscan (Sangiovese/Cabernet Sauvignon/Petit Sirah), '10 Barbera, '09 Zinfandel, '06 Petit Sirah
All of the wines are sourced from Sonoma vineyards, some in the Russian River Valley, some in Dry Creek. Right out of the gate, I was impressed by the Old Vine Cherry Block Pinot Noir. Bright nose, mature color, subtle kick. The second Pinot did not perform as well, sweet - which was a less desirable characteristic that showed up to some degree in all of the wines. The Super Tuscan was a easy sipper with a variety of flavors, though I felt it was too chewy for its profile. They were kind enough to let us try the new Barbera, which was created by the son of the LA-based owner. We dug it - it was young and promising. I was fond of the Zinfandel - it was also sweet, but well balanced, some complexity, and not overpowering. The Petit Sirah was overtly sweet, and was bland on the back end.It's a neat space, lots of old-style wood, with lots of attention to the decor. There are music nights frequently, thought while we were there, we were the only visitors. We were attended to by Anabel, the Tasting Room Associate, and Richard, the brother that lives in LA and decided to open up the tasting room. They were excited to share wine and talk about where to get great food in LA.
It's a nice opportunity to participate in the tasting room experience in town and not have to hoof it two or more hours away. The staff is knowledgeable, and the space is well maintained. I wasn't blown away by the wine, but a few - the Cherry Block Pinot and the Zinfandel - were quite nice. I'd recommend the place for folks looking for a nearby experience, but I wouldn't seek out their wine while up in Sonoma.
Experience B- / Wines: C+
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