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Sip & Tell Blog

...Wineries, Tasting Rooms, & More

Fenton Herriott Vineyards Placerville, CA              ...hillside sipping

1/22/2021

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Wine tasting has become a little more complex in 2021, but is still just as worth it.
Once upon a time, wine fans could hop in their car and head to their winery of choice.
Now,
most tasting rooms ask guest to make an appointment online or via phone, for a specific day and time.


Our tasting at Fenton Herriott Vineyards (FHV) was held outside near a bocce ball court and along side the vineyard.
A
nd that’s just fine with me.
I feel that wine tastes better and is more alive when sippe
d next to the vines.
The homey feel of the winery along with fresh air, outdoor seating, and comfortable spacing is a stellar combination.

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Owner, Guy Harriett, planted the vines along the El Dorado County hillside. Today Fenton Herriott’s six acres of grapes include Syrah, Barbera, Sangiovese, and Gewurztraminer. And a new addition--a small lot of Cabernet Sauvignon--is in its first year of wine production.

General manager and winemaker, Nathan, shared with me his interests in honoring the traditional flavors of Fenton Harriett Wines. The fruit-forward, aged wines are what locals and fans have grown to depend on for the last 20 years. FHV wines traditionally are aged in new French oak barrels for up to three years.

Most New World tasters are notorious for drinking their wines soon after purchasing. So FHV lets many of their wines age and mature a bit before being released or sold. That way wine fans—with their first sip—are introduced to what the wine is meant to be.
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Clever wine names like “Jane Way” and “Jack Way” are a nod to their location on Jacquier Ct. (dubbed “Jake Way” by locals.)

For the tastings...

Jane Way-Lot 7: a romantic blend of Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer.
  • I particularly love the name of this wine as one of my daughters is named Jayne!
  • Smooth, softly sweet to dry, with hints of floral, apples and peach on the palate.
  • Enjoy with a dark-greens salad with lemon, cozied up with a blanket next to a fire, or with an after dinner cheese plate.

Sauvignon Blanc.
  • Swirl a small pour of this wine and tuck your nose right into the pleasing saline scents.
  • It reminds me of the soft, coastal smells of Waiheke Bay (off New Zealand’s North Island.)
  • Reminiscent of a sunny beach day, enjoy the classic green apple and citrus flavors often found in Sauv. B.

Sangioves Rose’ 2018.
  • At first, the stunning sunset color of this Rose’ distracted me. Then the flavor grabbed me.
  • This off-dry Rose’ gives red-fruit flavors along with gentle hints of spices, such as cardamon and fennel seed.
Syrah 2017.
  • I’m a fan of Coastal Syrah’s inky, dry, and tannic style. But FHV’s Foothill style Syrah offers a new side to the varietal.
  • Enjoy hints of warm nuttiness, vanilla and soft brandy. Dark fruits, coffee and chocolate round out this wine.

Late Harvest Gewurztraminer 2016.
  • This dry dessert wine is silky and gorgeous and offers flavors of ripe heirloom apricots with just a with a touch of mead or honey. Yet, it is not too heavy.
  • Sip as an aperitif before dinner. Or serve it after dinner with: shortbread, or blue cheese, figs, ripe apricots and walnuts.

Also look for:
  • Sangiovese: used in many of their blends and wines such as the Fenton Rough, Jake Way, and the Rose’.
  • Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Chardonnay, Tempranillo, and FHV’s own signature Blends.
Looking ahead...
Nathan is introducing new silhouettes of wines.
His Jayne Way and his dry Gewurztraminer lean towards an Alsatian style that balances acids,
lower alcohols, and a dryer palate to the wines.


I imagine in the next couple of years the wine selection at FHV will be branching out.
Tasters
can look forward to classic full bodied red wines as well as anticipate
dryer, lighter wines like their El Dorado County unoaked Chardonnay.


Just a reminder to visit online or call for reservations and for current wine tasting/Covid procedures.
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This 2021...
Safe sipping and good health to you and your loved ones!

Shondra Savadkohi


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For more... Tasters are drinking wine in the comfort and safety of their homes,
read about Closures here...and get the most out of every drop of your wine!

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Back to the Tasting Room                                         ...California wineries are beginning to reopen

6/13/2020

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Just this weekend, Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz,
El Dorado and Amador County wineries and tasting rooms
flung open their doors to tasters!

Yes, exhale with joy!
Winemakers and their staff are as eager to see you as you are to see them.

After almost four months of sheltering in place, California is starting to open up wineries.

Before you plan your customary day of tasting, here are a few tips on what’s happening in the tasting room scene:

  • Most wineries are asking guests to make reservations for their tasting experience, online or via phone call.
  • They will likely be monitoring capacity limits, so go with an open mind. There may be limitations on the length of your stay, seating, food brought in, or on site. (please check with the winery)
  • If you feel sick, stay home. Just like other public venues, no symptoms are allowed.
  • More and more wineries will be reopening as they are able to accommodate the new changes.
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When you arrive for your tasting appointment:

  • Most wineries are asking that you text/call upon your arrival and wait in your car for your appointment. They’ll let you know when you’re set to come in.
  • Expect reduced interactions: Wineries will offer as many contact-less interactions as they can, while still wanting to make guests feel welcomed.
  • Masks, masks, masks: Go ahead and wear it into the tasting room/winery for everyone’s comfort and safety. The staff will let you know when to go mask-free, depending on the distancing, seating, and when your tasting starts.
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Your favorite wineries are anxious to see their tasting fans again!
Contact them if you have any questions about their current—and evolving—tasting practices.

And bringing a note of thanks, a big air hug, or a treat to your best loved winery is always in style.
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A toast to the new ways of sipping!

Shondra Savadkohi


Gain more from your next tasting with Nose & Palate wine traits...
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Puma Road Winery, Soledad & Monterey              ...lovable wines

6/13/2020

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If I had to taste at one winery before home became my new world,
I'm glad it was at Puma Road Winery.


 My husband and I had a few days to get away for our wedding anniversary. It was our last vacation to enjoy each other and some wine outside the confines of our house—just before the shelter-in-place.

Owner, Ray Franscioni, produces Bordeaux varietal wines in the Salinas Valley. The valley's history includes flood rains which washed soil down River Road tearing out row crops of potatoes, beets, and beans. So in the 70's Ray started planting vineyards. That seemed to be the ideal time to plant grapes instead, since the area offers ideal weather “it doesn't get too hot, or too cold.”
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Native to the Salinas Valley, Ray is a business man, wine advocate, and neighbor all rolled into one.
He has an easy, straight forward way about him and grew up on the Puma Road property.

The winery reminds me of a village pub: it's a landing place.
It's a close knit community with family, friends, and neighbors rolling into the
tasting room like clockwork. Around 4:00 pm, people stop in to taste, talk about the day,
then move on down the road to Pessagno Winery, Ray's other winery and tasting room.


Susie, the Puma Road Tasting Room Supervisor, shared “What you see is what you get.
No one is trying to be anything they aren't.” It was refreshing to be in that kind of setting.

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Ray grows his own grapes for his wines.
Since my dad's background is in the nursery business, and my childhood was surrounded by agriculture,
I have a heavy respect and appreciation for growers and farmers.


Ray's hospitality is matched by his fastidious care for his wines. He shared with me that barrels are expensive, but he doesn't want to compromise on quality. A winery can spend as much on barrels as fruit. Olivier Rousset and Rodney Whitlock are Puma's dynamic wine making team.
Puma Road wines go down easy-like.

Not too acidic, tannic, sweet, or sharp, I was tempted to drink the tastings, not sip them.
At home, Puma Road wines are charming on their own as I'm cooking or while reading a book.
And they pair easily with foods; from bread and cheese to grilled meats and veggies.
I felt as if this was what wine should be doing.

  • The tasting room's new wind-screened patio offers picnic tables for foods you may want to bring, and views of the mountains. Heat lamps and easy access to the tasting room and your next tasting are a bonus.
  • Puma Road Winery and Pessagno Winery: both wineries produce and sell the same varietals of wine, and are made in the same process. The difference: the grapes are from different vineyards of Ray's.
  • The fruit for Puma Road and Pessagno wines is all estate grown.
  • Producing 1,600 acres of grapes, 97% of the fruit is sold to other wineries.
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For my tasting...
  • 2016 Pinot Gris, Silvio's Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands. This joyful wine offered jasmine, soft rose and mineral on the nose; with light citrus and soft minerality on the palate. I'm a Sauvignon Blanc fan, and love the wet-stone taste. But this Pinot Gris was a nice alternative—a little more playful and less river stone in flavor.

  • 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Monterey County Enjoy the citrus, tropical fruit, and acidity that one would expect in a Sauv., but with less emphasis on the minerality. It's Ray's wine of choice when he's at Puma Road. That says something. I always make a point to taste the owner's favorite wine, if I can.
 
  • 2017 Rose', Pedregal de Paicines Vineyard. The color of this Rose' is stunning! A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab. Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.
 
  • 2015 Pinot Noir, Apex Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands. This is a Pinot that was allowed to grow up. No uber lite body or hunting for flavor here. On the nose: spice, chocolate, and soft hints of earthy eucalyptus. On the palate: cocoa powder, cherry and raspberry with a luscious mouth-feel.
 
  • 2013 Cabernet Franc, Pedregal de Paicines Vineyard. Cab Franc is quickly becoming one of my new favorites! On the nose: soft pepper, leather, pencil shavings (really, that's a good thing) topped with hints of bright berry and pomegranate. Our friend from Tennessee said, “Wow, that's one of the best wines I've tasted here in California.”
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Puma Road and Pessagno Winery offer a myriad of wines to choose from;
Tannat to Chardonnay to Vintage Sparkling Wines. Explore! (Order online.)


Thank you Ray, Susie, and Puma Road staff for the terrific tasting
and overview of your wines and selections.
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With a glass of Puma Road wine in our hands
and a prayer on our lips...


Shondra Savadkohi



For tips on how to store your wines & not waste a drop visit my post on
"Closures, Keeping a Lid on Your Wines".


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Pierce Ranch Vineyards, Monterey                         ...a welcome change

5/8/2020

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Pierce Ranch Vineyards' tasting room is within slingshot distance to Cannery Row and
bucket list hotels right on the Monterey Bay.


I've had the chance to taste there a few times, but was eager to pick up some wines again.
The Iberian varietals are a welcome change from the California rinse-and-repeat varietals you often see. These wines are terrific on their own or with food.
Anticipate personality!


Just before the SIP, I messaged Josh and let him know I was in the area and
hoping to come by for a tasting.
He pinged me, and fast forward, there was a glass of Pierce Ranch wine in my hand
as my husband and I were chatting it up with his amazing staff.


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Owner, Josh Pierce, is often sharing and pouring his wines at
Monterey County Vintners & Growers events, such as: trade tastings, winemaker tastings, and more.

His tasting room is a relaxing place to savor the wines and enjoy a
leisurely chat with a friend.
While I've featured Josh's wines a way back, I do love the chance to taste current vintages.

Here's a look at my tastings.

  • 2018 Albarino. If you crave a change in your white wine line up, then try the Albarino. Soft stone fruit, appealing citrus, and the salinity (which I love) makes this wine refreshing on its own, with fish, or an arugula salad with apples and pecans.

  • 2017 Tinto Cao. This red is lite in body and a great walk-around wine. Ideal for meandering in and out of the house to the yard, or for small bites and visiting with friends. Pairs well with cured meats and hard cheeses or grilled fish.
 
  • 2017 Touriga 100%. Smooth, while offering nice acidity to tannins, the palate of dark berry/floral/spice balance this red wine.

  • 2017 Zinfandel. The cool, coastal growing influence on this Zinfandel fruit makes for a non-jammy wine. This Zin offers the classic flavor profiles of dark berry fruit and spice, but it also offers terrific acidity (yet it's not as acidic or sharp as Italian wines can often be.)
 
  • 2014 Petite Sirah. The nose on this wine makes me so happy! Hints of chocolate and chalk, a smooth mouth-feel, and just enough tannins to leave a slight pucker in the mouth make for a lovely pour. Try something new and enjoy this with seasoned grilled ribs (skip the jar of BBQ sauce) or with baked brie cheese with apricot jam in phyllo dough.
 
  • Also look for: 100% Malbec, GSP, Claret, Graciano, Tempranillo, and a Vinho Doce.

While we're waiting to get back to the tasting rooms, Pierce Ranch Vineyards (Link) can be found online, with available curb-side pick up.
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Health to you and yours!
Shondra Savadkohi


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Do you have wine questions during SIP?
Or do you wish you had your own wine guide?
CalWineJaunt.com offers Personalized Wine Consulting for your shelter-in-place wine needs.

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Covid-19 & Wine                                                  ...How to find Bay Area wines during            Shelter-in-Place

4/13/2020

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Wine is meant to be shared.

It's the liquid for celebrations, community, and for gathering with friends and family.


I want to acknowledge that all of this has come to a screeching halt.
We all are, to some degree, dealing with Covid-19.
Some are instantly without work. Others are on the front line.
And hopefully, all are making efforts to shelter in place for everyone's health and safety.
It's difficult to be separated from our loved ones and experience this much change at once.


For a piece of bright news, Bay Area wines are, thankfully, still available. At this time, wineries are not allowed to be open to the public for purchases in the tasting room or wine tasting on site.

But winemakers are being creative and resourceful in an effort to keep their businesses--
and to keep sharing their wines with tasters.

If you're still in a place to purchase wine and enjoy it, now is the time.
Here's how:


  • Most wineries and tasting rooms are selling their wines online! (we tasters thank you!)

  • Your health is looked after. Order, purchase, and pay for wine online or by phone.

  • Curb-side pickup lets you collect your wine at the winery while keeping distance (even with the kids in tow)

  • Most wineries now offer free or reduced shipping and some even provide free local delivery.
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  • Many wineries are offering tremendous discounts. Everything from 10% off and up, to case specials.

  • Enjoy winemaker-led in home tastings via online streaming, complete with samples kits of multiple wines. (Mark Hoover of Integrity Wines in Watsonville is offering this.)
 
  • Look for take-out food and wine pairings! Wineries and local restaurants are partnering to offer easy wine & food take out, with convenient curbside pickup.
 
  • Note: if you opt to have your wine shipped to your home address, an adult 21 or older will need to be present and sign for it (your teenager schooling remotely at home can't sign for it.)
 
  • Think of those who have to shelter-in-place alone, and brighten their week with a bottle of Bay Area wine. Or, gift a bottle to a neighbor, a mom, or to your friend who lost their job

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For a list of wineries and their current offerings and shipping, visit the following links.
The specials will likely vary and change as needed.


Wineries of Santa Clara Valley
The site currently lists their winery options for delivery, curbside, shipping, and specials.
Visit Santa Clara Wines.



Monterey County Vintners & Growers
Find wineries in Carmel, Soledad, and Monterey. Contact the winery directly for current offerings.
Visit Monterey County Wines.



Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrower Assoc.
Find a listing of pick-up, delivery, and discount options by winery.

Visit Santa Cruz Mountain Wines.
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Health to you and yours in this time, and a few words of comfort...


God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1

A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord.
'Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you!' Psalms 102:1
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Blessings to you,
Shondra Savadkohi




Travel from the comfort of you home and snag a few ideas from this Home-Tasting of 3 Reds...
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