Vindemia Commonwealth, Bordeaux-Style, Photo by Natalie Mills

I had

to check it for myself, I couldn’t believe it. After the best palates at Taste Of Temecula ravished the wine trails at this years World Of Wine, I looked at some of the results and said, “Really, didn’t they just open this weekend?” The responses from the crew were all the same, “It’s really good wine!” Now, I believed them of course but I needed a good reason to go wine tasting, and this excuse was as good as any.

I called Dave at Vindemia, introduced myself, and set up some time to taste this proclaimed goodness for myself. I planned to go alone but before I knew it, I was joined by an entourage of fresh pallets and let’s just say they are some of the most renown/notorious Wineauxs in town.  As we arrived at Vindemia’s tent, we were greeted by Dave who was quick to start  filling our glasses.

Temecula's Top Wineaux's

Even though I knew which wine I was eager to taste, I allowed Dave to run through the entire list and then I re-visited a few again. A Viognier, Grenache, Syrahs… and at last the 2006 Commonwealth.  The Commonwealth is a Bordeaux style wine made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Verdot. The nose and color of this wine is fantastic!  After my first taste, I couldn’t wait to share my approval and find out what my friends thought. It was unanimous, this is a really good wine! There were a few choice adjectives thrown in there that emphasized its goodness, but I’ll leave those out to keep this blog a “G” rating. My guest who is known for his knowledge of French wines quickly speculated that this wine would be well received by the masses. If you are a Bordeaux  junkie, then I insist that you try this wine. You will not be disappointed!

It’s always a good thing when the “new guy” makes a great first impression and I believe that Dave has earned the respect of his fellow wine makers in the Temecula Valley.

The next time you choose to head into wine country make a turn onto Calle Contento from Rancho California, follow the signs, and look for the white tent.  You will enjoy great wines, a terrific host, and a beautiful view. Keep in mind, Vindemia is also a Bed and Breakfast and the home of California Dreamin Balloon & Bi-plane rides so, if you decide to make it a weekend trip this place has it all.

Deal Of The Week

Mention Taste Of Temecula from March 12th-March 19th and Vindemia will give you their 2006 Commonwealth regularly $45.00 for $35.00. This wine is worth every penny and can easily be laid down for a special occasion.

Vindemia is located at

(800) 373-3359

Photo Courtesy Miramonte Winery

Miramonte Winery has of late been making news in the valley  by capitalizing on the huge social media trend and establishing itself as a new generation winery.  When you walk into

2005 Sangiovese - Photo by Juanita Gates

Miramonte, owned by Cain Vanderhoof‘, you instantly realize there is something different about this place. It’s like “Toto, we’re not in Temecula anymore.” The atmosphere is more like an old school San Francisco or Manhattan art gallery and lounge that doubles as a winery.

The wines at Miramonte should all be tried, but this week I want to highlight the 2005 Sangiovese, a medium body wine with flavors of Pomegranate and wild Cherry flavors and garnet color. The fruit flavors are complemented by tasteful helping of oak and firm and reserved  tannins.  The grapes are locally grown at summit vineyards off the Deportola Wine Trail and is vinted and bottled at Miramonte. If your looking for a great food wine, this is it. If you are a cheese person, try this wine with a well age cheese.

Put Miramonte on your list of wineries to visit this weekend and when you mention Taste Of Temecula get two for one tastings and  a bottle of the 2005 Sangiovese for $22.35 regularly $27.95.  If you can’t make it this weekend this offer is good till March 12th.

Come see why Miramonte is a mosaic of experiences and wine where is the foundation.

Cheers,

Trasier

Miramonte Winery
33410 Rancho California Rd
Temecula, CA 92591-4928
Ph: (951) 506-5500

Photo by Loren Scott

What new Temecula Rhone style wine has  54% Syrah, 25% Cinsaut, 16% Grenache, and 5% Mourvedre? The answer is Leonesse Cellars 2007 Melange De Reves.  I’m always excited to find a new treasure in the valley and today I feel excitement as I share my latest find with the Taste Of Temecula family.

If you like a good earthy wine that has flavors of red berries, tobacco, and pepper this is a wine you must try. It reminds me of a trip I took to Oregon in my college days. I spent the afternoon in the pastures collecting berries for a cobbler pie my friends mother was baking.  I’ll never forget the aromas of the pastures, wood burning stoves, and the surrounding farm lands. In one sip, this bottle took me back.

I opened this bottle with several of my friends from Taste Of Temecula and our “whites only gal” said, “Wow this is really good!”  The closest person we have to a certified sommelier response was, “This is a really well made wine.” My thoughts are that this wine taste amazing and is one you can drink right away or  you can lay down for several years and it will only get better.

Rebaux Steyn gave me a full 3 oz. taste of the 2004 Melange De Reves and then with a little coaxing gave me a bottle to enjoy  later. All I can say after trying the 2004 and the 2007 is that this wine just gets better with age. Either way you are going to want to drive to Leoneese Cellars in the next week and pick up your own bottle of  2007 Melange De Reves. Between February 26th and March 5th all Taste Of Temecula fans can enjoy the regularly $28.00 bottle for only $21.00. On another note all the wine pourers at Leonesse are fantastic but if you bump into Gabe tell him Trasier says thanks, and don’t forget to tip him well.

Until next week, Happy Wine Trails!

http://www.leonessecellars.com/index.cfm?method=homepage.showpages

Wine Tasting Room

Open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
38311 DePortola Rd
Temecula, CA 92592

Mike Calabro, of Villa Di Calabro has not just created an amazing place to visit but  has made some fantastic wines, olive oils and vinegars. Over the last year, I routinely made special trips into Old Town to pick up one of their specialty olive oils to create a special dish, or just for an afternoon of dipping and sipping a glass or two of wine.

Photograph by Natalie Mills

The Pick And The Perk

This week, I have not only picked a wine but an olive oil that can be paired with it. This weeks pick is the Villa White, a blend of four grapes, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Chardonnay.  The notes state that  it has layers and layers of exotic aromas and taste and is so rich that it will even please the palettes of red wine lovers. Know this, If Mike says it’s so, It’s so! To go along with this Gold Medal winning wine, I have chosen with the help of Mindy, Mikes other half, the Meyer Lemon Olive Oil. This Olive Oil a mix of True Lemon and Mandarin Orange. I recommend doing a late lunch with a grilled fish and veggies of your choosing  and a fresh loaf of Italian bread. However at the bottom of the page you will see Chef Crispin as prepared something a bit more gourmet.

Now that I have painted the picture for you take some time this week or weekend and visit Mike and Mindy Calabro and taste all of their amazing Wines, Olive Oils and Vinegars. Sit outside in the garden and imagine the things you could create with all that they have to offer and tell them Taste Of Temecula sent you. With these magic words they will gladly give you any of their Wines, Olive Oils and Vinegars  in the store for 25% off from now until the end of March.

I know many fans of  Taste Of Temecula will be spending every dime they can get their hands on, on as much of Calabros goods as they can afford. Personally, I don’t blame them. This is sort of like the Black Friday of Olive Oils and Wines.  Come down and make a day of it and say Hi to Mike and Mindy at Villa Di Calabro Winery & Olive Oil Co. They are  open 11AM-6PM, Monday-Sunday.

Hope to see you there.

Cheers

Villa Di Calabro Winery & Olive Oil Co.

41955 Main St
Old Town Temecula
951 695-4525

Chicken for a Warm Spring Day.

By Crispin Courtenay

This recipe is designed around Villa Di Calabro’s Villa White wine and Meyer – Lemon Olive Oil. Matching a wine and olive oil was a little tricky, but it worked out in the end.

Citrus marinated chicken with Villa White wine and tangelo Sauce, served over a Israeli couscous with spring vegetables and instant pickled root vegetables from the Farmers Market, served with a seedy baguette slathered in butter.

Citrus chicken and couscous. Photograph by Natalie Mills

Citrus Marinaded Chicken

Before we start, a word about chicken

As this chicken is simply prepared, quality matters. For chicken, I have found no better than Kosher, the butchery is cleaner, the birds tend to be fit and healthy, yellow skin, and with the Rabi pacing the packing plant, I know there are no shenanigans going on.

Soapbox Speech

Hormones, antibiotics and economics of scale are the reason why there is cheap chicken. If you have children, do yourself, and more importantly them, a favor, spend the extra money for a wholesome product and not a science experiment.

Ingredients

Tangelo peel and juice

Myer lemon peel and Juice

8 tbsp Meyer-Lemon olive oil

1 tsp crushed dried chili, whatever you have will do

1 clove garlic crushed, could use more but do not want to overpower the wine

1 tsp crushed ginger

4 chicken breasts, deboned, skin optional

4 tbsp virgin olive oil (any brand)

1/3 cup Villa Di Calabro’s, Villa White, to deglaze the pan

1/3 cup fresh orange juice

½ tsp sea salt sprinkled on chicken as it cooks

1 tsp corn starch and 2 tsp water to make a slurry

Zest of the tangelo and lemon to garnish, use a zester or peeler then slice as thin as possible into strips.

Combine the first 6 ingredients with chicken, let marinade for at least a half hour. Add virgin olive oil to a hot sauté pan, when oil barely smokes add chicken breast and salt the back side, develop a nice brown sear and flip over, salt this side and cook for a few more minutes then throw the entire pan into an oven (325 – 500, keep an eye on it at high temperatures) to finish cooking. Remove from oven, take the chicken out of the pan and let rest.

Add the wine and orange juice to the pan—the pan is going to be very-hot, so please be careful– to deglaze. Reduce by 2/3 then add the slurry to thicken. Whisk until smooth. Optionally stir in high quality butter at the last-minute.

Slice the chicken into thin strips and set on top of the couscous, top with sauce and orange zest.

Israeli Couscous with Spring Vegetables

8 oz of couscous

3 cups of well-made chicken stock

3 tbsp melted butter

1/3 bunch of fresh chives, minced

1/3 English Cucumber, quartered, deseeded and diced finely

1 cup heirloom cherry tomatoes

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

To be honest, couscous is one of those simple dishes that is easy to mess up. Heat up to boiling 3 cups of chicken stock, add couscous and bring to a boil for one minute. Reduce heat to low, and cover for 5 minutes. Remove lid, stir, turn off heat, leave it alone for 10 minutes then turn out on a sheet pan to cool. Add the olive oil and salt to taste. When cold add the remainder of ingredients and check seasoning. The couscous will likely need more salt.

If your couscous tastes done but has too much liquid, there are two tricks, one is to use a chinois or strainer and drain the extra liquid, the other is to add a vegetable that will absorb water.

• Salt, always add it in stages, easy to add more, nearly impossible to remove.
• Chefs use far more salt than you can imagine, that is why their food tastes different to home cooking. The generous use of spices and fresh herbs can lesson the amount of salt required for a given dish.

Instant-Pickled Root Vegetables

I used what I had (carrots, beets and onions), feel free to change vegetables, vinegars and add pickling spices if you want. I wanted clean flavors so organic white vinegar, kosher salt, Turbino sugar and a little water to dilute the vinegar.

This pickle will keep safely for a week. This is not a temperature-stabilized pickle so do not attempt to store for a long-time, nor at room temperature.

If you are in a hurry, blanch the root vegetables in boiling salted water until they start to soften a little, then plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process.

The vegetable can be combined, however the colors are so brilliant that I wanted to keep them separate. The premise is simple, clean and slice the vegetable however you want. Cover 8/10 of the way with vinegar and top off with water. For every cup of vinegar about ½ tsp of salt and 1 tbsp of sugar will give you nice results. Let pickle for about an hour and taste. Normally it is sugar that will have to be adjusted.

Nick Palumbo has earned a reputation in the Temecula Valley of “I can’t think of a bad thing to say about the guy or his wine.”  Along with a spotless rep, I have never heard him say a bad word about anyone.  Maybe that is one reason so many enjoy his wine. Reputation aside, our fans on the Taste Of Temecula Facebook page love Palumbo’s 2006 Tre Frateli, and so do I.

Locally grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc make up this beautiful Meritage. As soon as you remove the cork and pour your first glass, you know your about to try something special. Allow this wine to open up a bit and you will see that, with a little time, this wine goes from good to great.

Though the winery itself may lack in elegance, the Tre Fratelli should be reserved for  your finest meals with your closest friends. (For me, I’m considering the possibility of allowing our resident Chef Crispin Courtenay the privilege of preparing a meal for the Taste Of Temecula Staff and sharing a bottle or two over one of his amazing creations.) Having said that, I am on my second glass and I have no remorse in the fact that I am enjoying this with only the accompaniment of my latest Carla Bruni download.

Well, here’s To Nick Palumbo, a Temecula Wine Maker and his Tre Fratelli. If you want to taste for yourself what I have tried to describe, then head up the driveway to the Palumbo Family Winery & Vineyards on Monte De Oro and pick up your own bottle. Nick and Cindy are offering Taste Of Temecula fans 20% off their Tre Fratelli. Normally $38.00 now $30.40 from 2/12-2/19/10.

Palumbo Family Winery & Vineyard located at

40150 Barksdale Circle
Temecula, CA 92591
951.676.7900

http://www.palumbofamilyvineyards.com/

Stuart Cellars has been a favorite of mine as far back as I can remember. The big hearty reds were standouts, at a time when many wineries were still focusing on whites. Marshall and Susan Stuart were at the tasting room the first time I visited. They were charming, and so excited about what they were doing. Ten years later, they are still charming, and everyone is excited about what they are doing.

Beautiful display of Stuart Cellars best wines. Photo by Beathany Rogers

Stuart Cellars is perched high on a hill, overlooking Temecula Wine Country. The curving driveway is pleasant. It feels as though you are going right through the vineyard. I noticed some changes that were recently made, including a permanent stage on the front lawn. There were more changes inside. The winery has been decorated in a beautiful Tuscan style that feels warm and inviting.

I brought my husband, who wouldn’t miss an afternoon of wine tasting for anything.  We made ourselves comfortable at the bar to look over the tasting menu. Do

Photo by Beathany Rogers.

nna, the petite brunette who was serving was friendly and knowledgeable. We tasted all the reds. My old favorites were there; the cherry toned 2007 Malbec, the slightly spicy 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, and the jammy 2006 Zinfandel. There was a new wine on the list too. Lagrein is an Italian varietal, fruity, but nicely acidic. I loved this new addition. The 2005 Long Valley was a standout as always. Only one could be my very favorite though. It was the same wine that was my favorite 10 years ago, when I first tasted at Stuart Cellars. Marshall Stuart’s Tatria is still, for my money, one of the very best wines Temecula has to offer. The 2005 may rival the 2002 for great vintages.

The 2005 Tatria is a full-bodied wine with a lingering finish. It is one of the region’s truly complex wines. It is full of black plum, spice smoke, and just the faintest touch of vanilla. The warm rich tones in the glasses perfectly accompanied the cooling afternoon.

Stuart Cellars is offering all Taste of Temecula readers a 30% discount on the 2005 Tatria. Go in and see the changes that have been made. Taste their wine and see if your favorite is the same as mine. If not, let us know what your favorite is.

Stuart Cellars is located at 33515 Rancho California Rd Temecula, CA 92591

Phone: (951) 676-6414

The truth is, I do enjoy a nice Sauvigon Blanc or a Viognier  and several other whites, but sweet? Not since college days when I used to bring 5-6 bottles of Maurice Carrie’s White Zin  back to the Theta Chi house have I really partaken in a sweet wine.Yet, wanting to be fair and accommodate all the fans of ToT, I decided to find a wine to celebrate the reason I started buying wine in the first place. That’s right, as shameless as it sounds, The Ladies.

With that in mind I set my course upon recommendation to a winery where  I was very accustomed to their more sophisticated reds like their Meritage, but had often skipped the front side of their list of whites and rose. Juanita Gates wine club manger at Falkner served me  several whites that were very good but I was looking for the one. The one that said Marvin Gaye, Strawberries dipped in White Chocolate, and let me suck those lips right off your face. Then I found it the Rosato, a 2009, Rose’ of Cab that was a subtle pink in color, with a nose that reminded me of strawberries and rose pedals. It was sweeter in style but Not sugary. Refreshing and lively and ready to drink. It was the quintessential wine for listening to, some  James Blunt, Jason Mraz and Paolo Nutini with that special someone. I suggest starting off with Paolo’s Loving You.

Photo by Juanita Gates

If you need more help shoot us an email at info@tasteoftemecula.com we are also offer uncertified marriage counselors.

Basically heres what I’m saying to you: Go down to Falkner, tell them Taste of Temecula sent ya and you want two bottles of the 2009 Rosato for the price of one ($14.95 plus tax for both) and a 2 for 1 tasting. Then drive home put the bottles on ice and the music on low and thank me on Monday Morning.

Photo by Juanita Gates

Cheers,

Traz aka The Doctor of Love

Two for one Rosato and tasting promo good through Feb 7, 2010.

Falkner Winery
40620 Calle Contento
Temecula, CA 92591

Tasting Room Hours – 10am – 5pm
Restaurant Hours – 11:30am – 3:30pm

Main Phone: (951) 676-8231

This is the translation of the name of the pick of the week. Inolvidable, the Tempranillo from Masia De Yabar is an unforgettable wine from an unforgettable winery. Not because of grandeur or a history of award winning wine but, if you ask locals who enjoy Spanish or Argentinian wine, then this is a stop you won’t want to miss. It’s at the end of the De Portoala wine trail just past Cougar about a mile. On the weekends they usually have great entertainment on the patio that in the afternoons are shaded, and a view that puts you in the perfect frame of mind.
But I digress, back to the 2005 Tempranillo. This wine has a lot of fruit and a fantastic and a balanced finish. It is a great wine to serve with food on a sunny afternoon with friends and good conversation. Spanish wine is huge right now and if you haven’t tried a Tempranillo or have had a less than memorable experience I challenge you to try this unforgettable Tempranillo from Masia De Yabar.

Ok here it comes…….. And if you mention Taste Of Temecula between January 22-January 29,  you can get your very own bottle for 15% off the regular $25.00 price.

Until next time, Vayo Con Dios

Traz

Here are more notes from Masia De Yabar

Tempranillo is Spain´s ¨noble grape¨. This wine is a natural match for a wide range of foods. Dishes like smoked meats, lamb, mushroom risotto, sheep´s cheese, and of course paella, the classic Spanish seafood dish; are all examples of this versatile wine. Masía de Yabar Tempranillo is Ruby red in color, with an intense mouth feel; balanced with berries, plum, vanilla, leather and herb.

With its soft – tannins and over – oaked, this wine is truly a wonderful example of the complexity of the food friendly Tempranillo grape.

39788 Camino Arroyo Seco Temecula, CA 92592 Phone. (951) 303 3860

http://www.masiadeyabarwinery.com/index.html

Working my way a little further up the Rancho California Wine Trail just past South Coast and Ponte Winery is the home of The Big Reds, Weins Winery. Weins has been a great addition to the valley since October of 2006. Owned by Doug, Danny, Dave, Jeff, and George Weins make whites, several dessert wines and of course great big reds. Cabs, Zins, Syrah, Mouvedre, and blends.

I met with Suzanne Schaffner, Marketing Director of Weins, to guide me through the tasting. I did have a few wines in mind before I arrived. The Mouvedre, The ‘07 Tempranillo and The Reflection which is a Super Tuscan and part of the Weins artist series collection. These, I must say, were recommendations from Adam at Sunrider Jeep Tours in Temecula who is one of the all around most knowledgeable guys in the valley. His choices did not disappoint by any means.

I finally made a decision and selected the ‘07 Reflection. Now I am not the kind of guy that picks a wine because of a label but Artist Sharif Carter’s piece on the Weins Reflection would compel you to buy it even if it was filled with tap water. Nevertheless the nose has a subtle Italian earthiness and a has a hint of Dark Cherry but is far from overpowering. As you take your first taste you will get the dark berry and a smooth and light finish. The unique factor about this Super Tuscan wine is that it has a Barbera base rather than a Sangiovese. This seems to make the wine bold and deep. This is great with any meal but I will more than likely sit out in the garden this weekend after a trip to the Temecula Valley Cheese Co and have Shawna Smoot pair it with one of their fantastic selections of cheese.

People this is a great wine that is normally sold for $38.00 per bottle but as you might have guessed if you mention Taste Of Temecula you can get your bottle or bottles for $30.40 each through January 22nd. In Addition to this If you would like to do a tasting at Weins, tell them Taste of Temecula sent you and you can do a two for one tasting.

Ciau for now Traz

Here are the tasting notes from Weins:
Wild cherry, rose petal, and red berry aromas & flavors caress the palate in our 2007 Reflection blend. Balanced, smooth, and bright, this wine matches nicely with sharp cheeses, meatballs in cherry sauce, or pork tenderloin with rosemary-currant glaze.

Alcohol: 13.7
Cases Produced: 303
Appellation: California
Release Date: May 29, 2009
Varietal Composition: 37% Barbera, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Syrah, 5% Tempranillo
Enjoy by: 2012

The Fish Exchange is now a sports bar, but Joe Hart is still making truly great wines.

The second unexpected occurrence happened when I was looking for my next wine pick and was thinking hmmmm, what about a Grenache? Hart makes a great Grenache, but when I started my uhhh, research, I decided to start with a white. Wait a minute; I’m here for the Grenache.

However, I have of late found myself subbing a dry white in place of a big red now and again.

So there I was, with a beautiful glass of the ‘08 Sauvignon Blanc that was catching the afternoon sunlight beaming in from the tasting room doors. I was at peace with all creation. The nose is light and fruity and begs you to partake of the bliss swirling in your glass. When you take your first taste It’s got ya. Hart’s Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect wine for reflecting on past memories or mulling over hopes and dreams for the New Year. It drinks easy and finishes so, so nice. It’s one of those wines that, once you find it you always want to keep a few on hand, because you will return to it again and again.

The best part is, it’s only $18.95 a bottle but if you mention Taste of Temecula you can get your bottle or bottles for $14.95 each (only January 8-15th).

Really, you can’t find a better deal on an amazing boutique wine that has been a valley favorite since 1981.

Till next week,
Cheers

Tasting Notes from Hart Winery
Hart 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Temecula Valley, Two Clone Cuvee. With citrus notes, a bit of gooseberry, subtle herbal notes, and just a hint of French oak, this alluring dry white wine was produced from Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in the Hart Family Vineyard and Temecula Valley’s Huis Vineyard, predominately Musque clone blended with a smaller proportion of a traditional California clone. We really love Sauvignon Blanc, our hands-down favorite white – and have been producing it since 1981. Serve with grilled fish, oysters on the half-shell, steamed mussels, clams, or garlic chicken.

www.thehartfamilywinery.com
41300 Avenida Biona
Temecula, CA 92591-5014
(951) 676-6300