New Wine Products

 

I receive a lot of wine related products for the tasting room.  

This sippy cup idea is the latest thing to come across my desk so I thought I would share it. 

I kind of hate to admit it, but this particular "stem" has merit. 

Pool party where you don't want glass?

Hot tubbing?

Sports events? Beach picnics?

Backyard BBQ?

Tailgating?

I try not to get too hung up on drinking wine from a proper vessel, sometimes, you just have to go with the venue. 

Cheers! 

Vino Cruz

Right after Thanksgiving last year, I popped over "the hill" from San Jose to Santa Cruz and met Steve, the new owner of Vino Cruz. We were early, but Ryan (he runs the shop and tasting bar) was nice enough to let us in and start browsing while he set up the tasting area.

There were seven of us in our group but we still managed to zip through the selections and talk "shop" before the next group of visitors came by to steal away Ryan's attention.

Overall it was nice to see the place re-arranged, I thought the layout was welcoming and the new bar and chairs were comfortable. The artwork changes periodically keeping the walls and space fresh and inviting AND the tasting menu changes often!

In keeping up with social media, they update events and tasting menus almost daily on Facebook.

Specializing in local wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation, these guys know their stuff and are passionate about sharing their knowledge.

Vino Cruz

725 Front Street #101

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

831-426-8466

Santa Cruz Mountains Vintners Festival

June 4 & 5 Western Side of Santa Cruz Mountains

June 11 & 12 Easters Side of Santa Cruz Mountains

www.scmwa.com

The Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association is pleased to announce the 22nd Annual Vintners' Festival "A Taste of the Mountains" This years' Vintners' Festival will be held on two consecutive weekends. The first weekend, June 4th & 5the, the festival will be hosted at wineries and restaurants in Santa Cruz County. The second weekend, June 11th & 12th, the festival will be hosted at wineries and restaurants in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Wineries participating in the Vinters' Festival will be pouring from 11:00am to 5:00pm with restaurants closing at 4:00pm.

Saratoga Stroll this Saturday May 21st

Saturday, May 21, from 3pm til 6pm.

Don your best bonnet and come out to enjoy the incomparable charm of Saratoga Village on a spectacular spring day!

Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the unique shops and restaurants of downtown Saratoga, while sipping wines from 18 local wineries, many of whom may be new to you: Big Basin Vineyards, Dancing Creek, Jazz Cellars, House Family Winery, Generosa, King’s Mountain Vineyard, Loma Prieta Winery, MJA Vineyards, Naumann Vineyards, SKOV, Stefania, and Villa del Monte. Bid on unique magnums and wine lots from Cinnabar Winery, Burrell School, Cooper-Garrod, Guglielmo, Mountain Winery, Savanah-Chanelle, Stefania, and Poetic Cellars.

Feast your eyes on art, jewelry and painting demonstrations. Groove to live music by The ONES, Rodrigo Teague and Asher Stern. Indulge in gourmet food by Tabitha and T3, including outrageous jams and sinfully rich chocolates. Treat yourself to a flirty new hat from Black Cat Hat. Dress up any outfit with a colorful corsage from Floral Fantasia. Score some new eyeshades or a roomful of new window shades.

Linger afterwards and dine at one of our world-class restaurants, many of which will offer special dining incentives, including 10% off, exclusively for Stroll patrons that evening.

Tickets will sell out quickly! $35 in advance, $40 day of (if available)

http://www.saratogachamber.org/spring_wine_walk.htm

Winemaker Dinner at Twist in Campbell

Join FOW and Stefania Wine for dinner at Twist!

When: Sunday May 22nd, 6pm
Where: Twist Bistro, 245 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell

Starters: Twist Salad or Onion Soup or Eggs Poached in pinot noir

Main Choices: Tri-tip or Catch of the Day or Chef Dominiques Vegetarian plate

Sweets: Chocolate Mousse or Espresso ice cream or Cheese platter

Paul and Stefania will pour wine from the current release and spend as much or as little time as you like talking about anything and everything.

Members: $60/per person
NonMembers: $70/per person

Cost is all inclusive (food/wine/tax/gratuity)

Checks and menu choices need to be posted no later than Saturday, May 14th

email to cherylmarkman@hotmail.com for the payment mailing address

www.stefaniawine.com

Tasting Notes on Older Wines.

Last night we opened two wine from the 2006 vintage.

2006 Syrah Eaglepoint Ranch. - This is in a really good drinking window right now. The tannins are soft and lots of secondary flavors coming through with the plum and berry fruit. Originally I put a shorter drinking window on this and I think now to 2013 is prime for this wine.

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Uvas Creek Vineyard - The was also really good last night, with round tannins, lots of berry and cherry fruit and a long finish. Worth trying at 5 years old and rounding out really well. There's a nice spice on he finish.

I'm going to open a 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Uvas Creek soon. The 05 and 06 both went through rough patches from age 3 1/2 to 4 when they seemed disjointed without a long decant. The 07 has been the same for a few months now and I want to check if it's coming out of that.

Bottles and Bins Recipes p. 108

I recently acquired a book titled Bottles and Bins Recipes, published by C. Mondavi & Sons: 1965

As I was perusing the titles and the recipes and casually thumbing through it, I came across this poem by Miriam Allen deFord on page 108.

Young Dionysus ranged the earth
To teach the sons of man
A magic of surprising worth --
And vineyards thus began

Now, drainers of the grape-born cup,
Remember him, your guide,
And toast him as you gaily sup
At this glad Christmastide.

And as the old year sinks to rest,
Praise him in draughts of wine
Who gave to all mankind his best --
The secret of the vine!

To a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

Cheers, SR