Wine
California Wine Regions
Hopefully, this doesn't make us sound like a lushes, but Karen and I love
wine. Now I should explain that I'm not a wine expert. I can't identify
wine region and appellation by taste. I can't discern multiple flavors
in a single sip. Then again I don't have to spit my wine out after I taste
it. I just know what I like.
Since we're lucky enough to live in California, which has a bounty of
good wine, we go wine tasting fairly frequently.
Here is a fairly brief description of some (more pop up every day) of
the wine regions in California and why they are worth experiencing.
Gold Country Wineries
This is a little far afield from the Bay Area, but it makes
a nice weekend trip. There are a number of wineries in the Calaveras County
area which make rich hearty reds.
The area is best visited in the fall when the leaves are turning or
in the late winter/early spring when the hills are green and alive with
wildflowers. It can get hot and dry in the summer.
Monterey and Santa Cruz Countries
This is one of my favorite wine regions and I never fail to
buy several bottles when I visit. The Chardonnays are rich and buttery.
And here I admit, I'm a Californian, I want butter and vanilla in my whites.
The reds tend to be round and full without too many bitter tannins. I particularly
like the Cabs Sauvs and Pinot Noirs.
Most of the wineries are small family owned facilities, which only sell
their wines locally. Buildings tend towards rustic Americana rather than
faux French chateaux. As an added bonus, many of the wineries face gorgeous
mountain vistas or are folded into redwood forests. Bring a picnic lunch
and be prepared to laze away the day.
The best time of year to visit is late spring/early summer. Which is
fortunate because there is a wine festival the first two weekends in June
and many of the wineries, which are not normally open, welcome visitors
for tasting.
Napa Valley
Easily the most famous wine region in California, the Napa
Valley is best visited between Thanksgiving and Easter. Many of the wineries
go all out to decorate for the holiday season. Also, Napa gets hot. And
by this I mean hot in the summer. The heat is part of what makes
the Napa style of wine, but it can fry your brain if you try and wine taste
in it.
Wineries are built in an array of styles from the French countryside
to Assyrian palaces. And many wineries have convenient places to picnic.
A word of warning, because Napa is the most famous wine region in California,
the wines can be more expensive. Most wineries charge to taste.
When driving, use the Silverado Trail to start and then criss cross
back and forth across the valley. The Silverado Trail is a little smaller
and has less traffic than Hwy. 29. Also, you'll spend less time driving
by Condo complexes with wine related names and more time surrounded by
vineyards.
Paso Robles
This area makes seriously tasty wine. When we went through,
we bought wine at almost every winery we went visited. Many of the wineries
are located between San Luis Obisbo and San Simeon. Visit Hearst castle
then visit some wineries. Try visiting in the late summer, fall, or late
spring when the weather is a little warmer and there is less fog. Note:
Central coast summers are freezing, cold, and foggy.
Sonoma County
Sonoma is right next door to Napa and is kind of Napa's younger
sibling.
Wineries tend to be fairly low key with good wine. I always end up buying
reds and desert wines when I'm in Sonoma. The reds have allot of flavor
and spice. I once tasted a Cab Sauv which actually had chocolate flavors.
The desert wines are well, sweet. Good Gerwurtraminers. A fair number of
late harvest wines which manage to be sweet without being syrupy. A number
of the wineries on the Western end (particularly the Russian River area)
make good Champagne. Oh, sorry Sparkling Wine. (Only Sparkling Wine from
Champagne in France is champagne. Whatever.) Wineries that make champagne
tend to do several varieties from fruity to dry so there is plenty to compare.
Be sure to visit the city of Sonoma. There is winery right off the main
plaza. Visit the mission, drink some wine, laze in the park. It's all good.
|
