Why Is Wine Important?
Wine, in itself, is not important. What it contributes and what it allows for are more relevant. Wine is meant for sharing; it allows for and encourages being together to make memories. Every bottle represents the caring and love we have for friends and relatives. Each occasion calls for a type of wine and helps create a setting for mutual experiences and expression of emotions. Wine is an entrée to moments and pleasure to be with one another, and the beauty of wine is an integral part.
What it takes to create that bottle of wine is vastly important. The caring and effort to bring to fruition the magic inside are immense. The people who dedicate their time and energy to each step of the process are very important. The fields that need to be furrowed, the vines that need to be planted, the grafting of each one, and the tender care it takes to have it all flourish are remarkable. The care each plant is given throughout the season requires diligence and competence. The leaf management to ensure that each cluster receives just the right amount of sun and warmth is amazing. What it takes to bring those luscious berries to their fullest expression is a work of art. Then, there is harvest! This is where the challenge takes on a greater relevance as the winemaker begins the journey from grape to bottle.
Robert Biale Vineyards: History in a Bottle
Recently I needed to work with a physical therapist after a knee surgery. (Getting older isn’t easy on a body.) At that time, I had a great therapist in Calistoga, CA; and we started talking about wine (imagine that). She stated that her preference was Zinfandel. I got excited to share and asked. “Have you ever tried Biale?” She looked at me calmly and said, “Yes, that is my last name. My father is Robert Biale.” Embarrassed, I realized I had never looked at her last name. I quickly recovered and shared about my wine blog, my love of Black Chicken, and how I had written about it on the blog. More importantly, though, I told her how I had shared the wine with many, many friends over the years and bought more.
This “small world” experience encouraged me to put a return visit to Biale on my to-do list.
Mayacamas Winery: Beauty Inside and Out
I will admit it, I first visited the Mayacamas Tasting Room in downtown Napa, CA because of the ratings the Cabernet Sauvignon received from credible reviewers. The wine is also a collaborative effort with one of my favorite winemakers, Andy Erickson. Of course, I had to see for myself. That day, what I found was a great Cabernet with wonderful texture and rich flavors. The wise thing to do was to capitalize on the great find and just buy!
Just recently during a visit to Napa Valley, it was time to visit the winery itself, high up on Mt. Veeder. To say the least, the setting was impressive as well as the wine. Our tasting started off with a ride to the top of the mountain via four-wheeler where we could look out over the valley and vineyards. To the south, the San Pablo Bay was quite visible. This body of water provides cool breezes that allow for longer hang times and retention of acidity. All this nurtures the grapes on the vine. It was a gorgeous setting in which to enjoy a taste of the winery’s luscious 2021 Chardonnay. It was a wonderfully crafted wine with flavors of lemon and nuts, refined and bright.
Gallica: A Gem To Discover
Gallica is a small winery located in St. Helena, California (part of the Napa Valley). It is a gem worth revealing to your palate. The owner and winemaker is Rosemary Cakebread, who has produced beautiful wines that are truly worth discovering.
Just recently I had the pleasure to visit for a tasting and be hosted by Rosemary herself – quite the honor given my appreciation for her artistry in developing remarkable flavors in the bottle. Historically she was the winemaker for Spottswoode from 1997 to 2005. Her craftsmanship brought 100 point scores to the winery for their luscious Cabernet. To gain a greater appreciation for her journey, you can find my interview with her on this blog, published in 2015. Rosemary established the Gallica label with her first vintage being in 2007. The name Gallica is inspired by a variety of rose native to southern Europe, and it fits beautifully given the refined Cabernet Rosemary crafts with wonderful aromatics. I am certain she has never looked back given the success that she has had.
Limerick Lane Cellars: A Healdsburg Gem
Just recently, I had the opportunity to visit Healdsburg; and, of course, tasting wine was a priority. Our first stop that day was Limerick Lane Cellars. This winery is located just 5 minutes outside of downtown Healdsburg (which is also a growing culinary town). Limerick Lane is a 53-acre estate located in the northeast corner of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley. It’s in a rustic setting that harkens back to earlier times. The tasting room is quaint and relaxed, and they also offer outdoor seating among the vines. Tastings are by appointment only. On this day, we were in the winery itself as the rain had been falling.
Our host, who l enjoyed greatly, is an experienced wine veteran who loves sharing the wine with his guests. Andy has been at Limerick Lane for over five years and fully appreciates the opportunity to share the fine wines produced at the winery. This is a journey themed by Zinfandel. The vines here are almost 100 years old, and that is a great treat that Andy enjoys sharing with visitors. Zinfandel is a varietal that does well in Sonoma. There are many excellent wineries that produce lovely wines from this grape, and Limerick Lane is one of them.
Hourglass Winery: Time Well Spent
Just recently I caught an article about the best caves in Napa Valley. The very first picture was of the cave at Hourglass Winery. “I’ve been there and have the same picture!” (That picture is below.) Yet that was not the purpose of the visit, it was for the wine. While the beauty of the valley is breathtaking, the wine, in my opinion, is a good part of the heart and soul of it. The winemaker of Hourglass is Tony Biagi, who continues to produce lovely, svelte wine of all varieties.
Access and arrival to the tasting is a bit scarred. The Glass Fire in 2020 had an impact on the production site, so the great beauty lies underground. Met by Marie outside, we had the pleasure to enter the cave and were seated in what you see below. It was a serene and quiet space where the wine itself spoke volumes. Our hostess took us through the wines, starting with the Sauvignon Blanc and progressing through the lovely reds. The standouts were the plush and velvety reds that make a bold statement of “Drink me!” Yes, each sip of the Cabernet called out for more; and this is a label I would highly recommend. The tasting included Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet as single varietal wines. Each was done with finesse and smoothness that is a calling card of the winemaker.
Wayfarer Pinot Noir — The Road to Take!
I recently opened a Pinot Noir that literally stopped me in my tracks. The sweet fruit aromas wafted from the glass and the flavors sailed on through the finish. The aromas and flavors were so compelling that it truly deserved my full attention. The finish sailed on for over a minute and left me really wanting more. It was truly beautiful. This Pinot Noir was a standout.
Wayfarer Vineyards is the baby of Jayson Pahlmeyer who truly has a passion for Burgundian wines. The vineyard itself was brought to Jayson’s attention by Helen Turley and planted by David Abreu. It is located in the Sonoma Coast hills less than five miles from the ocean and bears some gorgeous fruit. The proprietor of the winery now is Cleo Pahlmeyer, Jayson’s daughter.
Rivers-Marie: First Class Wine and Service
Located in the quaint town of Calistoga, Rivers-Marie is a must visit. That is a bold statement yet the wine, the tasting room and the staff are all worthy of that. First and foremost, this is the home of Thomas Rivers Brown’s personal label. He is one of the most highly regarded winemakers in the valley. His credits are wines such as Outpost, Schrader, Maybach, Mending Wall, Pulido-Walker, Hestan, and so on. He has twenty-five 100 point scores for the Cabernets he has crafted and, simply put, that is a record in the valley. All this alone should lead you to taste his personal label wines that do not disappoint.
Secondly, the staff that support this winery are top notch. They are professional, learned and talented. The space is open and expansive as you sit in a wide open space with glass doors at both ends of the tasting room. You can see out to the back which is a private farm (in process of updates). There is a live wall which brings nature in, and all is done in very comfortable seating.
Veraison: What Is That?
Veraison is a pivotal time in the vineyard. It is when the grapes change color and rapidly begin to store sugar. The time is notable, as it is a predictor of harvest. The time for each varietal is variable, yet you can look forward to harvest some 40 to 60 days from veraison.
Veraison itself means “change of color of the grape berries.” For red grapes, it is most obvious when the young green grapes become a red hue. White grapes also change in appearance, they remain green yet become translucent or golden. It never happens all at once for a bunch as you will see in the pictures. (The vineyard in the photos is a cabernet vineyard.) The grapes change color at varying times on the same bunch on the same vine.
The Paring: A Quality Wine for $25 per Bottle
Many people equate quality with price. While it may be a fair assumption sometimes, it does not hold up under all circumstances. In fact, one quest for wine enjoyers could be to find the best wine for the best price. Price, for many, is a hurdle that gets in the way of enjoying many different wines.
Herein lies the opportunity: The Paring is a well-crafted, modestly priced wine to enjoy anytime. The vineyards are located in Santa Ynez in Santa Barbara County. The winemaker is Matt Dees who skillfully makes JONATA, The Hilt, and The Paring. (For my Midwest friends, he is from MO.) This property is a “sister” to Screaming Eagle as both wineries are owned by the same individual. Matt brings great skill to his craft and delivers on quality. I have enjoyed wines from all three labels for which he is the winemaker and have written about all three labels on the blog before (here, here, and here). The price and quality of The Paring bear repeating.