Terra Valentine

Spring Mountain

Terra Valentine is a show stopping winery located about 6 miles up Spring Mountain Road from St. Helena.  The winery/tasting room sits at about 2,000 ft. with beautiful views of the mountains and valley floor from the porch.  The winery is a castle-like structure that incorporates looks of both the new and the old; it was originally built in the 70’s but received a significant remodel in the last 5 years. Terra Valentine has two estate vineyards on Spring Mountain: one of the vineyards, Yverdon, sits at about 600 ft. elevation while the Wurtele vineyard stretches up above the tasting room in excess of 2,000 ft.  Terra Valentine also sources grapes from throughout the county as well as from the Russian River for its Pinot. 

Tastings are by reservation only and cost $30.00.  Upon arrival, we were presented with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc until the rest of the group (total of 8) arrived.  Corben was our host and while the facility may have presented itself as one that could be high brow, Corben had a very down to earth nature about him.  Once the whole group arrived, we entered the tasting room where the tastings had been pre-poured along with a tray of nuts and cheeses. The table was set beautifully and the glassware was first class but the tasting was still casual. We tasted a Syrah, a Pinot Noir and three Cabernets including two vintages from one vineyard and one from the other; Corben described each wine thoroughly. As an added bonus, there was some great background music playing, including some favorite SF R&R bands (think Jerry).  We came for the Cabernet (priced from $45 to $65) but went home with some Pinot Noir at $42, although we would have taken anything, as it was all up to par.

Vitals-

3787 Spring Mountain Road

 St. Helena, CA  94574

(707) 967-8340

 http://www.terravalentine.com

Two Expiring Coupons, Two Wine Lovers, Two Wine Bars in Five Days

We are suckers for Groupons and Living Socials for local Wine Bars and had two that were expiring this week.  So we made an afternoon trip to Santa Cruz to the Vino Prima Wine Bar and a weekday evening trip to San Francisco to the Bin 38 Wine Bar Lounge.  And surprise, we liked them both.

Vino Prima is on the Santa Cruz Wharf pretty much at the far end.  Now you may need to know that we think Santa Cruz is one of the great places in the world, but I think nobody is going to tell you that this location is not cool.  We decided we would hit it in the early evening and hang through the sunset and that was a good choice.  We went from a packed beach in front of the Boardwalk to a scene with all the lights glaring on the Boardwalk.  Out the other side is a view to the north of the East Cliff area and the Dream Inn.  There was live music that started at 7:30 so it was a great scene which included the other customers.

 

We had a Pinot Flight and a Cabernet Flight.  The Pinot Flight had a definite standout, the Santa Lucia from Sonnet Vineyards.  Of the three Cabernet’s, probably the Titus stood out.  There are many wines available by the glass as well as quite a few beers.  The Wine Bar has been open three years and there seemed to be quite a few regulars.  The operation is run by an Uncle and Niece team.

Five days later we were at the Bin 38 Wine Bar in the Marina District of San Francisco.  We picked an evening where it was 98 degrees in the East Bay and 59 degrees and socked in fog in San Francisco.  The neighborhood was rocking with no less than five other drinking establishments on the same block.  We managed a seat at the bar and the wine tender was cranking out the wine. Our Living Social provided us two tasting options, a White and a Red.  The winning flight was the White which included a Long Meadow Ranch Sauv Blanc (see 7-13-12 review) and a Swanson Pinot Grigio.  The Red flight was less impressive with the T-Vine Napa Merlot being the standout.  After our flight I had a Horse and Plow Harvester Red which was excellent and reasonably priced.

Bin 38 appears from the street to be a small establishment but it has a couple of protected and well heated outdoor areas.  They have daily specials but one that we will be back for is their Classic Rock Brunch with bottomless Mimosas.

Go to Vino Prima anytime of the year. Sunsets are neat but probably cold foggy days are equally nice.  Go to Bin 38 during the midweek in the evening when you are more likely to get at seat at the bar or like us next time at bunch time during the weekend. 

Vitals:

Vino Prima

55 B Municipal Wharf

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

(831) 426-0750

www.vinoprima.com

Bin 38

3232 Scott Street

San Francisco, CA 94123

(415) 567-3838

www.bin38.com

Long Meadow Ranch Winery

St. Helena (Napa)

We have wanted to stop at Long Meadow Ranch Winery since it opened a year or two ago.  The tasting room/restaurant/bar/grounds complex is located at the south end of St. Helena right across from Tra Vigne.  The site used to contain a nursery and the tasting room itself is located in a refurbished 1874 home.  The actual winery is located at the Long Meadow Ranch which is located in the Mayacama Mountains (the mountains on your left as you drive up-valley).  The vineyards are historic, first being planted in the 1880’s, and range from 900 to 1,300 feet in elevation.  The current owners have owned the property since the late 80’s with vineyards re-established in the late 90’s.

We sat at the bar for the tastings that run $10 and $20.  The higher priced tasting includes the premium Cabernet- EJ Church.  Our wine tasting consisted of Sauvignon Blanc, the Cabernet based Ranch House Red and the standard and premium Cabernet.  All wines were excellent and each tasting got progressively better and the EJ Church at $85 tasted its worth. 

Ed was our host and was someone who seemed really at ease with himself and seemed to be enjoying himself.  My thoughts were that he was possibly the owner but he said no.  He had great knowledge about the whole Long Meadow Ranch operation.  It was Mother’s Day an on this day the tasting for Moms was complimentary.  There were two others pouring and all seemed to be enjoying this day.  In addition to the bar that maybe held 10-12 tasters there were two other private rooms where groups were being hosted.

At the conclusion of the wine tasting, we also tasted some Extra Version Olive Oil that is also produced at the ranch.  You taste it just as you would wine, although in a smaller glass-- so you are really tasting just the olive oil and not the cracker or bread that you normally taste Olive Oil with.

Farmstead is the restaurant located on the property and with it being Mother’s Day there were diners everywhere.  The restaurant is housed in the original nursery barn and serves ingredient-driven American farmhouse cooking.  There is also an outdoor bar with a large outdoor fireplace located between the restaurant and tasting room.

What we like (beside the wine)- The hosts, the history, the grounds

What we bought- The Napa Cab, Sauv Blanc and the Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Vitals-

738 Main Street

St. Helena, CA

(707) 963-4551

www.longmeadowranch.com

Pinot Days- 2012

San Francisco, CA

Since many of us now place Pinot Noir at nearly the same level as Cabernet Sauvignon, the annual Pinot Days is nearly an event not to be missed.  The event takes place at San Francisco’s Fort Mason (SF’s shrine to big time wine events).  Approximately 125-150 wineries were represented pouring from one to five or six different wines.  We went into this event without a specific plan other than a time limit.  I mentioned previously that we are not spitters so the time limit is essential.  We have seen people hammered at these events and it is not pretty.  The first wine tasted was a MacRostie from Carneros/Sonoma.  It was excellent.

It seems like the Santa Lucia Highlands (Monterey County) is where a growing and growing number of wineries are sourcing their Pinot grapes.  Several wineries were pouring either a Gary’s or Rosella Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot, a couple of the more popular Santa Lucia vineyards.  Certainly though, the Russian River, Carneros and Anderson valleys were all well represented at the event.

Some of the highlights for me were:  Both Pinots being poured at Goldeneye (Duckhorn), one from the Russian River and one from Anderson Valley were excellent.  I also liked the wine being poured by August West, Bernardus, Furthermore, Gypsy Canyon, John Tyler (a vertical), Miner, Rex Hill (from Oregon), Robert Sinskey, the Anderson Valley from Roessler (the new Hall Winery sister Pinot brand), Stomping Girl, Thomas George and Tolosa (especially the 1772).  Many of these wineries have tasting rooms and some of them are very good.  The Goldeneye tasting room and back yard are beautiful and at $5.00 a real bargain.  We have also been to Bernardus (Carmel Valley), Thomas George (Russian River) and Tolosa in the Edna Valley and have had good tasting room experiences at all.

A treat at the Pinot event is that since Pinot Noir is the main grape in a lot of Sparkling wines there were a few wineries pouring bubbly including Domaine Chandon and Gloria Ferrer.  A treat was the real French Champagne being poured by JCB (Jean-Charles Boisset).

I think Pinot Days is a great way to spend the day.  Although the event is held as much or more for the trade, those that buy wine in bulk and get in an hour early, it works well for the casual or experienced wine taster also.  I think one of the keys is to be in line when the event opens.  Some wineries, especially newer wineries may only bring in a case of wine that may run out before too long.  I think any plan can work.  One could have started just with the Oregon wineries or you could start with new wineries and ones you are not familiar with or you could just do the ones you are familiar with and know you like already.  Its fun any way you do it.

Vitals:

Pinot Days

Ft. Mason, San Francisco

Every Year- Mid June

www.pinotdays.com