June's Grand Opening for Baiocchi Wines Tasting Room brings “Mr. GST” into the Limelight

Vineyard owner and winemaker Greg Baiocchi is a little shy about claiming the title “Mr. GST”, but it’s apt.  Like a growing number of winemakers, Greg is an advocate of experimentation with creative blends that bring out the sense of place in a wine.  Greg’s co-fermented “G minor” will be one of the sought=after Baiocchi wines during the Grand Opening of their Tasting Room at 82 Main Street in Sutter Creek, CA, on June 1.

Named after Rachmaninoff’s Opus 23 # 5 in G minor, this wine’s GST blend (Grenache Syrah Tempranillo) exemplifies the power and finesse that is Greg’s passion in both winemaking and music.  A professional bass player for many years, Greg tends to gravitate toward complexity in music and wine.   The GST blend, G minor, is the result of Greg Baiocchi’s desire to have his vineyard’s varietals “play well together”.

G Minor (GST)

“G minor is the result of co-fermenting Grenache, Syrah and Tempranillo, three varietals that have been blended together occasionally, mostly two at a time but rarely three at a time.  To my knowledge, they have never been co-fermented,”  Greg says. 

“In this GST wine, the Grenache is the finesse of our G minor, allowing for a softer experience when the wine first hits the palate.  Strawberry and dried cherries with soft lushness, then blue fruits enter as the wine hits the mid-palate.  The wine then finishes with firm earthy tannins, quite a bit of structure and some of the power that comes from huge hands… a wine just like Rachmaninoff would have created if he were a winemaker,”  Greg said.

During the June 1 opening celebration of their new tasting room, winery owners Greg and Sharon Baiocchi are pouring their high quality, small lot wines made from their estate-grown Sierra Foothill grapes.  Featured wines include Baiocchi 2010 Orellana (60% Tempranillo, 40% Grenache), Baiocchi 2010 Grenache Sharon’s Vineyard, gb 2011 G minor (Greg’s unique “GST” blend of 44% Grenache, 32% Syrah and 24% Tempranillo), gb 2012 Neophyte Rose (100% Grenache), and gb 2012 del papa (a co-fermented blend of 70% Viognier and 30% Roussanne).  The Baiocchi family also grows Syrah and Mourvedre in their 12 acre vineyard and will soon be releasing more wines containing those Rhone varietals.

The new Baiocchi tasting room at 82 Main Street, Sutter Creek, CA, joins a growing group of elite wineries that comprise Sutter Creek’s  “Wine on Main” wine tourism initiative to bring wine lovers to this historic Amador County destination for a day or two of tasting enjoyment.  Baiocchi Wines have won many kudos since their first vintage in 2009, including accolades from Jeb Dunnuck (now at Wine Advocate) and The Purely Domestic Wine Report.  Go to www.BaiocchiWines.com for more information.

More about Baiocchi Wines

Greg and Sharon Baiocchi’s passion for making great wine was born from a passion for enjoying it – namely, with friends and family.  As a second career, Greg pursued an education in viticulture and winemaking through the U.C. Davis Extension Winemaking Program and is the Operations Manager of the enterprise.  Sharon handles Marketing and Customer Relations.  The mission of Baiocchi wine is to produce premium, small lot wines, and to stay focused on the land, the fruit, the wine, and the life. Baiocchi’s handcrafted wines feature Southern Rhone and Rioja style wines made in the Sierra Foothills with Baiocchi estate grown grapes. Greg is known in the California wine industry as “Mister GST” for his pioneering blends of Grenache, Syrah and Tempranillo.

Incredible Wine-Dine Experience at Tahoe's West Shore Cafe

NV Billecart-Salmon
Brut Reserve Champagne

I always have such an incredible wine experience when I do a tasting at the West Shore Café.  What makes me feel good about sharing that information with you is that I know all customers are treated equally – and that is, with elegance, attention to detail, and concern for the customer and his palate.

“It’s an elegant tradition to start a meal with a Champagne toast,” noted our host.  We began with NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve from Champagne, France.  This Champagne is mostly Chardonnay, with a nice clean and refreshing taste of green apple fruit and some floral flavors too.  The tiny bubbles deliver a nice acidity and great balance.  12 percent alcohol. $69 the half-bottle.

Freeman Ryo-Fu
Chardonnay

 

 

Our starters, the Dungeness crab fritter and a gnocchi with hedgehog mushrooms and truffles, definitely called for a Chardonnay.  The 2010 Freeman Ryo-Fu Chardonnay from Russian River Valley was perfect.  Ryo-Fu, translated from the Japanese, means “cool breeze” and yet this wine is ripe and fruit-forward as the grapes had a chance to mature in August of that foggy 2010 summer.  An aroma of peach and pear leads to subtle fruit flavor including pear and anise, tropical tones of pineapple and mango, and the finale is a rich and mouth-filling and lingering finish.  14.1 percent alcohol.  $15 the glass, $56 the bottle.

The 2011 McKinlay Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon, was a Burgundian-styled Pinot Noir that paired magnificently with both the cauliflower steak and the King salmon.  The McKinlay family, with over a hundred years experience farming in Oregon, have produced a juicy wine that is a classic Pinot Noir.   The aroma of currant and cherry is followed by a silky mouthfeel and flavors of black fruit and spice. It has a nice sweetness and a good refreshing finish.  12.5 percent alcohol.  $14 the glass/$50 the bottle.

Another excellent pairing with the main courses was the Carol Shelton 2009 Old Vine Zinfandel, Wild Thing, from Mendocino County, is a blend of 78% Zinfandel, 12% Carignane,7% Petite Sirah and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon  This winemaker, called the “Queen of Zin”, writes on the winery website:  “This wine is dangerously good.  Aromas of black cherry, plum and raspberry fruit combine with a beautiful hint of vanilla-oak loveliness, smoothly textured in mouth, very creamy and round, the finish is long and has lush jammy fruit”.   14.5 percent alcohol.  $12 the glass/$44 the bottle.

The West Shore Café  is on the lakefront adjacent to Homewood Mountain Resort, at 5160 West Lake Boulevard in Homewood.  Phone 530 525 5200 for reservations.  More information at www.WestShoreCafe.com

p.s. those of us who are fortunate enough to live a short distance from this wonderful restaurant and its great outdoor bar/patio on the lakeshore do honestly believe that "The West Shore is the Best Shore."   

This information first appeared in The Tahoe Weekly newspaper, where I write the Wine Time column, on May 23, 2013.   

Great Wine Tasting Experience at the Ferry Building Wine Merchant

The summer season is just around the corner, which for me means shifting primary attention from the Bay Area wine scene and concentrating on the tasting and pairing excitement to be had in the Sierra Foothills and at the Lake.  But before that happens, I’d like to do a “shout out” for the consistently good experience of tasting at the Wine Merchant in the Ferry Building, San Francisco.  This very good shop is a welcome part of the food excitement and farmer’s markets which center at the Ferry Plaza. Recently my friend Johan and I sampled several wines plus yummy cheeses and meats that equaled a fine light meal for two.  Total cost,  $42.50. 

The Wine Merchant offers a great selection of wines to taste in four sizes:  2 ounce, 5 ounce, 375 ml carafe, and full 750 ml bottle.  When you see the prices below, they are in that order.

I started with a white wine, the 2012 Hawley Viognier, Sonoma.   I’ve visited this winery in person several times, and appreciate the dedication that the father and his sons have to the art of winemaking and grapegrowing.  This vintage, bottled in March 2013, has flavors of tangerine and peach, and aroma of tropical fruit and orange blossom. It’s a light floral wine, a classic Viognier, and Hawley ferments it in neutral French oak to add body and richness.  13.9 per cent alcohol.   Prices:  $5, $10, $19, $33.

It paired well with two cheeses from Oxbow Market:  the Two Rock Valley, a raw goat milk hard cheese from Petaluma, CA, and the Boorenkaas, a type of farmhouse Gouda cheese from Holland.

The 2009 Viala Mattes Sabran Corbieres from Languedoc-Rousillon, France, is a somewhat dry red wine that is also juicy and smooth.  The taste is of black fruits and the aroma has a hint of licorice and Asian spices.  It is a nice blend of Syrah, Mouvedre and Grenache.  14 per cent alcohol.  $4, $7.25, $13.25, $22.

To pair, I enjoyed a mild coppa from Molinari, and also Hobb’s wine cured salame. 

Finishing with a wine that supports a good cause, the 2010 Hirsch FPWM Cuvee is a Pinot Noir from Sonoma that carries the FPWM (Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant) designation.  This special blend from Sonoma is quite good, with bright fruit, a nice acidity, and is both delicate and complex.  A portion of each sale is contributed to the San Francisco Food Bank.   13.6 per cent alcohol.  $5.75, $12.25, $24.75, $38.

This information first appeared in The Tahoe Weekly newspaper, where I write the Wine Time column, on   May 9, 2013.  

Wine Tasting in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Time to get out of town for a while?  You might go to Carmel-by-the-Sea on California’s Monterey Peninsula where everyone is proud of the fact that Wine Enthusiast magazine cited Monterey County as one of the top 10 worldwide wine areas to visit.   While you are there, spend $50 to get a Wine Tasting Passport at the Carmel Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (San Carlos Street between 5^th and 6^th). 

A short walk takes you to lovely tasting rooms with the opportunity to experience wine flights of local estate-grown still and sparkling wines.  You can visit Caraccioli Cellars, Figge Cellars, Galante Vineyards, Vino Napoli, Scheid Vineyards, Manzoni Cellars and Wrath, with more to be added to the Passport in the future.

 On one lovely spring-like afternoon, I visited two tasting rooms to prep my palate for dinner at one of the many good Carmel restaurants.

Caraccioli Cellars features wines from the 120 acres it farms in the Santa Lucia Highlands.  Their tasting room is located on Dolores Street between Ocean and 7^th Avenue.  Known for its sparkling wines, you can read more at www.caracciolicellars.com.

The Caraccioli 2007 Brut Cuvee is a blend of 60/40 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, vinified in the method champenoise style.  It is fruity, fresh and the two fruits blend nicely to result in a pleasant acidity and soft yeastiness.  12 percent alcohol. $52/bottle.

The Caraccioli 2007 Brut Rose is also a 60/40 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir blend.  It is youthful and powerful, nicely balanced and with a crisp acidity.  This is a favorite for customers as a celebratory wine.  $57/bottle.

The Caraccioli 2008 Pinot Noir is powerful and complex with a peppery zest in addition to the cherry, cassis and licorice flavors.  It has a long and delicate finish.  14 percent alcohol.  $47/bottle.

The Wrath tasting room is just two blocks away, near Carmel Plaza.  They specialize in site-driven Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc from sustainable vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Read more at www.wrathwines.com

The 2010 Wrath Chardonnay from the McIntyre Vineyards has a bright taste of pear and lemon, a great minerality and a nice long finish.  14.6 percent alcohol.  $45/bottle.

The 2010 Wrath Pinot Noir from Pommard 4/777 clones is intensely aromatic, sweet and creamy.  14 percent alcohol.  $35/bottle.

The 2010 Wrath Syrah, KW Ranch, is a cool climate Syrah with a full taste of leather, pepper and smoked meat.  14.6 percent alcohol, $39/bottle.

Learn more about the Wine Walk and other activites at www.carmelcalifornia.org.  Most tasting rooms are open every afternoon.

This information first appeared in The Tahoe Weekly newspaper, where I write the Wine Time column, on April 25, 2013.   

Pairing Wines with Pizza

Donelan Chardonnay,
Columbia Crest Riesling

With all the outdoor work to do at this time of year, I don’t always feel like cooking on weekends.  But I can always make room for a slice of pizza and a good glass of wine.  I’m sharing some of my favorite pairings below, but substitute your favorites!

The relatively-new pizza type, the Hawaiian pizza,  always includes cheese, pineapple and some sort of ham, so it is both rich and sweet.   With this pizza, reach for the Riesling or a Chardonnay.

Last week I enjoyed a glass of 2008 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington State.  This pale yellow wine is easily found in supermarkets and wine shops, costing about $10-12  a bottle.  Winemaker Ray Einberger crafted it with a fusion of Old World and New Work styles.  I liked the flavor of ripe peach and apricot, and the minerality provided enough acid to cut through the richness of the cheese.  12 percent alcohol.  If you can’t find the 2008, try one of the later vintages.

An alternative is a Chardonnay.  I paired my Hawaiian pizza slice with the 2011 Donelan Chardonnay “Nancie” from Sonoma County.  Donelan is a boutique winery; only 825 cases of this wine were produced.  If you can’t find this wine locally,  you can order it on the winery website. The nice minerality of this wine comes from fruit sourced in the higher elevations of Sonoma County.  Aroma of lemon, mandarin and ripe honeydew melon lead to a rich taste with some sweet spices integrated into the fruitiness. $45 the bottle.  13.7 per cent alcohol.

The traditional “meat lovers” pizza with salami, bologna, pepperoni, beef etc simply cries out for a big red wine.   Two wines I enjoy with this type of pizza are a Chianti classic and a Zinfandel.

The Santa Margherita Chianti Classico 2007 hails from Tuscany and has a great rich mouthfeel and the juiciness you expect from a Tuscan wine.  Plum, dark berry, maybe a hint of chocolate characterize this wine.  $18 the bottle, 13 per cent alcohol.

Or try the readily-available RavensWood Vintners’s Blend Zinfandel 2008, California.  This yummy Zin just bursts with  bright berry flavors like blueberry and raspberry, and that’s followed with layers of flavor with nice tannins and a warm finish.  I am fond of the winery’s motto:  “No Wimpy Wines.”  $18 the bottle, 14 per cent alcohol.

If you are a fan of Santa Margherita pizza and enjoy it herbal taste, you don’t want a wine with a lot of acidity.  Try a dry rose.

This information first appeared in The Tahoe Weekly newspaper, where I write the Wine Time column, on April 11, 2013   

Atlantis Casino hosts Incredible Winemaker Dinners

The Spirited Dining series offered in the Atlantis Casino Resort, Reno, is without question one of the best winemaker events anywhere.    I am fortunate to attend some wonderful winemaker events every year, but the winemaker series here is without question the best.    Recently,  Silver Oak Cellars wines were paired with Bistro Napa’s extraordinary cuisine.  Sommelier Christian O’Kuinghttons presides over impeccable service.  Atlantis Casino offers winemaker dinners every month at either Bistro Napa or the Steakhouse.   One word: GO.

 We began with the Twomey Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc, paired with a smoked and seared day boat scallop.  This 2001 Sauvignon Blanc carries the Napa designation as fruit is 65 percent Napa and 35 percent Sonoma.  The Napa fruit gives a great balance of citrus and mineral elements, and Sonoma fruit contributes guava and tropical notes.  Pineapple, a creaminess, and a freshness characterize this wine on the palate.  13.9 percent alcohol.   This vintage is sold out.  There may be some left to taste at Bistro Napa.

The Twomey Russian River/Alexander Valley 2010 Pinot Noir was paired with a house made charcuterie plate.  Twomey’s tasting notes match with my experience:  “dark ruby-red hue and a nose of blueberries, blackberries, red currants, fresh rose petal, violets and a hint of spearmint. On the palate, it has a refined attack with a beautiful balance of fruit and floral influences, a silky mid-palate and a fruit-sweet finish that lingers for minutes.”  13.6 percent alcohol.   $50 at the winery.  www.twomey.com

Charcuterie plate

 

 

 

 

 

The 2006 Twomey Napa Valley Merlot was delicious with a lobster-chicken roulade.  One of California’s few single-vineyard Merlot wines, it’s vinified with a Bordeaux technique that results in soft tannins, a crystal-clear clarity, and heightened aromas of black cherry and dark chocolate.  Taste is spicy and full-bodied with the berry fruit showing through.  14 percent alcohol.  2006 vintage is sold out, but the 2008 vintage is available.

Lobster-chicken roulade

The New York Strip steak was paired with two wonderful Silver Oak red wines:  The 2008 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.   The 2008 Alexander Valley is a rich full-bodied wine with great tannins and a lovely mouth-feel.  Garnet colored, with an aroma of ripe boysenberries and dark chocolate.   $70/bottle.  The 2007 Napa Valley has aroma of sandalwood and cedar, with additional sensation of black cherry, dark chocolate and roasted coffee.  Nicely concentrated fruit and spice with a slight tannin structure.    $115/bottle    Both are 13.9 percent alcohol.

The Spirited Dining events at Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, Reno, are an excellent way to taste fine wines and great cuisine in an atmosphere of exceptional service.  Reserve at 775.824.4111.  More information at www.atlantiscasino.com

This information first appeared in The Tahoe Weekly newspaper, where I write the Wine Time column, on March 28, 2013   

Wines to Enjoy at Cottonwood - Truckee, CA (Lake Tahoe) Iconic Restaurant

The winter view from Cottonwood’s windows is Wonderland-like, the summer view helps you appreciate the great railroad industry that was so important to the growth of California, but most of all the ambiance and high service level make this Truckee iconic restaurant a favorite place to taste wines and pair them with good food.

Chris St. Martin is the wine expert there, and he assures that waitstaff is given the opportunity to taste and learn about wines so that diners will have a good wine experience.

Goose Ridge and
Tortoise Creek wines

A good way to begin experiencing Cottonwood’s wine list is with the Toad Hollow “Amplexus” Cremant Brut, a great dry sparkler, non vintage, that is a blend of Chardonnay, Mauzac and Chenin Blanc.  I like the tiny bubbles and long finish with a pleasurable mouthfeel.     12 percent alcohol.  $9/glass, $44/bottle.   Perfect with the house-made gnocchi.

The New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, 2011 Mohua from Marlborough, features ripe peach and apricot flavors, with floral overtones.  It’s a round, smooth wine with a touch of acidity and a luscious mouthfeel.  12 percent alcohol.  $8/glass, $31/bottle.  

The 2010 Souverain Chardonnay from California’s North Coast is a classic, and the winemaker’s notes give some history and background:  “In 1944, Souverain founder J. Leland Stewart began making wine in California's North Coast. This Chardonnay follows his tradition, sourcing fruit from cool-climate sites in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties, yielding a complex wine with bright tropical and stone fruit flavors.” 13.9 percent alcohol, $10/glass, $39/bottle.   If you like vegetables, be sure to try it with the carmelized brussel sprouts for a terrific pairing.

The 2010 Tortoise Creek Zinfandel from Lodi is a sustainably grown wine that offers a rich flavor profile. It is a blend of is a blend of 90% Zinfandel, 5% Tannat and 5% Petite Syrah with a spicy, cherry like bouquet.  I tasted sweet berries too, and a bit of black currant and plums.  The finish had some vanilla and toastiness.  14.5 percent alcohol.  $7/glass, $27 bottle.  It pairs well with Cottonwood’s malbec-braised shortribs.  Yum!

The 2008 Goose Ridge “G3” blend from  Washington State’s Columbia Valley delivers a nice dollop of tannin in a full-bodied inky red wine.  The blend is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 24% Syrah.  The fruit flavors include black cherry, plum, raspberry and dried berries, and a hint of cola and molasses too.  14.2 percent alcohol.  $9/glass, $35/bottle.

Cottonwood Restaurant is located at 10142 Rue Hilltop, Truckee, off Brockway Road, Old Highway 267.  Call for reservations at 530 587 5711.

This information first appeared in The Tahoe Weekly newspaper, where I write the Wine Time column, on March 14, 2013   

 

Tasting with Baron Eric de Rothschild

A great way to learn about a wine is to meet the owner of a winery who is involved in every aspect of producing the wine, from selecting the vines, to determining the use of the land, to giving the go-ahead for harvesting, to tasting, tasting and tasting.   And when this person is Baron Eric de Rothschild of the famous Bordeaux winery Chateau Lafite, it’s a very interesting learning experience indeed.

Lafite is one of the leading wines in the world, sought after by wine connoisseurs.   In 2012 in France, a bottle of Chateua Lafite Pauillac grand cru reached the price of 936 Euros, or roughly $1300.  Wisely, the company has used its great reputation to create a collection of wines under the umbrella of Domaines Barons de Rothschild.   Since 1974, they have moved from producing wine at only one Bordeaux Chateau to several Bordeaux Chateaux, acquired an estate in Chile, entered into a partnership in Argentina, acquired a property in the Languedoc region of South France, and are looking at producing in China too. 

At the Agribusiness Seminar at Harvard Business School in January, Baron Eric selected three wines for our group’s dinner, all readily available.

 2008 Bordeaux, Chateau Duhart-Milon, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite),  from the Paulliac region of Bordeaux, France.  This classic Bordeaux blend has delicate aroma of blueberry and cedar, and hints of smokiness.  It is delicate on the palate too, with black currant and cedar flavors.  13.7 percent alcohol.  Internet prices between $80-100.

2009 Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec blend, Bodegas Caro, Domaines Barons Rothschild & Nicolas Catena, Argentina.  A dense, complex wine with good tannic structure.  The lingering tannin gives the wine good length and a pleasant, soft mouthfeel.   Deep, aromatic and with very appealing intense fruit.   14.5 percent alcohol.     $35-40 internet price.

2011 Reserve Speciale Bordeaux Blanc, Domaines Barons Rothschild, France.  The blend is 40/60 Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.  On the nose, the wine is aromatic, dominated by aroma of tropical and citrus fruits like grapefruit and lime. Sauvignon grapes give flavor and liveliness, while the Semillon grapes give fullness and balance at the end.   12 percent alcohol.   $15 internet price.

To taste Rothschild wines in the Lake Tahoe area, stop into L'uva Bella Wine Gallery at 13925 South Virginia St. in Reno.  Not long ago, they did a pouring of five Rothschild wines, none costing more than $19 a bottle:  Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc, Chile; Bordeaux Blanc,  Baron Rothschild Collection, France;  Chateau Paradis Casseuil , France,  Bordeaux  (red blend); Amancaya Malbec , Argentina, a 70/30 blend of Malbec and Cabernet; and Los Voscos Cabernet ,  Chile. 

This information first appeared in The Tahoe Weekly newspaper, where I write the Wine Time column, on February 28, 2013   

Baiocchi Wines joins 7 elite Brands in Sutter Creek with its new Tasting Room

Baiocchi Wines Opens New Tasting Room in Sutter Creek

Greg Baiocchi, hammer in hand and ladder underfoot,
puts the finishing touch on the
Baiocchi Tasting Room sign,
at 82 Main Street, Sutter Creek, CA.n

Directions for wine fun beginning on June 1: Set your GPS for N38 23.58204 W120 48.14621 or just get on picturesque Route 49 in Amador County, CA. Head for Gold-Rush-historic Sutter Creek, and stop at the tasting room of Baiocchi Wines at 82 Main Street, Sutter Creek, CA.

During the June 1 Grand Opening Celebration of their new tasting room, winery owners Greg and Sharon Baiocchi will pour their high quality, small lot wines made from their estate-grown Sierra Foothill grapes. Featured wines include Baiocchi 2010 Orellana (60% Tempranillo, 40% Grenache), Baiocchi 2010 Grenache Sharon's Vineyard, gb 2011 G minor (Greg's unique "GST" blend of 44% Grenache, 32% Syrah and 24% Tempranillo), gb 2012 Neophyte Rose (100% Grenache), and gb 2012 del papa (a co-fermented blend of 70% Viognier and 30% Roussanne). The Baiocchi family also grows Syrah and Mourvedre in their 12 acre vineyard and will soon be releasing more wines containing those Rhone varietals. All Baiocchi wines are available for tasting and purchase in the Tasting Room.

The new Baiocchi tasting room joins a growing group of elite wineries that comprise the "Wine on Main" wine tourism initiative to bring wine lovers to this historic Amador County destination for a day or two of tasting enjoyment. Charming hotels and restaurants nearby provide an experience that will provide visitors with a sense of California history and tastes of wine with a true sense-of-place.

Sutter Creek holds an important place in both Gold Rush and California wine history. John Sutter discovered gold in 1848 at nearby Coloma and located his mining camp on Sutter Creek. Sutter said that his work was going well "until three or four traveling grog-shops surrounded me...gold was taken to these places for drinking, gambling etc and then the following day they were sick and unable to work." Times have changed in Sutter Creek, which incorporated in 1913 and is now an exciting tourist and wine tasting destination, featuring eight quality wine brands and appealing tasting rooms. Sutter Creek is located in Amador County, CA, "The Heart of the Mother Lode". The word "Amador" means "one who loves"... in this case, Baiocchi's fine wines.

Baiocchi Wines have won many kudos since their first vintage in 2009, including accolades from Jeb Dunnuck (now at Wine Advocate) and The Purely Domestic Wine Report. Go to www.BaiocchiWines.com for more information.

About Baiocchi Wines

Greg and Sharon Baiocchi's passion for making great wine was born from a passion for enjoying it - namely, with friends and family. As a second career, Greg pursued an education in viticulture and winemaking through the U.C. Davis Extension Winemaking Program and is the Operations Manager of the enterprise. Sharon handles Marketing and Customer Relations. The mission of Baiocchi wine is to produce premium, small lot wines, and to stay focused on the land, the fruit, the wine, and the life. Baiocchi's handcrafted wines feature Southern Rhone and Rioja style wines made in the Sierra Foothills with Baiocchi estate grown grapes. Greg is known in the California wine industry as "Mister GST" for his pioneering blends of Grenache, Syrah and Tempranillo.

For more information:
Greg Baiocchi (aka Mister GST)
Baiocchi Wines
2145 Hidden Ranch Rd.
Fair Play, CA 95684

Tel: 530-957-2121
E-mail : greg (at) baiocchiwines.com

www.baiocchiwines.com

Baiocchi Wines is a proud member of the El Dorado WineGrape Growers Association