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

Truckee River Winery - The Highest and Coldest Winery in California

Enjoy wines by the fireplace!

The wine, the fireplace and the good appetizers are three good reasons to stop into the cozy tasting room at the Truckee River Winery on Brockway Road, Truckee.  Allow time to chat with winemaker Russ Jones, and make sure that you taste his Pinot Noir.  It’s a perfect way to end a ski weekend!



Russ Jones, Winemaker

After Russ earned his B.S. in Oenology UC Davis’ famous winemaking program , he worked at a few wineries and returned to his hometown of Truckee. His vision was to source quality grapes, and then bring fruit to Truckee  to take advantage of the high elevation and cold temperatures, naturally cooling the fermentation and slowing down the barrel aging process. “Thus we became the highest and coldest winery in California,” Russ said. “Our focus from the beginning has been to produce handcrafted wines with great structure and finesse.”

At the Tasting Room you can taste and buy these and other wines:

2009 Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir.  Just released, the grapes for this wine comes from the eponymous vineyard in Santa Lucia Highlands. The flavor is of dark berries, cassis, briar and black tea.  There’s a nice mid pallet structure, and medium tannins.   15 percent alcohol.  $45/bottle

The 2008 Reserve Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, just received a Double Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle competition.  This is an ultra velvet, ultra smooth, and complex wine.  13 percent alcohol.  $55/bottle. 

 2011 White Barn Pinot Gris.  A great affordable white wine that is crisp, clean, and with a hint of pear and apple.  Grapes are sourced from the Apple Hill area of El Dorado County, Sierra Foothills.  13.4 percent alcohol.   $14/bottle.

2009 Red Barn Red-Red Table Wine.  A blend of Merlot and Zinfandel, the result is a very drinkable wine that goes well with many dishes.  12.8 percent alcohol.   $16/bottle.

The 2009 Chicago Park Merlot is vinified from grapes grown in the Bear River vineyard  in Chicago Park, Nevada County, Sierra Foothills.  The grapes from this 3200-foot high vineyard results in wine with a concentrated flavor,  a very berry taste and great structure.   13.2 percent alcohol.  $18/bottle.

The Red Barn Red Apres Dessert Wine is a blend of several traditional port varietals.  Tawny, rich and sweet, it goes well with chocolate and strong cheese.  A perfect after-dinner wine!  18.5 percent alcohol.  $18/bottle. 

The Truckee River Tasting room is located at 11467 Brockway Road, Truckee CA 96161.  530-587-4626.  Open 12:00p-7:00p every day

This information first appeared in The Tahoe Weekly newspaper, where I write the Wine Time column, on February 13, 2013   

Meeting Baron Eric de Rothschild and Tasting His Wines

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 locally, 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.