Italian wines generate huge profits in the U.S., partly due to our fascination with their food and the quality of their wine. There are times when one has to travel to Italy to find their great wines, other times they come to you.

February always brings the L.A. Italian Wine Gala, targeting mainly clientele from the restaurant industry and affording wine writers an opportunity to be in on the front end of trends in waiting, experiencing wines that will end up on tables in fine Italian eateries.  Aside from tasting new, typically bold Italian red wines, my major takeaways evolved from the discovery of new grapes like negroamaro, cannonau, and prosecco, the odds on favorite to become part of the trendy L.A. lifestyle.

Held annually at Valentino’s Ristorante, Santa Monica’s icon of Italian cuisine, the 2011 Italian Gala featured fewer wineries and guests, a sign that the economy worldwide is still struggling.  Non-sparkling white wines, for my tastes, were also struggling, leaving the more obscure Italian reds to peak my interest.  Keep in mind; the exceptional Tuscan blends that have standing reservations on the major periodical “Top 100” lists are not always featured here. These are mid-priced wines from other regions of the country, vying to be included on restaurant wine lists.

One such wine, Sella & Mosca, Cannonau di Sardegna, DOC 2007, offers a unique story of a famous grape that re-defined itself in the soils of the island of Sardenia.  Origins have the Grenache grape arriving on the island with the Spanish dominance during the 14^th Century. A few centuries later, the Grenache grape continues to express versatility and uniqueness when grown in the Pioret region of Spain, the Rhone Valley of France or California’s central coast.  Illustrating the influence of terrior, the cannonau expressed an earthiness, rare to other Grenache that I have tasted.  Jammy on the nose, the finish was long, retaining the earthy flavors throughout.  The wine retails for $18 and probably would appear on a restaurant wine list under $30.

Little known Negroamaro is a deep ruby, red grape grown mainly in Salento, the heel of the boot that is Italy. Blended with primotivo, an Italian clone of zinfandel, the Marco Maci, Infinito Rosso Negroamaro, Primitivo, Salento IGT 20005 was the most fruit-forward of the red wines tasted.  Surprising fruit and chocolate on the nose was proceeded by a rich, creamy texture with another burst of fruit on the finish. Marco Maci wines appear on many wine lists, a trend that will, without doubt, certainly continue.

Roasts and other red meats are the best food pairing for the Castello di Querceto, Il Picchio, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2007, a Tuscan wine consisting of a hint of canalolo added to the traditional Sangiovese, awarded 90 pts by Wine Spectator magazine.   Although very earthy, the wine is well-balanced with a good flavor profile.

Another notable red from the event was the Castello di Fonterutoli, Badiola Toscana IGT 2008, originating from a historic property in the Chianti region of Tuscany.  The Mazzei family has produced wines in this area for well over 500 years, yet blending 25% merlot to sangiovese is relatively new, mitigating the traditional earthiness and adding balance.  Once again, there were hints of chocolate aromas followed by soft fruit.  Surprisingly, I have found their Castello di Fonterutoli Chianto Classico 2005 in a local wine outlet.

The unique Rocca delle Macie, Sasyr Toscana 2007 offers an odd blend from the Tuscan region, pairing Syrah, a southern Rhone French varietal, with Sangiovese, the traditional grape of the classic Chianti.  The bouquet of the blend was non-existent, the earthy flavors much bolder.

For those who enjoy a glass of sparkling wine, northeastern Italy may offer a new choice. Prosecco is to Italy what Champagne is to France  Grown in appellations in the Veneto region of the country, the prosecco or “qlera” grape, long used to produce the famed “asti spumante”, has been given more respect by producers who have shaped it into a crisp, dry sparkling wine with complex flavors. These improvements and moderate pricing has significantly increased global sales in the past decade.

Tasting prosecco is different from tasting a variety of still wines. As a sparkling wine, the tastes are subtler, almost indistinguishable from each other. Exploring prosecco through three winemakers in the Veneto region was delightfully educational and enabled me to understand appreciate the flavors more.

Well-known winemaker Piera Martellozzo released her Perle di Piera line of moderately priced wines in 2010, the reason they were anxious to introduce them to the Los Angeles market.  Her Piera Martellozzo Perle di Piera “Blue Pearl” Proscecco 2010 revealed pears on the nose and very fruit-forward taste.  Its smooth accessibility seemed appealing to those looking to augment their wine cellars. My sense is that it will appear in many in the near future.

Producing dry sparkling wines sine the late 1980’s, the Astoria Prosecco Valdobbiadene DOCG Spumante Millesimato 2010 was very well-balanced with tremendous aromas, soft yet full-bodied.  Like many from the region, Astoria and other Italian wines carry a DOCG or DOC designation, a quality assurance description tailored after the French AOC.  The Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) designation verifies that the wine was produced in a specified region, using defined methods to assure a quality standard.  The Denominazione di Origine Cntrollata e Garanita (DOCG) takes the standards process to another level, including government analysis and tasting. Wines carrying these designations are identified by a seal at the neck of bottles holding five litres or less.  Always look for the seal and the “black rooster,” denoting quality Chianti Classico from the Tuscan region.

Another sparkling wine producer in the northeast Valdobbiadene region, Belussi was highlighting their Belussi Prosecco DOC, a sweeter wine that is food friendly or can be served as an apéritif. However, the most impressive sparkling wine that I tasted was the Belussi Belcanto Rose’ Cuvee Brut, based from Pinot Noir grapes, expressing great balance with a burst of sweet fruit on the finish.  All the prosecco we tasted were clean and refreshing, but the prospect of a sparkling wine effectively utilizing the “heartbreak” grape was irresistible.

There is an abundance of good quality, good value Prosecco available in the Antelope Valley.  One outlet carried nearly 15 different sparkling Italian wines, all from Valdobbiadene, including the Nino Franco “Rustica” Prosecco Superior, awarded 90 pt. from wine expert, Robert Parker.

I also found one of their familiar, regularly featured wines locally, fostering a fortunate follow-up connection with the gala.  Having just tasted the 2008 vintage at the event, one outlet is offering the Castello di Querceto Chianti Classico, DOCG 2004($24).  My notes of the 2008 speak of a typically earthy wine with mineral hints on the nose, followed by a soft finish of bursting fruit.  This sounds inviting if I say so myself.

Italy remains the largest source of wines imported into the United States, fending off strong competition from South America, Australia and a declining France, whose historic blends are too expensive and are brilliantly replicated in California.  Our continuing love affair with Italian cuisine and the growth in popularity of prosecco has increased our appetites and helped to spur the growth of wine production in many diverse regions.

The L.A. Wine Gala 2001 featured wines from Veneto in the northeast, Salento in the deep south, the islands of Sicily and Sardenia as well as Tuscany.  It is an event that continues to foster old partnerships and forge new ones, as the Italian wine production continues to expand. One such collaboration involves my wife and Valentino’s cappuccino, annually described as the best she has ever tasted.

A few weeks ago, while returning from a Shane Colvin concert in the San Fernando Valley, a conversation regarding all passenger’s sinus/allergy issues ensued leading to the question,  “do we really need them?”   Are sinuses, similar to appendix or tonsils, remnants of our past and can generations in the deep future avoid our irritation?

Curiosity led to a search that revealed the following functions of sinus cavities:  1.Making our voices more piercing, 2. Decreasing the weight of our head, 3. Absorbing blows to the face and 4. Moisturizing incoming air to increase the sense of smell.   As for sinuses impact on our voice, I am reminded that cats do not have sinuses.  There certainly are other, mostly psychological, methods to reduce head size and absorbing fists looses its appeal, as we get older.   Their clear value of moisturizing incoming air is important to our sense of smell, vital to appreciate both the bouquet and flavor of a fine glass of wine.

Those who wonder if a nice fruit or floral bouquet influences the taste or vice versa should understand that they are one in the same.  The wonderful aroma of a spicy tomato bisque soup is not present when we have a cold.  However, once the stuffy head passes, we often initially analyze the same tomato bisque by first smelling it.  Analyzing a glass of wine begins with our eyes, exploring it’s color and clarity, then the bouquet or “nose” using the “ol sniffer” followed by the flavor, which involves the combination of our nose and mouth, the nose actually more dominant.

Jancis Robinson, in her book, “How To Taste,” analyzes flavor e-mails to the brain to describe “what is tangible, the liquid or solid that comes into contact with our tongue and the inside of our mouth, and what is vaporized, the invisible gas that is given off by the substance.”  Go figure.  Although drinking wine may not cure our sinus problems, it certainly will exercise what is good about them.  Sinus sympathies have evolved into, “just suck it up.”

Hopefully it is now clear that the reasoning to “nose” wine before tasting is based on the fact that vapors solely on the nose differ from those combined with the tongue.  This leads to the need for wine glasses large enough to cover the entire nose.  Did you think you could capture the full essence of vapors from a southern San Luis Obispo County Syrah by simply placing a portion of the glass under your nostrils? One either thrives to totally enhance the vapor experience or ‘wimps out” by proceeding directly to the oral analysis.

Experience with “nosing” wine and learning to identify aromas naturally extend in to other things.  For example, I buy natural, loose Asian tea from “Bird Picks” a shop in Old Town Pasadena.  The wonderful flavor of their Royal Jasmine Quya Green still cannot match the extraordinary bouquet initially enjoyed in the store.   The “Bird Picks” tea shop is actually a perfect laboratory to practice identifying distinct aromas before evolving into the subtle distinctions in wine.

Although “terrior” can strongly influence regional distinctions in bouquet, reliable aromas are common to each varietal.   A California Riesling from Navarro Vineyards in Anderson Valley evokes memories of the smell of orchard fruits, jasmine and roses in Santa Clara Valley, aptly illustrated by John Steinbeck in the opening of Call Of The Wild and a good Pinot Noir, the cherry orchards of the Leona Valley.

Once on the palate, the tongue assists us to identify wines as sweet, dry, tannic, acidic, hopefully evolving into terms like well-balanced and full-bodied.  The fermentation process basically involves the transformation of sugar from the grapes into alcohol.  The amount of residual sugar left over determines the eventual sweetness or dryness of the wine.  With white wines, high sweetness levels found in muscato grapes or late harvest wines can drastically change with dry (non-sweet) Chardonnay or champagne.  Varietals such as Viognier, Riesling and the re-emergence of Chenin Blanc have, in recent years, grown in popularity by providing a well-balanced alternative to overly sweet or dry varietals.  Late harvest wines are unique because they add sweetness to traditionally medium dry grapes such as Zinfandel or Pinot Noir by leaving them on the vines nearly to the point they could fall to the ground naturally.  The late harvest Zinfandel, “Liquid Love” from Tobin James Cellars in Paso Robles and the 2001 Bonny Doon Viognier Port are both fine examples of dessert wines often described as “off-dry” rather than sweet.

About 85% of all red wines are identified as dry.  Yet, it is not difficult to distinguish many medium dry California varietals from the extremes of the great wines from Italian regions such as Chianti Classico and Bruenello di Montalcino.  Some of the most highly rated wines from these regions tend to be too dry and earthy for many Californian palates.

Many fans of reds fear descriptive terms such as acidic or tannic, but both are contributors to well-balanced wines, either in the short or long-term.  Acidity offsets sweetness while tannins help preserve wines as the flavors merge over time.  Many of us have experienced strong tannins in coffee or tea, especially when its been in the pot or steeped too long.  Experts often project long-term greatness from wines based on young, overly tannic symptoms, requiring patience and fiscal resources from the consumers.

Most of us prefer well-balanced wines that are readily drinkable with aromas and flavors that are distinct and pair favorable with food.  The following are suggested comparison exercises that can assist in identifying individual aromas and flavors and, hence, what varietals and specific styles best fit your preferences.

#1 The Fiddlehead Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Trio

Kathy Joseph, owner/winemaker of Fiddlehead Cellars in Lompoc, also obsessed with the search for the perfect Pinot Noir, has developed three separate Sauvignon Blanc wines, each pushed in different directions.  A few years ago, I had the opportunity to sit with her while we compared “Hunneysuckle”, “Goosebury” and “Happy Canyon,” three Sauvignon Blanc varietals from various vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley, each providing uniqueness in the tasting experience.  The warm region Happy Canyon grapes are permitted to ripen more fully and, with minimal oak influences, to create a more tropical, rather than citric fruit flavors.  The slightly acidic “Goosebury,” combining orchard and tropical fruit flavors with little oak influences, pairs best with food, specifically seafood.  The “Hunnysucke,” aged in French oak, provides more complex flavors and can stand alone without the influences of food.  Another comparison is that of a California Sauvignon Blanc against one from the Marlborough region of New Zealand, both readily available from local outlets.

Sauvignon Blanc ranges from light, fruity to medium- bodied oak influences, with melon, vanilla on the nose and palate and best served with seafood or mussels.

#2 The California Pinot Noir comparison

Pinot Noir grapes in California are generally found in Santa Barbara, Monterey, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.  All similar due to their proximity to coastal influences, distinctions lie, for the most part, in the soil and micro-climates that enhance minerality and certain flavors.  A comparison among appellations would be fun, especially including our local Leona Valley Winery, who’s Pinot Noir has less coastal influence than most.

Pinot Noir mostly provides elegant black cherry and berry flavors that range from lighter colored, spice enhancements to darker full-bodied a bit more jammy and riper.  Pairs well with pork, salmon and any dish using loads of mushrooms.

#3 French verses California Chardonnay

Arguments over the merits of oak-driven California Chardonnay and French White Burgundy have brewed continuously since 1976 with many of our wineries adopting the French method, preferring stainless steel over, ironically, our traditional French oak.  For serious tasters, I recommend comparing two Santa Rita Hills wineries near Lompoc.  Located next to each other along Highway 246, the Melville Winery Clone 76 “Inox” (French for stainless steel) and the Foley Estate “Barrel Select” Chardonnay, both tremendous wines offer as much distinction that can be found.    The former is crisp, acidic with citric blossom on the nose and tropical flavors and the latter has a balanced acidity enhanced by nuances of orchard fruit, vanilla and brown sugar.  Another option is a comparison of a locally available Chardonnay such as the Merryvale “Starmount” with a French White Burgundy from the Loire Valley.

Chardonnay is a popular dry wine with aromas and flavors of orchard (pear, apple) and tropical/citric (orange, pineapple, grapefruit) fruits ranging in texture from light and crisp to creamy vanilla.  It pairs well with seafood like scallops, salmon, avocado and cheeses.

#4 California Syrah verses Australian Shiraz verses Rhone Syrah verses South African Shiraz.

There is no difference between the Shiraz and Syrah grape, its origin traced back to Persia.  French Syrah from the northern Rhone Valley is typically spicy and fruity with plenty of tannins, slow to age while California Syrah generates plenty of spice in the cooler climates and more raspberry, cherry in warmer regions.   Due to climate and winemaking techniques, the Shiraz from Australia and South Africa are much bolder.  “Coolthink” blog (2-15-2007) compares the two as beret to cowboy hat,  Formula One to NASCAR, Sunset Blvd to Avenue Q and “Free Wheelin Bob Dylan” to ‘Blood On The Tracks.”   A close comparison would probably require a reminder that they are the same grape.

Syrah is grown in many California regions from Santa Barbara to Mendocino Counties with aromas and flavors of white pepper, clove and berry jam ranging from medium-bodied (mostly blended) to full-bodied and tannic, generally served with lamb, sausage and, in the most decadent scenario, chocolate.

Wine, known for volatile vapors and subtle, but abundant flavor distinctions requires our full attention and the use of most of our senses.  Look at it, smell it, touch it and taste it.  Your sinuses will be the better for it.

Last month, we participated in a tasting sponsored by Le Cercle Rive Droite grand Vins de Bordeaux (The Right Bank Circle of Great Bordeaux Wines) featuring appellations east of the Gironde River such as Pomeral, Saint Emillion, Fronsac, and Castillion.  Founded in 2002 to further assure quality and market new vintages, the organization represents 139 chateaux, 31 of which were present at the tasting held at Camponile Restaurant near La Brea and Wilshire Blvd.

Arguably the world’s most famous wines come from Brodeaux in western France, along the Gironde River as it navigates toward the Bay of Biscay.  The river plays an important role in defining Bordeaux wines.

The French were leaders in establishing strict standards to their wine regions, regulating varietals, farming techniques and appellation identification.  All Bordeaux wines are blends of, primarily, dominant Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot with support from Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot and Malbec. This is where the Gironde River plays an important role in defining the “leader of the pack” on the regional wines.

Wines produced in vineyards west (Left Bank) of the river use Cabernet Sauvignon as the dominant grape and those on the eastside (Right Bank), merlot.  A typical blend from the Right Bank might include 45% merlot, 25% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc, 10% petite verdot and 5% malbec. Reverse the merlot and cabernet sauvignon and you have a Left Bank Brodeaux wine.

The Le Cercle Rive Droite Grand Vins de Bordeaux event introduced us to vintages 2008 through 2010 of those Right Bank, merlot-based blends.  Comparisons can be fun but it soon became apparent that vintages 2008 and 2009 were set up to showcase their prized vintage 2010.  Many of those pouring wine recommended that we start with the newest vintage.

My tasting began with the Chateau de Laussac Castillon/Cotes de Bordeaux, Vintages 2008-2010, produced from very old vines and traditional vinification methods. The 75% merlot-25% cabernet blend goes through the malolactic fermentation process in thirsty new oak barrels, a method that helps insure a more accessible flavor and balance to the wine.  Although vintage 2010 had minimal bouquets related to the others, the flavors were very forward and concentrated with hints of vanilla and well-balanced acidity presenting the option of drinking now or later. I am beginning to understand why Bordeaux is quite anxious to showcase the vintage 2010, a source of pride to the region.  It will be interesting to discover if this trend persists in other wines.

From the Fronsac appellation, the 16^th Century Chateau de la Dauphine now produce merlot and cabernet franc on the same vines in heavy limestone soil. One would expect an 80% merlot blend to be soft and accessible, but the Chateau de la Dauphine Fronsac Vintages 2008, 2010 delivered more concentrated fruit than anticipated with vintage 2010 bringing a soft minerality throughout a very long finish.

Another local estate, Chateau Fontenil Fronsac ($40-55) creates a heavily merlot-dominant blend amid the limestone that, in past years, has received consistent ratings in the low 90 pt. range. Vintage 2008 had very expressive fruit on the nose and soft tannins.  Resolved that it needs more time on the bottle, vintage 2010 still conveyed nice spicy herb bouquet and highly concentrated fruit.  If you can find a bottle, decant it.  Some research revealed that K&L Wines (www.klwines.com) is selling futures for vintage 2009, with delivery anticipated in late 2012.

The malolactic fermentation process, through the introduction of lactic acid eating bacteria to the barrel, is designed to balance the acid in the wine, exposing more concentrated fruit flavors.  One result of the process, the Chateau le Bon Pasteur 2010, from the Pomerol appellation, was, without question, the most balanced and flavorful wine at the event.  One should expect a burst of fruit and spice on the nose followed nice earthy mushroom flavors.

Also from Pomerol, the dark, inky colored Merlot-blend, the Clos L’ Eglise Pomerol 2010 offers very accessible, well-balanced flavors at a moderate price. We next tasted a flight of three vintages, 2008-2010, of the Chateau Fayat Pomerol, each with strong berry flavors and a long finish.  The vintage 2009 stood out with a nice rose petal nose.

My favorite wine of the entire tasting was a wonderful Merlot-dominant Chateau Barde-Haut Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2008 which had everything one could expect from a Bordeaux blend, very dark color, hints of lavender aromas, mild tannins, and abundant berry flavors that linger well after spitting.  The representative explained that it was occasionally available at K&L Wines in Hollywood, something to watch for.

French winemakers in all the regions hold the utmost respect for the soil. Whether it consists of river rock, limestone, red sandstone or clay, recognizable impacts from the soil are evident in all flavor profiles.  With only 10% Cabernet Franc, the Chateau Rol Valentin Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2008 combines grapes grown in both sandy and clay soils. The result is a very fruit-forward wine that maintains complex flavors through the finish.

The vintage 2010 Chateau Siaurac Lalande de Pomerol, a medium-bodied blend, was very smooth and accessible with dominant black cherry flavors in comparison to the very earthy vintage 2008, my choice, with flavors of fresh herbs and mushrooms.

Our afternoon concluded by sampling vintage 2008 and 2010 of the Chateau Vray Croix de Gay ($60), a red blend that is consistently rated in the low to mid-nineties.  Both wines produced very concentrated fruit and were well-balanced.  The vintage 2010 emerged for me as a very masculine wine, preceded by nice perfumed aromas.  A momentous ending to a very informative event.

Purchasing Bordeaux wines can be a bit tricky.  Since demand often results in investment by U.S. consumers in “futures” to ensure access to the wines. A recent story in Wine Spectator magazines chronicled the quality of vintages 2008 and 2009 as both rich, powerful, yet with very accessible flavors.  Reviews of twenty-three top 2008 red Bordeaux illustrated ratings ranging from 92-94 pts with costs from $45 to $3,000 per bottle.  Another article entitled “Values Across Bordeaux,” is a good starting point in researching Bordeaux wines.  Bottles of interest can be cross-referenced with lists and inventories in wholesale outlets throughout southern California.

Ironically, before this article goes to print, I will have had an opportunity to visit wineries in the Cotes de Rhone, the other great French wine region with appellations from Chateaunef-du-Pape, Girondas, and Vaqueyvas.  These blends consist of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, among the 13 grapes, licensed by the AOC seal of quality assurance and permitted to be grown in the region.  My experience is another future story, but I was able to purchase a bottle for under 20 euros.

The moderate prices of local Rhone-blends are indicative of how much it costs to get it to U.S. shelves.  This was a nice change; given one Euro is valued at nearly one and one half times our dollar.  As a friend said, “Remember, that 10 euro salad is really $14”.  So, the secret of French wines is to taste, purchase and consume them in France, preferably in a beautiful place like Provence, with salami, numerous cheeses, fresh radishes, local olives and bread.

New establishments like Palate Food and Wine generate much of the excitement surrounding the South Brand district in Glendale.  Self-proclaimed as “a restaurant with a wine shop/wine shop with a restaurant”, they also host specialty wine pairing dinners and weekly events like “Tuesday Night Jazz N’ Juice featuring wines from a specific world region followed by nice, local jazz.  We were invited, last month, to a mid-week “Santa Rita Hills, 2011” tasting event for their new releases that led to some out of the ordinary discoveries.  The Santa Rita Hills appellation has earned the prestige that comes with creating consistently great wines.  The status that has experts comparing each vintage, looking for the “one of a lifetime.”

In describing the Santa Rita Hills region to California natives, I begin with its between the Anderson Split Pea Soup restaurant in Buellton and the beach in Lompoc.”  I also add that it is the north side of Point Conception, the only east-west coastal mountain range in California.  The vineyards use heat, wind, fog, and soil to produce Pinot Noir and cool-climate Chardonnay and compete with any region in the world.  Many of the top winemakers were present, but there were enough new unearthings to make it fun and unique.

The Santa Rita Hills appellation is mostly known through its vineyards whose grapes are outsourced to wineries up through the central coast.  Ken Brown Cellars, since 2003, has earned a reputation for producing small lot Pinot Noir from top SRH vineyards like Clos Pepe, Sanford and Benedict and Rio Vista.  The Ken Brown Cellars Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2007 ($38), from multiple vineyards had soft fruits flavors with nice hints of vanilla while the single-vineyard Ken Brown Cellars Clos Pepe Vineyard Pinot Noir 2007 ($50) had much more depth with a nice spice on the finish.

The Richard Longoria “Fe Ciega Vineyard” Pinot Noir is, vintage to vintage, one of the finest from the appellation.  However, the first pour was the 2007 Richard Longoria “Lovely Rita” Pinot Noir ($32), a soft, fruit-forward wine from the Fe Ciega and Rancho Santa Rosa vineyards.  Awarded 90 points by Wine Spectator, “Lovely Rita” is an affordable, very accessible wine that can stand on its own, but lacks the age of their flagship release.  The 2007 Richard Longoria “Fe Ciega Vineyard” Pinot Noir ($50) is a classically elegant, medium-bodied wine with an herbal spice interacting with the dried cherries and vanilla flavor throughout.  Influenced by 35% new French oak, the $50 price tag of the 2007 is softened by its 93-point rating.

My “bolt from the blue” of the tasting was the 2006 Richard Longoria “Clover Creek Vineyard” Tempranillo ($36), the Spanish grape that thrives in the Roija region, between Barcelona and Bilbao.  Atypical to this area, Longoria has found the warmer Santa Ynez Valley as a near ideal terrior for his Tempranillo vines.  His wine is rich in texture, bouquet and flavors with a soft earthiness throughout.  Aside from fine restaurants in the area, all Longoria wines are available at their Los Olivos village tasting room.

About a mile and a half from the 101, west along Highway 246, is the Hitching Post Restaurant, made famous by the film, “Sideways”.  They are known for fine food and a fantastic wine list, but few are aware that they produce their own line of wines.  Chef/owner Frank Ostini and friend Gray Hartley turned a hobby, some thirty years ago, into an annual search for high-end Pinot Noir from some of the celebrated vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills appellation.  This day, they were pouring single-vineyard Pinot’s from the Cargasacchi and Fiddlestix Vineyards, both well represented throughout the event.

The Cargassachi Vineyard is more westerly than any other in the appellation, designating it “the coolest of the cool.”  The Hitching Post “Cargassachi Vineyard” Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2006 ($42) expressed well-balanced flavors with hints of raspberry, benefiting from the softness of the wine.  Fiddlestix Vineyard, along Santa Rosa road near the Fe Ciega Vineyard supplied the grapes for the Hitching Post “Fiddlestix Vineyard” Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2006 ($42), influenced by new oak, a rich, full-bodied Pinot that can even get better in time.

New discoveries are always the best “takeaways” from tasting events, especially taking note of a specific wine like the 2007 Demetria Estate “Eighteen” Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills ($45).  Barrel-aged for 22 months in primarily new French oak, another nine months in the bottle, the “Eighteen” delivers complex bouquets and flavors, floral hints throughout in a rich, creamy package that delights the palate.  It is no wonder that most of my favorite California chardonnay hails from this appellation.

With a deep garnet color and bouquet like a bowl of fresh berries, the 2007 Demetria Estate Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills ($40) adds hints of vanilla and significant oak influence to an intricate flavor profile.  Demetria Estate also produces white and red Rhone-style blends, mainly in the Santa Ynez Valley.  They re worthy of inclusion in any wine enthusiasts “tickler” file.

Kathy Joseph, owner/winemaker of Fiddlehead Cellars, is one of my favorite people from this region and her Fiddlehead “Goosebury” Sauvignon Blanc is, hands down, my favorite of the varietal.  The three Santa Ynez Valley Sauvignon Blancs were left at her tasting room, but at least she was present with three consistently high-end Pinot Noir, two from the Santa Rita Hills and one from Oregon.

The Fiddlehead Cellars “728” Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills 2007 ($42), named after the mile marker at the entrance to Fiddlestix Vineyard, is Kathy’s first Pinot, full of black cherry, plum flavors and a bit of black pepper.  Once the wines are aged for 18 months, the most elegant barrels, silky and rich, are selected for the Fiddlehead Cellars “Lalapalooza” Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills ($75), her premium wine.  A soft minerality accompanies rich dark cherry and berry to form an elegant structure.  My familiarity with this wine never interferes with my anticipation of great flavors.

Unique among winemakers in this region, Kathy produces an  Oregon Pinot, the Fiddlehead Cellars “Oldsville” Pinot Noir ($50), although the grapes are shipped in refrigerated trucks to her Lompoc facility for processing.  While the  Oregon vintage 2008 is getting all the “buzz,” she passed along that vintage 2007 is “opening up.”

The owners of two esteemed vineyards, Cargasacchi and Clos Pepe, were in attendance, pitching their own Pinot Noir releases.  Both vineyards can “sell” a bottle of wine, so logic tells us that the terrior will continue to influence their own wines.  Cargasacchi poured vintages ’07 and ’08 of the Cargasacchi Vineyards Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills, both fruit forward with long finishes.  In my opinion, the ’08 had more depth and a wonderful bouquet.  I would recommend this wine to someone who wants to discover the varietal.

Clos Pepe Vineyards creates Pinot Noir that shows restraint, believing that too much emphasis is placed on the highly concentrated, jammy wines.  That being said, the vintage ’07 and ’09 Clos Pepe Vineyards Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills both walk the fine line between elegance and masculinity, expressing nice traditional bouquet and flavor.

Years ago, Pinot Noir was intended for consumption within a year of release.  Today, California’s bold Pinot’s are more tannic and can improve over years.  Proving this point, the winemaker opened a 2001 Cargasacchi Vineyards Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills, expressing exceptional balance and integrated flavors, surprising for a decade old release.

My last stop resulted in an interesting conversation with Deborah Hall, owner/winemaker at Gypsy Canyon Vineyards and Winery whose wines have been highly recognized by many periodicals.  Generating under 350 total cases, her Pinot Noir is big, bold and ripe for aging while her other release, a dessert wine is steeped in California history.

Deborah’s Pinot Noir, in the opinion of many, is “not for everyone.”  She is said to create very individual wines, usually bold, tannic, clearly developing with time.  However, consensus is that her 2008 Gypsy Canyon “Trois” SRH Pinot Noir ($95) has reached a new plateau in complex flavors, balance and texture.  The traditional plum, dark berry flavors are smokey and earthy, yet perfumed.  Be prepared to give it some time.

Originally planted by the Franciscans as they established  California missions, the fortified dessert wine, Gypsy Canyon Ancient Vines “Angelica” ($135) is a pure re-creation of the original, using Mission grapes from the same vineyard, overgrown and hidden for a century.  Expensive, but a must for those interested in California history, wine and good taste.  More like port than dessert wine, the sweetness is offset by a rich, creamy caramel flavor.  There is a great story woven into the fabric of this winery, one that would invite further exploration.

Events such as the Palate Food and Wine tasting opens new doors and is a reminder that world-class wines are produced less than an hour north of Santa Barbara.  Vineyards and charming villages like Los Olivos expose another side of the region.  With a plethora of good restaurants, wineries and inns, it’s your next weekend get-a-way waiting to happen.  Here are a few recommendations among a multitude of options.

Restaurants:  Los Olivos Cafe, Patrick’s Side Street Cafe, The Ballard Inn Restaurant, The Hitching Post.

Inns:  Fess Parker Wine Country Inn, The Ballard Inn, Hadsten House (Solvang)

Wineries:  Lincourt, Fiddlehead Cellars, Ampelos Winery, Richard Longoria, Melville, Foley Estate

Wine Spectator magazine’s release of its “Top 100 wines of 2010” is much more than a list of those with the highest ratings. It would be simplistic and one-dimensional to list great wines that we, most likely, could not find or afford. By adding criteria of value, availability and intangibles to quality, the magazine annually offers us a “snapshot” of recent trends in the world’s wine community. Described as the magazines view of the most exciting wines, the 2010 list, as past lists, provides enthusiasts with a concise summary of the present and insight into the future.

for those who have monitored the progression of the Paso Robles region, especially the recent foray in Rhone blends, have known it was only a matter of time for the area’s star to shine on a larger stage. Well, that time is now as Justin Smith’s Saxum James Berry Vineyard Paso Robles 2007 ($67/98 points), a creative blend of grenache, mourvedre and syrah was named 2010 Wine of the Year.” this is not a complete surprise to those knowledgable of the region, given that the Saxum Broken Stones Paso Robles 2006 and the Tablas Creek Espirit de Beaucastel Paso Robles placed No. 12 and No. 50 respectively on WS’ 2009 list. It is, nonetheless, a significant achievement for Saxum and the entire region.

Eastern Paso Robles is hot enough during the summer months for the grapes, especially zinfandel, to fully ripen, exposing momentous flavors. However, the breezes off the Pacific Ocean, apparently adding more depth and balance to the flavor, cool the heat in the western valleys. Smith has roots in the area and the foresight to include the grenache varietal, popular among local Rhone Rangers, in 20% of his vineyard portfolio. the 2007 “James Berry Vineyard” blend is dominated by grenache (41%), aligned with new post-harvest techniques that reportedly result in vibrant, yet subtle flavors and near perfect balance. Smith’s friend colleague, Matt Trevisan from Linne Calodo, introduced me to the practice of aging these blends in large wooden puncheons, reducing the influences of smaller oak barrels. This seems to be a trend among the new Paso winemakers, resulting in a more subtle, well-textured wine. those choosing to discern future blends from the region will be rewarded with the best California has to offer.

Although all Saxum wines are nearly impossible to acquire, there are numerous Rhone-style blends available to please your palate. One is the Tablas Creek Espirit de Beaucastel Paso Robles 2007 ($50/94 points) which joins Saxum on the 2010 list at No. 33. The Tablas Creek winery, through a long-term relationship with Chateau de Beaucastel in France, has been a pioneer in the areas’ shift toward Paso Robles blends that resemble Rhone-style blends.

California is the big winner in 2010, contributing 24% of the releases on the list.  Much of the credit goes to the successful 2007 vintage for Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon with seven among the top 30, averaging 97 points and, of course, $1112 per bottle.  The Revana Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena 2007 ($125/97 points) and the Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2007 ($85/96 points) landed in the No. 4 and No. 5 spots respectively.  However, the huge story comes from Schrader Cellars, releasing six cabernets, two rated a perfect 100 points and one each at 99, 98 and 96 points.  The Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley CCS Beckstoffer to Kalon Vineyard 2007 ($150/100 points) from the renowned Napa Valley vineyard placed 15th on the 2010 list, cited for mesmeric richness, complexity and balance.

Included in the San Diego Wine and Food Festival Reserve Tasting event, the reasonably priced Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2006 ($40/94 points) featuring three  geographically divergent vineyards is the best cabernet value on the list, ranked at No. 18.  We had the opportunity to visit the Hall Winery on New Year’s Day and picked up a few bottles for the cellar.  Significant oak influences, spice, fruit and some chocolate on the finish highlights this vintage that is rapidly disappearing due to recent accolades.

France contributed 19 wines, though surprisingly only one from the Bordeaux region.  Ironically, the highest rated Bordeaux-blend, the Coho Headwaters Napa Valley 2007 ($40/95 points), originates from the Coobsville district in the  southeast Napa Valley.  Also surprising, Chateaunef-du-Pape, a region famous for French Rhone Classic Cru, contributed the Clos deds Papea Chateaunef-du-Pape White 2009 ($100/95 points), the most expensive white wine encountered.  We are resigned to “drool” over the wonderful description of a grenache blanc, roussane, picpoul and bourboulenc blend, crisp and fresh from steel tanks and no malolactic fermentation.

the highest ranked California white wines, the Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains 2006 ($48/96 points) and the Ridge Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains Monte Bello 2006 ($60/95 points) hailed from the mountains near my hometown of San Jose, each vineyard historically producing tremendous wines.

The Santa Cruz Mountains region has produced very fine chardonnay, pinot noir and other varietals for years.  With some research, one can find highly respected mountain vineyards north of Santa Cruz to Woodside, above Stanford University.

In both good and bad years, Sonoma’s Kosta Brownes winery provides assurance that the pinot noir varietal will be annually represented.  At No. 12 was the multi-vineyard Kosta Browne Russian River Valley 2008 ($52/94 points), two bottles of which are contentedly spending time in my cellar.  From arguably the world’s best appellation, the Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir Russian River Valley ($45/94 points) secured the No. 6 spot, another top ten honor.

My instincts are telling me that the 2008 vintage Oregon pinot noir is noteworthy.  The representatives, Roco Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2008 ($30/92 points) at No. 71 and A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir 2008 ($20/90 points) at No 75, certainly benefited by their high value/rating ratio.

Washington State placed six wines to the list, equaling the Rhone Valley and Australia.  The diversity of the varietals contributed were surprising an acknowledgement of the area as a premier wine-producing region.  Syrah, merlot and cabernet sauvignon are created as single varietals or blended in such releases as the Goose Ridge “Vireo” Columbia Valley 2006 ($25/93 points) and the Tamarack Cellars Firehouse Red Columbia Valley 2008 ($16/90 points) Nos. 41 and 49 on the list,  respectively.

In another 2010 story, Portugal has burst on the scene with three wines within the top 25, blends with lesser known grapes like Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela and Sousao in the Douro appellation in northern Portugal.  The CARM (Casa Agricola Roboredo Madiera) Douro Reserva 2007 ($27/94 points) seems to be a good value at No. 9.  It is typical for the country’s port to be acclaimed worldwide.  However, the Dow Vintage Port 2007 ($80/100 points), also from the Douro region, was one of two wines on the list awarded 100 points.

One would hardly anticipate that Hungary would place the same number of wines on the list as the mighty Bordeaux region.  The Royal Toakaji Wine Co., located north of Budapest, has placed a wine on the Wine Spectator list two years running.  At No. 28, the Toakaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos Red Label 2006 ($39/94 points) blends furmint, harselvelu and muscat de lunel grapes to create the wine only in exceptional years.  Known for its sweet wines, the Red Label uses aszu, dried grapes affected by “noble rot” for sweetening.  Five puttonyos is equal to 120 to 160 grams of sugar per litre.

The list includes 14 countries, four U.S. states and numerous regions.  The United States asserted itself by supplying 35 wines to the list, mostly from California.  We, once again, have proven to the world that we have the diversity of terrior to match up with appellations throughout the world  From Santa Barbara to Mendocino, from Monterey to Lodi, California continues to push the envelope toward becoming the “melting pot” of future wine exploration.