California Wine Tasting iPhone Applications, Santa Barbara Food and Wine Blog

Carr Winery Opens Second Wine Tasting Room

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:39:30 +0000

Ryan and Jessica Carr, owners of Carr Vineyards & Winery.

After 7 years in the current location in Santa Barbara, Ryan & Jessica Carr of Carr Vineyards & Winery, a Mr Picky Favorite, have opened a second location called The Warehouse. It is a 3,800-square-foot wine storage facility in the heart of Santa Ynez where all the Carr wines are waxed, labeled, and bottle-aged. Guests are surrounded by aging wines, ambient lighting, a large u-shaped bar made from recycled oak barrels, and comfortable booths. At the opening of The Warehouse in Santa Ynez, Carr featured wine tasting, wines by the glass, live music by the Gawd Damn Band, and the famous Cold Spring Tavern tri-tip sandwiches.

Carr Winery’s Warehouse will be open daily 11-6, and is located at 3563 Numancia Street #101 in Santa Ynez. For more information, see carrwinery.com, email info@carrwinery.com, or call 805-965-7985. Go here to download the FREE Mr Picky iPhone App for Santa Barbara for directions and many other features!

Enjoy Your Wine in Moderation With The Mr. Picky Moderation Wine Glass

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:27:15 +0000

2007 Cavalchina Bardolino Superiore Santa Lucia Great With Boneless Leg of Lamb

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:14:48 +0000

We recently joined K&L Wine Merchants Club Italiano wine club and haven’t been dissapointed. In a recent shipment, we received the 2007 Cavalchina Bardolino Superiore Santa Lucia, which paired perfectly with our barbecued boneless leg of lamb. My father, connisseur of all wines pink and sweet, attempted to blend this beautiful Bardolino with his 7-up. He was quickly denied and directed to the Barefoot White Zinfandel that he keeps in the fridge.

K&L’s WINE MERCHANT NOTES

2007 Cavalchina Bardolino Superiore Santa Lucia: Bardolino is one of those Italian words that’s so easy to say, it just rolls off your tongue in a cascade of vowels. Usually that has been the end of the enchantment for me. But while tasting through more wines than you might think humanly possible, I am occasionally stunned by something I didn’t think was possible. For that reason I taste oceans of things that I am guessing ahead of time will be awful (they usually are). However this 2007 Cavalchina Bardolino Superiore “Santa Lucia” is so good I needed to recalibrate my ideas on the Bardolino DOC!

What really caught my attention was the nose of this wine. It was like a pair of arms reaching out of the glass and beckoning me in. The floral notes are obvious and seductive but there is much in the background of this wine, a secondary layer of subtle Middle Eastern spices and dried flowers that fill in the background of the experience. On the palate the wine reminds me of Cru Beaujolais with its serious structure and ethereal aromatics, that delicate power that reminds you that there’s more there but doesn’t tread too forcefully on your palate. This Cavalchina Bardolino is made from a handful of household-name grapes: 60% Corvina, 25% Rondinella and approximately 7.5% each of Marzemino and Barbera. The juices are fermented in two batches, the Corvina and Rondinella together for ten days and the Marzemino and Barbera for 15 days. After aging separately and going through malolactic they are blended together.

This is an ideal food wine, perfect for delicate, creamy or primavera-style pasta, or charcuterie (okay, salumi; sometimes French is just easier). I love it with roasted chicken. I like to serve it at cellar temperature, about 60 degrees or so, to give it a fresher feel in the mouth.

WHERE TO BUY

Available at K&L Wine Merchants for $17.99. $15.99 for wine club members.

FROM WINE-SEARCHER.COM

Bardolino Superiore is the higher-quality DOCG variant of Veneto’s classic light red Bardolino wine, made on the eastern shores of Lake Garda.

Like its more famous neighbor Valpolicella, Bardolino is made from a blend of Corvina and Rondinella grapes, complemented by up to 20% Molinara. In the past decade or so the traditional blend has been beefed up with additions of such grapes as Barbera, Sangiovese, Marzemino, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, which are permitted up to 20% in total under the DOCG’s production laws.

Corvina is widely recognized as the superior grape in Bardolino, and is at the heart of Bardolino Superiore. It must constitute 35–65% of the final blend, with a 10% allowance made for its sub-variety Corvinone. Interestingly, thedisciplinare di produzione (the document which outlines the winemaking rules) takes the trouble to state Corvinone in sostituzione di una pari percentuale di Corvina, purché il Corvinone sia coinvolto in terreni ricchi di scheletro (‘Corvinone in place of an equal percentage of Corvina, provided that the Corvinone is grown in stony soils’).

During the frenzied expansion of Veneto’s vineyard area in the 1970s, local wine producers were keen to capitalize on the popularity of their wine, and pursued quantity over quality. The high yields and (short-term) profitability offered by Molinara vines meant this lesser variety was often planted in place of Corvina. Thankfully Corvina’s potential was never forgotten, and its representation in Bardolino wines has now shown consistent increases. While Corvina gives structure and weight to Bardolino, and contributes a certain sour-cherry aroma, Rondinella is responsible for the wine’s characteristic and appealingly fresh, herby flavor.

Bardolino Superiore wines made from vineyards within the Bardolino Classico area are among the finest made in Veneto. These are labeled as Bardolino Superiore Classico.

MORE K&L NOTES

Italy
Once named Enotria for its abundant vineyards, Italy (thanks to the ancient Greeks and Romans) has had an enormous impact on the wine world. From the shores of Italy, the Romans brought grapes and their winemaking techniques to North Africa, Spain and Portugal, Germany, France, the Danube Valley, the Middle East and even England. Modern Italy, which didn’t actually exist as a country until the 1870s, once produced mainly simple, everyday wine. It wasn’t until the 1970s that Italy began the change toward quality. The 1980s showed incredible efforts and a lot of experimentation. The 1990s marked the real jump in consistent quality, including excellence in many Region that had been indistinct for ages. The entire Italian peninsula is seeing a winemaking revolution and is now one of the most exciting wine Region in the world.

Red Wine and Health: Red Wine May Block Fat Cells

admin — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:02:12 +0000

Photo courtesy of http://sipwithme.blogspot.com

Red wine and health: Check out this Purdue University study showing that red wine may prevent obesity.

By Brian Wallheimer, Purdue University
A compound found in red wine, grapes and other fruits, and similar in structure to resveratrol, is able to block cellular processes that allow fat cells to develop, opening a door to a potential method to control obesity, according to a Purdue University study.

Kee-Hong Kim, an assistant professor of food science, and Jung Yeon Kwon, a graduate student in Kim’s laboratory, reported in this week’s issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry that the compound piceatannol blocks an immature fat cell’s ability to develop and grow.

While similar in structure to resveratrol – the compound found in red wine, grapes and peanuts that is thought to combat cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases – piceatannol might be an important weapon against obesity. Resveratrol is converted to piceatannol in humans after consumption.

“Piceatannol actually alters the timing of gene expressions, gene functions and insulin action during adipogenesis, the process in which early stage fat cells become mature fat cells,” Kim said. “In the presence of piceatannol, you can see delay or complete inhibition of adipogenesis.”

Over a period of 10 days or more, immature fat cells, called preadipocytes, go through several stages to become mature fat cells, or adipocytes.

“These precursor cells, even though they have not accumulated lipids, have the potential to become fat cells,” Kim said. “We consider that adipogenesis is an important molecular target to delay or prevent fat cell accumulation and, hopefully, body fat mass gain.”

Kim found that piceatannol binds to insulin receptors of immature fat cells in the first stage of adipogenesis, blocking insulin’s ability to control cell cycles and activate genes that carry out further stages of fat cell formation. Piceatannol essentially blocks the pathways necessary for immature fat cells to mature and grow.

Piceatannol is one of several compounds being studied in Kim’s laboratory for its health benefits, and it is also present in different amounts in red grape seeds and skin, blueberries, passion fruit, and other fruits.

Kim would like to confirm his current finding, which is based on a cell culture system, using an animal model of obesity. His future work would also include determining methods for protecting piceatannol from degrading so that concentrations large enough would be available in the bloodstream to stop adipogenesis or body fat gain.

“We need to work on improving the stability and solubility of piceatannol to create a biological effect,” Kim said.

The Purdue Research Foundation funded the work.

Click here for original story.

Gundlach Bundschu Sonoma Gewurztraminer Sexier Than it Sounds

admin — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 16:20:56 +0000

WINEMAKER TASTING NOTES
2010 Gundlach Bundschu Sonoma Gewurztraminer: Fragrant aromas of orange blossom, tangerine, white flowers and a wisps of coriander. Crisp yet complex flavors of ruby grapefruit, fresh lychee, kiwi and meyer lemon with notes of warm spice and lush texture. Fresh fruit flavors lead to a dry, vibrant finish that lasts for a long time. Wonderfully bright and fresh in its youth, this classic, dry Gewürztraminer will continue to develop complexity up to fifteen years from vintage.

VINEYARD
Rhinefarm Estate Vineyard
Estate grown, produced and bottled
Clay loam soils with gravel deposits at 70–100 feet elevation
11 acres of Martini selection vines, planted 1969, harvested in 2 lots
11 acres of clone 47 vines, planted 2005, harvested in three lots
Yield 3.5 tons/acre

WINEMAKING
Harvest Dates: September 9 – September 14
Brix at Harvest: 23.9°
Vinification: Night-harvested by hand in five separate lots
Whole cluster pressed, 48 hour cold-settled
20% of the grapes were frozen for 48 hours, thawed, then whole cluster pressed for richness and texture
Yeast strain VL1
90% stainless steel fermented to completion
10% fermented in neutral oak

HARVEST NOTES
The cool 2010 growing season allowed for extended hang time producing elegant wines with concentrated flavors, bright fruit and balanced natural acidity.

WHERE TO BUY: 2010 Gundlach Bundschu Sonoma Gewurztraminer available at Costco for $15.49. Lowest price online is $14.29 at getwineonline.com.

RATINGS OF 2010 GUNDLACH BUNDSCHU SONOMA GEWURZTRAMINER
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points: A very nice example of a dry Gewurtz. Name an exotic spice, and you’ll find it here, especially cinnamon. The fruit is all about oranges, pears and lychee, while acidity is brisk and fine. Will challenge home chef and sommelier pairing talent. Pork and stewed fruit come to mind.

Brothers Restaurant at Mattei’s Tavern Closed; To Reopen in Downtown Los Olivos

admin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:27:13 +0000

Photo courtesy of www.facebook.com/BrothersRestaurants

Brother’s Restaurant at Mattei’s Tavern, one of the top restaurants in Santa Barbara County and a Mr. Picky Favorite, has shut down. Brothers Matt and Jeff Nichols will be opening a new restaurant called Sides Hardware and Shoes, a Brothers Restaurant, this month in downtown Los Olivos at 2375 Alamo Pintado Avenue.

Posted on the Brothers’ Facebook Page Last Week:

To all of our Brothers Restaurant Friends and Family, It’s almost time to leave for our new home and we want to be sure that you know all about it.

Matt and Jeff will be serving the last dinner at Mattei’s Tavern on Saturday, March 24th. They will need some time to pack up their pans, knives, and plates, but you can be sure that they will be ready to serve you at their new location – Sides Hardware and Shoes, a Brothers Restaurant – in Los Olivos at the beginning of April. The paint at Sides Hardware and Shoes is almost dry and we all are looking forward to the grand opening.

Please be sure make plans in advance to visit us during our last weeks before we close at Mattei’s; we expect a lot of visitors during this time, so please make sure to call ahead to make your reservation. Please ask our hosts to add your email to our OpenTable database, to ensure that you will be amongst the first to know about all of our exciting news to come.

Our website at Mattei’s will be changing soon to our new one for Brothers Restaurant, www.brothersrestaurant.com, to reflect our new business as well as our Facebook and Twitter pages, so watch for our next message announcing how to find us.

Mr. Picky’s Wine of the Week: 2008 Domaine Serene Yamhill Cuvee Willamette Pinot Noir

admin — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:57:09 +0000

Photo courtesy of www.englewoodwinemerchants.com

After finishing a lovely 2008 Dierberg Santa Maria Pinot Noir while dining at Arch Rock Fish in Santa Barbara we were plotting our next wine selection. We wanted to stick with Pinot Noir since we had all ordered fish. The somellier recommended the 2008 Domaine Serene Yamhill Cuvee Pinot Noir. Although completely different in style than the Dierberg Pinot Noir, its bright fresh berry taste was a nice contrast to the richer, robust Dierberg Pinot Noir.

VINTAGE NOTES
Cool weather in September delayed ripening, and the threat of rain was ever present as it had been in 2007. But unlike the previous vintage, when rain challenged the harvest late, the sun came out in October, the clouds dispersed and a late season warming trend hit the Dundee Hills. With no rain, we were able to harvest at an even pace with controlled ripening and perfect hang times. The 2008 wines are reminiscent of the wonderful 2000 vintage; great purity of fruit and structure. Critics and fans alike agree that these wines may someday be counted as some of the best made in Oregon.

RATINGS:
Wine Spectator, 91 points: Pure and focused aromatically, with blueberry, plum, spice and loam aromas leaping from the glass. The firm tannins have bite, but the complex flavors shoot through on the lively finish. Shows depth and grace. Best from 2013 through 2018.

Wine Advocate, 91 points: Medium ruby in color with an expressive nose of spicy red fruits and considerable terroir character. On the palate the fruit leans to the dark side of the spectrum with intense black cherry and black raspberry flavors as well as excellent grip, balance, and length. This tasty effort can be enjoyed now but has the stuffing to evolve for 2-3 years.

Wine Enthusiast, 90 points: Drinkable now, but certainly cellar-worthy, the most widely available cuvée from Domaine Serene shows the strength of the 2008 vintage. Fully ripe, assertive and full-bodied, it brings scents of berry and herb into play, leading into a thick and tannic wine with coiled power. Decant it, or give it a few years in the cellar.

WHERE TO BUY
Lowest price online is $31.61 at Wineclicker.com.

FROM WIKIPEDIA
Pinot noir (French: [pino nwaʁ]) is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes. The name is derived from the French words for “pine” and “black” alluding to the grape variety’s tightly clustered dark purple pine cone–shaped bunches of fruit.

Pinot noir grapes are grown around the world, mostly in the cooler regions, but the grape is chiefly associated with the Burgundy region of France. It is widely considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world, but is a difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine.^[1]

Moderate Alcohol Consumption: Glass of Wine Eases Stroke Risk in Women

admin — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 23:17:38 +0000

Photo courtesy of www.somethingyoushouldread.com

Study finds that low to moderate alcohol consumption reduces risk of stroke in women. Another reason to purchase the Mr. Picky Moderation Wine Glass:

By Chris Kaiser
Cardiology Editor, MedPage Today

Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner

A study of more than 80,000 women found that low to moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a 17% to 21% reduction in risk of stroke.

Action Points

Explain that a study of more than 80,000 women found that low to moderate alcohol consumption (a half glass to a glass and a half) was associated with a 17% to 21% reduction in risk of stroke.
Note that the benefit of low to moderate alcohol consumption on reduced stroke risk was the same for ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.

Compared with women who didn’t drink, the relative risk of stroke ranged from 0.83 for drinking less than half a glass of alcohol a day to 0.79 for those who drank a little more than a glass a day, Kathryn M. Rexrode, MD, MPH, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and colleagues found.

The benefit was the same for ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, they reported online in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

The investigators noted that previous associations have been seen with light to moderate drinking and reduced stroke risk. However, they said that many studies did not take into account the stroke type, nor did they break down drinking according to the amount.

In addition, most studies relied on one baseline assessment of drinking, which doesn’t account for changing patterns of consumption over time.

The findings emerged from a study of 83,578 women, ages 30 to 55, who were enrolled in the Nurses Health Study.

The researchers parsed the data according to former drinkers, abstainers, and current drinkers, as well as the amount consumed. They adjusted for a variety of potential confounders including age, smoking, hormone use, aspirin use, hypertension, and history of atrial fibrillation.

Participants completed a baseline questionnaire in 1976 and one thereafter approximately every four years, which contained data on their alcohol consumption.

The mean age at baseline was 46 and all participants in this study were free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease and cancer. Follow-up ended in 2006.

The 30% of the women were nondrinkers and 35% drank less than a half glass a day. Just 4% said they drank two to three glasses a day, and the remainder drank one to two glasses daily.

Compared with abstainers, heavier alcohol consumption was associated with smoking, a history of hypertension, increased physical activity, and a lower body mass index.

During the 26 years of follow-up, there were 1,206 ischemic and 363 hemorrhagic strokes. Another 602 were of probable/unknown subtype.

Compared with abstainers, those who were light to moderate drinkers — a half glass to slightly more than daily — had a lower total risk of stroke in the fully adjusted model (HR 0.83 and 0.79, respectively).

Those who drank between one and two glasses daily (upper end of moderate) also had a decreased risk of total stroke, but it was still higher than the low and lower moderate consumption groups (HR 0.86).

For ischemic stroke, the hazard ratios were 0.88, 0.86, and 0.82, respectively for low, lower end of moderate, and upper end of moderate consumption, and for hemorrhagic stroke they were 0.82, 0.76, and 0.88, respectively.

The heaviest drinkers — two to three glasses a day — had an increased total and ischemic stroke risk (HR 1.06 and 1.17, respectively) but a slight decreased risk for hemorrhagic stroke (HR 0.97).

Researchers did not find any significant differences when data were stratified by age, hypertension, aspirin use, hormone therapy, or smoking. However, moderate drinkers without a history of atrial fibrillation had a lower risk of total stroke.

Results were similar in an adjusted model that did not include hypertension, and they were similar between the different alcohol types. The risk of stroke also was similar for those who drank but gave it up for various reasons.

These results are generally consistent with other studies in terms of the overall lower risk for low and moderate drinkers, with an increased risk for heavier drinkers, when compared with abstainers, Rexrode and colleagues said.

They suggested that lower levels of alcohol consumption may be anti-thrombotic and atherogenic, “leading to increased high-density lipoprotein, decreased platelet aggregation, clot formation, and increased fibrinolysis.”

The study was limited by the use of self-reported data, and the authors acknowledged that there was limited power to assess heavy alcohol consumption.

The study was suppported by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

The authors reported they had no conflicts of interest to declare.

Original story published here.

Arch Rock Fish: No Corkage Fee for our 2008 Dierberg Santa Maria Pinot Noir

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:45:58 +0000

By Mr. Picky
Entertaining friends from out of town is always fun especially when they’ve got that wine-tasting glow from a day spent up in Santa Ynez Valley. We wanted to take our friends, Sue & Brian, somewhere fun with good food and a decent wine list. We had heard that Arch Rock Fish was just the place.

Scanning their website, I noticed there was no corkage fee for wines not on their wine list. The bloated cost of wine at restaurants is one of the main impediments to dining out, so this was a huge incentive to select Arch Rock Fish.

We brought a 2008 Dierberg Santa Maria Pinot Noir that was unusually robust for a Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir, and had a beautiful, sweet, earthy nose and a soft, luscious, round, spicy finish. It paired well with our seafood.

Sue ordered the crab, complete with bucket, wooden mallet, and pliers. Mrs. Picky ordered the Grilled Salmon, and Brian and I picked the Wild Bass. Sue, who is the epitome of style and grace, had suddenly transformed into a culinary version of Rosie the Riveter, cracking crab shells with the pliers and bludgeoning the bottom dwellers into oblivion with the wooden mallet. Brian, a victim of crab flak (at one point a shard of crab shrapnel just missed his left eye), stared on in amused disbelief.

Following is a summary of our dining experience. Food: Caesar salad, bland; Butter Lettuce Salad, nice and crisp with a light lemony dressing; Grilled Salmon, excellent; Wild Sea Bass, bland although the salsa fresco livened it up a bit. Service: The staff, although green, was very nice and attentive. Wine List: When I attempted to order a second bottle of wine, I discovered that the menu was “in transition,” which was a disappointment. However, the sommelier stopped by and suggested a Domaine Serene Yamhill Cuvée Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley. It was a beautiful wine with a fresh, bright berry taste. Unfortunately, they didn’t carry Pinot Noir glasses, which would have taken this wine to the next level.

Will we go back? Yes. Although Arch Rock Fish didn’t make the Mr. Picky’s “Favorite Santa Barbara Restaurants” list (on our Mr. Picky’s Santa Barbara Wine Tasting app and our website), we will definitely dine there again because of the no corkage policy, friendly service, and the tasty salmon. The Happy Hour is quite popular and the $3 house wine has piqued Picky’s curiosity.

2008 DIERBERG SANTA MARIA PINOT NOIR

Where to buy: $42 at starlanevineyard.com; lowest price online is $37.95 at Woodland Hills Wine Company.

RATINGS:
90 points, Wine Enthusiast: “One of the riper, sweeter Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noirs, brimming with jammy raspberry, cherry and cinnamon flavors. Almost like a candy bar, but saved from simplicity by great acids and tannins and a tangy minerality. In fact, it’s delicious. (12/15/11)”

From starlanevineyard.com
Dierberg Vineyard is situated atop a sandy loam mesa above the south bank of the Santa Maria River, in the near-extreme Western portion of the Santa Maria AVA. Its proximity to the ocean makes it one of the coolest vineyards in the appellation. Our vineyard is planted with 11 different clones of Pinot Noir including approximately 60% Dijon (667, 777, 115), and 40% Heritage clones that trace their provenance to Europe (Burgundy, Epernay, Switzerland). This clonal diversity empowers our winemaker to make a nuanced and complex Pinot Noir.

WINEMAKER NOTES

Fruit is harvested by soil type, across several different blocks, rather than by discreet clonal selections.
The new wine finishes primary fermentation and undergoes secondary fermentation in barrel.
Aged in 33% new French oak for 18 months and was bottled unfined and unfiltered in May, 2010.

VINTAGE NOTES
The 2008 vintage included such weather as early season rains, a spring frost and then a wild heat wave, all of which we navigated with great success. Our diligent effort in the vineyard reduced the vines vigorous canopies and green harvest. Fastidious sort work was also required. The 2008 vintage presents beautifully in the glass because a smaller crop size created highly concentrated flavors.

TASTING NOTES
Opens with a room-filling bouquet of cinnamon, redwood, Chandler strawberry, and our characteristic “Santa Maria spice”- a mélange of spices, particularly black pepper and cumin. Mid palate notes of small red fruits and baking spice are given further depth by hints of iron, mocha, and cedar box. We expect our 2008 Pinot Noir to deliver long-term pleasure for those with the patience to cellar it.

Lompoc Wine Ghetto Holding 2nd Annual Locals Day Featuring 18 Top Notch Wineries

admin — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:11:09 +0000

If you haven’t discovered the Lompoc Wine Ghetto, now is your chance. The Lompoc Wine Ghetto possibly has highest concentration of top-notch wineries (18) in a small area anywhere. And if you love Pinot Noir, this is your event, although the Wine Ghetto features a variety of varietals from Bordeaux to Italian. And on Sunday, March 25, wine tasting “passports” are available for $40. Lompoc locals will only be charged $30.

From www.independent.com
On Sunday, March 25, the tasting rooms of the Sobhani Industrial Park, better known as the Lompoc Wine Ghetto, will host its second annual “Locals’ Day” with music, food vendors, discounted taxis, and reduced rates for wine tasting.

The Wine Ghetto’s Locals’ Day was begun in 2011 to honor local residents and the Lompoc community.

Wine Tasting “passports” will be available for $30 to Lompoc/Village/VAFB Residents. Each passport entitles its bearer to a souvenir glass and special Locals’ Day tastings between noon and 4 pm at all of the tasting rooms in the Wine Ghetto: Ampelos, Arcadian, Black Sheep Finds, Bratcher, Evening Land, Fiddlehead, Flying Goat, Jalama Wines, Joseph Blair, La Vie, Longoria, Loring Wine Co., Piedrasassi, Palmina, Samsara, Stolpman, Taste of Sta. Rita Hills, and Zotovich.

For the first time, a percentage of the proceeds from this event will benefit a local charity: the Lompoc District Libraries Foundation, which supports special projects, programs, and collection needs of the Lompoc Public Library System. Event sponsors are Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce, Graphic Systems, and Jason Reynolds State Farm. The event will feature local musicians and food vendors. As in 2011, discounted taxicabs will be on hand to transport people locally.

“If the price of a wine tasting is usually $10, an afternoon visiting wineries can get expensive very fast,” says Ashley Costa, who manages the Loring Wine Company tasting room. “This is a great way to give locals—both novices and seasoned wine aficionados—a more affordable opportunity to discover the great wine being made in their town.”

There has never been a better time to take advantage of an event like this, say some business owners. “Every single tasting room has agreed to participate,” says Antonio Moretti, owner of Taste of Sta. Rita Hills, a Wine Ghetto tasting room/retailer. “The quality and variety of wines represented are fabulous. Everyone will be able to find something they like. Even if you visit just four tasting rooms, it’s a great deal.”

Some of the winery owners see this as an opportunity to meet more people who live in the town their business calls home. “We’ve been making wine here for more than ten years, and we still meet Lompoc folks who have never visited the Wine Ghetto,” says Peter Stolpman, General Manager of Stolpman Vineyards, which opened their Lompoc tasting room in October. “Our local customer base grows each year, but Locals’ Day gives us a great chance to touch base with more of our neighbors and give back to the community.”

The wine tasting passport will be available at a slightly higher price ($40) to non-locals. Locals’ Day advance tickets can be purchased via credit card online at www.lompocghetto.comand with cash at Longoria’s Lompoc tasting room. Tickets will also be available onsite on the day of the event.

The Lompoc Wine Ghetto is a loose collection of wineries in the Sobhani Industrial Park, boasting many production facilities and eighteen tasting rooms. The wine industry here has almost completely taken over the entire two-block industrial complex. You won’t find great estates with rolling hills here, nor opulent tasting rooms with soaring ceilings. What you will find is world-class wine, presented in a laid back atmosphere. Often the tasting rooms are inside production facilities, so don’t be surprised if the person pouring the wine is also the person that made it. For more information, visit www.lompocghetto.com.

The original story was posted here: