Ruby Hill Winery - History and great wine in Livermore

Ruby Hill Winery history goes way back to 1887 when it was founded by John Crelin. The original solid brick building stood out as a gem of the Livermore Valley. The area was named Ruby Hill for its bright red soil. John Crelin constantly produced the finest wines in the area. The winery has gone through many owners in the last 140 years. John Crelin’s son Charles took over after John died and sold the winery to Ernest Ferrario n 1921. In the 1970’s it was sold to Southern Pacific Railroad.

In 1975 Stony Ridge Winery was established in the building. The original structure survived over the years until the heavily timbered building met its demise on November 8, 1989 due to a suspicious fire. Only the walls remained standing, and remained there for another 12 years until it was demolished in 2002. The new Ruby Hill Winery was rebuilt on the same spot in the same style as the original. In 2008 Ruby Hill Tasting Room moved into their new location on the corner of Isabel and Vineyard next to the Casa Real Event Center. The Mitchell Katz Winery is now located in the old building.

The philosophy of Ruby Hill Winery is to produce world-class wines of the highest caliber from Livermore Valley and surrounding California coastal regions. The wines are hand-crafted in small lots. As winemaker Chris Graves says, “Although I may try to maintain a particular style from vintage to vintage, I treat every wine differently with respect to its own personality, and treat it with tender loving care.”

Winemaker Chris Graves grew up in the Sierra Foothills and knew at an early age of 16 that winemaking was his future. He eventually went to U.C. Davis and earned his degree in enology. After graduation he went to work for Wente winery moving up to assistant winemaker and later winemaker at Tamas Estates, a brand owned by Wente. He then moved on to be the winemaker at Ruby Hill Estates in 2007. His experiences and education has taught him about the quality of the terroir in Livermore and the production of quality hand-crafted wines.

Ruby Hill’s 2007 Grapeful Red is a celebration of all things enjoyable. It is a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Barbera, all barrel aged for 18 months prior to bottling to soften the wine. On the nose you will find intense fruity aromas of dark cherry and blackberry jam, with hints of violets and vanilla. In the mouth you get that same dark fruit of cherry, plum and black raspberry. During a visit to the tasting room you will see the staff wearing their tie-dyed shirts announcing Grapeful Red! This wine pairs beautifully with an aged Manchego cheese. Manchego is named for the Spanish region of La Mancha, home of Don Quixote. It is produced from sheep’s milk and has a black gray or buff colored rind with crosshatch pattern. The aroma of the cheese suggests lanolin and roast lamb and the flavor is a mild, slightly briny and nutty flavor.

The 2007 Dolce Amore (Sweet Love) Petite Sirah/Barbera Port Blend is aged one year in oak casks to allow the wine to soften, while maintaining the fruity character. The winemaker made this a pure bliss; the flavors are reminiscent of black cherry, plum and cocoa. It pairs well with a creamy blue cheese or a rich chocolate dessert.

Other wines that particularly stand out are the 2007 Livermore Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 Rosato Livermore Cabernet, 2007 Livermore Sangiovese, 2007 Grapeful Red blend of Zin, Petite Sirah and Barbera and the 2007 Livermore Chardonnay Reserve. Stop by their beautiful new tasting room at the corner of Isabel and Vineyard, surrounded by their vineyards.

For more info: Ruby Hill Winery

Firestone Discoveries - Ignite your Senses

Firestone Vineyard was founded by Leonard Firestone, son of Harvey Firestone, the legendary tire innovator. When Leonard originally established the family ranch in Santa Barbara’s Santa Ynez Valley he believed in the great potential of the region’s climate and soils for growing wine grapes for the vintners in Northern California. By 1972 he and his son Brooks took their winemaking to the next level, establishing the first winery in Santa Barbara County. Firestone Vineyards developed a reputation for fine wines from this new California wine region.

In 2007, Brooks decided to sell Firestone Vineyards to concentrate on their growing beer business and the smaller Curtis Winery. They found a buyer who had the same love for the San Ynez Valley’s potential for wine, Bill Foley of Foley Estates Vineyard.

This historic winery has just launched a new and innovative brand – Firestone Discoveries. This new brand appeals to young wine drinkers seeking new experiences in wine, cuisine and travel. The tag line, “Ignite the Senses” emphasizes how Firestone Discoveries can enhance life experiences. These wines focus on the young, natural, casual California lifestyle, actively promoted via the social network outlets of YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, reaching out and listening to their consumer and seeking their active participation.

John Calmeyer, Vice President of Marketing for Firestone Vineyard says, “One of the most compelling components of our Firestone Discoveries line is that throughout the year, consumers will have the opportunity to actively participate with the brand, as in the case with our inaugural consumer promotion and hiring of a Firestone Discoveries Pathfinder.” Check out the Firestone Discoveries site to learn more and apply to be a Pathfinder. The winner will receive an all expenses paid trip to Peru to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and file reports about pairing Firestone wines with various dishes they try on the trip.

Firestone Discoveries wines include a Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2008 California Chardonnay has a straw yellow color and a bouquet of apple, lemon, orange peel and green apple with a touch of spice. On the palate, these same flavors shine through with moderate acidity and creamy notes of pears, melons, citrus and caramel. The acidity and balance of this wine will pair well with grilled seafood and pasta with cream sauces.

The 2007 California Merlot was a particular joy on the nose with aromas of cherry, cola, and pepper, almost a cherry cola bouquet. The palate presents cherry and vanilla flavors in a medium to light body and soft finish. This will pair well with roast lamb or even with turkey.

Firestone’s 2007 California Cabernet Sauvignon has a smoky meat aroma with hints of clove and tobacco. As you swirl this wine in your mouth it will explode with cassis, raspberry and cherry flavors with cinnamon and nutmeg. I would try this with steak, Stilton cheese and dark chocolate.
Each of these wines sells for approximately $9.99. They deliver some great taste for the price and will pair well with various cuisines.

“At Firestone Vineyard, we believe wine is all about the experience,” according to John Calmeyer. “Imagine – great wines, incredible food and Machu Picchu looming in the background – this is what Firestone Discoveries is all about!”

For more info: Firestone Discoveries

MoniClaire Vineyards - a family-run boutique winery in Dry Creek Valley

MoniClaire Vineyards is a family affair in Dry Creek Valley. Peter and Mary Beth Smiderle are dedicated to producing the rich full bodied wines you expect from this area in Sonoma County. Family is important in the history and future of this winery. Peter’s grandfather was a winemaker in Italy and Peter learned the art of grape growing and winemaking at the side of his father, an accomplished winemaker in Southern California. And Peter and Mary Beth’s young daughters, Monica and Claire, (namesakes of MoniClaire Vineyards) already have shown an interest in this family affair.

The Smiderle’s started by planting some Chardonnay grapes in their backyard in Los Gatos Hills in 1986. With this taste of hands-on winemaking, they began their search for property in one of California’s premier grape growing regions. They were lucky to find property along Lytton Springs Road in Dry Creek Valley.

This boutique winery produces only a few hundred cases of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Sauvignon Blanc each year. This writer had the opportunity to taste both the 2005 and 2006 Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.

Moniclaire 2005 Zinfandel has an intense bouquet exploding in raspberry, blueberry and plum aromas. On the palate these same flavors are a delight with the added joy of rich baker’s chocolate. These are all aromas and flavors that are indicative of the terroir of the Lytton Springs bench.

The 2006 Zinfandel is a big, bold wine with powerful flavors of blackberries and plum and a smoky chocolate with a hint of vanilla and toast. These flavors are a meal in itself and a joy to partake. It has the tannins, structure and acidity to allow it to age for many years as additional flavors unfold.

Petite Sirah could never be considered a petite mild-mannered wine and with the Petite Sirah from MoniClaire you get what you expect from this great varietal. The 2005 Petite Sirah has a deep dark purple color that entices you with check out the bouquet of blueberry, violets, olive and blackberry with hints of oak. This Petite Sirah is amazing in that this full bodied, rich, complex wine is not overbearing in tannins, but rather, it is very approachable and tasty. This is the style that will make you a Petite Sirah lover.

The 2006 Petite Sirah has the same dark purple color of its older sister. It has a bit more earthy quality than the 2005 vintage but continues to be well balanced with a blend of blackberry, blueberry and violets with a good quantity of cocoa and vanilla. Again the tannins, while a bit sharper than the older vintage are still approachable and will provide the components necessary for this wine to age well. This wine is drinkable now and over the next 6-9 years.

MoniClaire has tasting by appointment and its wine is available at various locations around the Bay Area. They will be pouring on November 4, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at UNWINED in San Jose where they will be pairing three Petite Sirah vintages, 2005, 2006 and 2007 with Claudia’s hand-made chocolates. The strong chocolaty component of the MoniClaire Petite Sirah should go great with these fine chocolates!

For more info: MoniClaire Vineyards

California Women Winemakers, Part 3

As seen in the two previous editions of this article, California Women Winemakers have successfully made their mark on the wine industry in California. As with all winemakers, the women contingent has come into this profession by a variety of methods, some via the professional training at UC Davis and others via their “on-the-job” training using their own initiative making their distinct mark on winemaking in California.

Winemaker Anna Monticelli of Esca Winery earned her degree from UC Davis and then headed off to Bordeaux, France for her first harvest in 2000. During her undergraduate years she spent a year at the Sorbonne in Paris and took summer courses in Rome and Cracow. Upon her return to California she was Assistant Winemaker at Seavey Vineyard and then Assistant Winemaker for cult cabernet winery, Bryant Family Vineyard, before moving on to the top Winemaker position at Pina Napa Valley. Wine is important in her family with her position at Pina and her husband, Mario, working as the Winemaker of Trinchero Napa Reserve.

During their spare time, Anna and Mario formed Esca Wines of Napa Valley. “Esca”, Italian for Allurement, is an expression of their winemaking style. They believe life is to be enjoyed on a daily basis and a civilized life is enjoying fine food and great wine with good friends around the dinner table. The Esca 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is elegant and focused. The nose reveals blackberry, blueberry and currant flavors with underlying floral tones. The hints of tobacco, leather and coffee combined with the long finish makes this an elegant wine by itself or with food. The tannins are surprisingly smooth. In addition to the Napa Valley Cabernet, this wine includes 8% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. It goes well with prime rib or lamb chops.

Alexia Johnson of Monte Verde Vineyards in Morgan Hill was born and raised in Spain and developed a taste for Spanish varietals at an early age. Alexia Johnson and her husband Todd were avid home winemakers. They started with 300 Merlot vines planted in 2000; growing to a hobby in 2003; and on to a passion in 2006 as they continued planting over 1300 vines, adding Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo; and culminating as a award-winning bonded winery in 2008. The first release was only a little over a year ago and they only produce 300 cases per year. Yet, they already are winning awards for their wines. Not too bad for a backyard (albeit big backyard) operation! Alexia continued her education in winemaking via the Wine Production for Distance Learners from UC Davis Extension.

The Monte Verde 2007 Merlot from Villa Palma Vineyards in Santa Clara Valley is a dark medium bodied wine is bursting with dark cherry and blackberry flavors with medium levels of tannin and a touch of spice, including clove and cinnamon. It is a very versatile wine that can be paired with a range of foods including flank steak, roast chicken or even a bacon cheeseburger. As you can expect for a winery this size, every wine is truly hand-crafted. The grapes are specially selected and fermented in small lots based on vineyard designation. Only French oak is use, producing wines with balance and great quality.

For more info:

• Esca Wines
  
• Monte Verde Vineyards

California Women Winemakers, Part 2

As seen in California Women Winemakers, Part 1, we learned that there are many women winemakers producing some of the top quality wines in the state. In the last 15-20 years a new breed of women winemakers has come on the winemaking scene. Two of these winemakers were covered in part 1; this article covers a few more of these superlative women winemakers.

A trailblazer in the industry is Pam Starr. She says that there are over 25 notable young women to watch in Napa Valley winemaking and that women get the best of both worlds: the breakthroughs of women winemakers who emerged in the 1990’s and the new winemaking techniques. Pam has a passion for winemaking. After graduating from UC Davis she began to hone her techniques at several wineries throughout California before joining Spottswoode Estate winery in 1991. At Spottswoode she came to appreciate the winery customers and that winemakers are working for the customer and they need to appreciate the customer’s needs. While at Spottswoode, as she was searching for the right Sauvignon Blanc grapes she came across some vineyards at the old Crocker estate at St. Helena. Joining forces with Charlie Crocker they formed the Crocker & Starr label to resurrect the old winery on the estate. Today they are producing 2400 cases a years of fine Napa Valley wines. In 2004 the Crocker & Starr Sauvignon Blanc was names the No. 12 wine in the world on Wine Spectator’s annual top 100 list!

In addition to Crocker & Starr, Pam is a busy consulting winemaker for several other wineries in the valley, such as Adastra, and has joined forces with winemaker Drew Nieman to create a red wine blend called “Bridesmaid”.2004 Bridesmaid Red Blend explodes with flavors and aromas of dark berry fruits, currant, coffee, chocolate and integrated oak tannins. The texture is creamy polished, classy and plush. It pairs wonderfully with grilled meats and game, sharp cheeses, nuts and chocolate. This is a combination of several wines picked up from different wineries after their blends are complete. The

Winemaker Morgan Clendenen came to winemaking from a different direction. She graduated with a Psychology degree but soon developed a passion for wine, attending as many tasting events as she could in her native North Carolina. She eventually landed a position in sales with an Italian wine importer and then on to a boutique wine importer. A move to California brought her to a sales/marketing position Robert Sinskey Vineyards where she met her future husband Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat winery in Santa Barbara County. Her desire to produce her own wine continued to grow, but she lacked skills needed. When Au Bon Climat was offered some Viognier grapes, rather unknown grape in the area at the time, she saw this as an opportunity to be an innovator with this grape. People told her that the Sanford and Benedict Vineyard where the grapes were grown was too cold for Viognier and it would never ripen properly, but Morgan is one who thinks outside the box and felt that this Viognier was special. Taking a line from a William Butler Yeats poem, she named her new winery, Cold Heaven.

Morgan has focused on Viognier and Cold Heaven now produces Viognier from several different vineyards in Santa Barbara County, along with some Syrah. She tries to dispel the misunderstandings about Viognier and makes a wine with the acidity works with a variety of cuisines. Acidity is like salt to food, and you have to have enough of it to bring out the other flavors. Cold Heaven has a minimalist oak philosophy using neutral oak, 5-10 year old French barrels. The Cold Heaven 2008 Viognier from Vogelzang Vineyards in Santa Ynez Valley is full of lush tropical fruits and exotic white flowers overlaying an invigorating acidity, keeping the wine fresh and lively. Care at harvesting insures that the wine has that sleekness you expect in a fine Viognier. This wine is great for Thanksgiving dinner pairing well with turkey and pumpkin pie. It also goes very well with Asian foods and curry dishes.

For more info:

• Bridesmaid Wines
  
• Cold Heaven Cellars

California Women Winemakers, Part 1

Women make up 52 percent of the adult population and purchase 57 percent of the wine consumed in the United States. They represent a huge market that was often overlooked until recently. Studies have shown that in general, women have more taste buds than men, and that more women are supertasters.

The first woman winemaker in California was Josephine Tychson when she founded her winery in 1886 after the death of her husband. Kate Warfield was a leading vineyardist at Ten Oaks Vineyard in 1877. Maryann Graf was the first woman winemaker to graduate in enology in the 1960’s.

According to a study by the Wine Institute, 10 percent of California’s winemakers were women in 1890. In 1990 that figure was again about 10 percent, but today 15-20% of the winemakers are women. A new breed of women winemakers emerged in the mid 1990’s as the high tech boom spurred on demand for high-end products.

In Napa Valley you will often find that behind that $150 bottle of Cabernet is a woman winemaker. Sally Johnson is the winemaker for Pride Mountain winery and she says, “It is a great time for women in this industry because there are no barriers to being successful!”

Let’s take a look at a couple California Women Winemakers: Kristi Koford is the winemaker at Elizabeth Rose Wines in Napa Valley. Kristi started as a Senior Enologist at Robert Mondavi Winery and moved on to become the Assistant Winemaker at St Supery and then to Alderbrook Vineyards and Winery where she was the winemaker producing 50,000 cases annually of a wide variety of wines. Kristi’s 2008 Elizabeth Rose Sauvignon Blanc comes from 100% certified organic grapes from Yountville area of Napa Valley. It exhibits multiple layers of fresh tropical aromas and flavors, along with guava, gooseberry, guava and kiwi fruit. Minerality lingers in the finish.

Celia Welch was born and raised in Oregon as the daughter of an avid wine collector and home winemaker. Combining her fascination with flavors and aromas with her scientific knowledge, she went to UC Davis to study Enology. After graduation she expanded her knowledge working at wineries around the world including Australia, New Zealand, the East Coast and the Northwest. She returned to California to join Silverado Vineyards, then moving on to Robert Pepi Winery and Staglin Family Vineyard. Then she moved on to be a consultant for a selection of ultra-premium Napa Valley wineries. She is a member of the Winemaker’s Hall of Fame of the Women for Winesense.

At Hollywood and Vine Cellars Celia has developed their “2480” 2006 Chardonnay using fruit from Atlas Peak, one of the premium winegrape growing area in Napa. This Chardonnay displays sweet floral aromas of pear blossoms, apricot and jasmine along with sweet apple cider aromas. On the palate the texture is rich, soft and fully ripe. You will detect soft yeasty notes and sweet fruit flavors with a finish of tropical fruit and a touch of lemon zest.

For more info:

• Elizabeth Rose Wines
  
• Hollywood and Vine Cellars

Black Ridge Vineyards in Santa Cruz Mountains

Black Ridge Vineyards was founded by Jim and Cheryl Landes and Fred Faltersack who purchased the Black Ridge property in 1999 and were determined to product the best wine possible from their beautiful estate vineyards in the hills above the Lexington Reservoir near Los Gatos. While the property was used as a vineyard in the early 1900’s, Prohibition forced previous owners to replant the property in prune trees and later it was a Christmas tree farm. The vineyard’s location gives it protection from the coastal winds and lingering fog and the elevation provided a full day of sun.

On the 20+ acres of vineyard the yare growing Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Viognier, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. Their grapes are not only used for the Black Ridge wines but also for other local winemakers including Fleming-Jenkins and more. Vineyard manager Ruben Balderas nurtures the grapes to deliver winemaker Bill Brosseau with the quality fruit he needs to produce wines that not only reflect the location, but deliver the high-quality, approachable wines desired by wine lovers.

Current releases include several red wines including a Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a Bordeaux blend.

The 2007 Pinot Noir has a beautiful red color and on the nose you detect the cherry and blueberry you expect from a fine Pinot with lingering vanilla and pepper aromas. You might also detect a hint of mint and crème brulee. As you taste this wine you will immediate fine an abundance of cherry, cola and cranberry flavors. This is a wine that is just what you need for a Thanksgiving dinner with rich flavors but not overbearing, matching well with turkey, cranberry and yams.

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is a very approachable Cab delivering the dark fruits you expect from a fine Cabernet with soft tannins. This style goes will with a variety of foods, drinking well now and over the next few years.

Black Ridge 2006 Merlot was a particular joy. On the nose the fruit flavors of currant, dark cherry, blueberry and blackberry were intense with hints of vanilla and smoky bacon. The same fruity flavors come through on the palate along with notes of minty white chocolate.

The famous San Andreas Fault runs through one of the upper vineyards on the estate, inspiring the name of the Black Ridge Bordeaux blend, the 2006 San Andreas Red. This blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot is bursting with aromas of raspberry, cherry, pepper and spice. It has good acidity and rich tannins that indicate that, while drinkable now, will continue to deliver for many years to come.

Their new tasting room first opened earlier this year and is currently available for tasting the third weekend of every month form 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is a wonderful place to visit; sampling wines in their tasting room decorated with treasures from the owners worldwide visits. Out on the patio you can sip your wine while admiring the Santa Cruz Mountains and the nearby Lexington Reservoir.

For more info: Black Ridge Vineyards