Michael's Insider Concierge - California Wine Appellation Specialist® Online
The warm summer is finally upon us and it is time to think of wines to enjoy outside.
Lately, I have been deeply engrossed in a professional wine course on the Appellations of California. California Wine Appellation Specialist® Online is by Master Sommelier David Glancy through his San Francisco Wine School. I highly recommend this course as I am learning a lot!
I am studying each individual California AVA (American Viticultural Area) for its unique soil and climate as it relates to the best quality for the grapes grown. I will be using this valuable information in my upcoming book: Exploring Wine Regions - California. In the mean time, I am giving you the inside track of some of the wines I have discovered. These are truly outstanding wines of impressive quality. This I share with you.
• Livermore AVA - Wente Vineyards, Chardonnay
• Russian River Valley AVA - Dusk To Dawn Vineyards, Pinot Noir
• Santa Lucia Highlands AVA - Hahn Estate, Pinot Noir
• Knights Valley AVA - Beringer Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon
Sip with me. We have a beautiful summer ahead.
Michael C. Higgins, PhD
Insatiable Traveler and Explorer
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Wente Vineyards Riva Ranch Chardonnay
Arroyo Seco AVA - Wente is located in Livermore but this wine is from a large plot of land that they own in Monterey County.
Fascinating Fact: 80% of all the Chardonnay planted in California can be traced back to the Wente Clone.
I am generally not a Chardonnay drinker; however, this wine will make you notice what is great about Chardonnay.
This is a rich, full-bodied Chardonnay, with rich pear flavors. It is unusually tropical in the nose and mouth. This Chardonnay is an impressive wine, at a very impressive price ($13.99).
WenteVineyards.com
Dusk To Dawn Vineyards
Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley AVA - Located in northern Sonoma County, just south of the historic little town of Healdsburg.
The Russian River Valley is known for its cool climate to produce extraordinary Pinot Noir. There is a gap in the coastal mountain range that allows the cool ocean breezes and fog to flow into the Russian River Valley to produce an optimal cool environment perfect for Pinot Noir grapes to grow.
This is an excellent Pinot Noir with delicious juicy cherry flavors. There are beautiful cherries and vanilla on the nose with bigger red cherry in the mouth. Rich and elegant, with a hint of the sweetness of caramel.
($29.95)
DuskToDawnWine.com
Hahn EstateSLH Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands AVA - Located just south of the Monterey Bay in the Salinas Valley. The deep Monterey Bay blows cold air and fog into this valley. The Santa Lucia mountain range faces northeast into this valley giving the vineyards morning sun after the fog break, with afternoon cool breezes flowing through the valley.
The Santa Lucia Highlands is a magical environment for growing Pinto Noir grapes. Seeing this AVA on the label, you can pretty much count on excellent Pinto Noir. And Hahn uses the SLH initials of the AVA to denote their special wine.
Big nose of black fruit and spices. Plum and deep black cherries in the mouth, with subtle earthy spices. ($29.99)
HahnWines.com
Beringer VineyardsKnights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Knights Valley AVA - Located in the far northeast of Sonoma County, to the east of the Alexander Valley AVA in the wooded mountains at the border of Napa Valley.
Since this is a very remote mountainous region, it really does not have wineries. Instead, smart wineries like Beringer, have vineyards here to grow extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignon, the special grape of the Knights Valley AVA.
This wine has a big nose of blackberries and licorice. The mouth is even bigger with delicious blueberries, blackberries and dark coffee, with a hint of coco. This wine is silky smooth and so well balanced. Big tannins though and needs decanting and even better to hold for 10 to 20 years. ($29.95)
Beringer.com
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