El Dorado County Vineyards – Courtesy of El Dorado County Wine Association In 1848 California’s Gold Rush began in El Dorado County with James Marshall’s discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill. As people began to come to California, the wine industry was born. In 1870 …
Normally, I have a weekly blog focusing on a new wine, winery, craft cocktail or event. Today I want to focus on helping those in the California industry hurt by the recent wildfires. Lots of devastation around our country – California, Houston, Florida, Puerto Rico …
“Wine is sunlight, held together by water. “ – Galileo
Southern California evokes memories of Hollywood, miles of beautiful beaches, sunlight and coastal highways of which driving legends are made. Add acres of vineyards in beautiful Temecula Valley to that picture and you have a burgeoning young wine region. Temecula Valley was established as an American Viticulture Area in 1984 making it one of the youngest in the United States.
The warmer climate in Temecula balanced by the cooling winds off the Pacific Ocean give this area an arid Mediterranean type of climate. Warmer climates in the U.S. have a shorter growing season of March through September. The first grapes were planted in Temecula in 1966 with Chardonnay, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc as the primary varietals. As the region has matured and with the advantages of a Mediterranean type climate, vineyards have introduced Syrah, Viognier, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.
I have had the privilege of being able to spend a considerable amount of time in Southern California for the past 3 years and decided that my most recent trip in early May of 2017 would include time in Temecula. With over 30 wineries, this is a destination location. I would recommend making a weekend of it so that you can enjoy multiple locations and the beautiful scenery. Temecula features rolling hills and mountains enveloping the surrounding cities. Just 50 miles north of San Diego it is an easy drive or a 90-minute drive from Los Angeles.
PositiveVines Helpful Hint: American Viticultural Area (AVA) are federally recognized growing areas in the United States. This is a similar type of classification as the Appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) in France.
Thornton Winery caught both my eye and my palate (www.thorntonwine.com). Thornton opened in 1988 and features a French-style chateau overlooking the vineyards. I enjoyed a flight of wine featuring Thornton’s Non-Vintage Brut sparkling wine, 2015 Chardonnay, 2013 Coat Red and A Kiss of Chocolate.
Thornton’s Non-Vintage (NV) Brut sparkling wine is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc with a hint of Pinot Noir. This is a crisp wine with hints of apple and pear. Thornton’s NV Brut features a floral nose with a slight toasty long finish. At $33 per bottle this is a balanced sparkling wine that would be great for an evening by the pool with light cheese and hors d’oeuvres with someone special.
A fun wine to enjoy with dessert is Thornton’s A Kiss of Chocolate. This wine is a deep ruby red blend featuring deep chocolate flavors. It’s light enough to enjoy with chocolate and macaroons yet chocolatey enough to pour over a bowl of vanilla ice cream. This chocolate wine is a real treat and at $21 per bottle very cost effective.
Thornton wines can be ordered directly from the winery or through major distributors such as wine.com depending on your state’s wine shipping regulations. I really encourage you to consider taking a long weekend trip to Temecula Valley and experiencing all that Thornton winery offers in person. You won’t be disappointed!
Remember to drink what it is that makes you truly happy and always think positively!
Drink Responsibly!
@thorntonwinery @Temecula_Valley #wbc2017
“Wine is sunlight held together by water…” Galileo Gallilei Most areas in the U.S. are starting to heat up with above average temperatures and the arrival of spring on March 20th. Throwing a steak on the grill after work or on the weekend is a …
With the July 4th holiday fast approaching, it’s time to plan for outings with family and friends. If you are a meat lover like I am, I’ve got a great Cabernet Sauvignon. Freakshow is produced and bottled by the Michael David winery (michaeldavidwinery.com). I had the …
How many of you have gone to the store seeking out that new bottle of wine, only to be overwhelmed with the selection? Do you retreat back to the familiar? Be honest- we all have!!!
Most weekends you can find me at one of our local beverage or grocery stores hosting a wine tasting. You may see other people like me at your favorite beverage store. Don’t be afraid to come up and talk to us. Most are independent contractors like me. We love sharing new wines and if your taste buds don’t care for the varietal that we are hosting it’s okay! We’ll be back one day with something that you will like.
PositiveVines’ Helpful Definition: Varietal – a variety of wine made primarily from a single named grape.
Last week, I had the privilege of sharing wines from Joseph Carr Winery (www.joshcellars.com) at a Kroger in Plano, TX located on the North Dallas Parkway. The wine steward – Debra – does an incredible job of providing a wide variety for every taste and budget.
The varietals that I hosted were the Josh Cellars Chardonnay and Josh Cellars Legacy. Joseph Carr, an award winning Sommelier, founded his family winery in 2005. He labels his bottles in honor of his father Josh. Joseph Carr works with small growers and winemakers across California including Napa Valley, Sonoma, Mendocino Valley and the Central Coast. Hot summers call for light wines, so I’ll focus on my impression of the Chardonnay.
Many entry wine drinkers in the United States start with Chardonnay. The green, light-skinned grape originated in the Burgundy wine region of eastern France. California is a major producer of the Chardonnay varietal. California Chardonnay tends to bear tropical fruit flavors and depending upon the aging process may have a buttery taste.
The wine varietal was harvested in 2013. 2013 was an unusually warm growing season for California. Josh Chardonnay is a light colored wine with a touch of acidity giving it a crisp edge. The wine was aged in 30% oak providing a very light hint of oak flavor. This is a good Chardonnay value for the price. It averages $10.00 a bottle and works well with seafood or a chicken dish. On hot summer days this will give you a solid wine without a crisp light taste. My wonderful husband Nate made an incredible dish of Honey braised chicken with a medley of vegetables that Josh complimented well.
The next time that you’re looking for a good Chardonnay give Josh Cellars Chardonnay a try. I’d love to know what you think about it!
If you’d like to stop by next week to sample a few great wines come visit me at World Market. This World Market is located at 3888 Oak Lawn Avenue in Dallas. I’ll be there from 1-4pm on Saturday, June 20th.
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