Tasty Awards!

Taste Awards

Toward the end of last year I was contacted on our Twitter by Taste.TV to be a judge for the 7th Annual Taste Awards. The awards recognize Media Tastemakers and are the “highest awards for the Lifestyle Entertainment Broadcast Industry. They are the premier broadcast awards show celebrating the year’s best achievements in Food, Fashion, Home and Lifestyle programs on Television, in Film, Online, in Apps, and on Radio”.

New Year…New Brew!

SLO Brew luncheon

Happy New Year everyone!!! I hope yours started well.  Mine started with a lovely luncheon in the old SLO Brew building to introduce us to the new plans and a tour of the new SLO Brew space in the historic Carissa Building. The SLO Brew has been a staple on the Central Coast since 1988, and was one of the very first micro breweries in the U.S., it’s been a restaurant, brewery and concert venue ever since. At its peak it produced 30,000 barrels of various beers and was distributed to 39 states. As with all things in life the Brew has to grow and evolve, so now it has new owners and is in the middle of a re-brand and expansion.

A Heavenly Emporium Experience

Heavenly Emporium

I had the good fortune of attending an awesome brownie and wine pairing evening at the Grape Emporium owned by David and Annie Wilson in Atascadero and Heavenly Squared Brownie Company. You may remember I’ve written about David before as he was my Greek Ambassador counterpart, and I’ve had the opportunity to be interviewed on his radio program on several occasions. The thing about doing a tasting event like this at the Grape Emporium, is that David is a brilliant mad scientist when it comes to blending various wines and creating something all together new, which is an unusual experience in any wine shop.

Shine ON!

I had the privilege and honor to go up to WineShine winery (distillery), with 101winetours and the Corkdorks while they taped their radio show. It’s located in an industrial area called “Tin City” where a bunch of boutique wineries, breweries, and a distillery-WineShine got together and created an artisan community for those of us who lean toward the spirituous persuasion.

My Greek Odyssey- Beta

Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion

Restaurant at Sounion (with the blue roof)

After leaving Lantides winery and Peloponnese; we went back to Athens and had an amazing day with Michael’s uncle who took us to Cape Sounion where the Temple of Poseidon is. Going to the Temple was probably one of the most spectacular and spiritual places I’ve ever been. Because it takes a bit of a drive to get there since it is about 40 miles east of Athens, at the southernmost point of Attica, the temple isn’t overrun with tourists like the Parthenon and Acropolis were.

Pass me Somm Chardonnay -Segment 2

Final day Grand Tasting

The final day included another seminar-Diversity in Balance at Edna Valley Winery, a second Grand Tasting this time at Dolphin Bay Resort, and a Taste like a Somm Double Blind Winemaker Dinner at the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort with Chef Michael Avila.

Pass me Somm Chardonnay -Segment 1

Chardonnay Symposium

Chardonnay is the number 1 selling wine in the world and in California alone there are 100,000 acres planted. It’s a very versatile wine with flavors and textures that can go from very tropical, to creamy and buttery, to minerally and it is even the primary white varietal used to make Champagne. Of all the varieties Chardonnay has been most popular with women and with so many different incarnations it’s easy to see why. This year I got to attend the Chardonnay Symposium for the first time and it was quite an event, with wine makers and Chardonnays from all over the world.

The wines of the Meliton Slopes (PDO) and Sithonia (PGI) Regions

Mt Melaton and Sithonia Peninsula

Haladiki Greece houses the Sithonia Penninsula and Mt Meliton, where the two wine regions were designated Meliton Slopes (PDO) and Sithonia (PGI), in 1982. While driving on the west side of Sithonia, a traveler’s eyes have a chance to admire a unique landscape; it’s there that Mt. Meliton lowers its emerald slopes to mingle with the crystal waters of the Toroneos Gulf. The climate of the Sithonia peninsula is typically Mediterranean, usually temperate with a few bouts of rainfall, mild winters and cool summers with a lot of sun. The weather changes are most intense from the South to the North and the Mediterranean climate of the coastal areas provide an absence of frost or excessively high temperatures, making it a perfect grape and olive growing region.

My Greek Odyssey – Alpha

Poseidon’s Temple Greece

Being a wine ambassador for an amazing Greek winery (Domaine Porto Carras) and 2 regions of Greece, the Mount Melaton PDO and the Sithonian Peninsula PGI comes with more than a couple of incredible perks but the topper was the trip to Greece.
It started with a 22 hour multi leg flight from Los Angeles through JFK, on to Rome and finally landing in Athens. You would think after a flight like that all we’d want to do was get 22 hours worth of sleep; well you’re right about that, but the Greeks weren’t about to let that happen! We arrived and were welcomed with a wonderful home-made luncheon at our friend’s family’s house with traditional food like fresh feta and bread, tomato-cucumber-green pepper salad, pastitsio, and tzatziki in Kavouri Athens and took a 2 hour nap. Then we headed out to Nea Smyrni where we were staying, and starting at 10p.m. it was out until 2 a.m. in the town square where we had souvlaki and cocktails with friends and friends of friends. One of the things I noticed about Greece’s restaurants/cafes/tavernas in general is they are all indoor/outdoor and people rarely if ever sit inside.

Cabs of Distinction 2015, Part Deux

Adelaida Vineyards

So part 2 of the Cabs of Distinction is all about the winery open houses. Unfortunately I was on a bit of a time limit so I only had an opportunity to attend 2 of the many open houses that day. The two I picked were Adelaida and Daou both established, well-respected wineries and supportive neighbors of each other. The age difference however is vast, with Adelaida having been started 34 years ago after having purchased their 50-year-old HMR vineyard from Doc Hoffman, one of the original pioneers of Paso. The Daou’s on the other hand, purchased and established their winery located atop Hidden Mountain Ranch and also including a part of the HMR vineyards in 2007. Since the winery’s inception, brothers Daniel and Georges have quickly made a name for themselves.