Summertime Alternative White Wines (with food pairings) – Step Out and Explore
pictue from Acquiesce Winery
One of my favorite anonymous quotes is “Adventure may hurt you, but monotony will kill you”.
With summer in full swing, many are reaching for cool and refreshing white wines. Besides the standard three most common white wines, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio, many other interesting white wines are available. While those three white wines are the “workhorse” for light white wines, many others exist with unique and flavorful profiles.
Here are just twelve varieties you may want to check out for summer. Please let me know how many you have enjoyed and your favorite winery for each. Listed below are the varietal name, the winery and a link to one of my previous articles.
Albariño – Cellar13 Winery – Livermore Valley
Assyrtiko – New Clairvaux Vineyard, Vina (northern California)
Blanc de Franc – LXV Wines, Paso Robles
Bourboulenc – Acquiesce Winery, Acampo (north of Lodi)
Grüner-Veltliner – Austria
Picpoul Blanc – Acquiesce Winery, Acampo (north of Lodi)
Pinot Blanc – Alsace in eastern France
Pinot Blanc – Girasole Vineyards in Mendocino County
Riesling (dry) – Smith-Madrone, Napa Valley (Spring Mtn)
Roussanne – Lavender Ridge, Murphys (Sierra foothills)
Roussanne/Marsanne Blend – Starfield Vineyards, Placerville in Sierra Foothills
Sauvignon Blanc (Barrel Aged) – Wood Family Vineyards, Livermore Valley
White Blend – Stolpman – Los Olivos, California (inland and north of Santa Barbara)
If you don’t feel that adventuresome, here are a few favorite standard white wines with suggested dishes:
Chardonnay – Wood Family (Livermore), Iron Hub (Amador), Peter Michael (Alexander Valley)
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2025/06/24/a-wonderful-birthday-dinner/ with sashimi
Sauvignon Blanc – Cuda Ridge Wines (Livermore Valley), Hindsight (Calistoga) & Trident Winery (Yountville)
Viognier – Sobon, Amador
Enjoy your summer adventure with some new wines!
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
Mountain Terraces Vineyard – 2010 Lex’s Cabernet Sauvignon – A Crowning Achievement
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background Info
Photo from Sonoma County Tourism
The wine comes from one of the smaller districts in Sonoma County AVA, Moon Mountain. Here is a map showing the area which has elevations from 200 feet to 2200 feet. From this vineyard you can see San Francisco some 50 miles away! The name intrigued me from my first introduction and here is Steve Ledson’s explanation “The inspiration for this wine is deeply rooted in love and friendship. Named after my father’s best friend, Lex, this Cabernet honors a bond that lasted a lifetime. Their friendship blossomed in high school and deepened during World War II when they served together in England. Lex, a tail gunner on B-29s, and my father, the lead mechanic, shared a connection that transcended the perils of war”. This wine is named and noted for an enduring friendship.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
I had the privilege of being invited in March 2015 to visit this private working estate. Today the hillsides are flourishing with vineyards. The views from this facility are as unique as the terroir.
Photo Ledson Winery
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes this is a deep cavernous dark coloring with medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose, dark fruits waft into the senses. Once in the mouth, dark cherry and bright red cherries burst forth in greeting the imbiber. Secondly, blueberries and vanilla provide an easy and smooth drinking wine. Finally, minerality is noted along with soft rounded refined tannins at the conclusion.
The current vintage is 2021 which is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Only 130 cases were produced, and alcohol level is 15.5%. The wine spent 30 months in 50% new French oak and retails for $120/bottle.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine was chosen for tonight’s meal of seasoned and prime BBQ’ed filet mignon steak. The meat was seasoned with mesquite seasoning, Kinder’s wood fired garlic powder, black pepper and Flatiron BBQ Rub. The Rub contains the following ingredients: chipotle, ancho, smoked ghost and habanero peppers along with thyme, toasted onion, roasted garlic and paprika. Served medium rare with a butter, French Blue cheese and chive compote, sauteed seasoned gnocchi topped with Parmesan cheese and a fresh garden salad with Roquefort dressing.
An excellent wine and food pairing with both benefiting immensely in a symbiotic dynamic.
The Winery
Photo from Ledson Winery Website
The Ledson story begins in England in 1896 and is detailed on the website https://ledson.com/discover-ledson/history/ . It is a tale of hard work, family ties and a desire to do more for the community. Steve Ledson’s history is both unique and common—unique with background and successful venture and common with family ties. His demeanor and casual manner speak volumes.
The Castle is the official tasting room of Ledson Winery, and the architecture and construction alone are worth the visit! Ledson Winery offers the largest premium wine portfolio of any family-owned winery in the United States. Today they offer more than 70 wines annually! More information on Ledson Winery can be found at:
Steve Ledson refers to his Mountain Terraces project as “Elevated Vineyards, Transcendent Wines”. This vineyard located on the mountain top is on rocky and volcanic soils, producing low-yielding Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Syrah, Grenache and Viognier. The property is at 2,000 feet elevation on the western slopes of the Mayacamas.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
FYI, The 2021 Ledson Cabernet Franc, Moon Mountain District, won the 2025 International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition Best of Category ($86- $105) by the People’s Choice Judges and Double Gold medals. They also won Double Gold Medals from the Professional Judges. A rare feat! He continues to win awards every year with his current vintages from his Moon Mountain Estate.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2024 Wood Family Vineyards “Para Mas Amigas” Chardonnay
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
There is simply no simple explanation on how Rhonda Wood makes consistently great Chardonnay wine except that she is a perfectionist! She has for seven to eight years made Chardonnay wines that have been one of my favorites and annually makes the yearly listing of Best Wines Tasted in the year. It is once again for her 2024 vintage for the Best Wines Tasted in 2026.
This wine comes from two different vineyards in Livermore, one on the valley floor and the other in the hills. The wine is barrel fermented in 100% French oak barrels with 35% new for 10 months. The stirring of the lees was every two weeks.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First in the glass a slightly darker golden color that shimmers in daylight with brightness. A heavier than usual Chardonnay. On the nose a cornucopia of fruits rise to meet the imbiber with green apples and pears being dominant. Once on the palate the fruits of green apple and ripe pear swirl about merrily in the mouth. Additionally stone fruits of apricot and peach provide a secondary flavor and slightly shy quality, but welcoming. On the finish a brioche quality of “heaviness” provides a beautiful conclusion to each sip. Less sweet than the previous vintage with more fruits allowed to come into play.
This release for 2024 Chardonnay is targeted for mid-August. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol and list price is $36/bottle.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired this evening with a silver salmon caught in Alaska on the Kenai River. It was vacuum sealed and frozen and transported to Phoenix. I was given a beautiful filet by Mike & Jenn Cole. This was one of the most delicious pieces of salmon I have eaten.
Photo from Wikipedia of Kenai River
Prepared on the stove top in a blackened rub consisting of coriander, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, sea salt and cayenne pepper. It was cooked in olive oil, white wine and lemon juice. Served with diced mangos and pineapple. Accompanied by small red potatoes baked with herbs and a fresh garden salad with French Blue cheese and bacon.
The wine with its fruit and smoothness paired calmed down the spicy blackened salmon was a winning combination! A great food and wine pairing.
The Winery
Photo from Wood Family website
Wood Family Vineyards, located in eastern Livermore Valley with Rhonda Wood owner & winemaker, has been producing award winning wines for over two decades. You can read more on Rhonda’s background from airline pilot to award winning winemaker at:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2016/02/10/wood-family-vineyards-2
Recently at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (largest in North America), Wood Family Vineyards won the following awards, and not all are listed:
2019 Cabernet Franc – Double Gold
2021 Malbec – Double Gold
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon “Clone 30” – Double Gold
2021 El Loco Rojo Red Blend – Double Gold
2021 The Captain Red Blend – Double Gold
The list of awards is extensive featuring all their wines on their website.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2022 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon – Keep Your Eye on This One!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Opened this bottle last evening to enjoy a delightful meal. Was expecting a top-notch wine as I had previously tasted their 2021 vintage. What transpired was a wine that exceeded my already high expectations. 2022 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon was fragrant, fruit forward and soft going into the palate, yet once there, burst forth with intense dark fruit flavors and brute strength with perfectly enjoyable tannins – a joyous surprise.
The Winery
Photo from vineyards looking east with Napa Valley below and Howell Mtn across the valley. Photo ©Michael Kelly
Smith-Madrone Vineyards is located on 200 acres on top of Spring Mountain west of St. Helena with 38 acres planted in vineyards. The vineyard elevation ranges from 1,300 to 2,000 feet.
Stuart on the left and Charles on the right Photo ©Michael Kelly
The founder, managing partner and enologist is Stuart Smith, Charles Smith is the winemaker, and the associate winemaker is François Bugué. Truly a family affair! All the wines are estate and dry-farmed on top of the mountain. Currently their production is approximately 6,000 cases a year. They produce Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and their iconic Cooks Flat (blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc).
Photo ©Michael Kelly
For detailed information on the winery and unique trellis system, you can read the story from a previous visit at:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2024/08/14/smith-madrone-vineyards-paradise-found/
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine is their second Cabernet Sauvignon vintage since the Glass Fire in 2020 during which they produced no Cabernet Sauvignon. A story truly reminiscent of The Phoenix!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
On the eyes a deep penetrating purple and crimson coloring. In the glass, medium heavy viscosity. Then on the nose fresh red cherries burst in the olfactory senses with a violet scent. Once on the palate, luscious and impactful red and black berries filled the mouth with a bold and brawny yet caressing flavor with a secondary note of blueberries and light vanilla pipe tobacco. At the finish a strong bold tannin showed the pedigree of this vineyard with their angularness and robustness. The minerality was also noted. This is why I believe this youthful wine will appreciate and improve with aging over the next 12-15 years. The complexity of this wine is astonishing with flavor and character.
The wine consists of 81.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18.5% of their award-winning Cabernet Franc. The wine is grown on their hillside estate being non-tilled and sustainably farmed. The wine was aged for 18 months in 50% new French oak. The wine came in at 14.2% alcohol with only 1518 cases being produced and priced at $70/bottle, a remarkable bargain for this quality.
This wine just made my annual list Best Wines Tasted for 2026. Only 2-3% of the 1800 wines tasted during the year make the list which comes out in December each year. My suggestion is to garner 4 or more bottles and have one now and every 2-3 years open another, if you can wait that long!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired this evening with a specially ordered, over a pound filet mignon steak, that was split with my wife. It was BBQ’ed and then seared at 1500 degrees and served medium rare. Served with a French Blu Cheese, butter and chive compote. Accompanied by a Yukon Gold potato and large artichoke. A delicious meal and the wine could have easily gone with a marbled ribeye steak also.
Here is where the Smith-Madrone shined with its fruit forwardness making it a wonderful flavor to the BBQ steak with strength and boldness enough with tannins to “cut through” the meat to making it a delightful meal.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
Education and Tasting Session on Gérard Bertrand Wines & Languedoc, France
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Attended a seminar and tasting of Languedoc-Roussillon wine region and tasting of various wines from Gérard Bertrand Thursday evening. The event was held at Vinum55 in Scottsdale. Reed was the main presenter from a local distributor. She was extremely knowledgeable about the region and specifically the wines being poured.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Also assisting in the presentation was Vinum’s own Shelly Fitzgerald, Wine Director at Vinum55 and assisting a newly hired person from Gérard Bertrand Wines.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Gérard Bertrand Wines produces roughly 20 million cases of wine! While many are on the lower end commercial side, the winery produces some boutique and artisan wines of distinction. Lauren selected some unique wines from several of their sites throughout the region for the group to enjoy.
Map courtesy of AFG
Wines selected were:
*2023 Crémant de Limoux sparkling consisting of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Noir grape varieties. Priced at $33/bottle.
*2023 Castellum Sauvignon Blanc. Priced at $44/bottle.
*2024 Domain de L’Aigle Chardonnay. Priced at $43/bottle.
*2022 Close du Temple Rosé. This won the distinction as the Best Rosé in the World! It consisted of GSM and Cinsault grape varieties. Priced at $220/bottle.
*2022 Cigalus Rouge. This was a combination of eight wine varieties: Merlot, Syrah, Grenache Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Caladoc, Carignan and Mourvèdre. Priced at $52/bottle.
And for the final wine of the evening was 2018 Clos d’ Ora that was rated 98 points and consisting of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan. Priced at $254/bottle.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
My personal favorite and scoring highest (on my rating system) was the sparkling Crémant de Limoux.
Very much enjoyed getting more familiar with the region as so many others are much more well known in France. The intriguing quality of wine knowledge is that the glass is bottomless!
Slainte,
Michael Kelly
2023 Starfield Vineyards Grenache – With an Unique Taco Salad
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
When temperatures reach 106 degrees, one is not inclined to cook or even BBQ! So tonight was a simple taco salad with some new ingredients making it taste more than ordinary.
The Winery
The winery was founded in 2012 by Tom and Rob Sinton with plantings of 31 acres on the hillsides east of Placerville, California in El Dorado County. They are located at 2759 Jacquier Road.
Map courtesy of https://uscountymaps.com/el-dorado-county-map-california/
The names of the wines, especially their new labels starting with the 2023 vintages, highlight the history of the region from the Gold Rush with wine names as Miner’s Inch and Rising Hope. These two are for a nearby mine.
The winery produces 17 varieties of wines comprising of mostly Rhone varieties (66%) and Italian (30%) and a few Spanish varieties. The vineyards have been farmed using sustainable and fish-friendly farming since their inception.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The winery name, Starfield, refers to “Star Fields”, sites where in their words “fruit develops the optimal balance of aroma, flavor and texture”. They also consider what they refer to as Sierra Spice, the aroma and taste characteristics that come from the western facing forests surrounding the vineyards. The local trees are Ponderosa Pines, Cedars and Douglas Firs and their oils provide earthy and woodsy forest aromatics from their oils as depicted in the tube.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine is grown at 2400 feet elevation where sun exposure is more intense. This, along with the Sierra spice, provides some unique characteristics for this wine. First on the eyes, it was a soft semi-transparent magenta coloring. Thinking this might be a bit wimpy is far from the case. On the nose aromas of strawberries wafted gently into the senses. On the palate this “light colored” wine became a heavy weight boxer with fruit of aforementioned strawberries and blueberries. Secondary notes of forest minerality along with spices of clove and cinnamon completed the flavor profile. The wine exemplifies the saying “don’t judge a book by it’s cover” in spades!
The wine went through a 48-hour cold soak and then a 14-day primary fermentation. Malolactic fermentation followed to soften the structure of the wine. It then was aged 18 months in 15% new French oak with the balance being neutral oak.
The 2023 vintage was bottled in May of 2025 with 378 cases being produced. The wine came in at 14.1% alcohol and the price is $42/bottle.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The taco salad started off with ground chuck seasoned with chili pepper, sea salt, onion powder and bell pepper. Another 4 jalapeño peppers were diced up and cooked with the meat. The accoutrements included freshly diced tomatoes, lettuce, tortilla chips, cheddar cheese and two special sauces. Served with two sauces on top. First was from one of our new friends who provided her “famous” Jenn’s Spicy Salsa. She makes it from her pepper garden consisting of banana, jalapeño, serrano, Havasu and poblano peppers. Piquant and flavorful with just the right amount of kick for enjoyment. The other sauce placed on top was Norma’s Wicked Salsa. She makes this with avocados, limes, jalapeno peppers, vinegar, carrots, onions, cilantro, black pepper, cream cheese and a few other ingredients. Together these two sauces made the meal delicious.
Serving the Grenache cool (63 to 68 degrees) with its refreshing fruit was perfectly matched for this meal. An excellent food and wine pairing. I can see this wine making a steady appearance in the heat of Arizona!
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2021 Cuda Ridge Wines Mélange d’ Amis – Blended with Friends and Enjoyed by All
Background
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Mélange d’ Amis, which means blended by friends, is a Saint-Émilion style Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend. It is described as delightfully complex and elegant with various layers of fruit depending on the vintage. Each year the mix varies but the taste remains opulent. Their 2023 vintage won Best of Class and a Gold Medal at the International Cabernet Franc Competition (Blend Division) by both the Professional and People’s Choice Judges, Gold Medal at the SF Chronicle Wine Competition and 93 points from Wine Enthusiast.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Since its inception, this has always been one of my favorite wines. The blend makes an easy sipping wine as well as one to enjoy with food.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine, when poured into the glass possessed a glistening magenta coloring with a medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose, aromas of red bold fruits and floral scents rise to meet you. On the palate, a symphony of flavors dances merrily in the mouth with raspberry and strawberry for a delightful taste. Secondary flavors of pepper, spice and vanilla wrap up the flavor profile. At the finish, one experiences the multi-level structure of this wine and velvety tannins.
2021 vintage came in 14.5% alcohol and is made up with 63% White Cat Vineyard Cab Franc, 35% Thatcher Bay Merlot and 2% Smith Ranch Verdot. It was barrel aged in new French oak for 17 months. Only 49 cases were produced.
The 2023 vintage of Mélange d’ Amis is $65/bottle and consists of 50% White Cat Vineyard Cabernet Franc, 35% Thatcher Bay Vineyard Merlot, 5% White Cat Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% White Cat Vineyard Malbec, and 5% Estate Petit Verdot 14.5% alcohol. Only 48 cases were produced.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine most definitely will make my annual list of Best Wines tasted in 2026. Can’t wait to taste their current vintage!
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Dinner with this wine was marinated and seared tri-tip steak. Seared at 1500 degrees and served medium-rare. Accompanied by Mexican Street Corn consisting of sweet corn toasted in a skillet, chopped serrano peppers, orange bell pepper, green onions and goat cheese. Also, a chopped salad that included broccoli, cabbage, carrots, green onion, crispy corn, cornbread crumbles, lettuce and served with a creamy Elote dressing. The salad dressing was smoky and tangy and tied in with the corn and meat beautifully.
The Mélange d’ Amis with its fruit surrounded the seared meat with each succulent bite. The wine also provided a soothing respite with Street Corn and worked well with the salad. A very good food and wine pairing and will be repeated soon!
The Winery
Photo from Cuda Ridge Wines
Larry Dino, the winemaker at Cuda Ridge Wines and the owner along with his expert wine taster Margie Dino, now has all six modern Bordeaux varietals available at the tasting room.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
One of the solid and simple marketing ideas that Larry devised is his coloring scheme: White label for his Reserve wines, Black label for his non-Bordeaux wines and purple label for his Bordeaux varietals.
The list of awards for all his other wines is extensive and would direct you to his website to view the dozens and dozens of noteworthy awards.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2012 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon, From St Helena in Napa Valley
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Winery
Photo from Spottswoode Website
The Winery was established in 1882 by founder Mrs. Albert Spotts. The property was later acquired in 1972 by Mary and Jack Novak. Mary released their first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1982, one hundred years after its founding. They have consistently received high praise and scores for their wines. In 1985, before organic farming was a sought-after title, they were already practicing strict procedures. Then in 1992 they received their California Certified Organic Farmers certification (CCOF).
Today besides their Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, they produce a Cabernet Sauvignon called Lyndenhurst (Estate and other selection vineyards), Sauvignon Blanc including a designated block production and a few others.
Spottswoode’s accolades are impeccable with notes on their website from Jancis Robinson, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker, Jeb Dunnuck, etc. More can be found at: https://spottswoode.com/accolades/
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
While heralded as one of the premier wines of Napa Valley, unfortunately this fell short of the mark. Perhaps I kept in the temperature and humidity-controlled cellar for too long? Don’t get me wrong, it was a very good Cabernet Sauvignon but far from the stellar ratings that Robert Parker gave it as 100 points or Suckling at 98 points. Robert Parker in his notes, stated drink after 2025.
On the eyes a very deep maroon/crimson coloring. On the nose blackberries and dark cherries dominated the senses. Once on the palate, the lush fruits of cherries coupled with blueberries swelled up in the mouth. It was not the “well defined and structured” wine with layers of enjoyment, but rather flat and monotone. The tannins and acidity had mellowed and vanquished into a silent whisper of faintness. On the finish soft blueberries and a hint of vanilla were present and almost no oak. Still an enjoyable sipping wine, but something stronger was expected, more akin to O’Shaughnessy, Outpost, Cardinal, Crocker & Starr pedigree.
I believe the current vintage from the winery sells for $285/bottle for the 2023 vintage.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Chose this wine tonight to go with a special seasoned ribeye steak to cut through the marbled fat in the meat. While the meat was very good, the lack of edgy/jagged and pronounced tannins were lacking to make this wine spectacular. The meat was seared quickly at 1500 degrees on a Napolean infrared burner to a beautiful medium rare presentation.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Accompanied by corn on the cob, a fresh artichoke and garden salad with bacon and Blue cheese dressing. The overall meal was scrumptious. Happy to have my wife back from a visit with family in California!
A good wine and food pairing, but the wine fell short of my high expectations to make this an excellent pairing.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
Sam & Luca Italian Bistro – Stopping For a Quick Bite and Italian Wine
Photo from Sam & Lucca Italian Bistro/Blaise Vitale
Background
On the way back from picking up Susan (wife) from the airport, stopped at Sam & Luca Italian Bistro at 1959 S. Power Road in Mesa, AZ. Heard from two different couples that this was one of the better Italian restaurants in the Mesa/Gilbert area. This is a family-owned bistro where every dish is inspired by their Italian roots with recipes being passed down from generation to generation. Their stated goal is to use simple and fresh ingredients to create meals that showcase their heritage with dish that are “pure, flavorful and made with love”. Who would not want to take part in a meal like this?
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
This was almost a “date night” catching up, as Susan was returning from ten days in California visiting family and taking care of her mother with doctor visits at age 97. We immediately started the dinner off ordering a bottle of 2022 Villa Antinori Toscana Rosso. Antinori is a large, very respected vintner in Italy making an array of wines. While viewing the view list that was good, chose this wine. It is a signature blend featuring Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah providing great and delightful notes of black cherry and silky tannins. The Antinori winery is based in Florence, with their history dating back to 1395. Not only are they one of the largest wine companies in Italy, their innovation and creativity played a significant role in the “Super-Tuscan” revolution of the 1970’s. This wine is moderately priced and is widely recognized. Great with any Italian dish ordered!
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Susan ordered the chicken piccata (sorry no picture) that was scrumptious and savory. I was not that hungry and started the dinner off with Caprese salad of fresh mozzarella, tomato, pesto, fresh basil and fig balsamic. The tomatoes were so fresh and firm and the mozzarella was equally spectacular with the fresh basil and balsamic.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Followed by their three meatballs made with veal, pork, beef and baked with marinara and mozzarella. These three meatballs were tasty and were absolutely filling. This was like being transported to almost any bistro in Tuscany. The wine and dishes were perfectly matched and excellent.
We conversed with the server “Bee” during the meal. Her service, effort and engaging personality only added to the meal. Toward the end of the meal, while sipping on our last glass of wine, the General Manager Josh Lippe came by to introduce himself. We had been discussing various events they hold during the year (wine tasting, wine pairing dinners, etc.) with “Bee” and she prompted him to stop by. Had a wonderful conversation about the direction and style of the restaurant and various events. We are signing up to keep informed of the next wine pairing dinner. Josh is the son of the owner and knowledgeable both about wine and the meals being offered.
We will look forward to returning and trying some of their specialty dishes soon!
Slainte,
Michael Kelly
2020 Ancient Peaks Winery, Pearl Cabernet Sauvignon – Smooth, Silky and Stunning
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Winery
Ancient Peaks Winery is LARGE, consisting of 14,000 acres with 1,000 acres under vine.
As it turns out Santa Margarita is the only vineyard in the Santa Margarita Ranch AVA in the most southern portion of the AVA. Some of the more interesting factoids of the vineyard are:
- Five separate soils are intermixed and found on the property, shown on one of their labels.
- The vineyard is only 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean and draws the fog onto the property
- It is the coolest sub-AVA in Paso Robles AVA.
- Being the coolest region, they are often the latest in full maturing of the vineyards. This helps in providing a slower ripening process (often with challenges) but the reward is flavor, structure and with the varying soil types provides unique character to the grapes.
- They average 29 inches of rain with the surrounding Santa Lucia mountain range.
- Their sustainability practices have earned them SIP Certification (Sustainability in Practice).
- The owners of the winery are Karl Wittstrom, Rob Rossi and Doug Filipponi, all local wine growing and ranching families in Santa Margarita.
- Santa Margarita was originally settled by the Franciscan missionaries around 1770. In 1889 the area was part of the Mexican Alta California land grant.
- It is named for Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia, an Italian saint.
- A rich and detailed history can be found on Santa Margarita and is fascinating reading. https://santamargaritahistoricalsociety.org/
Today they have the Oyster Ridge event building/site which is an ideal spot for weddings, corporate retreats and private events overlooking the vineyards and ranch. Additionally, they provide a host of activities in the agritourism business on the 14,000 acres including vineyard zip lining, wildlife tours and horseback trail rides.
The label called Oyster Ridge comes from so many oyster bed fossils found about the property. Here Mike Sinor is holding one fossilized oyster cluster.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Learned that their wines have three distinct labels/branding going to market which are: Ancient Peaks, Oyster Ridge and Pearl. Many of the varieties are offered with all three labels/branding. Their white wines consist of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. The red wines offered are extensive with Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo and Sangiovese, Merlot, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Zinfandel. We found many we enjoyed and purchased.
Tonight’s wine was the 2020 Pearl Cabernet Sauvignon. The words in the title of this story only begin to frame how delicious this wine tasted. They chose specifically cultivated blocks and then aged the wine in 100% new French oak barrels for 23 weeks. The resulting wine was nothing short of spectacular. The current release is 2021 and lists at $72/bottle. They consider this their ultimate expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from the vineyards.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes a deep ruby color with medium to medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose ripe blackberry and smooth earthy notes wafted up to the senses. On the palate, lush and textured flavors of plum, cherries and caressing blueberries swirled about in the mouth. Secondary flavors arose of caramel, and vanilla completed the tasting experience. A spectacular wine with structure, complexity and yet simply impactful. A brooding and sophisticated wine to be enjoyed sip after sip.Top of Form
The wine came in at 14.6% alcohol and consisted of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Only 956 cases were produced.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
With the wife out of state, I ventured off to pick up a few items at a local fine food market. A simple meal this evening with Wagyu hamburger and asparagus wrapped in bacon. Both were BBQ’ed and served with the wine. While the meal was good, it was not evenly paired for this excellent wine, as the Cabernet Sauvignon really needed a ribeye or filet mignon!
This wine will make my annual list of Best Wines Tasted in 2026 that comes out in December. While tasting some 1500 to 1800 wines a year, roughly only 2-3% make the list.
I hope this article provides you with an incentive to check out their gorgeous property and quality wines.
Sláinte,
Michael