cuda-ridge-wines
Uncorked! A Celebration of Livermore Grapes and Wines at Murrieta’s Well
Photo from LVWA
This is the culmination of the Uncorked Wine Competition held April 22, 2025. At the competition thirteen individuals comprised of professional judges and writers, assembled to judge wines produced solely from Livermore vineyards. The judges came from the East Coast, Central USA, Texas, Washington and California.
Photo from LVWA
This was Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association (LVWA) inaugural competition taking over for Tri Valley Wine Conservancy. Bringing in judges from around the USA was to garner a broader expertise in evaluating each wine to determine the Best of the Best and also those winning awards and medals at the event.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Outstanding awards were given to Las Positas Vineyards for 2024 Estate Albariño for Best White and to Wente Family Vineyards for their 2021 Limited Release Cabernet Franc for Best Red. Personally having tasted both at the event, they were both excellent , well deserving of their awards.
Additionally, all the Best of Class winners were pouring their wines:
Almost Famous Wine Company-2022 Dog Day Chardonnay
Concannon Vineyard-2020 Nina’s Cuvee
Concannon Vineyard-2021 Reserve Stampmaker’s GSM
Cuda Ridge Wines-2022 Reserve Mélange d’ Amis
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Del Valle Winery-2021 Cabernet Franc
Garre Vineyard & Winery-2021 Sangiovese
Las Positas Vineyards-2021 Estate Tempranillo
McGrail Vineyards & Winery-2021 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Murrieta’s Well-2021 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Wood Family Vineyards-2022 Malbec
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Wood Family Vineyards-2024 Sauvignon Blanc
Also, each of the above wineries brought additional wines to be shared with guests. In addition to the wineries mentioned above, the following also provided their award-winning wines.
3 Steves Winery
Arroyo Cellars
Cellar 13 Winery
Charles R Winery
Darcie Kent Estate Winery
Fenestra Winery
Page Mill Winery
Rosa Fierro Cellars
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Sakura Winery
The Steven Kent Winery
The Uncorked tasting was set up on the grounds of Murrieta’s Well with tables and umbrellas as the day was a bit warm. Each of the wineries kept the wines in coolers to keep the wines at the proper serving temperature.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Just before the tasting event there was another event called The Varietal Seminar upstairs at Murrieta’s Well in the Barrel Room with Karl Wente of Wente Family Vineyards, Mark Clarin of McGrail Vineyards & Winery, Rhonda Wood of Wood Family Vineyards & Winery and Steven Mirassou of The Steven Kent Winery. I did not make the event but heard it was enlightening and provided some insights into the Livermore Valley wine history.
There was a live band playing in the shade of the winery building that filled the area but was not too loud to have engaging conversations.
Inside Murrieta’s Well cellar there was additional seating at a much cooler temperature with a dessert table. Wait staff were constantly strolling both inside and outside, presenting tasty morsels of exotic treats such as shrimp, vegetable ceviche, hamburger sliders, unique deviled eggs and many more items.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Even some of the winemakers were enjoying the cooler inside temperature like Rhonda Wood of Wood Family Vineyards.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This was an event not to be missed in the future as LVWA went all out to provide the Best Winning Wines of Livermore as well as a venue with great music and exquisite food. Brandi Lombardi and staff are to be complimented. Two of the staff personnel (L to R) were Patty Powers (events) and Jenny O’Leary (marketing) who served as greeters and registered guests with engaging smiles.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Disneyland may have the motto “the happiest place on earth”, but LVWA and the Uncorked event may have surpassed and taken the title as everyone had smiles and laughs all throughout the event.
While attending wine events all over California for many years, this was in the top five and will not be missed in the future!
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
https://californiawinesandwines.com
https://www.cellar13winery.com
https://darciekentvineyards.com/
https://www.fenestrawinery.com
https://www.laspositasvineyards.com
https://www.pagemillwinery.com/
https://www.rosafierrocellars.com
https://woodfamilyvineyards.com/
see also an Instagram Reel at: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0FVWPkf888MF5kgVzxwDTmsn71PoVG7Q5UMu9W6yoMj6x9U1pkfReeg42ZibrpMxgl&id=100064262820169&mibextid=Nif5oz
2020 Cuda Ridge Wines Cabernet Franc – A Very Smooth Enjoyable Wine
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
The Cabernet Franc is part of Larry Dino’s (winemaker/owner) Bordeaux Collection. This 2020 Cabernet Franc showed some “old world characteristics” as well as unique Livermore Valley traits.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The coloring of this wine was dark and alluring with a medium heavy viscosity. On the nose, blueberry, cherry, and a hint of plum and floral notes abounded. On the palate, this mellow Cabernet Franc tannins were subdued with roundness. In the mouth, the blueberries and dark cherry were prominent along with a modicum of black pepper and sage qualities. Soft leather, a dry rockiness and sweet pipe tobacco lingered to make the finish long lasting and inquisitive. A particularly good wine to drink with food or smooth enough to enjoy by itself. It originally sold for $41/bottle. This wine came in at 14.2% alcohol.
Subsequent Cabernet Franc wines by Cuda Ridge Wines have won Gold and Double Gold awards. Today’s current vintage is 2022 and received 91 points from Wine Enthusiast and sells for $45/bottle.
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
There is a lot to be said about Cuda Ridge Wines. A key point is that they produce a full range of Bordeaux style wines. The Cuda Ridge Wines tasting room is located at 2400 Arroyo Road in Livermore, California. Cuda Ridge Wines’ current production is approximately 2100 cases. They produce the following Bordeaux varietals: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and most recently their addition of Carménère. Always experimenting, Larry Dino owner & winemaker has produced non-Bordeaux style wines which are designated under their Black label, these wines include Sangiovese, New-World style Cabernet Sauvignon and others. Each varietal produced are small lots ranging from one hundred to 450 cases. Cuda Ridge does extensive blending of varietals and strives for lower alcohol wines with intense complexity and character, traditional of the Bordeaux style wines.
Sláinte,
Michael
2022 Cuda Ridge Wines Carménère With BBQ’ed Tri Tip Steak
Photo ©Michael Kelly
History of Carménère
The history of the Carménère varietal is as fascinating as it is happenstance! It was once one of the grapes in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, one of the original historical seven grapes of Bordeaux. It originally served a similar purpose as Petit Verdot, producing a deep red ink on wines. Carménère originates from the French word for crimson (carmin) which refers to the crimson color of the autumn foliage.
Photo from Wikipedia
When the Phylloxera plague hit in 1867 destroying most of the vineyards in Europe, many thought the Carménère grape was extinct. It wasn’t until 150 years later that it was discovered that Chile had preserved the Carménère grape thinking it was Merlot (from clippings planted from France). DNA confirmed that it was the missing 6th varietal of Bordeaux.
Carménère Today
Carménère grows mainly in Chile, specifically the Colchagua Valley, Rapel Valley and in the Maipo Province. It is also grown in the Veneto region of Italy, and recently several wineries in Mendocino, Livermore, Lodi, Napa and Calaveras are producing it, albeit in small quantities. The 2023 USDA Statistical Service showed only 78 acres planted of the 284,341 in the state of California or .00027%. Oregon and Washington also have some root stock growing in Carménère, but their summary of red wine grapes planted does not even breakout Carménère!
Uniqueness of Carménère
As a varietal, it has the deep ruby coloring and aromas of red fruits. Tannins are softer and milder than Cabernet Sauvignon, thus its use in blending to soften a strong Cabernet. The use is similar to Merlot in formulating an enjoyable blend. Chile produces a 100% Carménère which has a cherry and fruity flavor with traces of smoke and earthy notes combined with inky coloration.
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This is one of my favorite pictures of Larry at a recent tasting this year. Lots of captions can be used to describe this picture. For this story, I will forego the story about the big fish that got away and state Larry was describing the spectrum and enormity of flavors in his Carménère!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
There is a lot to be said about Cuda Ridge Wines in Livermore, California with Larry Dino as the winemaker and his wife Margie as chief wine taster. They produce Bordeaux style wines. The Cuda Ridge Wines tasting room is located at 2400 Arroyo Road in Livermore, California. The picture above and below are just a portion of the tasting room and they have a large outdoor seating area. Cuda Ridge Wines current production is approximately 2100 cases. They produce the following Bordeaux varietals: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and most recently their addition of Carménère. Always experimenting, Larry Dino also has produced non-Bordeaux style wines which are designated under their Black label, these wines include Sangiovese, New-World style Cabernet Sauvignon and others. Each varietal produced are small lots ranging from 100 – 450 cases. Cuda Ridge does extensive blending of the varietals and strives for lower alcohol wines with intense complexity and character, traditional of the Bordeaux style wines.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The 2022 Cuda Ridge Insel Vineyard Carménère wine lived up to and exceeded all the key characteristics of Carménère. The Insel Vineyard is located in Pleasanton still within the Livermore AVA. Only 49 cases were produced and since being released in September 2024, the wine has not been submitted for ratings or competitions. Previous vintages have received high scores from Wine Enthusiast. Barrel treatment was 50% new French oak and 50% once used French oak and aged for 19 months. The wine sells for $50/bottle.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
On the eyes, a medium-heavy viscosity wine with a unique inviting deep color combination of maroon and ruby red. On the nose, fresh Bing cherries greeted the senses with a hint of green pepper. The palate is where the wine exceeded prior expectations. Bright cherry taste was intense and concentrated. Plums and dark fruits then came forth with a hint of soft and wet earthen tones (minerality and forest floor) with black tea in the background. On the finish tannins were noted as being “rounded and soft” yet with enough to be mildly grippy. The finish was long lasting with mocha and pepper finishing off the enjoyment with a tinge of vanilla. The wine immediately made my annual “Best Wines” tasted in 2024 which is published in December.
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 24-hour marinated prime tri tip steak in Chaka sauce. Seared at 1500 degrees and served medium rare. Accompanied by an oil rubbed Russet baked potato with sea salt and sauteed asparagus and button mushrooms. The wine possessed enough tannins to work with the meat and the refreshing fruit of the Carmenere provided a smoothness to the seared steak. A wonderful food and wine pairing.
Sláinte,
Michael