A Handful of California Wines I Love
Here's a roundup of some wines from California I always enjoy and recommendations on what to pair them with.
2015 FEL Chardonnay, Anderson Valley
The Wine
Bursting with acidity that will dance on your palate
Citrus-driven with notes of lemon zest, grapefruit, and summer melon
Hint of flint and floral aromatics
Unoaked, very fresh and very clean
The Winery: FEL
FEL is a part of the Lede Family Wines portfolio, a sister winery to Cliff Lede in Napa Valley. Named for Cliff’s mom, Florence Elsie Lede, a home winemaker who instilled her son with his passion for wine. Thanks, Florence! FEL produces Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pino Gris from the Anderson Valley and Sonoma Coast.
The Region: Anderson Valley
Located about 100 miles north of San Francisco, just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean. Anderson Valley has a temperate, cool coastal climate and is classified as a region 1 growing area—the coolest climate in which grapes can be successfully grown for commercial production. Warm sunny days and cool foggy nights allow for grapes to ripen slowly while preserving their acidity and varietal characteristics. The main varieties planted in this region include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, and Riesling. For more information on Anderson Valley, check out the region’s winegrowers association website.
Pairing Suggestions
Scallop or white fish ceviche
Lobster risotto or lobster mac and cheese
Thai green curry
Cheesy spinach artichoke dip
Friends & fun
2017 Linne Calodo Grenache Rosé, Paso Robles
The Wine: ‘Pale Flowers’
Clear, orange garnet and distinctive color for a rosé
Dry, medium bodied
Needed some time to open up for the aromatics to be more pronounced
Clean nose with medium intensity
Aromas of dried flowers, a hint of dried roses, and orange peel
‘Pale Flowers’ is an appropriate name, very subtle, delicate floral aromas and flavors
Clean on the palate, medium-bodied with notes of dried flowers, allspice, dried strawberries, and a tangy acidity
I think I drank this at the right time, probably would not have stayed as fresh for much longer
The Winery: Linne Calodo
Linne Calodo was founded by winemaker Matt Trevisan and his wife Maureen in 1998 in the Willow Creek AVA of Paso Robles, California. While attending college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Matt was introduced to the world of winemaking by chance. His college roommate Justin Smith, the mastermind behind the cult wine label Saxum, was Matt’s bridge into the world of wine and he soon changed majors from Aerospace Engineering to pursue winemaking.
A man whose hobbies include flying planes and racing cars, Matt is also the kind of guy who respects mother nature. Linne Calodo, translated to limestone and clay, is a winery rooted in the philosophy that wines should be shaped by the land where they were grown. At a relatively minimal production of 4,000-5,000 cases annually, each wine is developed around four main factors: minimalist intervention winemaking, steadfast viticulture practices, vineyard location, and building upon experience from previous harvests.
To learn more about the winery and the Linne Calodo tasting experience, check out this post.
The Region: Willow Creek AVA in Paso Robles, CA
Paso Robles is located between San Francisco and Los Angeles along California’s Central Coast. The region includes over 40,000 acres of vineyards and upwards of 200 wineries. There are 11 AVA’s within Paso Robles and each exhibits unique microclimates and diverse soil compositions.
Linne Calodo is located within the Willow Creek AVA on the west side of Paso Robles. In this AVA there are mountainous bedrock slopes and higher elevations between 960-1,900 ft. During the growing season, average rainfall is 24-30 inches and the diurnal temperature swing ranges from 20-30°F. This large diurnal temperature change is one of the reasons Paso Robles has become a successful region for viticulture. The Willow Creek AVA also sits in line with the Templeton Gap, which is a mountain formation that draws in that cooler coastal air from the Pacific Ocean.
The soils in the Willow Creek District are mostly bedrock (residual) soils from the middle and lower members of the Monterey formation. There are patches of alluvial soils, but the soil is largely calcareous limestone with some loam and clay loam.
Suggested Pairings
Greek gyros
Chicken tikka masala
Saag paneer
Heirloom tomato galette
Baked feta with olives, lemon, and rosemary
2016 Scribe Sylvaner, Arrowhead Slope, Sonoma
The Wine: ‘Ode to Emil’
Appearance is clear, pale lemon, light to medium intensity
Nose is very clean with medium intensity
This wine was excited to come into the world as I was hit with pronounced aromas when I poured the first glass
Aromas of white flower, maybe honeysuckle, pear, salinity, and minerals
Medium-bodied on the palate
Dry, but rounded with mouth-watering acidity
On the palate, notes of white florals, juicy pear, and minerals
Long and elegant finish
A very special wine
I could not stop drinking this wine. I drank the bottle in one night and now wish I had another.
This 2016 Scribe Sylvaner could have easily laid down for another 4-5 years. The acidity would have kept the wine fresh and alive.
The Winery: Scribe
Scribe was founded by brothers Andrew and Adam Mariani in 2007 in Sonoma, California. The brothers transformed a historic property into an oasis of California cool, creating an inviting space for friends to come together and discover new wines. Scribe practices non-interventionist winemaking methods and abides by the philosophy that vineyard management in harmony with the greater surroundings and ecosystem produces more site-specific wines representative of place.
The Region: Arrowhead Slope, Sonoma
Sonoma County encompasses 18 AVAs in total with elevations ranging from sea level to 2,600 feet above sea level. The region has 11 different geographical formations and 31 various soil series within those parameters. Talk about diversity! The Pacific Ocean provides a maritime influence to the region via the Petaluma Gap, Russian River, and San Pablo Bay.
Technically, Scribe is located within the Sonoma Coast AVA, though Arrowhead Slope is named on many of their labels, the 2016 Scribe Sylvaner included. Scribe has planted only one acre of Sylvaner on the southwest-facing hillside slope of Arrowhead Mountain. The Scribe Sylvaner was planted in homage to Emil Dresel who first brought Sylvaner to California and cultivated the estate where Scribe stands today. Hence, the name ‘Ode to Emil.’ The vineyard is organically farmed and exhibits volcanic tuff and Huichica loam soils.
Pairing Suggestions
Crispy snap peas in Greek yogurt and za’atar
Grilled sea bass stuffed with fresh herbs and citrus
Lemongrass chicken
Green papaya salad
Shrimp Louie
2015 Benziger Chardonnay, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Carneros
The Wine
A vibrant, clear pale lemon color
Appears medium bodied in the glass
Clean nose with beautiful aromas of tangerine, candied citrus, and sweet orange marmalade
This wine definitely has a tropical citrus vibe
On the palate, medium acidity and medium bodied
Flavors match the aromas of tropical citrus with an underlying zippy, spritzy quality and zesty acidity
Very fresh with a hint of creaminess that rounds out the wine – probably from malolactic
This Benziger Chardonnay is a lovely expression of the variety and representative of Benziger’s lively biodynamic estate
The Winery: Benziger Family Winery
Benziger is a family owned winery located on Sonoma Mountain in Glen Ellen, CA. Since 1995, the Benziger Sonoma Mountain estate has employed biodynamic farming practices and was officially certified biodynamic in 2000. The family truly respects the land they farm and believes in producing wines which honor the environment where they were grown.
Upon visiting Benziger in Glen Ellen, you can feel this love and respect for the land in the air. The property is one of the most beautiful, vibrant estates I have ever visited. There’s a certain sense of liveliness buzzing through the vineyards and a deep-rooted feeling of the estate’s ecosystem working in blissful harmony. My family and I visited Benziger on our Thanksgiving wine country getaway in 2018. We booked the property tour and wine tasting experience. I highly recommend you do the same for the opportunity to fully experience what biodynamic farming is all about.
Every wine in the Benziger portfolio carries a third-party certification of green-farming practices. All of the Benziger vineyards are either certified sustainable, organic, or biodynamic. If you’d like to learn more about these certifications and Benziger’s biodynamic farming practices, click here. Though I am partial to the Benziger Chardonnay, the winery produces a wide selection of wines ranging from Sauvignon Blanc to Cabernet Sauvignon. Benziger offers four wine collections at varying price points, so they truly have a wine for everyone.
The Region
The Benziger family currently farms four biodynamic estate vineyards throughout Sonoma.
De Coelo:
Sonoma Coast AVA
Cool climate area where the vineyard experiences fog and high rainfall located 5 miles from the coast
400 – 600 ft elevation
Soil types include Goldridge fine sandy loam, Kinman loam
De Coelo vineyard produces Pinot Noir
Sunny Slope:
Sonoma Valley AVA
Located in the eastern foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains
Vines were planted over 30 years ago in fractured stone where holes had been pick-axed out
The warmest of Benziger’s estate vineyards, located in Glen Ellen where the cool air is blocked by Sonoma Mountain, allows grapes to mature fully while maintaining a desirable low yield
300 – 500 ft elevation
Soil types include gravelly clay loam
The Sunny Slope Estate Vineyard produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec
Bella Luna:
Russian River Valley AVA along the border of the Green Valley AVA
Located on the far east side of the Russian River Valley, Bella Luna experiences morning fog and the most rainfall of all the estate vineyards
700 ft elevation
Soil types include Goldridge fine sandy loam
The Bella Luna Vineyard is solely planted to Pinot Noir
Benziger Ranch:
Sonoma Mountain AVA
The home estate ranch in Glen Ellen purchased by Mike Benziger and his wife over 30 years ago, which produced Tribute, the first Biodynamic wine from Sonoma and Napa counties
The warm, bowl-shaped vineyard absorbs rain and reflects the sun
440 – 665 ft elevation
Soil types include volcanic, Goulding clay loam
Benziger Ranch produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel
Pairing Suggestions
Citrus marinated grilled shrimp
Oven roasted chicken with citrus and olives
A winter citrus salad with arugula and goat cheese
Baked chicken parmesan
2018 Samuel Robert Winery, Pinot Noir Rosé
The Wine
Clear appearance with a pale salmon color
Clean on the nose with medium intensity bursting with aromas of fresh strawberries
An irresistible rosé with mouthwatering acidity that keeps you coming back for more
Super bright on the palate with notes of strawberries, cherries, and a touch of orange
Rounded mouthfeel, concentrated flavors, and a long, persistent finish
The 2018 Samuel Robert Winery Pinot Noir Rosé was an insane deal and superb value for money at just $15 per bottle. I randomly picked this wine off the shelf at Total Wine because I love Pinot Noir out of the Willamette Valley and thought a Pinot Noir Rosé from this region was bound to be good. I was right! And I discovered after the fact that Wine Enthusiast gave this wine 90 pts. This is one of the best rosé wines I’ve tasted and at this price point, everyone has the chance to get a taste of Willamette Valley wines.
The Winery: Samuel Robert Winery
Originally from Modesto, California, Samuel Coelho grew up amidst the Willamette Valley wine industry where his family established Coelho winery. After helping to grow his family’s winery, Samuel established his own négociant called Plush Wine Company exporting wines to China. He then established Samuel Robert Winery with a passion for bringing luxurious Willamette Valley Pinot Noir onto the world stage.
Samuel Robert wines are crafted from select vineyard sites in Willamette Valley. The winery believes truly great wines begin in the vineyard, focusing diligently on every aspect of grape growing. Samuel places emphasis on low-fertility and well-drained soils, along with optimum sun exposure and annual rainfall. The winery takes diligent care throughout the winemaking process, from harvesting the grapes by hand to winemaking and cellaring.
The Region
Willamette Valley is a cool climate region perfectly suited for Pinot Noir and other cool climate varieties. The region is protected by the Coast Range mountains to the west, the Cascade Mountains to the east, and a series of lower hill chains to the very north of the valley. Willamette Valley is characterized by 36-80 inches of annual rainfall depending on the location within the valley. Vineyards are planted on lower hillsides to avoid deep, alluvial fertile soils and cooler hilltop climates.
Pairing Suggestions
Strawberry and burrata salad
Goat cheese and herb stuffed mushrooms
Roasted beets salad with arugula
Fennel & radish salad with citrus herb vinaigrette
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