Wine From Home
When you can’t get out the wineries, bring the wineries to you!
Who’s wishing they could get out and do a little wine tasting right now? Wind their way through the picturesque vine-clad hills of the Anderson Valley or take in the more rustic wine regions around Hopland and the Redwood Valley? Stick their nose deep in a glass of some fine Pinot Noir and breathe in that heady scent of wine and fresh air? Ah yes. That does sound fantastic…
Well, since that’s not an option right now, we decided we were going to bring the wine tasting home this week. And we had so much fun tasting and talking about these different wines from Mendocino County that we had to share our experiences with you!
First up, the wine that started this whole thing:
As we were initially figuring out how to navigate the uncharted waters of the Shelter in Place order, our heads were spinning with how fast everything was changing around us - we needed a little spot of calm to anchor us in the storm. Pretty randomly, we happened to stumble across this Torte from McNab Ridge Winery, and we knew right away that it was exactly what we needed. A port-style wine infused with chocolate??? Yes, please! Right then and there, we instituted a little end of day ritual of closing the emails, shutting down the computers, and giving one last tidying nudge to the growing piles of paperwork before reverently stepping out to the back deck of the Inn with glasses in hand. We meander over to the handmade Adirondack chairs on the grass and just sit for a few minutes looking out over the cove below us. We savor the smooth chocolatey richness as it swirls over our tongues. We listen to the covey of quail nestling down in the bushes beside us. And it is perfect.
You can order your own bottle of Torte online today! And while you’re at it, check out some of McNab Ridge’s other delicious wines. Our personal favorites include their Petite Sirah and Rosé.
Now, one day we did have to vary our little tradition, because Laura brought us some hazelnut chocolate cake that she had made, and it was so beautifully moist and fudgy that it cried out for something a little different. After mulling over a few options we had on hand, we agreed on the Graziano Zinfandel, and it was just the right choice. The crisp fruit of the wine both cut through the decadence of that cake and elevated the overall experience to near-bliss. After licking the last crumbs from our plates (because it’s a sin to waste even the smallest morsel of perfectly good cake), we lingered over the final sip left in our glasses. The zin was at once pure and complex, and we could tell it would go great with dinner later too…
Want to recreate this moment for yourself? The cake is super simple (Laura’s only switch from the recipe was to substitute ½ cup flour with hazelnut meal), and you can find Graziano’s Zinfandel online.
As we chatted with a few members of our extended Brewery Gulch family, they had some good wines to add to the conversation as well.
Balo Pinot Noir to the rescue!
Jo Ann, who was our first General Manager, shared a fun story to go along with her wine:
“My husband Jan and I have been living like pioneers lately. Over two weeks ago our tankless hot water heater died. We bought a new one online and it was supposed to arrive in two days. Well, because of the virus and UPS being so overwhelmed the water heater got sidetracked and went to southern CA before finding its way to our home in Fort Bragg one week after it was supposed to arrive. But wait.... that’s not all. The company that we bought it from sent the wrong heater - it wasn’t even the right brand! So, we had to pack it up and send it back. We got the right one FINALLY on Monday. The plumber is here now installing it, but given our track record now, we may very well have other glitch come up which will take more time to fix. Why am I telling you all this? We have been heating up water to wash dishes, take showers etc., which has been a hassle. So last night, we really needed this Balo 2011 Pinot Noir to toast the anticipated return of our hot water. Its delicate aroma and red fruit flavors were also a great pairing with the organic chicken flautas. I don’t have time to tell more now though, because as soon as the plumber finishes here and our water heater gets up and running, I’m going to be busy taking a very long and hot shower…”
This Balo Pinot Noir is an increasingly rare bottle of wine, as Balo Winery closed their doors last October. So if you find it in a store or online, be sure to grab it. And as Jo Ann can attest, it could very well help you cope with whatever faces you!
Heather, our PR brain, chimed in too with a few of her top Mendo picks:
“The Artevino 2017 Estate Symphony is one of my favorite wines to sip on by itself. It’s got just a slight effervescence to it which sets it apart from most other white wines.
Lula Cellar’s 2018 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir best showcases the style of winemaker Matt Parish, and his deep appreciation of the Pinot Noir grape. This one has won all kinds of awards in competitions, too!
The Baxter Winery 2017 Ferrington Vineyard Pinot Noir is my favorite wine to pair with food, as it goes with just about anything, including seafood.
And of course, Fathers + Daughters 2017 Sarah’s Rustic Bubbles is one of the best representations of a pétillant naturel (pet nat) that I’ve ever had – I love introducing friends to this very unique wine, as they always say it’s unlike anything they’ve ever had before!”
We must agree with Heather on these wines – they’re all pretty phenomenal! And we know that once you taste them you’ll feel the same way too.
Finally, Laura got too excited about her favorite Mendocino wine for us to leave her out:
“Have you had the Enotria Arneis yet? I absolutely fell in love with this wine a couple of vintages back and keep pestering Guy to order more whenever we run out at the inn so that I can share it with all our guests during Wine Hour. It’s pretty much the happiest wine I know – it tastes like sunshine on a summer garden! Equal touches floral, fruity, sunny, and bright, without being overly sweet, it just makes me smile every time I take a sip. I also love how Enotria taps into its Italian heritage with this unique varietal from Northern Italy. I had never heard of it before, but every glass does seem to call to mind the rolling, sun-bathed hills of the Piedmont region. Next time you come to the inn, I’ll be happy to pour you a glass of this sunshine-in-a-glass!”
Most of these wineries are holding sales right now for online orders, so click away and stock up your stash! When you order any and/or all of these wines to keep you company during SIP (ooo! This puts a whole new spin on that acronym too!), make sure to post your review on Facebook or Instagram and tag us so we can see what you’re currently sipping on.
Happy Wine From Home time!!!
Words and pictures by Laura Hockett