The Big News:Robert Mondavi Winery has just purchased the 750 acre Sierra Madre Vineyard from Dale Hampton, Douglas Kramer, Robert Schultz and John Cushman. Sierra Madre is one of the pioneer vineyards in the county, planted in 1973, and the quality of the fruit from the vineyard has been a factor (along with several other vineyard properties such as Bien Nacido and Sanford & Benedict) thrusting our fair county into the pre-eminence that it has earned. In addition to the Sierra Madre Vineyard acquisition, the winery also purchased a 360 acre property near the small town of Garey in the Santa Maria Valley. With these acquisitions, Robert Mondavi Winery now owns 1700 acres of vineyard land in the Santa Maria Valley.
"Road to Romance" is the title of the painting by James Paul Brown which has been selected for the 1996 Vintners' poster. The artwork was inspired by a photograph taken by Kirk Irwin, a Santa Barbara resident and local photographer. The poster is available for sale at most winery tasting rooms in the county.
Events worth noting!
A number of events such as winemaker dinners are scheduled in conjunction with the festival.
- Wednesday, May 1, 6:30 p.m., the Shoals Restaurant in the Cliff House Inn will host a winemaker dinner with Greg Brewer of Sunstone Winery. Cost is $65. The Cliff House Inn is located at 6602 W. Pacific Coast Highway. Call 684-0025 for reservations or additional information.
- Saturday, May 18, noon to 5, the wineries of Paso Robles hold their annual wine festival in the park in downtown Paso Robles. Tickets are $20 and you can order tickets over the telephone by calling the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce at 238-0506.
What's hot?
- Sunday, May 19, Brander Vineyard near Los Olivos holds its annual fundraiser for Santa Barbara's Cottage Hospital children's services, the Bouillabaisse Festival. This food and wine event has become one of the premier fundraisers on the Central Coast. About twenty-five restaurants will be participating, and owner Fred Brander is again inviting other producers of dry rosés to pour at the event. This year's lineup of wineries include Phelps from the Napa Valley, Bonny Doon Vineyard from Santa Cruz and Hart Winery from Temecula.
Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door. For more information or to make reservations, call the winery at 688-2455.
- Saturday, May 25, Santa Ynez Winery offers a special Memorial Day Weekend buffet. Call the winery for details and menu. 688-8381.
- Starting Sunday, May 26, Rancho Sisquoc Winery will present the first in a series called "Sisquoc Sundays." Call the winery for details. 934-4332.
- Sunday,June 9, noon to 5, the Ojai Wine Festival takes place at Lake Casitas. Tickets are $18. Wineries from throughout California always participate in this event, in part because Lake Casitas offers such a splendourous venue. For more information, call 1-800-648-4881.
- Saturday, June 15, 1-5 p.m., the Los Olivos Wine & Spirits Emporium will serve as the venue for the second annual gourmet dinner, a benefit for the Central Coast Home Vintners Association. The chefs are Doug Coleman of Los Alamos and Dick Prato of Santa Maria; theme will be Mediterranean. Cost is just $20. For reservations or more information phone club president Bob Weldon at 349-0610.
Bob Senn writes The Independent's monthly wine column, "Grapevine," and owns the Los Olivos Wine & Spirits Emporium.
- RAVE:My fave! Or the true confessions of a closet Rosé Freak! A great rosé, if well made, can be a treasure to behold, and as a palate pleaser can stand up with the best of the chardonnays, pinot noirs and cabernets.
Adam and Helen Tolmach of T Ojai Vineyard have just released their first vin gris, the French term for pink or rosé wine (literally meaning neither white nor red). The wine is a blend of 75 percent of the saignée (or bled off juice) from the Roll Ranch syrah grown near Ojai, and 25 percent mourvedre from Paso Robles. They made 140 cases. This is a seriously delicious wine with hints of strawberry in the nose and a touch of peppery zest in the finish. A perfect summertime quaff. And just $10!
