 with Steve Dryden
Mexican Wine: On a Long and Winding Road
Whenever I travel to other wine regions of the world I take several bottles of high quality Mexican wine along for the journey. Wine lovers, enthusiasts and connoisseurs are always amazed that Mexico even makes wine, most thinking of us as strictly a beer and tequila country. But, after tasting samples of Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Grenache, Syrah, Tempranillo and Nebbiolo from Baja California many are impressed enough for friendly conversation, hospitality and sharing of their own wines. I live well within the boundaries of the wine culture, so many of the people I meet and taste wine with are winemakers, vineyard managers, winery owners, journalists, wine regions promoters and knowledgeable winery staff. It’s a little unusual to take your wine into other people’s tasting rooms, but it is generally appreciated as wine lovers as open to exploring wine from other regions, especially if they use the same varietals of grapes in their wine industry.
This month I ventured up old Highway 101 to Central Coast California exploring the wine regions of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Traveling on Interstate 5 and Highway 405 towards 101 at Ventura, California I could cover ten miles in about 5 minutes, but once I arrived in the magnificent and beautiful wine country along scenic Highways 101, 154, 1, 246, and 135 in Santa Barbara County it took about 4 hours to cover ten miles, that’s one winery at a time! The Santa Barbara wine experience actually starts in downtown off of State Street on the Santa Barbara urban wine trail and extends north to the wine trails of Solvang, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Santa Rita Hills, Foxen Canyon and Santa Maria. This wine region is phenomenal, but the most impressive element is the environmental consciousness of almost everyone in the wine, agricultural, and hospitality industry with their “green mantra” of “local, sustainable and organic or biodynamic.” As an owner of a small French intensive organic vineyard in Mexico, I find this way of living most impressive, and now I understand why this region has stayed so green and healthy in contrast to the over-developed concrete jungles of southern California. When someone tells me that they make a natural product, recycle materials to make new ones, or treat the earth with respect, I immediately like them and their products. It just so happens that this region is leading the way in sustainable, organic and biodynamic vineyard management and winemaking technology in California. Despite the different growing methods used throughout this region most of the wine ranges in quality from outstanding and superior, to premium and “world class.”
One of the most impressive wines I explored was a 2005 Reserve Syrah from Addamo Vineyards of Santa Maria in northern Santa Barbara County. According to the Santa Maria Sun newspaper, “Addamo has the best tasting room in Santa Maria.” I would agree with that and further add that they have a beautiful, charming and most knowledgeable tasting room employee, Sienna Hamilton, who educated me about the wines, history and the dedication of this family in making “world class” wine. This Rhone-inspired 2005 Reserve Syrah shows hints of coffee, white and black pepper, huckleberries and plum flavors with a graceful and elegant finish. The soft tannins and well-balanced structure of this stunning Syrah fully complimented a beef tri-tip sandwich from their gourmet cafe. (In case you don’t know this ~ Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties produce fabulous, tender and delicious beef) Addamo makes other “palate pleasing wines” to include: 2005 Riesling, 2005 Chardonnay, 2005 Rose, 2004 Grenache, 2004 Pinot Noir, and 2005 Dolcetto.
Addamo Estate Vineyards are located in the hills of Santa Maria, east of Highway 101, where premium weather, cool ocean breezes and sandy loam soil create perfect conditions for growing superior fruit. Owner David Addamo and winemaker Justin Mund are intensely dedicated and focused on ensuring the highest standards for making premium wine are maintained at every level of the process. Skilled workers hand-harvest the grapes from their 120 acre estate vineyards, the finest German stainless steel tanks are used in their state-of-the-art facility, French oak barrels enhance the quality of the wine and the highest standards in winemaking allow for the creation of “world class” wines. The wine tasting room and gourmet cafe are located in the “Old Town” section of Orcutt, California, just a few miles south of the town of Santa Maria at 400 East Clark Ave. Future plans call for a large (38.000 sq. ft) winery, tasting room and special event venue at the vineyard location. For information please contact: (805) 934-9830 or www.addamovineyards.com
Central California wine country is a wonderful place to relax, enjoy artisan and boutique wines, and recreate in the natural environment of several scenic wine growing regions. Mid-week tours allow for more intimate contact with winery staff and presents you with an opportunity for a pleasant, uncrowded wine tasting adventure.
For those of you living in Rosarito Beach, Baja California and the adjoining region, you can experience a “Wine Dinner to Remember” at Chabert’s Restaurant in the Rosarito Beach Hotel. This (First Friday) monthly event will be held on Friday June 6th at 6:30 p.m and will feature three premium Mexican wines along with three gourmet entrees. Come and experience Chenin Blanc from Monte Xanic winery paired with a delicious gourmet salad with dried fruit, topped with an almond and hazelnut dressing. A delightful Tempranillo from Cavas Valmar winery will be matched with your choice of local Cornish Hen with orchard fruit, marinated in fine herb butter, along with rotisserie potatoes and grilled vegetables. Or you can choose the “scrumptious” option of Beef Filet Medallions cooked in a Cabernet Sauvignon reduction. Our “dessert delight” of Mango Mousse with be shared with a superb wine from Adobe Guadalupe called Uriel. Dinners are $40 person, wine refills are $7 glass, and reservations are suggested at: (800) 343-8582 or (661) 612-1126 and www.rosaritobeachhotel.com
Steve Dryden is a wine, food and travel writer who lives in Guadalupe Valley where he guides wine tours for individuals and small groups. He can be reached at: sbdryden@hotmail.com
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