Please The Palate |

Friendship and Camaraderie Among Pinot Noir Producers Along Highway 101

This story originally appeared in the Napa Valley Register.

The 18th annual World of Pinot Noir took place in Santa Barbara this past weekend. More than 250 wineries from around the world showcased their Pinot Noirs at seminars, lunches, dinners and the grand tastings. Everyone in attendance was friendly and shared the common love of Pinot Noir. I was reminded how overall, the wine industry is one of camaraderie, friendship and support.

Winemakers share their wines and taste each other’s wines, offering their feedback. Winemakers buy fruit from each other and sometimes work in the same facility, sharing equipment. They travel together for events or on sales trips.

Even as competitors, they are friends and that was showcased at a dinner I attended featuring winemakers Wells Guthrie of Copain, Jonathan Nagy of Byron, Greg Brewer of Brewer-Clifton and Adam Lee of Siduri.

From the Alexander Valley to the Santa Ynez Valley and in between, these four winemakers have each been making wine for more than 20 years each and their relationships go back as far.

15 March, 2018

First and Oak – A Hidden Gem in Solvang

Solvang, in the Santa Ynez Valley, is a kitschy town known for its Danish-style architecture and aebelskivers. But a few blocks off the main street is the charming and romantic boutique Mirabelle Inn.

Just inside the hotel is First & Oak Restaurant, an elegant and intimate restaurant that offers personalized service and creative cuisine. The Mirabelle Inn restaurant was established in 1993 but in July of 2015, father and son team Bernard and Jonathan Rosenson purchased the property and remodeled it.

Running First & Oak is Executive Chef Steven Snook who worked for Chef Gordon Ramsey for 10 years. Originally from England, Chef Snook came to the U.S. in 2009 and worked at Maze by Gordon Ramsay at the London Hotel in New York City, Kenwood Inn and Spa and Salish Lodge & Spa before joining First & Oak.

13 March, 2018

Please the Palate Pick of the Week: Chilean Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

If you had asked me a week ago about Chilean wine, I would not have had much to say. It is not a region that I had explored and my familiarity with the wines was generally limited to the value wines made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere. But after spending a week exploring Leyda Valley, Casablanca Valley and Limari Valley, three areas in the coastal region of Chile, I am enamored. Without a doubt the elegant Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from these regions are the Please The Palate pick of the week. Chile is a long and skinny country. From north to south, Chile is approximately 2600 miles long. On the west side is the Pacific Ocean and only 110 miles across the country are the Andes, with Argentina on the other side. There are vineyards near the Andes, there are vineyards in the Central Valley (between the Andes and the Coastal Mountain Range) and there is the Coastal Region where vineyards lie between the Coastal Mountain Range and the Pacific Ocean.

10 March, 2018