Tasting Notes: Sierra Starr, Montoliva, Solune, Bent Metal and Avanguardia

WINE & MUSIC AT SIERRA STARR
Sierra Starr’s downtown Grass Valley tasting room is now open Friday evenings until 8 p.m., often with live music. Stop by for a flight, a glass or a bottle. Starting this spring, Sierra Starr began selling wine at New Earth Market in Yuba City, along with existing locations.

WINE & MOVIES AT MONTOLIVA
Montoliva is pairing wine and movies with its Saturday Night Movie in the Vineyard series. Pizza from Main Street Pizza in Colfax also is offered. Montoliva, with its Tuscan inspired wines, also will participate in the Nevada County Italian Festival in Penn Valley on September 14-15.

BARBERA ROSÉ & PICNIC AT SOLUNE
Solune Winery has released its Barbera Rosé at the winery and at Grass Valley Wine Co. The rosé is a deep salmon color and explodes with Barbera flavors. Winemaker Jacques Mercier, who judges international wine competitions in France, calls it “our best so far.”

Bring a bottle of Solune’s Barbera Rosé on a summer picnic. Solune’s Winery, at 16303 Jewett Lane on Colfax Hwy., also is a pleasant picnic spot.

BENT METAL SUMMER PARTIES
Bent Metal, known for its friendly and casual style, is celebrating summer with Friday night parties. The get-togethers have included dinner—barbecued tri-tip, pesto pasta and Italian bean salad by Bear River Pasta—live music and dancing. On Friday, July 12, Bent Metal will host a Tropical night (the dress code is loud Hawaiian attire), music by Dream and the Dreamer, dinner and dancing. Bent Metal’s Late Harvest Zin sorbet also is back for the summer.

AVANGUARDIA

In coming months, Avanguardia will release Una Volta, a Sauvignon Blanc blend; its 2012 Cara Mia Rosato, and Tre T (a blockbuster red from Tempranilllo, Tannat and Teroldego). Its wines are well-suited for summer picnics.

STATE FAIR WINE COMPETITION
Here are some foothill wineries that won awards at the California State Fair wine tasting competition:

Avanguardia won Bronze for Premiato (a red varietal blend).

Montoliva won Silvers for Sierra Bella (red varietal blend) and Teroldego.

Sierra Starr won Silver for Chardonnay and four Bronzes for Sauvignon Blanc for 2011 and 2012, Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel.

Solune won four Silvers for Barbera, Zinfandel, Barbera Rosé and C’est si bon Port and one Bronze for Malbec.

Wise Villa won 11 Silvers for Wisdom of Wise (a Bordeaux red blend), Touriga Nacional; Chardonnay; Syrah; Pinot Noir Rosé, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvig- non for 2010 and 2011, Midnight Delight (a white varietal blend), Torrontes, Petite Sirah and four Bronzes for Tempranillo, Wisdom of Wise (a red varietal blend), Pinot Gris, and Zinfandel. The Torrontes and Pinot Noir Rosé were “Best of Class.”

Visit http://bit.ly/197611p for full results.

(photo: Dan Senkbeil)

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