Meet the Winemakers
Posted by jeffpelline on January 25, 2013 · Leave a Comment
QUALITY WINE IS CREATED IN THE VINEYARD by a farmer, crafted by an artist, and chemistry brings it all together. Though foothills’ winemakers come from all walks of life, they share in this experience. Dozens of winemakers and winery owners are re-settling the foothills wine growing region, whose roots go back to the Gold Rush […]
Filed under Wine & Beer · Tagged with Avanguardia, Bent Metal Winery, Jacque Wilson, Jacques Mercier, Len Stevens, Lynn Wilson, Mark Foster, Mark Henry, Mike Naggiar, Montoliva, Naggiar, Nancy Stevens, Nevada City Winery, Pilot Peak Winery, Rob Chrisman, Scott Brown, Solune
Colfax Hwy. Wine Tour: Visit Montoliva and Solune
Posted by jeffpelline on November 21, 2012 · Leave a Comment
LIKE SAMPLING CHEESE, we enjoy savoring Sierra Vintners’ wineries in “small bites”: A trip along Hwy. 49 to visit Sierra Knolls’ Bear River Wine Tasting room and Naggiar, for example; or a drive along McCourtney Road outside Grass Valley to visit Bent Metal, continuing along Indian Springs Road into Penn Valley, stopping at Pilot Peak. […]
Filed under Wine & Beer · Tagged with Bear River Wine Tasting, bent metal, explore, Hwy. 174, Jacques Mercier, Mark Henry, Montoliva, Naggiar, Penn Valley, pilot peak, Sierra Bella, Sierra Knolls, Sierra Vintners, Solune, the Colfax Hwy.
Good Times Return to Wine Making
Posted by jeffpelline on November 20, 2012 · Leave a Comment
NATURE HAS BEEN KIND TO CALIFORNIA WINEMAKERS this year. It has been a splendid growing season, starting with a quick bloom this spring and ending with warm days and cool nights during the harvest. This has led to renewed optimism for winemakers, who have contended with topsy-turvy weather and economic hardship in recent years. A […]
Filed under Wine & Beer · Tagged with Avanguardia, bent metal, Clavey Wines, Grass Valley, Grass Valley Wine Co., Indian Springs, Lucchesi, Naggiar Vineyards, Nevada City, Nevada City Winery, Penn Valley, Pilot Peak Winery, Sierra Starr, Smith, Solune, Szabo Vineyards
Tasting Notes: Barrel Tasting, Gifts, “Holiday in the Hills”
Posted by jeffpelline on November 20, 2012 · Leave a Comment
BARREL TASTING This is a unique opportunity to sample wine straight from the barrel before it is finished. It gives you a chance to learn how wine ages. The wine is drawn from the barrel with a long glass tube, or “thief,” and poured into your glass by the winemaker. Sometimes barrel tasting is a […]
Filed under Wine & Beer · Tagged with Avanguardia, Barrel Tasting Extravaganza and Futures Party, Bear River Wine Tasting, bent metal, Grass Valley Wine Co., Holiday in the Hills, Indian springs Lucchesi, Montoliva, Nevada City Winery, Penn Valley, Pilot Peak Winery, Placer County Wine Trail, Sierra Knolls, Sierra Starr, Solune, Wind & Scenic Film Festival, Wine Stroll
Tasting Notes: What’s new at foothill wineries
Posted by jeffpelline on January 25, 2012 · Leave a Comment
SIERRA FOOTHILLS WINERIES WON HIGH HONORS in the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the world’s largest competition of American wines. Sierra Vintners wineries that won medals included Avanguardia Wines, Lucchesi Vineyards, Montoliva Vineyard, Naggiar Vineyards and Pilot Peak Winery. Montoliva won “Best of Class” for its 2008 Sierra Bella. “Now try to tell me […]
Filed under Wine & Beer · Tagged with 151 Union Square, 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Auburn, avanguardia wines, bent metal, Brigitte Wilson, Casque Wines, Ciotti Cellars, Cristallo, Dan Senkbeil, Fawnridge Winery, Grass Valley, Grass Valley Wine Company, High Hand Gallery, Il Nonno, Joseph Howard, LAWebb.com, Leslie Ann Webb, Lone Buffalo Vineyard, Lucchesi Vineyards, Lynn Wilson, Mistero, Montoliva Vineyard, Mt. Vernon Winery, Naggiar Vineyards, Nevada City, Nevada County, Penn Valley, Pescatore, Pilot Peak Winery, Placer County, Placer Vintners, Placer Wine, Placer Wine Trail, Popie Wines, Premiato Sangiento, Sierra Vintners, Smith Vineyards, Solune, Unni Stevens, wines, Wise Villa
Grass Valley Wine Co. finds new location
Posted by jeffpelline on February 3, 2011 · Leave a Comment
More wineries are expanding in downtown Grass Valley, and the county’s wine association has a new name, showing industry growth despite the economic downturn. The Grass Valley Wine Co. — a venture of Bent Metal, Pilot Peak and Solune wineries — has found a new location, at 128 Mill St. in the historic downtown. The […]
Filed under FWA blog · Tagged with bent metal, Grass Valley Wine Co., Montoliva, Naggiar, pilot peak, Sierra Vintners, Solune
Fall for wine tours and tasting
Posted by jeffpelline on October 11, 2010 · Leave a Comment
FALL IS AN IDEAL TIME TO VISIT FOOTHILL wineries, when the vines and trees show off fall colors. In Nevada County, the big red barn at Smith Vineyard is redolent of New England. Naggiar Vineyard’s Tuscan-style tasting room reminds you of the Italian countryside. In Placer County, the Wine Trail is a collection of wineries […]
Filed under Wine & Beer · Tagged with Avanguardia, bent metal, Clavey Wines, explore, Grass Valley Wine Co., Indian Springs, Lone Buffalo, Lucchesi, Montoliva, Naggiar, Nevada City Winery, pilot peak, Placer County Wine Trail, Sierra Starr, Smith, Solune
NEW: Grass Valley Wine Co. plans forging ahead
Posted by jeffpelline on April 23, 2010 · Leave a Comment
Here’s the logo for the Grass Valley Wine Company, the new wine bar in downtown Grass Valley that we wrote about previously. It will feature wines from Pilot Peak, Montoliva, Solune and Bent Metal at 151 Mill Street in downtown Grass Valley. “GVWC is planning to offer the best urban ‘casual wine tasting experience’ and […]
Filed under FWA blog · Tagged with bent metal, Jacque Wilson, Montoliva, pilot peak, Solune
10 Foothill wines for the New Year
Posted by jeffpelline on February 20, 2010 · Leave a Comment
HERE ARE SOME FAVORITE Nevada County wines and a champagne for the New Year: Sierra Starr Bright Champagne This is a Brut bubbler with a touch of sweetness. Zesty pear and apple flavors tickles your palate. It is popular with those who don’t like most dry champagnes. $15 Naggiar Mistero 2006 The best of Zinfandel, […]
Filed under Wine & Beer · Tagged with Avanguardia, Indian Springs, Montoliva, Naggiar, Sierra Starr, Solune