Sometimes when you are behind on your new year’s resolution you have to work extra hard.  Re-commit.  Put your mind to it.  And sometimes instead of going to the winery you have to let the winery come to you.  Today was Diageo day where I had the pleasure of trying seven fabulous wines that are owned by or being imported by Diageo.

Three from the Rolland Collection:  Campo Alegre Rueda, Campo Alegre and Campo Eliseo

Two roses from Minuty: M Rose and Prestige Rose.

A Chalone 2011 Pinot Noir and a Rosenblum Zinfandel.

First let me say I think Rosenblum may have been my first Zin way back when I moved to the SF bay area the first time.  And Chalone I remember from the days of people talking about their legendary stockholder parties.  All were great to taste but for me today it was about the rose and Tempranillo.

The Minuty roses were beautiful.  I especially liked the one in the cute little skittle bottle — the one with the corset shape.  Pretty amazing these wines are from an area near St. Tropez.  Must make a point to get to this winery some day!

My other favorite for the day was the Campo Eliseo Toro 2009.  I would not have picked it for a Tempranillo as it was a bit heavier than most I have tried and definitely more raisin-y.   Old vines from Toro in Spain.  Thank you Diageo for bringing it to the U.S.!

So on this Sunday of week #26 I am adding wineries #23 – 25.  Exhausting work but somebody had got to do it!

Cheers!

So many events in Napa every weekend!  This Saturday was the winemaker BBQ at Goosecross.  Goosecross has a new Kiwi winemaker and a new owner (from the Coors family).  It was a family winery and the name comes from the family name Gorsuch which apparently means something like the goose crosses the street in old English.  It is a small lovely property that will be going through many changes in the coming months as they build a new tasting room and a new winery.  Hopefully some of the small producer qualities will remain.

We got to try the new white blend and play the “name the wine” contest.  We also got to enjoy their Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris.  For such a small place they produce 16 different wines to keep their wine club engaged as all of their sales are direct to consumer.  From their Yountville vineyards on State Lane we had a bit of a barrel tasting of their premium wine called Aeros which is a meritage of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.  The 2009 vintage of this wine sold for $125.

The 2011 Zinfandel was nice with our BBQ meal and music but as with so many of the places I visit it is hard to justify $42 for an every day bottle. In any case it was another fun evening with friends trying new wines, listening to a fun band and watching a lovely sunset over the Napa valley.

Winery #22 on week #26.  Cheers!

This one was not so much about the wine … It was all about celebrating the first day of summer!

I never thought about visiting Clif Family Winery.  Yes Clif as in Clif bars.  There is a tasting room in St. Helena that also offers cycling tours!  Last weekend I was trying to figure out what to do on a Saturday night and came across their Summer Solstice party on the Do Napa website.  So glad as it was a fun evening filled with nice reasonably priced drinkable wines,  food trucks with tasty eats and a super fun band comprised of Clif Bar employees.  Lots of dancing and trying new wines!

Guess I should mention the wines:

2012 Riesling – dry nice but didn’t really linger on the palate.  From their Mendocino vineyards.

2012 Gewurtraminer – not something I would usually drink but great on a summer night.  Not sweet, a bit musky.  Yep, Mendocino again.

2010 Climber Limited – a red blend from five different vineyards in Napa including Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Nice light red but probably one bottle too many…

Winery #21 was more of a party than a tasting experience.  A very fun way to kick off the summer of 2014!

Cheers!

The best thing about Artesa is the view.  And the Albarino.  Very drinkable on the patio on this gorgeous summer day.  Was less interested in their 2013 Rose of Pinot Noir after a weekend of enjoying really good roses from Orin Swift and Blackbird.  The Tempranillo (Alexander Valley) was enjoyable but there are a few other wines I would rather spend $40 a bottle on.

And the view…

Did I mention the view?  Worth a quick stop on the Napa Neighbors program.  Winery #20.

Napa’s three day music festival did not disappoint with old favorites like The Cure and new discoveries like Mexican Institute of Sound!  But even better I got to try some new wines including Del Dotto.

The Del Dotto rose of pinot noir was fab!  The perfect wine to sit in the tasting tent and sip while listening to the Spin Doctors.  Now at $35 a bottle I’m not sure I am going to buy this for my next dinner party but for $12 a glass on a summer day definitely worth a try!

#19 on week 22.  Got some serious catch up work in the weeks ahead!  Who’s ready to join me?  Cheers!

Mexico would be close to the last place I would have expected to be able to work on my wine goals.  I was off to Rancho La Puerta for five days of healthy living and detox.  Luckily we discovered the newly opened Bazar del Sol!  At the top of the hill we found this lovely little tasting room and shop which made for a great happy hour rendezvous after a day of hiking, pilates and wild and wonderful new pursuits (gyrotonics anyone?).

So we got to tasting.  Apparently there are many wineries in Baja!  We especially liked the Monte Xanic Sauvignon Blanc.  A sparky crisp light fruit white that was perfect in the summer heat which became our go to bottle every night to celebrate the day!  I was surprised and impressed and ready to try more Mexican wines!  Counting this as winery #18!  Cheers!