Ancient Peaks Winery Featured in Wine Spectator Magazine as "Best of the West": Value-priced bottlings from seven regions in California, Oregon and Washington
Value-priced bottlings from seven regions in California, Oregon and Washington: Tim Fish Issue: April 30, 2012:
Most Americans drink American wine, and the vast majority of that comes from the West Coast. Values abound if you know where to look, so we surveyed our recent tastings and homed in on seven regions that excel. The result is more than 110 well-priced wines that scored from 85 to 92 points, or very good to outstanding, on the Wine Spectator 100-point scale. All of them cost $25 or less.
California leads with five regions: Mendocino, Monterey, Paso Robles, Sierra Foothills and Sonoma. Each area brings its unique attributes to the value scene: Mendocino its diverse microclimates; Paso Robles its cutting-edge reds; Monterey a vast vineyard domaine; Sierra Foothills its mountain terroirs; and the sheer diversity of Sonoma.
Oregon and Washington combine for more than 50 values, with Oregon offering a new source for values with whites and Washington providing a rich mix of varietals across the board.
You'll find plenty of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and even Pinot Noir, plus Chardonnay, Riesling and more. Making your bargain-hunting easier, most of the recommended wines have good national availability. The best of the west for value is within easy reach; here is your guide.
Paso Robles
While collectors are stocking their cellars with a new generation of high-end Paso Robles wines, the region still earns its marks as a producer of values, mostly due to its under-the-radar status.
Paso Robles (Spanish for "pass of the oaks") rests midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The groundwork for the modern wine industry was laid in the 1920s when immigrant farmers planted Zinfandel vines that still produce wine today.
Overall, there are about 26,000 acres of vineyards, nearly 40 percent of them planted to Cabernet Sauvignon. The region has some of the largest temperature swings in California wine country, thanks to evening fog and cool breezes from the ocean. Summer days range between 85° F and 100° F, but often cool by 40 degrees at night, especially on the west side, where the soils are more abundantly laced with rocky limestone and calcareous shale. Many winemakers believe this lends the wines depth and natural acidity.
88 ANCIENT PEAKS Zinfandel Paso Robles 2009 $17
87 ANCIENT PEAKS Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2009 $17
86 ANCIENT PEAKS Merlot Paso Robles 2009 $17
SLO Vintners Hires New Executive Director- Contact: Mike Sinor, mike@sinorlavallee.com, (805) 801-2502. The San Luis Obispo Vintners and Growers Association has selected Heather Muran as its new Executive Director after a nationwide search to fill the position. Muran will succeed Becky Gray, who exited last month to work with MUST, a new community based non-profit whose goal is to raise funds for a variety of community needs.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to work with the SLO Vintners because there are so many extraordinary wineries, winemakers and proprietors in the San Luis Obispo region,” says Muran. “I’m looking forward to meeting the members and bringing awareness and visibility to the area.”
Muran has worked in multiple facets of media, including advertising, sales, marketing, public relations, and social media. Her previous experience includes direct sales for Laetitia Vineyard & Winery, membership sales for the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, business services with CoastHills Federal Credit Union, and most recently, marketing management for Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes. She has played an active role in the community and served on several non-profit boards, including the Rotary Club of Pismo Beach Five Cities and United Way of SLO County.
“Our board of directors met with Heather and is very excited to have her join our team,” says SLO Vintners Board Chair, Mike Sinor, of Sinor-LaVallee Wines. “We are looking forward to a very successful year and know Heather will continue the momentum in promoting the association.”
Founded in 1989, the SLO Vintners Association has grown significantly in recent years with 67 members. They have been successful with their direct to consumer marketing by hosting two annual events that tend to be “sold out” crowds, with auction and event revenues steadily rising over the years. There is a positive vibe in the organization as they continue to promote and enhance further prosperity of the SLO Wine Territory and the specific world renowned appellations that lie within that territory.
Phantom Rivers Winery - Scores Big in LA Wine Competition - Phantom Rivers Winery 2008 Syrah from Larner Vineyard in Santa Ynezwas awarded 96 points, a Gold Medaland best of class for limited production winery at the 2011 Los Angeles County InternationalWine Competition. The Competition received 3,117 wines from 913 wineries from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, Romania, Portugal, Spain and the United States. Only two wines scored more points in the entire competition.
SLO Vintners work together with neighboring Paso wine alliance to increase overall awareness of our SLO County Wine Region
Get Sunset Magazine? August edition of Sunset had a fabulous write up about our Avila Valley Area!!!
Just published... a great write up about SLO Vintners Roll out the Barrels Event Weekend!
San Franciso Examiner highlights SLO Vintner's Roll out the Barrels Event and living the "SLO" Life in a 3 part series.
Jim Laube rates the Edna Valley Reserve Pinot 91 points and calls it "spot-on" in his recent online article "California Pinot Noir Values" focusing on 13 quality Golden State Pinots that won't break the bank. Congratulations!
California Pinot Noir Values
13 quality Golden State Pinots that won’t break the bank
James Laube
Posted: January 11, 2010
The Pinots from Siduri, Edna Valley and A.P. Vin are spot-on too, and you’ll notice that more 2008s are joining the mix.
EDNA VALLEY Pinot Noir Edna Valley Paragon Vineyard Reserve 2007 Score: 91 | $45Dense, rich and detailed, full-bodied and concentrated, with peppery, spicy plum, black cherry and raspberry, picking up an anise touch on the long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2016. 385 cases made. —J.L.
Stephen Ross Congratulations are in order for Stephen Ross Wines receiving some exemplary ratings from Wine Enthusiast which are published in the May, 2011 edition of the magazine:
93 Cellar Selection 2007 Pinot Noir-Stone Corral Vineyard, Edna Valley
92 Editor's Choice 2008 Chardonnay-Edna Valley
92 Editor's Choice 2008 Chardonnay-Oliver's Vineyard, Edna Valley
92 2008 Pinot Noir-Chorro Creek Vineyard-San Luis Obispo County
We are proud that these wines represent the high standards that set our region apart. Congratulations!
San Luis Obispo Vintners Welcome Newest Winery Member!
January 25, 2010
Media Contact: Becky Gray
Phone: 805.541.5868
San Luis Obispo Vintners Association Welcomes its Newest Member
San Luis Obispo, CA- San Luis Obispo Vintners Association is excited to announce its newest member, Pismo Beach Winery. As of December, 2009, Pismo Beach Winery is recognized in our compilation of wineries we find outstanding in the San Luis Obispo County. Each member of our association is unique and we are happy to be adding Pismo Beach Winery to enhance our list of members.
Family owned and operated by winemakers, Bryan and Martin Friedman, Pismo Beach Winery exerts a comfortable and warm atmosphere. Their location along the coast adds a unique microclimate that is not only optimal for wine production but also offers visitors a relaxing setting for their wine tasting experience.
Pismo Beach Winery specializes in award winning wines from small lots of grapes grown primarily in Paso Robles. The Pinot Noir is the Friedmans one exception which is produced from their own vineyards in Edna Valley and Avila Valley. Other varieties which are all grown in the San Luis Obispo County include Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Barbara, and Petite Syrah. The crushing and bottling is performed on site at their winery in Pismo Beach where you can also browse the gift shop and enjoy a picnic area and tasting room.
Pismo Beach Winery and their followers are getting ready for The World of Pinot Noir event that will take place on March 5-6 in Shell Beach at the Cliffs Resort. Don’t miss this event where the Friedmans will be pouring among some of the top Pinot Noir producers in California and even the world.
5828 Orcutt Road
San Luis Obispo, CA93401
805.541.5868
Recipe Makes Wine Tasting Virtual For Local Winery
For immediate release and feature consideration
Contact: Cary Conrady, 805-594-1880
November 24, 2009
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA - A local winery, Cerro Caliente Cellars, is holding a virtual
wine tasting on December 16th, 2009, hosted by Recipe - a food and beverage marketing
company based in San Luis Obispo. Unlike a regular wine tasting event, Cerro Caliente
Cellars will be able to host the tasting online - on a blog. Tasters from all over the world
will post their comments on Recipe’s interactive blog by going online to
recipemarketing.com/virtualtasting anytime on December 16th and entering their wine
review. Participants will be able to see comments from all wine tasters live, on the blog.
“Using our blog as a virtual tasting room allows everyone to participate, no matter where
they are located or what they have going on that day. I’m personally looking forward to
tasting wine in my pajamas from the comfort of my own home on Wednesday evening,”
said Recipe’s co-founder Ellen Curtis.
Cerro Caliente Cellars is offering their 2004 Corvette Cabernet Sauvignon at 25%
discount (making their bottle of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon only $15) to anyone who
comes into their San Luis Obispo tasting room and mentions the “virtual tasting” anytime
before December 16th. Anyone who is unable to visit the tasting room can order a bottle
by calling (805) 544-2842 before December 9th (to allow one week for delivery).
“We are really looking forward to this virtual tasting event and to reading what everyone
thinks of our Corvette Cabernet online, and I’m looking forward to joining the
conversation,” said Mitzi Peters of Cerro Caliente Cellars.
This event is the second-ever virtual wine tasting on the Central Coast. Back in
September, Recipe hosted the first virtual wine tasting with Sextant Winery. Sextant sold
over three cases of wine solely through the virtual Twitter tasting.
“This time we are expecting an even bigger turn out and are trying things a little
different. We will be hosting the event on our blog instead of on Twitter, to accommodate
those of us who are not Twitter-savvy yet,” said Ellen Curtis.
2006 Edna Valley Syrah- Named a Recommended Top Value Rhone-Style Wine from California
"There's lots of smoky cedar and tobacco notes in this full-bodied effort, which shows complex berry and hints of mineral and graphite, ending with firm tannins. Exceptional value. Drink now through 2012."
Edna Valley Vineyard Receives 92 Points!
The 2007 Edna Valley Vineyard, Pinot Gris from the Paragon Vineyard just received 92 points! Attractively floral and hinting at peaches and nectarines from the first attractive sniff through to it's balanced, fairly long aftertaste, this Pinot Gris will delight fans of the variety with its easy access and its unrelenting fruitiness. It has the depth to go with foods like grilled bratwurst or weisswurst yet is polite enough to join with the likes of roasted chicken. ~ Connoisseur's Guide to California Wine - January 2009
Platinum Award for Wood Winery!
Wood Winery took home the following awards in the recent Los Angeles Wine & Spirits 2008 Competition. Platinum Award (highest honor), Best of Class and Gold Medal for their 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Jackson's Vineyard. Only 600 cases of this wine were produced with only 200 cases available for purchase at this time. Get your case now of this award winning wine!
Per Bacco Cellars Dionysus Wins Best of Class
Per Bacco Cellars received three Gold medals as well as Best of Class at the California Mid-State Fair’s 2008 Central Coast Wine Competition. The 2007 Pinot Grigio was awarded a Gold Medal and retails for $19. Both the 2005 Pinot Noir and 2005 Dionysus “Barrel Select” Pinot Noir also received Gold medals. In addition to the Gold Medal, Dionysus was selected Best of Class. It was judged among many Pinot Noirs from Monterey to Santa Barbara County. The 2005 Pinot Noir retails for $32 and the 2005 Dionysus retails for $55 however, it recently sold out. Per Bacco Cellars 2005 Syrah received a Silver Medal and retails for $32.
Tolosa Winery Awarded by Wine Enthusiast
Tolosa Winery received 90 points from Wine Enthusiast on their 2005 "1772" Chardonnay, which can be found in the March 2008 issue.
Tolosa Winery received 90 points & Editors Choice from Wine Enthusiast on their 2006 No Oak Chardonnay, which was published in the December 2007 issue.
Per Bacco Cellars Wine Receives 90 Points
Recently, Per Bacco Cellars' 2005 Dionysus received 90 points from the Wine Enthusiast! This wine retails for $55 and can be purchased at the winery directly or at Taste, Wines of SLO. | 
