ANOTHER WINE TASTING SLEEPOVER IN ARROYO GRANDE -

 

Covid!  Covid!  Covid!  How everyone's lives have changed since the onset of the pandemic.  We are so fortunate that all our friends have been vaccinated and we've been able to see them in small groups inside and larger groups outside.  Like most people, we've stayed close to home, but our desire to leave our pretty valley has magnified.  Hell, we were stir crazy... and then, like manna from heaven, came an invitation from dear friends, Candace and Craig Anderson to venture north to Arroyo Grande for a sleepover in their beautiful 'home away from home'.  Before we finished texting 'yes,' we were packing an overnight bag.

Much like Ojai, Arroyo Grande is a rural town surrounded by orchards and ranches and vineyards.  Fabulous vineyards, I might add and I've written about many of them. Yet, still close to larger towns and a stone's throw from the Pacific.

As we traveled north on the 101 with a shortcut detour through beautiful Santa Ynez and a lunch stop at The Wine Merchant (our favorite watering hole in the darling town of Los Olivos), we arrived at Candace & Craig's around 2-ish.  We visited for a while before heading out to Chamisal Vineyards one of their favorite wineries (and ours) with a large outdoor venue, perfect during this pandemic period.

Check out our first visit to this delicious winery.   https://mydinnerswithrichard.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-sleepover-in-arroyo-grande-pt-1.html

The weather was perfect.  We were ushered to a picnic table for four.

Place mats with 5 circles drawn on it where a glass of wine would be were on the table.  Written under each circle was a description of the wine we were about to taste. 

 

We started with the 2018 Estate Chardonnay and the 2018 Califa Chardonnay both with flavors of vanilla custard (and who doesn't have fond memories of vanilla custard from their childhood?), lemon, and hints of other fruits.  I'm a chardonnay drinker, so I can be quite choosy (and critical) of chardonnays, but both these wines were just what the doctor ordered.  So, of course, I had to buy a bottle (Califa) for medicinal purposes.

Next were the 2018 Estate Pinot Noir and the 2018 Califa Pinot Noir.  Again, both were delicious with various scents and taste nuances that boasted a few earthy notes.  The Estate pinot was mellow and light and no back taste. I liked that.

The last was a 2016 Califa Syrah with aromas of violets, black pepper, olives and smoked meat.  I wanted a rare New York steak with some steamed asparagus to 'go with.'

Check out Chamisal's website for prices and wine club membership.  chamisalvineyards.com

Arroyo Grande, like Ojai, has become a weekend tourist town with packed restaurants and parking hard to find... even during Covid, because most restaurants in both towns have outdoor dining.

So, as the tasting room was closing, we headed back to our hosts' cozy home to drink more wine (of course) and prepare dinner.

What a perfect reprieve from our Covid stir craziness...  Thank you Candace & Craig!

Chamisal Vineyards

7525 Orcutt Road - San Luis Obispo, Ca. 93401

805-242-7326

 

A SLEEPOVER IN ARROYO GRANDE - Pt. 1 - (Chamisal Vineyards)

A SLEEPOVER IN ARROYO GRANDE

Part 1

(CHAMISAL VINEYARDS)

It had been blistering in Los Angeles for weeks and weeks, so when our friends, Candace and Craig, invited us for a sleepover at their lovely weekend home “up north,” we were packed and in our car in a NY minute.  “Up north” was Arroyo Grande (AG), a charming little town near San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach, set among rolling vineyards...

... and wonderful wineries and tasting rooms.

When we left that Saturday morning, the temperature was already in the 90’s (at 9:30 a.m.!), and as we drove through the Valleys toward Santa Barbara, it peaked at 103.  Folks down south and back east always smile when So. Californians complain because our heat is “dry” heat, they say… Well, not this summer.  Humidity covered Los Angeles like a wet dog who had no intention of leaving.  Who says there’s no climate change?  If I wanted humidity, I’d have never left Manhattan.

But, as we passed Santa Barbara and headed into the mountains, we forgot the heat and humidity (we were in an air-conditioned car, after all) and gazed at the beautiful scenery.  We made a pit stop in the quaint town of Los Olivos and checked out the latest wines in the Wine Merchant Café, our favorite little wine shop/restaurant in town.

http://mydinnerswithrichard.blogspot.com/2010/03/sideways-sunday.html

We arrived in AG just in time for lunch and hung out in the cooler climes till it was wine tasting time.

Our first stop was Chamisal Vineyards.  In existence since 1973, Chamisal is the first vineyard planted in the Edna Valley.

The tasting room is in a big red barn affair in the midst of one of its vineyards.   

The tasting room was crowded...

 

...so we, along with Candace and Craig’s beautiful daughter, Liza, opted for a table outside overlooking the vineyard.

(oops - where's Richard?)

There he is!

First in flight was the 2011 Estate Pinot Gris ($24) - as advertised this is a Pinot Gris, not a Pinot Grigio. It’s the same grape but is produced in the Alsace style, making it richer and fuller, which I prefer. I liked it.

Next up was the 2010 Califa Chardonnay ($40) made over 14 months (and lots of tastings) from the wineries very best blocks and clones. I really loved its density and rich citrus flavor with a hint of butterscotch.  Yum.

Moving to “reds” – we sipped the 2011 Stainless Pinot Noir ($24).  No oak or malolactic fermentation (converting tart tasting malic acid found in grape must to softer tasting lactic acid), it’s fresh and fruity with hints of pepper. It’s said to be similar in style to a Beaujolais Nouveau, and I agree. Just slightly chilled, it’s awesome.

We followed up with the 2010 Califa Pinot Noir ($60), a classic pinot noir filled with rich ripe fruit and spice flavors.  And, I love the classics.

Last, but certainly not least since it was my favorite tasting at Chamisal, was the 2009 Estate Grenache ($38).  Doing the ritual ‘sniff” before sipping, I felt I was Brer Rabbit – “don’t throw me into the strawberry patch” when he was really thinking “throw me in.” The strong strawberry scent, mixed with tastes of cedar, red cherries and touches of pepper and anise, put me in red wine wonderland.  I really loved this velvety wine.

Our smooth flight over, it was time to see what our next landing would be like.

CHAMISAL VINEYARDS

7525 Orcutt Road

San Luis Obispo, California 93401

805-541-9463 - 866-808-9463

www.chamisalvineyards.com