Finding wine in Los Angeles

I have not enjoyed a glass of wine in a month. Yes I have drank a glass or two here and there on several occasions, but not really enjoyed one. I hadn't realized how much I missed it until tonight. That moment when you pop the cork (or in this case, twist the top) off the bottle, pour a substantial amount into your glass, and inhale the fine or not so fine bouquet; that moment was so welcoming. Now for the wine; was it a beautiful bottle of something amazing that I was saving for that one special meal? No. For a matter of fact, it was the worst choice I could have made. But yet, it was absolutely perfect. So what did I pour in such a celebratory manner to pair with my freshly prepared jambalaya? Well I choose a very inexpensive bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Yes... A perfectly inexpensive bottle of wonderful stone-fruit-and-pineapple-on-the-nose, crisp, off dry, Sauvignon Blanc to accompany my hearty onion and tomato based shrimp and sausauge, Louisiana inspired jambalaya. I'm pretty sure the Kyle from six months ago is crying in a corner. But, like I said, it was perfect. It was everything I needed in that moment.

Since moving back to Los Angeles, I've felt that I have in a way lost the person I became in Northern California. In Davis, I found my passion, found life long friends, and really came into my own. I drank great wine and ate amazing food, with the most amazing people. Tried cheeses that I will never try ever again (because they taste like butt), or tasted pairings that inspired me for weeks. It was my own pleasant-ville. I found myself baking and cooking almost every night. My large kitchen enabled me to experiment to my hearts desire. I not only fell in love with wine at work, but I also realized my love for cooking. Lots of my previous posts were inspired by the newest bottle I was able to bring home, and the meal I made for it. I was constantly learning, experimenting, and tasting new things almost everyday. So now, in Los Angeles, not only am I missing my friends back in Davis, the seasons, the city, but I miss how colorful and full of flavor and taste my life was as well. And that's why tonight is so special. I feel that same spark. When I took a sip of my Mohua Sauv blanc, and inhaled the garlic cauliflower rice that was on the stove; I was taken back.

So as for the title of this post. No, I  have not found wine in Los Angeles, at least not yet. But I am finding that the person I was in Davis again, slowly; and in a studio apartment, with the smallest kitchen imaginable. But I have a wine rack, and my books. So it's a start.  

xoxo 

Dellatorri Chianti, Studying for the CSW, and returning to Los Angeles

Wow... Leaving the comfort of a great job that I loved and was good at was never going to be easy. However after 4 weeks of being back in the city that I was raised in, I now feel less confident in my abilities and I am pretty sure that I never knew anything about wine at all. I some how managed to fool everyone that I ever worked with. I am a fake.

Ok, I may not be a total fake; and I may have known a bit about wine at one point. But I find it so strange that the people I worked with have complete faith in my abilities. They are completely convinced that not only do I know something about wine, but that I know a lot, and that I will be great at any job I apply to. Yet I continue to doubt myself. It may be the fact that I am a psychology student pursuing a career in wine. It may be that I am in an unfamiliar city, where the market for wine is as different as the customers. Or it may also be that I am a young woman, in a male dominated industry. Interestingly enough, the last part doesn't bother me at all. I am a go-getter. I thrive off of being the odd "man" out. And when I am passionate about something, I cannot be stopped. So, in the midst of this ramble, I guess I realized that I may have the drive for this industry. And I just did not just "fall in love" with the "romanticism" surrounding the business and making of wine, like some people would like to assume.

As I look for work in Los Angeles, I am finding that I feel either over qualified for entry level positions or under qualified for wine buyer/sales representative. After countless applications, and two rejected interviews, I figured I needed to do something different. So I have decided to study for the Certified Wine Specialist test in order to make myself stand out from other applicants before applying to any other positions. I think this will allow me to take the time I need to solidify my knowledge of the fundamentals about wine, and prepare for the job I want and know I deserve.

In the mean time, I will be tasting as many wines as possible, studying as much as I can, and hopefully working in a part-time position. So tonight, I have a Chianti!!!!! I bought this on a whim, not knowing how good it would be, but just knowing my love for Italian wine.

Quick Taste: Dellatorri Chianti Riserva 2009 - 100% Sangiovese
This chianti was most definitely surprising. A random Ralphs find, this wine was actually very nice. For under ten dollars, this well rounded earthy chianti is beautiful on the nose and the palate. On the nose, tart cherries and spice is most prevalent. On the palate, the earthy, dark cherry, and violet notes provide a great finish.

 I am thoroughly enjoying this bottle, and will be purchasing another in the near future!  

XOXO
Kyle

Three very different wines, three very different impressions- Spanish Grenache, New Zealand Pinot Noir, and a California Barbera (my fav!)

Today I was fortunate enough to take home three very unique wines. Although we won't be carrying two of the three, I still wanted to take the time to write about them. I apologize for the crappy photo quality as well! I have not been posting as frequently as I want, so as soon as I got home, I wanted to get this out! On to the reviews!

#1: Pegaso Barrancos de Pizarra Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon 2009- Spain

This wine, a dusty red, has ripe fruit on the nose. Possibly strawberry. There were notes of raspberries and some spice. It has some body and was tannic for a Grenache. However I found it to be lighter and more acidic than other previous grenaches I've had. All in all, not awful, but for the price (above $20 I do believe) I have had better (and at a MUCH lower price point). Would be good with grilled meats, and cheeses.

#2: Felton Road Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2010- New Zealand

This wine was super interesting! On the nose, earth floor, berries, mint, and olive. I think the olive through me for a loop when I first approached this wine. Medium bodied, well rounded tannins, oaky and light. On the palette, jammy fruit, licorice, and COLA! Wow, that cola was very unexpected as well! The finish was somewhat short. I did enjoy the Felton Road Pinot, however I've had much better for less! However, for the potential $40+, it was an interesting experience. New Zealand isn't the first country that comes to mind when I think of Pinots, so this wine was more of a way for me to expand my palette.

#3: Serafina Cellars Barbera 2009- Amador County, California

Well, I might be a bit biased on my liking of this one because Barbara's just might be one of my favorite varietals... That being said, this wine is also really nice, and for a "new world" style wine I truly enjoyed it (I much prefer old world, Italian Barberas). This deep ruby colored wine has a bright fruit on the nose. On the palette, blackberry, spice, some oak, and anise. Well rounded tannins and structured acidity, followed by a medium finish! Would be PERFECT with pasta, grilled meats, and any tomato dishes! Really enjoyed it, and for $16.99, I think a relatively good deal!

Xoxo

Quick Taste: Sentinel Oak Viognier

My supervisor Claire gave me two wines from Sentinel Oak vineyard; a Viognier and a Syrah. This vineyard is extremely local to our store location, and is 40 miles south east of Sacramento in Amador County's Shenandoah Valley. Because of their work to sustainably grow grapes of superior quality, their production is very small. So small in fact that the Syrah and Viognier are their only two current releases. I decided to save the Syrah for another night, and I poured the Viognier.

Formal tasting notes: this Viognier is floral and clean on the nose, with hints of pear. Bright crisp citrus on the palate, with an semi-dry finish. Would be a perfect accompaniment with fish or a salad.

Overall, a solid Viognier, but nothing spectacular.

Quick Taste: Mohua Sauvignon Blanc

Tonight we had a free wine tasting at the store, sampling two wines from Australia and New Zealand. The Australian Syrah was great! Smooth, nice spice, lingering finish. However, it was the Sauvignon Blanc that caught my attention! This New Zealand wine was beautiful and was a great price! At $11.99, this white wine had a beautiful nose, was full of fruit on the palate, and had a well balanced finish. It, in my opinion, far exceeded many of the domestic sauv blancs I have had. In one word, this wine was bright! Easy drinking, but not dull; perfect with a seafood dish or just by itself. I might have found my new favorite sauv blanc!

Tasting Notes: on the nose: PASSION FRUIT, citrus, some stone fruit. Melon and grapefruit on the palate. Nice lingering off dry finish. Beautiful!

Up coming posts: current book I'm reading and domaine laroque cab France

Quick Taste: Frisk Riesling 2010

Tonight I paired this 2010 Australian "prickly" Riesling with a spiral pasta, broccoli, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. This is the first Riesling I've had, and I enjoyed it! I was surprised that it was sweeter than I had expected, which is most likely a result of the 11% muscat gordo. The "prickly" elements of this wine made it especially clean for a light pasta dish, and I enjoyed the pairing.

Tasting Notes:
Lemon, pineapple, and some spice on the nose. Also a hint of minerality. On the palate, its quite mouth watering, with ginger, apple, and a refreshing "prickle"! Definitely a sweeter wine with a nice lingering finish!

Rare Red - 100% California Grapes!

Selling wine along with enjoying it, has been a strangely enlightening experience. Personally, I enjoy sauv blancs, pinot noirs, and a variety of red Italian blends. That is, in the 6 months that I have been drinking wine. When purchasing wine, I am always looking for something different, whether it’s a domestic wine for a great value or an imported varietal that I’ve never heard of before, I am always looking for a new experience.  However, as a wine seller, you begin to notice several types of wine buyers. Being from California and working near wine country, I encounter people who are solely looking for domestics, especially local ones. Then there are the customers who are completely open to any new and interesting wine that we suggest. I love hand selling in general, but the latter are usually the most talkative and provide the more fun interactions. Then there are the people who won't drink certain varietals or types of wine, whether it’s oaked Chardonnay, white wine, or blends. Then there are the customers who just want good, cheap, under ten dollars, bottles of wine; and are very serious about it as well. Recently, I have been most surprised at one wine in particular that seems to have captured the attention of these types of customers completely.

Rare Red claims to be a four grape blend, 100% California, retails for $6.99, and is flying off our shelves. I’m not completely sure why I’m so fascinated with this wine. I think it has to do with my perception of the typical wine buyer, focused on varietal, vintage, and value. But Rare Red has broadened my view of the average buyer. Further research on this wine has shown that it has been a great seller for about a year now. Some bottles have the varietal breakdown included on the label, however the bottles we sell do not. Customers are buying this bottle without knowing anything about the wine inside, only that it’s affordable. Whether these customers are of the younger generation of wine buyers, or wine lovers of the older generation; I don’t think it matters. People are buying it because it’s good and cheap. There’s no superiority or judgment.   Rare Red has shown that if a wine is good, drink it.