Author: Wendy Taylor

Categories
Members Corner

Scholarship Program – University of California Davis

Orange County Wine Society funds scholarships for eight California colleges and universities, including the University of California Davis.

UC Davis has a dedicated Department of Viticulture and Enology that was established back in 1880 by the California Legislature to help the developing California wine industry and is considered one of the top programs in the country. In 2011, UC Davis opened a facility for making wine, beer and processed foods with sustainability and the environment in mind.

The campus hosts a four-acre vineyard next to the Robert Mondavi Institute. The department typically graduates about 20 undergraduate students in viticulture and enology per year. UC Davis also offers a Master of Science degree.

The Viticulture & Enology Graduate Group (VENGG) provides opportunities where students can conduct research on current issues in the wine industry through independent research and internships. This program graduates five to 10 students per year. The department also offer a Wine Executive Program that teaches the fundamentals of winemaking and management skills necessary to be successful in the challenging wine business world.

Next month we will be highlighting another of the colleges/universities supported by the OCWS Scholarship Fund. Just a friendly reminder there is always time to donate to the OCWS Scholarship Fund for 2024. There are two ways to donate:

  1. Mail a check – Make your check out to OCWS and mail it to the OCWS office at OCWS, P.O. Box 11059, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 Attn: Scholarship Fund. A donation letter will be sent to you.
  2. Donate Online – Log on to your account at OCWS.org and go to the scholarship donation page: OCWS.org/product/scholarship-donations/. You can make your donation online and print a receipt for tax purposes at the same time.

—Damian Christian, Scholarship Chair

Categories
Wine Education Wine Wisdom

Wine Wisdom – Know Pinot?

September’s Varietal Hour was all about Pinots. Well almost. Of course, the French grapes; Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Meunier, as well as the Italian grape, Pinot Grigio, were all discussed.

But what about the lesser known or even obsolete Pinot-X grape names? What about a Pinot grape that was bred specifically for one country or a Pinot grape that really wasn’t a Pinot grape? Test your knowledge as we go.

In 1924, at South Africa’s University of Stellenbosch a viticulture professor crossed two French varietals, one more robust with one more difficult to grow, to create a unique grape that would thrive in South Africa’s climate.

    • True
    • False

    ANSWER: True. Professor Abraham Perold performed an open-air hybridization in the vineyard and not in a controlled greenhouse.

    Which two French grapes did Professor Perold cross?

    a) Pinot Noir and Merlot

    b) Pinot Noir and Malbec

    c) Pinot Noir and Cinsaut

    d) Pinot Noir and Gamay Noir

      ANSWER: C. Pinot Noir with Cinsaut or Cinsault, a red grape that is heat tolerant and grown predominantly in the Rhone Valley, Languedoc, Roussillon and Provence regions of Southern France.

      Cinsault is one of the 13 approved grapes allowed to be used to make Chateauneuf du Pape wine.

      • True
      • False

      ANSWER: True. Cinsault is a minor blending grape along with predominately Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre for red wine in the Southern Rhone region.

      The grape, a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, was named PINOTAGE. Why?

      a) Because Professor Perold wanted it to be a heritage grape of South Africa

      b) Because an old South African name for Cinsaut was Hermitage

      c) Because it took several stages to propagate

      d) Because they didn’t like the name Herminoir

        ANSWER: B and D. When the Cinsault grape originally arrived from France in the 1850’s it was misnamed as Hermitage. And yes, they discarded Herminoir!

        Although Pinotage has failed to develop a significant presence in planted acreage, how many countries currently have Pinotage in their vineyards other than South Africa?

        a)   2

        b)   4

        c)   6

        d)   8

        ANSWER: D. Eight very diverse countries are growing Pinotage: Brazil, Canada, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, Switzerland, U.S. (Arizona, California, Michigan, Oregon, Virginia and Washington) and Zimbabwe.

        Every grape seems to have its day. On May 17 it’s Pinot Grigio Day; Aug. 18 is International Pinot Noir Day; and Dec. 16 is Pinot Meunier Day. Does Pinotage have a day?

        a)   Yes

        b)   No

        ANSWER: Yes. International Pinotage Day is Oct. 12. Hope you didn’t miss it this year!

        Now what about that obsolete Pinot grape?

        In the 1880s and 1890s red French grapes were being planted in California and used to make wines sold as “Burgundy.” Pinot’s many synonyms caused a great deal of confusion when it came to naming the grapes being used to make the wine.

        Which of these names were used as Pinot Noir synonyms in California vineyards?

        a) Pinot Franc

        b) Pinot Pernand

        c) Pinot Noirien

        d) Pinot St George

        e) All of the above

        ANSWER: E. Although three of these grape names are for true Pinot Noir Clones, one turned out later not to be a Pinot Noir Clone.

        In 1997, it was determined through DNA testing that a California grape, believed to be a Pinot Noir clone was actually a grape from southwestern France, known as Negrette. In the same year the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) ruled that Negrette could no longer be called by what name?

        a) Pinot France

        b) Pinot Pernand

        c) Pinot Noirien

        d) Pinot St George

        ANSWER: D. The name Pinot St George was originally used because it was believed that the grape came from the Nuits-St-George region of Burgundy.

        The Negrette grape, although very rare, is from the French region of Frontonnais near Toulouse. Its origin is not known and genetic studies have not been able to determine a source, but legend has it that it was brought to France from the Near East by the Knights Templar.

        a) True

        b) False

        c) Perhaps

        ANSWER: C. Who knows? It’s a legend!

        Negrette is rare not only in France but also California. But a few acres of Negrette can be found in which California county?

        a) San Luis Obispo

        b) Monterey

        c) San Benito

        d) Santa Cruz

          ANSWER: C. The only two wineries I could find that make a Negrette wine are both in San Benito County—Stirm Wine Co. and DeRose Winery.

          If it’s a Pinot cross, bred for a country or a Pinot that isn’t a Pinot, don’t get confused. No matter what it’s called, when you find one you like just open it and enjoy! Cheers!

          —CL Keedy, Wine Education Committee

          Categories
          Members Corner

          Corner Cellar

          When Tom and Laureen Baldyga moved into their Cowan Heights home in 2011, they had a set of priorities: a house with a view, a three-car garage and a wine cellar.

          While the home had sweeping views of Orange County and Catalina Island as well as the three-car garage that would accommodate practice sessions for Tom’s band, the couple had to find the space for the cellar.

          They finally settled on a 6×6 spot underneath the stairs. The couple got some of their inspiration from Bacchus Secret Cellars in Irvine where Laureen once worked. After working with a contractor on the design and its features, the cellar was built and has become a centerpiece of the Baldyga home.

          The outside of the cellar is adorned with about 30 wine case panels emblazoned with the logo and name of wineries from around the world that the Baldygas have gotten from Bacchus or collected themselves.

          Some of the panels that are represented by some of the most renowned wineries such as Caymus, Silverado, Opus One and Screaming Eagle, are separated by rows of corks. The cellar’s door has bunches of grapes etched onto the glass.

          At just 36 square feet, the cellar holds 300 bottles and has enough room to seat two people. A majority of the wine is from Duckhorn and Calcareous vineyards where the couple are wine club members.

          “We like to store the Duckhorn for about five years and then drink it,” Tom said. “Both wineries are extremely consistent with what they make and Calcareous produces excellent Syrahs and have great whites like Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc.”

          The cellar also has a glass rack and two storage spots for wine accessories. One of those spots is a nook with a marble top. On the back wall is a painting entitled “Perfect Zen” by popular artist Michael Godard.

          Like any good cellar, the couple ensured it was temperature controlled and would hold enough wine to make it worth their while.

          “I’d recommend finding a place that has drainage built in,” Tom said. “Try to know someone who can do the design. It’s amazing what you can do with a small space.”

          Tom said the cellar does serve the main purpose of storing the wine but he and Laureen also make sure they enjoy the wine with family and friends. His prized possessions are a 1994 Harlan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2011 Perry Moore Cab.

          “I don’t think I would change a thing,” Tom said. “I like that it’s not too big so it’s always full. But part of the fun is drinking the wine and refilling the cellar.”

          Categories
          President's Message

          President’s Message

          It is a great honor for me to serve as the president of the OCWS.  Watching the organization develop over the past several decades has been a great highlight of my life. With the summer over, we begin a new board year in October and plans for 2025.

          Annual Business Meeting

          Thank you to those who attended our Annual Business Meeting on Sept. 6. A recording of the proceedings is available to members on our website.

          Board Elections

          Please join me in congratulating our newly elected board members Fran Gitsham, C.L. Keedy and Daniel Vlahovic. They will be joining the remaining six board members for the 2024-2025 board term: Sue England, Linda Flemins, Fred Heinecke, John Lane, Rich Skoczylas and myself. Our volunteer board of nine directors spends countless hours organizing events and performing administrative duties. I would like to again thank them for their commitment to the organization and their dedication to making our amazing events and programs very successful.

          Volunteer Recognition Reception

          Before the pandemic, our volunteer recognition was handled at the in-person Annual Business Meeting. With the transition of the meeting to online, we have separated our volunteer recognition into a new event. On Oct. 20, we will hold our first Volunteer Recognition Reception 1 to 4 p.m. in The Courtyard at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. In addition to enjoying appetizers and wine, we will recognize the volunteers who have dedicated so many hours to the organization. Based on the number of hours volunteered in the past year (September to August), volunteers will be invited to attend the reception and receive a voucher for $10, $25, or $50 toward a future OCWS event. The President’s Award will also be presented at the event. Invitations will be sent in mid-September to those receiving awards. Space allowing, we will provide an opportunity for those not receiving awards to purchase tickets to attend and help celebrate our amazing volunteers.

          Vintage Member Luncheons

          This past May, we started Vintage Member Luncheons to help us prepare for our 50th Anniversary celebration in 2026. Attendees are helping us gather stories and information about the organization that we are compiling into a book. Invitations have been sent out through a join date of 2000. If you joined after 2000, look for your invitation in the future as we work through the list over the next 15 months.  If you received an invitation to one of the previous events but were unable to attend, you will be kept on the invitation list until you are able to attend. 

          Upcoming Events

          We have a host of upcoming events for you to attend. With over 1,000 members, it is important for you to purchase tickets as soon as they become available as they often sell out. Once they sell out, please contact our office to be put on a waiting list. Here is a brief list of upcoming events: Varietal Hours (every other Tuesday), Hocus Pocus Fall Social (Oct. 6), Winemakers’ Group Quarterly Meeting (Oct. 19), OCWS Outing at Laguna Canyon Winery (Nov. 1), Bubbles and Brunch at the Cannery (Nov. 3), Holiday Dinner Dance (Dec. 6), and Winemakers’ Group Holiday Potluck (Dec. 22). For more details on all upcoming events, please read the articles in this newsletter and sign up online.

          Closing

          Thank you to all our members who volunteer their time and attend our events. As a membership organization, we rely on your participation, and you have made this an incredibly successful organization over the past several decades. Sharing wine, food and good times with such an amazing group of individuals is a magnificent honor. Cheers to all!

          Categories
          Mini Tastings

          Gold Medal Mini-Tasting Results:

          According to Sam Puzzo, the first Mini-Tasting was 35 years ago this month. The 2024 Gold Medal Mini-Tasting is the largest one we’ve had, with 11 sites (member’s homes) across the county, and nearly 170 people enjoying 10 wines in a blind tasting. The attendees each contributed a dish, and each site voted for their favorite dish and the chef was awarded a bottle of wine as “Chef of the Evening.”  

          The Gold Medal Mini-Tasting is unique in that there were 10 different varietals represented, but all were very highly rated by the judges at our commercial competition. The wines were served in five blind flights of two wines each and the attendees judged each wine, voted for their favorites, and tried to determine the varietal. With such a wide range of wine varietals, the favorites across the 11 sites were pretty varied. Nine of the wines were the 1st place choice at one or more of the sites. The Dolcetto was the only one that didn’t finish as a top choice at any of the sites.

          The wines included familiar varietals along with a few that were less familiar to many of our members (Charbono, Dolcetto, and Teroldego). The Charbono and Teroldego tied for fourth place overall across the eleven sites.

          The overall winner was Cordon of Santa Barbara’s GSM. It got first place at one site, second place at three sites and third at additional sites. Second place overall was the Peirano Estate Red Blend from Lodi. It got first place at two sites and second at one. Third overall was Sycamore Ranch’s Petite Sirah from Paso Robles with one first place, two second place finishes, and two third place finishes.

          The three favorite wines across the seven host sites:

          PlaceWine & WineryYRPRICEDESCRIPTION
          1stCordon of Santa Barbara GSM   Santa Ynez Valley, Ca   93 points Double Gold2020$38.00Rich and deep with spice and black raspberry.  Smooth, balanced, and long. Tagged “246” in honor of Highway 246 that runs the course of the Santa Ynez Valley.
          2ndPeirano Estate   Red Blend Lodi, Ca.   Malbec, Cab. Sauv., Merlot, and Tempranillo.   93 points Double Gold2022$18.00Aromas of dark, rich plum, raspberry and cranberry fill the nose with a hint of sweet blood orange behind the plum. The palate is bright plum, perhaps satsuma plum, with a raspberry and cranberry medley.
          3rdSycamore Ranch Petite Sirah   Paso Robles, Ca.   94 points Double Gold (2023)2021$50.00The wine opens in the glass with bright floral aromas, caramel, and chocolate followed by touches of black fig, blueberry, cherry, and raspberry, with a pretty cherry liqueur and licorice quality to the nose. The palate follows with soft ripe fruits, cherry, black fig, and blueberry, with undertones of blood orange, a rocky minerality, and cocoa nibs throughout.
          Categories
          Members Corner

          Chef of the Evening – Recipe

          Neapolitan

          Ingredients
          1/2 17.3-oz. package puff pastry
          sheets (1 sheet), thawed
          3 oz. instant vanilla pudding and
          pie filling mix
          1 cup milk
          1.5 cups thawed frozen whipped
          topping
          1.25 cups sliced strawberries
          2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

          Instructions
          HEAT oven to 400°F.
          UNFOLD pastry sheet on a lightly
          floured surface.
          CUT pastry sheet into three strips.
          CUT each strip into four rectangles
          and place the pastries onto a baking
          sheet.

          BAKE for 15 minutes or until the
          pastries are golden brown. Let the
          pastries cool on the baking sheet on a
          wire rack for 10 minutes.

          SPLIT each pastry into two layers,
          making 24 in all.

          PREPARE pudding mix according
          to the package directions except use 1
          cup of milk.

          FOLD in the whipped cream.

          RESERVE eight top pastry layers.

          SPREAD 2 Tbsp. pudding mixture on
          each of eight bottom pastry layers.
          TOP each with 1 Tbsp. strawberries
          and another pastry layer.
          TOP with remaining pudding mixture,
          strawberries and reserved top
          pastry layers.

          SPRINKLE with confectioners’
          sugar and use piping bag to drizzle
          melted chocolate on top.

          —Recipe courtesy Greg Brett

          Categories
          Members Corner

          Mini-Tasting – Chefs of the Evening

          Gold Medal Mini-Tasting attendees brought a delicious dish to share at our and then voted on a Chef of the Evening. The results at each host site are:

          • Hosts Chris & Hank Bruce:

            Donna Hisey – Carol Shelton Duck

          • Hosts Carol Frank & Sam Puzzo

          Beth Marie Nierman – Vegan Kabobs

          • Host Fran Gitsham:

          Tie –

          Rochelle Randel – Mediterranean Cod with Blistered Tomato and Basil

          Lynda Edwards – Apple Carmel Crunch

          • Host Cheryl & Fred Heinecke:

          Tamara Reddy – Pumpkin, Sausage, and Mushroom Lasagna

          • Hosts Virginia & Karl Kawai:

          3-way Tie –

          Jim Burk – Beef with Red Wine

          Kevin Coy – Scalloped Potatoes

          Tom Stevens (Guest) – Paella

          • Hosts Courtney & John Molina:

           Linda Shepard – Death by Chocolate

          • Hosts Eberhard & Mary Anne Neutz:

           Ivan Moad – Tri-Tip

          • Hosts Betty Jo & Jay Newell:

           Irene Scott – Empanadas

          • Hosts Elee & Don Phillips:

          Damian & Carolyn Christian – Smoked Pork Loin with Bacon Jam Au Jus

          • Hosts Rona & Craig Rowe:

          Derrick Willis – Firecracker Salmon

          • Hosts Jody & Mark Theissen:

          Gayle Pratt – Caprese Corn Salad

          Congratulations to all the winners! A big Thank you to the Hosts!

          —George Cravens, OCWS Director

          Categories
          Scholarship News

          Spotlight: Fresno State University

          OCWS funds scholarships for eight California colleges and universities, including California State Polytechnic University, Pomona or CalPoly Pomona. CalPoly Pomona (CPP) supports California wine making with a beverage program that spans three colleges and includes a campus vineyard, called Horsehill Vineyard, which is a collaborative wine project between CPP and South Coast Winery. The vineyard was planted with clippings provided in 2001 by the late Don Galleon, who served as one of our commercial wine competition judges for many years. Growing and harvesting campus grapes are part of the College of Ag’s plant and soil science majors. The label design for the wine made from these grapes is part of the visual arts in the College of Environmental Design. CPP also teaches wine appreciation, beverage marketing and salesmanship in a group of courses in the Hospitality Management degree at the Collins College. The CPP students are very appreciative of the OCWS support to help make financial ends meet during their studies.

          Next month we will be highlighting another one of the colleges/universities supported by the OCWS Scholarship Fund. Just a friendly reminder there is always time to donate to the OCWS Scholarship Fund for 2024. There are two ways to donate:

          1. Mail a check – Make your check out to OCWS and mail it to the OCWS office at OCWS  PO Box 11059  Costa Mesa, CA 92627  Attn: Scholarship Fund  A donation letter will be sent to you.
          2. Donate Online – Logon to your account at ocws.org and go to the scholarship donation page: ocws.org/product/scholarship-donations/.

          You can make your donation online and print a receipt for tax purposes at the same time.

          Categories
          Members Corner

          Crushin’ It

          Meet an Orange County winemaker who crushes his own grapes onsite.

          For those who live in Orange County and the millions of tourists who visit each year, Laguna Beach is a world-class destination with pristine beaches, luxurious hotels and renowned restaurants.

          But as you traverse down the canyon on Highway 133, those who enjoy unfiltered and award-winning wines might want to stop at Laguna Canyon Winery for an indulgent experience.

          Owned and operated by winemaker and sommelier J.J. Huber, the winery is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and is home to a fleet of wines whose grapes are sourced from Napa, Sonoma and Lake County.

          Huber grew up on a ranch in Canada and he knew he always wanted to be tied to the land or agriculture for a living. In the early 1990s, he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia where he met his mentor, Gianni Seminari, an oenologist and winemaker from Milan, Italy.

          There, Huber began making wine and would get his grapes from California and bring them over the U.S-Canadian border. Along with his brother, they opened a winery in the Vancouver area in 1993 and three years later, they opened another.

          After garnering a slew of awards and acclaimed recognition, Huber turned his sights to California. In 2004, he opened Laguna Canyon Winery, Orange County’s first urban winery.Huber, now 61, takes pride that the entire winemaking process – from crushing the grapes, fermenting, pressing, barrel aging to bottling the wine – happens at his location in Laguna Beach. In 2021, he drove 2,500 miles in five days from Sonoma County to the winery hauling three varietals.

          “It gives you more control over every step of the winemaking process,” Huber said. “Every harvest you get to create different wines, and each one has a their own unique expression and style.”

          Huber is a firm believer that much of a wine’s essence is lost during filtering. He has remained committed to making unfiltered wines. He only produces two barrels of each of his red wines.

          “I believe that unfiltered red wines increase the quality by at least 20 percent,” he said. “The way they taste in the barrel is the way they will taste in your glass.”

          Production now sits at about 1,000 cases a year, more than 2 ½ times than what Huber made when he first opened his doors in Orange County.

          The results have clearly paid off. In honor of the winery’s 20th anniversary, Huber entered a dozen wines into the OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition and 10 of his entries received a medal, including Double Golds for his 2022 Due Viti-Two Point O, an Italian Style blend, and the 2020 Grenache.

          “What I do now really is winemaking for a passion, more so than making wine for a profit,” Huber said. “To me, it’s about the craft and making the highest quality wines.”

          The winery has the ambience of a traditional tasting room with a musical flair for Huber’s love of 80s hard rock n’ roll on a massive 160-inch big screen. Visitors can pour their own wines thanks to automatic wine tasting machines straight from Tuscany — a needed “pandemic pivot.” He also offers an educational, 1-on-1 premium wine and barrel tasting experience.

          The winery also hosts monthly wine pairing dinners where the different varietals are infused into the dishes for a superb epicurean experience. For instance, one dinner featured a filet mignon that had a demi-glaze with Huber’s reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and paired with the same Cabernet.

          Huber also recently hired a new enologist who was the head winemaker at Joseph Phelps Vineyards in Saint Helena for 15 years. He called her the “missing piece of the puzzle to my Picasso of award-winning, handcrafted boutique wines.”

          Huber’s goal is to purchase five acres of vineyards somewhere in Southern California so he can tie it to the winery that would be the pinnacle to the dream he has made a reality for most of his adult life.

          While his biggest challenge may be getting more people in the door who are on their way to or leaving Laguna Beach, Huber considers himself blessed by the profession that has provided him with so much and the people who have been along for the ride.

          Categories
          Members Corner

          President’s Message

          September 2024 By Carolyn Christian

          It is hard to believe that summer is officially coming to an end this month. As I close this year as president, I am reminded of what an amazing group of people we have in this organization. Whatever our backgrounds or beliefs, we all share a common love of wine and the willingness to share our wine journey experiences with each other. 

          It always astonishes me (and others) that this organization is made up of over 1,000 volunteers who come together to put on such amazing events. For those who joined at the OC Fair, I welcome you to this organization that has been a part of my life since the OC Fair in 1986!

          Website Upgrade

          We have recently gone through a major website software update. A big thank you to Stacey and Wendy Taylor for their dedication to making this transition go smoothly and polishing up the look of the website.

          The Courtyard

          With the OC Fair behind us, we owe many thanks to Fred Heinecke, Fran Gitsham and all of those who helped make The Courtyard at the OC Fair happen. We broke records this year and had an incredibly successful fundraiser and membership event. 

          Annual Business Meeting

          For more details on our successes throughout the year, including the Courtyard, please attend the Annual Business Meeting Sept. 6 via Zoom. The OCWS board has found that this format works well for this annual review of the organization’s finances and activities.  Please note that we are adding a new event in October to replace the social aspect of past business meetings.

          Board Elections

          Each September, we have board elections to replace three outgoing board members.  Candidate statements are posted on our website, and you will have an opportunity to hear them speak at the Annual Business Meeting Sept. 6. Ballots will be emailed in September.  Now is a good time to log on to your account to confirm your email address.

          Volunteer Recognition Reception

          This Oct. 20, we will hold our first Volunteer Recognition Reception. Please note this is a date change from Sept. 29 to allow us to hold this event in The Courtyard and be able to present the new 2024-2025 Board of Directors. This event replaces the volunteer recognition portion of the Annual Business Meeting. In addition to enjoying appetizers and wine, we will recognize the volunteers who have dedicated so many hours to the organization. Invitations will be sent mid-September to those receiving awards.

          Vintage Member Luncheons

          We continue to move forward in time with our Vintage Member Luncheons as we prepare for our 50th Anniversary celebration in 2026. Invitations have been sent out through a join date of 2000. If you joined after 2000, look for your invitation in the future as we work through the list. Invitees are helping us gather stories and information about the organization we are compiling into a book.

          Other Events

          We have a host of other events for you to attend; Hocus Pocus Fall Social, Bubbles and Brunch at The Cannery, Winemakers’ Group Quarterly Meeting and OCWS Outing at Laguna Canyon Winery coming up.

          Closing

          To all of you who have contributed to this organization this year, I send my heartfelt thanks.  There are too many to mention here, but I look forward to recognizing you Oct. 20. To those who are new to the organization, thank you for joining us. I welcome you to this incredible organization that will bring you new friends and great memories on your wine journey.  Cheers to all!