Preview: 27th Annual Ojai Wine Festival, Sunday, June 9, 2013

By way of background, opening thoughts: 

Ojai, California, known for its long-lived cultural and agricultural heritage, has also been quietly building a strong wine reputation.  Here's an event that will give you in one afternoon an opportunity to experience the best of both the wine and food expertise from the Ojai region.  Spirit of Wine will post reviews of the sampled wines following the event.

Particulars:


The twenty-seventh annual Ojai Wine Festival will take place Sunday, June 9, 2013 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm on the scenic shores of Lake Casitas. From its humble beginnings in 1987 the event has grown into a leading regional event attracting nearly 5000 people from throughout the Central Coast and Southern California. The annual event is a major fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Ojai West Foundation; a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps fund many humanitarian and community projects, including the environmentalscience based educational Lake Casitas Boat Tours for public schools.

“You can’t beat the combination of fantastic wine, beer, food, live music, dancing and fun in such a beautiful shady setting on the shores of Lake Casitas,” boasted Robert Long, President of the Rotary Club of Ojai-West.

Select from ten of Ojai’s best restaurants to buy a delicious meal. Guests may dine and drink wine on tables throughout the site or picnic on a grassy knoll overlooking the stage and Lake Casitas.

Not a wine lover? Beer lovers can enjoy tasting a great selection of over 20 domestic and import beers. Purchase a V.I.P. ticket for the exclusive V.I.P. Lounge to enjoy early 11:30 am entry, fine wines by the glass or three craft Belgian beers by the glass sponsored by Anheuser-Busch: Stella Artois, Hoegaarden or Leffe with free hors d’oeuvresserved by Sakura Ojai Japanese Restaurant and La Piu Bella Tavola Italian Catering & Cabot Cheese in a lovely shaded setting by the lakefront. VIP patrons can sample a glass of wine from Silver Wines, Bianchi Winery, Law Estate Wines, Huge Bear Wines or Barefoot Wine & Bubbly. Full ticket price information is available at the festival’s website - http://www.ojaiwinefestival.com.

“Last year had over 60 wineries who poured over 250 diverse wines,” states Wine Festival Executive Director, Angela May. “Our selection of wineries is looking impressive for this year. Tickets are limited and we advise buying tickets online now.  Photos, maps, and information from last year’s event can be found at the Festival’s website.”

Visitors can look forward to listening, dancing, and singing along to the music of Beatles tribute band, Sgt. Pepper, plus Captain Cardiac and the Coronaries, a 1950’s – 1960’s rock and roll show band. The festival will also feature an assortment of arts and crafts vendors selling their wares. Small children can play in the park’s play area and free boat rides on Lake Casitas will again be available to all attendees. More than 100 volunteers guarantee a well run and safe festival.

Calendar Details:

27th Annual Ojai Wine Festival

Wine & beer tasting, food, craft vendors, silent auction and entertainment by the lakeside.
June 9, 2013 at Lake Casitas Recreational Area Event Site
12 to 4 PM

Tickets online at www.ojaiwinefestival.com or starting in April at Ojai’s Attitude
Adjustment Shoppe or Reid’s Appliances of Ventura and Santa Barbara

Advance tickets receive deep discounts and there are a limited number of VIP and General
Admission available.

Review: **** $ Trader Joe's Reserve Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California, 2012 = BEST VALUE

Check out today's pricing and retail availability for bargain Napa chardonnay.

By way of background, opening thoughts: The Trader Joe's Reserve label is a good starting point for identifying "best value" wines.  Today we'll see if the chardonnay passes muster.

Original tasting and review : This is Trader Joe's Reserve Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California, 2012, finished at 13.5% alcohol.

In the glass: Clear with elements of pale vanilla/yellow.

On the nose: Poured at cool room temperature and swirled vigorously, shows bold, bright and slightly grassy clean and fragrant fruit.  From the aroma, seems like this will be nicely balanced of fruits, acids, fragrance and - perhaps - salinity.

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate in fact carry all the elements anticipated, with a surprising balance of creamy body and hints of melon and pineapple.  Not too crisp, not too oaky, not too fruity, not too deep, not too tropical - but enough of each for everyone.  Plus a clean finish that glides subtly away.  Very nice.

In summary: Overall, rates four stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, not for any one element, but for its nicely poised balance of elements.  Awesome best value.


Check out today's pricing and retail availability for bargain Napa chardonnay.

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  If you are a winery, distributor or marketing agent and you would like to see your (or your client's) wine featured at Spirit of Wine, here are two options: 1) Wait, pray and hope - we may find you someday; 2) Submit a wine for review.  No charge.  Particulars are here.   If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.

Review: **+ $ Beaver Creek Vineyards Old Vine Organic Cabernet Sauvignon, Home Ranch, Lake County, California, 2009

Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Beaver Creek Cabernet Sauvignon.

By way of background, opening thoughts: Lake County is a lesser-known California region producing some increasingly interesting cabernet sauvignon.  Today, we sample an organic select from the area.

Original tasting and review : This is Beaver Creek Vineyards Old Vine Organic Cabernet Sauvignon, Home Ranch, Lake County, California, 2009, finished at 14.4% alcohol.

In the glass: Deep, dark magenta, with some bricking at the edges, showing its few years of age.

On the nose: Poured at room temperature and swirled vigorously, shows bright, poignant, but bordering on funky deep red fruit.  A touch of cough syrup.  I would not have considered cabernet sauvignon from the nose, but instead a blend of zinfandel and Rhone varietals. From the aroma, seems like this will be thick and intriguing.

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact rich and bright with solid, bold and dusty tannins.  It has strong notes that do not mingle together naturally. Makes you think about elements of flavors rather than layers of flavor.  Still, you do get a lot of elements for your money.  Warning, though: while "elements" sometimes become "layers" with additional time in bottle, this old vine cabernet is, I believe, as ready to drink as it shall ever be.  Nonetheless, a decant may help and we will explore this.

In summary: Overall, rates three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, becoming a good value at its price point.


Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Beaver Creek Cabernet Sauvignon.

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  If you are a winery, distributor or marketing agent and you would like to see your (or your client's) wine featured at Spirit of Wine, here are two options: 1) Wait, pray and hope - we may find you someday; 2) Submit a wine for review.  No charge.  Particulars are here.   If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.

Tasting notes: Oreana Pinot Noir, Central Coast, California, 2010

Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Oreana Pinot Noir.

Original tasting and review : This is Oreana Pinot Noir, Central Coast, California, 2010, finished at 13.8% alcohol, and acquired from the winery in Santa Barbara, California.

In the glass: Medium deep red, hints of purple at the edges.

On the nose: Poured at room temperature and swirled vigorously, shows bright plum fruit.  From the aroma, seems like this will be almost more like a friendly Central Coast merlot than a pinot noir!

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact more aromatically purple than you would expect from a merlot, but definitely not what you would expect from a classic California pinot noir.  Bright, a bit tangy with a hint of darkness on the clean finish.

In summary: Overall, an interesting experience within the Spirit of Wine constellation.


Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Oreana Pinot Noir.

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  If you are a winery, distributor or marketing agent and you would like to see your (or your client's) wine featured at Spirit of Wine, here are two options: 1) Wait, pray and hope - we may find you someday; 2) Submit a wine for review.  No charge.  Particulars are here.   If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.