Archive: Apr 2012

  1. Prime Cru Wine Club Aboard the Ferrari-Carano Yacht

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    The benefits of belonging to the Prime Cru Wine Club goes way beyond receiving wine education and getting exclusive wine deals.  Members also have a lot of fun.  On Saturday April 28th, 2012 eighteen Prime Cru members went aboard the “El Dorado”, Ferrari-Carano’s yacht.  Don and Rhonda Carano opened the doors to their luxury yacht for Island Prime’s Prime Cru Members.  These Prime Cru members won a raffle at the last Prime Cru Wine Sale and were the hosted guests of the Carano’s.  They were treated to hor d’oeuvres and wine as the Yacht cruised around the San Diego Bay on a glorious sunny day. (more…)

  2. San Diego Says Good Bye to an Icon, the Reuben E Lee

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    Reuben E LeeI was so fortunate to be there on Monday, April 23rd, 2012 the day that the Reuben E Lee was hauled away after 40 years of being docked on Harbor Island.  The Reuben E Lee is an iconic restaurant which was well ingrained in San Diego’s dining history.  I bet every San Diegan born before 1990 spent some time aboard the Reuben E Lee.  I can remember it being the obvious choice for a family get together or birthday celebration. (more…)

  4. Bottling Wine at Almaden Winery in Brazil

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    The journey to bottling wine is a year long process of growing, harvesting and wine making.  I had the opportunity to visit one of the largest wineries in Southern Brazil, Almaden.  The winery was once owned by an American company, Natural Distillers and it was sold to Seagram, then Pernod-Ricard and today belongs to Brazil’s largest wine company, Miolo Wine Group.

    The wines are not of fine wines.  They are intended for early consumption and run about $3 per bottle.  The Charles Shaw of Brazil.  I am not going to write a review or post tasting notes about Almaden.  The wines are fruity and perfect for a hot day with a scoop of ice cubes. (more…)

  5. Moshin Vineyards Crusaders for Balanced Wines

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    Moshin Vineyards, crusaders for balanced wines

    In 2009 Moshin Vineyards and Winery celebrated it’s 20th anniversary; 20 years as a crusader for balanced wines.  The owner/winemaker is Rick Moshin who began making wine out of his garage in the 1970’s.  His professional career included a 12 year stint at Gary Farrell where he solely focused on Pinot Noir.  When he erected the Moshin Winery he chose to stay true to this finicky grape.  In staying true, Rick uses biodynamic farming techniques in the vineyard and does not add sulfites, letting the natural acidity preserve the wines.  The winery uses a gravity flow system so that very little human contact interferes in the temperamental juice’s journey in finding a resting place in barrel.  Upon sitting down and tasting with Rick, he mentioned that his intention is to make Pinot taste like Pinot.  This day in age other winemakers are pushing ripeness and the Pinot Noirs are loosing their inherent liveliness and acidity.  At Moshin the opposite is true; pushing acidity rather than alcohol which ultimately, while in the glass, shows that it has a sense of place.

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