Sparkling Wine  

As we plan our holiday festivities, most of us have Champagne on our shopping list. After all, there’s nothing that compares to a fine glass of bubbly to celebrate the festive season. An excellent Champagne (or sparkling wine as it has to be called if it is made outside of the Champagne region of France) is made right here in town by expert winemaker Barry Jackson of Equinox Wine.

Places to sip wine around the Thanksgiving holiday

Good Libations
Many people take a few extra days off work over Thanksgiving in order to add on to what is, for most, a four-day holiday. This is a perfect opportunity to visit restaurants, wine bars and wineries–and head to a few places you haven’t tried before. Here are some suggestions of where to find some tasty eats and good libations:

Merlot 2010

When my husband and I attend events in the Monterey and Carmel areas, we often stay over at the Hyatt Monterey. It’s conveniently located just off Highway 1 and the facilities are top notch.

Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Located on a 73-acre compound above Saratoga is House Family Winery. This family-owned-and-operated business makes all its wine from grapes grown in their Old Oak Vineyard on their extensive property.

Pinot Noir 2010–and Fiesta Time in Carmel Valley

Tucked away in the beautiful hills of Carmel Valley, the Holman Ranch is a most amazing spread of property. It is home to stables, horse trails, a historic hacienda, olive groves and perfectly tended vineyards. Weddings, retreats, corporate and wine events are held in this bucolic spot, as well as the estate’s annual Fiesta de los Amigos every September, which is also a benefit for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Viognier 2010—Sweet Smell of Success

A trip to Loma Prieta Winery is well worth a visit. Situated at about 2,600 feet in the Santa Cruz Mountains, it is like being on top of the world—and the view of the Monterey Bay is spectacular. Loma Prieta’s wines are pretty spectacular, too, which makes it even more worthwhile to take a jaunt to their tasting room.

Wine and Dine and more ... 

Half Moon Bay Food & Wine Fare
Get away to the Oceano Hotel & Spa in Half Moon Bay, known for its beautiful views and great food, to an annual food and wine event organized by the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association.

Sauvignon Blanc 2011—A brand new release from Soquel’s Hunter Hill

I first tasted Hunter Hill’s Sauvignon Blanc at the Capitola Art & Wine Festival in September. On a particularly hot day for our neck of the woods, this was perhaps one of the lightest and most refreshing wines around, and I went back for another tasting.

Syrah 2009—A Beautiful Wine to Savor

Aptos resident Fred Scherrer is very involved in the wine business—both making it and marketing it, but it was a long path that led to that point. Scherrer so loved good wine and wanted to make it under his own label that he volunteered at Kathryn Kennedy Winery for two years, working with one of the best winemakers in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Marty Mathis. “Marty taught me to make wine and emphasized the key issues when doing so, and some common pitfalls to avoid,” says Scherrer.