It’s no secret that Laura and I love Paso Robles. We paid our first visit here last May and are back in town for our seventh visit. Someone just asked me why I like Paso so much. There are several reasons. Obviously, there’s some incredible wine here. More than that, there’s magic. There’s a unique feeling, a camaraderie, that is tangible. People smile more. They’re genuine. It feels like home.

On our last visit we became one of the first 100 members of Pear Valley’s wine club. We came up for the party they hosted Saturday for their charter members. We got into town yesterday and stopped at Tobin James Cellars to visit Tim Booth, the first person we met here last year and who has since become a dear friend. After a quick visit and some tasting, it was off to Carina Cellars to meet Phil Stevens, owner and winemaker at Del Real at Starr Ranch.

Phil makes one of the best Zinfandels I’ve ever tasted. We served it recently at a dinner party and every single guest was floored by how good it was. It and his Viognier/Rousanne blend will soon be available. Keep an eye out for Phil and Del Real wines. Aside from his quality product, Phil is a terrific guy.

We had a little time before the tasting rooms closed, so we paid a visit to Wild Coyote. You almost feel as if you’re in Taos, New Mexico. We only had time for a quick tasting, but it’s a lovely facility with 100% red varietals. There’s a also a bed and breakfast on the facility. The first thing you notice is the teepee when you pull up the driveway. There’s also broken pottery pieces in the hillside. We’ll return when we have more time.

We met Donovan, owner of The Crooked Kilt, when we were at Tobin James. We stopped for a bite to eat and the first half of the Lakers’ game. Donovan took us upstairs to show us his new “Clover” lounge that he’ll be opening soon. It’s beautifully decorated and features private rooms with flat screen TVs and a bottle menu. Dinner was very tasty… we headed back to the motel and called it a night.

Friday morning we decided to visit the Austin Hope & Treana Winery tasting room. As soon as we got close, I could tell we were in for a treat. The new tasting room is spectacular. We met Whitney Railsback, who poured us some wonderful fines. We left with a six pack of the Treana 2007 Viognier/Marsanne blend.

I had been in touch with Marc Ladierre at Vina Robles and we headed out to meet him and DeAnna Morrison from Wine Country Outings. Vina Robles is a gorgeous facility and Marc made us feel right at home. He had to leave for an appointment, but he left us in the capable hands of Jacob and we went through one treat after another on the tasting menus. DeAnna joined us halfway through the tasting. Their new White 4 is a blend of Viognier, Verdelho, Vermentino and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s crisp and easy drinking and they have virtually sold out of 1600 cases in less than two months. Highlights of the tasting were the 2006 Ryan Road Syrah (simply magnificent) and the 2006 Suendero (Dream Path) Meritage which picked up double gold, grand champion and best of show at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo International Wine Competition.

It was getting to be lunch time, but we still had one more stop to make. Our new friend Deanna took us across the street to Mitchella Vineyard and Winery. It was there we started using our new WCO journals. What a great idea. There are pages for 32 outings, with room to take note of what you tasted and how you liked what you tasted. Participating wineries will stamp your journal like a passport and it’s fun to get labels to stick on the pages as souvenirs.

We met Darren and Angela who were excellent hosts. Darren was born and raised on the property. They poured us samples both on and off the tasting list. I found their 2006 Syrah, the 2007 Zinfandel and the 2007 Rambunctious Red (a Zin/Cab/Syrah blend) to be exceptional. It was lunchtime, so we headed downtown for a bite at Artisan.

We had a delicious lunch and a great visit. DeAnna is a fifth generation Templeton native. It’s amazing the number of people we ran into that she knew. We finished lunch and headed for Anglim Winery at the old train depot. We met Steve Anglim last year at a tasting at The Wine Company, and met his wife Steffanie at the winery last year. They are a delightful couple and Steve produces superior wines.

The 2007 Viognier, the 2007 Bien Nacido and Fiddlestix Pinot Noirs and 2006 Zinfandel all pleased our palettes. We parted ways with Deanna at that point. Laura and I took off for Villicana Winery for a visit with Alex Villicana. From there we stopped at the majestic Carmody McKnight Estate, back downtown to see Kiamie Wine Cellars, then down to Templeton for a quick stop at Pomar Junction.

When I pick up the tale again, I’ll share my visit with Alex Villicana.

From the first moment you step inside Francesca’s Italian Kitchen, you feel as if you’ve been friends with Alessio and Francesca Di Sabatino for years. Francesca often breaks into song and Alessio always has a big hug for you. It doesn’t hurt that they also have delicious Italian food and a nice wine list to compliment it.

I sat down with Alessio yesterday to learn about their journey to Temecula. Alessio is originally from Rome and Francesca is from Milan. Alessio’s mom owned a restaurant and his dad worked in one, so he’s been around food all of his life. His grandfather was a food taster for Benito Mussolini while he travelled by train during World War II. He’s been in the business since he was 15, Francesca since she was thirteen. They met in Orange County in 1995 and she came to work for him in 1999. Alessio had strict rules about employees not dating one another, but he wound up breaking his own rule and in 2003 they married on the island of Oahu.

When they decided to open their own restaurant, they went searching for an area that would remind them of Tuscany; a rural setting with horses and wineries. When they found Temecula, they knew they’d found the right spot. They bought a home in Lake Elsinore in 2005 and started work on the restaurant in July of 2007. September 13th will mark their second anniversary.

Alessio has worked every aspect of the restaurant business – as a busboy, waiter, bartender, general manager and sommellier. His goal was to offer authentic food made from scratch, “like mama used to make.” We went into the kitchen and he took a couple of river prawns and threw them in a pan. Five minutes later, we were eating them.

I spoke with Alessio about how he goes about selecting the wines he serves. He features three separate cultures: local wineries to support the local economy and introduce people to the quality wines being produced here; Napa/Sonoma and Paso Robles, because of their international reputation and finally wines from different regions of Italy. He picks wines he is able to pair with the food he serves. He wants his patrons to sample wines they may not have had before and he offers a wine club. For $50, members get two or three bottles of wine a month from a different region of Italy and one night a month they get to come taste them. This way, customers can try a wine they can’t find at their local market and perhaps find a varietal or region they weren’t familiar with and expand their palette.

Alessio likes to serve unique wines. You’ll find Primitivo from Calabrio, Rosso di Montepulciano from Umbria and other wines you’re not likely to see at the supermarket. There are monthly cooking classes on Tuesdays and live music Friday through Sunday with Vic “The Sax Guy”. If you haven’t discovered Francesca’s yet, you’re in for a real treat.

I first heard of Oak Mountain Winery last year after someone commented on a post I’d written on another blog. She said that she and her husband loved Oak Mountain and that we should pay them a visit. We followed her suggestion and as a result have had the pleasure of getting to know Steve and Valerie Andrews. I spent some time with them last week and got to know a little bit more about the history of Oak Mountain.

Steve and Valerie didn’t start out as winemakers. Steve had (and still has) a towing and auto dismantling company. He’s also a skilled carpenter. Valerie was a painting contractor. They are perfectly suited for their roles of making and and running two wineries. Both make you feel very much at home when you come to visit.

The Andrews purchased property on De Portola Road in 1996. The 11 acres there is on steep, hilly and rocky terrain. Steve sent soil and rock samples to Napa and planted accordingly after getting the results. He also visited Paso Robles and spent time in a number of vineyards to get a feel for what he would be growing. His initial plantings consisted of Syrah, Mourvedre, Viognier, Zinfandel, Grenache, Grenache Blanc and Sangiovese.

Temecula Hills Winery began gaining a reputation for making good wine and with that came a lot of visitors. After a few years, Steve and Valerie’s children began expressing an interest in getting into the business, so they went looking for another property a little closer to the heart of the Temecula Wine Country. Initially they looked at a few properties on Rancho California Road, but then settled on the current location of Oak Mountain on Via Verde off De Portola. In 2005, they opened the doors to Oak Mountain.

There are so many wonderful stories to share about this couple. In an upcoming article about Temecula Hills, I’ll tell you about Val’s dad Ed Snyder. What I like most about them is their heart. Three years ago, their dog Petie was diagnosed with diabetes. The treatment was outrageously expensive and they realized there were a lot of folks who just couldn’t afford to treat their sick pets, so they wound up having them put to sleep. Valerie decided they wanted to do something to help. That’s when Cause For Paws was born. They started bottling For Pete’s Sake Red and For Pete’s Sake white wines, with a portion of the sales going to Cause For Paws. Combined with their annual Woofs and Purrs In  The Vines event, they have raised more than $10,000 for people who can’t afford to pay for treatment for their sick pets. This year’s event is slated for July 19th from 3 – 7 and will feature live dog adoptions, food, wine and live music.

As summer approaches, Oak Mountain will have live music every Saturday from 1 – 5. Soon they’ll be featuring the Great Oak High School Jazz Band on Friday evenings. This July they’ll be releasing their sparkling Sauvignon Blanc called Frisson, meaning “an intense moment of excitement.”  Their just released Field Blend comes from a vineyard planted with percentages of each of the varietals used; Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot.

The future looks exciting for Oak Mountain. Plans include doing some grading behind the tasting room and building an elevated walkway for tours. They also will be opening a new tasting room and plan on having the first real caves at a Temecula winery. If all goes according to plan, those changes should come to pass in the next two to three years. I can hardly wait.

I met Nick Palumbo a few years ago while I was taking a friend on a tour of Temecula Valley wineries. My first impression of Nick was that he was genuine and that he had a true passion for his craft. As I’ve grown to know Nick, I’ve learned that my first impressions were right on the mark.

I met with Nick last week in the middle of a freak late spring thunder and lightning storm. The road to the winery was torn up and major construction was taking place near the tasting room. In the midst of the chaos, Nick was cool and collected, explaining to me that they were building a much needed storage facility and office. As of now, his work desk is three feet from his bed. If all goes according to plan, the construction will be completed by harvest this year. In the meantime, Palumbo is open for business.

Nick told me he’s spent most of his life around wine and food. His first job at fifteen was in a deli. He worked as a waiter and chef in New York City from 1991 to 1997, discovering fine dining during that period and the quality wines that go with great food. He started studying wine and in 1998 he moved to California.

He purchased the property he presently occupies and it was already planted with seven acres of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The following year he bought five acres in front of the property and planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Shiraz and Viognier. He had no intention of starting a winery. He was growing quality fruit and was getting a good price for it.

Nick began doing “grunt” work at some of the area wineries; Cilurzo (now Bella Vista) and Filsinger. He studied at UC Davis and after prompting from his wife Cindy, he decided to start producing wine. Palumbo produces small amounts (about 2,000 cases a year) of quality wines – Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Viognier, Sangiovese and his Tre Fratelli Meritage. When you taste his wines, it’s clear he is dedicated to producing a superior wine.

Nick says he hopes to grow to a production of about 4,000 cases a year. He wants to be recognized not only in Temecula, but in the wine world as a quality wine producer. His focus is on the vineyards and growing super high quality grapes. After that, he believes in staying out of the way and letting the wine develop. Nick said “My right foot is art, my left foot is science and I’m right-footed.” Come meet Nick and Cindy. They’re good people who will make you feel right at home while they pour you some quality wine.

Although Warner Springs is less than 45 minutes away, in six years of living in the area I had never ventured out there before last week. I’m so glad I decided to take the drive. I went out in search of La Serenissima at John Tiso Vineyards and found Shadow Mountain instead. It’s a charming winery run by Alex and Pamela McGeary, who purchased the property in 1990. Gus and Helen Mase planted the first vines almost sixty years ago. The winery burned down in a forest fire in 1995 and was re-opened in its present facility in 1995.

Pamela was behind the counter and I did some tasting with her. I told her I was looking for Tiso Vineyards and she informed me they were open by appointment only, but that her husband Alex was the winemaker there and he would put me in touch with Tony Tiso. Pamela poured some unique wines for me, including a dry (0 residual sugar) Muscat and an ‘05 Carignane. She explained their elevation of 3200 feet gives them cooler nights and a later harvest.Their wine club is called Out In The Middle of Nowhere, an apt description. Shadow Mountain is very peaceful and relaxed. I look forward to coming back and having a picnic lunch there.

The following day I came back to meet with Tony Tiso (La Serenissima – The Most Serene) and then paid a visit to Hawk Watch, on Chihuahua Road just off Highway 79.

Laura and I had a lovely visit with owners Mike and Lisa Schnell, who work weekdays in the Temecula area and then come out to man the tasting room on the weekends. They offer some tasty reds, primarily Syrah and Zinfandel with a big blend of the two called Synthesis. We took home a bottle of the Dry Orange Muscat. It’s wonderful to meet people who love what they do. I loved the fact that they have a big telescope just outside the tasting room. We’ll return, for sure.

There’s a new happy hour in Temecula called The Escape. Gourmet Italia owner Alex Prestifilippo has come up with a different theme four nights a week, Tuesday through Friday. We went to Tuesday’s kick-off with friends and all of us had a wonderful time. The theme for Tuesday is Texting Tuesday. You get a dollar off your bill for each person who comes in with a text message from you inviting them to come. Each table has a glass of fried spaghetti on it. It’s got a definite pepper kick to it. There’s also a new appetizer menu. We tried the meatballs (half a pound each!), the sampler platter and the crab cakes. Chef Fabrizio checked on us a few times to make sure we were happy (we were), and we enjoyed a bottle of ‘04 Spina Nero D’Avola. If you haven’t tried it, it’s a Sicilian wine, with a soft fruit nose and an easy finish. It paired well with everything we ate.

If you’re looking for a place to unwind at the end of the workday, give The Escape a try. Alex and Charity are wonderful hosts and the service is excellent. Nora and Becka both took very good care of us.

Ponte Family Estate is in the heart of the Temecula Wine Country on Rancho California Road. Claudio Ponte purchased the vineyards in 1984 and at 310 acres it’s one of the oldest and largest in the region.

I took a tour of the winery and restaurant. The tasting room opened its doors in 2003 and is one of the prettiest facilities around. The idyllic setting is ideal for weddings and other events.

Owner Claudio visits the winery a couple of times weekly and makes certain the operation is maintained to his standards. The Italian flag you see when you arrive at Ponte pays tribute to his family heritage.

The grounds are magnificent. We paid a visit to the barrel room (where I had attended a Christmas party a few years back) and I tried a barrel sample of their Zinfandel Port. The finish was incredible. The next stop was at some of the holding tanks and barrels in the back, where I sampled the ‘08 Petite Sirah.

it was then time to visit the Smokehouse restaurant. Winemaker Robert Cartwright and Smokehouse manager Randy Rodriguez joined us. We nibbled on cheeses and honeycomb, and then enjoyed a chocolate cheesecake. Robert and Randy are both clearly dedicated to their crafts. Ponte offers a wide selection of wines, the Super T being one of the most popular. The food at the Smokehouse is excellent. Executive Chef Steve Stawanski wasn’t there during my visit, but his stamp on the food was evident. A stop at Ponte will be well worth your while when you visit Temecula’s Wine Country.