Reason No. 1,247 on why it’s great to live in the Bay area – you can be talking (or writing) about a winery one day, then visiting it the next. While drinking one of our favorite Malbecs from our recent trip to Argentina, we did a little research and found the winery in Argentina actually was owned by Hess Family Estates, which also owns The Hess Collection Winery in Napa Valley.
With that in mind, we headed to Hess to check out their wines and their fabulous art collection. We were pleasantly surprised on both fronts. Hess immediately sets the mood for a great experience with a walk through a gorgeous courtyard that takes you to the tasting room. The bar area, unfortunately, was closed this trip while they replaced the floor, but it is one of the nicest tasting areas, a large round bar that can accommodate a lot of people and not leave you cramped as many other tasting rooms.
Hess makes a number of wines that can be found all over under its Selection brand. The wines are decent and fairly priced. But Hess makes a number of other wines that can only be found at the winery or through its Wine Club that not only are fantastic, but very reasonably priced by Napa Valley standards.
Among the wines that particularly stood out were two Petite Sirahs. Reason No. 2,372 why it’s so fun to visit wineries is that sometimes you get a chance a chance to taste the same varietal with fruit coming from two different vineyards, which gives you an idea of the different climates in those vineyards. The tannins in the 2006 Artezin Mendocino Petite Sirah hit you right away. They were big and bold – no way to miss them. There was also a nice fruit taste, but it was overpowered by the tannins, which should mellow out as the wine ages. The Artezin retails for $25.
The real standout was the 2006 Allomi Vineyard Petitie Sirah. The Allomi Vineyard is in Napa Valley and is the source of a few different Hess varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc to name two. The Allomi Petite Sirah is a wine you don’t want to finish in fear that the whole bottle is gone before you can get another glass. It was much less tannic, with smells of leather and tastes of slight berry fruit. The Allomi retails for $36. Jill’s sister bought a bottle and then quickly took it back to Chicago with her so we’re hoping she opens it during a holiday when we’re back home. Thanks Hess for making both wines available to taste side-by-side and to the Hess servers, who were quite generous with their pours.
Other standouts were the Hess Small Block Series Viogner ($28 retail) and the Hess Small Block Series Zinfandel. The Zinfandel was a dark magenta color and had the perfect blend of jammy fruit and white pepper. It retails for $36.
We also were able to secure a bottle of one of our favorite Malbecs, from Bodega Colomé, an Argentina winery owned by Hess. The tasting room manager went into the depths of the winery’s cellar to find us a bottle, though a quick Internet search also turned up the wine at K&L Wines in San Francisco (yes, they ship). However, we weren’t able to convince anyone to sell us a bottle of the Artezin Charbono, a red wine that is rare in these parts. The bottle is only sold to members of the Hess wine club.
Hess also has an art gallery, which contains Donald Hess’s private collection. It is worth a tour either before or after your trip to the tasting room.
We were impressed with Hess and the number of wines we were able to taste. The prices are incredibly reasonable for Napa Valley and I’m sure we’ll find ourselves back there soon.
CHICAGO, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — With great wine producers located throughout the country, there is no shortage of vineyards for a fall grape getaway — and food and wine enthusiasts appear to be growing in number along with the prime destinations. Focusing on the fastest-growing(1) wine regions in the U.S., the 2007 Orbitz Food & Wine Index shows that while California’s Napa Valley is still king, almost doubling its overall growth in Orbitz bookings since 2005, other regions of the country are coming on strong. From the pinots of the Pacific Northwest to cabernets of Kalamazoo, the Orbitz (http://www.orbitz.com) Insider Index is redefining “wine country.”
“No matter where you live in the U.S., you’re probably not more than a few hours away from a great vacation that pairs a nice hotel with a local vineyard,” said Heather Leisman, senior director of merchandising for Orbitz. “Fall is a great time for food and wine lovers to enjoy the many harvest festivals and winery tours, which often combine fine cuisine with the best in local wines.”
Which Regions Toast The Most?
Distinctive wines combined with southern hospitality have vaulted the Texas Hill and Arkansas Wine Countries to the #2 and #3 spots respectively on the Orbitz Insider Index fastest-growing list. And the Pacific Northwest is gaining on California as the place to be when it comes to wine excursions. Three of the top ten fastest-growing regions in the U.S. hail from points of interest in Washington and Oregon. And before snow starts to fall in the Midwest, there are a number of growing wine regions that have given destinations in Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee and Michigan four of the top 10 spots.
The top 10 fastest-growing wine regions in the U.S., based on hotel and package (flight + hotel) bookings on Orbitz.com from 2005-2007 are as follows:
The Orbitz Food & Wine Index
Fastest Growing Wine Regions from 2005-2007
RANK DESTINATION*
1 Napa Valley, California
2 Texas Hill Country
(Fredericksburg, Dripping Springs,
Marble Falls)
3 Arkansas Wine Country
(Paris, Altus)
4 Puget Sound, Washington
5 Columbia Cascades and North Central
Washington
6 Grand River Valley, Ohio
7 Nashville (TN)/Bloomington Area,
Indiana
8 Applegate/Rogue Valley, Oregon
9 Lake Erie Region, Ohio
10 Kalamazoo, Michigan
*Based on hotel and package bookings on Orbitz.com 6/1-11/1, from 2005-2007.
**Bookings made for each year by 9/5.
***Minimum 200 bookings required
Wine and Dine Across America
While the beaches of Baja and Falls of Niagara may be known for unparalleled natural beauty, they are also bastions of delicious food and wine. The Insiders at Orbitz have highlighted these and some of their other favorite selections across North and Central America for exciting food and wine, keeping travelers “A Step Ahead(TM)” by showcasing some possible future top destinations and drive-to regions both north and south of the U.S. border.
United States
San Diego Region
Although northern California tends to be more famous for wine, southern California offers some quality local wines in addition to its scenic beaches. The San Diego Wine & Culinary Center is conveniently located in downtown San Diego and features an urban winery where visitors can enjoy a tour and wine tasting. Travelers looking to enjoy the very best in what the region has to offer should attend the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival (November 14-17) which will feature 160 world-class wineries and food from 60 fine dining restaurants! Vacationers looking to spend some quality time at a vineyard can rent a car and drive north of San Diego to San Pasqual Valley where several vineyards offer tours and tasting throughout the year. With so many different options, plus proximity to seaside excitement, the San Diego region is an ideal place to visit.
Philadelphia Countryside
Known primarily for its importance in early U.S. history, Philadelphia offers much more than monuments and museums. The city is actually in the vicinity of 18 wineries, six of which make up the Brandywine Valley wine trail, located just 25 minutes away. The vineyards come together on September 29th and 30th to celebrate HarvestFest, which features concerts, picnics and other special activities; tours and tastings are also available throughout the year. When it comes to cuisine, Philadelphia is bursting with places to eat. For a variety of foods in one location, travelers should be sure to visit Reading Terminal Market. In operation since the 1860’s, the market is home to over 80 merchants featuring a wide variety of both local and ethnic selections. There is so much to see and try at the market that there are even daily tours. Of course no trip to the City of Brotherly Love is worth taking unless you take the time to enjoy a Philly Cheese Steak. Be sure to ask a local for his or her favorite cheese steak haunt!
Mexico
Baja Region
While traditionally recognized for its expertise in all things tequila, in recent years Mexico has garnered great praise for its passion and dedication to the art of producing the perfect glass of wine. Be sure to check out the city of Ensenada, a beautiful coastal city that has not lost its small town charm. In addition to striking vistas of the Pacific Coast and Gulf of California, the city is within a day’s trip from the country’s three most prized wine-producing areas — San Antonio de las Minas, the San Vicente Valley and the Santo Tomas Valley. While enjoying one of Baja’s best vintages, travelers can take advantage of the region’s beloved cuisine, offering fine seafood dishes including shrimp tacos and ceviche. In September, the city is host to the Ensenada Seafood, Lobster and Tequila Festival, a delicious time for visitors looking to experience the regions very best in food and wine.
Sonora Region
Another area not to be overlooked is Mexico’s Sonora region. Although not as popular as the Baja region, Sonora is home to over half of Mexico’s vineyards, offering a picturesque destination for wine enthusiasts. Many of the wine grapes are actually shipped to the Baja region or even Arizona. As a result most wine is produced by local boutique wineries which offer visitors an intimate look into the region’s long and storied history with viticulture. Visitors looking to relax should visit Guaymas, home to both the mountains and the sea. Here vacationers can enjoy the beach, as well as local Yaqui tribe villages. In addition to local wine, visitors looking for another local drink should be sure to try Bacanora. This drink is produced from agave Pacifica and is named after the city from which it originated.
Canada
Okanagan
Tucked between two mountain ranges and running north through British Columbia, the Okanagan region features some of Canada’s best scenery and wine. The region begins in the town of Osoyoos in the southernmost part of the Valley, just north of the Washington border. Osoyoos offers quaint lodging and dining options, including several bed and breakfasts, allowing the leisure traveler to begin a tour of the region well-rested and well-fed. From Osoyoos, visitors can continue north through the wine country, stopping at wineries along the way for tours and tastings of some of the area’s premiere reds and whites. Another must see city is Penticton. Nestled between two lakes, visitors to this city can enjoy numerous fall festivals celebrating the area’s wine. Vacationers should be sure to try Joy Road Catering’s famous “food of the earth,” served every Sunday through October. This combination of great food, local wine and panoramic views of Skaha Lake is not to be missed!
Niagara Region
The Niagara region of Ontario offers visitors a beautiful backdrop for touring the region’s 68 wineries. Chock full of festivals, tours and tastings, concerts, excellent cuisine, artisan shows and family entertainment, the area has something for everyone. Quaint Niagara-on-the-Lake is nestled within the Niagara Region and is perfectly situated among the wine country to delight tourists with its water adventures, golf courses, fine dining and close proximity to wineries. The scenery extends beyond the many vineyards, however, as the region is just a short drive from the breathtaking Niagara Falls. For travelers looking to visit a major national hub, Toronto is only an hour drive from the region and boasts more than 7,000 restaurants that reflect cultures and cuisines from around the world.
About Orbitz Worldwide:
Orbitz Worldwide is a leading global online travel company that uses innovative technology to enable leisure and business travelers to research, plan and book a broad range of travel products. Orbitz Worldwide owns and operates a portfolio of consumer brands that includes Orbitz (http://www.orbitz.com)
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