Regale Winery and live music

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:53:22 -0700

Lucky us - living in what some folks might consider a remote place (not really remote although some think so, just the same). Even luckier is that we have a long tradition of fine local music, from Phillippa’s* amazing house concerts to one-off afternoons or evenings at some of the nearest venues.
We are lucky to have been tipped off that David Ronconi would be playing a Sunday afternoon recently at Regale, one of the local wineries with an especially beautiful setting. We popped down – it was just a few minutes away, and caught most of his set. It was absolutely the best thing on a Sunday afternoon - great music, a tranquil picnic setting in a garden and some terrific wines. Regale is one of the newest wineries in our area, and for many of us, a work in progress which we have been able to watch as it took shape with olive trees, vineyards and some of the prettiest newly-built Mediterranean architecture. They are serving up some top notch wines - several lovely Pinots (our favourite was from the ’07 O’Neel Vineyard), a yummy Sangiovese and Barbera. Bring a picnic, plan on enjoying the music and the fall weather while the Sunday afternoon music series continues. Better yet, plan on catching David’s next appearance - Sunday, October 17th from 1-4 pm, and enjoy not only some outstanding covers, but maybe you will get to hear some of his original music as well.
While there, do enjoy the gardens, the beautiful landscaping and buildings all work in unison for a great experience. Be sure to visit the inside as well, the upstairs indoor and balcony areas are not to be missed.
*And if you are among the lucky 50 folks to have a spot at this Friday’s house concert at Pip’s, you will get to hear Visten, a French Canadian group from Prince Edward Island, Canada. (contact Pippa or call 408.353.4366 for reservation or info on future concerts)

Pinot and grace

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:47:50 -0700

The abundance of opportunities to enjoy lovely wine in beautiful surroundings is almost overwhelming in California. We are spoilt by an abundance of choice. Having the discipline to limit how many new wines come home to an overstocked cellar and being realistic about the level of participation we can reasonably commit to is a work in progress ;-).
My criteria is that we must truly love the wine and like the experience. There are some earnest and kind people with a true talent to creating fine wines, in a business that one must enter with a passion and as a labour of love first and foremost. I also am beginning to recognize a style and characteristic to my tastes that is mostly in line with a Burgundian winemakers hand. Judy and Jim Schultze of Windy Oaks Estate in nearby Corralitos have done that and also have shared a remarkable locale with members of their wine club and visitors to the winery now that they are open on Saturdays thru the summer months into October.
Their ridge-top space is used for an annual summer picnic (sold out each year with a waiting list for the wine club members). Take a nice walk when there are no special events, and you want to just breathe in the vineyard, admiring the attention Jim is giving each individual cluster, canopy management in an intimate and very human scale.It brings forward the very real connection that a winemaker has with their soil, their vines and the specificity of the terroir – an approach that lets it all shine thru brilliantly.

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Regale Winery and live music

Pinot and grace