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Touring & Tasting's Wine Lounge
A forum for wine lovers to share their thoughts and experiences...  June 13, 2013 | Touring & Tasting
Summer Fun In Paso Robles
Summertime in Paso Robles is a busy affair. From the Mid-State Fair, to horse shows, music concerts at the new Vina Robles amphitheatre, winery events, fun on Lake Nacimiento – the possibilities are endless. Here are three upcoming events that caught our eye at Touring & Tasting. They sound like great fun and will give you a sense of why Paso Robles is such a special place!
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Father's Day Passport Weekend | June 15-16, 2013
Real Men Drink Pink | June 23, 2013 1:00-5:00 PM
Fork n’ Corks Fest | July 6, 2013 4:00-8:00PM
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Italians really know how to eat! It's not just the food--though it starts there, beginning with excellent produce: ripe red tomatoes dripping with sweet juice, perfect basil, asparagus, wheat, broad beans and other wholesome vegetables raised in the mineral-rich soil. (Much of Italy was watery some 100 million years ago, being under the ocean floor receiving layers of calcium carbonate deposits before the land was lifted and crunched up against the European continental plate.) Parmesan cheese, prosciutto, Parma ham, balsamic vinegar, and Italy's extra virgin olive oil are known the world over for their quality. Give these to a great cook, add extended family, friends, some local wines, a classic setting--say a long table under a string of lights outside on a warm, fragrant evening--plus conversation in abundant servings and you have yourself a real Italian meal.
My Italian friend Luciana is a terrific cook. Out of her kitchen emerge delicious foods. In fact, it was after a superb meal at her place near Lago Maggiore five years ago that I started blogging about food and travel. (See her recipe for 
"Frittura di paranza" is mix of small fishes washed but left whole, dusted with flour, deep-fried, then sprinkled with lemon, salt and pepper. Luciana had bought baby fish from the Mediterranean: triglia di scoglio which is a reef mullet and gamberetti--tiny shrimp. Clams and mussels were stirred into a sauce for pasta; raw artichokes were trimmed, soaked in water and lemon juice, very thinly sliced and dressed for a raw salad (
Families are close in Italy, often living under one roof. Luciana's parents live in the house next door, on a property that includes her father's workshop. Gianfranco Caporali and Luciana's partner Uli, who is learning from the master, create fabulous works in wood: custom cabinetry and "paintings" with intricate wood inlay. Her father has also made three one-of-a-kind cars of wood. These miraculous creations are fully functional. The chassis and engine are the original metal components, but all the accessories like the sunshades, mirror holders, sunroof frame, hubcaps and steering wheel are all crafted from wood. If you are traveling to the lake district of Italy, stop by the little town of Cittiglio to see his creations. His shop is open every day.
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Please stay tuned for future contests! |
Running Through Santa Barbara Wine Country
It's been a little over a week since Santa Barbara hosted its very own Wine Country Half Marathon, but there is still so much to talk about! Runners from 46 states and 11 countries gathered in the gorgeous Santa Ynez Valley to participate in the 13.1 mile run produced by Destination Races. Sunny, blue skies greeted the early morning runners as they began the challenging but scenic wine country course that started in the town of Santa Ynez. All that hard work was worth it, as runners were greeted at the finish line in Solvang by enthusiastic spectators and a Wine and Music Festival in Solvang Park. Wineries and breweries from Santa Barbara County poured some of their best and most refreshing libations to revive the weary runners. And these half marathoners were definitely ready to party!
The awards ceremony, hosted by Destination Races President Matt Dockstader and international race announcer Whit Raymond, presented special awards to mother-daughter teams, the over 70 age group and the 2013 Winery Challenge award, sponsored by Touring & Tasting, went to the team from Kunin Wines. (They won the coveted silver dump bucket!)
While most marathons have runners jogging through urban areas and city streets, Destination Races half marathons are set right in the heart of wine country. It's hard to ask for better views while running a 13-mile course! Take a look at some photos from the Mother's Day weekend race and who knows, maybe you will be inspired to run in the next Destination Races wine country half marathon. In fact, registration is still open for the Oregon, Kelowna B.C. and Healdsburg wine country half marathons. Run, don’t walk, and sign up for these races while you still can. If you love running and wine, it’s an incredible wine country experience you won't want to miss!
Seth Kunin of Kunin Wines pouring for the half marathon runners!
Destination Races crew with Touring & Tasting's very own, Nancy Burgner.
Photos by TJ Nelson.
International Sauvignon Blanc Day
As wine lovers, it's hard to pick a favorite wine. But lucky for us (and you), there's no need to pick favorites, because today is International Sauvignon Blanc Day!
In honor of this special holiday, we've gathered together a few of our favorite recipes that are perfect pairings for Sauvignon Blanc.
So grab a glass of your favorite Sauvignon Blanc and cheers to another holiday!
May 17, 2013 at 1:00 PM
Tour and Taste In the Italian Countryside
Visitors to Italy who have only seen the major touristic sites like Rome, Florence and Cinque Terre could assume the entire country is mobbed with throngs of camera-toting tourists. They might envision all of Italy filled to the brim with souvenir shops and streets with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. However, there are many tranquil, rural areas, scenic and historic, including the northern Lake District. Just south of Lake Garda, the Podere Selva Capuzza provides the perfect location to bask in the sun in the peaceful countryside with all the modern luxuries of first-class accommodations, including gourmet food and wine.
I met proprietor, Luca Formentini, at VinItaly. The fourth generation winemaker invited me to visit his family's winery and accommodations at Podere Selva Capuzza which he runs with his brother and father. At their restaurant Cascina Capuzza, they hosted me, and my Italian friends Luciana and Uli, to a one of the best meals I've had in Italy. "Cascina" means "farmhouse" in Italian and the restaurant uses estate-grown and local products in their seasonal tasting menu. The arched ceilings of the stylish dining room are a reminder of the long history of the estate. The original farmhouse at Capuzza dates back to the 1500s. In 1850, stalls were constructed by compacting stone over mounds of dirt, creating archways when the dirt was extracted. It is these archways that define the whitewashed dining rooms that mix the rustic look of stone with modern lighting and furnishings.
We were served a veritable feast of delectable dishes, including homemade breadsticks; enormous green olives; tender seasonal salad with mushrooms and formaggella della Val Sabbia (young semi-soft locally made cheese); eggplant stuffed with ricotta and fava beans; piglet cured with salt and honey and drizzled with their estate olive oil, sausage, prosciutto; maltagliati (handmade pasta) with saffron, green peas, puréed lemon peel, and juniper cured ham; delicate handmade ravioli with Scamorza (smoked cheese), sun-dried tomato, fresh tomato, and green beans; tortelli beans with ricotta; and a memorable dessert concocted of ice cream with powdered meringue and a reduction sauce of their Garda Classico Rosso. The dishes were created to pair with their wines: the Garda Classico Chiaretto San Donino rosé, the smooth, white Selva Lugana, fruit-forward Garda Classico Rosso DOC, and intensely rich red Garda Classico Doc Rosso Superiore Madér. As the father, Vincenzo said, "The parts of meal, like wine and pasta, are like the brush strokes of a painting, when they all are in harmony, they can make a masterpiece."
The Selva Capuzza wines are approachable, food-friendly wines with nice balance and a pleasing minerality. The latter comes from the abundant rocks in the soil. The estate is on a morainic hill comprised of glacial deposits from the Dolomite mountains to the north. The hill forms a crescent that is reminiscent of the shape of a hood, hence the name "capuzza" which means "monk's hood". The estate's high position of 50 to 70 meters above lake level provides good ventilation to the vineyards--minimizing the need of protection treatments. The vines are planted to about 4,000 vine /hectares, with the yield controlled for maximum concentration of flavor in the grapes. Vineyard and winery practices are minimalist, with sustainability in mind. As Vincenzo explained, "We want the wines to be pure and simple, not strong, but with pure flavors."
After lunch, we toured the accommodations, which adjoin the Little Church of San Donino, dating from the 1280s. Designed with ecology and sustainability in mind, the comfortable suites, complete with kitchens, look out on the large swimming pool and the 50 hectares of vineyards, 700 olive trees, mulberry field, two small lakes and truffle grounds. Selva Capuzza was one of the founders of the local wine trail called “Strada Dei Vini e Dei Sapori del Garda” (Wine and Tasting Trail of Garda).
Neighboring Lake Garda offers boating, sailing, windsurfing, biking and shoreline walks as well as many historic sites like the castle at Simione. Several golf courses are close by and the staff can help make tee times. Lake Como, made famous by George Clooney's residence, and Lake Maggiore, with its island ferries, Villa museum and botanic gardens are just a short drive. The wine regions of Valpolicella, Soave, Trentino and the Veneto are easy day trips, as is Verona with its amphitheater, Padua's many museums and the unforgettable city of Venice. To learn more, visit www.selvacapuzza.it
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