Blog

Meet Aero! (A day in the life of a dog at Paraiso)

Apr 20th, 2011 by Paraiso Vineyards

Hi y’all! My name is Aero and I’m everyone’s favorite pup, not to mention the Alpha dog. Since I’ve been here the longest and I’m the boss, I can show you around when you come to visit me and my family. I live in the greatest place on earth, the Santa Lucia Highlands. It’s truly Paradise! Maybe you can taste some wine and join me for a bologna sandwich.

Tags: Activities, Aero, California, California Chardonnay, California Pinot Noir, California Wine, Dogs, Family, Golden Lab, Monterey County, Paradise, Paraiso Tasting Room, Scenic Walk, Smith Family, Tastings, Tours, Wine Country, Wine Tastings, Winery Walk

A Day of Tasting Pinot

Apr 13th, 2011 by Paraiso Vineyards

Recently, I was given the opportunity to sit down and take part in a blind wine tasting of Pinot Noirs produced from different AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) all over Monterey County. Set up by the Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association, this private blind wine tasting was held for industry members, such as winemakers, winegrowers, and marketing managers, just to name a few, to see how Monterey County Pinot Noir as a whole is tasting these days. With 30 bottles of wine from 18 different Pinot Noir producers we sure had a lot of tasting to do! (Another rough day at the office)

The first flight included 12 wines with a price range of $12-$25 a bottle. As a very popular price range among consumers and producers it was not surprising when most of these productions were in the several thousands. One case production even hit 6 digits! But contrary to the old belief that cheap prices means cheap wine, these Pinot Noirs were all very drinkable, high-quality wines with a lower price tag. There was a consensus among everyone in attendance that the wines in this price range keep getting better and better every year. Winemakers are turning to more experimental and new age practices such as barrel and yeast alternatives (i.e. oak chips and less indigenous fermentation).

The second flight included 10 wines with a price range of $25-$35 a bottle. For our fans out there, Paraiso‘s $25 Estate Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands was in this category. Interesting things happened when winemakers started talking on behalf of their wine being tasted in this flight. Winemakers began to take a more artistic approach in how they produced their wine. A higher importance was placed on clonal and vineyard designation, grape picking and sorting practices, and barrel aging techniques, just to name a few. Across the board, these wines were bigger, bolder and more complex, showing more fruit, more oak character and a more robust mouth-feel than the lower priced Pinot Noirs in the first flight. My question is: “Does more money mean there has to be more of everything?”

The third and final flight included 11 wines with a price range of $38-$65 a bottle. If you are looking for that soft, barely there Pinot Noir these are not your wines. These Pinot Noirs were big, bold and fabulous! With productions ranging from 68-340 cases, these wines are produced with the highest quality grapes, barrels, and winemaking techniques.  The bottles themselves were even heavier! One of my favorites was of course Paraiso Vineyard’s 2008 “Faite” Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands.

From soft and elegant to big and bold what we all concluded at the end of the blind tasting is that Monterey County produces some of the best Pinot Noirs around. Now get out there and try them!

Cheers!

Tags: Barrel, Blind Tasting, California, California Pinot Noir, Cheers!, Faite, Food, Monterey County, Monterey Pinot Noir, Oak (wine), Paraiso Tasting Room, Paraiso Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Recreation, Salinas, Salinas Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, Soledad, Sustainable in Practice, Tasting, Wine, Wine Country, Wine tasting descriptors, Wine Tastings, Winemakers

Rainy Day Fun!

Apr 5th, 2011 by Paraiso Vineyards

If you’re ever in the area, there are great things to do when the weather is sour! Here are some activities that we enjoy!

1. Visit the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, CA (just a short drive from Paraiso Vineyards in Soledad). John Steinbeck is truly a great American author. Visit the interactive museum for a in-depth look into the author’s life and tour the historic landmarks throughout Salinas, like his childhood home and his burial site. Learn more about the Salinas Valley, a.k.a. the “Salad Bowl of the World” at the Rabobank Agricultural Museum. It’s a great activity for families! We loved our trip there!

2. Take a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and marvel at the marine life! You’re never too young or too old to spend the day at the aquarium. While you’re there, be sure to check out the Seahorse family. With a collection of over 15 species, it’s one of the biggest seahorse exhibits in the country! From May 20-22 the Monterey Bay Aquarium is hosting Cooking for Solutions, for the 10th time, featuring over 70 Chefs and Celebrity Chefs. Good food and good wine in a spectacular setting; what more could you ask for?

3. Even though Cannery Row is a great place to eat and shop, save that for a sunny day. Check out the Monterey Mystery Maze & Laser Challenge and let the kids run around to blow off some steam.

4. Enjoy a great day trip to Hearst Castle in San Simeon, a beautiful historic castle built by media mogul William Randolph Hearst. Choose from a variety of tours which include the main castle, guest houses, indoor and outdoor pools, gardens, and Hearst’s personal horseback riding trails. Hearst Castle is truly one of the most mesmerizing historical sites in America.

5. Take a romantic getaway with the one you love to Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort in Avila Beach. The best part is you don’t have to stay there to enjoy the amenities. Aside from the luxurious accommodations, enjoy an array of massages, take a stroll through beautiful gardens, bathe in mineral spring tubs, take a yoga class, or take a drive down to Avila Beach.

6. Take a day trip to San Francisco! It’s only a few short hours away and there is so much to do.  Make sure to take the kids to the Exploratorium. They’ll have a blast while learning out of the classroom. The Exploratorium boasts interactive exhibits and hands-on learning fun!

7. Another place to stop by while your in San Francisco is the Walt Disney Family Museum.Who doesn’t love Disney? We’ve to the theme parks and seen the movies, but this tells the story of the man behind the magic! Take a journey through Walt Disney’s life as a truly accomplished and innovative American that brought tales to life.

8. If you don’t want to travel as far as San Fran, stop in San Jose for some thrills at the Winchester Mystery House and wander through the 160 rooms of the vast estate. Learn the tale of the mysterious Sarah Winchester and her mission to build a great house for the spirits that haunted her. The house is filled with turn of the century innovations and filled with historic collector’s pieces and artifacts, worth millions today.

9. We all use oil olive to cook with not only because it is a good a non stick agent but because we like the taste. Visit the California Olive Oil Council to see the variety of olive oil tasting rooms in your area.

10. Last, but not least, the Paraiso Tasting Room is a great place to come, drink and be merry!

Tags: Activities, Agriculture, Avila Beach, Beach Town, California, California Chardonnay, California Olive Oil Council, California Pinot Noir, California Wine, Cannery Row, Celebrity Chefs, Coast Town, Cooking for Solutions, Day Trips, Events, EVOO, Exploratorium, Family, Fish, Food and Wine, Gift Boutique, Haunted House, Hearst Castle, John Steinbeck, Kids Activities, Laser Tag, Local Activities, Marine Life, Mirror Maze, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey California, Monterey County, Monterey Pinot Noir, Museum, Mystery, National Steinbeck Center, Olive Oil, Paraiso Tasting Room, Paraiso Vineyards, Salinas, Salinas Valley, San Francisco, San Jose, San Simeon, Santa Lucia Highlands, Sarah Winchester, Soledad, Spa, Sustainable in Practice, Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort, Tastings, Vineyard, Weekend Getaway, William Hearst, William R Hearst, Winchester Mystery House, Wine Country