SIP, SIP HOORAY
By Carole Dixon
For dineLA.com
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Wally’s “big top”-tented parking lot |
With the 5th Annual Central Coast Wine and Food Celebration rolling back into Wally’s “big top”-tented parking lot on August 3rd, the Westside is gearing up for one of the best local foodie and wine events in town. Sponsored by Angeleno Magazine, the event features “chef-meets-winemaker” gatherings, offering guests a wide variety of food and wine tastings while revealing major trends in the wine industry.
According to Ira Noroff, Director of Education for Southern Wine & Spirits, “Wines by the glass are a great tool for sampling new wines and regions. It also educates consumers and broadens the horizons of the palate. Education is great on all fronts; it creates what I call passion for the product.”
Other examples of “passion for the product” are the popular weekly tastings thrown by Ian Blackburn of LearnAboutWine. These are fun events around a wine theme or geographic region such as Italy, Paso Robles or Australia. They also offer classes and a Sunday boot camp that remains a bestseller.
Other programs have also been quick to promote wine education. Women & Wine started as an educational travel connection for women who love wine. Founder Julie Brosterman has enhanced the program by adding a Wine Valet shop in the Two Rodeo Drive complex. The shop is customized to help consumers navigate through the numerable choices and regions, and also introduce them to boutique wine producers.
Noroff has noticed new trends in wine buying from Spain and southern Italy, especially wines from the south. “The boot is really kicking,” he says. “Riesling is also doing well.” In addition, “Palate shift is away from chardonnay and merlot but is coming back after a decline from Sideways.”
Many wine experts believe Wally’s is one of the best retailers in the country, and Steve Wallace, the man behind the business, is credited for driving the popularity of wine in LA, which has been stimulated by his desire to share his passion and knowledge with the public.
At this year’s Central Coast gathering, Wally’s is expecting to welcome 500-600 attendees, up from 450 last year. Participating wineries include everyone from Sea Smoke to Summerland. To complement the tastings, some of LA’s top chefs will be serving highlights from their menus. Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza, Lucques, A.O.C., Campanile, BLD, Comme Ca, Spago and Sushi Roku are all joining the fray.
This year’s newcomers are Jar and Gelato Bar from Los Angeles and Pasolivo and Artisan from Paso Robles. Frank Ostini from The Hitching Post and his traveling Santa Maria Barbecue pit and grill will be back again this year, along with his wines.
This event was started in honor of The Michael Bonaccorsi Scholarship Fund, which was founded at UC Davis in 2004 to aid in continuing wine education. The late Bonaccorsi was a beloved and gifted wine maker, Spago sommelier, educator and an early champion of the Central Coast region. To date, the event has raised more than $150,000 for the scholarship, awarded annually to a qualifying recipient at UC Davis’ Department of Viticulture and Enology, the leading educational school of its kind in the United States.
Another key component in raising funds at the event is the live auction where wine pairing dinners go for a premium price. In some cases, the grape is dictating the gastronomic experience. Around town there are plenty to choose from depending on varietal and region. All’ Angelo on Melrose offers what co-owner Stefano Ongaro calls a “mosaic of food and wine pairings” from Italy. Meanwhile, high-end wine pairing dinners from California and Europe are the highlight of British Chef Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood Hotel, and David Myers of Sona on La Cienega also offers one of the most diverse pairings in town.
For a more casual atmosphere head to Culver City’s BottleRock where you can nibble, sample and purchase on the spot, or try Vinum Populi where you pour your own vino with a pre-paid “wine card.” To fuel the Spanish trend, Bar Pintxo in Santa Monica has an impressive Basque region offering of white, red and cava by the glass. For variety, Pasadena has Vertical Wine Bistro stocking more than 400 global brands on the list.
All’ Angelo, 7166 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, 323.933.9540
Bar Pintxo, 109 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, 310.392.5655
BottleRock, 3847 Main St., Culver City, 310.836.9463
Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood, 1020 N. San Vicente Blvd.,
West Hollywood, 310.854.1111
LearnAboutWine, learnaboutwine.com
Sona, 401 North La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, 310.659.7708
Vertical Wine Bistro, 70 North Raymond Ave., Pasadena, 626.797.3999
Vinum Populi, 3865 Cardiff Ave., Culver City, 310.204.5645
Wally’s, 2107 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles, 310.475.0606
Women & Wine/Wine Valet, Two Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, 310.274.9224
