Wine Likers and Lovers

There once was a dinner party that consisted of a 26 year-old name Mikey, a couple named Doug and Leslie and a couple named Pamela and Steve. Doug and Leslie were in their 40s and Pam and Steve were in their 50s. Pam and Steve decided to invite their friends from work over for dinner and wine one Friday night. They loved wine and were always sharing insights with their friends in regards to their wine lifestyle. They were all supposed to bring a bottle to the gathering, which can be easy for some, but tougher for others. Mikey liked wine but didn’t know a lot. He was curious but intimidated by the drink and subject and was always hesitant on using his wine language in front of people. He didn’t want to be embarrassed if the others did not get the same flavors as he did. Doug and Leslie also liked wine, but they were still trying to figure out what they preferred. Other than Pam and Steve, the others buy and drink wines from Vons, always having a hard time when the wine buyer is not there for recommendations. Mikey was artsy so he always bought a creative looking logo. Doug was a story guy, so he bought off the wineries stories on the back and Leslie bought off both the front and back labels. She liked when they had the wine’s profile on the back. If she liked the flavors mentioned, she always went with that. The three of them wanted to know more about wine but just didn’t know where to start. They all thought it was an opportunity to learn more if they went to Pam and Steve’s to hopefully grow their knowledge and comfortability around wine. The dinner party would be one they would all never forget.

It was a warm Friday night and Mikey was pulling up to the Vons on Broad St. in San Luis Obispo wondering what he was going to bring to the dinner party. As he walked in, he knew right where to go to pick out his bottle. It was tough now that he had to pick a wine for not just himself, but for four other people. He knew Cabernet Sauvignon was always appropriate to bring to someone’s house, so he confirmed that part of the process. He then wanted to go local so he went to that section of the aisle. The party was in SLO so he was looking for something that said San Luis Obispo on the label which he found, but there was no Cab. “Huh?” he thought. He then looked at another label and saw Cabernet Sauvignon first and then Paso Robles second. “Boom!” he said lightly. Now it was time for which one to buy. Mikey was pretty conservative and didn’t smoke cannabis, but had an eye for good art. He had straight brown hair and was really shy. He would sit by himself at parties and have a difficult time talking to girls. When it was time to choose, he zoned in on the artful labels and found three of them he liked. One said Estate Grown, one said Organic and one said Triangle K Vineyard. He liked the name of the vineyard so he thought about getting that one. Next was price. He was so nervous on how much to spend because he knew Pam and Steve would know. The one he liked was $28.99 and the second place choice was $18.99. He thought he had to go above twenty dollars so he went with his third choice because of the $22.99 price tag. He saw without the sale it was $29. “That’s it!” went through his mind. He confidently grabbed the bottle, paid for it and off to the dinner party he went.

Vons Local Section

It was now Doug and Leslie’s turn to pick their wine from the Vons on Broad St. Mikey lived down the road from them so they would run into each other in the store often. Most of the time it was picking out six packs in the beer section for Doug. Mikey was big into IPAs and Doug liked his craft pilsners. He would buy his beers and fill his beer fridge in the garage. He had a man cave downstairs with tools, guitars, albums and a pool table. “What do you think about that one?” Doug said to Leslie as he pointed to the bottle of Paso Robles Zinfandel. “Let me see.” as she picked up the bottle. Immediately she went to the back of the bottle to check the flavor descriptors. “Ferrari red raspberry jam, SLO plums, Peter Piper pepper, spice girl notes and Bezos rich tannins.” it read. Those appealed to her, so she said, “I like this one.” Doug then nicely grabbed the bottle and looked for the story from the winery. “These grapes were grown on our estate that has been passed down from our family over the last 50 years.” “That works for me!” happily voiced Doug. They both made good money so price wasn’t an issue. The bottle was $45 on sale for $39.99. $35.99 if you buy six. “Let’s do it!” They grabbed the bottle and headed to the checkout line. They were both confident with their selection, so out they went holding hands and laughing about how quick and easy that was. “Pam and Steve here we come!” voiced the couple.

It was around 5pm on Friday with a 7pm dinner party invite and Pam and Steve were prepping for dinner and contemplating on their wine selections for the evening. They had their own wine room with wine cases on the floor and dozens of wine bottles filling up their wine wall. When you are a wine lover you sometimes can get obsessed and buy more than you probably should. That was Pam and Steve. They lived a humble life in SLO but spent big on their wine. They tasted in the area almost every weekend and took trips to Santa Ynez and Monterey sometimes once or twice a month. An occasional Napa and Sonoma trip would happen when they had the extra time but they preferred sticking around town and trying all of the new releases year-round in the county. When you love wine, you love wine and it ends up being a thought that doesn’t disappear often. Steve was a general contractor who owned his own business and Pam was a registered nurse. They made good money, so they always felt great about their excess purchases. Pam loved Chardonnay and Pinot Noir so the SLO Coast wines were perfect for her since she lived in the AVA and those are the two most grown varieties in the region. When they had a few quick moments in the kitchen, they went to the wine room. “I’m thinking the SLO Coast, 2022 Lady of the Sunshine, Chene Vineyard Chardonnay and the 2022 Scar of the Sea, Bassi Vineyard SLO Coast Pinot Noir.” joyously voiced Pam. “Sounds great!” Steve followed up. Steve loved Paso Robles wines so he drank Rhône Blends, Cabs and Zins from there often. “How about the Paso 2021 Denner Ditch Digger and the Paso 2020 Brecon Estate Zin.” he suggested. “I love it!” said Pam. They had plenty of backups so depending on what the guests brought they could bring out what fit in with their guests choices. Pam and Steve where always ready and willing to share what they loved most.

SLO Veg Box

As Pam popped open the SLO Coast Chard and Pinot, there was a knock at the door. Steve got up from the couch and walked to the front door and opened it. There was Mikey. “Hey Steve, long time no see.” Mikey and Steve work in the same department, just Steve is Mikey’s manager. The two were good buddies, so there wasn’t that uncomfortable dynamic at an off work get together that usually exists. Mikey nervously handed Steve the bottle. He looked at the label and said, “Nice pick!” Mikey was relieved. All of the pressure and stress leading up to that moment was a lot for Mikey. He could finally relax now that the wine was approved. “Hey Pam, nice seeing you. It has been a few days.” Pam worked in HR so she never really saw Mikey. They had a connection from the friendship he had with Steve. “Here, try this Wente clone Chardonnay. The grapes were foot crushed and soaked on the skins overnight before being whole bunch pressed the next morning.” nicely said Pam. Mikey reached out and Pam handed him the Riedel glass. He could smell the aromas that seemed to come from the Pacific Ocean before he even sniffed. The casserole in the oven was also very aromatic and meshed well with the wine’s smell. Pam and Steve had a nice sized kitchen that allowed people to hang out comfortably. They also had a good sized patio with a gas fire, heat lamps and jazz playing that overlooked San Luis Obispo from above. They all took their glasses outside and sat around the fire describing the wines. Mikey got the same characteristics as they did, but found the flavor of lemon zest in the wine and could not use his courage to say what he found. Right as they sat down there was another knock at the door.

“Be right there!” Pam hollered. Pam got to the front door, opened it and it was Doug and Leslie holding their one bottle. They were supposed to bring two, but there was a miscommunication on the text message so Pam smiled and did not bring it up. It was not a big deal, because they had plenty of wine to share. Doug and Leslie were confident with their bottle selection but were still not sure with the level that Pam and Steve were on. They all hugged and Doug handed Pam the bottle confident but a little nervous. She looked down and looked back up and gave an “Oooh, nice!” You could tell by the smile on Pam’s face that they did a good job. As they walked into the kitchen, Pam handed them their glasses and said, “This is from the SLO Coast, grown just two miles from here.” Pam poured the Chardonnay into the glass and said, “I hope you like it!” As the golden hued wine poured into the glass, it beautifully and naturally swirled around the bowl in what look like slow motion. The aromas caught the couple off guard. “Wow, I didn’t know a wine could smell like this. It is pleasantly intoxicating.” Leslie voiced. “Wait until you try it!” Steve grinned. So they all swirled and Doug and Leslie took their first sips. They were blown away. “We didn’t know Chardonnay could taste like this.” The couple drank Kendall-Jackson Chard and thought that is what Chardonnay tasted like. “This is unbelievable!” Doug shockingly said. Pam followed and said It’s made by Gina, the Lady of the Sunshine.”

The taste of the Chardonnay blew the couple away so much that their shoes and socks actually flew right off their feet. You could see by the looks on their faces that they have never tasted something so magnificent. It looked like they just won a car on the Price Is Right with the shock and excitement on their faces. Something instantly changed for the couple. They could not believe the freshness in the wine. “I know, right?” Mikey spoke up and agreed with the couple’s enthusiasm. Pam and Steve could see the transformation happening right before their eyes. It is something of beauty when you see someone see the light for the first time when the wine hits their beginner’s tongue. It was obvious and at one time, the Wine Likers became Wine Lovers over one sip of SLO Coast Chardonnay. It is a wonderful thing to observe someone catching the wine bug when tasting something so pleasurable. You could tell that they were eager for the next wine in the lineup. Once you catch the bug, you want to explore wine more and more. They saw the Pinot sitting there and you could see the curiosity elevate in their minds and spirits. All of this was just from the first wine of the night, so this explosive wine experience had just begun.

As Pam took the prawns out of the fridge, the Chardonnay was at the perfect temperature, so they all got to taste the perfect match made in heaven. The Pinot was talking through the bottle, out the neck and into the noses of the hosts and guests. You could smell the candied strawberries that elevated this aromatic experience. It was now ready to drink. Pam generously poured everyone a glass of the 2022 Scar of the Sea Bassi Pinot Noir and the aromas multiplied once it was in the glass. You could see Doug, Leslie and Mikey were completely giddy ready to try their first SLO Coast Pinot Noir. The three Wine Likers were so excited that after a quick smell, they put their lips to the glass and the wine just delicately and elegantly touched their inexperienced palates. They were shocked by its sexiness. It had citrus peal, maraschino cherries and worn leather gracing the participants mouthes. It was so good, it made the three drink their glasses fast because they could not even hold back to sip it. They could not believe a wine could be so light but have so much character. The energy in the room started to shift again since they moved to red wine. They were flabbergasted you could clearly see and Pam and Steve felt the change happening again with their guests. Tasting a very high quality Pinot Noir is like nothing else on earth so the Wine Likers were ready for more. Soon after they started drinking more of the Pinot, the wine was changing and the threesome were floored at the complexity of the wine. You could tell that the wine bug was buzzing once again.

After the delicious Pinot Noir was gone, they decided to bring out the Syrah from Paso Robles with the lamb bites. The perfect combo. They were having steaks for dinner so they were saving the Cabs for the entree. “I’ve never had a Syrah.” Doug curiously stated. “Ok, well it originated in the Rhône Valley in Southern France and is grown all over the world, but they grow it well locally in Paso Robles, the SLO Coast and in Santa Barbara County. It can be grown in hot or cool climates. It’s medium to full-bodied and usually has characteristics of dark fruit, blueberry, plum, spice, pepper, bacon and sometimes leather.” Steve said, grabbing the bottle and pouring the wine into everyone’s glasses. The aromas intensely hit the air and noses of the party’s guests raising eye brows around the room. They smelt and then tasted and you could see that they never have had Syrah before by their expressions on their faces. The Wine Likers all looked up and you could tell they loved it. Not only have they not had high quality Chardonnay, they definitely did not have this wine varietal before. The label was artsy so Mikey loved the colors and aesthetic and asked a question. “Is it true that a good-looking label means the wine is good?”

“It just means that the producer has a good sense of art and design or has hired a designer that does. There may be a talented winemaker with no creativity who has an unappealing label that makes incredible wines. You might miss out on something special if you prejudge. And someone with the most aesthetic label might not be the best winemaker, so you have to be careful. And sometimes you get both, a beautiful label and a beautiful wine. That is why you want to do a little research before you make your next purchase so you know what you are buying. You won’t have to guess and hope for a superb wine.” wisely shared Steve. “Ok, great thank you. That is really helpful.” said Mikey happy to receive the valuable information. “No problem. Without knowing a little bit about the regions and know what areas produce good wine, it will become a lot harder to make that decision when you are at Vons next time.” The wine and dinner party were well under way and the Wine Likers seemed to have already made the transition to Wine Lovers just from the first three wines at the party. It was now time for the entree which was Farmer Jones’s Ribeyes. They were some of the best in the country with incredible marbling and juicy, tender meat when cooked properly. The Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon that Mikey brought was perfect for the meat. It was already open and breathing, so the timing was perfect when it was time to experience the ultimate pairing.

Farmer Jones Ribeyes were some of the best in the world with people on a waiting list just to get them from him. The marbling was immaculate and the cut was to perfection. Steve seared and cooked them on the stove delivering the steaks with perfect timing after they had their first few sips of the Cab. As the steaks were plated, the Wine Likers all heard a whisper, “Here you go.” They all looked at each other and Pam and Steve definitely didn’t hear it. Mikey, Doug and Leslie looked at each other and telepathically knew they heard it because no one said anything, it was just a look they gave each other. The aromas from the steaks and wine danced around in the air together while the three Likers visually could see the smells in the air. The three of them were all now on the same page and things were being taken up a level. This all was occurring before they even took their first bite. “Now take a smell and a taste and follow it with a bite of the ribeye.” The three of them were glowing by now from all of the wine essence, that it gave them a look of splendor and transformation in their eyes After cutting into the meat, the three were now on a new wavelength and naturally took the bite simultaneously. It all hit the palate at the same time and the three joyfully looked like they saw a ghost. They were speechless as they all slowly chewed their food, extracting every ounce of flavor that it offered. It was juicy, tender and had the perfect balance of seasoning colliding with the wine immaculately.

After being floored by the Cab and steak experience, it was now time to close down the night with two more wines. A Paso Robles Zinfandel and a Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes dessert wine. A Zin can be heavier than a Cab so that would be the last red wine before the Sauternes. “You want to go lightest to heaviest when tasting a lineup.” The palate build up is something the Wine Likers did not know or have ever experienced. It would be a Cab, then a Pinot and then a white wine, which should be flipped around. The heavier wines will overpower the softer, more lighter wines, so you always want to build upwards. Doug and Leslie brought the Zinfandel, so everything was in order when Steve opened the wine and poured it into the glasses. The Zin was big and fruity. “That’s what you call a fruit bomb. It’s when big fruit flavors dominate the subtle other characteristics of the wine. It blows up and the fruit screams.” “Wow, this taste like alcohol.” Mikey said, never having had a Zinfandel before. “Yes, Zinfandels usually have a higher alcohol content which is why you also would want to drink it last. It is known to push people over the top after a long wine tasting.” said Steve pretty buzzed by this point. Everyone was feeling the effects and joy from the wines and experience, so the Wine Likers were on their way and now on another level after each wine’s expression elevated their palate to new heights. It is so helpful to be around people that can teach you about wine while you are tasting it. This combination will allow you to make the transformation into a Wine Lover smooth and seamless.

The last wine was the Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes, from the Sauternes region in Bordeax, France. “Now this should it.” said Steve feeling accomplished in allowing his friends to see the light in the wine tunnel. If the three Wine Likers were not dedicated by now this wine should top everything off. Sauternes is a dessert wine that is made from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes that have been infected by noble rot where the grapes become partially raisened which makes highly concentrated wines with distinct flavors. “How could this get even better?’ asked Leslie who was on overload from the life-changing experience. Steve opened and poured the golden silk into the glasses. They smelt and tasted. Blast off! Their emotions and stimulation ran wild. Their palates were maximizing as the wine touched their tongues. This just put them over the edge with bliss and wonderous thoughts. When a Sauternes is your final wine it will all come together as the evening comes to an end. It was official. The Wine Likers fell in love with wine and all of its pleasures that night. The brain and flavor stimulation along with the education brought the three up to Wine Lover status. Discovering the wine bug at any time of your life will open up your understanding of what is in and outside of the bottle. Exposure is what takes people to that next stage of wine. So Pam and Steve accomplished their goal of turning three more friends on to a wonderful world that only grows the more you taste and learn. Feeling euphoria from every angle, Doug, Leslie and Mikey were now Wine Lovers. They all started buying books, researching online, traveling to regions and tasting everyday, becoming obsessed with the pleasures of their new found love. The End

San Luis Obispo County Green Beans