The Year in Wine: 2010

Thanks for making 2010 a great year for WinewomenPSP and the charities we serve. Besides your help in boosting membership and event attendance all year long, we appreciate how you rolled up your sleeves to give your time and support at the milestone Coachella Wine Festival and Women Leaders Forum's L.E.A.D. educational conference. Thanks too for spreading the word about the WinewomenPSP Facebook page we launched and comments you've shared.

In no particular order, these outstanding 2010 wine events deserve a toast. Chime in with your memorable 2010 wine experiences.

Wine spot: The summer opening of 3rd Corner Wine Shop and Bistro was a welcome addition to the valley wine scene. General Manager Marc Plummer guides visitors through their balanced and intriguing wine inventory and gives tableside tips for choosing a wine match you'll like. Executive Chef Matt Smith's cuisine, special wine-pairing and tasting events satisfy wine-curious diners or experienced wine lovers in a comfortable, energized setting. Go.

Wine reading: Daring Pairings by Evan Goldstein was a favorite wine book of the year. See this post for more details. It's not too late to pick it up for the wine-foodie on your list or your own library. After all, Valentine's Day is just around the corner.

Wine online: Sorry Gary V, but Decanter.com's re-release of wine expert Hugh Johnson's 1984 series How to Handle a Wine takes top billing. Learn, laugh and love, as Johnson takes you through the basics with charm and British wit.

Wine values: The best wine prices in years made it tough to decide between bargains and specials that streamed in from all directions. Keep looking and shopping in 2011 as more mark-downs roll in. Stock up on 2008 Pinot Noir from Oregon and big reds from Washington and heavenly picks in 2007 California Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine tourism: Visits to Los Olivos, Napa, Oregon's Willamette Valley and Washington's Woodinville wine country in 2010 brought exciting wine leads to explore. Napa standouts in 2010 were Robert Biale Vineyards, Regusci (be sure to try their estate olive oil, too), Luna, Hill Family and Signorello. We also checked in with solid producers whose great juice and strong portfolios make them worth return visits. If you haven't built your own list of go-to wines and wineries you like, find a way to taste or visit Byron, Stolpman, Longoria, St. Supery, Failla, Alpha Omega, Lang & Reed, Andrew Rich and Carlton Winemakers Studio, Bergstrom, DiStefano, DeLille and Januik.

Empty bottles: Use the search function or wine listing at the lower right column to bookmark 2010 wines and values from this blog worth a pour. For more, you might want to seek out these winners we tagged in 2010:

Red Wine
Skylight Cellars 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Santa Ema Amplus One 2006 Old Vines Carignan
Otis Kenyon 2006 Merlot
Coho 2005 Merlot, Michael Black Vineyards
Chateau Virecourt Pillebourse 2005 Bordeaux
Seven Hills 2005 Petit Verdot
Cantele Primitivo 2006
Bodegas El Nido 2007 Clio Jumilla
Zaca Mesa Syrah 2005
Vallado 2007 Douro
Clos de los Siete 2006
Millworks 2008 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Becker Estate 2007 Pinot Noir
Adelsheim 2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
Tamarack Cellars DuBrul Vineyard 2006 Reserve Rattlesnake Hills

White Wine
Botani 2008 Dry Moscatel
Zolo 2008 Torrontés
Bethel Heights 2009 Pinot Gris
Mönchhof Robert Eymael 2007 Mosel Riesling Spätlese
Andrew Rich 2008 Roussanne
Stolpman 2007 L'Avion

Rosé
Bodegas Borsao 2009 Rosé
Barnard Griffin 2009 Rosé
Truett Hurst Salmon Run 2008 Zinfandel Rosé
Argiolas Serra Lori 2009 Isola di Nuraghi Rosato

Dessert Wine
Royal Tokaji 2000 Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos
Andrew Rich 2007 Late Harvest Gewürztraminer

We're looking forward to a tasty 2011 as more Pacific Northwest 2008s hit the shelves. Look for more blogging too at writeonwines, writeonhealth or winefoodhealth. Drop a line at gmail for more information.

Have a fabulous, healthy New Year!

O.C. Calling: Marché Moderne and Roman Cucina

How do you enjoy wine in triple-digit heat? Set the A/C to Siberia – or head to the beach.

When you travel to Orange County, don't miss the chance to quench your thirst for great wine coupled with outstanding food at Marché Moderne. Located on the third level of South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, the modern French bistro offers an intriguing selection of wines by the six-ounce glass or three-ounce taste. Take the by-the-glass option to savor as many dishes as you can from chef/owners Florent and Amelia Marneau’s menu.

Besides oysters, charcuterie, cheese plates and what they call “everything pickle,” the Marneaus offer special summer dishes from Santa Monica and Orange County farmers’ markets. Dive into the briny sweetness of Malpeque oysters, served with a traditional and ginger mignonette for starters. Opt for a classic pairing with Muscadet or go with Sancerre Vincent Delaporte, Chavignol 2008 from the Loire.

On a recent visit, the standout dish was a tagine of Merguez with two kinds of shrimp, chermoula, raisins, lemon confit, harissa, almonds, mint emulsion, dates and Ras el hanout, a blend of North African spices. The savory flavors paired beautifully with a refreshing rosé from Sardegna, Argiolas Serra Lori Isola dei Nuraghi Rosato, 2009. This cool refresher blends Cannonau, the Sard version of Grenache, with Carignano (Cariñan) and two Sardinian grapes, Monica and Bovale Sardo.

Other winners from the talented Marneau duo are their homemade duck terrine, shaved black summer truffle tart, octopus salad with Lomo ham and Moscovy duck leg confit.

The wait staff is knowledgeable and efficient. Ask for a comfy booth near the open kitchen or watch the fashion show go by at lunch from the patio. Despite its mall location (between Canali and Louis Vuitton, near Nordstrom's), Marché Moderne offers a cozy, metro atmosphere with cuisine on par with destination bistros in New York or San Francisco.

For a completely different experience, head to Roman Cucina in Sunset Beach. Popular with the surfer crowd as well as families, this casual Italian restaurant has expanded its menu to include pasta-less entrees for carbo-phobes. Just be sure someone at your table has the sense to order the special, always a winner. Start with calamari, perfectly crisped and tender. A forkful of pasta or sausage with marinara will bring back memories of Sunday dinner and nonna's gravy. We think we caught the telltale near-sweet creaminess and silky texture of Polly-O ricotta in their lasagne and other pasta dishes, too.

Besides Martini Mondays, Roman Cucina also offers Wine Wednesdays with no corkage fees and half-off wines at all four of their southland locations. Even though the food is always solid, the wine list could benefit from a few more selections. Our bottle of Planeta 2008 Cerasuolo, a blend of Sicilian grapes Nero d'Avola and Frappato, made a great pairing for red-sauced dishes we sampled.

Then there's the cannoli. This is one dessert worth saving room for, but rich enough for the table to share. The fresh, crisp shell is stuffed with a ricotta-based filling that could've come from Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. Gotta be that Polly-O.

If you can't make it to cooler climes this week, no sweat. Drop in at Palm Desert's new 3rd Corner Wine Shop and Bistro from 5 to 10 PM for their three-course wine-pairing Sunday dinner for only $25. Menu and wines change weekly. The San Diego-based 3rd Corner is a great addition to the desert's food and wine scene, a cool refuge for a hot August week.

3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro - New Wine Kid on the Block Opens This Friday

Palm Desert welcomes a new wine kid on the block this Friday when 3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro opens at 5 PM. At three times the size of 3rd Corner's Encinitas location, the Palm Desert shop is their biggest one yet. Come on out to give them their biggest welcome, too!

Located in the space first occupied by the popular Palomino at 73-101 Highway 111, 3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro brings a totally new concept to desert wine enjoyment and dining. Diners can choose from a hefty range of domestic and international wines at rock-bottom retail prices between $5 to $500 per bottle. For only a $5 corkage fee, 3rd Corner will chill and serve your chosen wine for you to enjoy with your food and friends. Night owls will finally get their wish as 3rd Corner plans to be open nightly except Mondays until 1 AM.

Talented and energetic Chef Matt Smith is cooking up new dishes for the Palm Desert location, including various flatbreads from the wood-fired pizza oven and a baked brie dish served piping hot. Smith studied at Le Cordon Bleu in France and has worked at two of La Jolla's most venerable dining spots – La Valencia Hotel and Nine-Ten Restaurant and Bar.

Dennis Fassett, wine buyer for 3rd Corner's Ocean Beach outpost, told WinewomenPSP that wine offerings at the new Palm Desert location will evolve as they tease out our desert wine palate preferences. Whereas European wines are ever-popular in Ocean Beach, the desert might skew domestic instead. Start sipping and let them know.

3rd Corner's formula sounds made for success: great food and wine with terrific service that doesn't break the bank. They'll also offer cocktails and plenty of wines by the glass in their full bar and comfy lounge area. If you've been looking for a welcoming spot in Palm Desert to hang out, try a new wine or catch a late bite to eat, this sounds like the place to be. Often.

What are you doing Friday night?