The Watsonville-based vintner takes on a winemaking establishment that he says isn’t doing the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation justice.
Posts Tagged: wine
The New Santa Cruz Mountain Winemakers: Lindsey Otis
Lindsey Otis’ travels as a winemaker have taken her all over the world, but she finally found her place in the Santa Cruz Mountains, close to home. After graduating from UC-Davis’ prestigious oenology program, she headed to France. She then spent time working at Saratoga’s Cooper-Garrod winery and later Bonny Doon Vineyard in Santa Cruz. She moved to New Zealand. She made shiraz and riesling in Australia. Back in the States, she worked in Napa Valley at Silver Oak Cellars, makers of one the region’s bestselling cabernet sauvignons. But Napa wasn’t for her.
The New Santa Cruz Mountain Winemakers: Denis Hoey
It was while enjoying a glass of wine with his then-girlfriend and future wife, Claire, that Denis Hoey realized he wanted to become a winemaker. He had been helping out at Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, and one day he got the last bottle of grenache rose to come off the bottling line. That day, the satisfaction of a hard day’s work, the beauty of the wine and the pleasure that came with enjoying it with somebody he loved sealed the deal.
The New Santa Cruz Mountain Winemakers: Kenny Likitprakong
Everything about Kenny Likitprakong’s story is filled with independent attitude. Growing up in Healdsburg of Thai, Chinese and Jewish ancestry, he exercised his passions for skateboarding and snowboarding in tandem with plenty of world travel. His umbrella Hobo Wines group is named partly in homage to songwriter/vagabond Woody Guthrie and the free spirit of wandering.
Vinocruz Pouring it On
With the boldly colorful acrylic artwork by W.M. Vinci currently adorning two walls and hundreds of wine bottles providing the rest of the visuals, Vinocruz offers more sensory bombardment than ever. Steve Principe, who with partner Jennifer Walker re-opened the popular downtown wine tasting depot in late August, is still fine-tuning many attractive new features.
Wine Passports Open Doors in Santa Cruz
The Santa Cruz Mountains is one of California’s oldest wine making regions, and it’s making some of the country’s most exciting wines—if you know where to find them. That’s why there’s Passport Day, which literally provides a map to some of the appellation’s greatest treasures. This Saturday, from 11am to 5pm, anyone with wine passport can gain access to some 50 local wineries—including many that are normally closed to the public.
PLATED: Primo Buttercreamo
Mini cupcakes for you inner child and a pinot for lovers.
PLATED: A Tasty New Year
I am a big fan of Pasta Mike’s, the locally-made product line created by Mike Ruymen. Well, I’ve been tracking a change in the visual brand of these comfort food accessories, and I recognized the design signature involved. Pasta Mike’s new labels are the work of James Aschbacher, the ubiquitous muralist and painter, who designed an image last year especially to express the colorful flavors of Pasta Mike’s products. “I wanted him to have something more dynamic,” Aschbacher recalls. “So I created a painting about Mike.” Yep, that’s Mike himself on the label, beard and all.
PLATED: Santa, Baby
Ceramics from Chefworks, cheesy gifts and holiday fêtes.
PLATED: Espresso Yourself on Pacific Avenue
The all-new, urban gigantic oasis of coffee, pastries and abundant seating opened at the top of Pacific Mall in downtown Santa Cruz last week. Three separate barista stations form a service peninsula that juts out into the wraparound seating/schmoozing/studying areas. Windows allow vistas out onto both Front Street and Pacific Avenue. Repurposed antique wood siding lines the walls, sharing space with huge splashy oil paintings and little retail islands.
