Road Trip with Margie

Friday, May 19, 2017

For the month of May, Margie arranged for her "wine activity" a road trip to the San Diego area to visit numerous wineries. It consisted of Escondido, Ramona Valley and for those who stayed on Sunday the Warner Springs and Northern Wine Trail,

I left work at 1:00 pm for an approximate 3 hour trip.  5-1/2 hours later I arrived in Rancho Bernardo.  Seems there was a major accident at Oso Parkway on the 405 freeway in the morning and it shut down the entire south bound side.  Big rigs, haz mat, the whole works.   Needless to say I was exhausted when I arrived and checked in to hotel.  I had about 40 minutes before showing up for dinner.

Out first dinner was at Pegasus Café. Family run Greek restaurant.  I ordered the lamb shank which seemed to be popular with others at the table. It was very good, lots of flavor and very tender. Vegetables and sauces was excellent. Ate the meat but just could not finish the plate. Hated to see it be taken away but with leftovers not being in the game plan not much else I could do.  I did not bring any bottles of wine with me for this trip. I could always order by the glass which I did. Had a glass of a Greek red wine which paired well with the lamb.   I did have a pour of a Lancaster Cab that was brought along with an Albarino.   But being so exhausted from the ride down I really did not have the energy to get into drinking that evening.

There were a few wines brought by others. 2011 Puma Road Chardonnay, 2015 Turonia Albarino, 2015 Tablas Creek, Patelin de Tablas Rose and a 2009 Lancaster Cabernet Sauvignon.

Saturday morning we boarded  a mini bus to take us to 3 wineries. First stop was Hungry Hawk Vineyards in Escondido. Small family run, less that 1,200 cases.  I thought thy were the best wines of all we ended up tasting today. We did a barrel tasting of a blueberry wine that they are making into a sparking. You would not think that this was a fruit wine. I would be interested in tasting it once it is bottled. They offered a vineyard tour which a few people did partake in.  I just wanted to be inside. 90 degrees today and heat is my enemy.

Then off to Cordiano Winery for lunch. Somehow this establishment really messed up the reservation. Nothing was taken care of ahead of time. No one seemed to know what was going on. Finally the manager showed up and admitted it was his fault. He comped  those who had ordered salads and gave us free desserts.  They do not have a tasting room here. Seems it is set up as a destination for pizza etc.  But the view is beautiful. The wines were not.

Last stop was Turtle Rockridge winery in Ramona.  The wines were just OK, the view outstanding, the owner delightful and the entertainment was good. Lots of young people showing up for a "destination event".  It was the most enjoyable. It also was staring to cool just a bit and they did have adequate shade.

Dinner tonight was at Le Bistro de Louisa.  I was absolutely wined out so I ordered a cocktail which really tasted good.  There were two wines brought,( $20 corkage), a 2013 Cake Bread Pinot which I did not taste and a 2009 Chateau Lynch-Bages, Pulliac (Bordeaux). I did taste this wine. Big Cabernet and needed a big piece of red meat for it.  I ordered a bowl of onion soup and a Foie Gras Ravioli for dinner.  Both very good. 

On Sunday morning I left to return home.  Made it in 90 minutes. So much nicer than Fridays trip.  This adventure was good  but I think the heat really did a number on all of us. It was nice to try the wines of the area.  I wasn't expecting anything stellar but they were drinkable. On the same line of Temecula style wines.  They also bring in fruit from other areas so it is not all estate grown.  Interesting to try  but this area would not be a destination for me for regular  wine tasting.