TEMECULA, Calif., Feb. 17, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The California Regional Wine Tasting to be held in Temecula, Calif., on March 11 will be a wonderful opportunity to taste and evaluate quality wines from 14 California winemaking regions in one location.
The historic gathering at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa will give wine lovers a chance to sample some very unique wines. Participants such as Mendocino and Sonoma are home to a variety of different wine-growing areas that produce a broad range of wines - from Champagne to Port. They also produce some one-of-a-kind wines. Sip on a Pinot Blanc from Sonoma, suggests Nick Frey, executive director of the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, which will be pouring wines from more than 40 wineries at the event, including wines from Kunde, Dry Creek and Murphy Goode.
Looking for some different and rare Italian varietals? Try wines made from Negroamaro or Arnies grapes, advises John Enquist, executive director of the Mendocino Winegrowers Alliance. If you are looking for the truly unique, sip some Pinotage, a South African clone that has roots in Cinnsault and Pinot Noir.
Of the estimated 75 acres of Pinotage planted in California, 22 acres are in Mendocino. Unusual or not, the regional wine tasting is a fun and convenient way to taste great California wines in a single place.
"We look forward to showcasing the diverse wines of Mendocino County at the California Regional Wine Tasting," said Enquist, who will be pouring wines and Champagnes from Scharffenberger, Chance Creek Vineyards and Goldeneye wineries, to name a few. "It is a great opportunity for consumers to taste and compare the wines from all regions of California."
Hosted by the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association and sponsored in part by the Wine Institute, the event will include wines from Amador, Calaveras, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa Valley, Paso Robles, Santa Cruz Mountains, Sonoma County, Livermore Valley, Lodi, San Diego, Sonoma Valley, Santa Barbara and Temecula Valley.
"It was the vision of our president to re-establish this program and promote wines from the regions on up," said Tom LaFaille with the Wine Institute, a San Francisco-based wine industry lobbying and promotional group.
The event also gives each region a chance to learn about the other and see how their wines stack up.
Tickets for the event are $45. For more information, call the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association at 801-800-WINE.