NYTimes: Asimov On Drinking Local

[TomHill]

@Jeff Allison

Drinking local seems to work well in Santa Cruz. Most restaurants we frequent have great local wine lists and source quite a bit from local farms. The prime example of this is Manressa in Los Gatos! Yum.

Yup…that’s pretty much been my observation as well, Jeff. The restaurants in that area seem very supportive of the
wineries in the SCM.
Tom

[larry_schaffer]

Jeff,

Thanks for the tip. I find certain wine regions to be more ‘provincial’ when it comes to wines served than others. It sounds like SCM is similar to many parts of Sonoma with regards to this. Unfortunately, I find our area ‘lacking’ with respect to this. There are exceptions, of course - if in our area, visit the Los Olivos Cafe, Sides Cafe, Full of Life Flatbread, or Bouchon or the Wine Cask in SB. But these are truly the exceptions, not the rule, as it should be IMHO . . . and not based on some blind ‘responsibility’ but truly based on the wines produced in our area . . .

Cheers.

[M_Dildine]

@larry schaffer

Jeff,

Thanks for the tip. I find certain wine regions to be more ‘provincial’ when it comes to wines served than others. It sounds like SCM is similar to many parts of Sonoma with regards to this. Unfortunately, I find our area ‘lacking’ with respect to this. There are exceptions, of course - if in our area, visit the Los Olivos Cafe, Sides Cafe, Full of Life Flatbread, or Bouchon or the Wine Cask in SB. But these are truly the exceptions, not the rule, as it should be IMHO . . . and not based on some blind ‘responsibility’ but truly based on the wines produced in our area . . .

Cheers.

As a consumer, I really have a problem with restaurants that refuse to recognize quality local wines. It’s something I’ve mentioned (and will continue to mention) to snooty, slow-learning somms.

[Wes_Barton]

@Jeff Allison

Drinking local seems to work well in Santa Cruz. Most restaurants we frequent have great local wine lists and source quite a bit from local farms. The prime example of this is Manressa in Los Gatos! Yum.

Yeah, it’s great on the coast side and in the foothills on this side (Los Gatos, Saratoga, Woodside). Step down into the Silicon Valley, though, and most restaurants don’t even seem to know there are local wineries. Considering that this used to be the center of the California wine industry and there are some excellent urban wineries down here…

One thing I do notice here is a strong correlation between the quality of a list and carrying local wines. It’s rare to see a dynamic list without something local. Too many crappy lists here.

[Jeff_Allison]

Went to Le Cigare Volant tonight (Bonny Boon Restaurant, used to be called Cellar Door). 2 thumbs up. Great chef (Ryan Shelton, formerly of Baume in Palo Alto), great food sourced from local farms and a nice wine list of local (obviously Bonny Boon), but they also have an interesting Terroir wine list. Debated a “Granite” terroir wine list or a 2003 Cigare Volant and ended up going with the later and it was excellent. If in SC, give it a try.

[Frank_T]

@M. Dildine

As a consumer, I really have a problem with restaurants that refuse to recognize quality local wines. It’s something I’ve mentioned (and will continue to mention) to snooty, slow-learning somms.

Depends where you are, I guess. The best known local wine here is made from blueberries (and another from cranberries), although there are grape wines made in the state. Although I had one that I thought was pretty good, I generally steer away from Maine wines and appreciate my local restaurants (many of which source their produce from their own farm and their meat and seafood from just a few miles away) that offer non-local wine selections.

Cheers!

• Frank

[Nolan_E]

@Bill Tex Landreth

@Nolan E

@Bill Tex Landreth

I have zero desire to have any local (TX) wines touch my lips. I have yet to find a single wine from the Lone Star State that is even remotely of a high enough quality to pair with any dinner I make. That may sound snobby, but it unfortunately is the truth. We do so many things well here, but wine just isn’t one of them.

Have you tried any of the Inwood Estates stuff? Outstanding wines, and comparable with anything else in the same price range.

I have a very difficult time dropping that much coin on a TX wine. IMO, the wine needs to over deliver, an not just compete at the price point.

Honestly, I haven’t tried theIr wine in a few years. I’m revisiting it soon and if it’s still like I remember, I’ll bring a bottle when we meet. Last time I had one it was competing against a 2004 Ridge Geyserville and it was hard to choose a favorite.

[Jonathan_Loesberg]

If you are in France, Italy or Germany, the local wine goes with the local cuisine. No restaurant in the Rhone or in Alsace would not have a large list of local wine. If you are ordering a choucroute garnie, you probably really do want an Alsatian riesling or pinot gris. Same, if you are in the Southern Rhone and having lamb, duck or pigeon. You can’t do better than a local wine. But US local wines don’t have any particular rapport with the cuisine in local restaurants. If the wine from the area is good, as will be the case in CA,NY, to an extent VA, maybe other places of which I’m ignorant, there are lots of reasons for restaurants to have it around. But one will not be the food they serve. If you go into a resto in the Southern Rhone, they may have wines from other places in France. But the list will be full of local wines. Same in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, etc. etc. They couldn’t do otherwise. If Boeuf Bourguignon is on the menu, what wine do you want to go with it? Nothing compels restaurants in CA to act similarly.

[Tran_Bronstein]

The restaurants here in Toronto are very good for supporting local Ontario wineries for the most part as well as keeping great international lists. One of the things I enjoy about this is that the local support offers reasonable quality for a reasonable price while still allowing you to splurge on fancier wine if you choose.

And Frank: I believe your local restaurants should offer the blueberry and cranberry wine you mentioned if they’re good. Those would be eye-catching choices off the wine list and show local support.

Just remember everyone, just because they’re on the list doesn’t mean that the customers will necessarily order it. It’s just nice to have the choice as long as the wine is reasonably good.