Tasting Southern California Wines at Sea

Fernando Bacsa & Don Reha

A group of writers from the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) boarded Holland America's ms Eurodam a few weeks ago in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and set sail for the Eastern Caribbean. It was a frigid 42 degrees, windy and rainy when we left and several of us wondered if we had mistakenly boarded an Alaskan cruise. By the time we reached San Juan, Puerto Rico, the sun was shining, it was in the 80s and we were happy campers.

Among several other activities planned for our group, we were blessed not only to have Don Reha, Executive Winemaker for Thornton and Orfila Wineries with us, but also Linda Kissam who provided us with yet another opportunity to taste Temecula wines. On Sunday, Don Reha shared several wines from Thornton with our group. Holland America provided a delicious assortment of fruit and cheeses to pair with the wines. Red, White, & Brut was what Don called his tasting, and he started us off with the NV (non-vintage) Methode Champenoise. Reminiscent of a fine Champagne, the brut was crisp and clean. Next up was the 2008 Sans Oak Chardonnay. As the name implies, this wine is aged in stainless tanks and allows the taste of the fruit to shine through. We then sampled the 2006 Cabernet-Merlot blend. It showcased the best qualities of both grapes and was a crowd-pleaser. We finished with the 2006 Estate Syrah, a deep, complex wine that Cellar Master Fernando Bacsa said was one of the finest he had tasted.

Linda got her turn on Monday afternoon as she treated our group to wines from Keyways, Tesoro and newcomer Lorimar Winery. Keyways holds the distinction of being the only woman owned winery in Southern California and we tasted their 2008 Sauvignon Blanc. Winemaker Mike Tingley has produced a classic, with tropical fruits on the nose and a crisp finish. We were treated to eight offerings from Tesoro, made under the guidance of Etienne Cowper. The Rose of Syrah had a magnificent color and is an excellent summertime wine, not too sweet with a lot of character. The 2006 Sangiovese was the favorite of many. One person asked if they could find it in New York. The final Tesoro offering was the 2006 Petite Sirah, inky dark with a great nose, a deep fruit flavor and solid finish. Linda wrapped up the tasting by introducing us to the wines of Lorimar. Mike Tingley again is the principal winemaker and we enjoyed his 2009 Gewurztraminer, slightly sweet, but a wine that would pair beautifully with Asian or spicy cuisine. We moved on to the 2005 Medley, a Meritage that showed nice elements of oak and a full mouth feel. We finished with the 2005 Solo Cabernet Sauvignon. Cab is one of my favorite varietals and this was exceptional.

On Thursday, Don took the helm once more as he shared wines from Orfila Winery in Escondido. This presentation was The Terroir of San Pasqual Valley. Orfila is located just north of San Diego in Escondido. We began with the non-vintage Lotus Viognier. It was hard to stop smelling it. The nose was ambrosia and the taste was heavenly. Next Don had us try the 2006 Sangiovese. This classic Italian varietal was light with brilliant fruit and would pair perfectly with pasta. The 2006 Ambassador's Reserve Syrah was next. It was interesting to taste the same wine from the same winemaker grown in different vineyards. The Orfila Syrah was also excellent. I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite between the two. Our last selection was the 2007 Ambassador's Reserve Merlot. Merlot took a pretty hard hit after the movie Sideways came out, but if you have stayed away from this varietal, try it again. This was a solid representation.

Having Cellar Master Fernando and his highly trained staff of wine stewards on hand was a real plus. Fernando was impressed with several of the wines he tasted and gave lavish praise to Don for his winemaking artistry. The stewards made sure that everyone always had wine in their glass. My hat is off to IFWTWA, Linda Kissam, Don Reha and Holland America for doing an exceptional job organizing these events.