After my private tasting at Betwixt Wines, winemaker Tim and his wife Melissa were kind enough to send me home with a few complimentary bottles. It must have been my reaction when I sipped on their 2014 Grenache from Monterey County’s Boer Vineyard that made Melissa insist I take home this bottle…
I never heard of this varietal before I was perusing my Twitter feed and this recommendation came up from Reverse Wine Snob, Jon Thorson. It just so happened I was looking for something exactly like this for my dinner that day — something light, refreshing, perfect for a hot summer’s evening.
At first my mind ran down the list: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Reisling? But none of those flavor profiles truly met the brief for my dinner-pairing…
I was at my local Trader Joe’s when I remembered the review I had read that morning. I picked up that bottle and, true to my book-nerd form, read the back of the bottle: “light-bodied,” “dry,” “fresh and lively” — sold!
Just off San Francisco’s Bay Bridge, on the small, industrial Treasure Island are a few small businesses not too many non-SF-natives know about. And even those savvy to the SF scene may not realize that past the first few buildings that house Winery SF, Sol Rouge, and Sottomarino, there is an even smaller, more independent winery stationed in an abandoned school house — Kendric Vineyards.
I first met Stewart Johnson, Kendric Vineyard owner and winemaker, at the 2016 Pinot Days in San Francisco where I had the pleasure of tasting this wine. But it was during my one-on-one interview and tasting at his modest Treasure Island winery that I was able to really learn about what makes this 2012 Pinot Noir Reserve so special.
I came across Kendric Vineyards during the 2016 Pinot Days in San Francisco. I had never heard of this small, independent vineyard before, but I’m certainly glad I have. A hidden gem amongst the industrialized Treasure Island in San Francisco, Kendric Vineyards produces amazing Pinot Noirs great for Daily Drinking or Special Occasion Sips.
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