I was so excited to see Quivira Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc at my local grocery store. Not that I know much about them, but I was under the assumption that they were a boutique winery that was so boutique you had to order directly from the estate. Well, apparently not so because, like I said, I found it. Here it is. Yay.
Living along the San Francisco Peninsula, I’m no stranger to Thomas Fogarty wines or the winery. But, as Tommy Fogarty, current managing proprietor of the estate will admit, a trip up the steep slopes of Woodside to this secluded winery is a dedicated trip — the sole prize atop that mountainside is Thomas Fogarty wines. And I feel that holds true for the wines themselves. So unique are his productions that, when seeking out a Thomas Fogarty wine, you’re seeking out a specific feeling and flavor.
I have no reason for why I picked Raeburn Russian River Chardonnay off the shelf other than I was looking for a Chard I’d never had before. And if I was looking for something new — in name and in flavor — I certainly found it. Bold, rich, unique, and — bonus point — food friendly.
This is my first experience with Grgich Hills Estate wine. It’s a winery I’ve always been, for lack of a better word, a bit intimidated to try. It has all this hype and rep around it — such an elevated heir. I really didn’t think I was cool enough to drink something from Grgich. But sometimes, just like on the playground, you have to rustle up some self-confidence and just jump into a game with the cool kids. So grab a glass and jump in with me, you’ll be so glad you did.
As the resident wine writer, I’m also often the resident somm. No problem. I geek out enough on wine and wine pairings, I don’t mind shouldering that responsibility honestly. But I’m going to admit that the night I drank Qupé Syrah, I did not pick it. Not my idea. And it was the best idea I never had.
