One of the wines chosen by Cabrillo College students in the culinary program for the Dare to Pair food and wine competition on Sunday, April 15, is a full-bodied 2013 Syrah made by Sones Cellars. Michael Sones, winemaker and owner of Sones Cellars, along with his wife Lois, says the Syrah will pair with one of the many special appetizers prepared for this wine-centered, gastronomic event.
With its floral notes, vanilla, and slight whiff of fennel in the nose, the 2013 Syrah’s aromas give a lovely fragrant touch to this ruby-red wine. Add to this its dark cherry, cassis, hint of oak, and dark chocolate notes in the mouth, and you have a dynamic Syrah with deliciously earthy nuances. Grapes for this well-made Syrah ($28) are harvested from Wiedman Vineyard in Santa Clara Valley.
Sones is turning out some excellent wines these days, including a spicy, full-throttle Zinfandel. His 2013 Zinfandel was voted best wine by the public and judges alike at the 2017 Dare to Pair competition—a winning wine to be proud of. And Sones tells me he plans on bottling the 2015 Zin very soon, so don’t miss a sampling of that in his tasting room—it’s a wine to look forward to in the very near future.
Sones Cellars, 334-B Ingalls St., Santa Cruz, 420-1552. sonescellars.com.
Dare to Pair
Cabrillo College Culinary Arts students are teaming up once more with Surf City Vintners for the ninth annual Dare to Pair food and wine challenge. The competition will take place from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 15 in the Surf City Vintners’ tasting rooms in the Swift Street Courtyard complex in Santa Cruz. Enjoy delicious appetizers prepared by Cabrillo College’s culinary students, paired with fine wines from eight participating wineries—and then vote on your favorites. There’s more fun to be had at the Awards Ceremony and After Party, with live music until 5 p.m. Tickets for last year’s Dare to Pair event sold out, so don’t miss out on this year’s event. All proceeds benefit Cabrillo College Culinary Program. Tickets are $75. Visit daretopair.org for more info.
