I recently met up with my Wild Wine Women group at Odonata for a picnic lunch. Owner and winemaker Denis Hoey greeted us warmly and gave us a tour of his ever-evolving facility. Every time we visit, Hoey has made more upgrades to his property.
He plied us that day with about 10 different wines, all outstanding, and saved the best for last: 2019 Blanc De Blanc sparkling wine ($42).
“Citrus notes of lemon curd and orange blossom set the tone for this Santa Lucia Highlands sparkling wine,” says Hoey. “The palate is filled with flavors of green apple, citrus zest and a balanced finish.”
All these flavors leap out of the glass as the celebratory bubbles work their way up to the surface. There’s nothing like sparkling wine to add a festive touch to any occasion. And Hoey’s bubbly is delicious.
Along with several other wineries, Odonata is donating a percentage of its sales to the Breast Cancer Assistance Group from April 29 until May 1. bcagmc.org.
Odonata Wines, 645 River Road, Salinas, 831-566-5147; odonatawines.com.
Vine to View Dinner Series at Chaminade
Tickets are on sale for Chaminade’s Vine to View farm-to-table dinner series. These wonderful dinners begin at 6pm and are held outside on the Courtyard Terrace. The first event is on April 29, and the other dates are May 27, June 30, July 29, Aug. 26, Sept. 30, Oct. 27 and Nov.18. chaminade.com.
Half Moon Bay Wine & Jazz Festival
Half Moon Bay Downtown Association is pulling out all the stops for a wine and jazz festival on its historic Main Street. Get a commemorative wine glass and explore the elixirs of about 50 participating wineries while listening to renowned jazz musicians. Beer and food will also be available for purchase. The event is Sunday, May 15, noon-4pm. hmbwineandjazzfest.com.
