There’s nothing quite like the experience of tasting wine in a thunderstorm! I got soaked to the skin during December’s Aptos Wine Wander, and so did all the other merry tasters who weathered turbulent wind and rain to enjoy local wines. Aptos Village businesses hosted 16 wineries that day—Betty Burgers on Trout Gulch Road being the location for Lago Lomita Winery, one of the places I stopped by to try their wines. One appreciative customer snapped up all Lago Lomita’s varietals at the tasting, including a delicious Santa Cruz Mountains (Monte Sereno Block) 2021 Nebbiolo ($55).
The red Nebbiolo grape hails from Italy and has been called “the wine of kings and the king of wines.” Light floral aromas greet the taster, and flavors of wild herbs, truffles, cherries and raspberries await. Produced and bottled by local Soquel Vineyards, everything comes together seamlessly to create this superb wine.
Lago Lomita sits at 2,600 feet, where Robin and Mark Porter take care of their vineyards on a whopping 44 acres. There is no tasting room but check their website to see where they’re pouring next. The Porters also run a bed and breakfast on their property—and a treehouse 40 feet off the ground.
Lago Lomita Winery, 25200 Loma Prieta Ave., Los Gatos; 408-353-2551. lagolomita.com
Shadowbrook Winery
We enjoyed a wine tasting at the beautiful Shadowbrook Winery in Walnut Creek. Not only are Shadowbrook’s wines outstanding, but the flatbread pizza is also delicious.
Tasting/$50; Library tasting/$65; or Summit tasting/$83.Shadowbrook Winery, 1 Meritage Lane, Walnut Creek; 925-988-9463. shadowbrookwinery.com
