Rosé of Petite Sirah 2011
The opening weekend of Odonata’s new tasting room at the beginning of May was a huge success. With an abundance of delicious food catered by Nonno’s Restaurant in Redwood Estates, and a packed house of customers trying Denis Hoey’s fabulous wines, it’s on the cards that this is going to be a hot new spot.
Hoey has worked long and hard to get to this point—making his own wines under his Odonata label, and also being the winemaker for Jeff Emery’s Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard. He deserves many congratulations not only for his lovely new tasting room, but also for his continuing expertise in making fine wine. Family members also were there at the tasting room for the grand opening, Hoey’s parents—his father was put to work serving wine—as well as his wife Claire and their seven-month-old baby boy, Gavin.
I was particularly impressed that day with a Rosé of Petite Sirah 2011 ($15), made under Hoey’s new label Damselfly Cellars—in keeping with the order of dragonflies and damselflies—odonata. This delightful Rosé, with grapes harvested from Machado Creek Vineyard in Santa Clara Valley, is swimming in delicious fruitiness, especially boysenberries, and a smidgeon of pineapple and spice.
Odonata’s tasting room is situated right next door to the Companion Bakeshop, the new go-to place for delicious bread and other goodies, and Hoey and the Bakeshop have teamed up for Community Pizza and Wine Night—to take place every Tuesday evening until 7:30 p.m. Sounds like guaranteed fun to me.
Odonata Wines, 2343 Mission St., Santa Cruz, 566-5147. Odonatawines.com. Hours: Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Contact info: de***@od**********.com . Companion Bakeshop, 2341 Mission St., Santa Cruz, 252-2253. Companionbakeshop.com.
Wine Events
Kathryn Kennedy Winery at Vinocruz
Vinocruz will be hosting a tasting by Kathryn Kennedy Winery from noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, June 23. These afternoon wine-tasting events present an opportunity to discover a new favorite wine, and to meet the winemaker as well. From 2-5 p.m. on July 14, Nicholson Vineyards of Aptos will be pouring their wines at Vinocruz for you to try. Vinocruz, 725 Front St., Santa Cruz, 426-8466. Vinocruz.com. Wine University at Surf City Vintners The second of the summer series of Wine University takes place from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 24. Taste and explore the Pinot Noirs of sub-regions of the mountains, and find out what makes them distinct and similar – with Nick Guerrero of Vine Hill Winery. Individual classes are $30 ($25 for wine club members of any of the Surf City wineries). Contact (408)353-2278 or visit surfcityvintners.com.
