Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Located on a 73-acre compound above Saratoga is House Family Winery. This family-owned-and-operated business makes all its wine from grapes grown in their Old Oak Vineyard on their extensive property.
Dave House is the proprietor of this fairly new winery, but he happens to know more than a bit about wine as he is also one of the four owners of The Mountain Winery in Saratoga.
The 2007 Cab ($43) is deep and complex with classic aromas of ripe summer fruit. The mouth is filled with luscious flavors of ripe plum and black currant—with a hint of dark chocolate and coffee—in this well-made wine with fine tannins and great texture. Jeffrey Patterson, owner and winemaker at Mount Eden Vineyards, has garnered much respect for his techniques—he believes in letting the wine express itself with minimal intervention. He is now the winemaker for the House Family Winery as well, and his stamp of expertise is revealed in the quality of this excellent Cabernet.
The winery is open only for special events—and one is coming right up. House Family Winery participates in the Passport events (see scmwa.com for information) and will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17. If you have a Passport, then tasting is free that day, and it certainly would be worth a trip there to taste all of their other wines as well.
House Family Winery 13336 Old Oak Way, Saratoga, 800-975-7191. HouseFamilyWinery.com.
WINE Events
Winemakers’ Dinner at
Seascape Resort on Nov. 13
Sones Cellars, Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard and Quinta Cruz will be featuring their wines at a special dinner from 6:30-9 p.m. at Seascape Resort in Aptos on Tuesday, Nov. 13. Starting with a champagne reception at 6:30 p.m., and including a main course of roasted pheasant, the event, $75 per person, promises to be a delicious evening of wining and dining. Call 662-7141 for reservations.
Candle Holders from Wine Barrels – Busy Betties “Craftnoon” at Bargetto Winery
Bargetto Winery and Erin Buchla’s new company, Busy Betties, will be hosting landscape designer and artist Jake Moss as he demonstrates how to make candle holders from wine barrels. Moss, featured on DIY Network’s “Yardcore,” will show you how to create things out of unlikely materials. Buchla’s husband is Jake Gandolfo, who gained fame on TV’s MasterChef series with Gordon Ramsay. Gandolfo will be preparing delicious appetizers, included in the cost. The event is from 1-3:30 p.m. on Nov. 10. Cost is $25 plus $5 supply fee, which includes the candle holder. Bargetto Winery will be providing a cash bar. Tickets are available at craftnoon.eventbrite.com.
