Chardonnay 2007—Gold Medal Winner and Best Santa Cruz Mountains White
Beauregard Vineyards has been around for a long time. The Beauregard family has been farming vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains since 1940–on vineyards that span more than 90 acres over these very mountains.
It all began when Amos Beauregard purchased a piece of land in 1949 and started growing grapes. Next followed Emmett Beauregard, who acquired Shopper’s Corner in 1939; followed by Jim Beauregard, who ran the Felton Empire Winery (now Hallcrest Vineyards) in the ’70s and ’80s. And, following in his ancestors’ footsteps, Ryan Beauregard came on board in 1998.
I first met Ryan when he was getting into the business seriously, and he is now one of the best winemakers in the area–along with his father, Jim, an experienced viticulturalist. His 2007 estate-grown Chardonnay–Santa Cruz Mountains–(about $22) is superb. Marvelous flavors entice the palate–including an abundance of ripe peaches and plums–with just the right amount of oak to make it a really gorgeous Chardonnay. This wine not only won a gold medal in this year’s Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association Commercial Wine Competition, but also won Best Santa Cruz Mountains White. I’m sure the Beauregard family is justly proud of themselves.
Beauregard Vineyards, 10 Pine Flat Road, Bonny Doon, 425-7777. beauregardvineyards.com. The Tasting Room is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wine Events
Copious Winery is putting on its first annual Crab Boil and After-Crush Party on Saturday, Nov. 13 from 1:30 to 6 p.m. They are celebrating the beginning of the Dungeness crab season “from the beautiful Santa Cruz Coast,” and marking the end of a fabulous harvest. Club Copious members $15; Club 427 members $20; Non-Club members $30.
Copious Winery, 427 Swift St., Santa Cruz, 425-WINE. Copiouswinery.com.
Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association (scmwa) is holding its first annual Half Moon Bay Food & Wine Fare on Saturday, Nov. 13 from noon to 4 p.m. Join local wineries and restaurants for a wonderful day of food and wine tasting at the beautiful Oceano Hotel & Spa, Half Moon Bay. Local Half Moon Bay restaurants will have fare available for purchase and more than 20 Santa Cruz Mountains wineries will have their wines available for tasting. Commemorative wine glasses are $5. Free admission.
Oceano Hotel & Spa, 280 Capistrano Road, Half Moon Bay, (650) 726-5400 or (888) 623-2661. oceanohalfmoonbay.com.
Info: 685-8463, scmwa.com.
Wine Pairing Dinner: Featuring the boutique wines of Windy Oaks Estate at Sanderlings Restaurant at Seascape Resort at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16. The six-course dinner is $75 per person including tax and gratuity. Reservations: Sanderlings at 662-7146.
