Windy Oaks’ winemaker Jim Schultze has garnered accolades far and wide for his outstanding wines, especially his Pinot Noirs.
When I saw his 2014 Terra Narro Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains on the wine list at Solaire Restaurant in Hotel Paradox, I ordered it to pair with our entrees—a delicious special dish of venison, and superbly prepared scallops by Chef Pete Martinez. Solaire is a beautiful place to dine, with excellent service, and Martinez takes pride in preparing innovative dishes using seasonal produce.
The estate Terra Narro is delightful, and with its robust flavors and balanced structure, it’s a sure-fire Pinot to enjoy. Winery owners Jim and Judy Schultze say “it’s a great everyday drinking wine” and describe it as “medium garnet, aromas of cherry candy, underbrush, incense and fir balsam; fuller-bodied, more mouth-coating and deeper-flavored than previous editions of this wine.” I remember first trying the 2007 Terra Narro in an Aptos restaurant many moons ago and being impressed. What’s not to love about a splendid handcrafted wine by Jim Schultze?
The 2014 Terra Narro is now available and sells for $29 at the winery, but more in restaurants, of course.
On Friday nights from 4-7 p.m. at the Windy Oaks tasting room in Carmel is a wine and cheese party with a charcuterie plate and specially paired cheeses from The Cheese Shop for $15 a person, which includes a tasting of four wines.
Windy Oaks Estate Vineyard & Winery, 550 Hazel Dell Road, Corralitos, 786-9463, and Su Vecino Court between Dolores and Lincoln streets in Carmel, 574-3135. windyoaksestate.com
Scotts Valley Farmers Market
Several treats awaited me at a recent visit to the Scotts Valley Farmers Market, held on Saturdays outside the Scotts Valley Community Center, a robust coffee from Hidden Fortress Coffee Roasting, a buckwheat blueberry scone (one of my favorites) from Companion Bakeshop, and a delicious sample of smoky cider from Rider Ranch, based in Los Gatos. Visit riderranchciderworks.com for more info. Hidden Fortress has just opened a coffee shop at 125 Hangar Way #270 in Watsonville. Visit hiddenfortressfarm.com for info.
