This citrusy 2015 Sauvignon Blanc is a delightful summer wine, with its bright green apple and light grassy straw on the nose. Winery owners Dan and Thérèse Martin say this wine is “kissed with a hint of Semillon—transitioning to the mid-palate with subtle apricot.” Semillon is a low-acidity, packed-with-flavor white wine that is often a key ingredient added to sweet wine such as Sauterne.
After one of the weekly wine tastings (for only $3) at Deer Park Wine & Spirits in Aptos, I found this Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc—from the J.D. Hurley label of Martin Ranch—for a mere $11.99. I often root around this liquor store to check on their good deals.
Family from my hometown of Sheffield, England (my cousin, her husband and three teenagers), were traveling in California and stopped by for dinner—and I opened this sassy and refreshing Central Coast wine to enjoy with a few appetizers. Too young to consume alcohol, the teenagers were allotted juice and water. (The legal drinking age in Great Britain is 18.)
We all loved the Sauvignon Blanc, which won a silver medal at the 2017 California State Fair and comes with an easy-to-open screw cap.
Martin Ranch Winery, 6675 Redwood Retreat Road, Gilroy, 408-842-9197. martinranchwinery.com.
Buzen Foods—Japanese Cuisine Takeout
Buzen Foods, which used to have a take-out facility in Capitola, has now moved into Seascape Foods in Aptos—a market that specializes in catering, fresh foods and local goods. Buzen is owned by Japan native Yuriko Yamaguchi, who is all about living a healthy life, and loves to create gourmet cuisine for today’s fast-paced lifestyle. All the food Yamaguchi makes is available at Seascape Foods, and her motto is “fast, fresh and healthy.” Everything is very affordable (most dishes are around $8, including the bento box) and made fresh daily with no added preservatives or MSG. Buzen has catered for Santa Cruz Shakespeare, the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees and many others—and would be happy to cater your event also. Contact Ms. Yamaguchi at Seascape Foods, 16 Seascape Village, Aptos, 359-7005. [email protected]. View the menu at mkt.com/buzenfoods.
