If Soquel Vineyards partners Peter and Paul Bargetto and Jon Morgan were walking down the street wearing their winning wine competition medals, you’d hear them coming from a mile away. This year was particularly rewarding for the Bargettos and Morgan—they won two Double Gold Medals and five Gold Medals at January’s San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
One of the Double Gold winners in the prestigious competition was the 2013 Pinot Noir, which went head-to-head against a plethora of other Pinots to come out on top. Grapes for this award-winning wine come from the respected Lester Family Vineyards in Aptos, which continues to garner accolades for its consistent and much sought-after high-quality fruit.
Dark, ripe and redolent of aromas of dark plum, anise, spice and pomegranate, this earthy full-bodied wine is nectar of the gods for Pinot lovers. Aged in 100 percent French oak, the well-crafted 2013 Pinot ($39) is perfect for a special occasion. It’s a wine to be appreciated and savored.
Situated up Glen Haven Road, a drive through serene redwoods leads you to the Soquel Vineyards’ welcoming tasting room, which is surrounded by vineyards and breathtaking ocean views. “Casual Mood—Serious Wines,” say the winery owners. And that succinctly sums up what they’re all about.
Soquel Vineyards, 8063 Glen Haven Road, Soquel, 462-9045. soquelvineyards.com. Tasting room open weekends from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Good Times 40th Anniversary Party
Our office celebrated the 40th anniversary of Good Times last month, and many businesses provided food, wine, cookies, chocolates, and flowers in plentiful quantities. Thank you for the splendid service: Akira Sushi; Gabriella Café; Mobo Sushi; Donnelly Chocolates; Pacific Cookie Company; Hunter Hill Vineyard & Winery; Silver Mountain Vineyards; Storrs Winery; MJA Vineyards; Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing; and The Flower Shack. We thank them for adding their delicious touches to our festive party.
Patine in Pleasure Point
Patine is a beautiful little home décor store that used to be tucked away in La Selva Beach, but has now moved to a more prominent location in Pleasure Point. Offering a wide variety of unique vintage and antique treasures from around the world, including beautiful linens and textiles, the store is well worth a visit. Patine’s owners travel four times a year to European countries in order to handpick farmhouse-style furniture and decorative items, so expect to find out-of-the-ordinary items. Store hours are 11 a.m. Tuesday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. 1001 41st Ave., Santa Cruz, 464-0950. patinedecor.com
