DECEMBER 2009
Merry Christmas

CAKE. Wine Country Wedding Newsletter. Temecula Valley & Fallbrook, California

people will stare

warning: please view responsibly!
this isn't your mother's wedding photograph!

michele parsley photography

Photographers are invited to e-mail out-of-the-ordinary
Wedding photographs for CAKE's Photograph Of The Month to:
CAKE

We love what Washington state's Kestrel Vintners is doing with their cute annual cheesecake Holiday Edition labels. There are a handful of Temecula Valley dipping their toes into more fun, artistic labels and we'd be partial to seeing local wineries produce such Holiday Edition labels. 

This year's 2009 vintage is Kestrel's 4th Edition, a blend of handcrafted red wines composed of several vintages and varieties. Predominately grown at the Kestrel View Estate Vineyard, the fruit is hand picked, then destemmed and crushed, leaving 15% whole berries.  Fermented in small batches for 7-10 days, the juice and berries are lightly pressed so as not to extract harsh tannins. The wine is then aged in small oak barrels. Boasting structure and balance, the resultant wine is extremely full-bodied.

The deep color of the wine is reminiscent of blackberry juice, with an aroma of cherry, fig, plum, cranberry and dried herbs. Brimming with black and red fruit flavors - coupled with generous amounts of fine-grained tannins - the lingering finish suggests layers of blueberry, cranberry, cocoa and - again - dried herbs.

The blend is 40% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, 5% Sangiovese, 4% Viognier and 1% Malbec.

KESTREL VINTNERS
2890 Lee Road
Prosser, Washington 99350
509 786 2675
winery@kestrelwines.com
www.kestrelwines.com

'Tis the month of December, time to share our annual "Letters To The Editor." We especially appreciate that an interactive project such as this newsletter enables readers to communicate with us through e-mail, sharing their . . . well, take on CAKE. With that said, let's jump into readers' input throughout 2009.

"Love it. Love it  Love it !!! How DO you come up with so much every month? Delightful issue. Loved every story. Always entertaining, always lovely to look at. And thank you, thank you, thank you, for appreciating the Black Eyed Peas Flash Mob as much as I. I can’t watch it without getting all excited, happy, “got-you-Oprah,” turned on.  It’s impossible to sit still while watching it. The Temecula Valley Wedding Professionals Wine Country Venue Tour had me meandering down each page and hungry
for more. I really liked the "Green" section, too. You keep outdoing yourself." Lauren-Michele.

"Just finished reading your latest issue of CAKE! And once again you made my month with a great newsletter that covers it all
and leaves me feeling great about what we do here in Wine Country! I'm still smiling, which is one
of the reasons I can't stop from opening CAKE as soon as I see it on my email!  It's like a "feel good movie"! We're all in your
debt for the time and hard work you always muster into each issue of CAKE!   Thank you! Now I'm going to go read it again!"
Great Love Story from Vegas!" Randy.

"Kudos. Fabulous job. Always a pleasure to read! Always look forward to a good read. And the Michael Jackson bit gave me chicken skin." Ragan.

"Such a fun newsy edition. I like the diversity of your stories...the unique tone you impart to each story - really enjoyed it.
The Fallbrook Visitors Bureau and Villa Di Calabro applaud your exceptional good taste." Linda.

"Thanks for another edition of CAKE. It is good to see you continuing to promote Fallbrook and we really appreciate it.
Thanks for the plug on the Fallbrook Farmers Market and Wine & A Bite. Hope to see you at one of these." Don.

"Hi. Thanks for the good press. Don't be a stranger, stop in to say hello when you can." Vince.

"I always love reading your newsletters! Hope to see you soon." Jaime.

"Thank you so much for the nice portion of CAKE dedicated to Temecula Creek Inn!
It was such a great article and we are very honored that you featured us." Alison.

pix of life

"Wow!  Didn't even know I was going to be on there!  Thanks for the press! Also, what a cool story about
the Maui Wedding. (Thought the writing in the sand was going to say 'just Maui-ed'!)." Jennifer.

"Thank you so much. Love the latest CAKE! Hope all is well! Hugs to you!" Denise.

"Great newsletter, always…" Kat.

"Hello CAKE, I just got a chance to read the CAKE article and it was great to be mentioned two months in a row." Christa.

" As always, another great edition of a really fun and informative newsletter. Oh my gosh… it is beautiful! LOVE every issue of CAKE. You are so quirky in your writing style…love it! Your wit always makes me rush to read the next paragraph!  If it's okay we will send this to every one of our vendors.   Thanks for including us!  We are honored. Loved seeing Cary Pennington's Bride and photography featured (she was also my Bride. And a Sweetheart!).
And loved seeing Sweet Layers in there, as well. Keep up the good work!!" Diana.

"[CAKE] is quite the card...thanks again." Layné.

"Hey you...thanks for the shout out. Will we see you around Wine Country this weekend for the Barrel Tasting?" Peggy.

"Thank you, CAKE. What a wonderful write-up about the Temecula Valley Wedding Professionals! We love it!" Annette & Charlene.

pix of life
ponte winery

"It was a pleasure to finally meet you, as I have seen your previous writings about the wineries and myself.
Thank you for supporting our local wineries and venues! Temecula Valley really is a small area when it comes to the camaraderie
of local winery staff and personnel, which is something I really enjoy. Cheers!" Don.

"Thanks for the great press." John.

"[CAKE] keeps getting better and better..........Love to share all the good stuff that's happening in Temecula.....
keeps one informed and neat gossip about friends. Keep it up." Judi.

"Hello [CAKE], I realized you have my old email and that's why I haven't received any fabulous issues of the newsletter since September...Yikes! I can't wait to catch up on all the wedding buzz happening in the area!  I would love direction on how to retrieve back issues, If at all possible too. Also, a HUGE "Thank You" to you for everything you do to promote our industry in such a warm and professional way! Blessings to you!" Barb.

"Hello CAKE. I want to thank you for giving me a great story in the newsletter. One of my customers told me I had a write-up. Thank you!" Linda.

"Excellent job on the newsletter. Thanks so much for the mention. I hope to see you soon." Tom.

Hi [CAKE], Thanks for the lovely write-up. Great issue. As usual, the photography is wonderful. Maralyn.

"Hi [CAKE], THANK YOU so much for the fantastic write up of Vignette! Pat [owner of Vignette Sodas] is going to be ecstatic! My boss, co-worker and I've never been to Temecula Valley before, so are thrilled to drive down on a "mini field trip" tomorrow." Stefani.

"Thanks, [CAKE]. I do appreciate the nice coverage of Temecula Creek Inn. I love the witches! Halloween is my favorite holiday!" Susan.

OMG! This was supposed to be so simple. 7 Easy Pieces. We're launching a new feature - The CAKE Chef Interview - where we plan to ask 7 questions of Wine Country chefs, allowing them the opportunity to share their cooking secrets with our readers, while we eavesdrop on their culinary mojo. A humble ambition. And yet this initial endeavor turned out so far beyond what we'd planned . . . let's see if we can explain how the undertaking unfolded.

thornton winery photos by CAKE

First off, it had been awhile since we'd lunched at Thornton Winery's Café Champagne, so we thought our new project would be a good excuse to have Champagne's Chef Steve Pickell be our first interview. So we contacted CAKE-pal - Linda Kissam of Kissam Consulting - to ask if she would arrange an interview with her client, Thornton Winery. If you haven't yet met Linda, former Executive Director of the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association and current Executive Director of the Fallbrook Area Visitors Bureau, let's see, how do we explain this dynamo? Linda's the sort of gung-ho woman-of-the-hour who, if you ask her to help find a way for people to get along better, she'll deliver World Peace!

Linda said "Let's do it!" and asked us to be at Café Champagne on a recent afternoon for an interview with Chef Steve. Oh yeah, Winemaker Don Reha will be there, too! And Thornton Winery President, Steve Thornton!! And Thornton Winery owner, John Thornton!!!

thornton winery
café champagne

We arrived a bit early in order to take a few photographs of the Café before our hosts arrived and when we were shown to our table [above], the scenario greeting us was a portent of things to come. But before we further wax eloquent about the afternoon, let us share - with gratitude - Chef Steve's interview:

CAKE: "Chef Steve, which kitchen utensil could you not cook without?" Chef Steve: "A knife. When I attended Culinary School in Washington, D.C., we were initially allowed to cook with nothing more than knives. In my kitchen today I only have 4 knives and can accomplish almost every task with them."

CAKE: "What is your single most utilized ingredient?" Chef: "Unsalted butter. If I was abandoned on a desert isle and needed to feed myself, I'd only ask for unsalted butter. And a knife! Butter adds an incredible richness and creaminess to all dishes."

CAKE: "What is your favorite dish to cook?" Chef: "The last one I made. Chefs are only as good as the last dish we cooked, so it needs to be superb. That is how we're judged."

CAKE: "When you're at home cooking for family & friends, what's your favorite non-gourmet dish to prepare?" Chef: "Breakfast for dinner. My two boys are already beginning to cook and the breakfast dishes they fix for the family are enjoyed by all of us."

CAKE: "Other than your own restaurant, what is your favorite restaurant in Wine Country?" Chef: "Creekside Grille at Wilson Creek Winery. I have an appreciation and respect for Chef Clay Blake's approach to preparing cuisine. Clay shares my own off-the-cuff sense of adventure when approaching food preparation."

CAKE: "If you could spend an evening cooking with any chef, who would it be?" Chef: "Jamie Oliver. As I mentioned regarding Chef Clay Blake, Jamie Oliver, Clay and I all mutually enjoy an impromptu approach to cooking. A willingness to wing it, then see the dish through from start to finish."

 

Returning to the delightful wines and dishes we enjoyed that afternoon, lighting the way was a glass of Thornton's finest - their 1999 Brut Reserve Champagne. The wine swirled with possibly the tiniest champagne bubbles we've ever seen, accompanied by a soft elegance on the tongue one can only find from a 10-year-old champagne. To whet the appetite, accompanying this nectar was Warm Brie En Croute. This ambrosial morsel consisted of French brie wrapped in puff pastry, accompanied by warm honey-walnut sauce. Between the champagne and the brie, we could have gone home at this point, assuming no cuisine could best what had come before. Or we could be wrong. At this stage, those at the table struck out on their own for the main course. Taking advantage of the offerings from the Café's Fall Lunch Menu, several of us went with Chef's French onion soup. Also chosen were the Crispy Crab Cakes, the Chicken and Smoked Gouda Cheese Panini, the Grilled Flat Iron Steak and Frites, not to mention the wonderful gourmet, mini-hamburger Sliders. Accompanying this memorable fare was Winemaker Don Reha's 2007 Viognier.

café champagne  thornton winery steve thornton, john thornton, karon cartwright, don reha, steve pickell

The gentlemen additionally treated us to two of the most stunning wines it's ever been our pleasure to drink. The 2006 Estate Syrah and - alongside dessert - the 2006 Late Harvest Zinfandel. Run, don't walk, get thee to Thornton Winery immediately to taste / purchase these two wines! 

thornton winery

We have to underscore that, in no uncertain terms, the gentlemen hosting us at Café Champagne that afternoon were the picture of graciousness. John Thornton, Steve Thornton, Don Reha & Chef Steve Pickell arrived bearing the gift of an autographed bottle of Thornton's 2006 Limited Reserve Cabernet and their generosity went forward from there. They couldn't have been more delightful and charming. We'll be returning soon to the Café to further explore the fall menu and we whole-heartedly encourage our readers to do the same.

THORNTON WINERY
32575 Rancho California Road
Temecula, California 92589
info@thorntonwine.com
www.thorntonwine.com  

[» IN FURTHER WINE COUNTRY NEWS  «]

The item that really caught our eye complementing this night to remember is Wiens' partnering with Embassy Suites and the Grapeline Shuttle for a drink-no-drive New Year's Eve, with a ride and hotel room waiting for revelers at the end of the evening. For specifics, contact Embassy Suites at 951.676.5656.

WIENS FAMILY CELLARS
35055 Via Del Ponte
Temecula, California 92592
951.694.9892
suzanne@wienscellars.com
www.wienscellars.com

New Year's Eve at Wilson Creek is a chance to let loose and celebrate the coming year’s hope for prosperity and good fortune. And yes, let the good times roll!

Wilson Creek Winery
35960 Rancho California Road
Temecula, California 92591
951.699.9463
info@wilsoncreekwinery.com
www.wilsoncreekwinery.com

We were greeted on this special evening by TVWP's Annette Nielsen & Charlene Keys, then checked-in by Fran Caddy. Over the course of the evening we spotted Victor Cannon, Randy Green, Su-Lin Sutherland, Dan & Myra Pettus,  Ken Bennett, Braja Mandala and Annette Hoegner. We chatted with Diana Ross & Layné Powell, plus rubbed elbows with CAKE-pal, Justin Hulse. We ran into Jake Ashcraft, who was kind enough to spend some time giving us a photography lesson by outfitting the CAKE camera with his professional flash unit to snap the photograph below of Diana Ross. We spent some intense chat-time bending the ear of Alison de Jong and noted Karon & Michael Cartwright sauntering through the event enjoying glasses of WCW's finest. Finally, we were enchanted to meet TVWP's event photographer for the evening, Theresa Cox.

TESORO WINERY
28475 Old Town Front Street
(at 6th in Old Town Temecula)
Temecula, California 92590
951 308 0000
info@tesorowines.com
www.tesorowines.com

www.wineormous.com