Say cheese when you’re in The Cellar

It’s nothing short of amazing how wine and cheese make each other taste so much better. When people want you to smile for the camera, what do they ask you to say? Cheese! I submit that wine will make you do the same thing. There are mild and big tasting cheeses, everyday eat-now and aged cheeses. Same with wine. 
With this wine-cheese marriage in mind, I introduced myself to the group that manages The Cellar in San Clemente, where cheese plays a major role in its popularity. Recently I wrote about the “Trifecta” formats with three successful features for wine bars. The Cellar takes it further with its devotion to great cheeses. Jason Arnold is the sommelier and wine director who buys the wine and is usually seen behind the bar as the Cellar’s good-will ambassador. “We focus on California but also we have varietals that are of the most interest in each region,” he said. “Like we’ll stock Malbec from Argentina, Tempranillo from Spain and Chianti Classico from Italy. We have flights of wine by region and we also have flights of cheese from our inventory of 70 to 80 cheeses. A soft brie will compliment a sparkling wine, or a blue cheese will match up with a Cabernet.”
I asked Arnold about cheese tasting events and he quickly agreed that it is essential to educate the public on premium cheeses. “We are starting cheese schools that will really help our customers appreciate the finer cheeses and how they bring out the best in wines,” he said, while he poured an Argyle Pinot Noir 2008 with one of the Cellar specialties: Mac and Cheese in roasted tomato, truffle oil and prosciutto.
I should add that The Cellar has weekend entertainment that fills the place, and it has a full dinner menu from Tuesday through Sunday.
Check out all the hours, from “Wine Down” to the cheese shop at thecellarsite.com or call (949) 492-3663.
Wines worthy of a
2nd Taste
It’s been about two months since my last survey of superior wines in my tasting travels through wine shops, bars, restaurants and events. I’ve come up with eight that pleased my palate. Most should be widely available. Prices shown are the lowest I could find and may vary. They are listed in alphabetical order and not by ranking. All are rated excellent (5) in the “Taste of Wine” 1 to 5 rating formula:
— Callaway Viognier Special Selection, Temecula CA, 2009, for $20. Clean, crisp and lots of tropical, sensuous tastes, like freshly picked apricots. More on Callaway in next week’s column.
— Cinnabar Mercury Rising Blend, Napa Valley 2008 for $21. A Cabernet/Merlot combination with fruit from Paso Robles. Rich mouthfeel.
— Falkner Winery Amante Blend, Temecula, 2007, for $39.95. Fine American example of a Super Tuscan style of wine, with 50 percent Sangiovese,  Merlot, Cabernet and Cab Franc.
— Fort Ross Pinot Noir Reserve, Sonoma CA, 2007, for $25. Dense, dark Burgundian style Pinot. Unusually full-bodied. Vineyard overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
— L’Ecole #41 Merlot, Columbia Valley WA, 2007, for $27. A blend of mostly Merlot, fine tuned with Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Cabernet. Rich flavors with a slight peppery finish. 
— Marilyn Remark Granache, Monterey CA, 2008, for $45. The backbone for Southern Rhone’s Chateauf-du-Pape, Grenache has distinct chocolate flavors, melding with blackberry. Just 189 cases made. Easily the quintessential California Grenache varietal.
— Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel, Sonoma CA, 2009, for $15. Zin vines cloned from “mother” vines planted since 1904. Age matters.  That small amount of Petite Sirah also means a lot.
— V.Sattui Petite Sirah, Napa Valley CA, 2008, $26. First established 125 years ago, four generations of Italian style wines are reflected in this concentrated fruit.
 
Wine Bytes
— The Junior League of San Diego has their annual benefit on from 2 to 7 p.m. April 30 with 50 food and wine/beer booths at La Jolla Cove. It’s a laid-back 1980s island theme.  Tickets are $80 each. Check it out at jlsd.org.
— The Best of North County Party happens at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. May 6. Hosted by San Diego Magazine, it highlights the best restaurants, wineries, breweries and boutiques. Tickets are $45 online and $55 at the door. See more at sandiegomagazine.com.
— The next wine dinners at Encinitas Firefly Grill & Wine Bar in May are Clos Pegase Napa Valley Wines onMay 10, and Sanford Wines from Santa Rita Hills on May 12.  Both start at 6:30 p.m. and both are $75 per person. Call (760) 635-1066 for details.
Canyons Restaurant at the Crossings Golf Course in Carlsbad presents Cakebread Wines, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. May 12, along with selected menu items. The cost is $20. Call (760) 444-1881 for details.
— Salerno Winery announces a newly opened Tasting Room on Highway 67 just south of Ramona, open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to dusk.  New Italian style wines and a Bocce Court are added attractions. Call (760) 788-7160 for details.