Adam and Dianna Lee winemakers from Siduri and Novy wines visits Double Helix Boutique in Palazzo Resort and speak to Vino Las Vegas

It is not often you meet a wine making couple in this business

but it was a pleasure to meet

Adam and Dianna Lee from

Siduri and Novy wines. We have

enjoyed their high scoring wines

immensely in the past.

Adam and Dianna made a stop at the Wine Spectator Grand Tour

event being held at the Venetian Hotel Casino. Prior to the
event they held a wine tasting at one of our favorite stops ,

Double Helix Wine Bar and Boutique in the Palazzo Hotel Casino.

We were attending the Wine Spectator event as well, so we did not need to be coerced to stop at Double Helix , taste some Siduri and Novy wines and speak with Adam and Dianna. They have a great wine making
philosophy and work together very well. They feed off each other

and make a great wine making team.

To quote their website , " By focusing solely on Pinot Noir from the most prestigious vineyard sites in California and Oregon, and by vinifying each barrel separately by lot, clone, yeast and cooper, we champion individuality of place and intensity of flavor in each wine we produce ."

That quote could not be more on target. We spend alot of time in many of the vineyards and
appellations where they get their fruit. These are some of the most prestigious

vineyards to be found from Napa to Santa Barbara County. The Siduri
vineyard specific labels read like a who's who of California vineyard owners and wine growers.

It was a pleasure to meet this great team and couple and spend a few
minutes talking with them about their past and future plans.

If you are in Las Vegas, Double Helix is a great place to stop for wine, food
and events located right on the Fabulous Las Vegas Strip.

Elaine speaks with winemaker Richard OH of Otter Cove and OH wines

Winemaker Richard Oh recently made a stop in Las Vegas. While in town , Richard joined Vino Las Vegas for lunch and to talk about the release of OH Wines Pinot Noir 2006 Santa Lucia Highlands.

Under the Otter Cove label Richard produces Gewurztraminer, Resling , Syrah , Merlot and Pinot Noir varietals. They all have a designation from either Santa Lucia Highlands or Monterey County. We had the opportunity to try the Otter Cove wines last year and were pleasently surprised.

On this occasion we tried OH Wines Pinot Noir 2006 Santa Lucia Highlands that has just been released. On the nose we were greeted with the classic aromas of cherry and spice .In the glass the wonderful burgundy color shinned and led us to the palate where cherry, black fruit and spice came through. The finish was unique in that in had a little more tannins than we would expect. This however is a good thing as this great Pinot should hold up in the bottle very well.

Richard has done a great job producing his other varietals under the Otter Cove label and we expect he will do the same with his new label of OH Wines.

Like most of his fellow winemakers in Monterey County you can taste the labor and passion that has gone into making these wines. Richard likes to experiment with aromas and flavors to produce some classic varietals with his own unique twist. It is very good to see young winemakers such as Richard really begin to come into their own by making quality wines that are recognized by experts in the Food and Wine industry worldwide.

Vino Las Vegas samples the best of Las Vegas at the Epicurean Affair 2008 poolside at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino

The Flamingo Hotel and Casino played host

to the 18th annual Epicurean Affair which features the best of Las Vegas's Food and Beverage Industry.

The Nevada Restaurant Association and the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association teamed up with the Flamingo Hotel for a culinary and beverage smorgasbord. Las Vegas has become a primere culinary and beverage destination

of the world. The Affair, held poolside at the Flamingo Hotel,
really showed the world the diversity Las Vegas has to offer in Food and Beverage.

When you walk in you can,t help but be in awe of the beautiful
tropical pool at the Flamingo. It was decked out with lights,
music and of course surrounded by some of the biggest names
in the culinary world.

You almost get sensory overload as you stroll along the pool
smelling the culinary creations of such renown Chefs as Guy

Savoy , Michael Mina and Andre Rochat. Many of these Chefs have been awarded the coveted Michelin Stars and attendees could sample the cuisine that is known world wide.

While you are walking in Tropical Paradise at the Flamingo over
70 signature dishes from some of these renown chefs were

available for tasting and many of the world class clubs were

present to temp us with their beverage creations as well.

This event really showed off how much diversity Las Vegas has
to offer. One thought kept coming to our minds as we walked
around the pool sampling the food and beverages.

Las Vegas has come along was from its beginnings as mainly an
entertainment city. This great city has the ability to change with
the times as it has many times in the past. Entertainment has
always been world class in Las Vegas and will continue to lead
the world as a major entertainment destination.

When you attend an event like this it

really opens your eyes and showcases
what Las Vegas has become. No other
city can offer the combination of world
class entertainment , gaming , award
winning world renown Chefs and
nightlife that is unmatched.

In this great city one can now walk the
Las Vegas strip , try their luck in
many of the famous hotel casinos or

go shopping in designer stores by day. Have a great lunch poolside prepared by the well trained resort culinary staff of the many hotels.

After lunch enjoy a massage or workout at the many well equipped Spas. Dinner is worth waiting all day for and what an experience. No other city has so many famous renown Chefs

all within a short walk or cab ride. Dinning at these restaurants
is truly a memorable experience and should not be passed up.

The many shows available in the evenings can keep you busy
for weeks if you saw a different show every night. There is a show
for most any taste from a traditional Las Vegas show to Broadway
musicals. There is something available 7 days a week.

Las Vegas has always been known for its nightlife and still has
no rival in the world. Guests travel from the 4 corners of the
world to experience these clubs with multiple levels, music and sensory experiences.

That is a day in Las Vegas. No other city can match that. Walking
around the historic Flamingo Hotel we could not help but have those thoughts as we got a first hand view of what Las Vegas has
become and will continue to evolve into.

Join Elaine and Scott of Vino Las Vegas as we take you into the Epicurean Affair and see what

Las Vegas has to offer.

Vino Las Vegas visits Aquanox Resturant and tastes wine with Eben Sadie South Africa's highest rated winemaker to date.

We have met many winemakers in our travels. Perhaps the most interesting winemaker we have met in a long while is South African Eben Sadie. Eben visited Las Vegas and held a trade tasting at the Aquanox Resturant in the Venetian Hotel and Casino.

Vino Las Vegas attended the event were intrigued by this young talented winemaker. Eben has many of his vineyards located in the Swartland region on Paardeberg Mountain in South Africa.












We started off the tasting with the Sadie Family Palladius. This blend of Chenin Blanc , Viognier , Grenache Blanc and Chardonnay was refreshing and had a long elegant finish. This is wine is highly allocated with only 150 case's made. The price range is about $500 We followed the palladius with the Sequillo White with the same blend but adding Roussane to replace the Chardonnay. Sequillo is also used as a Syrah, Mourvedre Grenache blend and a 100% Pinot Noir. These three wines were complex and can be found in the $300-$400 range. The Sequillo Pinot Noir only has a production of 1800 bottles. The most interesting fact about the Sequillo vineyards is they are Mule plowed and Bio Dynamic and grow in granite and gravely soil.


Eben then poured his 95 point Columella 2005
which is the highest rated South African wine to date by Wine Spectator. This wonderful blend of Syrah ( 80% ) and Mourvedre ( 20% ) is very elegant and memorable. The fruit is grown in
granite, slate , clay and gravely soil. Every grape is
hand sorted and pressed in an old basket press then aged 18 months in traditional Bordeaux barrels. The spice and tannis on this wine carry
through from nose to finish can be hard to find as only 8000 bottles at a price range around $700 were produced.






Eben also has vineyards in the Priorat region of Spain. His entry level
Spanish wine is the Terroir Al Limit 2005. This lovely wine from 55 year old Priorat vines was a real treat. Lots of red fruit , spice and big tannis gives this wine great structure and acidity. Only 2600 bottles at price range about $ 650 were produced




It only got better when we tasted the Dits del Terra 2005 Priorat. These vines are 90-100 years old and produce very concentrated fruit. This concentration really comes through on the palate with alot of big red fruit. 2700 bottles were produced in the $1000 price range for this wine.



Our last wine of the day was the Arbossar 2004 Priorat. This Priorat was very fresh and high
in acid. The 2004 vintage has been reguarded as a great one because the grapes ripened at the right time. As Eben stated " Priorat has been grown in this area for 4000 years, why plant anything else ! ".

Eben is a very talented winemaker and we were impressed with his wine making philosophy. He went organic in the vineyards in 1998 and by 2003 he was totally bio dynamic. He believes that the wine should be left alone. No irrigation or yeast added. He even went on to say that barrels speed up ageing and if you look back over 100's of years. Barrels were only used for transportation of the wine. Eben believes that "barrels over power the wines" and wine should "taste like the land " from where they are from. Eben wants to explore new varietals mainly because the world has focused on "five varietals" and everyone wants to taste the same. Wines should be" historic and cultural" but over recent years Eben believes wines have lost their "sense of place"and even has a goal to produce wine with no power or machinery by 2012.

After meeting Eben you cant help but be caught up in his enthusiasm for what he does. There is no doubt he will succeed in his plans.

VINO LAS VEGAS helps VINO 100 celebrate their first year

Many of our readers are aware we

have spoken often about Vino 100

and attended many of their events

over the past year.

We always look forward to attending
their many events that can range from visits by winemakers to dinners and even
classes. They have a great selection of wines from all over the

world and have tastings every day !

This time we joined owners Natalie and Theresa as they
celebrated the first anniversary of their wine shop Vino 100. Many

business do not make it past the first year. Vino 100 has built a

knowledgeable staff and has very loyal customers. This was a big occasion so Vino 100 pulled out all the stops with a wine tasting , music , food and special pricing on many of the wines. Numerous customers , family , and nearby business owners stopped by to support Vino 100 on this momentous occasion. Winemaker Victor Abascal from Vines on the Marycrest in Paso Robles was the featured winemaker in attendance along with many wine distributors who were pouring their best wines to the guests.

Vino 100 is a one of a kind wine shop where you get treated like

family from the the time you walk in the door. We were glad to

support Vino 100 and their staff and wish them the best in the

coming years

Scott from Vino Las Vegas had a chance to speak with owners Natalie and Theresa about their first year and future plans for Vino 100.

Vino Las Vegas visits Fiamma Trattoria in the MGM to attend the Pinot Noir Mini Camp featuring Oregon wines

Fiamma Trattoria is located inside the world famous MGM Grand Resort and Casino. Actually, Fiamma is famous in its own right. Coming from SoHo in New York city it earned a well deserved three star
designation from the New York Times.

We took a look at the menu and were intrigued by Executive Chef Carlos Buscagila take on traditional Italian cuisine in a very modern , sleek atmosphere.

When you first walk in, you notice the long bar that runs
the length of the restaurant. Then you can't help but be drawn to the

couches and plush chairs near the fireplace. This is a perfect place for a

cocktail before dinner or a glass of wine and great conversation.

On this visit we were there to enjoy some of the best Pinot Noirs from

Oregon paired with a seven course dinner. Karen and Jim Bergstrom were there from Bergstrom Wines. Actually, to quote Sommelier Julia Moretti, " This all started with a glass of Bergstrom Pinot Noir a few years a go ". It was well worth the wait. Jim featured the Bergstrom "Cumberland Ranch" Pinot Noir 2006 and his Bergstrom " Dr Bergstrom " Riesling 2006 during the dinner.

Laurent Montalieu winemaker/ proprietor of Solena Cellars was also in attendance and the dinner featured his Solena , Pinot Gris, 2006 and the Solena Pinot Noir 2006.

Showing off her wines was Debra Hatcher, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for A to Z and Rex Hill Vineyards and Winery. She was featuring her A to Z Pinot Gris 2006, A to Z Pinot Noir 2006 and for one of the most interesting pairings of the night the Rex Hill "Unwooded"
Chardonnay 2006 and the Rex Hill " Dundee Hills" Pinot Noir 2006.

Winemaker Laurent Montalieu of Solena Cellars
paired his Solena Pinot Gris 2006 and Solena Pinot Noir 2006 with
some great food created and paired by Executive Chef Carlos Buscaglia
and Sommelier Julia Moretti.

The first course was Cheese and Charcuterie paired with the A to Z
Pinot Gris 2006. This pairing was right on with the wine pairing nicely with the Salami, Proscuitto and all the Traditional Accompaniments.

Next we enjoyed the Solena Pinot Gris 2006 with a Tuna Belly Crudo with Cremini Mushrooms. We were just getting started when we had the first Pinot Noir of the night with a Beet salad. The A to Z Pinot Noir 2006 blended nicely with the beets and drunken goat cheese.

We spotted the next pairing when we first saw the menu a few days prior to the event. We looked forward with anticipation to the pairing of Rex Hill " Unwooded" Chardonnay 2006 and Rex Hill " Dundee Hills " Pinot Noir 2006 with Seared Diver Scallop and Braised Short Ribs. As we suspected, it was a memorable pairing with this dish. Both wines paired well with the Scallop and the Braised Short Ribs and they changed on the nose and palate to compliment each dish.

Ravioloni , a short rib raviloi with barbara wine reduction, was combined with a spectacular Pinot Noir from Solena 2006 vintage. We were just past the half way point and each of the winemakers took turns with Chef Carlos in explaining the pairings.

Veal and Foie Gras was next with a Bergstrom "Cumberland Ranch" Pinot Noir reduction. What

a better wine to pair with this dish than the Bergstrom "Cumberlin Ranch" Pinot Noir 2006. And

we were not disappointed.

We were finally ready for the last course, a wonderful Panna Cotta with strawberry and mango and a Riesling reduction prepared by Pastry Chef Nika Yazdani. Bergstrom " Dr Bergstrom" Riesling 2006 was a nice contrast to the very sweet desert.

We have been to many winemaker dinners in many venues. This event was very special in many respects. Fiamma is a beautiful restaurant and provided a very classy and sophisticated back drop. The work of Chef Carlos and Chef Nika along with Sommelier Julia Moretti is commended. All of these pairings were excellent and some of the best we have had. General Manager Tim Ryan has put together a world class staff at Fiamma and we plan to return often for dinner, a drink and future winemaker dinners that are in the works. Great Job to Fiamma and thank you to the Oregon winemakers that traveled to our great culinary city of Las Vegas

Vino Las Vegas enjoys the great wine and food at the 26th annual Santa Barbara County Vintner's Festival in Lompoc Ca.

We have attended the Santa

Barbara County Vintner's Festival

many times in the past. This year's

event was special as it was the 26th

Annual.

The Festival was originally held at the Mission Santa Ines in Solvang. This first event featured 17 wineries and at the time there were less than 7000 acres of vineyards bearing fruit.

Now we are here in Lompoc in 2008

this years event will play host to

over 90 wineries along with many local restaurants and caterers.
In 2008 Santa Barbara County has over 20,000 acres of vines.
This is a far cry from the event held 26 years ago.

This is one of our "special " places to visit and we enjoy the small

town feel of the entire area. The winemakers know each other, many as long time friends. They seek advice from each other to
not only further their own wines but the entire area. This is what

stands out for us, the camaraderie amongst the member Vineyards.

April is the perfect time of year to have this event. River Park in
Lompoc is centrally located for visits to Santa Maria, Santa Ynez,
Los Olvios, Buelleton and Solvang. The weather is comfortable
and the vineyards are awakening from their winter sleep. Wild flowers are everywhere producing roadside shows of yellow, blue , pink , white and purple.

Each year the Festival out does it self and this year was no exception. With some of the best Pinot Noir and Syrah in the country accented with varietals like Sauvignon Blanc , Viognier and Marsanne how could you go wrong ? You cant !

With long time names like Ken Brown , Kathy Joseph , Ken Volk and Kris Curran all in attendance along with many of the newer wineries you can enjoy the best wines from the member wineries all in one venue. The food is exceptional with each tasting tent hosting two

or more restaurants or caterers showing off their expertise.

If you have never been to this area or you are a long time visitor, The 27th Annual Santa Barbara County Vintner's Festival is going to be worth the visit. We plan to be there in 2009 and hope you see all of you !