Monday November 23rd
6 - 10pm
Steve’s Wine Bar 2020 Champagne Tasting Event
We are excited to present our 2020 Champagne Tasting Event
Monday, Nov 23rd 6pm – 10:00pm!
This year looks a little different. In years past our attendees would walk from table to table and learn about and taste the wines from each vendor. But this year we are doing a more formal, seated event where the Champagne/sparkling wines will be poured at your table as well as our food pairings will be served to you at the table.
Food, once again, will be crafted and paired with the wines by our friends from Chestnut Tree.
You will have your own specially designed Champagne Flute which you will take home as part of the tasting.
We are “selling” tables this year rather than individual tickets. You will have the opportunity to have an intimate table for two, or grab a table for four people and bring your close friends/family. Or if you have a larger party, purchase one of the two 8-top tables and bring your BFF's.
If you are excited and ready to grab your table, you can learn more online and purchase your table here.
If you desire a bit more detail, here you go:
We are looking forward to a very informative, tasty, and fun event. So get your order in now and join the fun.
As previously noted, seating is limited, so don’t wait too long to grab your table.
Cheers from Steve’s Wine Bar Team!
Visit our Events page and our Facebook Page
Nov 7, 2020 at 10:17 AM
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Starting the gold list off with a nerdy bang is the ‘El Tuerto’ Blanco. This wine is made of 100% Tempranillo Blanco. This, unlike other ‘white’ red wines like white pinot noir (which is just regular Pinot Noir that has been vinified white), is an actual white clone of Tempranillo-A completely different grape. SO COOL! This wine only sees stainless steel, leaving us a pure representation of this rare variety. It pours a light-medium yellow with green hues. The nose offers a plethora of mineral notes, stone fruits, and with a slight leafiness. The palate is truly unique with subtle notes of peach and kumquat cut by slate, vegetal hints, and zippy acidity. This would be an awesome accompaniment to any number of delicious cheeses and charcuterie you serve before your Thanksgiving meal.
Sometimes, sticking with the classics is the right call. As such, we have put a California Chardonnay on the list for the first time in months; we simply cannot deny how well it sits at the Thanksgiving table. Long revered as one of California’s best kept secrets, Sean Minor is now a multi-AVA force, producing wines ranging all over the California Coast. It presents as a light golden straw hue and displays aromas of apple, pear, tropical citrus and pineapple with subtle notes of cardamom cinnamon and vanilla spice. This elegant chardonnay charms wine lovers with flavors of baked green apple, lemon curd, warm pineapple, with a hint of cardamom and vanilla. All of which integrates well with a touch of minerality and a medium body mouth feel which evolve into a full and lengthy finish. This is a super-versatile wine food-wise, but would likely be best with stuffing, crumbly, salty cheeses, and pumpkin pie.
As one of the key appellations in the introduction of Rhone varietals to the US and the ‘Rhone-Ranger’ movement, Paso has been known for its decidedly-new world takes on grapes like Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. Less famous, but equally delicious are their takes on grapes like Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier. Eschewing the powerhouse styles of Condrieu and other French regions, Viognier from Paso Robles is much more immediately approachable; opting for lush tropical fruits and perfume-driven wines. The HHV Viognier is no exception, offering plush pineapple and peach aromas and featuring a creamy texture (aged partially sur lie) enveloping a lush combination of citrus and tropical fruits. Pair this wine with a spicy mango and cashew nut salad, or a glazed apricot tart.
Last month’s notes talked at length about the organization of Cotes-du-Rhone in the Rhone wine economy, so I will keep it brief here. This blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre comes from the Cotes-du-Rhone region of Southern Rhone, which accounts for 60% of wine
production in the entirety of Rhone. Only aged briefly in oak, this is a very fresh and pure version of the style, pouring a medium ruby with slight purple hues. The nose offers loads of cherry puree accented by slight hints of earth. The palate is focused, with cherry accented by orange peel present above all, accented by a light-woodiness, lip-smacking acidity and soft tannins. This is an awesome candidate to replace Pinot as your turkey wine this year.
Now loved for its unique, but approachable flavor profile, Pinotage was once looked down upon as a crude, mismanaged commercial variety. A hybrid of Pinot Noir and Cinsault, the grape displays heaps of tannin, tons of anthocyanin( the stuff that turns grape skins and the resulting wine purple), and resilience to most weather conditions. The aforementioned mismanagement resulted in acetobacter-infested and over-extracted wines, that smelled like nail polish remover and tasted like burnt tar. Thankfully, this reputation is long behind the grape, and it is now thriving; producing delicious wines such as this one. This pours a heavy purple color with slight magenta hues. The nose offers thick globs of blackberry and blueberry accented by pipe tobacco and slight tar notes. The palate offers rich blue fruits, sweet tannins, and restrained acidity, making a perfect pairing for turkey, cranberry sauce, or even a fruit-based dessert!
The little brother/sister of Elk Cove, Pike Road focuses on multi-AVA and single vineyard expressions of Oregon Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. You have likely heard me talk about the pseudo-Burgundian nature of Oregonian Pinot Noir, and I believe Pike Road’s products encompass this beautifully with a compromise between the huge fruit of other New-World Pinots and the structure/earthy elements of Old World examples. With the 2018 vintage being a particular warm one, the nose explodes with a plethora of red berries and potting soil. The palate is laden with black currant, black cherry, sweet oak, and baking spices enveloped with a full body with medium acid. This is the first of many worthy turkey wines you will find on the platinum list.
The second of two Pinots, this is definitely the demonstrably more ‘new-world’ of the two. As someone who has tasted multiple vintages of this wine, this is the boldest rendition yet. This Monterey-sourced Pinot gracefully combines the nuanced tea and spice notes associated with Monterey and SLH versions and combines them with the heft and richness of Pinots found in Anderson Valley. It pours a dense ruby color with purple hues, offering inviting aromas of muddled cherry, plum, and sweet baking spice. The palate is comparatively heavy-bodied for even a new world Pinot, boasting a hefty 14.5% ABV with balanced acidity. This all encompasses rich black cherry, fruit leather, clove, and violet notes. This is definitely turkey wine, but could also go well with spiced desserts like pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce.
Monferrato? Yes, there are regions other than Asti and Alba where Barbera is plentifully grown. As Northern Italy’s quintessential daily drinker wine, Barbera is generally known for its lighter body, low tannin, high acid, and approachable fruitiness; particularly those from Monferrato. Scarpetta’s example completely eschews this, opting for a comparatively heavy-oaked style. This wine pours a medium blend of purple and ruby, with magenta hues. The nose offers notes of earth, hay, and a bouquet of cherry and raspberry. The palate is medium bodied with soft tannins, high acid, and reduced red and blue fruits accented by slight hints of vanilla, earth, and savory spice. Barbera is one of many Pinot alternatives for Thanksgiving, and an unorthodox pick, for an unorthodox year.
Where the heck is Gattinara? What the heck is Spanna? Why am I drinking this? It’s in Piedmont, it's the local vernacular for Nebbiolo, and because it is amazing! When we think Nebbiolo, we likely think of Barolo and Barbaresco; Piedmont’s contribution to the wide-world of collector reds. The issue with these wines is that they are almost never drink-ready until years down the line due to their rock-hard tannins and blazing acidity. It is worth the wait, but practically, most of us don’t have the space nor patience for such endeavors; but Gattinara has you covered! These wines, also 100% Nebbiolo, are generally much more approachable out of the bottle, but scratch all of the itches every Nebbiolo fan loves. This wine pours a medium ruby with noted orange hues and bricking. The nose is extremely complex, with violets, earth, and tart red fruits. The palate follows this trend, with ripe red fruits intertwined with veins of granite, oak, and anise notes. The tannins are formidable, but are balanced out by zippy acidity and a medium body. If you are having something more formidable than turkey this year or are looking for something that adds additional savoriness and complexity to your meal, consider this delicious, niche take on a legendary variety from a legendary region.
Nov 6, 2020 at 9:00 AM
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As we head towards Halloween, we are also preparing for a special Lunar experience on the 31st. It will be a Blue Moon. It’s called a Blue Moon because it’ll be the second of two full moons to occur in a single calendar month. The first was on the 1st of October.
We wanted to do something special for Halloween weekend, and decided to mix it up a bit and have a special tasting with one of our favorite wineries, Lapis Luna. Lapis Luna translates to “stone” and “moon.” Their labels bring to life 400 year old Copperplate engravings to depict the relationship between the earth (stone), the moon (luna), and the affect she has on us. On their label, the heroes are depicted striving to connect with the moon and looking to it for inspiration, just as they do when creating their wines.
We have picked five of their wines to choose from and enjoy over the Halloween weekend. And if you desire, join us on Sunday evening at 6pm for a 90-minute tasting event with the owners of Lapis Luna.
Orange zest, ripe pineapple, toast and vanilla on the nose. Full-bodied, fresh and lively, with lush white peach and ripe apple flavors leading to a savory buttered finish.
Ripe red cherries, boysenberries, purple flowers and nice spices. The palate is juicy, smooth, polished and delicious.
Layers and layers of crushed blackberries underlined with spice: purple flowers, ripe red fruits, dark and brooding, faint cloves and sage. Juicy and round with lush, supportive tannins, the finish lingers long into a promising future.
Medium body Cabernet Sauvignon with bold fruit flavors and smooth, structured tannins. It has aromas of, cassis berries, plum, slight blueberry, vanilla, oak and chocolate. It is a fruit forward wine with lush flavors, nice balance and a long, silky finish.
Rich, dark and enticing. Flavors of lush blueberry, plumbs, and blackberry cobbler. Finish is smooth, long, and juicy.
All these wines are specially priced through this week for this tasting event. Purchase two, or all five of the wines, and plan to join us at 6pm on Sunday November 1st for an interactive session with the owners, and brothers, Evan and Andrew Nelson.
Established in 1999, Lapis Luna produces exceptional value wines from undiscovered California vineyards. Each label is a rendition of a 400 year old copperplate engraving showing a faceless hero reaching for the moon.
“We are dedicated to producing wines that over-deliver in quality and price point. Since 1999, we have grown long term relationships with established growers throughout Lodi and the North Coast. Our wines deliver fresh and vibrant fruit balanced with lively acidity and good structure, creating true-to-varietal expressions that can be enjoyed every night of the week.”
You may purchase your wines online or stop by the bar and place your orders in person. We will have the wine shipped to the bar on Thursday the 29th for pick up that evening or over the weekend prior to the 6pm Zoom Session on Sunday, November 1st.
And yes, for those of you who are thinking, “the Cowboys play at 7:30”. We will wrap up in time for you to turn your attention to the game.
Oct 26, 2020 at 3:51 AM
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This month we are looking at wines, and more specifically unique varietals, in which we either have a small representation of that varietal, or we currently do not offer at all in the bar.
Not a club member? You may also order a tasting for you to enjoy. We will pour you 2 ounces of each wine to enjoy.
Call ahead to have your tasting prepared for you to pick up at Steve's Wine Bar - 940-514-1852
Most wine-drinkers, at some point in their lives, have likely had a bottle of Côtes du Rhône they found at a grocery or box store. What does it mean? And why are there such huge price-differences for bottles that look identical? Like many confusing wine terms, there are layers of meaning with the Côtes du Rhône label. It’s a region, or group of regions, in Southern Rhone that operate on different levels of classification (Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages, and Côtes du Rhône Village (Named)). The bottom level accounts for roughly 50% of wine production for the entire Rhone Valley, and are generally red blends based on Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre (Hence the origin of the GSM label). Though white blends are often found in the more exclusive crus in Rhone, you can find some awesome values in the Côtes du Rhône level, such as the Domaine La Lyre! This easy-drinking white is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc (the primary grape in cognac), and Viognier. It pours a pale yellow with green hue, offering notes of green pear, lemon, and citrus peel mixed with floral notes on the nose. The palate is juicy, fruity, and fresh, enveloped in a light-medium texture with pleasant acidity. This will go well with grilled seafood, or white meats with a creamy aspect.
Fun fact: Did you know that Carmenere is technically a minor Bordeaux variety, sitting in the same crowd as Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot? Many of the currently planted vines in Chile were thought to be Merlot until they were genetically tested in the mid-20th century, revealing them to be the long-forgotten Carmenere. Speaking of Carmenere, it has been a MINUTE since we have featured one here at the wine bar, so we have brought a fun, approachable version for everyone to enjoy! The Root 1 Carmenere pours a rich ruby with noted purple hues. The nose offers quintessential notes of wet earth, leather, and hints of fruit. The nose is subverted by the palate; offering a fresh, plush medley of blue and red fruits accented by vanilla, black pepper, and a host of other spices. The combination of savory nose, plush palate, and supple tannins suggests something rich in umami, like a dish centered around mushrooms, pancetta, or bacon.
Vina Chocolan is a familiar sight at Steve’s, as we have featured a number of their Carmeneres in addition to a few of their red blends. This time, we are featuring their Merlot, which perfectly exemplifies how the Chilean terroir influences Bordeaux varieties. This Merlot is blended with small percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, and is aged in 33% new French oak. This is likely a more savory version of Merlot in comparison to other New World examples. The nose offers notes of plum, baking spice, and cassis cut with slightly spicy notes of oak. The palate is fresh, juicy, and accented by surprisingly bright acidity and supple tannins. This is very versatile as a food wine, and should go with a plethora of earthy dishes (think mushroom risotto).
Woah. Three Chilean bottles in a row? Yup. The stars aligned for a Chile-Centric gold tasting; and what an opportunity to see just how varied the viticultural scene is! While generally, and falsely, seen as a ‘cheap’ wine region, Chile has rapidly become a haven for lovers of intensely-juicy, fruit-forward reds; from their take on traditional Bordeaux to their embrace and enhancement of the least known Bordeaux variety, Carmenere! The Toro de Piedra is no different, bringing two notoriously bold varieties together in a well-woven package. This roughly equal blend of the two is aged for 12 months in a combination of French and American oak. It pours a striking ruby with purple hues. The nose offers a decadent blend of cherry, raspberry, coffee grounds, and black pepper. The palate is supported by a heavy body, encompassing a core of fresh, juicy red fruits accented by notes of vanilla and nutmeg. Though steak would be served well by this wine, you might find it most at home with BBQ.
When you think of the primary varieties of Burgundy you likely think of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, maybe Gamay? But Aligoté is the one you will get to know this month. Generally treated as a cheap alternative to Chardonnay or used as an affordable blending grape in Crémant de Bourgogne, it displays a sleek, mineral-driven palate that has made it a cult favorite of Old World white-lovers. Rarely seen outside of Burgundy, it has found a home in the vineyards of renowned California Burgundy savant Jim Clendenen. This wine is unmistakably new world, with a medium gold color with white hues. 10 months in French Oak has imparted scents of cream, vanilla, and tropical fruits. The palate is laden with ripe apples, melon, and other rich tree fruits. To say this will just appeal to Chardonnay lovers would be doing it a disservice, this is a phenomenal wine for all to enjoy.
It’s taken some time, but we finally have Loire Cab Franc in, and your resident wine nerd is ecstatic! Not only that, but this one comes from some of the most sought-after land in the entire region. Most of the wines from this region are grown on a hill covered in limestone and sand, resembling something closer to Champagne than Sancere. The results are elegant wines, including nuanced reds such as this. This wine pours a striking cherry red. The nose offers notes of tart cherry, plum, with whiffs of black pepper and herbs. The palate featured plush plum and berry notes, with pronounced crushed-earth minerality and subtle tannins that give way to striking acidity. Though one could appreciate the complexity and excellence of this wine on its own, it would also go well with pork chops or a rich stew-like dish such as goulash.
The bar’s love for the Merlots of Washington is no secret at this point, as we have featured a plethora of stellar examples from North America’s own ‘Little Bordeaux.’ Continuing that trend, we bring you Milbrandt’s Estate Merlot, a Washington staple that eschews certain traditional aspects of Washington reds for something more approachable. Undergoing 26 months in primarily American oak, this ruby/purple colored wine offers aromas of vanilla, mocha, and cinnamon; backed by a plethora of red fruits. The palate offers rich layers of blue fruit, cassis, and the same vanilla accents, with chewy tannins and balanced acidity. This is the quintessential steak wine for the month.
Often overlooked for other Italian collector reds, Amarone della Valpolicella, or just ‘Amarone’, is among the most uniquely-produced wines for the world. Given the opportunity, we had to bring it in. Amarones are typically blends driven by Corvina, arguably the most important varietal in all of Veneto. Post harvest, the grapes are laid to dry on either small mats or boxes where the grapes slightly shrink and take on a raisin-esque appearance. This helps remove moisture and concentrates the phenolic compounds, including tannin, and flavors of the grape before they go through an extensive oak program ( 3 years in this instance!). The results are powerful, intense wines high in alcohol that are the true litmus test for ‘bold’ wine lovers. Our example pours a rich garnet with bricking on the outside. The nose offers rich aromas of baked earth, asian spices, and intense black fruit. The palate truly embraces the ‘macerated cherry’ note, with subtle notes of spirits, red fruit, savory spices, and underlying vanilla from the oak. This is a bold, intense wine, and deserves something of equal richness; think foie gras, duck, or braised red meats.
Talk about a grape that gets a bad rap. Gewurztraminer has been tragically lumped into the ‘ I don’t drink sweet wine’ category, and it’s a shame. Thankfully, we have an example from its most famous home, Alsace, to show what this grape is truly capable of! Not so much sweet, as off-dry, Alsatian Gewurztraminer is famous for mineral/acid-driven profiles with fruit notes of lychee, peach, and asian pear. There is truly nothing like it. This example by Gustave Lorentz is a fantastic example, and is featured as a sort of ‘bonus’ wine for the month. Whether you have this in between your tastings, after the whole thing, or as its own experience, I implore you to give this phenomenal wine a chance.
* Platinum Club Members - please taste your white wine (#5) first and then the Gold Club white (#1) for your tasting order.
Oct 2, 2020 at 10:59 AM
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Buy two bottles of these featured wines or ONE of the Oracle, and you will receive a link to the Zoom Event to join us for this special tasting.
Miner is a dynamic family-owned winery tucked along the eastern hills of the Oakville appellation in the heart of Napa Valley. Founded in 1998 by Dave and Emily Miner, Miner Family Winery crafts reserve-style wines by sourcing fruit from Napa Valley and other specially selected California vineyards .
Things all began for Dave Miner following a number of years spent working in the software industry. Dave got his start in wine in 1993 as President of Oakville Ranch Vineyards, owned by his late uncle, Robert Miner. Having spent years as an enthusiastic wine consumer and collector, Dave had a natural affinity for the business.
Emily Miner, a Minnesota transplant and graduate of Santa Clara University joined Oakville Ranch as the Tasting Room Manager. It was there Dave and Emily met and fell in love.
Over the years they have sought and secured a number of California’s finest vineyard sites, but only those allowing complete farming control. It is this level of detail and control, from vine to wine, that ensures a wine’s consistency and quality. The relationships with these owners and farmers are paramount to all that they do.
Each wine at Miner is crafted in a style to encapsulate the distinctive elements and the indelible fingerprints of their respective vineyards.
Our featured speaker is Mike Steffel. Born and raised in Minnesota Mike has spent over 20 years in the Wine Business. Before joining Miner Family WInes, he worked for a number of national distributors along with managing two estate wineries. The two other wineries were O'Shaughnessy Estate Winery on Howell Mountain and Domaine Serene in Oregon.
A few of the vineyards that are part of or influences the featured wines include:
Stagecoach Vineyard: is one of the most ambitious vineyard developments to date. Situated upon a stagecoach trail from the 1800s, this 800-acre vineyard was planted around enormous rocks and boulders atop the eastern hills of Napa Valley. At nearly 1,500 feet above the valley floor, this vineyard consistently produces bold, age-worthy wines from it’s famously red, rocky, volcanic soils.
Gary’s Vineyard: Located inland from Monterey in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Garys’ Vineyard is widely recognized for producing some of the finest Pinot Noir in California. Named after partners Gary Franscioni and Gary Pisoni, the vineyard was planted in 1996 using obtained budwood from a famed vineyard in Burgundy
Genny’s Vineyard: owned by the Garvey family and named after matriarch Genevive (“Genny”), is located in the cooler Carneros region of Napa Valley and is planted to three different clones (Robert Young, 76, and 96) of Chardonnay.
The various styles of wine Miner Vineyard’s creates include Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone and a little Italian. The wines we are featuring for this tasting include:
Napa Valley Chardonnay: Sourced from select low-yielding vineyards in Napa Valley, our Chardonnay is characterized by crisp apple, ripe melon and citrus flavors, gently balanced with toasty French oak. Our winemaker uses malolactic fermentation in moderation to retain the wine’s bright acidity. More than a decade after our Chardonnay put us on the map, this wine remains a classic.
Pinot Noir, Gary’s Vineyard: This 50-acre vineyard was planted in 1995 by friends and growers Gary Franscioni and Gary Pisoni along the terraces of the Santa Lucia mountain range, overlooking the Salinas River Valley. With plenty of lovely, rich tannins, this Pinot offers up flavors of dark red fruit, subtle oak, nutmeg-clove spice. Aged for 14 months in French Oak.
Emily’s Cabernet: Emily’s is their eponymous offering in remembrance of Emily Miner, co-founder of Miner Family Winery. This blend is as expressive and elegant as our muse.
Emily is honored by the crafting a decadent and rich wine layered with aromas of black fruit and hints of mocha, espresso and toasted oak. Truly iconic Napa Valley for a truly iconic woman.
Merlot, Stagecoach Vineyard: Challenged by the rocky volcanic soils of this mountainous vineyard site, the vines at Stagecoach produce fruit of extraordinary quality and intensity. This meticulously farmed property is hand-picked according to our winemaker Stacy Vogel’s specifications. Loaded with rich ripe fruit and spice notes with touches of toasty oak, our Merlot has a nice grip from fine tannins on the lengthy finish.
The Oracle: The Oracle is an exceptionally balanced, full-bodied red blend made from grapes grown at Stagecoach Vineyard in the eastern hills of Napa Valley. In Greek mythology, the oracle was a source of inspiration and revelation. We hope that you will find the answers to life’s most compelling questions while enjoying The Oracle with friends and family.
As always, the plan for our virtual tasting is for you to buy some of the featured wines to join in the Zoom Tasting on the 24th.
Typically the minimum is a two bottle buy, but this time around, we have a couple of higher end wines and if you would like to purchase a single bottle of the Oracle, we will include you in the tasting event.
Trust us, you will love these wines and we hope that you will be part of this special tasting.
Pre-orders are being done now and we will take orders online or in the bar up through Tuesday. We will place the order with the distributor for delivery on Wednesday the 23rd for pick up prior to the tasting event on Thursday evening.
Sep 16, 2020 at 4:00 PM
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We have a fun opportunity with an Italian Brunello from Castello Banfi from Tuscany which hits all of the marks.
Highly rated by several experts including James Suckling, Wine Spectator, and Wine Advocate.
Ready to drink today, but also ready for you to lay down for years to come to improve flavor as well as the potential price of the bottle. Imagine laying this special wine down for a few years and pulling a bottle from your collection to share with friends, or to have as part of a special meal with your loved ones.
We have several options for you to consider if you would like to grab a few bottles to enjoy at home.
Check our this brief video, feel free to pause the video to read more about the wine and the winery.
We are doing a pre-buy on the wine.
Order a single bottle of wine or a multi-bottle pack:
You can buy online at /Our-Wines-and-Products/Red or stop by the bar and order your wines in person. We will combine all the orders and send it to the distributor for delivery on September 29th for you to pick up at the bar.
*For our wine club members, your standard discounts apply on all options, including the multi-bottle packs.
Don’t delay and get your order in ASAP to take advantage of this special purchase.
About the wine:
Grape Variety: 100% Sangiovese, select clones.
Production Technique: A meticulous grape selection is followed by vinification with skin contact for 10-12 days. Released in the 5th year after harvest, the wine is aged for a minimum of 4 years, including 2 years in oak barrels of various sizes, mainly French oak barriques and partly in Slavonian oak casks.
Perfect with red meats, wild game and aged cheeses.
About the Winery:
Banfi was founded in 1978 thanks to the will of the Italian-American brothers, John and Harry Mariani.
Positioned at the confluence of the Orcia and Ombrone rivers, the Banfi estate extends along the southern slopes of the township of Montalcino across 7,100 acres of land; one third of the property is under specialized vine and the balance is shared between olive groves, wheat fields, plum trees, truffle stands, forest and scrub.
From the beginning, the goal of the two brothers was to create a state-of-the-art winery combined with the most advanced science in the vineyards for the production of premium wines.
Together with the Mariani family, Ezio Rivella, one of Italy's foremost enologists, who understood that due to the richness of the soils and the privileged microclimatic position, the property would have great capacity of development.
Since the beginning, the Castello Banfi wines achieved outstanding accolades from the most acclaimed wine writers and opinion leaders from all over the world.
Sep 11, 2020 at 2:00 PM
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Our in-house wine specialist Brian, has taken a leading role in learning and sharing information about our wines and specials. You likely see his daily posts on Facebook and the videos we have done to help our customers choose the right wines during this time of limited service.
The Concierge Service entails the following:
*This does not include the current months wine club wines.
Our hope is to offer you a fun and informative experience when considering all the wine options we have here at Steve’s.
We are offering this special service on Tuesday and Sunday. This is a reservation program so please call in to set your time to meet with Brian. If need be, to work with our customers schedules on Tuesday and Sunday, we will stay open a bit later based on reservations for the day.
Call our main number at 940-514-1852 to reserve your time.
Sep 9, 2020 at 12:05 PM
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The “Blind-Tasting Challenge” is back for September. In the past when we have done this, it has always been very well-received. It’s a fun exercise in allowing your senses do the decision making rather than the label, region, or varietal, to pick your favorite wines.
This month we are doing the Old World VS New World.
We have four wines on each club. Both clubs have a mix of old world and new world wines. Your challenge is to pick which wines are from which world.
We have 4 varietals on each club: Pinot Grigio/Gris, Chardonnay, Garnacha/Grenache, and Cabernet.
Platinum Club members of course will taste all 8 wines. You will have the chance to not only choose which of your four wines are old or new world, but you will be able to compare the varietal on which is old or new world.
Gold Club members have four different wines to taste and pick which is which. If you would like to take on the varietal challenge as well, you can add on the platinum tasting for just $10 a person.
When you pick up your tasting, we will give you a sheet to use to select if the wine is old world or new world. Return that when you come in to pick up your bottles and you can see how well you did.
NOT A CLUB MEMBER? Join today online and come and be part of the challenge. Or you can also simply purchase a tasting for you to pick up and enjoy at home or on our patio. Gold Club Tastings are $15 a person, Platinum Club Tastings are $20 a person, OR do both for $30 a person. You can stop in and ask to purchase a tasting to-go, or have the server help get you signed up for the club.
We look forward to having you join us in this challenge and look forward to seeing you soon!
Among the most respected regions in the world of cold-climate Chardonnay, Chablis produces maybe the hyperbolic examples of the style. This section of Burgundy is responsible for producing clean, lean versions of Chardonnay that stand in stark contrast to the heavily-oaked, rich examples produced here in the US. This is a quintessential example of the style. On the nose, look for aromas of lemon peel, crisp green apple, and flinty minerality. On the palate, see if you find the vein of salinity intertwined within the crisp tree fruit character supplemented by notable acidity and minerality.
Argentina is probably not the first place you would think of when it comes to Chardonnay. It is far from the most-planted white variety in the country, and rarely finds its way to the US market unless it is distributed by larger brands or one connected to a prominent domestic brand (Think Felino of the Paul Hobbs portfolio). This is not to speak ill of its quality, however, as Argentinian Chardonnay is a treat and will appeal to fans of other new world styles. In this example look for aromas of baked apple, ripe pear, and butter, with notes of vanilla, creme brulee, and ripe tree and stone fruits on the palate.
Italian Pinot Grigio is most often sourced from the Northeastern region of Alto Adige; one of Italy’s cooler climates that turns out crisp, mineral-driven interpretations. When sourced from a hotter region such as Tuscany, however, Pinot Gris usually displays a fruitier, riper character. In this example look for aromas of apricot and melon and notes of pear, stone fruit, honey, and cream on the palate.
Anderson Valley is known as one of the premier areas for Pinot Noir and Sparkling Wines in California, housing the wineries of many Champagne’s most prominent houses such as Louis Roederer’s (Cristal, Champagne Deutz) Roederer Estate and Scharffenberger. It would make sense then that cool-climate friendly grapes such as Pinot Gris would thrive in this cool, coastal climate. Take note of the aromas of stone and citrus fruits mixed with fresh lemongrass and the palate laden with lime zest, apricot, pear and subtle notes of beeswax supplemented by well-integrated acidity and minerality.
When we think of Rhone Varietals from California, we generally think of the regions that housed the initial ‘Rhone Rangers’ effort such as Santa Barbara (Bonny Doon, etc) and Paso Robles (Tablas Creek, etc.). They have found their way all over the state, as there are plantings of Grenache from the South Coast AVA’s all the way to Lake County. This example is from the larger Sierra Foothills region; an area primarily known for Zinfandel, but one that is expanding its wine repertoire. In this example look for aromas of nutmeg, cinnamon, and star anise playing with robust dark red fruits. On the palate, look for rich black cherry, blueberry, vanilla, and spicy smoky mesquite.
Standing in stark contrast to the Grenaches of Rhone and even the New World, Spanish Garnacha is like if wine was a ‘warm blanket.’ Due to its Mediterranean climate, Garnacha’s tend to display heightened notes of tertiary notes such as spices and oak influence. They can be manipulated greatly during the winemaking process, and use a wide variety of oak programs to yield different levels of richness or approachability. In this example, look for notes of five spice and reduced raspberry on the nose, with notes of rich plum, baking spices, and vanilla supplemented by firm tannins and lip-smacking acidity.
IIf you have had Italian Cabernet Sauvignon, it likely has been sourced from Tuscany, which has built its reputation with its approachable and legendary Super Tuscan blends. However, the variety is planted in select amounts all over Italy, with one of the more recent and prominent examples being Puglia. This region is located on the ‘heel’ of the boot that is Italy, and experiences a warm, Oceanic climate. This weather makes for reds with restrained tannins, moderate acidity, and fresh, lively fruit flavors. In this example, look for notes of black cherry, raspberry, and spicebox notes such as anise, and cinnamon on both the nose and palate.
We have long loved Cabs from this Central Coast region of California. The status of Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles has seen a meteoric rise in popularity in recent years, and can be found just about everywhere at a wide variety of price points. Cab’s from this area are often excellent examples of how very hot climates interact with late-ripening varieties. In this example, look for aromas of macerated blueberries, reduced black cherries, and black peppercorn and notes of dark red fruits, five-spice, and rich vanilla on the palate.
Sep 4, 2020 at 12:00 PM
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Opolo’s estate vineyards were established in 1995, with sites on both the west and east side of Paso Robles. The topographically diverse, coastal landscape of the westside vineyards provides for an intense and unique flavor profile. The heat and dryness of the east side vineyard make it an ideal microclimate for growing Bordeaux varietals. Home to a wide range of varietals, the estate vineyards help allow the team at Opolo to create many unique single varietals as well as award winning blends.
Most important in making high quality wine is starting with high quality grapes. Opolo’s vineyard team carefully monitors each lot of grapes throughout the season in order to produce the highest quality fruit possible. From taking leaf, petiole, and soil samples, to monitoring water uptake in the vines, all aspects of viticulture is carefully notated and examined with the intent of producing only high quality fruit for our winery. The entire Opolo production team works together every year to provide the best quality product possible.
At Opolo we believe a strong, cooperative relationship with the land and our environment is crucial. We practice sustainable methods in both the winery and vineyard operations in order to preserve our environment, water and local wildlife. Opolo is a “SIP” Certified operation as well as certified organic by “CCOF” in our 64 acre walnut orchard. We continue to be great stewards of the land and invite you to come to our vineyards and see our operations!
Opolo Vineyards has a long established reputation of growing and producing award winning wines in Paso Robles, California. With nearly 300 acres of vines on the east and west side of Paso Robles, Opolo Vineyards is privy to a wide range in climate, soil and growing potential—allowing extensive range of varietals to flourish. This variety combined with the passion behind the brand has made Opolo a favorite of wine enthusiasts everywhere.
Check out this video of their vineyards and property.
(Click on each wine to learn more about the wine and pricing)
A proud native of Chicago, IL. Jeff Faber grew up on the North Side of the city and moved to California in 1993. He spent many years in Broadcasting working behind the microphone for CBS and ABC radio before launching his own start-up company. Like so many people whose breath is taken away when they visit the California Central Coast, Jeff fell in love with the area and quickly learned that almost everyone you know either owns or a winery or an olive oil ranch.
"The most beautiful part about this area is how willing everyone is to share their knowledge of their craft. You work a few harvests, turn off your cell phones and lose yourself in the magic. You literally feel yourself decompress. What compelled Jeff to give up his company and start working for Opolo was that he wanted to learn the business from the ground up. “I literally knew very little about wine and wanted to stomp grapes, pour yeast into the tanks, experiment with blends, see the effect dry farming has on the flavor of grapes, etc"…At Opolo, they encourage you to do everything which is the very best way to learn a skill set.
For the past 12 years, Jeff has been the National Sales Manager for Opolo meeting people in city after city acting as a full-time “palate hunter” and helping folks have fun and learn a little more about themselves and of course, wine!
Here is a fun video of Jeff at the 2012 Opolo Crush.
Aug 23, 2020 at 3:00 PM
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We find ourselves in another month of business to-go here at Steve's Wine Bar. As we have done over the last three months, we have been sending our monthly wine tastings with our club members to enjoy at home and then pick their favorite wine from their tasting. This month we decided to create a menu that pairs with each of these wines you will be enjoying. You may want to craft your meal at home with our recipe's for a four course meal, or pick up a meal from our partner this month, Chestnut Tree on the Square. Our friend Suzanne Johnson will be putting together the meals for you take home and simply pop in the oven to finish the process in your kitchen. You will then be able to taste your wines with each course to make your decision on your favorite wines.
The process is simple; you will see we have once again 4 wines on each club level. Each course will pair with the corresponding menu item.
You may request the recipes for these items by email at info@steveswinebar.com. Call the Chestnut Tree, or order online, ahead of time, and they will prepare the meal to pick up in advance of you stopping by Steve's to pick up your tasting.
Riesling outside of France and Germany (and recently Australia) has earned a pervasive, but unfair, reputation as overly ripe and sweet. This could not be further from the truth, as many winegrowing regions from Washington to Oregon to New York are producing balanced, complex versions of this oft-misunderstood grape. An excellent example of this is Januik’s 2017 Bacchus Vineyard Riesling. It pours a light to medium gold color with white hues. The nose is complex, offering honeycrisp apple, peach, and bready notes with the slightest hint of petrol. The palate is layered with notes of ginger, honey, apple, apricot, and sleek minerality. This is easily enjoyable now, but has the acidity and structure to lay down for a year or two.
From the eternally versatile appellations of Languedoc, this vin gris displays some of the hallmark characteristics of ‘blush’-style wines from the regions and the grapes that compose them. A blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan,This wine pours a pale pink/pale copper with shimmering white hues. The nose offers a whimsical blend of red berries, minerality, and the slightest hint of cotton candy. The palate offers a slightly-heavier-than light body enveloping fresh cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate cut by sleek minerality and zingy acidity.
Oregon has firmly established itself as the New World benchmark for cold climate Pinot Noir; a title that stretches across all price points. Among the newer entries into the winegrowing scene in the Willamette Valley is Portlandia, a multi-AVA-focused (Dundee Hills, Mcminnville, and Yamhill-Carlton) winery with an emphasis on Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Their 2018 is a lovely combination of Oregon’s quintessential fruit profiles and an approachability akin to the heavier-bodied pinots of Napa and Sonoma. It pours a rich ruby with subtle purple hues. The nose is a rich medley of red fruits including raspberry, black cherry, and rhubarb. The palate offers these fruits cut with subtle notes of five-spice and earthiness woven within a lush body with balanced acidity.
An underdog in the seemingly endless list of food-friendly Italian wines, Montepulciano is often overlooked for its Sangiovese-based counterparts. This is in spite of the fact that it is the second highest planted red grape in Italy. It most often finds its home in Abruzzo, a sizable region East of Rome that runs along the Adriatic coastline. This particular version goes through a rigorous vinification process before release; aging in oak and bottle. It pours a rich ruby with garnet hues and offers a nose of bittersweet chocolate, plum, dried cherry, and vanilla. The palate is rich with notes of plum, tart cherry, and slight hints of savory spice. The tannins are soft and well-integrated and the acidity prevents the overall rich profile from becoming too heavy.
Old World-purists rejoice! Burgundy has reached the wine club! This rendition comes from the premier cru of Vaillons, located near the actual town of Chablis. This uber-savory rendition of Chardonnay will challenge the way you think of the grape. It pours a light gold with green hues. The nose offers a crisp combination of pear, apple, and slight vegetal tinges (Think hay or lemongrass). The palate offers the quintessential slate-like minerality associated with Chablis that cuts through a juicy core of stone fruit and citrus; all accented by bright acidity.
After a brief hiatus, Provence is back on the wine list. Pandemic or not, this region still reigns supreme in rose production; attracting the attention and investment of movie stars and musicians alike. Mirabeau en Provence’s ‘ Classic’ version embraces the beautiful simplicity that has made this region famous. The 2019 vintage pours a brilliant pink color with white hues, offering notes of cherry, raspberry, and tart red currant on the nose cut by a subtle smokiness. The palate doubles down on the cherry and other red fruits with hints of minerality and blowing acidity.
It seems somewhat of a misnomer to call any part of California practically ‘cold-climate’, but the Pinots and Chardonnays from Southern Sonoma and Napa would beg to differ. Pinot from the Russian River Valley AVA and its sub-AVA’s in particular are among the most critically acclaimed in the world of cold-climate Pinot Noir. Sebastopol Hill’s (located towards the southern end of the region) 2017 vintage of their RRV-sourced Pinot Noir embraces the requisite characteristics wholeheartedly. The wine pours a beautiful ruby to pale ruby, and offers notes of bing cherry, fresh vanilla, and savory leather. The palate offers a core of red fruit accented by orange peel, cola, and savory herbaceousness. This is all brought into balance by subtle minerality, balanced acidity, and silky tannins.
Paso Robles has long been one of the more heralded regions for Zinfandel growth in CA (Makes sense as it is the region’s heritage grape!). Though the market focus of the region may currently be on rich, ripe Cabernets, the Zin’s have character and prestige all their own. Opolo’s 2018 ‘Mountain’ Zinfandel displays the balance of power and nuance that has come to characterize Zinfandels from the central coast. This wine pours an inviting ruby color with rich purple hues. The nose offers rich blue and dark red fruits accented by floral notes, black pepper, and subtle mesquite. The palate is HUGE, with the fruit retained from the nose accented and perfumed by the 15.5 ABV while still offering subtle woody and peppery notes. The tannins are silky-smooth and the acidity holds everything in balance.
Aug 7, 2020 at 11:00 AM
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