Pinot Blanc is a lighter flavored white wine with citrus, melon, pear, apricot and perhaps smokey or mineral undertones combined with characteristic high acidity.

California winemakers frequently get fairly good results by applying the same techniques as they might to Chardonnay, barrel fermentation, lees stirring, full malolactic, etc.

Pinot blanc is a white wine grape. It is a clone or genetic mutation of Pinot gris, which is itself a clone of Pinot noir.

Among the white wines of the world, pinot blanc probably sets the record for the number of ways a wine can be presented in a bottle. Depending on the country in which it is grown and the winemaker's personal approach to fashioning a wine out of the grape, pinot blanc can range in style from the uncomplex, light and fruity pinot biancos of northern Italy to the complex, oaky masterpieces of some California winemakers, which can rival the biggest and best chardonnays. The styles in between these extremes are numerous and well worth exploring. In the last few years, several California winemakers have begun using the same techniques in making pinot blanc as are used to make expensive chardonnay.

California winemakers who employ classic Burgundian techniques in making pinot blanc -- using new and/or almost new French oak barrels for fermentation and aging, lees contact and inducing a malo-lactic secondary fermentation to maximize the wine's complexity -- are creating truly memorable wines that are every bit as enjoyable as French and California chardonnays costing considerably more.

Submitted by:
George Snedrow
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Syrah is a variety of grape used in wine. It should not be confused with Petite Sirah, a synonym for Durif, which is a different type of grape. Syrah is the offspring of two obscure French varieties, Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche.

Syrah has one of the highest wine serving temperatures at 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Syrah is widely used to make a dry red table wine. It is often vinified on its own, but is also frequently blended with other grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvingnon, Merlot, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Viognier. Although its best incarnations will age for decades, less-extracted styles may be enjoyed young for their lively red and blueberry characters and smooth tannin structure.

Wines made from Syrah are often quite powerfully flavoured and full-bodied. The variety produces wines with a wide range of flavor notes, depending on the climate and soils where it is grown, as well as other viticultural practices chosen. Aroma characters can range from violets to berries (usually dark as opposed to red), chocolate, espresso and black pepper. No one aroma can be called "typical" though blackberry and pepper are often noticed. With time in the bottle these "primary" notes are moderated and then supplemented with earthy or savory "tertiary" notes such as leather and truffle. "Secondary" flavor and aroma notes are those associated with several things, including winemakers' practices (such as oak barrel and yeast regimes), and terroir (the impact made by the soil, weather, and aspect where the grapes are grown).

Durif is the main grape known in the US as Petite Sirah with over 90% of the California plantings labeled "Petite Sirah" being Durif grapes; the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms recognizes "Durif" and "Petite Sirah" as interchangeable synonyms referring to the same grape. It produces tannic wines with a spicy, plummy flavour. The grape originated as a cross of Syrah pollen germinating a Peloursin plant. On some occasions, Peloursin and Syrah vines may be called Petite Sirah, usually because the varieties are extremely difficult to distinguish in old age.

DNA fingerprinting has shown that the majority of Petite Sirah plantings in California to actually be Durif. The vine is a popular planting in Mendocino, Monterey and San Joaquin County. In addition to being produced as a varietal wine, the grape is sometimes blended with Zinfandel. In years when heavy rain or excess sun has weakened the quality or yield of Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir plantings, Petite Sirah will also be used as a blending partner to strengthen the wine. The average age of Petite Sirah vines tend to be older then most Californian vines.

Petite Sirah produces dark, inky colored wines that are relatively acidic with firm texture and mouth feel. The bouquet has herbal and black pepper overtones. Compared to Syrah, the wine is noticeably more dark and purplish in color. The wines are very tannic with aging ability that can eclipse 20 years in the bottle.

As many as sixty California wineries today produce varietal Petite Sirahs for fans and followers. Some vintners choose to spell it as "Petit Sirah", "Petite Syrah", or "Petit Syrah" and , although this is no doubt intended to provide some advantage in the marketplace, it merely serves to confuse consumers and defer their attention. Petite Sirah has long been an important blending grape, prized primarily for its deep color and fairly intense tannin. It is the variety most often chosen to blend into zinfandel for added complexity, body, and to tone down the tendency of zins toward "jammy" fruit.

California Chablis is a generic type of California white burgundy, called after the French wines of that name, from the Chablis region of France, northwest of Burgundy proper.

California chablis is pale, straw-colored, and dry, usually more delicate and lighter than sauterne and fruitier and less tart than rhine wine types. It is made from a large variety of grapes, the best of which include Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Folle blanche, and French Colombard.

Most growers bottle a standard-quality California chablis; some especially fine ones are produced in the northern coastal counties. The cheaper ones are often not to be distinguished from dry sauterne and rhine wines.

Submitted by:
Rebecca Thornton
Law - USA

From Bernardo Winery

Located 25 miles north of downtown San Diego, nestled inside the quaint town of Rancho Bernardo, lies one of the best-kept secrets in the county... The Bernardo Winery

116 years old, and still fully functional as a producing winery, Bernardo has lessened in size and grown in character. 'Strewn' with Unique Village Shops including a coffee shop and salon, and boasting an award winning cafe, Bernardo Winery has turned into more of a destination than ever.

Bernardo imports much of its grapes from various regions of California including Paso Robles, Monterey, Rancho Cucamonga and of course San Diego County.

With more than 12 Village Shops, a coffee shop, a salon, an award winning cafe, and of course a tasting room, the Bernardo Winery is a must see.

Bernardo Winery
13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte
San Diego, CA 92128
(858) 487-1866
http://www.bernardowinery.net

Submitted by:
Rebecca Thornton
Law - USA