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Summer Wine Events at the Cohn Restaurant Group
So much is going on this summer, you do not want to miss out! Sign up for PRIMECRU and stay in the know!
WINE SALE July 21st Island Prime
The Wine Sale is one of the best events of the year. I go through the wine cellars at all of my restaurants and clear out inventories. Everything is sold at Island prime. The private dining room is turned into a 3 hr wine shop. All the wines are laid out across the room and put up for sale at well below retail pricing, we call it PRIME CRU pricing. We pass out hors d’oeuvres and sample some of the selections. Anything you buy can be taken next door to C-level and enjoyed sans corkage. Arrive early as the line builds up and supplies begin to disappear rapidly. Here is a Sample Wine Sale List for July 21st, 2018.
CORKS AND CANVAS at The Prado at Balboa Park August 4th
This is the 4th annual CRG art and wine show. I gather all the artists who work within our restaurant group all who are servers, bartenders, hosts, cooks and managers many of which are artists. They show their work and I pair each artist with a wine. There is a method to this, you can read more about it in a previous article of Pairing Wine and Art. The Prado will provide tray passed hors d’oeuvres, wineries will feature their paired wines, and artists will talk about their work and how the wine pairs with it. All of the wines and the art will be available for purchasing, again at those deep PRIME CRU prices.
WINE ON THE LANAI Vintana August 11th
Still not enough wine, then visit us in North County at Vintana, directly above the Lexus dealership for our Wine on the Lanai event. Chef Chris Barre will send out endless hors d’oeuvres while you greet and meet with winemakers and representatives from different wineries from California. Enjoy Aperol Spritzers at the Aperol cart, try your hand at blind tasting with Jackson Family Wines or guess the vintage of some of the wines from the cellar of our owners’, David & Lesley Cohn. Acustic world rhythms will be played by our guests, Javid & Naoko. Our wine director, Mike Lewis will also have some wines pulled out for you to take home, again at Prime Cru prices!
COASTERRA WINE FESTIVAL September 8th
Mark your calendars and keep this Saturday saved for the best wine event of the year. I like to think of it as an adult Chuck e Cheese. Coasterra’s ballroom and Skyline patio will be converted into the ultimate wine festival. There will be well over 30 different wineries and all of them hosting a table with an interactive element. There will be blind tasting, grape tasting, grape stomping, live art, wine Family Feud, disgorging champagne, aroma wheels, music and wine pairing, the effects of color and wine, and plenty of wine tasting. At each table you will earn participation tickets which will be redeemable at the festival wine shop for swag and wine. Again you will see some unique selections form our cellars there. Chef Deborah Scott will provide live taco stations and tray passed hors d’oeuvres. This event is super fun and should not be missed and the best part it is in the best location in San Diego overlooking the bay and the city skyline.
Women on a Mission
A few months back I was at a beer summit in Palm Beach where brewers were discussing the future of craft brewing. The “Me Too” movement came up and a few male brewers discussed how beer has been male dominated since craft beer had become relevant. The vast majority of brewers are men, making beer for men’s taste. Craft brewing really hit its stride in the mid 90’s with the release of aggressive West Coast style IPA’s. The bigger, the more bitter, the more alcohol, the better was the mantra. This trend continued on for quite awhile. Then breweries started opening pubs and realized in order to stay in business they had to make beers that appease a wider spectrum of consumer. There were a lot of men who still preferred Coors Lite. Craft breweries were challenged with converting this drinker to a craft beer drinker. We saw an increase in the production of blondes, lagers and pilsners. However, they still had not taken the woman consumer into consideration.
Many girls like IPAs and high alcoholic beers, but the vast majority are looking for balanced beers. Whether it be that the bitterness of the IPA is balanced with fruit or the use of less aggressive hops in the boil, women like a balanced beer. Naturally, bitterness is a flavor our taste buds sense to warn us when food might not be good for us. Typically women are more sensitive to bitterness. There are more women are super tasters than men super tasters, people very sensitive to bitter flavors. Where a bitter beer might be perfect for a dude, the gal finds it overwhelming. The beer summit concluded with attendees realizing that women were the next target for craft brewers. Women want to drink beer, but the beer has got to be balanced.
Many believe that the solution is to bring more women into the brewery and brew the beer. Today I have seen many more ladies in the brew house. Take for example, Second Chance Brewing in San Diego is co-founded by Virgina Morrison. Boston Beer Company’s head brewer is Jennifer Glanville. Golden Road’s founder Meg Gill is a brewer and TV personality. These ladies have stepped into what was a man’s world for the last 30 years and brought it back into the hands of women. If we look back through history, while the men were gathering grain, women were making bread and brewing beer. In England women made the beer at home while the men were out unloading the ships of the East India Company. Saisons and farm house ales of southern Belgium and northern France were invented by women brewers. Women have always had a hand in beer, and today should be no different.
This past week, the Cohn Restaurant Group gathered many of its lady managers and sent them to Mission Brewery to brew a beer for our restaurants. They met with head brewer Jeremy Castellano and decided on brewing a beer for the summer time our guests can enjoy. After throwing around several recipes they landed on a MANGO WHEAT BEER brewed mango puree, 2 row barley, wheat, a touch of Munich malt, and a smidgen of flaked oats to give this quaff-able beer some richness. They hopped the beer with Citra and Amarillo hops to showcase the tropical fruit of the mango while adding a burst of citrus. The yeast used was neutral beer yeast very different from hefeweizen so that aromas and flavors of the yeast and mango do not compete with each other. The beer is called, “WOMEN ON A MISSION” #CRG #CraftedbyRadGals #Don’tTouchtheMangos.
This beer will be available in many of the CRG restaurants mid August. Stop in for a pint with the gals, bring your mom or show your boyfriend what girls can brew!
WINE LIST POLL: What is the Perfect Wine List?
11 DIFFERENT TYPES OF WINE LISTS. VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE WINE LIST LAYOUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE
1. THE BUDGET WATCHER
The budget watcher list is the list which lists the wine by price point. The least expensive wines are at the top and the most expensive at the bottom. I guess this sort of list is great for those people going out on a blind date, because you can watch your date’s eyes and see just how important this date to them? If their eyes are at the top of the menu, then you know your date has no interest in a second date. If their eyes go straight to the bottom, then “good on you”, they are interested.
The budget watcher wine list is classic, but a bit boring. It reminds me of a wine list for a Chinese restaurant, a list where a restaurant does not put too much thought into its list. However, as a consumer, the list lets you shop by price. And let’s be honest, wines can get ridiculously expensive. NOTES: CLASSIC, CONSUMER FRIENDLY, LACKS INGENUITY
2. THE BUDGET WATCHER ULTRA 2000
This is similar to the wine list which lists by prices. However it is different in that there are only three price categories. The wine is either $20/btl, $30/btl or over $40/btl. Here the restaurant would rather get rid of all those different dollar amounts and sell the wine in groups of value. We had a restaurant with this format, it is close today. The issue was people had many options in the low end section that they did not want to upgrade. This is really meant for the value seeking people. NOTES: CONSUMER FRIENDLY, BRINGS IN THE CHEAP SCAPES
3. ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Seems pretty straight forward, but is it best to alphabetize by grape, region or producer? This makes a lot of since especially for the servers. Listed in some sort of alphabetical order allows the server to easily find their favorite wines on the list more easily. It is also easy for the guest especially if they now what they want. NOTES: PRACTICAL, NOT CREATIVE
4. LET ME TELL YOU HOW MUCH I KNOW LIST
There are lists which list every detail of the wine. They tell you the region, the aspect of the vineyard, where the winemaker went to school and then they tell you how it tastes. Way too much info. This is great for IPAD wine lists, because you can get that in info by clicking on the wine of interest, but on a printed menu it is way too much. NOTE: INTERESTING, SAVE IT FOR THE LIBRARY
5. LET ME TASTE IT FOR YOU LIST
Not sure why I do not like these lists. I guess I don’t want people telling me how something tastes, since taste is so subjective. I just don’t like to read people’s descriptions. Many people like this, but I think it also turns off people who may not like a flavor the author writes down. Many a times I have heard people refuse a wine because the aroma descriptor said cherries, and they don’t like cherries. Come on people, wines are made of grapes! *NOTE: WINE LISTS DON’T NEED TRAINING WHEELS
*FOOTNOTE: Maybe I would be keen on this kind of list if it read:
Sauvignon Blanc, Spy Valley, Marlborough, NZ 42
Intense aroma, High acidity, Medium Alcohol
6. LIST BY STYLE
Many lists are formatted so that you have a white wine section, then a sub section of Chardonnay with the list of Chardonnays listed by price or alphabetical order. Some lists may break it down into sections, and instead group the Chardonnays by weight or style. They may start with un-oaked, to neutral barrel all the way to 100% new oak and 100% full malo. This sort of list takes a lot work and requires a dedicated sommelier to group and regroup as new wines are added. This too, is excellent for servers. However, probably best for guests who are looking to find something new in a style they like. NOTE: DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN, EASY TO NAVIGATE
7. BY REGION
I like listing wines by region. It makes sense for people who know wine. They look at the region and know the style of wine that region produces. The only problem is when we get to new vs old world wines. If you have California wines, the region may not be as important as the grape. Listing all Napa wines in one section can get pretty confusing. However, it seems to work for the old world wines. Listing Barolo, Barbaresco, Rioja, Bordeaux etc… makes sense. But what do you do when you get to non DO/DOC/AOP wines? How do you list a Chardonnay from Vin de Pays or a Grenache from the South of France? You don’t want to put the IGT, but rather the grape, correct? It doesn’t make sense to read a list that has Barolo, Barbaresco, Chianti, Rioja, Priorat and Vin de Pays. NOTE: YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR WINE IS FROM, MAY NOT READ WITH CONSISTENCY
8. BY INTENSITY
Some lists create sections based on intensity. Beginning with light bodied crisp wines of low intensity such as Muscadet and Pinot Grigio then moving to medium bodied wines with more intensity all the way to higher ABV whites with high intensity. My main issue is when management wrongly lists wines to make way for aesthetics. These lists require a well-trained somm to keep it organized. Many times a somm may start the list, that somm moves on to another job and the list is taken over by another manager with less experience. NOTES: AS LONG AS IT IS ACCURATE, MAKES FOR A GOOD WAY OF SELECTING YOUR WINE
9. THE BEER MENU APPROACH
What about writing the list like a beer menu? Beer lists show producer, region, style, abv, ibus and price. It allows the guest to know what their beer is going to taste like. Why not do the same with wine list. Here is an example:
White: Chardonnay
Ferrari Carano | Sonoma | 2015 |100% New Oak | 3.4 PH | RS .5 $60
Liquid Farm | Santa Barbara | 2015 | Used/Partial New | 3.2 PH | RS .04 $65
Morgan “Steel” | Santa Lucia Highlands | 2016 | Steel | 3.3 PH | RS .15 $45
I have not tried this yet, but may be worth a try.
NOTE: I’D LIKE TO TRY, BUT REQUIRES A GUEST TO HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE ABOUT WINE
10. BEER MENU STRIPPED DOWN
Let’s take the beer menu idea even further, and strip the wine list down to the bare bones. What do you think about a wine list which looks like this? Just the type of wine; red, white, sparkling. No brand name, just the grape or region. I have seen these in pubs, but not in restaurants. Maybe it would work. Take all the pretentiousness and expectations out of wine and just say what it is. Imagine a list like this I removed the name of the wineries and regions of an already bare bones list to give you an example.
NOTE: THE RESTAURANT NEEDS TO HAVE A GOOD REPUTATION AND CONSUMER’S TRUST FOR THIS TO SUCCEED.
11. INFOGRAPHIC WINE LIST
Here is a fun and cool wine list for a small restaurant. You can make your list into an infographic. I borrowed the image below from Wine Folly, but imagine using something like this with the name of dishes you serve at the top and in each bottle you write the wines on your menu. Could be cool. NOTE: VERY MILLENIAL
I guess at the end of the day what really matters is what is on the list rather than how it is listed. That being said, how do you prefer to read a wine list? I’d love to hear your comments.
Upcoming May Events Not To Be Missed
It’s getting to that time of the year where I turn my attention to hosting wine, beer and spirit events. I am fortunate to have access to many different venues to host a variety of events. You may be a wine drinker, beer drinker or spirits drinker; no matter what, I will have something for you. Here is a quick look at what CRG has coming around the corner. Mark your calendars and get ready to have some fun!
MAY 5th:
Cinco de Mayo! Take your pick, head close to the border and have a party on the ocean next to the last pier in the western United States at Sea 180. Or stay urban, and head for another amazing view at Coasterra’s floating event center for tequila tasting and a margarita making contest.
MAY 15th: FRANCISCAN WINE DINNER
Join us at Vintana Wine + Dine as Chef Chris Barre, prepares a delicious meal with the wines from Fransican Estate in Napa Valley. Leading the dinner will be winemaker Marla Carol. Menu coming soon.
MAY 17th: DOWN UNDER WINE DINNER AT INDIGO GRILL
Join Deborah Scott as she wrangles with the wines from Australia and New Zealand. She will use her signature spice combinations to match with the exciting wines from down under. See what she can do with spicy Barossa Sparkling Shiraz, herbacious Sauvignon Blanc and unique whites and reds from ancient vines. Menu coming soon.
MAY 23rd: BONNY DOON WINE DINNER
Do you know who Randall Graham is? If not, then you need to. Randall Graham is the man behind Bonny Doon Winery in Santa Cruz. He is one of California’s wine pioneers. He has led the movement for bio-dynamic wines. His ideas are a bit nutty and it fits his personality perfectly. Join us at 333 Pacific for a dinner with Bonny Doon. Menu to come soon.
May 24th: Balboa Park’s 150 th Anniversary Botanical Garden Dinner
This is the dinner of a lifetime. Close your eyes and transport your self to Balboa Park. You are sitting on the lawn in front of the Botanical Gardens, harpists are playing and Gloria Ferrer is serving Sparkling wines. Yes, this is all true. This dinner is put on by Chef Jonathon Hale from The Prado at Balboa Park to raise money for the Balboa Park’s conservatory. We are celebrating 150 years of Balboa Park’s Botanical Garden with an elegant outdoor extravaganza. BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!
May 25th: SEA 180 LUAU
Can you believe that summer is already here? Just in time for our yearly Luau in Imperial Beach. There will be live music, fire dancers, roasted pig and plenty of wine and cocktails from Pernod Ricard.
MAY 25th: GREENBAR SPIRIT DINNER
Can’t make it to the South Bay? No worries, I have something for you in North County. Join Vintana Wine + Dine for a spirit dinner featuring the organic spirits from LA’s Greenbar distillery.
6 Tips to Help You Learn About Wine?
In this day in age everything comes so easy. If you want to know the capitol of Paraguay, you google it. To know when to use “capital” or “capitol” you go to dictionary.com. If you want to learn how to put up dry wall, you YouTube it. If you’re lost and need directions you WAZE it. If your kid breaks out with red bumps, you go to WebMD. No matter what you want to know the answers are at your finger tips.
Learning about wine is not quite the same. Sure you can go to Wine Folly and learn what it means when your white wine turns brown. Wikipedia will tell you the DNA of your favorite grapes. Each region has their own sophisticated web page describing in detail the history, terroir and climate of their region. Unfortunately, learning about wine is not the same as learning how to put up dry wall. You can acquire all the textbook knowledge online, but the real magic is in tasting. Here are my 6 tips on how to learn more about wine.
- Drink French Wine! In order to really understand wines from the new world, you need to know where they came from. Most of the wines we see in the market today originated in France. The great thing about French wines, is that they are loaded with regulations. While conservatives might say regulations are bad for business, I say they are great for wine. It allows the consumer to know what the wine is like. French regions are subject to rules and regulations controlling grapes, viticulture and vinification. They are held to high standards. These standards were put into place so that wines will show the best expression of its grape and terroir. Once you understand French wines, France’s regions and regulation, then you are on your way to mastering wine.
- You must experiment! Most wine drinkers like a certain style of wine, and drink the same style over and over. There are thousands of styles of wines in the world, and if you narrow your selections down to your personal preferences, then you hinder yourself from learning. Try everything, you don’t have to like it, but you should try it. You never know, it might turn out to be one of those Life cereal moments; “Mikey likes it!”
- Join the Guild Somm. The Guild Somm is the most comprehensive up to date wine site on the internet. It is put together by the Court of Master Sommmeliers where they have a team of sommeliers constantly updating the information. It has a vast compendium of wine information along with podcasts, videos and an excellent forum. If you want to stay in touch, the Guild Somm is worth every little penny.
- Join a tasting group. I can honestly say that this is one of the most valuable pieces of advice. I started my tasting group in 2009 and it is still going strong, we learn something new each time. This may be difficult to find. And for some people it can be a bit intimidating. However, if you are really dedicated in learning about wine, the tasting group will push you to the next level. Learning from your peers is priceless. If you login to the Guild Somm website there are forums where you can search for a tasting group in your area. If you are not interested in joining the Guild Somm, then invite friends over to the house. Have them bring a bottle of wine in a brown bag. Blind taste with them. Listen to how they describe the wine. Discuss the wine’s characteristics and quality. Finally reveal the wine and see what you might have learned from your blind tasting and the group’s feedback.
- Go to school. Back when I got into wine, wine schools were hard to find. Today there are dozens. Many people learn better this way. I know I do. I’d much rather listen to a lecture, taste wine and ask questions than read a book. Each course has its specialty. Find the course that works best for you. WSET (Wine Spirit Education Trust or the Wine Smarties) is great if you are looking to get into retail, restaurant, wholesale or if you are just a novice. It covers the broad spectrum of wine from viticulture to describing wine. The Court of Master Sommeliers is great if you work in the restaurant industry. It focuses on theory, wine service and blind tasting. It is no so much a school but a certification entity. For everyday wine drinkers looking to get more acquainted with wine and possibly looking for a career in the wine industry, there are college classes available. In San Diego there are courses at San Diego State University where I teach 4 courses. You can go at your own pace. Then there are numerous online schools, some have live classes. The one I am familiar with is the Fox School of Wine in Utah. You can search online for wine classes in your area and you will come up with a great list. I recommend SDSU if in San Diego, I just know what they teach there. Maybe you don’t have the time to dedicate several weeks, then look out for my Prime Cru classes where you can come for a few hours and learn about a particular subject. A Sensory Master Class is coming in June, stay put.
- Travel! This is the best part of learning about wine. There are wine regions all over the world. Each region has a unique approach to wine. You can smell, feel touch, and experience wine. Travelling is all fun and dandy when we vacation in excluded beaches, but traveling to a wine region is so much more rewarding. From San Diego there are endless regions in all directions. Take a weekend and explore south of the border, Baja wine. Or drive out to Santa Barbara and do the wine trail. If you’re looking for something a bit different take a drive out to Arizona and see what Maynard Keenan from Tool is up to. Or better yet, stay home and visit a local San Diego winery. No matter where you decide to go, first hand accounts of the region, grape and wine is so much more interesting than sitting in a class and hearing an instructor babble about wine.
You thought learning about wine would be difficult. It is actually pretty fun. Think about it, study online the maps and history, take a class at an accredited program, drink French wines, try all kinds of wines, meet new friends in a tasting group and travel around the world. Who would not want to make wine their hobby? Better yet, make it your job!
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
-Benjamin Franklin
