White wine Nirvana!

Since graduating from college nearly three weeks ago, the desire to rest and relax is easier said than done. I admit it, I'm a research junkie! The natural curiosity to explore, experience and report will probably only get worse as I embrace the calling of visual storytelling.

Last Saturday, bored out my mind, but not without several projects demanding my attention, I had to indulge the urge for a short road trip. The plan; scout out some new subject matter of interest and shoot it. Being a creature of habit, I headed south on Hwy.99 with the intention of visiting some old haunts in the middle of nowhere. Veering off the freeway on Peltier Rd., I imagined that it would be a classic day of "Karen" shooting. A "Karen" day usually consists of me becoming so absorbed in shooting that I forget to eat, drink water, go the bathroom and in many cases, remember where I am. Because this area was familiar, how could one get lost?  Unfortunately, the Girl Scout in me failed; Where the heck was I?

When in doubt, go south. The worst that could happen was that my GPS would hit Hwy. 12. From there I could navigate my way back to Hwy.99...so I thought.

When driving through the myriad of vineyards in Lodi, or more specifically, the hovel known as "Acampo," it is easy to get lost. Many of the roads do not have throughways. The roads begin and end sometimes a mile or two apart. It is not uncommon for a road to dead end in front of someones home, nor is it uncommon for a road to completely become another road with a new name. Tretheway Road is such an example.

My first wine tasting experience in Lodi as a grown up began on Tretheway Road in the now defunct Vino Piazza. Tretheway Road is a fine example of how a road begins in one area, curves, twists, ends and picks up again several miles away. This time, it lead me to a much needed watering hole that caught me by surprise. I really thought I was seeing a mirage! A new winery on the northern end of this road...so far away from most other wineries with the exception of an old favorite, Macchia, it would be impolite to not top in. OMG! Upon entering, I was greeted within milliseconds. Not just a hi, but an actual, "would you like some water, you look parched." Amazing! This was a first..they beat Frasinetti winery in how fast they made eye contact and acknowledged my presence. They passed the muster. The wine that I was offered to taste could have sucked, but the  two ladies  who welcomed me knew how to treat a weary, sunburned photographer.

The name literally means, "try it!"

Acquiesce! What a cool name, and oh my, were the wines awesome. As a rule, I do not usually drink white wine. However, as a "Rhone Ranger,"...there is a group of Rhone swigging vinophiles that really do drink mostly Rhone varietals, I am open to trying something new and unique. There would be no disappointment.

To begin with, the ladies, Annalisa and Katharine were awesome. Secondly, the winemaker is a woman named Sue Tipton. She taught them well.

Grenache Blanc

Annalisa was genuinely pleased that someone stopped by and she really new her stuff.  She explained that the winery only produced white wines, specifically Rhone Varietals, and said that Sue, (Got to love how she was on a first named basis with the winemaker...no pretentious snobbery here), felt that her wines needed to be paired with foods to bring out the best in their characteristics. No problem, remember, forgot to eat, and if nothing else, it would definitely help if the wines were not agreeable. They were. In fact, I loved them. Especially how the temperature of the wine was not too cold. My palate exploded with fruit forwardness that was in your face incredible, but not too fruity. Kind of like a perfect presentation of mouthfeel and well rounded structure. A better description, "grape juice gone good!"

Let me not forget. The first wine was paired with an exotic potato chip with ranch dressing. The sweet onion and garlic flavors of the chip did not mask the flavor of the wine. Each layer of flavors came through in perfect symmetry. This was not going to be easy.

Round two: Annalisa spread a "Confit of Lavender" on a piece of hard cheese...Elysium! Not a big fan of lavender, but oh my, did the flavor explode paired with the Roussanne wine. Again, not a big fan of Roussanne, but my cousin, Sojo is. Wait until she hears about this wine.

Annalisa could tell that I was having way too much fun, so to make the visit even more special, she offered to show me around the facility and kept my glass adequately filled with a proper taste. I have to admit that being a former pouring wench has it's perks. However, one can appreciate it when tasting room staff adhere to the rules to not over pour. On to the next phenomenal wine...something unique and pink.


Back in the day, yours truly was known for many unique descriptors of wine...especially if one was not agreeable.  Never bad mouth any wine. It is okay to dislike a certain varietal, but never say anything bad about a wine until you fully understand why you don't like it, or unless you are as clever as I am and can come up with a way to describe the wine without causing insult or injury.

"Don't fear the pink, it's not what you think!" This was a favorite saying of mine when I poured for (insert name here) winery. It alway's amazed me how people did not, and often would not try anything pink, sort of pink, dark pink...with the exception of Pinot Noir, or just plain PINK.

Believe me, not every blush wine as they are generally known as, is sweet. Due to the popularity of white Zinfandel in the 70s, blush wines got an unfair rap for being cloyingly sweet.

Grenache Rose 

Not this Rhone big boned chick. Meet Grenache Rose, the "Sistah girl" of blush wines. Elegant, classy, sexy, slap you upside the head full and lusty...like me, this wine was the BOMB! Paired with my favorite nut, cashews...and not the cheap brand, the contrasts of flavors between the salty nuts and the voluptuous mouthfeel of the fruit along with a hint of gentle twisting of grape flesh...can you say, "orgasmic!" 

Really, a pink wine...yes, I'm going ghetto here, was, "off the hook!" Fill my glass and pass me a salami sammich!...not a typo.

Time for the tour; it's getting hot in here. Annalisa lead me out a double side door to show me around the inner workings of Sue's laboratory.

To say that this winery is small is accurate, and according to Annalisa, Sue would not have it any other way. Because they are fairly new, they do not make a large amount of wine. Some of the varietals are made in as little as 65-80 cases according to Annalisa.

They do grow their own grapes, and Zinfandel, pictured on the left is sold to other winemakers. Because they grow and make Rhone varietals, the climate in Lodi is conducive to good growing conditions. Combining heat and, "crappy dirt," Rhone varietals such as Syrah and Viogner are grown throughout this sometimes unforgiving hot region and do quite well with proper vineyard management.


As we navigated through the winery, it felt as though I were being shown around an eclectic artists living space.

The atmosphere was cool and relaxing. Light jazz music filtered through the room and a huge chalkboard adorned with a "bucket" list hung on an adjacent wall.

 The urge to add, "drink more white wine" to the list was unbearable.

Annalisa then lead me through an enormous custom designed, by Sue's husband, wrought iron front door. The meticulous detail and the "cleaning friendly" design of the ironwork was indicative of the passion these people have for their winery.

As we re-entered the tasting room, I was impressed by the knowledge and care that Annalisa showed to me. We talked extensively about her winery. Her passion and humility were infectious. She was not afraid of being herself. She spoke highly of other wineries in the area and even gave me a tip on another winery that was visited in my youth...yes, I drank wine as a child...I'm Creole, we like our Bordeaux wines. At all times, she made me feel at home and she was genuine in the process. Katharine too was awesome. We chatted liberally about the Frasinetti winery in old Florintown. Annalisa had never heard of this winery and was thrilled to be enlightened.

The next time you get lost in Acampo, Lodi, Wallace, Lockeford or whichever side of the road you end up on, make the effort to visit Acquiesce Winery. I give this place three slaps upside the head...which is a really good thing, and hope that you enjoy their hospitality as much as I did.

www.whitewinewinery.com

Until next time,
Salute'

Karen