by Beth Heiserman
It has delightful aromas of citrus, lemon zest and a hint of grapefruit. Aged in French oak for 20 months, creating a multi layered and complex wine. It is rich on the palate and filled with notes of tangerines and quince. Enjoy chilled with grilled spicy salmon topped with a grapefruit salsa or a citrus salad. The other day, I bought kumquats and was remembering when I did my kumquat and habanero jam. That…
by Beth Heiserman
Coming February 2nd, I am doing the first “Red Blend Tasting Event”. I have done many wine pairing events, but not a blend event. I have chosen specific Reyes Winery Blends for this educational yet fun food and wine pairing. Every wine has a story, and I love sharing each one of them with you. Its $15 per person and it includes a Reyes Winery 12oz glass to take home. Please make your reservations in our tasting room or online at https://squareup.com/store/reyes-winery/.
Someone asked me last week on a tour, its December, what are doing? There is always something happening at the vineyard all year long. Right now, we are preparing to bottle our 2016 & 2017 vintages. Every year we have an event at the vineyard for guests to see the bottling process. It will be January 5th from 12pm-4pm. Its $49 per person and it includes lunch, a glass of wine, a tour of the bottling line and you get to take home…
The largest and most influential international wine competition in America, the San Francisco International Wine Competition has been setting the standard for professional wine judging since its debut in 1980. Now in…
I always have someone asking me can you drink red wine with fish…YES! a red/pink fish can be paired with a red wine, like salmon or ahi tuna. I love having Zinfandel with salmon. Our 2013 Zinfandel has won silver medals in the 2016 Los Angeles International Wine Competition, plus 87 points in the 2016 Toast of the Coast Wine Competition, and in the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Plus a bronze in the 2016 San Francisco International Wine Competition.
This California…
What wines to pair for your family Thanksgiving dinner?by Beth Heiserman
Thanksgiving is around the corner and was creating my dinner menu with a wine list to match last night my dad. We were thinking what we wanted. Of course, turkey.
Two years, my Thanksgiving article included my Chardonnay gravy recipe that I always do with my turkey. Turkey and gravy were a match made in heaven, but when you add wine, its paradise! When enjoying turkey, you can have a glass of the 2015 Amber Chardonnay or 2010…
Just the other day somebody made that comment “ABC”. I haven’t heard that expression in quite a while. If you haven’t heard of before it stands for “anything but Chardonnay”. Traditionally I am one of those people who don’t really enjoy Chardonnay, but I absolutely adore our 2015 Amber Chardonnay. This is a white wine made for red wine drinkers. I am a red wine drinker. I enjoy red by far more than whites even though I do love having a glass…
For anyone who knows me, you know I love M&M’s and thought was my grandma’s fault. Every time, I go shopping at Target, I HAVE to peek at the seasonal flavors. I love to pair the flavors with notes from the wines. For instance, our 2009 Merlot paired well with the mint, the 2010 Merlot with the pumpkin pie and the 2011 Merlot with the coffee nut.
Reyes 2010 Merlot…
This week, I had a customer ask is there a difference between a cooking a wine and wine that is called for in a recipe. The answer is yes and no. It depends upon the wine that is part of the recipe. But for the most part, the main difference is the quality of wine. Drinking wine is a much better quality. Cooking with a drinking wine will give you a better dish because…
This coming Saturday, October 13th, Reyes Winery is hosting a Merlot Vertical. You will get to pair our award-winning Merlot with a tasty treat along with education about Merlot and our wines. I will be pouring from the 2009 vintage through the 2012, plus the newly released 2013, the unreleased 2015 and finishing with the 2015 Rose of Merlot.
The 2009 vintage has sold out of the tasting room, but I saved 2 cases for this special day. It has won a gold medal at the 2011 Long Beach Grand Cru Wine…
I had gone to a wine and spirit tasting and they had a cinnamon vodka. So…me and my inquisitive nature asks, what kind of cinnamon did they use? I did ask before I tried it. The response I got was, uh…there are different types? Yes, there are many different types of cinnamon. Not all cinnamon is the same, just like grapes. There are so many varietals of grapes.
True cinnamon comes from India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri…
Every weekend in the tasting room, we have guests from all over and I am asked an array of questions. This past weekend someone asked me what makes red wine…red? They asked if all wine starts out white and we add food coloring. No, we don’t add anything. The coloring comes from the skin of the grape, well that is a red grape; like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or Grenache. Each variety of grapes has a different shade of red. Cabernet Sauvignon is ruby, Merlot has…
This past weekend, we hosted our quarterly member ship pick up party. Many of our guests have requested some of my recipes that have not yet been added to my blog, including my strawberry black peppercorn Cabernet cobbler. Instead of having ice cream, It tastes amazing if you eat it with a little bit of brie or chèvre. I pair this with our 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon. Today I’m starting with dessert versus the salad or lunch course. The first…
by Beth Heiserman
Oxidation in wine is the most common wine fault. It is presence of oxygen and a catalyst is what makes the process to transpire. Oxidation can happen during different stages of winemaking through aging in a bottle. It can cause a loss of color, for instance the red wine will have a brownish tint. It reminds me of the color of a raisin. Sulfates are added to wine, to prevent this.
The Romans used sulfur dioxide in winemaking, they had discovered that burning candles inside empty…
There are different types of tannins; skin, seeds and from the barrels. They all have a different complexity. It is a naturally occurring polyphenol which is found in plants, seeds, wood and skins of a fruit like grapes. Tannins are usually from red wines unless the white wine was aged in a barrel or was a skin-contact white wine, like our 2015 Amber Chardonnay.
Skin tannins make you feel like you just had a bite of…
One of the most noted characters of Cabernet Sauvignon is its likeness for oak. You can ferment the wine in oak and during its aging period in the barrels it will acquire that oakiness we love. During the ageing period in a barrel, the wine will soften so the tannins, will be less pronounced.
In a previous article I wrote about the history of wine barrels, I mentioned that around the 2nd century BCE that people realized that oak softens…
The third stage of an annual grape vine is “fruit set”. It follows flowering, when the fertilized flower begins to develop a seed and the grape berry to protect the seed. Every week I walk around the fields to see the progress of the grapes each season. I was so impressed to see how the grapes are growing this year. Walking around the Cabernet Sauvignon…
In the next couple of weeks, leading up to our Cabernet Sauvignon vertical on August 25th, I will be sharing some wonderful info about this popular varietal. I will share each week a little something. There is so much to share about the fantastic grape that it’s too much for just one week.
Cabernet Sauvignon is considered to be one of the most popular wines. America is the third most grown varietal around the…
By Beth Heiserman
I was reading an article the other day about wine blends are their origins then I came across an article about blending wine in a blender. Combining two or more wines makes each one better than they would be on their own. Sometimes wine varietals need other wines to help them have the complexity that a wine needs. Sometimes a wine can be flat and if you blend…
About 20 years ago, I remember being in the tasting room of Wente Winery during my internship and the tasting room manager was doing a wine pairing with me. He made beef jerky and paired it with their Cabernet Sauvignon. He also showed me a brownie mix they sold, that you add eggs, oil and Cabernet Sauvignon. I was sold! I have adapted this concept and made my own brownie recipe. Reyes Winery 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon has a sweet aroma gives this fruity wine its huge popularity. Raspberries, Cocoa and Blackberries…
By Beth Heiserman
This past weekend, we had many people ask about Petite Sirah. Why are they spelled different? Is Petite Sirah a smaller grape, lighter on flavor? Many people had so many questions, that I thought I would elaborate about Petite Sirah. A few months ago, I mentioned a little about one of my learning experiences of wine and Petite Sirah.
It’s really called Durif. It’s grown mainly in Australia, California and France. In the past 30 years, its popularity has…
Come celebrate National Wine and Cheese Day at Reyes Winery…We will be serving our Muscats from 2011-2016 and Sweet Serenity, a dessert wine made from our 2009 Muscat. Sweet Serenity has won Gold & Best in Class in the 2014 Long Beach Grand Cru and a bronze in the 2014 Los Angeles International Wine…
By Beth Heiserman
Six weeks ago, I wrote about “The First stage of a grape vine”. This week we are now starting the second stage in our Chardonnay grapes, which is called “flowering”. It can be anywhere from 40-60 and some varietals takes longer than the 60 days. The average daily temperature needs to be about 65 °F from bud break. Our Chardonnay has taken about 45 days to flower the last two years, from bud break. Our Syrah, Cabernet…
Pinot Grigio is sometimes known as Pinot Gris. It is a white wine grape. It has a grayish hue, where as many other white wine grapes are generally yellow or greenish in color and sometimes even pink. When the wine is produced it can very clear to grey or even a light yellow to a copper shade. Reyes Winery’s 2016 Pinot Grigio is a grayish tone. It’s very clear almost like water.
Pinot Gris or grigio…
By Beth P. Heiserman
My mother and grandmother always made casserole when I was growing up. Brunch at grandma’s was always fun. I always looked forwarded to spending time with my grandparents. This is one of my favorites that I love to share when I cater the monthly hike and brunch at Reyes Winery. Sometimes I add hatch chiles when they are in season or even sometimes red pepper pesto which I did for this past hike. Many people adored…
Cork Taint, one of the “Wine Faults”
By Beth Heiserman
Have you ever opened a bottle of wine and as you are opening the bottle, get a whiff of something you aren’t sure what it is? Last week, I was opening a bottle of wine and as I removed the cork, an odor like no other was coming from the bottle. It smelled like a wet dog! I took a small sip to make sure, and then I knew the bottle had “Cork Taint”. I put the…
by Beth Heiserman
Viognier is white wine varietal from the Rhône Valley in France. Officially, it is the only white grape allowed in the region. It is also grown around the world, such as Australia, North and South America. We brought in our 2016 Viognier from Lake LA. That is approximately 50 miles north east of Santa Clarita. It is my favorite white varietal.
Viognier is a full bodied white wine that is full of aromatics like peaches, tangerines, violets and minerality. Generally, it is not aged in oak because the exposure to…
Over 2000 years ago, a Greek historian, documented that wood barrels were used for wine in ancient Mesopotamia. I have mentioned before, in my article about “Orange Wines” that approximately 6000 years ago, wine was aged and stored in clay pots called Qvevri. Then eventually besides the clay, people started to use wood. Wood was lighter than clay when traveling. As the Romans were expanding their empire, they brought wine with them.
by Beth Heiserman
Many people think that there are certain descriptive words that people look for on a winery’s label, like reserve, estate grown, single vineyard, old vine, et
c. This past week, I had someone ask what our “reserve wines” were.
In the U.S., “reserve” doesn’t theoretically mean anything. When applying for label approval from the TTB (Tax and Trade Bureau) in our country, reserve is nothing more than a brand…
any years ago, I went to Concannon Winery in Livermore, CA. They are known for their Petite Sirah. My father knew Jim Concannon. I stayed up there for two weeks to learn more about wine. He taught me from Wine Tasting Etiquette to wine pairing. I enjoyed my trip so much; it is something I will never forget. I remember walking through a courtyard with him, asking him what do Petite Sirah grapes taste like compared to the actual wine. He reached up above up on an…
Did you know Santa Clarita has Hard Cider?
And its right here at Reyes Winery!
By Beth Heiserman
For many years apple juice was considered apple cider which is unfiltered and unsweetened non alcoholic beverage. There was no difference in the name, some states call it differently and to differentiate from processed apple juice and cider. Some people call it soft or sweet cider. Then we have hard cider, which is fermented. Fresh cider is not filtered. Juice is filtered and pasteurized.
Cider will begin to become somewhat carbonated shortly after pressing and eventually become hard cider…
What is Port Wine?
by Beth P Heiserman
Port is a Portuguese fortified wine which must be made in the Douro Valley in northern Portugal. It is generally consumed as a dessert wine, since it can be very sweet and decadent. There are several types of Port; red, white, rosé and an aged style called Tawny Port. Plus there are dry and semi-dry varieties. Fortified wines may be produced anywhere in the world, but only can be labeled “Port” from Portugal.
Ruby port is the inexpensive and most widely produced type of port. After…
Last week, was the second leg of a 6 six-city tour for the “Double Gold” medal tour with the San Francisco International Wine & Spirits Competition. Last Tuesday, I went to Manhattan to Quality Italian Steakhouse on 57th street to the “Double Gold” Tasting event. I am excited to meet the media from New York. I love to share that we are the only winery here from Los Angeles County especially because we…
by Beth Heiserman
Last week, was the first leg of a 6 six-city tour for the “Double Gold” medal tour with the San Francisco International Wine & Spirits Competition. I will be traveling to New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles in the next few weeks. Plus the wine will travel on to Portland and Chicago without me. I was in San Francisco pouring our 2012 Syrah. This was our second Double Gold Medal. The 2011 Syrah won two years ago…
Last week, I attended a wine education class at the LA County Fair in Pomona for Award Winning Wines of Southern California. They presented our 2013 Syrah which won a silver award. I was so excited to be there and experience a class which I attend every year that had one of our wines. This was the first time we were included in this class or for that matter any class. As I waited in line, people kept…
By Beth P. HeisermanTempranillo ripens earlier than other varietals. It grows around the world, but is mainly grown in the Rioja region of Spain. This varietal has been growing since Phoenicians settled in the Iberian Peninsula somewhere around 1000 BC when the wine trade was flourishing. The Phoenicians had created a widespread wine trading network around the Mediterranean Sea ports. It is possible that they started trading around 800 BC when they founded Carthage in 814 BC. They also founded Málaga,…
Grenache is one of the most widely planted red wine varietal in the world. It grows well in hot, dry and windy climates like Agua Dulce. It ripens much later than most varietals. There are different types of Grenache; Noir, Blanc, Gris and Rose. It is mainly grown in France, Australia, Sardinia/Italy and the Central Valley of California. Most likely the grape originated from Spain during the period when the Aragon Crown ruled according to ampelographical evidence.The study of ampelography helps identify and classifies…
By Beth P. Heiserman
When I first started at Reyes Winery in Agua Dulce, I remember trying the 2009 Syrah. It became my favorite instantly. It has such a great smokiness and is so fruit forward that I knew it would be perfect to pair with bison or lamb. I have paired this wine with everything from Sloppy Joes to a leg of lamb. Syrah is sometimes known as Shiraz. It is grown all over the world. Its dark skin…
Malbec is considered to be a thin-skinned purple grape that tends to be a full-bodied wine. Black cherry, plum, berries, mocha, molasses, leather and black pepper are some of the notes you will recognize. The aromas will vary based upon climate where it is grown. It has many names, but In Bordeaux, it’s known as Malbec. It is one of the six red Bordeaux grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Carménère). When growing, it requires higher temperatures and elevations than Cabernet Sauvignon. Plus it doesn’t have a long…
Have you ever had an Irish wine? Many people are familiar with Irish whisky, beer and even Irish liqueurs. Who doesn’t love Irish crème liqueur and coffee? However, the Irish do make wine, too!
They grow varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, and many others. They also produce apple and pear hard cider, and even mead (honey wine). The European Commission has now officially listed Ireland as a wine producing country. We know from history that in the 5th…
Did you ever wonder about the history of a corkscrew?by Beth P. Heiserman
Did you ever wonder what did people do to open a bottle of wine before cork screws? Since wine making has been around for 8000 years, you would think that efficient wine storage would have had more progression. But then again most wine is still made the same way in some parts of the world. For many centuries, the winery would sell barrels to stores and the stores would bottle as they sold it.
Kenelm Digby…
Merlot is one of the primary grapes used in Bordeaux wine. The word Merlot has said to be a derivative of the word merle. In French, it means blackbird. History tells us that one of the first wine labels with Merlot on it was in 1784 in Bordeaux, France. It is a very popular red grape that is generally planted around the world for blending. Merlot adds…
2011 Renaissance Les Deux Rois
Accolades: Gold and rated 90 points- 2015 San Diego International Wine Competition
Bronze Medals – 2014 OC Fair has awarded this wine a Bronze and 2nd Prize for best label
Tasting Notes: It has a rich ruby red color with aromas of plum, dark cherries and a hint of cocoa.
Winemakers Notes: This is a blend of California Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The label depicts our family crest, which represents an extensive ancestral history. This is the first of several delicious wines Reyes Winery will…
2011 Reyes Winery California Merlot
Our 2011 Merlot is a soft medium bodied Merlot has aromas of molasses, mocha and plums with notes of anise. On the palate you get intense ripe plum, a soft balanced acidity, silky tannins and a lingering finish of spicy toasty oak. The velvety ruby color and aromas will inspire anyone to have another glass. It will pair well with duck or with a coffee-crusted pork roast with a Merlot au jus
Price: $22.00
2010 Reyes Winery Estate Bottled Chardonnay, Sierra Pelona Valley Appellation HAS SOLD OUT
Mission Statement Our mission is to produce the best quality wines in Los Angeles County by having a high standard of care and focusing on every phase of production. This passion for perfection will ensure that once consumers taste our wines, they'll know the quality and craftsmanship that goes into every bottle of Reyes Wines. (Our collection of 100 medals and awards as of June 2017 is a testament to our mission to be the best)
10262 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91390, USA
(661) 268 1865
