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WINE COUNTRY THIS MONTH | WINE COUNTRY NEWSmanager Todd Schaefer. DavidHunt started out as a musicianturned-successful-businessmanturned-vintnerand now, whenmost people look to retirement,Hunt enthusiastically promoteshis wines. “90 percent of winestoday are not balanced. I’mwilling to take the necessary timeand focus on the wines so theyare perfect.”The Hunt Cellars tasting roomis all hardwood floors with abeautiful wood bar. It’s small,intimate and comfortable, notstuffy. There are picnic facilitieson their grounds and a 1,200-square-foot back deck. They sellcondiment items too, cookbooksand clothing. One of the uniquethings about this tasting room isthe sheer number of bottles openat any given time. “Where elsecan you taste over two dozenwines that have scored 90 to 95points and enjoy these highscoring cult wines?” he asks.During winemaker dinners heldat the tasting room, David willplay the white piano that sits nearthe front door.A visit to the tasting room is anecessity for anyone interested inwine, if only to experience winesthat make you hunger for more.Hunt Cellars wines, includingtheir Cabernet Sauvignons, Syrahand Merlot, are proudly pouredin some of the finest restaurantsin the U.S. and include RitzCarlton, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse,Morton’s and Flemings.As David Hunt routinely says,“Life is too short and you worktoo hard to drink bad wine.” Trueenough. Hunt Cellars is opendaily from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.They are located at 2875 OakdaleRoad directly off Highway 46West. Contact them at (805) 237-1600 or www.huntcellars.com.Sign up for our email newsletter at www.WineCountryThisMonth.com15