SLO LIFE Oct/Nov 2020

Alapay Cellars
2018 Lagrein // $39
Silver SF Wine Competition
Are you still wondering about this elusive grape?
Stroll down First Street in Avila Beach and you’ll
find Alapay Cellars. Take a moment and taste their
2018 Legrein on the patio. Alapay, a Chumash
word for heavenly, captures the meaning with their
tasty wine and friendly tasting room staff—the
perfect fit for the flip flop culture of this tight-knit
coastal community.
Winemaker Scott Remmenga was printing so many
wine labels at his printing company, he decided
to learn winemaking from one of the best, Clay
Brock. His winemaking skills and wife Rebecca’s
marketing made a fantastic blend for this winery.
They started with dirt lots surrounding their
tasting room, waving people in, and continue to
have a loyal following.
Piedra Creek
2019 Lagrein Rosé // $26
Double Gold 95 points Rosé Experience 2020
In 1983, after successfully experimenting with winemaking at their Southern
California home in Westlake, retired aerospace engineer Romeo Zuech and
his wife Margaret decided to relocate to San Luis Obispo where they began
making wine in the smallest bonded winery in Edna Valley—Piedra Creek.
The move was largely in part due to a long-time friendship with Andy
MacGregor, a fellow aerospace engineer who had planted a vineyard in the
Edna Valley.
While the Zuechs decided to harvest and produce Chardonnay for their first
wine under the Piedra Creek label, in 1999 they purchased two acres in the
Twin Creeks area of Edna Valley and planted Lagrein, Syrah, Dornfelder,
Teraldego, and Pinot Noir vines.
After growing up on the scene with his grandparents and graduating from
the viticulture program at Cal Poly, T.J. de Jony began working alongside his
family, and in 2014 suggested making a 100% varietial Lagrein wine. By 2016,
de Jony’s grandmother, Margaret, successfully petitioned the FDA to approve
the Lagrein grape variety in the United States. In 2017, after his gradfather’s
passing, de Joney became owner of Piedra Creek Winery and in 2018 they
produced their first Rosé of Lagrein.
Romeo was knows for saying, “Good wine was meant to be red,” but this rosé
may have changed his mind. Its basket full of strawberry flavor bowls me over.
The thick Lagrein skins make a medium pink color and perfect body for the
kind of wine sipped on a porch or with barbecue. Want to raise a glass? Give
Margaret a call, she’ll take care of you.
The 2018 Lagrein brings me right back to Italy.
Its smell wraps me up in a velvety mulberry
blanket. It’s full-bodied, dark berried with a
typical blueberry homage. The earthy tones pair so
well with nice steaks and pasta. This is a smooth
operator with a body that will hold you close and
fruit to make it flirty, just like a good dance partner.
Tobin James
2015 Lagrein // $48
Speaking of good dance partners, everyone wants
to cut in when dancing with Tobin James. He has
been a part of the Central Coast lifestyle for years.
James worked in a small wine shop where he met
Gary Eberle, acting as his winery’s distributor.
James secured a spot in the harvest with Eberle
and moved to Paso a few years later. Eberle, well
known for lovely wines, took a chance on someone
passionate to learn the same trade. James won
awards his first year out and started as winemaker
at Peachy Canyon while dreaming up the Tobin
James label.
Along came Claire and Lance Silver to the team
and now they have a combo for some seriously
good wine. Their casual attitude along with the
old saloon feel of the winery make their wine
approachable. You can choose a range of wine
from easy-drinking to special occasions. The 2015
Lagrein, with an impressive five years of aging,
has supple tannins and blackberry flavor that glide
right over the tongue and enhance food. The flavors
of blueberry continue to linger, the same way we
linger with good company.
SLO LIFE
90 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2020