Wine Tasting in the Trapp Family Lodge Wine Cellar

Saturday, November 7th 4:00 to 6:00

We will be tasting new releases of California Cabernet Sauvignon, for inclusion on our list. I’ve asked each of our distributors to submit a Cabernet that they have that’s there best QPR (Quality price ratio) under $26.00 retail. Cabernet Sauvignon has been referred to as the king of red wine grapes. Cabernet Sauvignons and blends where the variety predominates are some of the most prized wines produced in California. The grape is also the main ingredient in blends for many of the most famous red wines in the world. Cabernet Sauvignons are dry, full flavored and made to be long lived for many labels. The aging potential can be upwards of 10-20 years, though 5 to 9 years is more usual. Fans of Cabernet Sauvignon are familiar with the wine's common descriptors: berry, currant and cassis or herbaceous, bell pepper and toasty oak aromas and flavors. In U.S. supermarkets, Cabernet Sauvignon represented 13 percent of the wine volume sold in 2007 and nearly 11 percent of the case volume, according to The Nielsen Company. DNA genetic fingerprinting research at the University of California at Davis has revealed Cabernet Sauvignon to be a cross between the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. The variety is California's most widely planted red winegrape, with 75,622 acres reported in 2007. Napa Valley, Sonoma County and the Lodi-Woodbridge area have the most plantings. Cabernet Sauvignon is a tough-skinned, late-maturing variety that is more impervious to rain damage and disease. The best growing sites for producing quality wines from Cabernet Sauvignon are in moderately warm, semi-arid regions providing a long growing season, on well-drained, not-too-fertile soils. Vineyards in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley, much of the Napa Valley, and around the Paso Robles area of the Central Coast have consistently produced the highest-rated California examples. The format will be casual, walk around with cheese and bread.  The wines featured will be:

Franciscan, Napa Valley 2005

Justin, Paso Robles 2007

Three Loose Screws, “B Side”, Napa Valley 2005

Paoletti Winery, “Bella Novell”, Napa Valley 2006

Smith & Hook, Central Coast 2006

A sign-up sheet will be available at the front desk (253-5742 or 800-826-7000) and there will be a $20.00 fee per person.