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Tolosa Winery Pays it Forward With…Sheila’s Wine Bar, Camarillo.

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Stories from the Road- by Danielle Huber

Five months ago, long-time supporters of Tolosa and owners of Sheila’s Wine Bar and Restaurant in Camarillo, Pablo and Bertha Medina, visited Tolosa Winery. Pablo and Bertha made quite an impression on me.

Now, I am not materialistic by any means, but what struck me was the generosity within the hearts of these warm and beautiful people. Bertha, Pablo’s wife, was wearing the most attractive pave set ring with a lime green stone. And I told her so!

Before they left Tolosa’s tasting room, Bertha took the ring off her hand and put it on mine. “If it fits,” she said, “you have to keep it.” It did fit, and uneasily I kept it. Who today pulls a ring off of their finger and hands it to you?! “It will bring you luck!” both she and her exuberant husband told me. “Really??” I thought. Still in disbelief, I could hardly imagine.

Well luck it brought…

Two weeks later, I was offered a position to sell full time with Tolosa Winery’s outside sales team in the South Central Coast. In my five year history at Tolosa, I couldn’t have dreamed up this role. I was the tasting room girl and tour-guide on busy Saturdays. I was the front door girl at the pickup parties…the one who carefully remembers our wine club members. But outside sales for Tolosa? Really? Me?

My new role for Tolosa is to leave my friends and seemingly “family” in the tasting room and be an ambassador on the streets. Taking Tolosa to restaurants and stores NEAR YOU that may or may not know how amazing these wines are. There is work to be done! I couldn’t have had a better training ground…and I certainly couldn’t muster more enthusiasm for this unique brand! Thank you to all who have known me along the way!

FULL CIRCLE:

Two days ago I visited Pablo and Bertha at Sheila’s Wine Bar in Camarillo…my newest restaurant account! What a truly meaningful experience.

The moral of the story is that ordinary people can motivate one’s life in absolutely extraordinary ways. The story of generosity doesn’t really end with Bertha Medina of Sheila’s Wine Bar. I promise to write more from the road, so stay tuned. But remember this…

Wine is the medium that bridges many hearts. Be open to what it tells you. And remember to pay it forward!

Updates from “The Road” soon…!

Best,
Danielle Huber

Danielle Huber

Central Coast Sales

Tolosa Winery

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Tags: Sheila's Wine Bar, Tolosa on the Road
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Weekend Wine Pairings Expand to Charcuterie and Chocolate!

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

What we(I) need is “CHANGE” ! – by John

A few weeks ago, I realized that in spite of having a potential inventory of 150 cheeses from Vivant, that I was beginning to get a “bit’ bored with my offerings. If the concept of being bored with a menu reaches me, than sooner or later, I was afraid it just might reach my loyal “repeat” customers.

That’s right, I do have a group of customers that not only come routinely, but are quick to point out what is new to them and what is not. These are my most important customers because they are my best critics.

As a result, three weeks ago, my first step was to contact Patty Menna, a local choclatier and owner of the Truffle Garden, with a plan to list her chocolate truffles weekly, next to the cheese. The result was immediate. We sold out that weekend.

Today, three weeks later, I thought as long as we were at it, we should offer charcuterie as well. This way, not only could we offer a third choice, but a couple could enjoy one plate of each with a knife for sharing.

Most important, I won’t become a “one trick pony”-something us seniors fear most! But not to fear, I won’t be offering panini’s or mac and cheese as of yet!

Most importantly here are the 3 Menus for this weekend January 28^th :

Charcuterie and Wine Pairing Menu:

· 2009 No Oak Chardonnay

Prosciutto with apricot/Busseto

· 2009 Chardonnay

Duck Pate/Fabrique Delices

· 2009 Pinot Noir

Sinocchiona-locally produced pork with fennel and Chianti.

· 2008 Syrah

Chorizo from Spain

Truffle and Wine Pairing Menu:
Local handmade truffles from the Truffle Garden.

· 2009 No Oak Chardonnay

Lemon Hazelnut Truffle

· 2009 Chardonnay

Orange Truffle

· 2009 Pinot Noir

Lavender Truffle

· 2008 Syrah

Mexican Chocolate Truffle

And last but not least our Wine and Cheese Menu for this weekend:

· 2009 No Oak Chardonnay

Mango Ginger White Stilton

· 2009 Chardonnay

Vella Jack

· 2009 Pinot Noir

Mont d’Or

· 2008 Syrah

Sartori Sar Vecchio

All are the same price at $20pp or $15 pp club members each. If you would like to make reservations email me, jshakley@tolosawinery.com or give us a call at (805)782-0500!

JOHN SHAKLEY

CONCIERGE, TOLOSA WINERY

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Tags: charcuterie, pairing wine with food, truffles and wine, wine and cheese
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Winter Wonderland Soup

Friday, December 16th, 2011

Tolosa’s Annual Holiday Open House last night was a great event to really get us in the Holiday spirits with only 8 more days until Christmas. Our staff had a great time being wine elves and we hope all our guests had as good of time as we did! We’re still talking about how great the Mulled Wine tasted, and not to mention the delicious soup made by our fabulous staff member, Lori Morse.

Here is a note from Lori along with her soup recipe that is perfect for this winter season!

For those of you who attended our Holiday Open House last night, here is the soup recipe I devised for the party.

This chowder is not as thick and rich as some, If you want a thicker chowder, you could use a “slurry” of flour (or cornstarch) and water (like thickening a gravy) to thicken the soup right before you add the cream. Remember, you need to have the soup boil gently as the flour &water’s thickening power will be at its highest as it boils.

However, you don’t want the soup to separate, so stay with it & keep stirring! Turn down the heat as soon as it thickens to the desired consistency.

All you need is a nice green salad & crusty bread alongside, a cozy fire, and some friends to enjoy it with!

I wish you and yours a wonderful Holiday Season!

Cheers,

Lori Morse, Tasting Room Attendant & Avid Home Chef

Tolosa Winter White Roasted Corn Chowder

1 onion, 3 stalks celery, 5 small carrots, diced

1 clove garlic, grated

2 Tbs. Butter /2Tbs Olive oil

2 Tbs. Flour

1 ½ c. Tolosa Estate (Oaked) Chardonnay (approx. half a bottle)

2 pks. Roasted Corn (frozen)

3 white potatoes, peeled & diced

1 Box Vegetable Stock (or chicken if preferred)

1 gallon full fat milk

½ each red, orange & yellow bell pepper, skinned & diced

2-3 stalks Fresh Thyme, leaves picked/Fresh Rosemary, chopped, to taste

1 8oz. carton heavy cream (or more to taste)

Salt &white pepper to taste.

Micro greens and/or croutons for garnish

Sauté the diced vegetables & garlic with the butter and oil in a large stock pot until soft. Salt & pepper lightly.

Sprinkle the flour over the veggies and let it cook, stirring constantly for about 2-3 minutes. Add the wine & stock, cook until slightly thickened about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the corn & milk. Bring it to a soft boil, stirring constantly. When it begins to thicken, turn down the heat, add the diced potatoes, peppers & thyme.

Cook gently on very low heat for 30 minutes (or more), stirring frequently until potatoes and peppers are tender, soup is thickened and flavors are mingled. Adjust the seasoning as needed. Add the cream at the last minute, stirring well. Warm through, and adjust seasonings for a final time.

Ladle in to bowls and top with micro greens and/or croutons & Enjoy!

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Ahwahnee’s past and future memories at Vintner’s Holiday

Friday, November 11th, 2011

My association with the Ahwahnee Vintner’s Holiday goes back to its very beginnings thirty years ago. Actually, Acacia was invited along with a couple other wineries who were represented by a rep named Lee Leardini to do a tasting with staff and guests of the Ahwahnee a year or so before the Vintner’s Holidays began. Out of that tasting the idea for the Vintner’s Holiday developed. I have been to many of them over the years. I’ve lost track of the exact number. Besides delicious food and a beautiful setting there have been some magic moments up there. I remember once walking outside after one of the dinners. It had been snowing all day and the skies cleared revealing a moonlit and snow blanketed Yosemite Valley. It was beyond spectacular. In the early days there were also some wild parties with the staff afterwards. For the winemaker the chance to give a long form seminar with the guests is one of the highlights. I particularly enjoyed one with Gerald Asher (legendary wine writer) who I had long been a fan of. This year I am planning on giving a modified version of the seminar I gave to the Southern Pinot Noir Workshop in New Zealand this past January which looks at the changes in structure and style of Pinot Noir globally over the last three decades.

Come out and join us for the last session on December 7^th and 8^th and I would love to share more epic stories. Here are the details:
Each session includes:

Exclusive “Meet the Vintners” wine tasting reception
Four lively and fascinating seminars in The Ahwahnee’s Great lounge
Gala dinner in The Ahwahnee’s grand Dining Room featuring an elegant five-course gourmet meal specially developed and prepared to complement the wines o f the distinguished vintners of the session.

Tolosa is part of Session VIII: December 7 – 8, 2011:
Moderated by Dan Berger, Wine Journalist & Judge
Wednesday, December
1:00 PM Tasting Seminar: Ceja Vineyards – Amelia Moran Ceja,
Proprietor & President
3:30 PM Tasting Seminar: Karjy Winery – Lawrence “Buck” Cobb,
Proprietor & Wine maker
6:00 PM Meet the Vintners Wine Tasting Reception
Thursday, December B’”
1:00 PM Tasting Seminar: Tolosa Winery – Larry Brooks, General
Manager & Winemaker
3:30 PM Tasting Seminar: Chateau Montelena Winery – Bo Barrett,
Portner & Moster Winemaker
6:30 PM Vintners’ Holidays Gala Dinner in The Ahwahnee
Dining Room

Packages and Rates available on the Yosemite Park Website. Click here for booking and details.

-Larry Brooks

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What Mothers Want

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

A quick review guys. When a women says to you:

Don’t you think that chair in the corner would look better by the window”? She means:

a-She wants your opinion.

b-She’s just making conversation-you should agree.

c-She wants you to move the chair for her.

And so it goes. In my life, I’ve watched and listened carefully for years- as mother’s boy, then a husband, later a father of two girls and now a grandfather of three girls. And honestly – I still don’t have it figured out – and probably, subconsciously, don’t want to either!

But with Mothers day just around the corner, I must warn you, there are plenty of potential “land mines” planted in this week ahead. Just a few:

-They may tell you, as a husband, that it’s really the child’s responsibility to plan something special.

-They’ll encourage you to go ahead with that previously planned fishing trip with the guys.

-They might tell you that they’re contemporary enough not to need a “Hallmark” holiday.

-A perfect day for them will be a bar-b-que at home (you know-where you think just because you do one third of the work, it was ALL YOU) and homemade cards from the kids plus one from Von’s from you know who.

None of the above suggestions are true.

They want out of the house for something special. They want something spontaneous from you, something original and somewhere away and apart from their responsibility-the home and the family!

My suggestion? Bring her to Tolosa, where for $20 per person ($15 for members) you can have her sit down and relax while enjoying soft music, a beautiful view of the spring vineyards and a choice of either homemade chocolate truffles (from SLO’s own Patty Menna/Truffle Garden) or artisan cheese (locally owned by Danika Reed) paired “deftly” with four Tolosa wines- by you know who! Pairings will be available this Saturday and Sunday from 11-4pm, with reservations highly suggested. Call 805.782.0500, email jshakley@tolosawinery.com or sign-up online by clicking here.

One other thing. If she asks me about the chair-I’ll move it for you!

John

CONCIERGE, TOLOSA WINERY