Review votes:
4 Helpful, 3 Funny, 4 Cool
Compliments
Last Seen
 2010/06/22 12:09 PM
Location
Santa Rosa, CA
Spying since
October 2009
My Blog/Website
http://ZinMaster.WineSp...
My Favorite Website
http://Wikipedia.org
My Expertise
Underground wineries with little or no distribution.
I Spy with My Eye
Sinful Zins and Killer Cabs
Stuff I Love...
Garage wine, acid jazz, crowded restaurants
Spy Me At
Cellars of Sonoma and Willi's Wine Bar
When I'm not spying...
I write a weekly wine column and, currently, I'm in production for a satellite television network featuring California wines and wineries.
My Home Base
Sonoma County
Why You Should Read My Reports
I've been in Wine Country publishing for over 14 years. I've tasted 1000s of wines, visited more than 225 tasting rooms and become friends with many in the wine industry (who share LOTS of insider secrets with me). If you're a good spy, I'll share them with you.
Favorite Band
Pink Martini, James Morrison, Apocalyptica
Favorite Movie
The Shawshank Redemption
My Favorite Night Out...
Dinner and drinks with friends followed by concerts at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
My Favorite Winery
Bella Vineyards
My Most Recent Recon
Behens Family Winery
My Best Kept Secret
I have an illegal bottle of wine made by Heidi Barrett
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Goosecross Cellars
Category: Wineries
12/22/2009 01:30 AM
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1119 State Lane
Yountville, CA 94599 |
Goosecross is on my Top 10 list. It has all the ideal Wine Country elements: a picturesque vineyard setting, intimate tasting bar (surrounded by stacks of wine barrels), homespun hospitality, and, of course, superb small-lot wines!
Production is limited which creates a sense of exclusivity, yet the family is never pretentious in the manner of how they interact with guests. In fact, visitors are treated like family.
Bottom line? Fun crowds, hidden gem location, family owned and operated, generous pours and delicious wines - Goosecross is the real deal.
Spy Secret: Check out the family's new AEROS Artisan Series. |
This review was: Helpful
(0) Funny
(0) Cool (1)
1 Previous Review Show »« Hide
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11/30/2009 10:50 PM
Updated: 12/15/2009 07:35 AM
Goosecross is on my Top 10 list. It has all the ideal Wine Country elements: a picturesque vineyard setting, intimate tasting bar (surrounded by stacks of wine barrels), homespun hospitality, and, of course, superb small-lot wines!
Production is limited which creates a sense of exclusivity, yet the family is never pretentious in the manner of how they interact with guests. In fact, visitors are treated like family.
Bottom line? Fun crowds, hidden gem location, family owned and operated, generous pours and delicious wines - Goosecross is the real deal.
Spy Secret: Check out the family's new AEROS Artisan Series. |
This review was: Helpful
(0) Funny
(0) Cool (0)
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Rosso's Pizzeria and Wine Bar
Category: Restaurants
11/03/2009 04:01 PM
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53 Montgomery Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95404 |
Updated: 11/26/2009 09:17 PM
My friend Rebecca introduced this wicked good pizzeria and wine bar to me. The strange thing is, she's from San Juan Bautista! How could she possibly know anything about Santa Rosa's best pizza house? An out-of-towner beating me at my own game! That's embarrassing.
She nailed it, though. We arrived at Rosso's on a warm Friday evening with our party of 5 around 6:00. The place was already abuzz (a good sign). We gave the host our name who attentively noticed I had brought a bottle of wine with me. He immediately offered to open it for my guests and myself to enjoy while we waited. Good thing too, it took awhile to get seated. Not that I'm complaining, mind you, hanging out was part of the fun.
Rosso's Pizzeria is inspired by the slow food movement of Italy and local Sonoma County farmers. They use a Tuscan wood-burning over which produces a true Neopolitan style of crisp, yeasty pizza. House made burrata (an Italian cheese made from smoked Mozzarella and cream) is a specialty, and all their meats are handcrafted - denoting a philosophy to producing quality flavors on all levels.
The restaurant is also a wine bar which clearly had a dedicated following of wine aficionados. The bar itself is stylish, long and intimate with an eye-catching wall of wine directly behind it. Rosso's wine list is one of the most balanced I have ever seen, with many selections by the glass or carafe. And, almost all the choices are organic, sustainable, biodynamic. The carefully chosen wines are decidedly meant to celebrate terroir as much of the list shines from fine local producers as well as many boutique international vintners.
For those preferring the world's oldest alcoholic beverage, the beer menu does not disappoint. Rosso's has everything from a Flemish style sour beer, to a double IPA called Pliny the Elder, to a fantastic O.V.L. Stout. If you have a hard time deciding, you can order samplers.
As for the food, obviously, the menu is dominated by pizza. Beautiful 12" flat crust beauties baked two-and-a-half minutes in a 715 degree oven. The pies are separated into 2 categories: white base and red. The generous toppings (including oven roasted artichokes, funghi and shaved garlic, to name a few) are then paired accordingly. Fresh insalata (locally grown), sulumeria, antipasti and fresh made tapenades complete the food menu.
As for the service? The waitstaff was down to earth and attentive. In fact, they treated everyone like family. Unfortunately, the head chef, John Franchetti, had the night off, so the plates were a little slower than usual getting to the table. But no one was complaining. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was upbeat, friendly and warm.
Budget wise, for a complete dinner, figure $30 per person with a glass of wine. The restaurant is located in a strip mall, but don't let that fool you. This place is NOT your average eatery.
Grazie, Rebecca. I owe you one.
Spy Secret: Look for the fresh, seasonal items such as Dungeness crab, and smoked and braised beef short ribs with soft polenta. |
This review was: Helpful
(1) Funny
(0) Cool (1)
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Mystic Theatre & Music Hall
Category: Arts & Entertainment
10/30/2009 08:12 PM
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23 Petaluma Blvd North
Petaluma, CA 94953 |
Updated: 11/03/2009 08:29 AM
The Mystic Theatre is the North Bay's premier music venue. Located smack dab in the middle of historic downtown Petaluma, the Mystic Theatre was built in 1911 serving as host for live Vaudeville entertainment. In 1992, the place was renovated to accommodate live music performances for up to 550 guests.
A good-sized dance floor is next to the stage, but for great views - head up to the balcony. Did I mention the theatre has a state-of-the-art PA system? Yep! Comparable to the one at Slim's. Ticket prices are rock bottom for top-notch shows, too.
There's a full premium bar, and over 20 casual and fine-dining establishments in the neighborhood (all within walking distance of the theatre - so parking is a breeze).
A perennial local favorite. The ultimate night on the town. |
This review was: Helpful
(0) Funny
(1) Cool (0)
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RiverPointe Napa Valley
Category: Hotels & Travel
10/30/2009 07:13 PM
First to Review |
500 Lincoln Avenue
Napa, CA 94559 |
RiverPointe Napa Valley is a luxury resort offering personal cottages with casual comforts like intimate living spaces, full kitchens and scenic outdoor decks.
The riverside setting is a cross between luxury camping and cruise ship dalliance. An ideal getaway for couples seeking a romantic rendezvous or families looking for something fresh.
Easily the best value for an accommodation in the entire Napa Valley. |
This review was: Helpful
(1) Funny
(0) Cool (1)
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El Couqui
Category: Restaurants
10/30/2009 06:40 PM
First to Review |
400 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401 |
There’s a new restaurant in town, a true hot spot that expands the definition of taste! El Coqui, Sonoma County’s only Puerto Rican restaurant, is the real deal. Playful like a tropical vacation and colorful like a Caribbean sunset, El Coqui enchants with its exotic foods and captivating atmosphere.
For locals, this fun-loving “cocina criolla” is the perfect place to gather with friends for appetizers and drinks. For wine country visitors, El Coqui offers a delicious alternative to the white tablecloth dining experience. The wine list is selective but well crafted representing a handful of cool local producers as well as a few choice varietals from Spain and Argentina. Defining style rather than following it, El Coqui is the ideal mix of trendy atmosphere, hip crowds and mouthwatering Latin American cuisine. |
This review was: Helpful
(1) Funny
(1) Cool (1)
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Behrens Family Winery
Category: Wineries
10/30/2009 06:35 PM
First to Review |
4078 Spring Mountain Road
Saint Helena, CA 94574 |
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I’ve been tasting in a castle, cellar, wine cask and even a tepee, but never a trailer! Napa’s only tasting room housed in a vintage ‘47 Westcraft trailer is perched high atop Spring Mountain with a commanding view of the valley floor below. This is the home to the Behrens Family Winery tasting room on wheels. Indulge in an hour-long private tasting like none other in the valley, with a variety of wines that have scored in the 90s. |
This review was: Helpful
(1) Funny
(0) Cool (0)
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1 Compliment
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 Cheers
You have a glass of wine on me. ;) |
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