Outstanding Local Wines Available at Sigona’s

Outstanding Local Wines Available at Sigona’s

From vineyards big and small, Sigona’s has an extensive line of locally crafted wines from which to choose. You can’t beat our prices either! We even give some away for FREE…well, we have to charge a penny.

It’s no secret California is renowned for its wines. The Napa Valley is known worldwide for its outstanding viticultural vivaciousness, and the Central Coast – our own zone – has been a longtime contributor to the California wine scene; it’s home to some of the oldest vines in the state, having first been planted by Franciscan monks in the 1700s.

Sigona’s carries wines from both large and boutique California wineries, some of which are in our own neighborhood…literally! We’ve developed relationships with vintners in Redwood City, Menlo Park and San Carlos and are proud to carry their local wines, including everything from succulent Bordeaux blends to delicious Cabernet Sauvignons.

We like to think of it as a local-helping-local approach in the business world, just as so many of you, our local shoppers, take on and support the shop-local approach.

Take La Honda Winery, for example. The La Honda tasting room is just blocks from our Redwood City store. In fact, winemaker Ken Wornick and his wife Cynthia offered La Honda’s Old-World themed space as a venue for our first olive oil tasting seminar. If you haven’t been to one of the winery’s release parties or other tasting events, sign up today for more information.

We also work closely with Woodside Vineyards. Our wine buyer, Peter Doran, has known Bob Mullen, founder of Woodside Vineyards, for more than 25 years, and says (from experience, mind you) that Woodside’s chardonnay is consistently one of the best he’s ever had. Plus, it sells for $5 less than one of the big-name winery chardonnays (hint, rhymes with Tombauer).

Following is a list of wines from a handful of local wineries we feature at Sigona’s. Come on by our stores today to find these and more, and remember to pick up some cheese to pair with your finds (pairing suggestions noted below too).

See you in the store!

Oh, and here’s a word to the wise: While it’s tempting to pop open a bottle, pour a glass and enjoy in a timely manner, it’s important to let the red wines breathe for at least 20 minutes, preferably 30-60 minutes, before drinking to open up the aromas and flavor.

Domenico Winery:  2005 Meritage, Napa Valley

Domenico is a small winery based in San Carlos. It produces wines made from grapes grown in Amador County and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Their Meritage is a tremendous blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot that Pete, our wine buyer, says is one of the better Meritage blends around.

This Meritage features a nice, middle-of-the-road flavor with a boldness that still lends a mellow finish. It will give you a bit of a dry-mouth feel. This is definitely a full-bodied wine that is not thin by any stretch of the imagination. If you enjoy Merlot but want to be a bit bolder, this wine is for you.

Pair Domenico Meritage red meats such as grilled steak, porterhouse, tri-tip and more. It also goes nicely with a strong blue cheese, Pont l’Evêque, our Cave-Aged Gruyére or Alpenhorn.

Woodside Vineyards: 2008 Kings Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

This prototypical big-time cabernet comes from the Santa Cruz Mountains. It’s very dark with ruby colors and mild tannins, which we really love. It even has a fair amount of oak in it, which we’re sure lent to its winning a gold medal at the California State Fair with a score of 94.

The 2008 Woodside Vineyards Kings Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is ready to drink right now. However, if you have the fortitude to hang on for another five years or so, age will only make it that much better. Yes, it’s amazing right now, but it’s also a wine to really hang onto.

This is a versatile, everyday wine that also holds up well to special occasions. We currently have it at $25 and firmly believe it’s better than all its competitors – even those that are twice the price.

This wine goes nicely with beer, BBQ chicken, pastas in a red sauce chock-full of mushrooms and more. For a cheese and wine pairing, serve with Beemster X-O- Gouda, Temptin or Krautevl Schaunz Herb.

Donati Family Vineyards: 2008 Claret

This wine, made from grapes grown in the Paicines Appellation south of San Jose near Salinas, is big, bold and goes easy on the tannins. It’s a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Syrah that mellows out at the end. The 2008 Claret by the Donati Family Vineyard is a nice wine you’ll want to sit and savor. The flavor just lasts and lasts and lasts.

Donati’s 2008 Claret goes swimmingly with any kind of meat and pasta dishes. As for cheeses, this blend goes well with Sigona’s Moo-Na Lisa, Fume, Long Clawson Cotswold or Somerdale Red Dragon.

La Honda Winery: 2009 Exponent XY

Only 120 cases of the 2009 La Honda Winery Exponent XY were made. This wine really needs to breathe, so make sure to let it sit out for at least 30 minutes. It has a nice and mild finish.

This local wine, made from grapes grown in the Santa Cruz Mountains, is a beautiful red blend that keeps calling out to you long after you’ve swallowed. If you’re looking for a fantastic table wine, this is the one.

This blend pairs well with cheeses such as Blue Stilton, Italian Fontina or Rembrandt one-year-aged Gouda. It’s also delightful when served alongside flavorful dishes such as hearty pastas, stews or lamb. For dessert, sip on a glass and nibble on some dark chocolate.

Napa Ridge: 2007 Petite Sirah

Our 2007 Napa Ridge Petite Sirah (no, not Syrah) is a fan-favorite for many of our customers. This spicy, full-bodied Petit is a bit fruity and not super heavy on the tannins, making it a great every-day wine. It has a soft presentation that will only get better with time – although it’s highly drinkable now. Though it’s an overall mellow wine, it still has some power and punch to it.

What’s really great is that when you buy one at our Redwood City store, you get one free (well, for a penny). If you shop at our Stanford location, spending $30 or more will net you a bottle of this wine for just a penny. What’s more is this is a multi-award-winning wine, bringing home numerous silver and gold medals, including a gold medal in the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and a double gold in the 2010 International Eastern Wine Competition, to  name a few.

You may want to visit us soon, however. This wine flies out the door!

Enjoy with BBQ chicken, spicy pasta dishes, tri-tip and pizza. As for cheeses, enjoy with Chimay or Central Coast Creamery’s Goat Gouda.

Woodside Vineyards: 2009 Chardonnay

The 2009 Woodside Vineyards Chardonnay hails from the Santa Cruz Mountains where the climate is ideal for chardonnays. This wine knocks the socks off of expensive counterparts, including Rombauer Chardonnay. In fact, the 2009 Woodside Vineyards Chardonnay will be replacing our current stock of Rombauer due to the poor crush Rombauer had this season. Rombauer produced only 35% of what they normally do; since we can’t get our hands on it, we’re presenting to you an alternative that’s less expensive (and, we’ll say it, better tasting). This is truly an amazing value at just $24.99.

The hint of oak on the back end of this wine makes for a great pairing with fish, chicken piccata, halibut and wild salmon with dill. Cheese and chardonnay make for a perfect way to unwind at the end of the day too, and we recommend a Marin French Cheese Co. Brie or Camembert, Rogue Creamery’s Rogue River Blue or Central Coast Creamery’s Seascape.

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