Eberle Winery - ES PASO ROBLES

By Kat Thomas, Editor in Chief, Edible Skinny

Our next winery to explore was one of the grandfathers of Paso Robles wine: Eberle Winery, established in 1982, by Gary Eberle.   Eberle is a braggadocios man, but with every right to be.  Before finding wine he played football at Penn State and pro ball for 18 days with the Detroit Lions.  But, a National Science Fellow, the science of wine was his calling.  After a mentoring from Robert Mondavi, he has been making wine every year since 1973.  “Mondavi was the PT Barnum of wine, and I say that with the most admiration ever,” noted the wry Eberle.   

 

The Eberle Winery Tasting Room is open seven days a week, offering complimentary wine tasting, cave tours and spectacular views of their vineyard.  Eberle, a Swiss name for “little boar,” now does 30,000 cases per year with a focus primarily on red wines (which constitute 83% of their inventory).  According to Gary, Eberle is the busiest tasting room in Paso, and the second busiest tasting room in the state.  The winery does 90,000 guests a year, with 50% of retail sales in storefront.  “We sell everything.”  In 1991, Eberle was seeking additional space for their red wine program and decided to go underground. Today there are 16,000 square feet of underground caves and tunnel located below the winery. 

 

Eberle’s winemaker is also carries the last name of Eberle, although he’s not blood related.   Chris Eberle attended Cal Poly for Ag Business and Viticulture before traveling the world making wine in Europe, Australia, and South America.   Gary was looking for a winemaker and friend requested him on Facebook, the rest is history. 

Some of our favorites from this tasting included Eberle’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2013.   Eberle only makes a Reserva approximately half of the time.  “It has to be the best of the best to make it.”  This wine will be released in 2017 and according to Gary will be sold out by Christmas.  This is a wine of detail (with the label painted straight onto the glass bottle), with velvety tannins bringing up hints of cherry and cedar.   Another fantastic wine is their 2016 Muscat Canelli Double Gold.  Refreshing and semi-sweet, this wine with its flavors of Jasmine and Orange blossoms is a fantastic aperitif or to complement a decadent dessert. 

Some Statement Cabs from the STARS of Cabernet

A little while ago, Edible Skinny was lucky enough to attend WineLA’s STARS of Cabernet at the Peninsula Beverly Hills.  While there, we were given a passport to this delicious bold “statement” wine and learn a little bit more about a few choice Cabs brands. 

As luck would have it one of our favorite Cabernets of the night was the first table we sampled at.  The Hawk Horse Vineyards is a small family-owned and operated ranch and vineyard estate located in the Red Hills AVA of Lake County in Northern California.  The vineyard, situated in mountainside with elevations between 1,800 and 2,200 feet, grows award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon and their delicious “Latigo” Port-Style wine.  Hand crafted with precision, their luscious wines are both Demeter Biodynamic and CCOF Organic Certified.  For those looking to experience these sumptuous wines on site, the ranch offers private tours and tastings allowing their guests to encounter the ranch’s varied wildlife including Red Hawks, American Quarter Horses, and Scottish Highland Cattle (this last one are very very funny looking…).  

Another wine that ES delighted in was the ever popular Jordan Vineyard (and that statement is more than accurate as Mister Nick Holmes told us they are the most popular restaurant wine in the country..!).  John Jordan’s brand, located in the Alexander Valley on 1,200 acres, produces two varietals, Chardonnay and Cabernet, along with some fantastic viral videos such as their Blurred Lines parody… “Blurred Vines” and their Footloose/Flashdance parody “Get Fit.”  Both are absolutely hysterical and get the heart of Jordan’s philosophy which is there are Wine Geeks (those who overthink wine) and Wine Dudes (people who don’t and have a blast with life).  Sipping their wines at STARS of Cabernet reminded me once again how much I would rather embrace the latter than the former.  

We then strolled over to the Paso Robles (Cabernet and Bordeaux) Collective (PRCC) Cabernet table.  PRCC is a grass-roots organization which promotes the Paso Robles AVA through the classic Cabernet and red Bordeaux varietals.  The organization put on quite a spread offering over a dozen red hued wines from the area as varied poppies in a field.  Some of our favorite wines we sampled from their array of choice Cabs, were Sextant Winery, Rotta Winery, and Dao Vineyards & Winery.

The night finished with a fantastic glass of ZD Wines Reserva wine, Abacus.   ZD Wines, is a family owned and operated by three generations of the deLeuze family, in the heart of Napa Valley.  Their Abacus wine, produced from several vineyards in the Valley, has an intensity that develops and envelopes you with flavors of cassis, plum, and vanilla.   Full of ripe tannins, it’s a wine that lingers on your lips the way a delicious memory lingers in your mind. 

So here’s all your Cabs being full of statement and life being delicious!

Something To Check Out: STARS of Cabernet

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most recognized red wine grapes.   And with that in mind, Edible Skinny is stoked to be recognizing one of our favorite grapes at this year’s 7^th annual STARS of Cabernet at the Peninsula Beverly Hills, produced by WineLA.com

Cabs are statement bottles.  They’re full bodied wines with high tannins and acidity that makes you notice what is up!  And STARS is a full of bodied collectable showcase bringing the best producers together with their respected wineries.   Wines featured at this event includes: Fairchild, Duckhorn, J. Lohr, Jordon, JUSTIN, and many more. 

This STAR studded event allows all guest to enjoy unlimited wine tasting, tray passed Hors d’oeuvres, and an assortment of breads, cheese, and chocolate.  There will be a silent auction with 100% benefits going towards the TJ Martell Foundation, which help funds Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, a charitable 501c.  Splurge for the VIP tickets and you’ll enjoy a delicious VIP Buffet and receive a Gift Bag upon departure.  

The event’s almost sold out but if you want to grab some of the last remaining slots head over to:

http://www.starsofcabernet.com/

Hoping Life is Delicious and you’ll be recognizing one of our favorite grapes at STARS.