Experience a ‘Focused Tasting’ with Caliza
Courtesy photos.
June tasting features five-year vertical lineup
–Carl Bowker, winemaker and proprietor of Caliza Winery, recently commenced offering “focused tastings” of specific wines, most of which are not generally available on their wine list. Caliza is offering these fun and informative tasting experiences monthly.
Carl Bowker, winemaker and proprietor of Caliza Winery.
This month, a five year vertical tasting of Caliza Syrah is being presented. These intimate tastings, held in Caliza’s tasting room, are hosted by Carl, Andy Neja (assistant winemaker) or another well-versed Caliza team member. This particular vertical tasting is a unique opportunity to compare how weather, length of growing season and other intangibles affect the same grape from the same terroir from year to year. One of the most interesting aspects of the tasting experience is being able to see how time in the bottle changes the characteristics of the wine, and to appreciate how different grapes compare to each other.
The tasting experiences change. For April Caliza did a comparative tasting of two vintages of two different wines. Wanting to showcase the difference in climate effect of the 2011 Cohort (major freeze event in 2011) and the 2012 Cohort (classic growing season). Also highlighted was a difference in winemaking techniques between the 2012 Primitivo (100 Primitivo) and the 2013 Primitivo (grapes co-fermented: 10-percent Petite Sirah with 90-percent Primitivo). A few other current releases were added to fill out the tasting with five to six wines total.
June’s Syrah event compares five vintages of Caliza’s award winning Syrah: 2009 – (90 pts Wine Spectator), 2010 – (92 pts Wine Spectator, 92 pts Wine Advocate), 2011 – (93 pts Wine Advocate), 2012 – (94pts Wine Spectator), and 2013 – (not yet rated). This is a remarkable and fun opportunity to sit down with wine lovers to compare and discuss these wines, how and why they morph over time and what affects the grape’s personality; you will also sample library wines that have not been available for purchase for some time. A special Caliza bonus is that wines offered in the Focused Tasting will be available for purchase in the tasting room and online at www.calizawinery.com during that month.
Carl comments about these tastings: “Since I began the tastings, we have received rave reviews from those attending these limited experiences. Guests are thrilled with the intimate one on one attention they receive along with all of the extra little tidbits mentioned about the wines they are tasting. This is a wine geeks dream tasting!”
Reservations are now being taken for June and the following months through the end of the year. Caliza Focused Tastings are held Thursday through Monday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (allow some flexibility on times); attendance is limited to 8 people. Cost: $20 for club members, $25 for non-members.
Book a focused tasting by calling the winery at: (805) 237-1480 or emailing at: tastingroom@calizawinery.com. Caliza is located at: 2570 Anderson Rd in Paso Robles.
