|
 "Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance." That timeless thought came from the pen of Ben Franklin, and it's as apt today as it was 200 years ago. Wine was named America's favorite alcoholic beverage in a recent Gallup Poll, a statistic that doesn't surprise wine drinkers in California. We lead the nation in wine consumption, wine production and wine exports.
According to a study by the Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers entitled "Economic Impact of California Wine 2006," the California wine industry has an annual impact of $51.8 billion on the state's economy.
Wine has certainly made a significant splash in Orange County, which has embraced the industry in a big way. We may not produce much wine (although several wineries are based in OC with more on the way), but we sure do enjoy drinking it. Early settlers to this area grew grapes in the late 1800s - particularly in Anaheim - and made wine. But grapevines soon gave way to orange groves, which had a wider appeal.
Now, oranges have all but disappeared in OC; grapes have made a modest comeback. Several dozen acres in our county have been planted with wine grapes, a speck compared to Napa and Sonoma, yet significant in signaling a return to our wine roots. More importantly, dozens of wine boutiques, tasting rooms, and wine emporiums have emerged throughout Orange County over the past several years, resulting in more consumers being introduced to wine and learning that the process of going out to taste and buy wine can be a simple, fun activity.
"I think of wine tasting as a social networking experience and not just something trendy to do,: says Laguna Niguel resident Laura Van Deudekam. "When you go wine tasting in Orange County, you're usually among a group of people who are interested in the same thing you are, so it's a fun way to connect with people. You can enjoy some good wine and good conversation with people you don't know. And it's always fun to get people's opinions on different wines."
Places that provide pleasurable wine tasting experiences are on the rise. "There has been a tremendous increase in the number of wine bars that have opened in Orange County," confirms Maureen Collins, owner of Great Legs Wine in Newport Beach, one of the first wine boutiques in the area (it's been open nearly four years).
"Fortunately, I don't see us competing against each other because we all have something different and unique to offer. For example, I specialize in boutique wines from the central coast of California as well as other grape-growing regions around the state."
In addition to her retail business, Collins offers special wine tastings Wednesday through Saturday evenings that often include visiting winemakers or winery owners pouring their own wine.
Uncorked Wine Boutique in Rancho Santa Margarita also features wine tastings with winemakers. Owner Joe Porto has added special themed nights that have proved to be popular with customers.
"We have Tuscan Tuesdays, when we feature Italian wines, pasta and homemade gelato," says Porto. "We also have Live Music Thursdays, Cinema Sundays (when you can taste wine while watching a movie), and daily tastings."
Like other OC wine boutiques, Porto says Uncorked - located near Coto de Caza and Dove Canyon - serves a local clientele. "We're sort of the 'Cheers' of wine bars. We're a conversational place where people can pop in and try an interesting wine."
Porto says his customers range from sophisticated wine drinkers to people looking for an easy introduction to wine.
Collins says she sees all types of people at Great Legs, but it is the novice wine drinkers she has the most fun with.
"I really enjoy talking to them and explaining the various varietals and their characteristics," says Collins. "I like to watch them try the wine and understand why you swirl the wine around in your mouth."
Wine Styles - a national franchise with stores in Costa Mesa, Irvine and Lake Forest - offers its own take on tasting and selling wine.
"We have boutique wines from all over the world, most of which are under $25," explains Jeff Adams, the area developer for Wine Styles. "We taste all the wines and can tell a little story about each one. It's not like facing a wall of wine in a grocery store." Wine Styles holds weekly themed tastings.
"Some weeks we'll do all Australian wines, or Spanish wines, or wines from around the world, things like that," explains Adams.
The Wine Artist in Lake Forest offers a twist on tastings. The public is welcome to come into The Wine Artist to taste and purchase wine under the company's own Tijeras Creek label, but what sets The Wine Artist apart is the opportunity for people to actually purchase a small lot of wine, have it cellared for several weeks, and then bottle, cork and custom-label the wine to take home.
In addition to birthday parties and other special events centered around wine, The Wine Artist also caters to the corporate world. "Some companies host clients at the winery for wine tasting and bottling parties. It helps them create a unique, interactive and memorable executive client event," says Kathy De Santi of The Wine Artist.
"Wine has become essential for society," says Massimo Navarretta, owner and chef of Onotria Wine Country Cuisine in Costa Mesa, which boasts a 30-page wine list. "When you go to a restaurant and order dinner, wine is usually driving the conversation. The curiosity level for wine is higher. People are becoming more comfortable around wine."
Another sign that OC is wine savvy: Membership in the Orange County Wine Society (which oversees the Orange County Fair's renowned Wine Competition) has topped 1,000. Add that with OC residents making an impact by flocking to nearby wine country destinations such as Temecula, Santa Barbara and Paso Robles and it's clear that while our name may be Orange County, our nickname could - and should - be Wine County. t
Christopher Trela is a regular contributor; this is Noelle Novoa's first report for Churm Media. They created the OC Wine section for OC Menus.
|
