On Tour

California
I just love St Helena, it is truly a special place, a pretty little town with fabulous wine and some really outstanding restaurants. I managed to drag myself out to sample a few and was blown away!
Tokyo trained sushi master Ken Tominaga has put together the menu at “Go Fish” http://www.gofishrestaurant.net/ and the food is just amazing, they also have an extensive wine list, so I thought best I investigate the local Pinot’s trying one from Russian River (Dutton Estate) and one from Oregon (Domaine Serene). I was well looked after by Tony and Scotty.

Martini House http://www.martinihouse.com/ a cool quirky restaurant with an amazing wine list. Wine from all over the globe including many from New Zealand as the wine director, worked with NZ Wine in San Fran. The food here was to die for, as I sat and nibbled and sipped on a local Wicker Cabernet – a tap on the shoulder. It was Mr Wicker himself who I enjoyed a conversation with. What a friendly place, I will definitely be back there!

Ghost fleet of retired Ships
I visited Benicia in California to catch up with Peter and Larry from Henry Wine Group, which is a large distribution company in Western America and couldn’t believe my eyes when I arrived. Called the “ghost fleet” or “mothball fleet”, a large flotilla of retired WW11 and Vietnam-era ships reside in the Suisun Bay directly in front of Henry Wine Groups offices. Although the original intent was to have them capable of becoming battle-ready within a month, thus the official name of “reserve fleet”, most of the ships have been quietly rusting away for years and are beyond repair.

On to San fran - I caught up with David Strada from NZ Wine Growers who took me for a drink up to “Fifth Floor” a restaurant, wine bar in the Kimpton Hotel.

San Fran to Arizona to meet Mary Melton from PF Chang’s. PF Chang’s is a large chain of American style Chinese Restaurants, I was lucky enough to eat at a couple and I have to say delicious!

Arizona to Portland, Oregon.
I was lucky enough to be invited by Andy, Mary and Jasper (the bug) Lytle to Wala Wala (sounds like somewhere in outback Australia) to be part of several special events. The Wala Wala Wine Festival in which I tried wine from all over the region. Stand outs for me were Abeja, Corliss, definitely Double Back, Lionetti and Waters.
And I thought the Napa Valley was good! Wala Wala is in Washington about 3-4 hours drive up from Portland, Oregon and geeze it is worth the drive, not only is it an incredible wine producing region, the restaurants are top gear! Wala Wala ladies of Wine

We ate at Whitehouse Crawford Restaurant and Saffron (twice) amongst several others.
Saturday brunch at Double Back http://www.doubleback.com/ co owned by Chris Figgin’s (winemaker for Leonetti/son) and American football star Drew Bledsoe followed by a launch for family and friends of DoubleBack, we were lucky enough to try DoubleBack's first release, which was incredible now and not due to be released for another year!

Leonetti barrel hall (right) Chris showed us around his families gorgeous winery and we tasted many fabulous wines.

Chris Figgins and his father from Leonetti and Drew Bledsoe at the DoubleBack launch (left).

We visited Ken and Ginger at Abeja http://www.abeja.net/ This place is amazing and so is the wine! (Ken and Ginger right).

Saturday afternoon tour and tasting at Corliss http://www.corlissestates.com/ followed by a dinner where I met four other people attending the Kapalua Food and wine Festival in Hawaii.

Portland-Los Angels
Caught up with Jim “Hollywood” Malloy, went to Chateau Marmont with the gorgeous Stuart Robertson for dinner where we spotted Courtney love and Russell brand (actor/comedian) on the tables next to us.
Gotta love LA.

I am currently in the air, heading south, about to land in Hawaii (Maui) for the Kapalua Fine Wine and Food Festival, of which will be just terrible..

Aloha,

Bronny