Slow Wine Guide: 14 SWG Wineries Among the 36 U.S. Wineries in the Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting

 

It was lovely to see a sense of joie de vivre and good food, as well as phenomenal wines, return to this annual San Francisco gathering after two years of pandemic disruption and low attendance.

As noted a few days ago in another post, one of the best tastings of the year is always the Wine & Spirits magazine Top 100 tasting in downtown San Francisco. Roughly a third - or 36 - are from the U.S. And of the U.S. producers, roughly a third are featured in this year's Slow Wine Guide USA (which was recently featured in the San Francisco Chronicle).

I tasted and explored mostly foreign wines (more difficult to find Burgundy and Rhone tastings in these parts), but had to stop and taste at the 14 wineries featured in the forthcoming Slow Wine Guide 2023 (or previous SWGs) who were among the 36 US Top 100 wineries. 

That list includes Au Bon Climat, Bergstrom, Calera*, Corison, Eden Rift, Eyrie Vineyards*, Hermann J. Wiemer, Hirsch, Lingua Franca, Lumos*, Domaine Nicolas-Jay, Radio Coteau*, Ridge Vineyards* and Tablas Creek*.

[* = Certified organic estate.]

AND CONTRARY to how the SF Chronicle whines about prices being too high in Napa, Sonoma, etc. I would like to say so many of these producers have wines that are not overpriced. You can just start with Slow Wine Guide or this tasting to verify that wines to love and to drink are within reach. No $900 cult Cabs in these circles. 

And aren't these some beauties? 

Mike Waller, winemaker for Calera, and his brother Cory Waller (Eden Rift's winemaker) have side by side wineries in Hollister, so it was only natural that they were side by side at the tasting. I look forward to having a serious talk with Mike about clones soon. And how did Eden Rift decide which clones to plant? Entirely different vineyards, or so it seems on the surface. I look forward to learning more.

I visited Eden Rift for the first time this past month and was mightily impressed, but could not coax them into letting me taste their "Terraces" chardonnay and Pinot Noir on site (because they were saving them for the Top 100 tasting crowd). Coupon redeemed. And they are extraordinary and quite unique.

One of my (and everyone else's) favorite Oregon producers and organic experts, Dai Crisp, of Lumos*, looking elegant in white jacket. Love their Pinot Gris (not to mention the Pinot Noir). 

Oakville Grocery offered up some real food. Chicken tenders. 

For when you're like, HANGRY, cause it's time for dinner.

The big hit in my book - oysters - parked next to the Bollinger and Roederer tables. Say no more. 

Ken Swegles and Cole Thomas of Madison Wines (in Slow Wine Guide)

and I met over the section of Burgundies. They make great Pinot Noir in the Santa Cruz Mountains. 

The phenom that is Ivo Jeramaz, from 
Grgich Hills*. Nice to see them in the Top 100!
One of Napa's largest organic producers. And just a
great winery overall.  

Eric from Radio Coteau*, as I failed to get all of W&S publisher  Joshua Greene in the photo (apologies), but did get to say HI to both briefly.