San Diego County / Ramona Valley AVA Winery Tasting Rooms almost…

by Dennis Grimes on August 5, 2010

Tasting rooms almost…

The nascent rebirth of San Diego County winery industry was given another assist  yesterday (August 4th 2010)  as the County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed the “Tiered Winery Ordinance” which enables tasting rooms by right of land ownership in A70-A72 agriculturally zoned parcels in the County. The proceedings and testimony are available at this video link http://bit.ly/9SyFQW .

This has been a long 4-year effort. Winery opponents derailed a similar ordinance two years ago requiring the County to spend some $300,000 on a Environmental Impact Report (EIR) along with associated staff hours and hearings on the report. Placer County near Sacramento passed a similar ordinance two years ago without incident and has had no problem with winery customers in that county.

What’s next?

There is a 30 day Ordinance enactment (waiting) period to allow among other things, the filing of opposing lawsuits. Following enactment of the ordinance, Boutique wineries plannning to open tasting rooms modify their existing California Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC) licences and meet several  San Diego County Department of Planning and Land Use  (DPLU) requirements.

Here’s a link to one of many news stories on the ordinance http://bit.ly/9fGe5q

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Wine Bloggers Conference 2010 in Walla Walla Washington – View from the Eagles Nest Winery

by Dennis GrimesJune 28, 2010

Bottom line up-front: Overall the conference provided an excellent insight into the the grape growing potential of the area, as well as the high quality wine offerings by the universally passionate winemakers/ winemaking staffs of the region. The just-completed WBC10 was an outstanding compilation of Washington Wineries, eastern Washington AVA vineyards, and capable and passionate [...]

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Temperature! Wine is a delicate, evolving product requiring the utmost care

by Dennis GrimesJune 20, 2010

Many newer wine consumers are unaware of the importance in maintaining stable, consistent temperatures in storing their prized wines. Wine blogs on the Internet are full of posts about the importance of temperature control from the wine cellar perspective. But what happens between the winery and the retail consumer? This discussion is uniquely from an [...]

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Eagles Nest Winery Medals Again at 2010 New York Finger Lakes International Wine Competition

by Dennis GrimesMarch 30, 2010

The prestigious 10th annual Finger Lakes International Wine Competition (FLIWC), was held at the Rochester Plaza Hotel & Conference Center 27-28 March 2010. FLIWC is the world’s third-largest commercial competition, and largest on the east coast. The 2010 competition featured a record number of entries 3,010 wines from over 666 International and National wineries from [...]

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Eagles Nest Winery Medals at 2010 National Women’s Wine International Competition

by Dennis GrimesMarch 23, 2010

2010 National Women’s Wine International Competition While the competition results won’t be released to the general public until April 2, 2010, we found out today (March 23, 2010) that we received four medals for our wines and ports. Our 2007 Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon wine, 2007 Estate Reserve Syrah wine, 2007 Estate Reserve Starboard Cabernet [...]

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Eagles Nest Winery Medals at 2010 SD International Wine Competition

by Dennis GrimesMarch 22, 2010

The 27th Annual San Diego International Wine Competition (SDIWC) was held 20-21 March 2010. Over 30 judges from around the United States evaluated via blind tastings, and scored nearly 2,000 total entries and awarding medals to wines worthy of merit. This is a rigorous, professionally conducted wine competition where experienced judges award medals to less [...]

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What’s in a Name: What you CANNOT call a wine in the USA

by Dennis GrimesMarch 16, 2010

Many US  wineries producing traditional styled wines are a loss when naming their wines in a manner in which wine consumers can easily recognize the type or style of wine  produced. This is due to restrictions that wine labeling regulations place on wine grape products, and their bottle labels, and illustrations.  One of My pet [...]

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Eagles Nest Winery wins Gold at 2010 (20th) Grand Harvest Wine Competition

by Dennis GrimesMarch 5, 2010

Eagles Nest Winery ‘s 2008 Picpoul Blanc, 07 Syrah, and 07 Ruby Port garnered Gold, Silver,  and Bronze medals at 20th Annual Grand Harvest International Wine Competition. Presently 100% of our 2007 & 2008 releases of Estate grown Wines & Ports are Gold, Silver & Bronze medalists, and 88% of our total 2007 & 2008 [...]

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Eagles Nest Winery: WSJ – At Wineries Small is Beautiful

by Dennis GrimesMarch 1, 2010

Back in December of 2009 we were so disappointed to hear that Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher were no longer working for the Wall Street Journal and that their long running Tastings Column was no more. We wish them well and await their reemergence in the Wine World better, healthier, and even more successful! Below [...]

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Eagles Nest Winery: Beyond the Bottle – The Story behind Fred Franzia and his Two Buck Chuck

by Dennis GrimesFebruary 2, 2010

Love him or hate him, Fred Franzia master of “freeway aged wines” and the convicted felon (wine and grape sourcing violations) is Napa Valley’s and the Wine industry’s gadfly – and – the savior of “ultra value” wine consumers. In mid 2009, Franzia recently sold the 400,000,000th bottle of Charles Shaw (Two-Buck Chuck), owns 40,000 [...]

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Eagles Nest Winery: Wine Humor – THE BOTTLE OF WINE

by Dennis GrimesJanuary 31, 2010

I’m sharing this excellent wine humor from Tat Perrill one of our dear friends and wine blog members – please share a comment thanking Tat for sharing this gem!  – Dennis THE BOTTLE OF WINE For all of us who are married, were married, wish you were married, or wish you weren’t married, this is [...]

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A distraction??? Why a luxury vacation cottage at a winery – aren’t wineries just about wine?!?!

by Dennis GrimesNovember 2, 2008

Shouldn’t wineries focus solely on their wine products? Isn’t it a distraction to farm wine grapes and offer lodging and entertainment venues?

In our view, Yes wineries are about fine wine – great wine is important, and – No there’s a lot more to wine than just what’s in a bottle!

We feel it’s correctly the entire (intimate) winery experience – the vineyards, the winery, the barrel room, the people, the winery equipment, the scenery, the landscaping, the fountains,…

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Decanting Wine – Whats and whys – Vinturi’s, Respirers, Peugeot Tulipes, and Spinwine Pourers

by Dennis GrimesMay 17, 2009

We’ve all heard of decanters, most often seen in high end palatial estates or highbrow homes that feature an expansive bar with scotch or a fine brandy displayed and poured from crystal decanters – never mind the lead leaching our of the lead crystal glass (oops!). Not just for the well-to-do, wine decanters and/or their [...]

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What’s in a (wine) name? Lots, actually…

by Dennis GrimesMay 27, 2009

The European Union continues to put the squeeze on U.S. Wineries exporting to Europe by limiting U.S. Winery naming options and conventions. Terms such as “Clos”, “Chateau”, “Vintage”, “Vintage Character”, “Classic”, and others, are banned. Wineries with the above terms in their winery names or wine products will have to fight for trademark recognition or [...]

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“Staycation” Poor Economy & high gas costs encourage close vacations

by Dennis GrimesJune 11, 2009

The uncertainties of today’s economy and rising gas costs are spurring a trend towards short vacations close to home AKA “staycations”. Combine other passions with your visit – golfing, birdwatching, hiking. We all need a break from the work-a-day life and a short, close vacation is just as beneficial and relaxing as a longer one [...]

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The “Wine Experience” is a multi-level journey…

by Dennis GrimesJuly 13, 2009

In my humble view, there are many levels of the wonderful “wine experience” The first level is being knowledgeable of wine and purchasing, sharing, and enjoying retail wines. The next level is visiting wineries and wine regions and sampling their product, understanding their wine making philosophy, and at least at a superficial level wine making. [...]

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Eagles Nest Winery & Cottage’s Guest Wine DVD Library

by Dennis GrimesOctober 7, 2009

In keeping with the wine theme of Eagles Nest’s Vacation Cottage we stock the DVD library with selected wine movies and educational wine videos for our GUESTS to give them the opportunity to enjoy the DVDs on the wide screen TV and foster “a wine frame of mind.” Here are some DVDs in the Eagles [...]

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Videos: Fine wine & fine arts pair at Eagles Nest Winery & Cottage

by Dennis GrimesJuly 20, 2009

Eagles Nest believes the wine lifestyle is to be shared and enjoyed with all.  Our many musically gifted friends are inspired to share their talent  on Eagles Nest’s veranda that overlooks the vineyards and the scenic west Ramona Valley. The music spans the range from classic Opera to acoustic guitar and everything in between. We [...]

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Lesser known: Twisted tale – wine tasting canine mascot prefers Tempranillo

by Dennis GrimesJuly 25, 2009

We enjoy visiting the lesser known winery destinations because as Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher Wine writers of  the Wall Street Journal advise… and we know… THAT is where you experience the uniqueness of smaller wineries and the passion of the winery owners and winemakers (often and hopefully one and the same). The video we’re posting [...]

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Eagles Nest medalist again! – 2 Gold Medals in 2009 Temecula Wine Competition!

by Dennis GrimesJuly 30, 2009

Two San Diego County Wineries won Golds in 2009 Temecula Wine competition – Eagles Nest & Schwaesdall Eagles Nest Winery (Twitter: @eaglesnestwine, FaceBook http://facebook.com/eaglesnestwine) wins two Gold medals in Temecula Wine Society Competition at July 29th 2009 Awards Dinner benefiting their Oenology Scholarship program. The dinner was hosted at Wiens Family Cellers event center. Other [...]

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Dessert Wines and Ports… Sweets for the sweetheart

by Dennis GrimesAugust 29, 2009

Premium red and white table (still) wines have a solid place in wine lover’s hearts. They are the daily staple of our wine-loving lives. The battery acid hole and grime on the sleeve is a good touch n’est pas??? Dessert wines and Port-styled wines have their own special place for special occasions or special times [...]

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Wine Notes: Moving beyond keg stands – Some more wine tasting considerations

by Dennis GrimesSeptember 23, 2009

It used to be fashionable to bash wine snobs and their impossibly convoluted descriptions of wine e.g. something like “ingratiating without being obsequious” What?!!? A wonderful trend is taking place where young folks are diving onto, or at least jumping feet first into the California, Washington, Oregon and international wine scenes seeking a social and [...]

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Ramona wines win more accolades – Twitter Makes good business sense, say Eagles Nest Owners

by adminOctober 9, 2009

By Maureen Robertson Ramona Sentinel Business News October 8, 2009 Gold Medals went to only three San Diego County wines in the Temecula Wine Society Competition 2009 and they were all from Ramona Wineries. The three golds went to two Ramona Wineries: Eagles Nest Winery and Schwaesdall Winery. Dennis and Julie Grimes’ Eagles Nest Winery [...]

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Eagles Nest Winery: Fall Wine Camping & RV visit to Paso Robles Wine Country

by Dennis GrimesNovember 12, 2009

We recently rounded up a bunch of wine loving associates and friends to visit the beautiful and relaxing Paso Robles  wine country of Central California. This started up as a Twitter wine “tweetup” event and was renamed a “Twamping” event (Twitter+ camping) – by-the-way we’re currently the #2 winery on Twitter – please follow us [...]

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Eagles Nest Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Ruby Port with Brie, Walnuts, Goat & Gorgonzola Cheese

by Julie GrimesNovember 16, 2009

My girlfriend Lynn Murdock and I made this wonderful appetizer during a fund raiser event we had for the Boys and Girls Club here in San Diego.  We had just finished harvesting our 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and had some fruit still hanging on the vines. Lynn went out to the vineyard and picked grapes [...]

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Spinach-Artichoke Nest Cups at Eagles Nest Winery

by Julie GrimesNovember 16, 2009

Eagles Nest Wiery & Cottage offers a wonderful venue to honor and encourage Community Service organizations.  We donate to selected local groups as our service to the community. Once again, Lynn Murdock and I were busy making  appetizers during a fund raiser event we had for the Ramona Boys and Girls Club here in San [...]

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A NESTed Affair (Gourmet homemade appetizers are a hit at Eagles Nest Winery!!!)

by Julie GrimesNovember 17, 2009

Appetizers & Wine .. A Nested Affair.. Ever wanted to spend a quality evening with your spouse, but have no time to cook? Here at Eagles Nest Winery & Cottage, we enjoy entertaining our friends & family.  It’s a special way for us to say THANKs for all their hard work. We also have a [...]

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Eagles Nest Winery Shares Wine Humor: No Wine Before Its Time – 70′s Orson Wells commercial & its humorous outake – Watch both!

by Dennis GrimesJanuary 27, 2010

Paul Masson Wines – a US 1970′s carafe and jug wine icon, featured actor Orson Wells in their prolific ad campaign. His distinguished commercials served them well… the outakes didn’t… Watch a real commercial and then… The humorous “outtake” when Orson obviously had a bit too much Champagne err… Sparkling Wine… Kind of reminds you [...]

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Eagles Nest Winery: Enjoying Wine – Red Wine Headaches (RWH) and Sulfites — Myths

by Dennis GrimesJanuary 29, 2010

This is a difficult subject to cover definitively, there have been many articles and studies over the years on this frustrating issue with no solid outcomes, (human) wine lover physiologies are complex, wines are complex, and finally the interaction of the two is complex. If you are so afflicted and have self banished yourself to [...]

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Eagles Nest Winery: Wine Humor – Alternative wine bottle health statements…

by Dennis GrimesJanuary 28, 2010

Well I must admit, with all the health benefits from moderate, responsible wine consumption documented in a seemingly endless string of studies — that I have gathered and posted to this blogsite elsewhere — I must say I’m annoyed at the overly negative Federal Health Warning statement we must place on every bottle of wine [...]

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History & Geography of Wine: 1920′s Prohibition and Wineries – Bricks of Wine

by Dennis GrimesApril 18, 2010

Wine and the wine industry share a fascinating history -  yes – as an award winning Boutique wine grower and producer, we may have a bias towards sharing information about “All Things Wine”, never-the-less we are fascinated by the origin and history of wine as a beverage. Surely you’ve heard heard of the term “brix” [...]

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Del Mar: 14 March Family Winemakers of California features 200+ wines at trade & consumer tasting

by Dennis GrimesMarch 7, 2010

2nd Annual Family Winemakers Trade and Consumer Tasting in San Diego Last year’s event was fabulously successful don’t miss this one. When: Sunday, March 14th 1:00 to 3:00pm, open to trade only 3:00 to 6:00pm, open to the public and the trade Where: Del Mar Fairgrounds, Exhibit Hall 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar How [...]

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Eagles Nest Winery: Wine Humor – Sharing some Gary Vee and Conan Wine tasting humor video classics

by Dennis GrimesFebruary 6, 2010

This classic from the summer of 2008 is a “hoot” for both aspiring and seasoned wine tasters. Gary Vaynerchuk (we saw him at WBC 2008 in Sonoma) of Wine Library v-blogging fame is in his typical top form, and Conan goes with it… Video Click here! [Sorry the original Conan embed links on youtube.com are [...]

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Eagles Nest Winery: Red, White and Rosé, wine grapes

by Dennis GrimesFebruary 6, 2010

Red wine is made from purple-ish blue wine grapes, white wine is made from green-ish-yellow wine grapes and rosé wines are made from pink-ish winegrapes right?!?! Photo of red, white and rosé wine grapes Gotcha! Those of you who have experienced (endured ? wink!) one of my winemaking talks already know the above photo is [...]

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