Skywalker Ranch Wines 319
Gates82 writes "The creative force of George Lucas is at it again. Producing his own wine. "I would love to see them plant another 5 to 10 acres. There must be spots on that ranch to make some really interesting wines."" Wonder if there's any spots on that ranch left that can make a good Star Wars movie?
advertisement budget (Score:5, Informative)
Cynicism :-) (Score:5, Informative)
Oh, the cynicism.
Seriously though, growing wines in west Marin leaves me wondering about the quality of these wines (particularly a Chardonnay), but Coppola has produced some rather tasty wines including a scrumptious Merlots and a Claret or two, so I am inclined to believe there may be something of note.
A bit catty today? (Score:5, Informative)
Meee-ow!
By the way, I didn't think the ranch made the movies. That comment is stranger the more I think about it.
steveha
Celebrity Wines (Score:5, Informative)
I worry about celebrities making wine. Often, the wine's price gets a bump just for the name recognition factor, regardless of how good it is. This is the deal with Coppola's wines--they're just ok wines for better-than-ok prices.
Celebrity winemakers overally have little impact on serious wine drinkers. Obviously, though, Coppola proved there's a market segment that will spend money for a name on the bottle.
I would like to point out a brand new up-and-comer, non-celebrity wine--Sawkar Family Vineyards. They make a delicious Syrah that's probably in the upper scale of what most people want to pay for a bottle, but it's one of those that's actually worth it.
sev
Re:Give in to the dark side... (Score:3, Informative)
In this event, best keep it in a dark, cool basement. Not on the bookself in your room, near your computer, unless you're into explosive interior decorating and the stink of vine vinegar.
Skywalker Ranch wine and food (Score:5, Informative)
One amusing thing I was told by the Lucas PR girlbot was that grape-picking was an annual event for the employees. From the way she phrased it, it sounded compulsory!
(Oh, and should you ever be lucky enough to have lunch there, go for the steak. It's delicious. No wonder Lucas has got so fat!)
Re:$30 (Score:5, Informative)
I have no idea if Coppola invites visitors or has a tasting room.
Don't expect Lucas to welcome you onto his ranch.
Re:Cynicism :-) (Score:5, Informative)
Yes, but the Niebaum-Coppola wines are grown on the Rutherford Bench, which is generally considered the finest grape growing area of the Napa Valley. Fine wines have been cultivated there for over 100 years. He also has some very serious winemakers working for him.
West Marin though, as you note, hasn't exactly got an illustrious history of viticulture. That said you can grow some great wines in some unlikely spots in California, thanks to the excellent climate. One of my favorite wineries is Ridge [ridgewine.com] whose main vineyards are on the ridge overlooking Silicon Valley.
Nitpicker (Score:3, Informative)
Actually the correct translation of viandante is traveler.
Wine takes time (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Cynicism :-) (Score:4, Informative)
The classic example of this is the blended wines from Jadot in France. They have blended some exquisite wines that are quite reasonable in price.
Don't start with wine (Score:5, Informative)
By drinking scotch you will gain a taste for the various flavors in the drink. Tastes like 'peaty', 'earthy', and 'oaky' are common descriptions of the flavors of whiskey. To enjoy it, you don't toss back shot after shot, rather you would sip and let the flavors spread on your palate. Though quite offensive at first, whiskey becomes delightful once you have developed a sense of what it is that you are tasting.
You can use the same slow tasting technique with wine. It's much less harsh than whiskey and it has many more flavors. The process of learning to enjoy whiskey will help immensely in your appreciation of wine.
It will at least help wean you off of White Zin, if nothing else.
Re:$30 (Score:3, Informative)
Agreed in general though even the Napa has some quieter, smaller wineries that are worth visiting. There are several hundred wineries in the Napa and they vary tremendously.
Sonoma has great wines and is fairly quiet, off the beaten path. One of my favorites is Rochioli, close to Hop Kiln, which is also good. Suggest taking along some food, get a bottle of Chardonnay and kick back, as most of these places have a little outdoor area you can relax at.
Hop Kiln is a great place to visit and picnic - wonderful old building - but the wines are mediocre. If you really want great Sonoma wines then travel a little further down the road to Davis Bynum for some of the best Pinot Noir on the planet.
I have no idea if Coppola invites visitors or has a tasting room.
Yes there is a large visitors center at Niebaum-Coppola. Its touristy, including the inevitable movie museum complete with Oscars, but still fun and the wines are good. They recently announced a plan to go upmarket, lower volume better quality. Given their history with their reserve blends and vintages, I suspect they could come up with sometiming exceptional. Time will tell.
Re:$30 (Score:4, Informative)
Sonoma has lots of excellent wines, the tastings are half the price and it is far more pretty, IMO. Hit Ferrari Carrano (sp?), Mondavi, Rodney Strong (one of my faves, you can often taste 3-4 price points of the same family of grape for about 5 bucks, for those who want more, try Gary Farrell and get their tour (res req'd), or go to the Alexander valley (Hanna is very good, free tasting). Glacier Peak is good, as well.
We call the windy road (can't remember the name) that ends up hitting lake sonoma the tipsy highway
-Sean
Re:GL Wine (Score:3, Informative)
Sounds like you are describing the last couple of years of Bordeaux... I think a 2000 Pomerol would fit your requirements quite nicely.
Having been there... (Score:3, Informative)
This photo [lucasfilm.com] shows "Lake Ewok" and to the right of it the Technical Building (where Skywalker Sound [skywalkersound.com] is). Between the two and down a little is where most of the vines are, and to the right of the tech building there are vines as well. It's an old picture so these changes aren't reflected in it.
And no, we didn't sneak in. In fact I don't think it's possible to sneak in. Anyways, I was there to visit family; doing the sound for a movie at SS.
Re:Celebrity Wines (Score:1, Informative)
Actually, Coppola's winery had quite a long history of making outstanding wines before he bought it. The winery he purchased, Inglenook, is one of the oldest in Napa, and during its heyday was well known for creating some of the best cabernet sauvignon in the world.
There are plenty of other examples of wines getting a price bump from a celebrities name factor, but Coppola's high end reds were selling for premium prices even before he bought the winery.
Re:yeah... (Score:3, Informative)
Skywalker Ranch is in Marin here by San Francisco, I think we can expect his wines to have at least 90% California Grapes.
I assume that's what you meant
Here's where I get flamed to hell and back. (Score:3, Informative)
But the main thing in their favour is that, apparently unlike almost everywhere else, the French haven't forgotten how to make subtle wines.
[0] No, I don't mean "EastEnders" in Calais. That barely counts as France
[1] Damn. Why has my keyboard stopped producing euro signs...
Re:Nitpicker (Score:3, Informative)
presidente = president
Del Cielo = of the sky
Viandante, dunno really, I thought dante by itself was giving.
Anyway your translation is very very off.