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Ask a Wine-Know: A winery with Bakersfield roots
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Posted by Anncierley Wed Jan 31, 2007 12:55:04 PST
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The attendance was wonderful at two wine events over the weekend of Jan.  26 and 27.

There were so many people at the Last Friday of the Month Wine Tasting at Cafe Med that you literally had to beat your way up to the counter for a pour of the 15 or so offerings, and then hope one of the circulating waiters with trays of food would get to your corner in the crush of tasters.

The evening at the Petroleum Club the next night was also packed with wine lovers, but they all had seats, lots of wine, and a very, very good dinner. About a dozen of the attendees at this Bakersfield Wine Society Event were newcomers to the group and all seemed to have a fine time.

I mention both of these events because I received at least a half-dozen questions from our readers over the past month asking about attending as a single.

Hey folks, if you are single, if your spouse or friends aren't really into wine like you are (or would like to be), or if you just want to come by yourself, these wine events I write about are quite appropriate for you! Wine tasters circulate, talk, talk, and talk about the wine and there are really no strangers. Everyone's interested in others' opinions. I've seen lots of friendships formed at these gatherings, because you have common interests right at the outset of the evening, and you'll see many of the same faces often.

Don't hesitate to join us, and thank you for the inquiries and for telling me you read about it here.

And now on to the question for today's column:

"Are any of the big time wine makers from around here? I like the idea of supporting people with Valley roots."

Yes, there are many wine makers from around here! I'm delighted to get this question, and the answer will take several columns to cover adequately. I know of seven or eight that I would call "big time" and I think that you would agree with me after you tasted their wines, or visited their wineries, or discovered how many cases they produce annually.

Today I'll discuss Arroyo Robles Winery from Paso Robles. Bakersfield's own Bob and Tanis Shore own this wonderful new winery, and they will be the featured guests at a winemaker dinner at Bakersfield Country Club on Friday, Feb. 23!

Bob Shore graduated from North High School and from Stanford University with a degree in petroleum engineering. He worked for Getty Oil, Texaco, and Bakersfield Energy Resources. His wife, Tanis, graduated from South High and from Cal State Bakersfield and taught English at West High for many years. Son Jason attended Foothill High, BC, CSUB, Cal Poly SLO, and daughter, Brianna, was a Centennial grad, BC, and Alliant International University in San Diego.

Arroyo Robles is truly a family-run winery. Bob and Tanis, along with their two children, Jason and Brianna, are involved in all aspects of the growing and production of their wines as well as the marketing and distribution. I've visited with all four as they were working in their beautiful tasting room on the Plaza in Historic Downtown Paso Robles.

If you've never been in a winery tasting room, this is a great place for you to start, and longtime wine tourists will be very impressed, too. The address is 739 12th St. (across from the fountain in the park). Make a special trip to visit it.

They started making wine in 1996 –– 65 cases of fabulous Merlot from the famous Bien Nacido vineyard in Santa Barbara County. They owned MidState Laboratory and developed their first estate vineyard in 1999 (across the street from Tobin James on Union Road and Highway 46) as a precision ag demonstration project. Their current vineyard is located five miles north of Paso Robles at 390 San Marcos Road just west of Highway 101. Currently, they have 24 acres planted to vines. Future plans include building a winery and tasting room on the property amid the wonderful rolling hills, arroyos, and numerous big oaks.

Last year, they produced a little over 3,000 cases of cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot, syrah, mourvedre, tempranillo, viognier, a bordeaux blend called El Paseaux, and a rhone blend called Adobe Red (a personal favorite of mine that just last month won two silver medals at the San Francisco Chronicle 2007 Wine Competition –– way to go, Bob!). 

Wait, there's more –– they also produced a mourvedre rose that won a silver medal too, a syrah rose, two sparkling wines (one flavored with a touch of almond that delights the friends I've gifted it upon), and four ports, a cabernet, syrah, tempranillo, and zin. Wow!

The best is yet to come though –– the price range is $14 to $24 ! Life in the Wine World just doesn't get much better than that for us! 

And you can taste nine of these, at least, at a winemaker's dinner to be held on Friday night, Feb. 23 at the Bakersfield Country Club. A sumptuous dinner  is also part of the evening's festivities. Cost $72 (includes tax & tip, all food, wine, and parking). Call Klaus Hoeper, Bakersfield Friends of Wine, for reservations: 871-6463.

Come meet the Shores, or reacquaint yourselves with them. Get to know Arroyo Robles wines –– a winery with definite Bakersfield roots!

Questions? Comments? E-mail Ann at: acierley@etcrier.net

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