Winemaker Reggie Hammond of Ventana Vineyards will be my guest today on the Whitley on Wine radio show, 2 p.m. PT, 5 p.m. ET. You can listen live or podcast the broadcast, which originates from the SignOnSanDiego studios.
Hammond crafted the sumptous 2006 Ventana Riesling that was voted Best of Show white wine at the 2008 Monterey Wine Competition, staged last week at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in the heart of Monterey County.
Reggie will talk a bit about the Riesling and the 2005 Ventana Syrah that took a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco Chronicle wine competition in January. I, on the other hand, hope to find out from Hammond why Riesling is suddenly the hot white grape variety. His was the first Riesling to win Best of Show white in the 15-year history of the Monterey competition.
Hammond will join me for the second half-hour of the show. I will open with Gloria Ferrer VP Eva Bertran, to chat about the 2000 Royal Cuvee Brut, the top sparkling wine of the Monterey competition. The Royal Cuvee won similar honors at the San Francisco competition and appears to be on a roll.
While I have her on the phone, I also plan to pick Eva’s brain on exciting food pairings with California bubbly. This is one of her specialties.
Should be a great show. Don’t miss it!
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