Congratulations to vintner Jerold O’Brien, who founded Silver Mountain Vineyards 43 years back. His red wines, naturally grown and consistently elegant, keep acquiring awards for their exceptional quality. In this year’s distinguished San Francisco Chronicle White Wine Competition, Silver Mountain’s 2014 Syrah took Best of Class, while the 2014 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir received a double gold. Tasting is thinking, so make sure you stop by the tasting space at 402 Ingalls Street in westside Santa Cruz to sample these red wines, along with Silver Mountain’s other award-winning pinots and chardonnays. Saturday and Sunday, noon-5pm. silvermtn.com.
More Sparkle
Recently found Bitters & & Soda , a dry, aromatic elixir made with gentian tincture from Hella Cocktails. This things is the bomb. Part of the broadening wave of options to alcohol, and/or sodas, such as Coke, rootbeer and ginger ale. Seriously compelling, Hella used a sophisticated mix of sparkling water and bitters (allspice, peppercorns, caraway, cinnamon sticks, cloves, wormwood, increased hips, angelica root, gentian root, star anise, chamomile), plus various fruit juices. We discovered it revitalizing all by itself, but we went further, and in our taste test we consumed half of the attractive 12 oz. can contents straight. Then we poured a splash of Campari into half of the other half, and Luxardo bitter vermouth into the other half. Both of these alco+ mixtures were fantastic. One can just picture how fabulous gin would have tasted when mixed with this stuff. They have other flavors, however my money’s on the Bitters & & Soda. A 12-pack runs around $38 dollars, or $3 a can. Right out of the can it’s an all-day tipple.
So we proceeded to attempt another sparkling beverage, a Tepache from De La Calle, based upon the ubiquitous “pineapple beer” street drinks discovered commonly in Mexico. In a bright green can, picked up at the venerable Food Bin on Objective Street, we discovered the delightful Tamarind Citrus flavor tepache filled with tips of fermented pineapple, turbinado sugar and the cola perfume of tamarind. Tamarind is one of the terrific tastes of the natural world, and in this zesty beverage it joins agave, orange juice, rosemary, cinnamon, black pepper and numerous probiotic cultures. For $2.99 you’ll be on a total taste flight. Fabulous with anything– grilled cheese, tacos, left-over steelhead, avocado, pretzels. Excellent discovery.
Non-Sparkle
Fascinated by the advanced possibilities, we carried on to sample the highly touted Seedlip, which ended up being far less than all the buzz. One of the leaders in the non-alcoholic spirits realm, this dull creation provided nothing, unless you count the beautiful bottle. Yes, product packaging is a plus, but so is flavor. I was video game enough to pop for $35 to test drive this item. The “flavor” I acquired was called, poetically enough, Garden. Great to stroll in, not a lot to consume. If Seedlip is viewed as a mixer– one of numerous components you contribute to a mixed drink which may also include soda, fruit juices, gin, bitters, organic purees– that would be one thing. However we tried it in a glass of ice and soda. The flavor was hardly noticeable and not particularly enjoyable. Peas, hay, thyme and spearmint do not a pleasing taste experience make. Desperate for some taste, we added a healthy splash of Luxardo Bitters, which clashed unpleasantly with Seedlip’s pea undertone. Possibly a glass of gin with a splash of Seedlip would work, however that entirely defeats the non-alcohol promo of this fermented drink. I was disappointed with Seedlip, but the discovery of the bracing and distinct tasting Hella Bitters & & Soda more than made up for it.
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