SANTA BARBARA WINE COMPANY PINOT NOIR
Produced in the Central Coast region of Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara Wine Company’s Pinot Noir ($21) is an intense tasting experience. Perfect to pair with a wide variety of foods—from game to shellfish to pork—this wine boasts aromas of fresh berries and sweet spice that lead to a burst of raspberry, strawberry and cherry on the palate, capped by a balanced and lively finish. Mel & Rose, 8344 Melrose Ave., LA; melandrose.com
JOEL GOTT WINES ZINFANDEL 2008 VINTAGE
Joel Gott Wines Zinfandel 2008 Vintage ($17) is a delightful complement to chicken, BBQ ribs and pungent cheeses. A blend of 96 percent Zinfandel, 3 percent Petite Sirah and 1 percent Alicante Bouschet, this California wine is an amalgam of grapes from Napa, Sonoma, Lodi and Amador. It boasts a fragrant nose of black raspberry, black cherry, plum, tobacco and spicy oak, followed by bold flavors of berries, plum, maple and spice, which all come together in a long, refined finish. Bevmo, 7100 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; bevmo.com
The One
Ketel One boasts a family legacy of making a superior spirit.
When a vodka company has been around for 319 years, you know it’s got to be good. Such is the case with ultrapremium Ketel One. The Dutch brand is now helmed by Carl Nolet Jr., a member of the 11th generation of the Nolet family to run the company. “The passion we have as a family ensures the quality and attention to detail that make Ketel One so outstanding,” says Nolet, who calls LA home. “It’s the honoring of tradition and authenticity that separates us from other vodkas. We still make all of our vodka in copper pots and small batches.”
The brand made its first foray into flavored liquors with the introduction of lemon-lime Citroen in 2000 and recently added the wonderful orange-flavored Oranje, which Nolet says can be easily enjoyed with nothing but a few ice cubes. “It’s the natural essences of mandarin oranges from Italy and Valencia oranges from Florida and Brazil that give Ketel One Oranje its distinct and natural taste.” And it looks like Nolet should have no problem passing the business on to a 12th generation—he’s the proud father of seven kids.
