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The Greater Tehachapi area has an ever-growing supply of fine wines to choose from, so lets explore the best options in wine selection. Many factors go into what wine to buy and where to buy it. Factors like price, variety, quality and expertise all play into the decision making process. Our top four locations have very different reasons for being selected based on personal experience and recommendations from trusted friends. The Wine and Cheese Cellar, Don Juan’s Latin Grill, Albertsons, Souza Family Vineyard and Triassic Legacy all have superior wine selections for very different reasons.
The Wine and Cheese Cellar is the clear leader with a comprehensive wine selection, knowledgeable staff, ambiance, wine accessories and wine tasting events. Recently opened by Doug and Mary Amos, the Wine and Cheese Cellar features a beautifully designed shop complete with a wide variety of wines and wine accessories. The OzBar, which is the specialized portion of the wine bar, features an innovative wine dispensing system from Australia, as opposed to an open bottle pour that most wineries and wine bars utilize. This system allows open wines to be kept at ideal temperatures (both reds & whites) within a closed airtight system. In this way, the wine maintains its integrity for a much longer period of time. As a result people can enjoy the highest quality of a particular wine - taste after taste.
Don Juan’s Latin Grill is superior when it comes to food and wine pairings, perfectly teaming the likes of an Argentinean rib eye with a Chilean Cabernet. A self-taught wine connoisseur, Yolanda Acevedo possesses an uncanny intuition for combining wine with food accompanied, of course, by her cheery disposition. The menu at Don Juan’s has been carefully assembled by chef/owner Juan Acevedo, whose ability to take us on a culinary tour of South America is nothing short of remarkable. Don Juan’s also features a Zinfandel from our first local Souza Family Vineyard. Don Juan’s recently expanded their restaurant by a few thousand feet, introducing the possibility of a wider variety of wines from which to choose.
Albertsons has the largest assortment of wine in the area offering numerous labels to choose from. Although lacking available expertise in wine, the buyer who knows their personal preference can find a label to their liking.
Souza Family Vineyard’s new tasting room is a one-of-a-kind experience. Located in Cummings Valley, Bob and Patty Souza produce and pour the area’s first locally grown Primitivo Mountain Zinfandel. The Souza’s planted their first crop of Mountain Zinfandel grapes in 2001 and harvested the first Tehachapi produced wine in 2005, which went on to win a Silver Medal at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Their 2006 harvest recently garnered a Bronze Medal at that same competition. Their newly opened tasting room also features a handpicked selection of reds, whites, blushes and dessert wines from the Antelope Valley area. Make sure to visit and be prepared to be regaled by Bob’s quick wit, never-ending stories and occasional cries of "Abbondonza Fortuna!"
www.souzafamilyvineyard.com/
26877 Cummings Valley Road Tehachapi, CA 93561
(661) 822-9233
Triassic Legacy Vineyards offers exceptional wines and extraordinary views. Triassic Legacy Vineyards, Tehachapi’s newest winery located in scenic Cummings Valley now offers a variety of unique wines blended by master wine maker Bob Shore from Paso Robles. The vineyards are located just west of Tehachapi, California on the sunny, south slope of an isolated ridge of 220 million-year-old rocks from the Triassic geologic period -- the dawn of the dinosaurs. The rich, rocky soils reward them with wine grapes of exceptional character. Enjoy an extraordinary glass of Syrah-Viognier or ‘Triassic Rocks’, two unique proprietary wine blends while soaking up the dramatic view of Cummings Mountain. Meet the owner Chuck McCulluogh or one of the friendly staff members.
Triassic Legacy is located near the corner of State Route 202 and Cummings Valley Road in Tehachapi, California. You can call the Triassic Legacy Tasting Room at 661-822-5341 or visit them online at www.triassiclegacy.com
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| Triassic Legacy Vineyard located in scenic Cummings Valley |
Former Geologist and owner of Triassic Legacy, Chuck McCullogh |
Manager Sherry Raines is a gracious hostess to all visitors to Triassic Legacy |
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