Fenestra Winery Blog

Featured Wine - Mary Teschner

As an added feature to our newsletter, we are including a favorite wine pick from a person on the Fenestra staff. For this issue Mary Teschner, Hospitality Staff and Scheduling Coordinator, shared her choice:

Fenestra’s 2010 Pinot Gris

With summer and warmer temperatures fast approaching, if you’re like us, we’re looking forward to sitting on our deck and sipping some of Fenestra’s award- winning white wines! One of our favorites for the summer is the 2010 Pinot Gris.

Pinot Gris (also known as Pinot Grigio) grapes grow in a pine cone-shaped cluster (pinot) and sometimes take on a grayish-blue tint (gris means grey in French) towards the end of the growing season, therefore the name Pinot Gris. I think the fact the wine was barrel-fermented and aged sur lie in French oak for 10 months gives it the characteristics that I prefer in a white wine. This year’s Pinot Gris is medium bodied, and smooth with a lush lingering finish. It reveals elegant flavors of ripe pear, lemon, and some spice on the finish. 

This wine is great as an aperitif and pairs nicely with goat brie on crackers. It goes well with shellfish and chicken dishes. We recently enjoyed this delicious wine with Grilled Artichokes and Sesame dipping Sauce and a Curried Cauliflower Soup. Another quick and easy dish to serve this wine with is my Linguine & Clam Sauce recipe. Simply sauté a clove of garlic in two tbsp each of butter and olive oil, add a can of chopped clams (with juice), and two tbsp of capers. Boil an eight-ounce package of garlic and basil pasta, add to the sauce and heat thoroughly. Serve with a tossed salad, bread, and a glass of Pinot Gris. Cheers! 

 

 

Featured Wine - Lanny Replogle

Although it is difficult to pick just one wine, my current favorite is the Livermore Valley Malbec from Ghielmetti Vineyard. It is a rich, full-bodied wine with great flavors, and it has the structure to stand up to full-flavored dishes such as roast duck, lamb or venison. We have been producing this and other varietals from Ghielmetti Vineyard for five years and think this vineyard produces excellent fruit.

 

Fenestra's 35th Anniversary Celebration: 8/6 & 8/7

Fran and Lanny Replogle, owners of Fenestra Winery in Livermore, would like to invite the public to help celebrate the winery’s 35^th anniversary!  The celebration will be held at the winery on August 6^th and 7^th from noon to 5 PM both days.

There will be live music, barbecued tri-tip sandwiches available, and historical articles about the winery on display for guests to enjoy.  Fenestra will also have a special release of the winery’s 2006 Conjugation, a luxurious blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec.  The event fee is $5 per person, with no charge to club members.

Fenestra was first established in 1976 and was originally located at the old Ruby Hill Winery building in Pleasanton.  In 1980, they moved to the historic century-old George True winery building on Vallecitos Road in Livermore, where they are still located today.

“Fenestra is Latin for ‘window,’” Fran explains. “So the name was intended to represent ‘a new view’ for our new venture into winemaking.”

“When we started the winery in 1976, there were only five wineries in the Livermore Valley,” Lanny says, referring to Wente, Concannon, Stony Ridge, Villa Armando and Fenestra.  “There has been a renaissance here, and there are now over 50 wineries.”

Fenestra continues to grow as well, and currently offers over twenty varietals, with an annual production between 7,500 and 8,000 cases each year.

Fenestra’s wine club, the Fenestra Fanatics, has over one thousand members ranging from the faithful Livermore locals, to loyal Fanatics all over the country.

Fenestra Winery is located at 83 Vallecitos Road in Livermore, CA 94550 and is open for sales and tasting every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon – 5pm.  Fenestra is also one of the few wineries in the valley to operate off of solar energy.  For more information, visit their website at www.fenestrawinery.com or call 925-447-5246 or visit them on Facebook!

Featured Wine by Jan Bachman

As an added feature to our newsletter, we are including a favorite wine pick from a person on the Fenestra staff. For this issue we asked our very first Fenestra Fanatic & longest volunteer/staff member, Jan Bachman, to share her choice:.

True Red *Lot 24*

I met Fran, Lanny and their boys when I started working at Stony Ridge Winery in the late 70’s. That was an interesting period in all of our lives!! When they moved to the current building I would volunteer on occasion for events. I was there for the first True Red and it was great then. Through the years I continued to volunteer and about 10 years ago became an employee. I’ve been a fan of the True Red since it’s inception and it’s my “go to” choice for an every day wine for my sons as well as myself. It’s always a request when they come home and always a request when invited to a friend’s house for dinner. It’s light enough that white wine drinkers enjoy it, but enough body and character that we red winos love it as well!! There are so many others I enjoy, but that’s always the “go to” wine for most events. I wonder if that’s why I get invited to dinner!!???? It’s been such a pleasure being a part of the Fenestra extended family and I hope to continue on for a long time! All of the wines are exceptional, but True Red will always have a place in my heart!!

Annual Fall "Fanatic" Dinner

(posted 10/9/08)  Fenestra will be having it's annual Fall Fanatic Dinner for our wine club members, on October 25, 2008 at the winery.  We are excited to debut a new caterer, Miraglia Catering from San Leandro, and their amazing selection of food they have prepared just for us.  Some mouth-watering items on the menu include:

Mixed baby green salad with a Sherry Shallot Vinaigrette; Fresh Penne Pasta with Porcini Mushrooms; Grilled Flat Iron Steak with a Roasted Red Pepper Remoulade; Marinated Boneless chicken breast with a Zesty Mango Salsa; Lemon Biscotti Cheesecake, and assorted bite-sized chocolate deligts - all specially paired with 11 award-winning Fenestra wines, including the debut of a special surprise!  It's great to be Fanatical!  (For more information on how to become a Fenestra Fanatic, visit our website, www.fenestrawinery.com)

(Reservations are FULL as of 10/14/08.)