Wine & Country Living

This weekend I catered and attended a friend's 60th birthday party. Filling the table with an array of appropriate wine tasting nibbles, everyone brought their own bottles of regional and local wines to share with one another.

Somewhere in the first few sips of Balboa Winery's 09 Syrah, I pulled the wine guys arm and said, "Have you tasted this wine?" We were both floored being Syrah red wine lovers, and unsuspecting of this wineries vintage; superb in every way. Let me explain.

Balboa winemaker/owner, Tom Glase is someone you can talk to. He's funny and laughs about almost everything but takes his winery and the steps required to keep it sustainable, very seriously. Yes, everything from the earth to the bottle is environmentally correct at Balboa Winery. From his farming technique, American glass bottles, safe dye labels to the wineries use of all natural corks for an environmentally sound business.

I come from a long line of organic growers and sustainable farming fanatics in the holistic center of America; Santa Cruz, Calif. But, in the day when wine makers were beginning to practice organic wine grape growing and instilling sustainable growing practices, the Central Coast of California was not listening as clearly as they are today and across America. At Balboa Winery, once you get past the good stuff about the wineries growing, wine making and bottling philosophy, you can actually taste what has transpired from the earth to bottle.

Take for instance, Balboa's 09 Syrah; oozing in crushed tart cherries, flooding the mouth and cheeks with a million chocolate ribbons to an irresistible swatch of crushed rosemary, .finishing in a long tongue soaked in earthy nutmeg essence. If this wine is any example of what can be done through environmentally sound growing, wine making and bottling techniques, I say, Bravo!

Because winemaker Tom Glase of Balboa Winery has the guts and vision to live and work by sustainable farming practices and because your 09 Syrah is deliciously voracious; you earn 98 points from Wine and Country Living! Congratulations Balboa Winery and staff! Until next week, "eat art, drink and imagination!"

Seasonal Lavender Spread

Serves 4

½-cup mascarpone cheese

½-cup feta cheese

½-cup cream cheese

1-tablespoon local honey

1-teaspoon fresh mint leaf

1-teaspoon each: gram masala, cracked black pepper

½-teaspoon lavender blossoms

Method:

In a food processor add all and blend until smooth, using a rubber spatula to scrape down sides as you go. Place cheese mixture into a pot or bowl, cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Remove 20 minutes before serving, side with banana bread or crackers and a bottle of regionally grown and bottled Balboa 09 Syrah wine.

Hear Judith's quarterly web cast with recipes, wine pairing and photos at www.chefjudithhenderson.com.