Posts belonging to Category Malibu Coast

Talk about living on the edge… “I wanted to do something creative” said Barbara Rotter, vintner and co-owner of Chateau Soleil where you can see right down to Leo Carrillo State Beach from her Chardonnay vineyard at 2000 feet elevation. So in 2003 she began planting 5 acres of vines on her 26 acre ranch just up the road from Neptunes Nest off PCH. Here in the late summer/early fall of 2010 she produces 500 cases of wine including Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
The Chardonnay is on the south slope below the tennis court and is in Los Angeles County. The other vines are above the house and in Ventura County. Like quite a few – OK, every single one – of the Bu vintners we have visited and reported, the geographic and architectural site is truly special. (more…)

Malibu Wine Country. The very thought captivates. How could this be? Domestic wine country suggests thousands of acres and acres of vineyards with names like Rutherford Bench or Navarro River or Sonoma Coast. Even the Paso Westside. The idea that there could be a Malibu Wine Country begs the question…where could it be?

For right now Malibu Wine Country is more an idea than anything else. It is something that COULD BE, or that MIGHT BE, given time and experience. This little blog has been tracking the IDEA and intends to continue tracking it just to see what happens.

Recently, a Malibu restaurant РCharlies in Malibu Рhosted a Malibu Wine Tasting dinner and tBoW was able to attend. Four Malibu vintners attended and shared their thoughts on winemaking and their wines. The tBoW team shares our observations and impressions in call and response style. Dotoré takes the lead while tBoW gets to follow.

First a quick review of Charlies: a delightful and welcome stop on Pacific Coast Highway north of Topanga and before the Malibu Pier. Wally Moran manages the staff and keeps everything moving efficiently. The food is very good with three inspired prix fixe choices as well as ala carte. Worth a visit just for the cool vibe. (more…)

Malibu Wine Country…what makes it so different from anywhere else in the Golden State? Besides the Mediterranean stretch of coastline with the ubiquitous “Tuscan villas”, superb surf breaks, and Hollywood folks…really nothing at all. Especially when it comes to winemaking it’s just another region with the same issues. (more…)

You can see Positano from Don Schmitz’s vineyard 2100 feet above Malibu. Not many peaks are higher than his. He planted 1 acre of Cabernet Sauvignon on the South, West and North slopes surrounding the hilltop with 1200 vines where his 7,000 square foot home is going up. The scene is nothing less than spectacular. Dotor√© posited it is the single most incredible home site he has ever seen in Los Angeles; in person or photos. (more…)