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Surf Report
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Surfer John Gianelli Photo by Robert Chapman
Tide Table ♦ Feb.10 - Feb. 16
Sunrise 6:45 a.m. • Sunset 5:37 p.m.
HIGH TIDE LOW TIDE
AM HT PM HT AM HT PM HT
Thur --- 5.4 10:23 5.85 4:26 1.36 5:21 -0.86 Fri --- 5.9 11:08 5.10 5:17 1.40 5:56 -0.20 Sat 12:19 4.47 11:55 4.24 6:14 1.49 6:29 .51 Sun 12:59 4.45 12:53 3.39 7:22 1.57 7:01 1.23 Mon 1:43 4.40 2:23 2.68 8:52 1.53 7:33 1.88 Tues 2:36 4.36 5:13 2.46 10:39 1.24 8:18 2.42 Wed 3:38 4.38 7:20 2.77 12:00 .77 9:58 2.77
Surf Report: New small Northwest swell is due Friday 2/11 and into the weekend. Lots of windswell on tap for next week with offshore flow.
Shopvss.com Free shipping with a $30 purchase, use code: freeship$30 Romance in the glass
by Nancy D. Lackey Shaffer I nshaffer@timespublications.com
Far Niente’s famous Dolce dessert wine, known as “liquid gold” in the industry and available at Ventura Wine Co. for $73.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and restaurants across the county have their prix fixe menus printed, their special offerings lined up, and dozens of reservations on the books for Monday, Feb. 14 (or earlier — many are treating the entire weekend as an opportunity for romantic dining). There are some delicious options out there, so if a night on the town is your thing, you will surely find something to impress that special someone.
But if you’d rather cozy up at home, you might want to uncork a nice bottle of wine to celebrate the occasion. Ventura County boasts several locally owned wine shops whose proprietors are known for their discerning tastes and extensive selection. Many work with boutique wineries and enjoy access to exceptional, small-batch wines that you may not find elsewhere.
And you can bet that all of them have some great recommendations! The Ventura County
Reporter spoke with a few local wine experts about pouring out some love on Valentine’s Day.
Point de Chêne Wine and Beer 108B N. Signal St., Ojai 805-272-8685 pointdechene.com
Bob Huey, owner of
Point de Chêne in Ojai, thinks of his offerings as a “bespoke collection,” and he searches the globe for family-owned and naturally farmed wines. One of his favorite pours for Valentine’s Day is a true French champagne from Paul Laurent ($40), made from pinot noir grapes.
An Italian red he’s really excited about right now is the 2019 Nero d’Avola from Sicily’s Gurrieri ($24), which, in addition to being delicious, is also certified organic.
In addition to its taste, Huey likes the versatility of this Sicilian red, which can pair well with everything
For exceptional flavor, great versatility and solid value, try the Gurrieri Nero D’Avola, sold by Ojai’s Point de Chêne.
from pizza to pasta to pork chops.
If you love zesty, refreshing sauvignon blancs, you will probably love “a really delicious Alvariñho, Anselmo Mendes, 2020 vintage.”
The same variety as the more familiar Albariño of Spain, this Alvariñho ($23) hails from Portugal and is a bright star in the white wine universe.
With notes of starfruit and citrus, it’s the perfect accompaniment to lighter and fresher fare: cheese and charcuterie, chopped salad and seafood.
Ventura Wine Co./The Cave 4435 McGrath St., Unit 301, Ventura 805-642-9449 thecaveventura.com
The Cave in Ventura is beloved for its haute cuisine, intimate setting and automatic wine dispensers, which provide dozens of wines for customer enjoyment at the push of a button (and a swipe of a preloaded card). While it will be offering a special Valentine’s Day menu (four courses, $59 per person), the attached wine shop, Ventura Wine Co., has plenty of options for those preferring to dine at home.
If a classic, high-end champagne is what you’re craving, Wine Shop Manager Greg Leon suggests the Moët and Chandon Nectar Imperial Rose ($69.99), a pretty-in-pink sparkler with “a little more fruit, for roundness,” thanks to the pinot nor grapes used to make it. With a “hint of sweetness,” it pairs particularly well with sweet (not bitter) chocolates or something like white chocolate-dipped strawberries. “Perfect for Valentine’s Day!” Leon exclaims.
He’s also a fan of the more moderately priced Essentia ($22.99), a sparkling red made from the ancient Lambrusco grape of the Emilia-Romagna region. Many Lambruscos are sweet; the Essentia is dry, made with carbonic maceration and natural yeast.
Even cheaper, but just as delightful, is Whispering Angel ($19.99), a sparkling blush from Provence. This French
belle is medium bodied and crisp, but creamy and smooth on the finish. For white wine drinkers, Leon offers up the Domaine Pichot Vouvray ($15.99), from France’s Central Loire Valley, which he describes as “a very soft, round, floral, pretty wine.” The floral character, he explains, plays beautifully against earthy mushrooms. Two soft, light pinot noirs stand out to him for Valentine’s Day drinking, both from Santa Barbara County’s Alma Rosa Winery — the new label for Central Coast wine pioneer Richard Sanford. The Estate Santa Rita Hills ($22.99) offers up rose petals, fresh mint and blood orange, while the top-shelf, single vineyard Bentrock ($63.99) is an elegant expression of the Sta, Rita Hills appellation, light and earthy on the palate but exceptionally balanced, with notes of spice and bright strawberry. For after dinner, Leon touts the Dolce ($73) from Napa Valley’s famous Far Niente Winery.
“This is the famous dessert wine made in the style of Sauternes,” he explains.
Thanks to the presence of Botrytis cinerea, a fungus also known as “noble rot,” the late-harvest semillon and sauvignon blanc grapes used to make Dolce impart a
“honey heaven” balanced by light and elegant florals — creating a sweet but sophisticated beverage that is known as
“liquid gold.” Pair it with fruit, pies or a dessert cheese platter.
The Wine Closet 2423 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo 805-383-9812 wineclosetinc.com
Small batch, artisanal wines from California are the Wine Closet’s stock in trade, but this Old Town Camarillo shop doesn’t shy away from imports if the quality meets owner Linda Hunter’s exacting standards. What you will discover: These aren’t your garden-variety wines. “We are known for not selling anything you can find in a grocery store or a restaurant,” confirms Wine Closet employee Amanda Novak. Champagne is, of course, the standard for Valentine’s Day, and according to Novak, one of the shop’s most popular sellers is the François Montand ($25), a French brut champagne with a creamy, smooth mouthfeel and fine bubbles. In the nose: gorgeous white flowers. On the palate: yellow apples and Meyer lemon. Fragrant and delicious, and perfect for sensuous sipping. If you’re feeling a little more spendy, she recommends the Nomine Renard Brut Champagne ($60), an elegant pour with hints of peach, honey and brioche that’s perfect for special occasions. Novak also suggests two cabernet sauvignons (perhaps to be enjoyed with a steak dinner or lamb), both from Napa Valley. Emerson Brown’s Napa Valley cab ($48) is big and rich, with notes of black fruit, leather and licorice. From Calistoga comes Maldonado ($75), whose sophisticated cabernet is full of berries and spice and everything nice, with a lasting finish. Both are sure to delight anyone who loves a full-bodied red.
Find 10-year-old After dinner, Novak recommends pop-
Kopke Tawny Port ping open a bottle of tawny port from at the Wine Closet Kopke ($46). Aged 10 years, this intensein Camarillo. A beautiful, blush pink sparkling wine from Provence, Whispering Angel ly flavored sip is bursting with dried fruit, wood and honey, yet maintains a delecta($19.99 at Ventura Wine Co.) is crisp but ble smoothness. Delicious with desserts or creamy and smooth on the finish. on its own, but also a great partner for rich appetizers like foie gras. This spendy ($75 at the Wine Closet) but sophisticaled cabernet from Maldonado is full of berries and spice and everything nice.
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