CARACCIOLI CELLARS A Rising Star from California’s Central Coast
November/December 2015
Glass of Bubbly
Read the latest column by Catherine Fallis Master Sommelier
Recently I stumbled upon a very fine, elegant and dry sparkling wine from a winery I hadn’t heard of before, Caraccioli Cellars in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey, California. I had been hired to saber a magnum of Champagne for the grand opening of We Olive & Wine Bar in Los Gatos, and had requested French standard bottle shape Champagne, as always. Arriving hours ahead of time to trim and chill my bottle of bubbly, it was with a sense of dread when I learned the magnum was from California. Luckily there were several on hand, so I took one into a private hallway to take a practice run. To my delight, the separation of the glass lip and cork from the neck was nearly perfect.
When The American Institute of Wine and Food Monterey Chapter, whose board I recently joined, asked me to saber several magnums for their biggest fundraiser of the year, Bubbles of the World, I immediately thought of Caraccioli Cellars. I approached the winery for a small donation and they agreed. Schramsberg Vineyards in Napa Valley also donated generously.
Bubbles of the World took place on a breezy late spring afternoon at a stunning multi-million dollar private residence in Carmel. The view included pristine coastline and forested hilltops and the roar of cars racing at Laguna Seca drifted through.
My sommelier team and I served bubblies from Spain, Italy, France and California, including the rare Antinori Montenisa Franciacorta and magnums of Champagne Pol Roger Brut. I sabered the Pol Roger along with the 2009 Schramsberg Brut Rose Napa Valley and the 2009 Caraccioli Brut Cuvee Santa Lucia Highlands. To kick off the event, Caraccioli Cellars Hospitality Director Samantha Cesmat and I sabered in tandem, making an already rare sighting that much more unique. A silent auction featured a spectacular array of culinary and lifestyle goods and services, and every item received multiple bids.
Samantha brought her own saber, one that the winery sells. She explained to me that the winemaker, Michel Salgues, a 20-year veteran of Roederer Estate, uses only French Champagne glass, which is likely why they saber so cleanly. Caraccioli Cellars is a family run winery using Champagne methods and aging with their pristine Santa Lucia Highlands AVA estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. They have a lovely tasting room in downtown Carmel:
http://www.caracciolicellars.com/
Read our review of the elegant, flavorful 2009 Caraccioli Cellars Brut Cuvee Santa Lucia Highlands here:
http://planetgrapewinereview.com/category/sparkling_wines/
