by Scott Anderson on April 25, 2012
After a scintillating hour and fifteen minute drive in the Mini Cooper S, we arrived at Big Basin Vineyards, 1200 feet elevation, 15 minutes above Boulder Creek. Upon opening the driver’s door, the above scene greeted me. Vineyard proprietor Bradley Brown must enjoy a fabulous mountain view from his home above the winery and vineyard. The air was clean and clear this day, and unseasonably warm.
It’s sad but true that this vineyard is open publicly but twice a year, when friends of the vineyard are invited to a winery tasting. Highlights were nine tastes, including four Pinots, a Syrah, and a Rhone blend plus an older Rattlesnake Rock Syrah from their library collection. Adding to the sipping fun were tasty tid-bits, great music, special occasion hats and a working artist.
Now that I think about it, the environment was also a highlight. Natural mountain beauty, lush, rolling hillside vineyard, timber-frame winery barn. The aforementioned clear, clean mountain air and bright Spring sky.
Here’s Matt Jones , the working artist, shown applying paint to canvas with an on-looker’s able assistance. A more approachable working artist you will never meet. My favorite part of Matt’s work is that they are painted in such a way that they come alive when viewed through 3-D glasses. He keeps a pair handy for demonstration purposes.
Matt’s work is also featured on many Big Basin Vineyards’ labels, and hangs in the wineries tasting room on Big Basin Way in Saratoga Village.
Inside the timber-frame winery barn is where the alchemy happens, and occasionally, the party happens. Here’s a nice touch – the take-home wine glasses were elegant 22 oz crystal wine glasses. They will see frequent use, and evoke pleasant memories of a warm spring day we spent high in the Santa Cruz Mountains sipping delicious hand-crafted wine, surrounded by a friendly vibe and healthy dose of natural splendor.
by Scott Anderson on April 18, 2012
The Fromage Twins say "cheese": Eric (L) and Don
Meet Don and Eric, identical twins who’ve lived in Los Gatos since 1986 and recently opened Fromage, a cheese store and so much more.
They shared a long-term dream of owning a business together. So how do two brothers who grew up in the construction business simultaneously land on Main Street, Los Gatos selling cheese? That’s the second part of the dream, where they both became irresistibly attracted to the siren song sung by Emmentalers, Stiltons and the rest of their cow, sheep and goat-sourced cousins. The story ends well with twin brothers adding another delicious reason to visit East Main Street.
And here’s the best part. Los Gatos now has a destination cheese shop for residents to count on and visitors to delight in. Wine and cheese is a match made in heaven. Perfect for picnics at tasting rooms in town or up in the hills and vineyards. And perfect for sipping and munching to the mojo of Jazz on the Plazz and Music in the Park. Or for everyday enjoyment for no particular reason at all except that it tastes so darn good.
Here’s some real news about cheese. It really matters how fresh it is and how it’s been cared for on its way to the shop and at the shop itself. In the wine business they call this “provenance”. It simply means how well the product has been cared for since made.
Choose from more than 100 cheese varieties, all lovingly monitored for freshness by the Fromage Twins.
The twins are adamant believers in the importance of provenance. They are freshness fanatics. They have stories about cheeses they’ve rejected, and one story of chasing down a customer when they realized too late that the cheese they’d sold had gone off. That’s the thing, the flavor changes with age and its environment, just like wine, so it needs to be monitored so customers can rely on a consistent experience. This is Eric and Don’s philosophy and they’re sticking to it.
If it’s diverse selection you crave, there are typically about 100 different cheeses from which to choose. Fromage also offers high-quality, organic, unfiltered, and cold-pressed olive oil. Pasta, charcuterie and other delectables fill the shelves.
If you value the chance to select and purchase cheese from a knowledgeable and passionate cheesemeister, visit the Fromage twins in their funky haven between Nick’s on Main and Billy’s Boston Chowder House. Prices are comparable to other local cheese retailers. The service , however, is incomparable because the Fromage twins are passionate about your cheese.
