9

FOOD - DRINK - FUN

Mountain View News Saturday, November 9, 2024

THE TASTING ROOM


DILLS’ WINE PICKS FOR YOUR 
TURKEY (A BIT EARLY)

BY ANDY ROONEY—OOPS, I MEAN, 
DILLS

I’ve noticed the Thanksgiving shoppers are already out and 
about. Smart, really. Get the shopping done now before 
the chaos hits. Not sure if this is the new way, or if it’s just 
that people can’t handle the pressure of the last-minute 
cranberry sauce scramble. But here we are, and here I am—
doing my yearly wine advice thing. And, yes, I know it's 
a little early, but we all have our holiday traditions, right? 
This is mine.

Now, Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, and it’s my sworn 
duty to come up with a list of wines that’ll pair nicely with 
a traditional oven-baked turkey. Or, you know, smoked 
turkey—or even duck if you’re fancy like that. Heck, even a Tofurky would work with these picks. Yes, I went 
there. But let’s be real—what doesn't pair with wine? I mean, seriously. You could serve a rubber chicken and I'd 
still say, "This wine is a winner."

First, let’s address the Chardonnay lovers in the room. Yes, I see you. But let’s get one thing clear: I’m sorry—and 
I mean that from the bottom of my (clearly non-Chardonnay-loving) heart. I’ve got nothing against Chardonnay, 
but when you’ve got all that butter and gravy drenching your turkey, your favorite buttery oaky Chardonnay is 
about as useful as a lawnmower in the snow. So, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Still, drink what you like, because it’s 
a holiday and, frankly, I’m not your wine nanny. If Chardonnay makes you happy, go ahead and pour it.

Now, for those who are ready for a little more adventure, here's my first pick: a high-acid, low-tannin Pinot Noir. 
Bright cherry, cranberry, a little bit of spice—this wine knows how to deal with your exuberant mashed potatoes, 
green beans, and that sweet potato casserole you’re probably only eating because it's tradition, not because you 
actually like it. San Simeon’s Petit Sirah—under $25—is a winner, too. You can’t go wrong. Well, you can, but this 
one will steer you in the right direction.

And if you’ve been reading my stuff for any length of time, you won’t be surprised by my second choice: bubbles. 
Yes, bubbles. Don’t roll your eyes. I’m serious. Two California sparkling wines that I adore, Domaine Carneros 
Brut ($30), which, in my humble opinion, comes as close to “real” Champagne as you’re going to get without 
crossing the Atlantic. Picked up a bottle at Vons the other day and let me tell you—if it can make a prime rib 
sing, it can certainly handle turkey. The other is Roederer Estate. Newsweek called it "the value for the new 
millennium." And honestly, I don’t disagree. For $22, it’s a sparkling gem that never disappoints.

On to something a little unexpected—Rosé. And before you start groaning and thinking of those pastel-colored 
bottles that look like they belong at a baby shower, let me introduce you to AIX Rosé, hailing from the sun-
drenched vineyards of Provence. This one’s got a little more soul, a little more elegance. Matt Plunkrock—my 
personal wine steward and resident expert—swears by it. And you know what? I trust him.

And lastly, don’t overlook the classic Cabernet. Yes, it’s a Prime Rib's best friend, but who says you can’t bring it 
to the Thanksgiving table? Maddalena’s Cab, coming in at a modest $15, is just the right amount of punch to pair 
with turkey or even with all that stuffing you’ll probably end up eating more of than you care to admit. I have to 
admit, the Dills household has been doing Prime Rib on Thanksgiving for years. Don’t judge. It’s delicious.

So there you go. A little something for everyone, even if you’ve got a bit of a Chardonnay addiction. Here’s my 
final thought: If you’ve been drinking anything that doesn’t come in a box, you’re already ahead of the game. 
Enjoy your holiday, and remember—wine is just grape juice with a little attitude.

Wine Picks:

• San Simeon 

• Maddalena Cabernet

• Domaine Carneros Brut

• AIX Rosé

• Roederer Estate

All available at your local Pavilions and Vons.

WORLD CLASS. 
EXCEPTIONAL WINES. SO 
CLOSE TO HOME.

I’m Gustavo Lira, Tasting Room Manager 
and Wine Buyer at The Bottle Shop in 
Sierra Madre with another wine and spirits 
selection. 

We in Sierra Madre are damn lucky 
to have a world class wine region only 
2.5 hours drive away from us. I’m talking 
about Santa Barbara Wine Country and 
more specifically, Sta. Rita Hills. This week’s 
wine is the 2022 Mail Road Chardonnay Sta. 
Rita Hills. 

Sta. Rita Hills just might be my 
favorite wine AVA – American 
Viticultural Area. There are lots of 
reasons for this area being able to 
produce such profound wines, and 
the two that stand out are the soils 
found in this area and the direction 
of the local mountains.

The soils found here are 
diatomaceous soils which are 
extremely rare in wine regions. Many 
believe that there is nowhere else on 
this planet where grapes are planted 
on that type of soil. The direction 
of the local mountain ranges is 
different here too. Over a period 
of millions of years, the mountains 
separated from the tectonic plates 
and turned clockwise. Now the mountains are on a west to east orientation making it 
one of the only places in the Western Hemisphere with a transverse mountain range. 
This allows the cool Pacific Ocean air to flow throughout the region which results 
in better conditions for grapes to mature. You wouldn’t think it, but this Southern 
California wine region is cooler than Northern California’s Napa Valley. 

This Chardonnay from the Mt Carmel Vineyard is exceptional. Matt Dees is the 
winemaker, he’s one of the best at his craft. Ruben Solorzano is the vineyard manager 
– known as the Grape Whisperer – which gives you an idea of how well respected he 
is in the industry. 

The 2022 Mail Road Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay is dry farmed, organically farmed, 
and own rooted. The wine is fresh and lively. There’s a creaminess in the mouthfeel. 
White floral notes, lemon confit, saline notes, and zest are all present. It’s extremely 
elegant at the finish. Subtle oak, balanced, and superb. I had a person tell me last 
night that they don’t care for Chardonnay, but after tasting this one, they now enjoy 
Chardonnay. 

This wine would go great at your Thanksgiving table. Get some this weekend as there 
is very little produced. This wine will age for at least a decade, but why wait? I prefer 
Mail Road wines over Sea Smoke wines any ol’ day. Sea Smoke sells for over $100 a 
bottle. Spend your money more wisely and get this wine instead – it’s world class, 
exceptional, and oh so delicious. 

The 2022 Mail Road Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills is available at The Bottle Shop. 
Elsewhere, you will pay $55. The Bottle Shop has it for less. Due to the great price, I 
can’t post it here, but I will tell you that you are going to get a great deal. Email me 
at glira@bottleshop1.com and I will tell you the special price, then go into The Bottle 
Shop and get a bottle or two. 

Come see me Sunday, November 10 at 3pm for Great Wines Under $25, and on 
Thursday & Friday November 14 & 15 for Italian Wines. Cin Cin!

Until next time – Salud! Scan the QRCode to sign up for our newsletter. 


$14.50TURKEY GRAVYFEEDS 6-8 (32OZ)
$17.50YAMSFEEDS 6-8 (2 LBS)
$16.50MASHED POTATOES 
FEEDS 6-8 (3LBS)
$210.95THANKSGIVING FAMILY DINNERFEEDS 6-8 (INCLUDES ALL ITEMS)
$69.95OVEN ROASTED TURKEY 
FEEDS 4-6 (3.5 TO 4 LBS)
DOZ. DINNER ROLLS$8.50 FEEDS 6-8$15.50STUFFINGFEEDS 6-8 (16OZ)
$14.50VEGGIESFEEDS 6-8 (1-1/2 LBS)
$85.99HONEY BAKED HAM 
FEEDS 4-6 (3.5 TO 4LBS)
$9.95CRANBERRY SAUCE 
FEEDS 6-8 (16OZ)
DEMI LOAFS $ 8.50FEED 6-8 (2 LOAFS)
THANKSGIVING DINNERORMOFFETTSCALL TO RESERVE FOR 27TH OR 28TH (626)447-4670PRE-ORDER BY NOV. 23RD(NOTE: ALL ITEMS COME PRE-COOKED AND REQUIRE 
2-3 HOURS TO RE-HEAT ALL ITEMS)
ALL THINGS By Jeff Brown 


THE BACKYARD BIRD 
CHRONICLES By Amy Tan

1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A gorgeous, 
witty account of birding, nature, and the beauty 
around us that hides in plain sight, written and 
illustrated by the best-selling author of The Joy 
Luck Club • With a foreword by David Allen Sibley 
“Unexpected and spectacular” —Ann Patchett, 
bestselling author of These Precious Days

"The drawings and essays in this book do a lot more 
than just describe the birds. They carry a sense 
of discovery through observation and drawing, 
suggest the layers of patterns in the natural world, 
and emphasize a deep personal connection between 
the watcher and the watched. The birds that inhabit Amy Tan’s backyard seem a lot 
like the characters in her novels.” —David Allen Sibley, from the foreword

Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles maps 
the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions, and beautiful original 
sketches. With boundless charm and wit, author Amy Tan charts her foray into 
birding and the natural wonders of the world.

In 2016, Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the state of the world: Hatred and 
misinformation became a daily presence on social media, and the country felt more 
divisive than ever. In search of peace, Tan turned toward the natural world just 
beyond her window and, specifically, the birds visiting her yard. But what began as 
an attempt to find solace turned into something far greater—an opportunity to savor 
quiet moments during a volatile time, connect to nature in a meaningful way, and 
imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com