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FOOD, WINE & MOREFOOD, WINE & MORE

Mountain View News Saturday, April 26, 2025


THE TASTING ROOM


HISTORY IN A GLASS. THE MISSION 
GRAPE.

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

Have you ever been to the San Gabriel Mission and looked 
at the old grapevine that is there? It’s called the “Mother 
Vine” or the “Trinity Vine” and it’s the oldest vine in California. 
Planted in the 1770’s, the grape varietal is the Mission 
grape. The Mission grape came to California along 
with the missionaries. It originally was grown in Spain, 
then made it to the Canary Islands where it is currently 
known as Listan Prieto. From the Canary Islands it made 
its way to South America where it is still grown in Chile as 
Pais. It continued its journey to Mexico and then California 
where it is called the Mission grape. It was used primarily for sacramental purposes. Over the 
years, the Mission grape fell in and out of favor. Currently it is still being made into a quite delicious 
and refreshing wine by a handful of winemakers. 

One such winemaker is Adam Sabelli-Frisch. He’s a local winemaker located in Los Angeles who 
focuses on making wine with minimal intervention, no chemicals or additives, naturally fermented, 
and minimal sulfites. His passion for winemaking comes through in every glass of his wines. 

The 2020 Sabelli-Frisch “Marina” Mission is sourced from the Somers Vineyard in Lodi. Somers is 
organically farmed and is believed to have some of the oldest Mission vines in America. The wine 
was aged 15 months in French neutral oak with about 10% American oak. It’s mostly Mission grape 
with 5% Zweigelt grape blended in for color. It’s a lighter style wine along the lines of Pinot Noir 
but with lower acid. You get floral notes, strawberry, and very subtle white pepper and herbs. The 
wine is low in tannins, and it also is low alcohol. This wine is best served slightly chilled. I can see 
it pairing very well with salmon, spicy pasta, and even tuna poke. A wonderful wine that will evoke 
the history of the missions and the history of winemaking in the area and throughout the state.

The 2020 Sabelli-Frisch “Marina” Mission is available at The Bottle Shop for $29.99. Say you saw 
it in the Mountain Views News and get the MVN special price of $27.00. The special price is good 
through May 2nd. 

Please keep in mind all those who have suffered and are trying to rebuild from the Eaton Fire. Visit 
DenaMadreStrong.com to learn how you can continue to help those impacted by the Eaton Fire. 

Until next time – Salud! 

Scan the QRCode to sign up for our 
newsletter. 

LITTLE PROVENCE CAFÉ – A TASTE OF FRANCE, RIGHT IN ARCADIA

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before—my father, Elmer 
Dills, made a good living discovering restaurants that most 
folks would simply drive by. Well, I found one, and it’s tucked 
away at the corner of Baldwin and Naomi in Arcadia. Blink 
and you might miss it—but that would be your loss.

Little Provence Café is a tribute to owner Dennis’ mother, 
Rosemari, and his love for the flavors of southern France. 
Now, I’ve never been to France myself, but the moment I 
walked in—with its subtle music, casual charm, and the 
scent of real herbs in the air—I thought, “This must be it.”

Here’s a little trivia to impress your friends: France has more pizzerias than Italy. 
Shocking, right? And if you think pizza came from New York, think again. But back 
to the café...

Nothing here is pre-prepared. The Quiche Lorraine is made from scratch—light, 
fluffy, and buttery. The salmon sandwich? Four ounces of fresh, flaky salmon so 
good I swore it might kiss me back. Every detail matters here. There’s even an herb 
garden out back to give the dishes that authentic touch—like the olive oil laced with 
just a hint of pepper.

The star of the lunch was the Roast Beef Sandwich, or as they call it in Provence, 
Rôti de Boeuf. It’s slow-smoked and blanketed in a Dijonaisse sauce that’s been 
marinating overnight. French comfort food at its finest.

Salads? Yes, and worth the spotlight. A creative Caesar (which, fun fact, hails originally 
from Mexico) and a picture-perfect Niçoise Salad, just like you’d find in a 
seaside bistro in Provence.

You’re probably wondering—how did I eat all this in one sitting? The secret: one 
bite at a time.

The vibe? Classic café. Whether you're coming in for a leisurely lunch or just a 
morning espresso, Little Provence Café delivers the kind of warmth and flavor 
that’s hard to find—even in Paris.

________________________________________

IN SUMMARY:

• Standout dish: Rôti de Boeuf sandwich

• Unexpected treat: Salmon sandwich with garden-fresh herbs

• Café charm: From the music to the menu, it’s France by way of Arcadia

• Insider tip: Try the Niçoise salad and take a moment to smell the herbs

• Located at Baldwin and Naomi in Arcadia—don’t drive by this one


ALL THINGS 

By Jeff Brown 

MOZART'S STARLING BY LYANDA LYNN 
HAUPT

An NPR Best Book of the Year:“A heady hybrid of science, history, 
how-to and memoir” about a great composer, a common bird, and 
our bond with nature (Los Angeles Times).

On May 27, 1784, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart met a flirtatious little 
starling in a Viennese shop who sang an improvised version of the 
theme from his Piano Concerto no. 17 in G major. Sensing a kindred 
spirit in the plucky young bird, Mozart bought him and took 
him home to be a family pet. For three years, the starling lived with 
Mozart, influencing his work and serving as his companion, distraction, 
consolation, and muse.

Two centuries later, starlings are reviled by even the most compassionate conservationists. A nonnative, 
invasive species, they invade sensitive habitats, outcompete local birds for nest sites and 
food, and decimate crops. A seasoned birder and naturalist, Lyanda Lynn Haupt is well versed in 
the difficult and often strained relationships these birds have with other species and the environment. 
But after rescuing a baby starling of her own, Haupt found herself enchanted by the same 
intelligence and playful spirit that had so charmed her favorite composer.

In Mozart’s Starling, Haupt explores the unlikely and remarkable bond between one of history’s 
most cherished composers and one of earth’s most common birds. The intertwined stories of 
Mozart’s beloved pet and Haupt’s own starling is “a hard-to-put down, charming blend of science, 
biography, and memoir . . . brimming with starling information, travelogues, and historical details 
about Mozart’s Vienna” (Booklist).

“Shed[s] light on the connection between humans and birds—those of us bound to terra firma, 
and those who are free to soar.” ―Garth Stein, New York Times–bestselling author of The Art of 
Racing in the Rain

The book can be ordered at Sierra Madre’s bookstore Fables & Fancies (626)665-8856

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