Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1036886
october 2018 / the tasting panel / 75 RAFAEL PETERSON, Born and Raised: A San Diego native, Peterson is the first proper sommelier to join Consortium Holdings as he curates the wine list at its flagship establishment, Born and Raised. CH put all its ambition into one basket and it's paid off tremendously: From table- side cocktails to seared foie, it's making what was old new again with fantastic flair. When he's not busy leading the charge through service, Peterson is out promoting his fellow professionals. MARK VALIN, The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe: If you're not jealous of Valin's social media feed (@so_mmel_ier), check your pulse. The program he's built over the years is one of staggering breadth and depth, and the access his members have to the selection of fine wine he's curated is second to none in San Diego. You can find Valin working the Pebble Beach Food & Wine event every spring as a volunteer somm: If you're looking for him, just follow the Champagne. ALEX MEGDESSIAN, Market: A North County institution, Market has for years been one of the best joints for drink- ing well when you're north of La Jolla. It has a tremendous by-the-glass program and a thoughtfully designed list that does a great job of covering the classics, but it's just geeky enough to impress the savvy drinker. There's plenty of old Bordeaux for when you feel like spending the equivalent of a mortgage payment, as well as insanely affordable and equally delicious items like German Pinot, Loire Valley Cab Franc, and half-bottles of Krug. As for Megdessian, there are many reasons for me to love him—first and foremost because he's a fellow Armenian. ASHLEY PHILLIPS, Island Prime: Phillips manages to accomplish the near-impossible—maintain- ing a relevant, exciting program at a prime steakhouse. She's pouring German Sekt and dry Furmint by the glass in addition to offering an expansive list of big reds. She loves drinking wine while barefoot (but not while she's on the clock). RAFAEL SANCHEZ and VICTORIA O'BRYAN, Addison: What can I say that has not already been said about Addison, the otherworldly dining experience at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar hotel? Its list goes 3,500 wines and 10,000 bottles deep as far back as 1865 (Madeira, by the glass!). Addison is unquestionably the pinnacle of dining in San Diego, and its award-winning list spans the globe. A program of this caliber is exceedingly rare in Southern California, and Sanchez and O'Bryan are more than worthy of it. TEDDY PANOS, Stake Chophouse and Bar: The nicest guy in town, Panos has hospitality in his bones. The list at Stake showcases roughly 700 labels and covers nearly every wine region on the planet. Pile on a strong cocktail program as well as a growing range of sake and fortified wines, and Stake has quickly become one of the finest places to drink on Coronado. Panos also has a '72 Chevelle SS parked in his garage, because he's that cool. DUSTIN CANO and DAVE WIEGEL, Meritage Wine Market: If you love the world's most widely planted variety and you named your cats Peter and Michael, head to Meritage Wine Market. They offer tastings at the shop as well as educational opportunities and private-cellar consulting. The shelves are stocked with everything from patio-pounding rosé to jeroboams of decades-old Château d'Yquem and Dominus. Cano and Wiegel have curated a retail program at the pinnacle of the wine game, covering the approachable to the lavishly luxurious right in San Diegans' backyard. KATIE FAWKES, The Rose: So you're not a big Cab drinker, and Cali Chardonnay isn't for you—in fact, you don't like anything your parents drank. That's perfect, because Fawkes and the other ladies at The Rose will be dying to meet you. You can tuck in for brunch and crush all the natty Pét-Nat your heart desires before taking a bottle to go, too. The Rose was killing the natural wine game before it was cool, and the kitchen, helmed by Chelsea Coleman, also turns out terrific food. It's a spectacular gem hidden away in the otherwise sleepy and mostly residential South Park neighborhood. PHOTO COURTESY OF RAFAEL PETERSON PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHLEY PHILLIPS Rafael Peterson of Born and Raised. Victoria O'Bryan of Addison. Teddy Panos of Stake Chophouse and Bar. Katie Fawkes of The Rose. Mark Valin of The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe. Ashley Phillips of Island Prime.