Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/306378
90 / the tasting panel / may 2014 A nthony Dias Blue, the Editor-in-Chief of THE TASTING PANEL, puts it best: "The Wente family is royalty in the California wine industry." So when Karl Wente ventured to Los Angeles in early April, the top tastemakers in the city's wine scene were eager to attend an exclusive lunch that paired Wente Family Estates wines with the farm fresh cuisine that the City of Angels does so well. Eleven sommeliers joined the Fifth Generation Winemaker and THE TASTING PANEL at Girasol Restaurant in Studio City, which focuses on approach- able dishes featuring ingredients that Executive Chef CJ Jacobson forages or selects from farmer's markets himself. With nine wines chosen by Karl to show off the winery's classic offerings, our somms were ready to sip and savor. While introducing the wines, Karl offered a brief back- ground on the winery and his historic family—mentioning that farming the same grapes every year has allowed the Wentes to learn the idiosyncrasies of the grapes and create the best wines possible. He accredited his family's long and continued success to a simple mantra: "If you take care of the soil, the land and the people, they will take care of you." As the lunch courses were introduced, we asked our guests to jot down tasting notes and pair each dish with one of the nine wines served. To push their palates even further, they were also tasked to select a dish from their own establishment to complement each wine. With endless combinations at their disposal, these somms narrow down their favorite pairings and provide us with an inside look at how they would serve Wente Family Estates wines with everything on the menu. A Match Made by Anthony Dias Blue welcomes the somms to the Wente pairing luncheon. by Emily Coleman / photos by Jeremy Ball WENTE FAMILY ESTATES TRAVELS TO LOS ANGELES FOR A SOMMELIER LUNCHEON Made by Eleven TP0514_072-101.indd 90 4/24/14 11:01 PM