How about an ItalianBarolo for under $20 or aCalifornia pinot noir for $15?Sounds like a deal, and it is!Make just about any wineyou want at a place calledWater2Wine on US 281 andThousand Oaks (by Big Lots).
The grape juice they useto make the wine is grown invineyards all over the world,and yes, you’ll recognizemany of the names. Thewine making process itselfis interesting, but more thanthat, it’s a lot of fun.
I’ve been to Water2Wineseveral times, and it’s alwaysa great time. You can taste alldifferent wines at their winebar, and when you find oneyou like, buy it or make yourown.
Part of the fun is meetingthe delightful family memberswho own the place – threesisters, Nancy, Karen andTrish. And Dennis, themanager, is incredibly patientand good at helping you finda wine you like. Even theladies’ parents pitch in whenthey need help bottling thehundreds of bottles they sellevery month.
If you’re just learning aboutwine, this is a great placeto try dozens of differentvarietals without spendinga lot of money. And, Nancysays the wines at Water2Wineonly have a fraction of thesulfites that commerciallymade wines have, so if you’reone of those who swears winegives you a headache, youmight want to try the wineshere.
If you commit to makingyour own wines, each batchresults in about 28–30 bottles.And it’s a process. You don’tleave with your wine the dayyou make it because it has toferment for at least 45 days.
The bottling process, tome, is the best part. You evenget to customize your labels– your private reserve winesmake great gifts. You shouldsee my ‘Goodtaste with Tanji’pinot noir!
If you’re not fullycommitted to buying 28bottles, go in with friends,split the cost and divvy up thewines
All in all, it’s a great wayto meet new people, hangout with friends, have funand learn a lot about tonsof different wines. If you’renew to drinking wine, this isan easy and inexpensive wayto explore different kinds ofwine so that you figure outwhat you like and why.
It will make ordering a glassof wine in a restaurant lessintimidating and more fun.
When you go, try theirArgentinian Malbec andtheir Symphony wine – anice white varietal developedby students at University ofCalifornia Davis viticulturedepartment.
As always, if you have astory idea or question, dropme a line at goodtaste@tanjipatton.com.
