I need some help with info on two wineries: one is BARGETTO WINERY in Santa
Cruz Mtns, CA/US. I've been to their Web site, and hope someone has TNs,
comments on their wines.

The other is Ballantrae, Barossa Valley, AU. I've found a few Google
references, but no site, and very little on the wines. It seems that they do a
Shiraz and a Cab, but I can find little reference to them.

It seems that someone here recently did a Santa Cruz wine tasting tour/event.
Was BARGETTO WINERY one of the wineries pouring. I can't seem to find any
references to that event in Google.Groups, and my memory isn't what it once
was.

TIA
Hunt

"Hunt" > wrote in message
...
>I need some help with info on two wineries: one is BARGETTO WINERY in Santa
> Cruz Mtns, CA/US. I've been to their Web site, and hope someone has TNs,
> comments on their wines.

It's been awhile since I tasted anything from Bargetto, but IIRC their
Cabernet was pretty good. Not Napa Valley "First Growth" status, but not
nearly as expensive either.

Santa Cruz is certainly a good region for fine wines, although I'd expect it
to favor whites and cool climate varietals like Pinot Noir, but Ridge isn't
too far from there (Cupertino) and their Monte Bello Cabernet _is_ a
California First Growth.

Not much help, but not none either... :^/

Tom S

in article , Hunt at wrote on
1/25/05 8:44 PM:

> I need some help with info on two wineries: one is BARGETTO WINERY in Santa
> Cruz Mtns, CA/US. I've been to their Web site, and hope someone has TNs,
> comments on their wines.
>
> The other is Ballantrae, Barossa Valley, AU. I've found a few Google
> references, but no site, and very little on the wines. It seems that they do a
> Shiraz and a Cab, but I can find little reference to them.
>
> It seems that someone here recently did a Santa Cruz wine tasting tour/event.
> Was BARGETTO WINERY one of the wineries pouring. I can't seem to find any
> references to that event in Google.Groups, and my memory isn't what it once
> was.
>
> TIA
> Hunt
>

I went to a tasting of Santa Cruz wineries at Copia (in Napa) a few months
ago and posted about it before going. That may be what you are remembering.

Bargetto was one of the wineries there, but the few notes I took do not show
anything about their wines. I think I recall tasting at their table, but I
did not make any notes (there were only a few at which I did). Sorry not to
be of any help. We went to Copia after a two hour special club-member
tasting at Franciscan, so the taste buds may have been substantially dulled
by then. ;o)

In article >, says...
>
>in article , Hunt at wrote on
>1/25/05 8:44 PM:
>
>> I need some help with info on two wineries: one is BARGETTO WINERY in Santa
>> Cruz Mtns, CA/US. I've been to their Web site, and hope someone has TNs,
>> comments on their wines.
>>
>> The other is Ballantrae, Barossa Valley, AU. I've found a few Google
>> references, but no site, and very little on the wines. It seems that they
do a
>> Shiraz and a Cab, but I can find little reference to them.
>>
>> It seems that someone here recently did a Santa Cruz wine tasting tour/
event.
>> Was BARGETTO WINERY one of the wineries pouring. I can't seem to find any
>> references to that event in Google.Groups, and my memory isn't what it once
>> was.
>>
>> TIA
>> Hunt
>>
>
>I went to a tasting of Santa Cruz wineries at Copia (in Napa) a few months
>ago and posted about it before going. That may be what you are remembering.
>
>Bargetto was one of the wineries there, but the few notes I took do not show
>anything about their wines. I think I recall tasting at their table, but I
>did not make any notes (there were only a few at which I did). Sorry not to
>be of any help. We went to Copia after a two hour special club-member
>tasting at Franciscan, so the taste buds may have been substantially dulled
>by then. ;o)

That's right! I had mistakenly assumed that the tasting was in SCM area, but
you corrected me, that it was actually in Napa, at Copia. Maybe it was that
mistaken impression that lead to no hits in my Google.Groups search - duh!
Thanks for the "refresher." Now, all I need to do is find a way to taste the
Bargetto wines. Next month I'll be at Pebble Beach, so maybe I can find some
in the Monterrey area. Bargetto has a vineyard in the Monterrey AVA, so I
might get lucky. Unfortunately, we're staying at Pebble and I'll not be
getting a car, or even having any free time, and IIRC Pebble's wine list is
very heavy on Bdx and, as Tom S writes, "Napa First-Growths." It will be a
shame to be so close, yet probably not be able to fulfill my quest - maybe
next time.

Thanks for the info though,
Hunt

Hunt wrote:
> I need some help with info on two wineries: one is BARGETTO WINERY in Santa
> Cruz Mtns, CA/US. I've been to their Web site, and hope someone has TNs,
> comments on their wines.

Hunt,
I've visited a number of the Santa Cruz Mountain wineries over the last
few years but I must say Bargetto is one of my least favourite. Whether
it was the wines they were pouring the day I visited or whether it was
having just come down from Burrell School and Silver Mountain (both of
which I like very much) and ending up in the "tasting room" setting at
Bargetto rather than talking to the winemakers - and letting this cloud
my judgement I don't know.
I did enjoy their Mead!
--James

In article >, says...
>
>
>Hunt wrote:
>> I need some help with info on two wineries: one is BARGETTO WINERY in Santa
>> Cruz Mtns, CA/US. I've been to their Web site, and hope someone has TNs,
>> comments on their wines.
>
>Hunt,
>I've visited a number of the Santa Cruz Mountain wineries over the last
>few years but I must say Bargetto is one of my least favourite. Whether
>it was the wines they were pouring the day I visited or whether it was
>having just come down from Burrell School and Silver Mountain (both of
>which I like very much) and ending up in the "tasting room" setting at
>Bargetto rather than talking to the winemakers - and letting this cloud
>my judgement I don't know.
>I did enjoy their Mead!
>--James

Thanks for the response. Maybe I'll try the Mead, when I get out there!!!

Hunt

Hunt wrote:
> I need some help with info on two wineries: one is BARGETTO WINERY in
Santa
> Cruz Mtns, CA/US. I've been to their Web site, and hope someone has
TNs,
> comments on their wines.
>
> The other is Ballantrae, Barossa Valley, AU. I've found a few Google
> references, but no site, and very little on the wines. It seems that
they do a
> Shiraz and a Cab, but I can find little reference to them.
>
> It seems that someone here recently did a Santa Cruz wine tasting
tour/event.
> Was BARGETTO WINERY one of the wineries pouring. I can't seem to find
any
> references to that event in Google.Groups, and my memory isn't what
it once
> was.
>
> TIA
> Hunt

Hunt, Bargetto is an old winery in California terms but for much of
their history they were best known for their sweet fruit wines -
Ollalieberry, for example. Somewhere along the line - 70's? (a guess)
- they "graduated" into more serious (meaning dry vinifera) wines.
Those are sometimes good but most people I know would not place them in
the upper echelon of Santa Cruz Mountain wineries.

- Mark W.

Hunt wrote:
>
> The other is Ballantrae, Barossa Valley, AU. I've found a few Google
> references, but no site, and very little on the wines. It seems that
they do a
> Shiraz and a Cab, but I can find little reference to them.

Hi Hunt
I've spent a great deal of time in the Barossa (too much it has been
rumoured by those close to me) and have never come across Ballantrae. I
googled them to and came up with a Ballantrae wine merchants who have a
Barossa Shiraz and a Napa Cab Sav. My feeling is they are not growing
grapes or making wine just branding cleanskins. I have emailed a friend
who is on the board of Barossa Winemakers Association so should have a
definitive answer for you soon.
Cheers Andrew

On 27/1/05 10:54 AM, in article
, "Andrew Goldfinch"
> wrote:

>
> Hunt wrote:
>>
>> The other is Ballantrae, Barossa Valley, AU. I've found a few Google
>> references, but no site, and very little on the wines. It seems that
>> they do a Shiraz and a Cab, but I can find little reference to them.
>

> I googled them to and came up with a Ballantrae wine merchants who have a
> Barossa Shiraz and a Napa Cab Sav. My feeling is they are not growing
> grapes or making wine just branding cleanskins.


You're right. This from the Mercury News Jan 23 2003:

"Wine fans may have noticed a new Australian shiraz at Costco with a sleek
silver-accented label for $9.99. It was the star of the holiday debut of
Ballantrae Wine Merchants -- a label most shoppers have probably never heard
of.
Ballantrae is Costco's own brand for wine, developed exclusively for the
store by Winery Exchange of Novato. Soon, Costco will offer a limited amount
of "collector" cabernet from Napa and the Alexander Valley for $19.99 under
the same label."

HTH

wn

In article . com>,
says...
>
>
>Hunt wrote:
>>
>> The other is Ballantrae, Barossa Valley, AU. I've found a few Google
>> references, but no site, and very little on the wines. It seems that
>they do a
>> Shiraz and a Cab, but I can find little reference to them.
>
>Hi Hunt
>I've spent a great deal of time in the Barossa (too much it has been
>rumoured by those close to me) and have never come across Ballantrae. I
>googled them to and came up with a Ballantrae wine merchants who have a
>Barossa Shiraz and a Napa Cab Sav. My feeling is they are not growing
>grapes or making wine just branding cleanskins. I have emailed a friend
>who is on the board of Barossa Winemakers Association so should have a
>definitive answer for you soon.
>Cheers Andrew

Thank you Andrew,

That same result is what have come across. As this request for knowledge came
from a respected "board member," I wanted to do what I could. At a retail
level in/around AZ, they do not seem to have a presence, but then maybe I'm
looking in the wrong places. I appreciate your response, and any info that you
uncover.

Hunt

In article >,
says...
>
>On 27/1/05 10:54 AM, in article
. com, "Andrew Goldfinch"
> wrote:
>
>>
>> Hunt wrote:
>>>
>>> The other is Ballantrae, Barossa Valley, AU. I've found a few Google
>>> references, but no site, and very little on the wines. It seems that
>>> they do a Shiraz and a Cab, but I can find little reference to them.
>>
>
>> I googled them to and came up with a Ballantrae wine merchants who have a
>> Barossa Shiraz and a Napa Cab Sav. My feeling is they are not growing
>> grapes or making wine just branding cleanskins.
>
>
>You're right. This from the Mercury News Jan 23 2003:
>
>"Wine fans may have noticed a new Australian shiraz at Costco with a sleek
>silver-accented label for $9.99. It was the star of the holiday debut of
>Ballantrae Wine Merchants -- a label most shoppers have probably never heard
>of.
>Ballantrae is Costco's own brand for wine, developed exclusively for the
>store by Winery Exchange of Novato. Soon, Costco will offer a limited amount
>of "collector" cabernet from Napa and the Alexander Valley for $19.99 under
>the same label."
>
>HTH
>
>wn

Ah, now I am beginng to understand why I'm not doing so well in my search.
I'll now head over to Costco and see what they have to say. Maybe I can score
a bottle of the Shiraz for the board member - ought to earn a point, or two.

Thanks,
Hunt