"And the winners are..." With these words, wineries from all over the United States took home awards for their fine wines in the nation's most prestigious annual competition. It's a no-holds-barred blind tasting contest, which means the smallest family operation with just a few acres of vines can go head to head with the biggest and best known names in the business. Certainly Napa Valley wineries took home a hefty share of the medals, but many tiny vineyards also produced superior results. It is especially sweet when an unheard of community in an obscure corner of northern California can proudly boast three winners in the last few years, two of which won numerous awards this year. I'm talking about Manton, California.
Manton's first ever Gold Medal was awarded this year to Ringtail Vineyards for its red grape port style dessert wine "Sweet Petite," a particularly impressive feat given the fact that this was the very first year Ringtail entered the fray. Congratulations indeed! Ringtail also won bronze medals for its Petite Sirah and a Late Harvest Chardonnay. I might add that my wife loves the Ringtail Gewurztraminer. There's a bottle in the frig right now! The other Manton winery winner, Indian Peak Vineyards, won two Silver Medals last year and brought home four awards this year: Silvers for Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, Bronzes for a Zinfandel/Abstract Red and another Cabernet Sauvignon. Locals just love "Donna's Dessert Wine," a port style after dinner treat which is flying out the door by the case.
Prior to this year's competition, Alger Vineyards won awards four years in a row for its Syrahs and Petite Sirahs. John and Linda Alger are eager to pour the award winners in their spectacular tasting room, featuring local handcrafted art and panoramic views of the vineyards which stretch towards the distant Yolla Bolly Mountains of the Coast Range. Truth be told, all the wineries in Manton are small family affairs. Fred and Donna Boots of Indian Peak Vineyards will host you most any time, against a backdrop of barrel upon oak barrel stacked to the rafters. Rob Carillo and Donna Delgado of Ringtail Vineyards have a tasting room in their home, with an elegant wooden bar and views of Lassen Peak.
Another winery which I expect to win awards soon is Shasta Daisy Vineyards, owned by Carroll and Lorna Knedler. Their Pinot Noir is well worth the drive and their tasting room overlooks the gorgeous meadow at Forwards Mill, as well as the remnants of the old lumber mill. They also have cabin rentals for those who want to enjoy the incredible serenity of the mountains and see the Milky Way from horizon to horizon. Jim and Corey Livingston expect to open their doors to Cedar Crest Winery later this year, and Alain Teuschmann of Mt. Tehama Winery can be reached by appointment only, see links below.
Visiting Manton is to discover old time hospitality, visit hard-working folks who will treat you right, and taste some very excellent award-winning red wine. Rollings Hills Casino in Corning has published a brochure which features a tour of local wineries. It describes this area as Manton Volcanic Wine Country, as it is situated just west of Lassen Volcanic National Park and has fabulous views of the snow-covered volcano most of the year. An area known for its apples and celebrated each year with the Manton Apple Festival (first weekend in October), Manton is now taking on a new identity: one of California's latest undiscovered award-winning wine regions. Watch out Mondavi, there's some great wine coming from the Cascade foothills!
Links to Manton wineries:
www.algervineyards.com Alger Vineyards (530) 474-WINE
www.indianpeakvineyards.net Indian Peak Vineyards (530) 474-5506
www.ringtailvineyards.net Ringtail Vineyards (530) 474-5350
www.mtwinery.com Mt. Tehama Winery (530) 474-3304
www.shastadaisyvineyard.com Shasta Daisy Vineyard (530) 474-5262
Site under construction Cedar Crest Vineyard and Winery (530) 474-1387
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Retire to Manton Volcanic Wine Country
In a few weeks I will turn 65. Unbelievable! Retire? No way! I'm loving my real estate practice and plan to continue on for years to come. But for many Boomers the reality of retirement is looming large. After years of grinding out the mortgage and getting the kids through school, couples are looking forward to some very large lifestyle changes. Questions arise: where to live? what to do? how to afford? This New Year, 2010, will present many opportunities, possible new directions, great times ahead!
Some retirees will no doubt choose to stay put, having paid off the family home and developed local lifetime friendships. On the other hand, some will sell everything and purchase a home in a foreign land (check out the Living Abroad Guides published by my wife's company at http://www.moon.com/). I suspect quite a few folks will be ready to cash in their urban equity for a more relaxed, quiet and comfortable country lifestyle. Enough with mowing the lawn. Time to grow a few tomatoes instead.
Potential retirees in northern California who are seeking the country life may wish to consider the Manton area which hosts such "old time" events as the volunteer fire department barbecue in the summer and the annual apple festival in the fall. Current residents of Manton take a certain glee when telling people where they live, because most folks out there in the "real world" have no idea where Manton is. How cool is it to live in a yet undiscovered spot? Yet it's not that remote. You can be driving on the I-5 in 45 minutes or board a commercial aircraft in less than an hour. But who would want to leave a place with numerous wineries, a wild horse sanctuary, and a dramatic view of a snow-covered volcano? Want to camp with the grandkids in an uncrowded national park? It's only 45 minutes to the fabulous Manzanita Lake Campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Pulling up stakes after many years in the same place is a daunting task for the future retiree.
Perhaps the best way to scope out a potential new home is to actually go there and spend some time. In a rural area with no hotels or motels, this can be a challenging proposition. The solution: http://www.vrbo.com/, vacation rental by owner. The are currently four listings in the Manton area and several more in the Lassen vicinity. I would recommend vrbo #14909 at Shasta Daisy Vineyards. Your hosts Carroll and Lorna Knedler are as gracious as you will find anywhere and have great knowledge of the area history, flora and fauna. Don't miss the dozens of hummingbirds on the tasting room deck! If a bed and breakfast is more to your liking, the Weston House (http://www.westonhouse.com/) in Shingletown has an incredible view overlooking the entire Manton area.
For guided tours of the Manton wineries, contact Donna at Ringtail Vineyards (http://www.ringtailvineyards.net/). If you are ready to view properties for sale or get the insider info on the various features of Manton, I would be delighted to give you a personal tour. Make your appointment in advance by e-mail: mantonland@frontiernet.net. Tom Knight, at your service.
It's a great time to lock up that perfect country home for your retirement years. Prices are fair once again, interest rates are at historic lows for those who might need a loan, and Manton still is the "secret" hideaway with undiscovered family wineries. How long hidden? Our award-winning wines are sure to attract attention sooner or later. An article in VIA or Sunset, and the prices will be going one way: UP! Way up. Retirees may find the perfect home in Manton. It's worth a visit!
Some retirees will no doubt choose to stay put, having paid off the family home and developed local lifetime friendships. On the other hand, some will sell everything and purchase a home in a foreign land (check out the Living Abroad Guides published by my wife's company at http://www.moon.com/). I suspect quite a few folks will be ready to cash in their urban equity for a more relaxed, quiet and comfortable country lifestyle. Enough with mowing the lawn. Time to grow a few tomatoes instead.
Potential retirees in northern California who are seeking the country life may wish to consider the Manton area which hosts such "old time" events as the volunteer fire department barbecue in the summer and the annual apple festival in the fall. Current residents of Manton take a certain glee when telling people where they live, because most folks out there in the "real world" have no idea where Manton is. How cool is it to live in a yet undiscovered spot? Yet it's not that remote. You can be driving on the I-5 in 45 minutes or board a commercial aircraft in less than an hour. But who would want to leave a place with numerous wineries, a wild horse sanctuary, and a dramatic view of a snow-covered volcano? Want to camp with the grandkids in an uncrowded national park? It's only 45 minutes to the fabulous Manzanita Lake Campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
Pulling up stakes after many years in the same place is a daunting task for the future retiree.
Perhaps the best way to scope out a potential new home is to actually go there and spend some time. In a rural area with no hotels or motels, this can be a challenging proposition. The solution: http://www.vrbo.com/, vacation rental by owner. The are currently four listings in the Manton area and several more in the Lassen vicinity. I would recommend vrbo #14909 at Shasta Daisy Vineyards. Your hosts Carroll and Lorna Knedler are as gracious as you will find anywhere and have great knowledge of the area history, flora and fauna. Don't miss the dozens of hummingbirds on the tasting room deck! If a bed and breakfast is more to your liking, the Weston House (http://www.westonhouse.com/) in Shingletown has an incredible view overlooking the entire Manton area.
For guided tours of the Manton wineries, contact Donna at Ringtail Vineyards (http://www.ringtailvineyards.net/). If you are ready to view properties for sale or get the insider info on the various features of Manton, I would be delighted to give you a personal tour. Make your appointment in advance by e-mail: mantonland@frontiernet.net. Tom Knight, at your service.
It's a great time to lock up that perfect country home for your retirement years. Prices are fair once again, interest rates are at historic lows for those who might need a loan, and Manton still is the "secret" hideaway with undiscovered family wineries. How long hidden? Our award-winning wines are sure to attract attention sooner or later. An article in VIA or Sunset, and the prices will be going one way: UP! Way up. Retirees may find the perfect home in Manton. It's worth a visit!
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