According to the Tom Petty song, "Free Fallin'," the vampires in the San Fernando Valley "move west down Ventura Boulevard." I don't know where they go from there, but if any vampires venture into Beverly Hills, I know a place where they can taste some wine.
The Vampire Lounge and Tasting Room isn't just a hangout for those with extended canine teeth. It's the retail embodiment of Vampire Vineyards, a winemaking outfit which draws grapes from Paso Robles, Santa Maria, Napa Valley and France's Loire Valley.
The business started in 1988 with the release of an Algerian Syrah, bottled in France. The first 500 bottles went to rock star Alice Cooper, and the rest is a history that's afraid of the daylight. The company's travels have gone through Italy and Transylvania itself. Now, the winemaking effort is based in Creston, California - a little bit southeast of Paso Robles.
Michael Machat is the founder and CEO of the company, and he plays a big part in the corporate backstory featured on the website. The Vampire Vineyards sommelier, Igor Fedenkov - really, it's on his business card - poured me through a sampling of the wines.
The Dracula Pinot Noir 2007 is made from Santa Maria grapes - picked before sunrise, of course. The wine spent 18 months in French oak. It has a big, rich nose and big, rich flavors to match. Cherry and raspberry notes dominate in properly dark fashion.
Chateau du Vampire Midnight Rendevous 2007 is a blend of Paso Robles Syrah, Grenache, Counoise and Mouvedre. There are bright cherry flavors in abundance and some great chocolate notes.
Trueblood Napa Valley Syrah 2004 is inky-dark enough to please any vampire who likes his wine smokey and spicy.
It's no surprise that red wines dominate the list, but Vampire Vineyards does offer a modest selection of whites - notably the Chateau du Vampire Roussanne of Paso Robles heritage - along with a White Zinfandel and the Je T'Aime Brut Rosé. Even vampires like to do a little light sipping now and then.
All sorts of vampire-related wine gadgets are offered in the tasting room, as well as apparel, glassware, chocolate coffins and a vampire energy drink - perfect for those times when the sun's rays threaten to bring the night to an end.
Follow Randy Fuller on Twitter.
The Vampire Lounge and Tasting Room isn't just a hangout for those with extended canine teeth. It's the retail embodiment of Vampire Vineyards, a winemaking outfit which draws grapes from Paso Robles, Santa Maria, Napa Valley and France's Loire Valley.
The business started in 1988 with the release of an Algerian Syrah, bottled in France. The first 500 bottles went to rock star Alice Cooper, and the rest is a history that's afraid of the daylight. The company's travels have gone through Italy and Transylvania itself. Now, the winemaking effort is based in Creston, California - a little bit southeast of Paso Robles.
Michael Machat is the founder and CEO of the company, and he plays a big part in the corporate backstory featured on the website. The Vampire Vineyards sommelier, Igor Fedenkov - really, it's on his business card - poured me through a sampling of the wines.
The Dracula Pinot Noir 2007 is made from Santa Maria grapes - picked before sunrise, of course. The wine spent 18 months in French oak. It has a big, rich nose and big, rich flavors to match. Cherry and raspberry notes dominate in properly dark fashion.Chateau du Vampire Midnight Rendevous 2007 is a blend of Paso Robles Syrah, Grenache, Counoise and Mouvedre. There are bright cherry flavors in abundance and some great chocolate notes.
Trueblood Napa Valley Syrah 2004 is inky-dark enough to please any vampire who likes his wine smokey and spicy.
It's no surprise that red wines dominate the list, but Vampire Vineyards does offer a modest selection of whites - notably the Chateau du Vampire Roussanne of Paso Robles heritage - along with a White Zinfandel and the Je T'Aime Brut Rosé. Even vampires like to do a little light sipping now and then.
All sorts of vampire-related wine gadgets are offered in the tasting room, as well as apparel, glassware, chocolate coffins and a vampire energy drink - perfect for those times when the sun's rays threaten to bring the night to an end.
Follow Randy Fuller on Twitter.
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