Friday, October 26, 2012

Wine At River Rock Lounge, Sportsmen's Lodge


In Los Angeles, the “Hollywood side” of the Hollywood Hills gets all the attention and attracts all the world-class chefs and hip mixologists.  The “Valley side” - the San Fernando Valley to the north - gets to be the butt of many jokes.  There is also a less pretentious approach to life there.

I live convenient to both sides of the L.A. Universe, so I do like to head into the 818 every now and then.  When an hour and a half wait seems a little excessive, or the thought of a velvet rope makes me throw up a little in my mouth, I go “over the hill.”

River Rock Lounge at the Sportsmen's Lodge on Ventura Blvd in Studio City has undergone a lengthy remodeling which left the restaurant/chill space looking pretty swanky.  It’s right next to the pond.  There are no swans in the pond anymore, and that’s too bad.  There is some cool and sultry cocktail jazz from the likes of Chet Baker, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald coming through the speakers, though.

We ducked in one afternoon to get out of the heat.  When in the Valley, remember the words of Johnny Drama on “Entourage” - “Hydrate, bro.”

I did some happy hour hydrating with a SeaGlass Sauvignon Blanc for the special price of $5.  Seaglass Wine is based in Napa Valley’s St. Helena, but they source fruit from Santa Barbara and Monterey counties.

The SeaGlass Sauvignon Blanc is taken from a vineyard in the hills above Santa Barbara.  The tech sheet declines to identify the vineyard with anything more specific.  It has an alcohol content of 13.7% abv.

The wine has a really nice, soft grassiness on the nose.  It’s much like a bowl of fresh green beans.  On the palate, mineral driven fruit flavors dominate.  Apples, citrus and pears are presented in a very fresh surrounding.  This is one of the best California Sauvignon Blancs I've tasted.


Follow Randy Fuller on Twitter


No comments:

Post a Comment