The Coppola Effect
A lot of locals fantasize about plowing their retirement years and accumulated fortunes into wineries. Some actually do it.
by Anne Valdespino / photographs by Melissa Valladares
Hamilton Oaks Vineyard
Visit Ron Tamez’s Trabuco Canyon tasting room Wednesday through Sunday by appointment. (A second tasting room just opened in San Juan Capistrano.) He’s grown grapes on the property since 1989, but we like his 2008 Jumping Vines cabernet with fruit from Russian River’s prestigious Chalk Hill area. It won gold at the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. $17 to $75. At the tasting room, 31111 Hamilton Trail, Trabuco Canyon, 949-459-6913; and hamiltonoaksvineyard.com
Laguna Canyon Winery
Canadian ex-pat Marlowe Huber, who built his winery in 2003, uses fruit from Napa and Sonoma for his red, white, sparkling, and dessert wines. He won seven OC Fair medals this year. He pours ($2 per taste) at two locations in Laguna Beach. $16 to $48. At local Albertsons and the winery’s two tasting rooms, 2133 Laguna Canyon Road, 949-715-9463, closed Monday; and daily at 380 Glenneyre St., 949-715-1621; and lagunacanyonwinery.com
Orange Coast Winery
Temecula vintners Doug and Debbie Wiens swept into Newport Beach in October 2011 with a tasting room open Friday through Sunday. The couple use fruit primarily from Temecula and Lodi for Wiens Family Wines and their Orange Coast label. Their 2008 Beach Blend Reserve, a full-bodied red blend, won silver at this year’s OC Fair. $18 to $45. At the tasting room, 869 W. 16th St., Newport Beach, 949-645-0400, and orangecoastwinery.com
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