wine-ing in scv can be fishy- Scene In SCV

Feb 24th 10 Posted in Featured Writers, Marlene Bernstein - contributing editor

wine-ing in scv can be fishy

Last week I went to check out Fish Tail, the new fish restaurant that recently opened up next to Chipotle. I found a great parking space right in front of Vino 100 which is a couple doors down from my destination, but out of curiosity, I decided to find out what everyone has been wine-ing about in Santa Clarita. (Evidently, Chef Dawn was wondering too…you can read her review when you CLICK HERE ). Those that know me know perusing a wine shop is the last place you would ever expect to find me and that Manischewitz is my holiday wine of choice! But there I was, standing in this beautiful and inviting shop. I was immediately attracted to their displays of gift items (remember I’m not a wine-r) overflowing with books and gadgets and items unfamiliar. I thought I would feel intimidated by my lack of wine knowledge, but I wasn’t and that was greatly due to Chris who was working behind the counter. I explained that I have never been in any of the wine stores in town and that I wasn’t a very sophisticated wine drinker, but I just wanted to check out what all the wine talk was about in SCV. He graciously spent the next 30+ minutes showing me around the store. Vino100 prides themselves on carrying wine labels that no one else in town has…they are a unique boutique of handcrafted artisan wines from around the world. The majority of their wines are priced right for the average “wine dork” (that’s a phrase Chris coined), but they also cater to those with more expensive tastes. What stood out mostly to me were the beautiful labels that their wines had. Chris explained that the wine labels are just as important as the wines, “some customers will choose a wine, based on the label alone”. I found gorgeous wine labels, like Mosby’s Pinot Grigio. Some of the labels tell a story, like Hook & Ladder, a winery that is run by a former San Francisco firefighter and his wife, while others are tongue and cheek, like Australian wine Bitch which is apparently “a bitch to make”, and Evilwhich is described as, “lifted nose of rich, jammy black currant and smoky vanillin. A complex palate of pickled black olive, smoky bacon and hints of dark chocolate.” I have no idea what all that means, but it sounds delicious; both wines are from R Wines. Another favorite label of mine was a variety called Go Girl Red, by Working Girl’s, an all women winery (and favorite movie of mine) with really fun labels and great stories behind them. Because of my interest in all the labels, Chris showed me a product called “Label Lifter” that literally lifts the labels off the bottles so they can be stored in a wine journal where you can write notes about your experience or celebration with your favorite wines for future reference. Great idea! If you want to store your wine in a climate and humidity controlled environment, Wine Cellar of Valencia (located in the Storage Center of Valencia), has a package deal for Vino100 customers where you get 2 months free rental (call them for all the details). Check out Vino100’s calendar of events on their website: their Black Bag Wine Club looks like a lot of fun.

homemade kimchi

So…what about that Fish Restaurant I was originally heading towards? It’s called Fish Tail Seafood Fish Market and Grill, and they are known for their excellent Fish Soft Tacos, Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl and Grilled Fish Sandwiches, Salads and Plates. Their fish case was filled with Korean Sea Bass, Yellowtail and Crab Legs. As soon as their following increases, they will start selling fresh fish by the pound. It is a family owned business and everything is fresh, homemade and prepared with a Korean influence. Lots of fresh veggies and side salads, and they offer white and brown rice. We tried their version of Kimchi and it was delicious! I took home a bowl of clam chowder (their Mother’s recipe) and Cioppino and loved both. If you purchase a bottle of wine form Vino100 and bring it over to their restaurant, they will serve you a free appetizer and waive the corkage fee. Next time I go there I am going to try the Korean Soju. Similar to sake which is made from rice, Soju can be made from rice, sweet potatoes and barley giving its distinct taste. While sake is more akin to wine or beer, Soju is a Korean distilled beverage, more like vodka. They also have kid friendly items, so bring the entire family! Check out Chef Dawn’s RESTAURANT REVIEW this week on this same restaurant.

Vino 100- Highridge Crossing Center
28112 Newhall Ranch Road
Valencia, CA 91355 661-294-6886 www.vino100valencia.com
- Black Bag Wine Club: Held the third Tuesday of every month. Each month you will have an opportunity to taste four wines and select the two you enjoy most up to a maximum retail value of $40 to take home with you. $40/couple