Days of Wine & Horses

Wine and horses have more in common than one might expect. Both have been man’s companion since antiquity. Both have been revered and coveted, lovingly tendered and prized, nurtured and protected, fought for and celebrated. A wine-maker, like an equestrian, has a love and dedication that is all consuming. Patience and sensitivity are second nature. The horse, like a fine wine is savoured and enjoyed regardless of the expertise of the one who is partaking of the experience. And both have been called “A Gift of the Gods”.

Dreams Come True
 At Casa de Caballos Vineyards Tom and Sheila Morgan have joined their passions to create a dream come true. Tom’s passion was wine and Sheila’s passion, Arabian horses. At their Vineyard in Templeton, California one can taste their quality wine while watching the magnificent Arabians play in the pastures. Their stable of wines include Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet/Merlot Blend, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and their famous Maggie Mae El Nino Red, affectionately called “Wet Dog Red”, a skilful Pinot Noir/Merlot blend. Their stable of horses includes Ultra Violet, Periwinkle, Moment N Tyme, Bedazzle, Choclate Lily and Annie’s Song as well as their beautiful foals. Each of the four varietal releases is named after one of the ranch’s Arabian mares, and each label is a stunning portrait of the mare it is named for. Tom admits that some “high level negotiations” were needed in order to convince Shelia to part with some of her pasture to provide Tom with the needed acreage to expand the vineyard, but they are both quite pleased with the results and so is anyone who tastes their award winning wines.

All of the vineyard work and wine making is performed by hand. No machinery is used for harvesting or pruning. The wines are fermented in very small lots and the reds are punched down three times a day during fermentation, not pumped over. The red wines are all aged in American oak barrels prior to bottling. These are truly hand-made wines! The vineyard’s location just twelve miles from the coast provides slightly cooler temperatures than the rest of the Paso Robles region. This affords the grapes a slightly longer growing season which is what gives their Pinot Noir its excellence.


Casa de Caballos wines are sold almost exclusively through their wine tasting room or through their Wine Club. Visit their website to learn more about Tom’s wine and the Sheila’s Arabians. Their son Scott is always available to answer questions and inquiries. www.casadecaballos.com
 

Wild Horses
Templeton, California is home to many award winning vineyards. One renowned medalist is Wild Horse Winery, named for the wild mustangs that roam the hills east of the estate. The free and noble spirit of the mustang is an ideal symbol for the Wild Horse commitment to spirited winemaking. At Wild Horse Winery exploring various wine grape varieties and wine making techniques is an adventure. In just 20 years, the vineyard has grown into one of the Central Coast’s leading producers of premium varietal wines that are consistent in quality and affordability.

Wild Horse founder, Ken Volk selected the Templeton vineyard and winery location based on it low vigor soils, its proven ground water table and the fact that it is located midpoint in the Central Coast area which is ideal for sourcing fruit from vineyards north and south of the winery. Volk recognized the synergism of blending grapes from the outstanding vineyards of the area.

The philosophy of Wild Horse is that the most interesting wines are the result of working with a diverse variety of fine vineyards. Today, Wild Horse sources fruit from over 40 vineyards within the Central Coast Appellation.

The Wild Horse stable of wines include Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Syrah, Voignier and Zinfandel. Other varieties produced in limited quantities are Blaufrankisch, Dolcetto, Negrette, Tempranillo and  Verdelho.

In August of 2003, Ken sold Wild Horse to Peak Wines International. With this merger Wild Horse feels the best wines are yet to be made. Mark Cummins has now taken the reins and stepped into the saddle as the new wine maker at Wild Horse.

The flagship wines of Wild Horse are the Pinot Noirs, consistently praised for their complexity and their value. It is the Pinot Noir that has given the winery its reputation. The crown jewel of Wild Horse’s program is Cheval Sauvage (French for “wild horse”), highly limited quantities of Pinot Noir wines of exceptional complexity and depth.

Visit the Wild Horse Winery website to learn more www.wildhorsewinery.com
 

Equine Inspired
In 1948, John Kautz began growing wine grapes on twelve acres of land. He quickly gained a reputation for being a premium wine grape supplier. Today, the Kautz family owns over 5,000 acres of vineyards in the Lodi region and the Sierra Foothills. It has become one of the top ten wine grape growers in California.

The Kautz family has made a commitment to “produce wines of exceptional, unparalleled quality, outstanding value and everyday approachability.” The family believes that “the experience of enjoying wine should not be limited to only those knowledgeable about wine, but by every type of person in every household.”

One of the Kautz family’s vineyards produces incredibly delightful wines under the label of Leaping Horse Vineyards. Leaping Horse was selected as the 2004 “Hot Brand of the Year” by Shanken Communications, publishers of Wine Spectacular, Food Arts and many of their other fine publications.

The Leaping Horse wine selection includes rich Cabernet Sauvignons, delicate Chardonnays, fruity Shiraz, intense White Zinfandels, and crowd pleasing Merlots. Their wine comes bottled in two sizes, 750ml for you and a friend and 1.5 litres for larger gatherings of friends. Leaping Horse also uses a synthetic cork designed to keep wine fresher and to make things real easy, they have colour coded the corks so you will never make the mistake of putting the Shiraz cork into the Merlot bottle…if it lasts long enough to be recorked!

Leaping Horse wines can be purchased on their website or at most wine retailers across North America. In Ontario their wines are available through most Vintages or LCBO locations. If it is not in stock just ask staff to order it in for you.

Their website is just as enjoyable as their wine. Uncork a bottle of Leaping Horse wine and browse their equine inspired website at http://www.leapinghorse.com
 

In 2003 the Kautz family purchased the sales, marketing and distribution rights for the small family owned Sonoma Creek Winery. This equine inspired winery was founded by the Larson family in 1987 in the Carneros district of Sonoma, California. The land on which Sonoma Creek Winery was founded had a history dating back to the 1800s. The land had been used as a cattle ranch, a pedigree horse ranch and hosted the Sonoma Rodeo, the longest running rodeo in the Bay area. Where rodeo stock, polo ponies and thoroughbreds once grazed, Tom Larson and his father Bob planted Chardonnay in 1977. Today it is home to a successful winery. Tom Larson is still the wine maker and his stable of wines is comprised of refreshing Zinfandels, rich Chardonnays, bright Pinot Noirs, fresh Cabernet Sauvignons, juicy Merlots, crisp Gewurztraminers and lusciously blended Meritages.

Sonoma Creek wines will be available for purchase from their site as well as from most wine retailers across North America.

The Sonoma Creek website is under construction, bookmark the address and keep watching. www.sonomacreek.com
 

The Winner’s Circle
What was once one of Santa Barbara’s premier equestrian rehabilitation facilities; this beautifully landscaped, landmark Mission-style estate is now home to the award winning Bridlewood Estate Winery. Vineyards were planted on the 105 acre estate in 1998 and the charming property was renovated to house a state of the art winery, offering its members and guests an unparalleled Santa Barbara wine country experience. Known for it’s award winning Syrah which is available in seven distinctive styles, Bridlewood also offers “Arabesque” (their own proprietary Rhone-style blend), Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Viognier in their stable of fine wines. Bridlewood also offers other small production lots of exquisite wines that are only available through their “Winner’s Circle” wine club, tasting room or from their website.

Bridlewood Estate Winery is an inviting destination where one can enjoy wine, relax, have a picnic and relish in the lush landscape. In addition to having World Class wine, Bridlewood also has one of the most beautiful labels I have seen.

Visit the Bridlewood website to learn more www.bridlewoodwinery.com
 

African Equine Oasis
Spier Vineyards in enchanting Cape Africa is a magical place. Settlement of the Spier land dates back to the early Stone Age and implements of that era are still found throughout the estate. In 1692, Cape Governor Simon van der Stel granted the farm to a German settler who sold the farm in 1712 to Hans Heinrich Hattingh who named the farm after his hometown of Speyer.

In 1993, Spier was bought by Dick Enthoven, a South African businessman who had a multi-faceted vision. He created environmentally and ecologically appropriate housing developments for all income groups, established organic farming to restore the soil, instilled land reform to bring the farmers back to the land, and founded a school programme to meet the educational needs of the farm workers’ children. He also renovated and restored the Cape Dutch buildings to their former glory creating an atmosphere of old world charm.

Located approximately 25 minutes inland from Cape Town, South Africa, historic Spier lies in the heart of the Stellenbosch Winelands, home to breathtaking flora and fauna. The Vineyard under the care of talented vintner Frans Smit, produces some of the finest wine South Africa has to offer. The abundant reeds growing in the marshlands of the farm have inspired the design of the Spier logo. “Spier” in Dutch means “reeds”.

Not to settle for the ordinary, Spier also offers an unforgettable wine and equine adventure. Well schooled horses are available for every riding level to take you on a journey throughout the Cape Winelands. Canter through the orchards or enjoy a quiet ride on the Sundowner Trail where one can view the African sunset on horseback. After your ride sip cocktails in the Moyo restaurant which is included in the cost of the ride

It is without a doubt that Spier offers a truly unique Winelands experience! Visit their extensive website to see all the Spier has to offer www.spier.co.za
 

Equine and Wine Weekend
Equine and Wine Weekend is a fabulous opportunity to stay at the historic MacCallum House Inn,. Taste wines of the Anderson Valley wineries and ride well-trained horses across deserted beaches and through the magnificent redwoods. Amongst the stable of horses are Russian Orlov crosses, Akhal Teke crosses, a few Quarter Horses, a few Thoroughbreds, many Arab crosses, and some Appaloosas, as well as pure bred Arabians. Need I say more? If your bags are not already packed...

MacCallum House was built in 1882. This luxurious Queen Anne has recently had a makeover. Set on two acres the Inn has accommodations to suit all clientele. The main house has six rooms lavishly furnished with antiques. Surrounding the main house are seven cottages. A barn on the property has been restored and renovated featuring six rooms complete with river stone fireplaces, exposed old growth redwood beam ceilings and spectacular ocean views. Oceansong, a two bedroom, two bath vacation villa is just down the street and has stunning ocean views as well as a hot tub and all the amenities of home. The property also includes the MacCallum Suites, a four-star luxury mansion set on two private acres on the highest hill in Mendocino overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Your stay includes a complimentary full gourmet breakfast and an afternoon wine hour complete with hors d’oeuvres.

Your first evening will include a three course dinner in the formal dining room accompanied by local wines.

Your second day begins with a full breakfast at the MacCallum House. At 10am a limousine arrives to spirit you away for a day of touring the local Anderson Valley wineries. You will be greeted with a glass of sparkling wine from the Roederer Estate to enjoy as your SUV limousine travels through the Navarro River Valley. You will visit two wineries for VIP tasting and tours before being served a gourmet picnic lunch. The picnic lunch is prepared by the chefs of MacCallum House. After lunch you will enjoy VIP tasting and tours at two more wineries before making your way back to the Mendocino Coast. During the evening hours you are free to enjoy anything Mendocino or Fort Bragg has to offer.

Your third day again begins with a full breakfast at the MacCallum House Inn. After breakfast you will make your way to Ricochet Ridge Ranch for a either four hour or day-long horseback ride on deserted coastal beaches, through ocean bluff cattle ranches, and in the giant redwood forests. The available horses are suitable for every riding level. Both rides offer the opportunity for riding on Ten Mile Beach where pelicans, osprey, seals and whales are sure to be seen. The day-long rides include a picnic lunch and longer excursions into the forests and on the beach. . After your ride you return to Mendocino and spend a relaxing evening before heading home.

For further details visit the websites of Ricochet Ridge Ranch and MacCallum House Inn.
 

Down Under Getaway
Australia’s Hunter Valley Wine Country is located on seventy acres just two hours north of Sydney. Hunter Valley offers a four-½ resort, winery, brewery, wine school, cooking school, massage centre and the only horseback riding facility in Pokolbin. Trail rides take visitors throughout the surrounding vineyards, farmlands and for a breathtaking view of Brokenback Range. What a way to enjoy the pleasures of both horses and incredible Australian wine. Visit the Hunter Resort website for more information.
 

Perfect Storage
Just as horses must be kept in an environment that is safe and suitable, so wine needs careful storage. Planning, knowledge, strict attention to detail and research is involved in the housing of horses. Wine also has special storage requirements. Being the natural, perishable product it is, wine, if exposed to heat, light, vibration or fluctuations in temperature and humidity will readily spoil. If properly stored however, wine can actually improve with time. Temperature is vital to the integrity of the wine. The ideal temperature should be 55 degrees Fahrenheit or 13 degrees Celsius. Proper humidity is required to prevent corks from drying out or becoming moldy. Bottles should always be stored on their side in order to maintain moist corks. Wine cellars are the ideal place to store your wine, but if a cellar of your own is not an option, your collection is extensive or you wish to keep your bottles for long term aging you might consider a facility such as Horse Ridge Cellars.

Horse Ridge Cellars is the most secure private underground storage facility in the United States. The facility was originally built to withstand an indirect hit from a nuclear warhead. It was constructed in 1962 by a consortium of banks and insurance companies to serve as a vault for storing records in the event of a nuclear war. In 1994 the vault and surrounding property became Horse Ridge Cellars.

The facility is located on a 127 acre horse farm in rural Connecticut. The vault itself lies 15 feet below the ground and is approximately 90,000 cubic feet. The steel vault door is 19 inches thick and weighs 12 tons. Horse Ridge Cellars offers wine storage solutions to meet the needs of any customer and all wine is insured against theft or breakage.

The proprietors, Jed and Amie Benedict share their horse farm with their Belgian Drafts and have found their own way to combine their love of wine and horses. Visit the Horse Ridge website and feel free to ask their advice. Horse Ridge Cellars may be the wine storage solution for you.
 

Equine Themed Wine Accessories
Whether you’re a wine aficionado or just enjoy a glass from time to time, a seasoned horseperson or an enthusiast, wine and horses can be appreciated by one and all. Horses and wine are most certainly gifts from above and we can all find our own ways to combine our passions and enjoy the gifts we have been given.

If you would like to enjoy your equine inspired wine in an equine themed wine glass, see the beautiful pewter wine glasses and accessories that we have offered. Click Here. SALUT!!!

Wine Glass Wine Glass Decanter Wine Stopper Disclaimer: GiftHorse Gallery does not condone or promote drinking and the operating of horses, including but not exclusive to riding & driving.