by Erica Sedlander

On Monday evening, I decided to stroll over to the Santa Lucia Highlands Wine Tasting at Fort Mason. I needed some vino after all of the Schlitz I knocked back on Super bowl Sunday. It was the perfect antidote. All of the wineries hailed from the Santa Lucia region, a strip of hills nestled in the Salinas Valley south of Monterey. Belle Glos, Tondre and La Rochelle were among the top wineries of the bunch. Pinot Noir is the darling of the cool and foggy Santa Lucia region. The 2007 Pinot from Belle Glos was especially pleasing to the palate showcasing dark cherry notes and earthy medium bodied finish.

I enjoyed casually sipping  and frequently made my way back to the center of the room – to the epic cheese table. If you haven’t tried Eppoisses Berthaut fromage from France then add it to the bucket list. It’s a pungent, creamy cheese that you can pick up at Cheese Plus. All in all – it was an enjoyable event. I left with a buzz, a new favorite cheese and an appreciation for the Pinots in the up and coming Santa Lucia Highlands.