Feeling Regal at Regale Winery

I took a sip of aromatic citrus-toned chardonnay; a bite of warm crostini topped with baked ricotta and orange zest; sat back, and closed my eyes. Bright afternoon sun peeked just enough under the terrace roof to gently warm my face. A cooling sea breeze was streaming from the Monterey Bay far below, intertwined with a faint smell of roses. Bella Chiao was playing in the background. It felt royally good. Italy at your doorstep, said my wine-tasting companion, echoing my thoughts… We were sitting in the open-air tasting bar of Regale Winery – the newest addition to the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation in the hills of Los Gatos. When Larry Schaadt, the proprietor, bought an idle piece of land at the top of the hill, he envisioned a Tuscan-style building with the ambience he came to appreciate while traveling in Europe. Now, thick walls and marble floors keep inner facilities of his winery cool on hot days, and a hand-painted mural replicating Wedding at Cana by Paolo Veronese, adds to the atmosphere of celebration, be it for a small wedding, a birthday, or just a visit with friends and family. Regale will celebrate the grand opening of its Italianate villa facility later this summer, however, weekend tastings by appointment are already in full swing, and gathering rather enthusiastic crowds. True to its name, which means “to entertain lavishly with food and drink,” Regale offers food and wine pairings – a tried and true concept in Napa, but unique to the Santa Cruz Mountains wine-producing region. Uniformed in burnt orange to look their best in the open air bar colored in rich terracotta hues, chef extraordinaire Faun Skyles and the tasting staff serve delectable combinations of best varietals from every region of California Wine Country and gourmet small plates. Happy to have a grand wood fire oven to her disposal, Faun uses it for nearly every dish on the menu. The 2006 Central Coast Chardonnay, harvested in Hollister, was paired with oven-roasted Marcona almonds, and a glass of velvety 2007 Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley with a serving of duck prosciutto and apple cider gastrique, followed by a flat bread topped with piave vecchi (cheese from Parma), hot olives, rosemary, olive oil, and fleur de sel. Individual pizzas are made to order, with thin crackling crust and house-made marinara. Besides bringing in fruit from the best-known areas that produce particular grapes, like Alexander Valley cab and Dry Creek zin, Regale produces its own estate-grown pinot since 2005. Other crops here – olives and olive oil; heirloom tomatoes (70 plants of those already planted for late summer consumption); zucchini, eggplant, sweet peppers, corn, beans, strawberries, melons – all organic, all grown in the well-kept hillside garden, steps from the kitchen, all merely minutes old when brought to the table – can’t get any fresher than that. On the estate of 10.5 acres, 3.5 are occupied by the vineyard, and the rest by an olive grove, a spiral herb garden, lavender fields, bocce ball court, outdoor fire pit, fruit orchards, and quaint sitting areas for smaller groups. In the building, a formal kitchen is equipped to feed up to a hundred persons a six-course dinner. An upstairs bar has a fireplace for rainy winter days, and dining rooms for indoor and outdoor events. Regale uses green technology – solar panels and water treatment system, and produces 38 hundred cases a year, all of which are sold on premises through the word of mouth. The winery is located at 24040 Summit Road in Los Gatos. To reserve an event or schedule a wine tasting with food pairing, call 408-353-2500 or visit www.regalewine.com
Photography by Yuri Krasov.