Talk about local. Through Treehugger, I found out LA has its very own winery — in Bel Air, no less. And apparently, it’s super green!
So I immediately started digging through Moraga’s website to see how I might drink this gem — but couldn’t find any info. Thus, I emailed:
“I was wondering — How can one buy a bottle of Moraga red wine? I’m guessing you’re not a HUGE winery — being located in Bel Air and all — but do you have a store or some outlet that would allow laypeople like myself to try a bottle or two?”
Less than a day later, I got this back:
Siel, Thank you for inquiring on our Moraga wines. We are a pretty small vineyard 16 acre property with 9 acres of vines.
You may purchase the wine at Wally’s located in Westwood, CA they have several of our vintages both in Red and White Wine. - Wally’s # is 310-475-0606.
Kindest Regards,
Moraga Vineyards
Sweet, eh? So I went to the Wally’s Wine site — to discover the cheapest Moraga red costs $125. The most expensive? A cool $500. Ouch. More than a lil out of my price range. They do have a white for $34.99, but if I’m gonna pay that much for wine, I want red.
My Moraga wine hopes will have to wait till money starts growing on trees, but 
I decided it was high time I visited a local wine shop. So my friend Marci and I took the #7 Big Blue Bus to Wally’s for their weekly wine tasting last Saturday. We tried a dozen or so wines, for just $10 — and people from the wineries were there to tell us about them in detail. Plus, we had some of the yummiest cheese I’ve ever tasted. (Marci, right)
Then I went a lil crazy shopping — a kinda dangerous activity when you’re tipsy. With the help of a very knowlegeable Wally’s guy, I got a couple organic French wines, including this 2000 Château de Caraguilhes Corbieres for $14.99 (left) –
– which I’m currently drinking. Need a pick me up on this rainy day — I slipped and fell on the stairs on my way to get the mail :(
At least I didn’t have to drive today — Careful out there, Angelenos –
Filed in: wine california alcohol losangeles morgana organic
*Now* you’re saying there’s a wine tasting every Saturday… I could’ve used that info a bit earlier ;)
Anyways - sorry to hear you had a rain accident, and hope your not off to badly. Enjoy your wine, and thanks for the info - next weekend will hopefully be a bit less dull now ;)
Comment by Robert 'Groby' Blum — October 17, 2005 @ 8:55 pm
you should check out oregon’s sokol blosser’s wines - they’re taking steps toward the sustainability of their operations, going beyond organic. i don’t know if you can get them in LA though…
Comment by justin — October 18, 2005 @ 3:41 pm
Hey Groby — I’m a lil bruised, but feelin’ ok :) The wine helped :)
And Justin — I just checked out Sokol Blosser, and they do indeed have them in LA! Available at:
* Bacchus, 1000 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach
* Briggs Wines and Spirits, 13038 San Vicente Blvd, Brentwood
* Bristol Farms
Will have to try out their wines :) Thanks for the tip!
Comment by Siel — October 18, 2005 @ 7:37 pm
cool
Comment by wine making — January 1, 2007 @ 9:36 am
With the multitude of stories in the news about people who have received multiple DUIs, the increased police and legal crackdowns on drunk drivers, and the horror stories of alcohol-related fatalities it seems to me that you and other wine lovers (and wine tasters) need to get your message out to more people. Let people know that drinking wine in moderation has been shown to have many health benefits. Spread the news about the fun and good times you have experienced with wine drinking and wine tasting :-)
Comment by Alcoholism Insight — January 3, 2007 @ 11:18 am