Great sips around town

July 6, 3:40 PMSF Wine and Drinks ExaminerLiza Zimmerman

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I managed to sneak out of town for the Forth of July and had some great beer at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. One location of this great little brewpub is not in Half Moon Bay at all but in the tiny hamlet of Princeton-by-the-sea. The amber beer was bitter, complex and delicious. The French fries three ways: classic, with garlic and cheese savory. Don't miss the suburb salmon jerky at the Creekside Smokehouse just down the street. I am a big fan of jerky and these are beautiful with beer.

Santa Cruz can seem kind of small for such a big University town. I am always surprised it doesn't have a wine bar featuring the great wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains. However I did run into one of the best selection of European wines at a great little place called Soif. Bring on the Domaine Luneau Gros Plant babies, it's an obscure white grape from the Loire, it has lovely structure and a ton of acidity. I also really enjoyed the Dos Victorias "Jose Pariente" from Spain's Verdejo from Rueda and Cune "Monopole" Viura from Rioja even though I am often a hard sell on many Spanish wines.

I also had a smashing meal with great libations at 1300 on Fillmore, which also features live Jazz a couple of nights a week. I hadn't been there before and was really impressed with the California wines and Southern hospitality as manager Matt Gunderson describes. I particularly loved his Calvados-based cocktail paired with the fried green tomatoes. The squab with mushrooms and Black Mission figs was also delicious and a great match with the Almvs 2004 Meritage Cuvee Kemiji & Portay from Napa. The restaurant's wine director Emmanuel Kemiji even makes this wine himself.

Here's a recipe for Gunderson's as of yet unnamed Calvados cocktail:

½ ounce Grey Goose Citron
½ ounce Daron 5yr Calvados
¼ ounce Lillet
½ Meyer Lemon
Float of Comte de Dampierre Champagne

Mix the ingredients and serve them up in a Champagne flute.

Happy drinking and dining,

Liza the Wine Chick