Frank Mangio
Living and loving all things Italian at Vigilucci’s
The bucolic settings and décor of the seven Vigilucci’s Italian Restaurants in San Diego County have been a source of old world charm and character, studied, copied and shadowed by competitors since Robby Vigilucci opened his first restaurant in Encinitas in 1994. His dinners are all occasions and not just occasional.I recently joined GM Vittorio [...]
Get to know Mt. Veeder, headquarters for the HESS Collection
High over the Napa Valley, on the slopes of Mt. Veeder, just 15 minutes from Highway 29, lies HESS Collection Vineyard and Winery, some 2,100 feet from the valley floor. Founded by Swiss winery owner Donald Hess in 1989, the winery has distinguished itself as a producer of fine premium wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and [...]
Understanding wine labels is like learning another language
Federal regulators are eyeing the maze of wine label information on bottles of wine. I have before me five bottles of wine: a French, Italian, Australian and two California wines, one in Monterey and one in Temecula Valley. They couldn’t be more different in their presentations of information presumably to help buyers in making their [...]
Twisted Vine makes a fine comfort hangout for ‘grapeheads’
The latest creation to attract the burgeoning population of “grapeheads” who love chef-inspired cuisine paired with wines from all over the world, is bistro-wine bar Twisted Vine off the 56 Freeway at Camino Del Sur in San Diego. Twisted Vine at once offers nutritious global-inspired menu items by Executive Chef Mia Sailing, the fifth-generation Italian wine [...]
Follow the De Portola Trail to find some vine pleasures
There is a growing family of wineries in the Temecula Valley along De Portola Road. All put down roots less than 10 years ago and all are committed to small production, high-quality wines with a southern European character. The De Portola Trail runs south and generally parallel to the larger and busier Rancho California Road. [...]
Dolce Pane E Vino offers an old-world atmosphere
Tucked away in a small shopping center in Rancho Santa Fe, Dolce Pane E Vino has this pixie-like atmosphere to it, to the point that I am always looking for Alice in Wonderland to sit next to me in the bar, ordering up one of those fabulous wines that are racked up throughout the wine [...]
