Okay, so I know what you’re thinking…is Malibu known as a wine producing region? Well the short answer is no. However if you were to ask if there are quality wines being produced in Malibu, well then the answer would be yes and the most notable estate doing so belongs to legendary Los Angeles entrepreneur, George Rosenthal who began planting vineyards on his 250-acre Malibu estate in 1987, and now more than two decades later has racked up an impressive catalog of award-winning wines.

I’d heard about Rosenthal for some time, but never got around to checking it out. That is until my recent staycation vacation in Malibu where I was all about venturing into the realm of the unknown. After a short ten minute drive from my Malibu Beach Rental Properties vacation rental, I pulled into the parking lot of Rosenthal’s brand spanking new wine tasting room, just off the Pacific Coast Highway. I’ve got to say that I’m not accustomed to doing a wine tasting just across the street from a beach, but it’s actually one of those uniquely Malibu experiences that feels right if only because it’s in the Bu.

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The tasting room opens at 2:00 PM, Wednesday through Friday and at 11:00 AM on weekends. Being that it was a Thursday, I arrived at 2:30 because I didn’t want to seem to eager. To my surprise, the Rosenthal Wine Tasting Room reminded me of many tasting rooms I’ve experienced elsewhere in Sonoma or Napa, only this one is brighter and even has a significant grassy knoll out back with tables, chairs and umbrellas which is sure to be a big hit as the warmer summer months approach (especially since Neil, the General Manager, plans on bringing in live music as well as temperatures begin to rise in the spring…can you say party? (Thank goodness there’s a shuttle between Santa Monica and Malibu is all I can say!).

Anxious to see what this Malibu wine was all about, I sat down for the standard wine-tasting flight, which is a real bargain at just $15 for non-members. The flight includes Rosenthal Wines, which are made solely from grapes grown on the Rosenthal Malibu Estate high above Malibu, and Surfrider Wines, which contain grapes sourced from regions other than Malibu and a portion of whose proceeds go to the Surfrider Foundation, a grassroots non-profit organization that works to protect oceans and beaches.

All total I sampled seven wines from Rosenthal’s French winemaker, Christian Roguenant, who partnered with George Rosenthal back in 1996 to develop the estate’s current slate of wines. Standouts included the 2010 Surfrider Chardonnay ‘Lisa Anderson’ Ltd Edition, which is far more characteristic of a French white wine than a traditional California white (which for me is a very good thing); the 2008 Rosenthal Petite Verdot, which had great body with just a hint of spice; the 2007 Surfrider ‘Hang Ten’ Red, which is just a good solid red table wine; and the 2008 Rosenthal Malibu Estate Cabernet Franc, which has a uniquely spicy profile that will certainly appeal to many palettes.

Served by a friendly and knowledgeable crew of sommeliers, Rosenthal’s wines juxtaposed with the beach and the casually laid back Malibu vibe that surround its tasting room revealed yet another SoCal treasure that had been around for more than two decades but somehow I had never gotten around to experiencing. I mean …great wine…produced right at the beach…who knew?

Find out more about Rosenthal Wines and their new Malibu Tasting Room at www.RosenthalEstatesWines.com.

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So I think I have already pretty well established that experiencing Malibu is all about “location…location…location” right? That settled then, it’s not a huge leap to accept the fact that the Malibu Beach Inn, the next door neighbor of Malibu Beach Rental Properties and the Dolphin cottage on Carbon Beach which served as my home base during my staycation vacation in the Bu, is also gifted with some pretty magnificent views in addition to a bevy of highly desirable amenities.

In fact, one of the most useful bits of information that Sue from Malibu Beach Rental Properties offered up prior to my arrival in Malibu actually involved the Malibu Beach Inn. Not only did she speak glowingly of the 47-room, David Geffen-owned property with which she shares the uber private Carbon Beach (also known as ‘Billionaire’s Beach’), she told me that many of her guests enjoyed walking a few steps down the beach to have dinner or drinks at the Malibu Beach Inn’s Carbon Beach Club during their stay and that many even liked to take advantage of the Inn’s Cure Spa which welcomes non-hotel guests with open arms. How fab does that sound eh? It is sort of  a getaway within a getaway if you will. Sounds tres, tres luxe does it not? A few hours relaxing on the beach in the sun, followed by an afternoon of pampering and then a beautiful dinner served at sunset with the ocean as the backdrop? Heaven!

Well that’s precisely what I did, sans the pampering. My indulgence of choice was instead an afternoon nap in front of the fire as the smell of the ocean filled my cottage and the sound of the crashing waves lulled me soundly to sleep. Oh the lengths I go to, to ensure that I can parrot back an authentic review for you my beloved Living Wells readers! But, alas, again I digress.

Now, fully rested and ready to continue life as a Malibu local, I dressed and, along with a friend, made the 3-minute walk from the Dolphin cottage to the elegantly subdued, but nonetheless eye-popping entrance to the Malibu Beach Inn. (For the record, I opted to take the sidewalk as opposed to the beach for the short trek because sand and the suede driving moccasins I had chosen for dinner do not good friends make. Word to the wise.)

The same sound of crashing waves we had left behind at the Dolphin, greeted us as we made our way through the lobby of the Malibu Beach Inn as the restaurant’s jovial staff led us to our waiting table on the Terrace of the Carbon Beach Club. I had specifically booked a table on the terrace at sunset because I had been told it was an extra special treat and it certainly did not disappoint. With a glass of wine in hand, the call of seagulls in the air and a brilliant sunset at our backs, within minutes of arriving on that terrace, the Los Angeles I knew once again seemed a million miles away.

I highly recommend dinner on the terrace of the Carbon Beach Club, even if you don’t stay overnight in Malibu….because it is without question one of the most (if not the most) delightful beachfront settings you can experience in Los Angeles. Not only is the Carbon Beach Club’s setting idyllic, it has a casually elegant, clubby feeling befitting its name. It is neither loud, nor is it a ‘scene’. It is instead a perfect place for folks who crave a place where they can discretely relax into a great meal and a great evening out without feeling the crush (or prying eyes) of the ‘see and be seen’ crowd.

For our meal, we opted to start with the Crab Cake, a beautiful presentation of three lightly battered mounds of delicious lump crab meat served with a bright celery root apple slaw and whole grain mustard, and a silky Tuna Tartare brought to life with lemon zest, avocado mousse and olive oil along with Arugula and tomatoes. Suffice it to say, not only could we smell the sea at our table we could taste it with every bite of both starters.

For the main course, I chose the Ancho Chili Barbecue Short Rib, which was served with fall squash, crispy shallots and, at my special request, the chef’s signature side of brussel sprouts and maple glazed bacon. It was a perfectly balanced entree that was hearty without being heavy and it was also a perfect complement to the cool Malibu evening air. Like me, my dinner companion opted for something similarly hearty in his choice of the Muscovy Duck Breast served with wild rice, figs, asparagus, chestnuts and maple thyme jus. It was also superlative.

We rounded out dinner with two forks, a sinfully, chocolaty Valrhona Brona topped with cinnamon ice cream, baileys whipped cream and satisfied expressions.

After the epicurean adventure that was dinner at the Carbon Beach Club, as we made our way back along the beach to that Dolphin cottage for a nightcap, once again I marveled at the fact that home was so physically close yet so emotionally far and relaxed ever deeper into the spirit of the staycation vacation experience. I honestly could get used to this staycation vacation gig.

Stay tuned for more updates from Living Wells in Malibu and find out more about the Carbon Beach Club and the Malibu Beach Inn at www.MalibuBeachInn.com. Also be sure to follow the Malibu Beach Inn Blog at http://blog.malibubeachinn.com/ for regular updates about special events and news about the hotel.

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Having been an Angeleno for well over a decade, Malibu itself is not new to me. In fact, the coastal Pacific Coast Highway, which runs right through the heart of Malibu, is one of my favorite escapes…especially during low-traffic hours. I’ve been to parties in Malibu, dined in some of its more notable restaurants and had more than a few cocktails at some of its favorite watering holes, though never quite as many as Mel Gibson I am almost assured. That said, the point is that I superficially knew Malibu before my “staycation vacation” adventure last week, but in many ways, my next door neighbor was a stranger that I only became familiar with when I literally moved in.

Because Malibu is all about the beach and the views, I set out to find the perfect vantage point from which to experience life in the “Bu”, as it is sometimes affectionately referred to by locals and Angelenos alike. And I found that place in one of Malibu Beach Rental Properties‘ cozy oceanfront rentals right off the PCH.

Long before I even pulled into the gate of the property I booked for my staycation getaway, I had already left much of the Los Angeles I knew so well behind. But by the time Sue, the genuinely affable owner/manager of Malibu Beach Rental Properties, greeted me upon my arrival to give me a guided tour of the two-bedroom rental, I was already lost in the miles of ocean just beyond the deck of the property and the sound of the waves crashing onto the beach directly below.

Combined with the decor of the “cottage”, which is what I would call a ‘Cape Cod charming’, the scene left me more convinced than ever that staycation vacations need not only be thought of as economical…because they can also be pretty luxuorisly fab. I mean, just 45 minutes from home and there I sat in paradise without ever boarding a plane, dealing with a security line or even thinking about baggage restrictions. Pretty genius if you asked me….all the fun of travel without the hassle…sign me up!

In addition to its pretty stunning deck, complete with gas grill, lounge chairs and umbrella shaded table and chairs, my rental, the Dolphin, featured a jacuzzi tub, just to take the experience right over the top. And, just like all three of the other vacation rentals in the 24-unit property, the Dolphin came equipped with flat screen televisions, an iPod deck, a DVD player, a fully stocked kitchen, a fireplace, tons of fresh linens and blanket and its own garage. There were even all sorts of fun toys like kayaks and boogie boards available for the exclusive use of visitors to the cottage. And did I mention that you could literally walk out the door of the cottage onto a completely private beach? No crowds, no lookie-loos…just acres and acres of ocean. Honestly there were times when I felt there was no one else around at all.

Also, unlike many vacation rentals, there is a staff on duty each day to promptly assist with any issues or needs guests might have. Beyond that Sue, the owner, is always just a phone call away and so clearly committed to making sure her guests have the best possible stay, that she even dropped off a fresh bag of coffee for me when it occurred to her there might not have been enough in my cottage (coincidentally, there was plenty).

In addition to the Dolphin, Malibu Beach Rental Properties also offers the two-bedroom Orca penthouse and the one-bedroom Seal and Stingray units, all of which have those same fabulous decks and views in addition to all of the above.

Who says you have to travel to getaway? Sometimes all you need to do to escape is to change your view and Malibu Beach Rental Properties offer just that. Find out more about Malibu Beach Rental Properties.

Stay tuned for more Living Wells in Malibu and beyond!!

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