Hope you were able to join us at Rodney Strong Vineyards for the Bordeaux tasting event this month, but if not, no worries! Sonoma County Vintners and I will be hosting more of them ALL YEAR LONG. So mark you calendars for the upcoming Spring editions, ticket info coming next week!
Pour & Explore Pinot Noir! Thursday March 13 at Bricoleur Vineyards
Pour & Explore Aromatic Whites! Thursday April 17 at Balletto Vineyards
The American Fine Wine Competition Announces
Results from the 18th annual Judging
Where was Sawyer Somm in January? In Florida, judging at the American Fine Wine Competition! This invitation-only wine judging included 550 wines from 150 wineries vying for top honors. Hosted, once again, by the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University in North Miami.
The 2025 Top Awards
BEST OF SHOW
Sparkling Wine
2017 Domaine Carneros Le Reve, Carneros ($125)
White Wine
2023 Castello di Amarosa Gewurztraminer Anderson Valley ($35)
Red Wine
2019 Talisman Pinot Noir Mystery Vineyard Sonoma Coast ($85)
Sweet White Wine
2023 Ferrante Winery Vidal Blanc Ice Wine Grand River Valley ($35)
Sweet Red Wine
Prager Winery & Port Works Noble Companion 10-Yr-Old Tawny, Napa ($85)
BEST OF CLASS
Sauvignon Blanc
2023 Barnett Vineyards Andrew’s Vineyard Dry Creek Valley ($35)
Chardonnay
2023 Mi Sueno Winery Estate Carneros, Napa ($75)
Other White Single Varietal
2023 Eastwood Farm & Winery Petit Masang, Monticello ($35)
Other White Blend
2023 Carol Shelton Coquille Blanc Paso Robles ($28)
Albarino
2023 Clearwater Canyon Crawford Vineyard Yakima ($22)
Riesling, Dry
2021 Brooks Lone Star Eola-Amity Hills ($35)
Riesling Off-dry
2022 Bel Lago Leelanau Peninsula ($18)
Gewurztraminer
2023 Castello di Amarosa Anderson Valley ($35)
Sweet White
2023 Ferrante Vidal Ica Wine Grand River Valley ($35)
Sweet Red
Prager Winery & Port Works Noble Companion 10-Yr old Tawny, Napa ($85)
Sparkling Wine
2017 Domaine Carneros “Le Reve” Carneros ($125)
Pinot Noir
2019 Talisman Wine Mystery Vineyard Sonoma Coast ($85)
Zinfandel
2021 Deerfield Ranch Sommer Ranch Vineyard Dry Creek Valley ($68)
Cabernet Franc
2022 Element 79 Vineyards Estate “Fair Play” ($45)
Merlot
2021 Robert Foley Vineyards Napa Valley ($80)
Syrah
2021 J. Lohr Vineyards “Gesture” Paso Robles ($45)
Petit Verdot
2022 J. Lohr Vineyards Home Ranch Paso Robles ($45)
Red Bordeaux-style Blend
2019 Peju Reserve Meritage Napa Valley ($175)
Cabernet Sauvignon
2021 ZD Wines Reserve Napa Valley ($175)
Other Red Single Varietal
2023 Cline Cellars Mourvèdre Small Berry Contra Costa County ($45)
Malbec
2021 Shadowbox McKenzie Mullen Vyd. Carneros, Napa ($65)
Petite Sirah
2022 V. Sattui Barrel Aged Napa ($52)
Sangiovese
2022 Eberle Paso Robles ($45)
Other Red Blend
2022 Bricoleur Vineyards “La Rumeur” Sonoma County ($65)
THE VARIETAL SHOW is at Chateau St Jean with star winemaker Mari Wells Coyle, one of the amazing 30+ wineries that will be joining us at the fabulous Pour & Explore: Red Bordeaux Variety Wine Tasting happening at Rodney Strong Winery on Thursday, Feb 13th!
Come taste Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Bordeaux blends, etc at this epic Pre-Valentine’s Day event that I’ll be co-hosting with Sonoma County Vintners! Get your TICKETS for only $65 (+ tax and handling)
It’s a VARIETAL SHOW Two-Fer! At Laurel Glen, deciding which brilliant cellar selection of Estate Cab my dear friends Bettina & Randal will share with guests at the exciting Pour & Explore: Cabernet & Red Bordeaux Varieties Tasting. Then, tasting more brilliant Bordeaux blends with Mauritson Wines winemaker Emma Kudritzki.
Join us all for the best from 30+ star wineries at the upcoming Sonoma County Vintners Pour & Explore event taking place on Thurs, February 13th at Rodney Strong Vineyard in Healdsburg!!!
Get your TICKETS (only $65 each!!!) while they last: What a way to start Valentine’s Weekend together!!!
For fans of THE VARIETAL SHOW, you will be pleased to know that I have expanded my venue to include Instagram Live! Included in this post is my recent chat with superstar winemaker Justin Seidenfeld of Rodney Strong & Rowen Wine Co about the special Valentine’s Eve 2025 Pour & Explore event featuring +30 brands from the Sonoma County Vintners.
Join us at RODNEY STRONG in Healdsburg from 5:30-7:30 PM on February 13th, showcasing some of America’s finest Cab and Bordeaux-style red: TICKETS are only $65, so get yours before they are gone!
Join us for this exclusive wine tasting event to celebrate Valentine’s Day at Rodney Strong Vineyards, featuring a special selection of red Bordeaux varietals from over 25 wineries across Sonoma County. Discover wonderful wines that epitomize the essence of each winemaker’s individual style and Sonoma County’s distinctive vineyards.
TICKETS are $65.00 per person, plus tax and service fee. We hope to see you there – Cheers! Chris
Walk-around the RS Artisan Cellar tasting a curated selection of wines from each vintner, and light bites with a selection of cheese and charcuterie: Dress in Valentine’s Day attire to snap a selfie at the photo wall and enjoy romantic lounge beats by DJ J-KIND!
Featured POUR + EXPLORE Wineries
Aperture Cellars, Benziger Family Winery, Bricoleur Vineyards, Chalk Hill Estate, Chateau St. Jean, Flambeaux Wine, Hamel Family Wines, Imagery Estate Winery, Lambert Bridge, Lancaster Estate, Lasseter Family Winery, Laurel Glen Vineyard, Mauritson Wines, Medlock Ames, Merriam Vineyards, North Coast Wine Co., Pride Mountain Vineyards, Ramey Wine Cellars, Robert Young Estate Winery, Rodney Strong Vineyards, Roth Estate, ROWEN Wine Co., Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, Silver Oak, Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyards & Winery, Stuhlmuller Vineyards, Trentadue Winery, and more!
AFWC’s “One Thousand Bottles”: Sipping through America
Get your TICKETS! January 19, 2025 from 6:30-9:00 PM
FIU CHAPLIN SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY ON THE PATIO (3000 NE 151st St, North Miami Beach, FL 33160)
This is the most exciting and exclusive wine tasting event of the year. More than 1,000 bottles of very special wines from the American Fine Wine Judging, The Invitational, are poured to our hundreds of wine-enthusiastic guests. It is a true Wine Extravaganza! SEE YOU THERE- CHRIS/SawyerSomm
Benefitting Charites are End Childhood Hunger and The Joel Feigenheimer Endowment Fund.
Hey everyone, just want to say THANKS for joining in on my adventures and CHEERS to more fun in 2025!
To start, more Sonoma County Vintners Pour & Explore tastings coming throughout the year! First up will be Cabernet Sauvignon on February 13 at Rodney Strong, ticketing information coming soon so STAY TUNED.
And did you reserve a spot on the Breathless River Cruise this coming July? Just a few spots left, here is the LINK to check it out.
Follow me on SOCIAL MEDIA if you cannot get enough! Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, X & of course SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel for more episodes of THE VARIETAL SHOW
Happy Holidays everyone! Enjoy this special treat of music, wine and old school fun with Courtney Taylor-Taylor, founding member and frontman of The Dandy Warhols, which is celebrating 30 years, and contributor to the podcast “Wine Acoustics”. We met up in the famous back wine cellar of Bimbo’s 356 Club, before the show in San Francisco, to share some tastes.
THE WINES: Domaine Daniel Bouland, Maison Louis Jadot, Radio-Coteau & Jordon!
THE PODCAST: Wine Acoustics
THE BAND: The Dandy Warhols
THE GIG: Bimbo’s 365 Club
LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST! Email me about featuring your winery on #THEVARIETALSHOW
Pour + Explore is an exciting new tasting experience produced by Sonoma County Vintners in collaboration with Sommelier Christopher Sawyer!
Join us for this exclusive wine tasting event to ring in the holidays at Gloria Ferrer featuring sparkling wines from 25 wineries across Sonoma County. Discover wonderful wines that epitomize the essence of each winemaker’s individual style and the region’s distinctive vineyards.
This festive evening includes a walk-around tasting of a curated selection of wines from each vintner, along with light appetizers. All attendees must be at least 21 years of age.
TICKETS are $65.00 per person, plus tax and service fee. We hope to see you there – Cheers! Chris
Featured POUR + EXPLORE Wineries
Bacigalupi Vineyards, Balletto Vineyards, Banshee Wines, Benovia Winery, Breathless Sparkling Wines, Bricoleur Vineyards, Cartograph Wines, DaVero Farms & Winery, Deerfield Ranch Winery, Domaine Carneros, Freeman Winery, Gloria Ferrer, Inman Family Wines, Iron Horse Vineyards, J Vineyards & Winery, JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset, Keller Estate, Kokomo Winery, Korbel Champagne Cellars, Longboard Vineyards, Naidu Wines, Patz & Hall, Pellegrini-Olivet Lane, Schug Winery, Sosie Wines
