Category Archives: Art

HOWLING About “Werewolf Serenade”!

The crew is wrapping the final sound mix of Werewolf Serenade this week in beautiful Burbank! It has been quite a journey, and everyone has done a remarkable job.

I wonder how werewolves celebrate?

This week a crowdfunding campaign was launched to raise $3,000 to round-out the post-production budget. Among other perks, contributors can obtain seats to the private Cast, Crew, and Patron Screening (date TBD), where you, and your +1s, can join us to celebrate our brilliant project.

Please donate HERE! See you at the Screening. . .

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Let SAWYER SOMM Entertain YOU!

Want to spice up your wine tastings? Bring in Sawyer Somm!

I am always interested in sharing my knowledge with you, and your group, at wineries or along with tour visits. We could also set up a special tasting, Seminar Style, for your large or small group onsite, or at another select venue around wine county. Food pairings are always a fun addition!

So let us know what you are thinking and let Sawyer Somm supplement your incredible wine experience! Cheers, Chris

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THE VARIETAL SHOW Is Back-With Mike Dunne!

THE VARIETAL SHOW is back! Kicking off the first episode of 2023 with writer and wine judge Mike Dunne, sharing his new book “The Signature Wines of Superior California“. We get into some stories about Gold Rush county wines, including Amador, El Dorado, & Calaveras: Then taste with us the delightful 2020 markus nimmo, from Markus Wine Co. in Lodi.

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST!

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DEAR ZOE, Now Available On Your Small Screens!

At the Dear Zoe film premiere in Pittsburgh on November 2, all the stars, including Sadie Sink, Kweku Collins and the supporting cast were there! This touching film, made by my friends Brenda & Marc Lhormer, is based on the book by Philip Beard which was first published in 2004.

Here is the trailer if you missed the theater screenings. Now you can catch the entire film on all Video on Demand channels, including ITunes/AppleTV and Amazon.

SVMA/12.2.18/Art & Poetry + Food & Wine

Pairings for the Senses

Come together on Sunday, December 2nd from 5:30-7:30pm, at our 3rd-annual Pairings event. Taste the fruits of Sonoma winemakers and chefs, see the art on view in the museum, and listen to live readings by our featured “Flight of Poets:” Julia Bouwsma, Joseph Rios, Sam Sax, and Melissa Stein.  I will be the featured Sommelier along with MCs with poets Tess Taylor and Hollie Hardy.

Featured wineries include Gloria Ferrer, Stone Edge Farm, Eco Terreno Wines, Dane Cellars, Once & Future, Garnet Wines, Belden Barns, and Winery Sixteen 600.

Featured Chefs include John McReynolds, EDGE at Stone Edge Farm, Sondra Bernstein & John Toulze, girl & the fig, Kyle Kuklewski, Ramekins, Ari Weiswasser, Glen Ellen Star, Sheana Davis, The Epicurean Connection and special visiting chef from Mei Prefecture, Japan, Takahisa Shirakawa, courtesy of Sonoma Cultural Exchange.

Get your TICKETS!

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Poets (clockwise from top left): Joseph Rios, Melissa Stein, Sam Sax, Julia Bouwsma

Pill Head: The Official Trailer!

For those not in the know (yet), here is a trailer for the much anticipated artsploitation film by my friends Daedalus Howell and Karen Hess.  Read more about the project at the Pill Head: The Website.  Set for an early-fall release date!  Be sure to catch the suave fellow who portrays The Sommelier.  Keep posted here or at the Pill Head Facebook Page.

#pillheadmovie #artfilm #indiefilm

Dec 2nd: Pairings for the Senses Returns!

Here is your second chance to experience the best of art, poetry, food, and wine all in one place! Pairings for the Senses is a Sonoma Valley Museum of Art concept inspired by the long-running event Flight of Poets, organized by Bay Area poets Hollie Hardy and Tess Taylor, and myself (Sonoma Sommelier Christopher Sawyer), where live poetry readings are paired with the perfect Sonoma County wines.

Chef Bryan Jones in the kitchen at St. Francis Winery & Vineyards.
Chef Bryan Jones in the kitchen at St. Francis Winery & Vineyards.

Get your TICKETS to join us Saturday December 2nd, 5:30-7:30:  I will be the MC for the evening, with another amazing line up of Poets, Chefs, and Vintners sharing how it all comes together in a set of dynamic pairings to delight all our senses.

The POETS: Introduction by Tess Taylor, Hollie Hardy, Iris Jamahl Dunkle, Tongo Eisen-Martin

The CHEFS & WINES: Armando Navarro of El Dorado Kitchen, Bryan Jones of St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, Carlo Cavallo of B&V Whiskey Bar and Grille, Jeff Tyler of Palooza Gastropub, Muscardini Cellars, Gloria Ferrer, La Rochelle Winery

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Top to bottom: Poet Iris Jamahl Dunkle, Muscardini Cellars selection: Chef Armando Navarro preps at EDK (PD photo); Gorgeous view of La Rochelle Winery

Pairings for the Senses: Wine, Poetry, Food & Art!

The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art is thrilled to announce our Fall 2017 season of Pairings for the Senses. I will be your MC for the evening festivities, introducing our visiting poets, vintners, and chefs, and talking with the audience about how each taste component complements one another and pairs with the selected artwork.

November 4, 5:30-7:30pm
POETS: Introduction by Hollie Hardy, Tess Taylor, Bruce Snider,
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 CHEFS: Sheana Davis–The Epicurean Connection, Ed Metcalfe–Shiso Modern Asian Kitchen, David Bush–Oso Sonoma, Matthew Nagan–Schellville Grill
WINERIES: Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, Anaba Wines, Jeff Cohn Cellars, and Gundlach Bundschu Winery

ARTDavid Ligare: Magna Fide (The Great Belief) and Forge and Stone: Contemporary California Women Sculptors

 Don’t wait to purchase tickets—seating is limited to just 75 people each night.  Tickets (per night): $35 SVMA members and $40 general public

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Make Way for the Vampyre Sommelier!

It is time for the Vampyre Sommelier to make his seasonal appearance!  He has been keeping busy this year, with a jaunt in Pill Head, an upcoming Artsploitation film with some of the same folks.  Scroll down to see the V.S. in action!

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The Vampyre Sommelier’s Dilemma from Raymond Scott Daigle on Vimeo.

Pill Head: The Independent Art Flick!

Some of you know I have had film cameos and numerous interviews throughout the digital and audio realms.  Well Pill Head is my newest adventure, making my big screen debut as The Sommelier in the new feature film being made by our friends Karen Hess and Daedalus Howell.  Not so much of a stretch theatrically for me but more a case of perfect casting!  Filming begins September 30th, so please contribute toward the production with plans to witness the final product in the near future: http://igg.me/at/pillhead

The  Pill Head kick-off reception last month at La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge in Petaluma was a hoot, and yielded a spirited original interview with Writer-Director Daedalus and Assistant Director Ben Staub.  Enjoy this discussion as a primer for what may (or may not be) to come!


(originally aired on The Morning Show, KSVY, 91.3 FM, Sonoma)