Pride Mountain Vineyards is right on the edge of Sonoma & Napa counties, and The Varietal Show had the fortune of discussing this dichotomy with Winemaker Sally Blum Johnson! We taste and talk about the Viognier, Merlot and Cab Franc, both in the bottle and history of the vines.
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Notice a few technical difficulties on The Sommelier Files this last month? Oopsie! We had to address some domain and security issues (Thanks Dmitry!): So stay tuned as we catch you up on some missed episodes of The Varietal Show and upcoming activities as this super summer roles along.
Meanwhile, you may have seen this already, but if not then take a gander at episode #50 of The Varietal Show from May, during #OregonWineMonth, featuring Master Somm Larry Stone, then read more of our amazing dialog here. Thanks for hanging in there! Chris
With a nod to National Rosé Day on June 12th, read my varietal article from the April 2021 issue of Napa Valley Life! Here is a starter to lure you in, finish it up by following the READ MORE link to their site. . . Cheers! Christopher
“Pink sunshine” and “freshness in a glass” are catchy phrases Robert Sinskey winemaker Jeff Virnig uses to describe the winery’s latest release of the 2020 Vin Gris of Pinot Noir, a complex pink wine with bright, fruity flavors, crisp acidity, and long dry finish. With a brilliant pale salmon hue, this signature style has become the benchmark for where classy pink wines have come over the past thirty years and one of the many reasons wine lovers flock to Napa Valley in the springtime to get their hands on these energetic young wines before they sell out.
The road to rosé’s popularity in Napa Valley did not happen overnight.
When Virnig started making rosé in1991, his goal was to create a fun, quaffable, food-friendly wine that added instant excitement to gatherings any time it was served. But at the time, the impression pink wines were making on American consumers was swayed by the sugary imports like Mateus and Lancers, which flooded the marketplace in the late 1960s. When Sutter Home Family Vineyards winemaker Bob Trinchero released their White Zinfandel in 1975, people went crazy for it, but it was still snubbed by serious wine drinkers.
As a result, the first few vintages of the Robert Sinskey Vin Gris were sold to wine buyers and sommeliers in New York City, who catered to world travelers that were already familiar with the drier styles of rosé produced in France, Italy, Spain and German. As the years passed, this learning curve gave Virnig and other adventurous winemakers of Napa Valley time to develop special techniques now being used to create various expressions of rosé wines.
The Varietal Show has a spirited discussion about the joys of wine, food and the Sierra Foothills with fellow sommelier and proprietor Tracey Berkner, who established Taste Restaurant, Rest Hotel, and Volcano Union Pub & Inn in Amador County with star chef and husband, Mark Berkner. We taste, talk and pair wine from Cedarville Vineyard and Turley Wine Cellars with some of her signature dishes.
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A few delicious signature dishes that we touch on from TASTE, and the cozy store front at 9204 Main Street in downtown Plymouth!
The #PNV21 Virtual Event was a success! It was an amazing presentation, fun was had by all. I was honored to lead this great show with members of the Rutherford Dust Society, and support the Napa Valley Vintners.
You can watch the show below with talented and energetic winemakers from Inglenook, Peju Winery, Frank Family Vineyards, Alpha Omega, and St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery, seen with me in the photo above! Glad to represent and include the great wines from Morisoli Vineyard, Amici Cellars and Quintessa in my film pairings as well!
On April 13th of this year, my father-in-law, Gerald Haslam’s pen came to final rest. Over a fifty-year career, he wrote deeply authentic stories depicting California’s Central Valley, its diversity of people, places, and rural culture. He excelled at yarns from his South Valley Okie and oil patch upbringing. LISTEN HERE to “Down on the Farm” host Tom Willey and Tulare County agrarian advocate Trudy Wischemann celebrate the life and times, most certainly the words of a singular Valley author.
Experience this virtual wine + music event featuring a live performance by Toronto Symphony Orchestra musicians Sonority Sisters, as well as a guided tasting of three wines from Napa Valley’s Ghost Block Estate Wines on Wednesday June 16, 5-6:30pm PDT. An experience brought to you by Melier.
The Sonority Sisters was founded by musicians Clare Semes and Kelly Zimba, a violin and flute duo that shares music in creative, safe, and socially distanced ways.
Participants will dig into pairing wines with music, engage with the musicians, and socialize with other wine lovers. ORDER YOUR TICKETS (to request wine delivery at least 6 days in advance).
What an amazing month of interviews I was privileged to do on my OREGON trek this year, wrapping it up with a big Zoom finale of fabulous Willamette Valley producers from Brooks Wine, Elk Cove Vineyards, Lenné Estate and Utopia Vineyard & Winery!
Watch that episode here, and follow the links below to see more of my OREGON conversations with Abacela Winery, Lingua Franca, Sokol Blosser Winery, Troon Vineyard & Biodynamics. FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for weekly notifications, Tuesdays at 12:30pm
LINKS to more Oregon Winery episodes on The Varietal Show: THANKS FOR WATCHING!
#OregonWine #WillametteValley #TheVarietalShow #SawyerSomm
The Varietal Show makes a big finish to #OregonWineMonth with four wineries! Don’t miss this invigorating discussion about the world-class winegrowing region of Willamette Valley, and sub-AVA’s.
Join Carl Giavanti and I for the PREMIERE on Tuesday June 1, at noon, to taste through the spectacular 2014 Pinot Noirs with . . .
And peruse my You Tube channel for more Oregon winery episodes on The Varietal Show!
#OregonWine #WillametteValley #BrooksWine #ElkCoveVineyards #LennéEstate #UtopiaWine #TheVarietalShow #SawyerSomm
Rutherford Dust Society
Virtual Premiere Napa Valley Celebration
Thursday, June 3 from 3:00-4:00pm PT
Join the winemakers of Rutherford Dust Society and the world’s first film sommelier, Christopher Sawyer for a virtual wine & movie celebration on June 3rd.
During this high-energy event, Alpha Omega, Amici, Inglenook, Frank Family Vineyards, PEJU, Quintessa and St. Supéry will present their Premiere Napa Valley lots, with a cinematic twist!
Whether you’re in the mood for action, drama, comedy or romance– there will be a wine for you in this action-packed session highlighting the radiant Rutherford region, its famous filmmakers and winemakers, and the elusive “Rutherford Dust” character that keeps wine lovers from around the world coming back for more. Join this list of stellar panelists on ZOOM!
