Enjoy THE VARIETAL SHOW with my great pals Ben Papapietro & star winemaker David Lowe of Papapietro Perry about the glories of working with the Pinot Noir grape grown in Sonoma County and the special wines they’ll be serving at the exciting upcoming Sonoma County Vintners Pour+Explore Pinot Noir Tasting, an exclusive event with 35+ revered Pinot producers pouring from 5:30-7:30 PM this Thursday, March 13th at Bricoleur Vineyards in Windsor. TICKETS are limited so get yours soon!
Sip, Sip, Hooray! is a Podcast From Mary Orlin & Mary Babbitt: Where Wine Is Always Fun, Tasty And Inspirational
Chris Sawyer Shares Stories, Music, Movies and Wine
THE VARIETAL SHOW visits Bricoleur Vineyards to taste and talk about the joys of Pinot Noir, and the epic SCV Pour & Explore event happening there next Thursday, March 13th, with superstar winemakers Bob Cabral and Tom Pierson. Get TICKETS while you still can!
The American Fine Wine Competition is both pleased and honored to invite you to submit your rosé wines to THE Rosé Competition 2025. This will be the 12th edition of this noted wine competition, taking place in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on May 31, 2025. Our esteemed judges from across the country include a balance of sommeliers, chefs, wine writers, retailers and educators.
REGISTER HERE! The fee is $70.00 per wine entered. Registered wines will be accepted through May 15, 2025. Both International and domestic rosé wines are invited to participate. This includes sparkling, dry, and sweet wine categories.
We require four bottles of each wine entered, two for the competition, one to promote your wine at our annual “Fifty Shades of Pink” fundraising event (date and location will be announced soon), and one signed bottle for our charity auction. Thank you and we look forward to sharing your wines. ~Shari & Chris
A brilliant afternoon opening bottles (by any means necessary), tasting, and THE VARIETAL SHOW with Ross Cobb of Cobb Wines near Occidental in Sonoma County, discussing the upcoming Pour+Explore Pinot Noir Tasting on Thursday,March 13th happening at Bricoleur Winery, that I am co-hosting with the Sonoma County Vintners. Get your TICKETS for this epic Pinot tasting!
Pour + Explore: Pinot Noirs Tasting at Bricoleur Vineyards Thursday, March 13, 2025 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM Produced by Sonoma County Vintners in Collaboration with Sawyer Somm
Join us for this exclusive wine tasting event, featuring a special selection of Pinot Noirs 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.
| 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! |
Featured vintners include Balletto Vineyards, Benovia Winery, Bricoleur Vineyards, Buena Vista Winery, Cartograph Wines, CIRQ & CHEV, Cobb Wines, Davis Bynum, DeLoach Vineyards, Domaine de la Rivière, Elaine Wines, En Garde Winery, Gloria Ferrer, Hartford Family Winery, Hirsch Vineyards, Inman Family Wines, Innumero Wines, Joseph Jewell Wines, Joseph Swan Winery, Kanzler Vineyards, Kistler Vineyards, Landmark Vineyards, Martinelli Winery, Merry Edwards Winery, Panther Ridge, Papapietro Perry Winery, Rochioli Vineyards & Winery, Schug Winery, Tamber Bey Vineyards, Three Sticks Wines, Williams-Selyem and more!
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 Rosés & 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!!!
