All posts by christopher

Competition, Event, Food, Judging, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Wine

AFWC’s “One Thousand Bottles” -January 14th!

Leave a comment

Join me and the judging team of American Fine Wine Competition in Miami at the 17th Annual AFWC “ONE THOUSAND BOTTLES” event – to taste over 700 exceptional wines from small, boutique, family-run wineries across the US, including California, Ohio, Washington, New York, Colorado, Michigan, Virginia, and Oregon, while enjoying incredible food from local restaurants!

  • Meet award-winning winemakers pouring their wines
  • Win fabulous wine baskets at the raffle
  • Bid on exclusive private wine tasting experiences
  • Get 1000 Bottles TICKETS while they last!


Sunday, January 14th, from 6:30-9:00 PM FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management,
3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181

All proceeds benefit the Joel Feigenheimer Endowment Fund, supporting scholarships in the hospitality industry and End Childhood Hunger.

Special thanks to our incredible partners: Smart Source Marketing, Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at FIU, Two Men & a Truck, Advanced Roofing, VENU Magazine, City & Shore Magazine, South Florida Business Journal, FPL, Coravin, RC Music Group, Chef & Sommelier, Rod Coleman, Esq. & Associates, Preiser Key, Cheney Brothers, Restaurant Placement Group, A Flair For Fudge, The CrepeMaker, Island Fusion, Fogo de Chao Miami Beach, Royal India, and Cristina’s Family Bakery.

Holidays, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Varietal, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

Holiday Wishes From Elk Cove Vineyards On THE VARIETAL SHOW

Leave a comment

HO HO Hope Santa Somm filled your stockings with good wines! THE VARIETAL SHOW discusses the wine wonders of Oregon’s Willamette Valley with Adam Campbell of Elk Cove Vineyards, including the French connection, clones, estate vineyards & IPNC. Join us to taste the 2022 Estate Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley; 2021 Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley; and 2021 Pinot Noir, Five Mountains, Laurelwood District.

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST! Email me about featuring your winery on #THEVARIETALSHOW

20231218_101526
20231214_125114
Appellation, Holidays, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Video, Vlog, Wine

Padigan Winery Hosts THE VARIETAL SHOW

Leave a comment

On a holiday road trip, THE VARIETAL SHOW rolled into the drive at Padigan Wines! Sitting down with former sommelier, and current winemaker, Kiley Evans, in the Rogue Valley. We discuss the unique qualities of Southern Oregon, including soil, climate, elevation and a wine growing history going back to 1852.

Taste along with some classics: 2020 Estate Reserve Viognier, 2021 Syrah & 2020 Estate Reserve Tempranillo.

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST! Email me about featuring your winery on #THEVARIETALSHOW

Appellation, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

Ridge, Shauna & Zin On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

Leave a comment

THE VARIETAL SHOW visits star winemaker Shauna Rosenblum of Ridge Vineyards, on the Lytton Springs Road property in Healdsburg. During this year of Dry Creek Valley appellation’s 40th Anniversary, we celebrate the joys of Zinfandel, and the unique soil, weather, microclimates, old vines of different regions for growing the grapes; tasting their 2021 Zins from Geyserville, Lytton Springs & Paso Robles. Looking forward to the great ZAP event in January so mark your calendars!

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST! Email me about featuring your winery on #THEVARIETALSHOW

20231130_131902
20231130_131851
Event, Holidays, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Wine

Sparkling Wine Spectacular on Nov 15th @Gravenstein Grill!

Leave a comment

Join Gravenstein Grill for the final wine festival of the year: the Sparkling Wine Spectacular! As we jump into the holiday seasons, we will be showcasing the best wines to celebrate with – and of course that means bubbles!

Come taste 15+ sparkling wines from producers including Domaine Carneros, Gloria Ferrer, Ironhorse, Flaunt, Breathless, De La Montoya, Scharffenberger, Olivet Lane, Emeritus Vineyards & MORE!

As the weather is changing, we’ll be moving the event indoors (with some outdoor space weather permitting.) There will be hors d’oeuvres by Chefs Simontacchi & Colunga, and jazz guitar by Jay Messer. Don’t miss this end of the year extravaganza as we round the corner into winter!

Tickets are $45 pre-order, $55 at the door.

Sommelier, Tasting, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

THE VARIETAL SHOW Tastes John Duval Wines

Leave a comment

After an amazing meal at Palio, paired with John Duval Wines, THE VARIEAL SHOW sits down for a conversation with his son Tim Duval. The Australian brand is the triumph of John’s years after making wines for Penfolds, now celebrating their 20th anniversary!

We learn the history and share some amazing wines, with some highlights of the Barossa Valley:

  • 2021 Compono Cabernet Sauvignon
  • 2010 Plexus Red (Grenache-Shiraz-Mouvedre/GSM)
  • 2021 Entity Shiraz

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST! Email me about featuring your winery on #THEVARIETALSHOW

20231009_122129
20231009_175718
Competition, Event, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Wine

Inaugural Breathless World Champagne Showdown, Saturday, October 28th

Leave a comment

Breathless Wines will host the inaugural Breathless World Champagne Showdown Saturday, October 28, 3-5pm, in tribute to World Champagne Day.

Official judges and esteemed guests are invited to a blind tasting of French Champagnes vs. Breathless Sparkling Wine to pick their favorites. In addition to the blind champagne tasting, guests will be treated to fascinating champagne history, varietal insights, and tasting notes from the panel of experts, including:

  • Sharon Cohn, Sister 1-of-3 Breathless Wines
  • Sarah Doyle, Wine Reporter at The Press Democrat
  • Heather Irwin, Professional food and wine writer in Northern California’s Wine Country
  • Chris Sawyer, Renowned sommelier, wine educator, journalist, critic, and public speaker
  • Scott Lange, Sommelier of Be Bubbly Napa
  • Rebecca Rosenberg, Champagne Widows Novels Author

Breathless Wines is located at 499 Moore Ln, Healdsburg, CA 95448. ONLY 70 TICKETS so purchase them ASAP!

Event, Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Wine

Pinot & Chardonnay Paradise @Grav Grill on Weds October 25th!

Leave a comment

Come and enjoy harvest season by tasting a mix of West Sonoma County’s premier varietals – Pinot Noir & Chardonnay – on the Gravenstein Grill patio & dining room! We will be pouring wines from 20+ local wineries including Three Sticks, Emeritus, Hartford Court, Porter Creek, Martinelli, Bob Cabral Wines, Lombardi, Bacigalupi, Dutton-Goldfield & More!

Celebrate the season with appetizers by Chefs Bob Simontacchi & Makana Colunga, as well as live music by Jay Messer. TICKETS are $45 if pre-ordered, or $55 at the door. ( 8050 Bodega Ave, Sebastopol, CA 95472)

Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

Featuring James Hall On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

Leave a comment

In the heart of harvest, James Hall shares the in-depth origin story of Patz & Hall Wines with THE VARIETAL SHOW! We get a little name dropping, Pinot and Chardonnay discussion, and to taste some mighty fine wines: 2021 Chardonnay, Carneros, Napa Valley; 2019 Pinot Noir, Jenkins Ranch; 2021 Pinot Noir, Little Boot Vineyard.

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST! Email me about featuring your winery on #THEVARIETALSHOW

20230926_174831
20230916_172828
20230914_182656
Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Video, Virtual, Wine

Penny Gadd-Coster Sparkles on THE VARIETAL SHOW!

Leave a comment

Winemaker Penny Gadd-Coster of Breathless Wines and Rack & Riddle, shares with THE VARIETAL SHOW her evolution into making sparkling wines: With wine judging and winemaking in her pocket, she helps make life festive with her bubbly creations! We taste the Breathless Blanc de Blanc, Sonoma County & Blanc de Blanc, Reserve Organic, Cox Vineyard, Mendocino Co together and discuss the best food pairings.

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST! Email me about featuring your winery on #THEVARIETALSHOW

20230920_145636
20230920_151244
20230920_145751