Category Archives: Event

Appellation, Event, Travels, Wine

Meet Some Young Wine Stars of Napa Valley! Sat, March 19th

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Flavor! Napa Valley is happening now!  Just another awesome learning opportunity for your curious palate:

Forward Thinking, the Young Stars of Napa Valley
The Rudd Center at The Culinary Institute of
America Greystone, St. Helena
Saturday, March 19 / 10:00pm – 11:30pm
Get your tickets!

Meet the next generation of talented winemakers in Napa Valley.
Find out the new wine trends they are applying to their family vineyards, discover the intriguing grape varietals they are working with, and taste the signature styles of wines which set them apart from the rest!  Moderated by Ian White, Wine Director for San Francisco Magazine/Modern Luxury.

Your stellar list of young panelists includes:
Alan Viader, Viader Vineyards & Winery
Alycia Mondavi, Aloft Wine
Judd Finkelstein, Judd’s Hill
Alex Llamas, Llamas Family Winery
Joe Harden, Robert Mondavi Winery
Patrick Foley, Foley Johnson Winery

smallflavorAlso, today is the LAST DAY to get tickets for these fabulous Friday classes:
Pinot Paradise
Aromatic White Wines for Spring
The Preservation Society

Cheers! Christopher

Appellation, Event, Tasting, Wine

Cabernets from the Mountains: Come taste some High Elevation Wines with me!

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1-vaca-mountains-napa-valley-patti-britton
The Vaca Mountains by Patti Britton (http://fineartamerica.com)

This Saturday March 19th, join my class, High Elevation Wines Part 1: Eastside, covering the amazing wines of the Vaca Mountain range in Napa Valley, along with some of the wonderful women involved in their production!

Antica Napa Valley
Beringer
Cimarossa
Cliff Lede
Palmaz Vineyards

High Elevation Wines Part 1: Eastside will be held at The Rudd Center at The Culinary Institute of America Greystone, St. Helena, from 10:00 – 11:30am.  Get your tickets now!

Continue your Flavor! Napa Valley adventure on Saturday to the afternoon follow-up High Elevation Wines Part 2: Westside or Exploring the Rhone Zone, both at 3pm.

See you this weekend! Christopher

Appellation, Event, Tasting, Wine

What is the “Preservation Society”? Find out more Fri, March 18th

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A little history lesson for you, before Cabernet Sauvignon became the most popular grape in the Napa Valley, most of the full-bodied red wines were made with Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Charbono and other legendary grape varietals referred to as “mixed blacks.”  Come find out what an all-star cast of Napa Valley farmers, winemakers, vintners and boutique producers are doing to preserve these special old vineyard sites.

Preservation Society
The Rudd Center at The Culinary Institute
of America Greystone, St. Helena
Friday, March 18 / 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Get your tickets!

zap19
At The Preservation Society class on March 18th, learn about the historic Hayne Vineyard and taste the great wines made with the fruit by Tegan Passalacqua of Turley Wine Cellars (pictured) and Russell Bevan of Chase Cellars.

I’m honored to be the moderator for this Flavor! Napa Valley class, alongside this amazing panel of professionals; Robert Biale, Proprietor, Robert Biale Winery: Aldo’s Vineyard, Tegan Passalacqua, Winemaker, Turley Wine Cellars: Hayne Vineyard,  Mike Hendry, Proprietor, Hendry Winery: R.W. Moore Vineyard,  Russell Bevan, Winemaker, Chase Cellars: Hayne Vineyard, Genevieve Janssens, Winemaker, Robert Mondavi Winery: To Kalon Vineyard.

Charity, Event, Wine

#LakeCountyRising Charity Wine Auction – Sunday March 20th

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Sharing this Press Release information for those that want to continue the efforts of support for victims of last year’s devastating lakecorisingValley Fire in Lake County.   More information and tickets can be purchased at #LakeCountyRising.  Piggy back this onto the end of your Flavor! Napa Valley adventures!

Valley Fire Relief Charity Wine Auction
Sunday, March 20, 2016
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Culinary Institute of America – Greystone
St. Helena, California

Thanks for your support!

Appellation, Event, Tasting, Wine

Take the Quiz! Match the Wine with the Event

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Test your wine knowledge by matching the label with the appropriate Flavor! Napa Valley event, taking place March 16-20.  These delicious beauties were all dropped off this week in preparation of all the upcoming to-do’s.  Hope to be seeing you in the mix! Christopher

Here are the possibilities:
highwest2a) Pinot Paradise
b) Aromatic White Wines for Spring
c) High-Elevation Wines Part 1: Eastside
d) High-Elevation Wines Part 2: Westside
e) Forward Thinking: The Young Stars of Napa Valley
f) Exploring the Rhone Zone
g) Terrior to Table: Five Decades Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting with Trefethen Family Vineyards
h) BRIX after-party

Find the answers at my Napa Valley – Pinterest page. 

bricksafterpartypinotp1

lasirenarhone1

50tertable1higheast1

fwdthinking1For more event options check out the full Flavor! Napa Valley Schedule At a Glance.

Appellation, Event, Tasting, Wine

Learn about Aromatic White Wines at Flavor! Napa Valley

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So excited to be working on the fabulous Wine Classes with star winemakers at Flavor! Napa Valley: Selfie with fellow somms Christie Dufault & Robert Bath MS (your moderator!).
So excited to be working on the fabulous Wine Classes with star winemakers at Flavor! Napa Valley: Selfie with fellow somms Christie Dufault & Robert Bath MS (your moderator!).

Here is a refreshing opportunity!  Join moderator, Bob Bath, Master Sommelier and Professor of Wine and Beverage Studies at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone and at COPIA as well to check out the new delicate styles of white wine from Napa Valley that are becoming very fashionable to pair with so many styles of fine cuisine.

Aromatic White Wines for Spring
The Culinary Institute of America at Copia
500 1st Street Napa, CA 94559
Friday, March 18, 2016 from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Get your tickets!

As one of the panelists talented winemaker Heidi Barrett (pictured here with husband Bo) will be showcasing a new release from the family's La Sirena Wines.
As one of the panelists talented winemaker Heidi Barrett (pictured here with husband Bo) will be showcasing a new release from the family’s La Sirena Wines.

This Flavor! Napa Valley class will enlighten you to some crisp alternatives to Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, with lovely aromatic aromas.  An amazing crew of panelists will be in attendance as well: Heidi Barrett, La Sirena Wines; Mike Chelini, Stony Hill Vineyard; Jeff Virnig, Robert Sinskey Vineyards; Craig Becker, Priest Ranch/Somerston Estate; Ken Foster, Mahoney Vineyards; Ry Richards, Chappellet Winery.

Enjoy!

Appellation, Event, Travels, Wine

Learn about High Elevation Wines Part 1: Eastside with me!

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Mia Klein & Tina Mitchell - the two talented women winemakers at Palmaz Vineyards - will be joined by Remi Cohn of Cliff Lede Vineyards master somm Gillian Ballance of TWE Global as part will be in attendance!
Mia Klein & Tina Mitchell – the two talented women winemakers at Palmaz Vineyards – will be joined by Remi Cohn of Cliff Lede Vineyards master somm Gillian Ballance of TWE Global as part will be in attendance!

International Women’s Day couldn’t be better with this star line up of talented females in the wine industry!  I will be moderating this exciting panel for the upcoming Flavor! Napa Valley.

High Elevation Wines Part 1: Eastside
The Rudd Center at
The Culinary Institute of America Greystone, St. Helena
Saturday, March 19 / 10:00 – 11:30am
Get your tickets!

This will  be a detailed exploration of complex wines made with grapes grown on high elevation sites in the rugged eastern hills of the Napa Valley. We will be joined by Remi Cohen, President, Poetry Wines/Cliff Lede Vineyards: Stags Leap District,  Glenn Salva, Antica Napa Valley, Atlas Peak,  Gillian Balance, Beringer/Treasury Wine Estates, Howell Mountain, Tina Mitchell, Palmaz Vineyards, Coombsville  and Mia Klein, Cimarosso, Howell Mountain.

smallflavor
Hope you can join us!
Christopher

 

Appellation, Event, Travels, Wine

Me & Traci talking bubbles at Flavor! Napa Valley

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Another delicious Flavor! Napa Valley opportunity to join co-moderator Traci Dutton, Manager, Public Wine and Beverage Studies, The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, and myself for this fabulous panel!

Bubbly Sensations: Exploring the Top
Sparkling Wines of Napa Valley
The Meritage Resort and Spa
875 Bordeaux Way Napa, CA 94558
Sunday, March 20 / 9:30am – 11:00am
Get your tickets!

Start your Sunday off in style by tasting through the top sparkling wines of Napa Valley with us.  Find out where the grapes are grown and how the winemakers create levels of flavor and complexity that make their sparkling gems so special.

Bubbles and knowledge in every sip!  With extra special guests Eileen Crane, Winemaker at Domaine Carneros, Tom Tiburzi, Winemaker, for Domaine Chandon,  Ludovic Dervin, Winemaker at Mumm Napa  and Hugh Davies, Proprietor of Schramsberg Vineyards.

Pop on over!
Christopher
smallflavor

Appellation, Event, Travels, Wine

Join my panel for High Elevation Wines Part 2: Westside

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mtbrave
Love the pure mountain fruit flavors of the Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon from Mt. Veeder, come hear Mariano Navarro from the winery talk about the wine.

As excitement grows for the upcoming Flavor! Napa Valley, I want to take time to invite you to this special class I will be moderating:
High Elevation Wines Part 2: Westside on Saturday March 19th.

Join me and an amazing list of participants (see below!) to explore flavorful selections of wines made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and other special varietals used to create limited release wines and proprietary blends from hidden sites on the Mayacamas Range overlooking Napa Valley.

High Elevation Wines Part 2: Westside
The Rudd Center at The Culinary Institute
of America Greystone, St. Helena
Saturday, March 19 / 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Get your tickets!

Participants include: Hugh Davies, Proprietor, J Davies/Schramsberg, Diamond Mountain Christopher Howell, Winegrower/GM, Cain Winery & Vineyard, Spring Mountain Stuart Smith, Winemaker, Smith Madrone Vineyards & Winery, Spring Mountain Mariano Navarro, Viticulturalist, Mt. Brave/Lokoya Wines, Mt Veeder Jay Turnipseed, Mount Veeder Winery, Mt. Veeder

Hope to see you there!
Christopher

Event, Judging, Tasting, Wine

SF Chronicle Public Tasting this Saturday Feb 13th!

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The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is the largest competition of American wines in the world!  This Saturday, February 13,  is the chronicle22016 Public Tasting at Fort Mason Center, San Francisco.

Now in its 16th year and with more than 6,000 entries, thousands of wine lovers experience award-winning wines paired with delicious food, while top, professional wine judges have the challenging task of selecting the finest wines from a crowded field of varietals in various categories.

Join me and the other judges to learn more about delicious wine and fine food.  Get your Tickets online now!

Action shot: With my judging team of Kent Rosenblum and Victoria Wilson getting ready for the next round with a little gift from the SF Chronicle staff and Gloria Ferrer!
Action shot: With my judging team of Kent Rosenblum and Victoria Wilson getting ready for the next round with a little gift from the SF Chronicle staff and Gloria Ferrer!