Category Archives: Event

Move Over Sideways! My yearly sojourn to Santa Barbara.

It’s time to taste through some of the finest new releases California has to offer at the 33rd Annual Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend, April 23-26. For starters, guests will be able to visit 12 wineries involved in the Vintners Visa festivities going on from Thursday to Sunday. But for foodie lovers, the fabulous weekend kicks off with the Friday Night Vintage Party at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos, where star sommelier Eric Railsback and I will help serve Santa Ynez Valley 044magnificent cellar selections from Dierberg and Star Lane Vineyards, Qupe Wine Cellars & Verdad Wine Cellars, Turiya Wines, Dascomb Cellars, Presqu’ile Winery, Imagine Wine, Rusack Vineyards, Melville Winery, and Martellotto Wines.

On Saturday morning, I’ll be leading a special seminar focused on the history of the Santa Ynez Valley, a legendary appellation established in 1983, through the eyes of gifted wnemakers who all worked at Zaca Mesa Winery during the early stages of their careers. Then, it’s time for the Grand Tasting at the River View Park in Buellton. This popular afternoon will feature offering from over 120 wineries paired up tasty bites from the best chefs in the county.

For more information, visit Vintners Spring Weekend.

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Join me! Create Again benefit this Saturday April 4th

This Saturday the Create Again benefit show will take place in Santa Rosa. Thanks to everyone who has helped, shared, donated, etc. So far $2400 has been donated on the event site, toward the absolute goal of $5000.

lopez2Join me at the event by choosing the $15 Ticket Perk!  If you cannot make it Saturday you can still donate at the site until April 10th.  All proceeds will go directly to the music program at Lawrence Cook School where Andy Lopez attended.

Thank you for supporting this great cause and hope to see you there!-CS

ZAP Event Wrap-Up 2015: Read it in The Tasting Panel

Catch this great article in the March edition of The Tasting Panel by my friend Randy Caparoso about The Zinfandel Experience 2015.

In it he poses the question Is Zinfandel on a new paradigm shift, more appealing to sommeliers?   See what other sommeliers, wine makers and I had to say after doing the Sommelier & Terroir Workshops at the Golden Gate Club, sponsored by The Somm Journal.

Download the PDF here to find out more:TP_1503-1300-TransparentWhite-1