Category Archives: Event

Event, Sommelier, Tasting, Video, Vlog, Wine

Benovia Winery, So Co Barrel Auction & The Varietal Show!

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Here comes the7th Sonoma County Barrel Auction, an annual event produced by Sonoma County Vintners, for wine futures and collectable wines – representing the stylistic range and world-class quality of Sonoma County. The Varietal Show gets the scoop from winemaker Mike Sullivan of Benovia Winery. In this two part feature we discuss the auction and their spectacular Never Before, Never Again auction lot. #SoCoBA

This virtual auction is for members of the wine trade, wine collectors and media: It opens online Weds May 5, and closes Friday May 7. The funds raised at the Sonoma County Barrel Auction support Sonoma County Vintners marketing programs and initiatives. To register, visit SoCoBarrelAuction.com/attend/

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for weekly notifications on more exciting episodes, Tuesdays at 12:30pm

Competition, Event, Festivals, Film, Wine

SIFF Wine Competition: Enter Now Through April 5th!

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The splendor of the Sonoma International Film Festival may be coming to a close but your wines can still participate! Info below for more details or contact Chay Woerz.

4th Annual SIFF Wine Awards: Sponsored by Safe Harbor Wine Storage &Presented by San Francisco Magazine

How To Enter: Select the categories you want to enter from the list below.  Then provide 2 bottles of wine for each of the categories you are entering.

Deliver wines to SIFF office: Located above Maya Restaurant (103 E Napa Street, Ste. B, Sonoma) by April 5th, 2021.

CATEGORIES! BEST Sparking Wine, Chardonnay, Aromatic White Wine, Pink Wine (still), Red Wine Blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Dessert Wine, Port Wine, Sake (NEW)

Winners receive digital laurels to use for your marketing and a framed certificate to hang in your winery or tasting room as well as some serious bragging rights!

Judging will be organized and executed by sommelier Christopher Sawyer and panel of wine experts, on April 9th. 

The winners will be announced prior to the SIFF Saturday Film Screening on April 24th.

Following the screening the Awards Presentation will then be available on our SIFF Food and Wine Vimeo channel for those that missed it. We encourage you to send us virtual tasting content (10 minutes max) and any special offer (need link, description and promo code) you may have to share with our audience.

Deadline for wine submissions is April 5th and we will need your video by April 15th.

Event, Tasting, Travels, Wine

Behind The Cellar Door in Amador Wine Country: March 26-28!

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With oodles of safety measures in place the Amador Vintners have organized a three day BCD experience! Your ticket will allow you to pre-select each personal time slot and winery of your preference. So check out the list of wineries, get your TICKETS, and lodging if necessary, to enjoy an intimate wine tasting weekend!

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Event, Food, news, Wine

Delicious Grub Everywhere — Go Get Some!

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Perfect timing with many places reopened to outdoor dining, or continuing with take-out & delivery. Whatever suits your preference this Sonoma County Restaurant Week 2021, which starts February 19, keeps going until February 28th! You have plenty of time so get some good #SOCO eats and support a local biz!

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While not on the list this year, just a few examples to help whet the palate (all from delicious menus at Gravenstein Grill)!

Charity, Event, Food, Sommelier, Wine

Sawyer Somm Birthday Fire Relief Fundraiser Pizza Party! November 2nd

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A socially distanced Pizza Party at Gravenstein Grill celebrating my birthday – benefiting the Sonoma Resilience Fund! Monday, November 2nd, 5-8pm

RESERVE YOUR SEATS HERE! Pizza, Wine & a Full Bar will be available. Groups must be 10 or fewer and be pre-reserved to maintain social distance. Each group will receive their own table.

Allen Wines & Bucher Wines will be pouring at the event as well as a cash bar: 50% of all ticket sales goes directly to the resilience fund!

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8050 Bodega Avenue, Sebastopol, CA 95472
(707) 634-6142
Event, Food, Sommelier, Video, Wine

Pizza At Paradise Ridge Is A LOVEly Combination!

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Stopped by Paradise Ridge Winery for a work related errand, and just happened onto this spectacular virtual event, which also featured chef Duskie Estes, owner of Black Piglet Food Truck! WATCH IT HERE!!!

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Event, Virtual, Wine

Inaugural LEGENDS Masterclass is LIVE Thursday June 4th!

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Save the Date and register for this upcoming online event series, the inaugural LEGENDS Masterclass, a Vineyard Seminar and Wine Tasting Series beginning June 4, 2020. This special VINOUS Live Webinar will showcase six renowned vineyard sites of the Moon Mountain District.

Guests of the Masterclass will be the first to engage with the Moon Mountain District Vineyard Map, created as part of a major partnership with Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers and VINOUS to comprehensively map the vineyards of Sonoma Valley.

LIVE
Thursday, June 4 | 5:00 PM (PST) | via Zoom
No purchase necessary to participate! REGISTER HERE

You will receive an email confirmation with detailed instructions and credentials to access this special educational webinar.
To enhance your experience, order the Moon Mountain District Tasting Kit. See participating wineries below.

Phil Coturri | Viticulturist 
Antonio Galloni | VINOUS | Moderator 

FEATURED VINEYARDS: B. Wise Vineyards, Kamen Estate Vineyard, Moon Mountain Vineyard, Simons Vineyard, Silver Cloud Vineyard, Trinity Ridge Vineyard

PANELISTS:
B. Wise Vineyards | Brion Wise + Massimo Monticelli, B. Wise Vineyards
Kamen Estate Vineyard | Robert Kamen + Mark Herold, Kamen Estate Wines
Moon Mountain Vineyard | Jim Momtazee + Erich Bradley, Repris
Simons Vineyard | Phil Coturri, Winery Sixteen 600
Silver Cloud Vineyard | Mac McQuown + Jeff Baker, Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyards & Winery
Trinity Ridge Vineyard | John Lasseter + Tony Biagi, Lasseter Family Winery  

Event, Tasting, Wine

Virtual Vines – Some Online Options to Spend Time With Fine Wines!

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As we all grasp the new reality, at least for the time being, the industry has shifted to allow the opportunity to keep filling our cellars!  In addition there is an interactive tasting component being streamed for our virtual pleasure.

As an example, I was just with Tres Sabores on Instagram for their weekly Live Tasting Party, happening every Tuesday at 4pm!  And look out for information upcoming about CellarPass TV, which I will be participating in soon with some very special wine guests!  Until then here is a list of upcoming wineries partaking in the pleasures of our new normal this week.

Notre Vue Winery:  April 2, Thursday, Join by Zoom at 5pm to participate!

Sextant Estate Winery: April 2 & 9, Thursdays, Order wines to join in!

Adobe Road Winery:  April 3 & 4, Friday & Saturday, Join by Zoom at 5pm to participate!

Byington Vineyard & Winery: April 3, Fridays weekly at 5pm & 7pm

Thirty-Seven Wines: Order your Virtual Tasting Wine Pack by April 5, Sunday, to participate on Saturday April 18.

Calluna Vineyards: Virtual Wine Tastings on  April 5 Sunday, April 11 Saturday,or April 17 Friday, be sure to Register here!

Whichever experience you happen to choose ENJOY!
Cheers, Chris

Event, Varietal, Wine, zigsaw

Coming Soon: ZinEX & #ZIGSAW Discount at the Grand Tasting!

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Get ready San Francisco, because here comes Zin EX, January 30-February 1!  Three spectacular days to celebrate the marvelous varietal Zinfandel.  It starts with the Opening Night Dinner at Le Colonial (SOLD OUT, sorry!).

Moving on, there is a fantastic seminar, Legendary Zinfandel Vineyards – As seen through the Eyes of Their Caretakers on Friday January 31, 10:30 to 1pm at The Palace Hotel, with moderator extraordinaire Joel Peterson, founding winemaker at Ravenswood Winery (TICKETS Available!). Later in the evening comes Havana Nights, the SOLD OUT Winemaker Auction & Dinner.

Saving the best for last is the Grand Tasting on Saturday February 1st, at Pier 27:  This Zinfandel expedition will have over 100 participating wineries and culinary stations to sample delectable bites from leading chefs!  BE SURE to include the code #ZigSaw for $10 OFF your PUBLIC Grand Tasting entry at 2pm!

 

 

Looking forward to an ZIN-tastic weekend!
Cheers, Chris & Ziggy (aka #ZIGSAW)

Event, Sommelier, Tasting, Wine

Wine Wednesdays @Gravenstein Grill: The Autumn Schedule!

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For those that have not yet explored this event, trek on over to Gravenstein Grill in Sebastopol to join a Wine Wednesday tasting!  It is weekly in the Bartlett Bar from 5:30-7pm, an excellent opportunity to enjoy a free wine tasting with a local wine producer!

Here is the Autumn guest list,  also note the special WW event happening on October 30th, details below!

October 9:  Keller Estate
October 16:  Hook & Ladder Winery
October 23:  Halleck Vineyards

October 30:
Sommelier Chris Sawyer celebrates his 50th with the GG crew and four special vintners!  Breaking Bread Wines, Kokomo Winery, Radio-Coteau, Talisman Wine
Wear a costume, taste some wine and come give cheers to Sawyer Somm!!!

November 6:  Preston Farm & Winery
November 13:  Bacigalupi Vineyards
November 20:  People’s Wine Revolution

8050 Bodega Ave
Sebastopol, California