Category Archives: Festivals

SIFF Wine Competion – Enter NOW!

CALLING ALL WINERIES!!! We are excited to announce the SIFF Wine Competition is coming up quickly! We would like to invite you to submit your wines for only $25! Just select from the 14 categories listed below, which you would like to enter. Then provide 2 bottles of wine for each category you are entering and include a spec sheet with the level of residual sugar information.

  • Best Sparkling Wine
  • Best Chardonnay
  • Best Aromatic White Wine
  • Best Sauvignon Blanc
  • Best Other White Varietals & Blends
  • Best Pink Wine (still)
  • Best Pinot Noir
  • Best Merlot
  • Best Red Wine Blend
  • Best Zinfandel
  • Best Rhone Varieties
  • Best Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Best Dessert Wine
  • Best Port Wine

Sign up to participate HERE! Then deliver the wine to the SIFF office, at 103 E Napa Street, Ste. B, Sonoma, CA (above Maya Restaurant) before February 26, 2024: Judging will be organized and executed by sommelier Christopher Sawyer, and a panel of wine experts, on February 29, 2024.

Please let me or Chay (chay@sonomafilmfest.org) know if you have any questions!

Rex Pickett Goes Sideways On THE VARIETAL SHOW

At the Anderson Valley Pinot Festival, THE VARIETAL SHOW was lucky to run into Rex Pickett, world renowned author of Sideways. If you recall the film based on his novel, it makes sense to find him celebrating Pinot Noir. Together we discuss the AVA, the film, his books and his latest novel based in New Zealand. Of course, all the while, tasting spectacular PN from Anderson Valley, including Waits-Mast Family Cellars, Lula Cellars & Goldeneye Winery! #GoMendo #GoSideways

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST!

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6th Annual SIFF Wine Awards

It is official as of today, Sunday March 26th, where the announcement was made at the SIFF Awards Brunch! Here are the best of the best, selected by our premiere judging panel. Try some for yourself to find out why.

BEST SPARKLING WINE

Breathless NV Blanc de Blancs, Sonoma County 98 Points

BEST AROMATIC WHITE WINE

En Garde 2021 Allez Blanc, California 94 Points

BEST SAUVIGNON BLANC

Gehricke 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma Mountain 91 Points

BEST CHARDONNAY

Dutton Estate 2021 Chardonnay, Kyndall’s Reserve, Dutton Ranch, Russian River Valley 96 Points

BEST PINK WINE

Benziger 2022 Rosé, Sonoma County 97 Points

BEST PINOT NOIR

DeLoach 2019 Pinot Noir, Green Valley of RRV 97 Points

BEST RHONE WINE (Tie)

Idell Family 2018 MB-5V Red Wine, Oscar Vineyard, Sonoma Valley 98 Points

BEST RHONE WINE (Tie)

Larson Family 2019 Syrah Sonoma Coast 98 Points

BEST RED BLEND

Bartholomew Estate 2019 Press Release Red Wine, Sonoma Valley 95 Points

BEST ZINFANDEL

Buena Vista 20120 Zinfandel, Private Reserve Sonoma County 95 Points

BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Sebastiani 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Cherryblock, Sonoma Valley 98 Points

BEST DESSERT WINE

Larson Family 2018 Late Harvest Gewurztraminer, Dolce, Carneros 98 Points

Let SAWYER SOMM Entertain YOU!

Want to spice up your wine tastings? Bring in Sawyer Somm!

I am always interested in sharing my knowledge with you, and your group, at wineries or along with tour visits. We could also set up a special tasting, Seminar Style, for your large or small group onsite, or at another select venue around wine county. Food pairings are always a fun addition!

So let us know what you are thinking and let Sawyer Somm supplement your incredible wine experience! Cheers, Chris

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DEAR ZOE, Now Available On Your Small Screens!

At the Dear Zoe film premiere in Pittsburgh on November 2, all the stars, including Sadie Sink, Kweku Collins and the supporting cast were there! This touching film, made by my friends Brenda & Marc Lhormer, is based on the book by Philip Beard which was first published in 2004.

Here is the trailer if you missed the theater screenings. Now you can catch the entire film on all Video on Demand channels, including ITunes/AppleTV and Amazon.

There’s No One Like SOMMS For The Holidays!

Now is the time to plan your family gathering or company event and add a Sommelier to bring a little extra sparkle. Please inquire with Sawyer Somm to find out how he can enliven your holiday celebration, or how his other Wine Consulting Skills might serve your needs! Email wine(at)sawyersomm.com for more information (& be a little patient while he hosts a pre-holiday Celebrity wine education cruise to Mexico, returning October 9.) CHEERS!

Telluride Wine Festival 2022: Time to register!

Plan to join me at the Telluride Wine Festival, on June 23-26, 2022!  If your winery has participated before then you already know it is a great event in one of the most beautiful mountain towns, where you meet high-end clientele from across the United States. 

I am hoping you are interested in showcasing your wines in one of my educational seminars, for tasting, learning and greeting an ever receptive audience.

Sign up at the REGISTRATION LINK now, and put in the code: SAWYER to get on my seminar A-list!  Please let us know if you have any questions: wine(at)sawyersomm.com

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Submission Time! 5th Annual SIFF Wine Awards

This professional wine competition became part of Sonoma International Film Festival in 2018: It is organized and executed by sommelier Christopher Sawyer and a panel of wine writers, star sommeliers and retailers, taking place on March 16th, 2022. Deadline for wine submissions is March 11th. CATEGORIES & DETAILS BELOW!

  • Best Sparkling Wine
  • Best Chardonnay
  • Best Aromatic White Wine
  • Sauvignon Blanc
  • Other White Varietals & Blends
  • Best Pink Wine (still)
  • Best Pinot Noir
  • Best Merlot
  • Best Red Wine Blend
  • Best Zinfandel
  • Best Rhone Varieties
  • Best Bordeaux Varieties
  • Best Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Best Dessert Wine
  • Best Port Wine

Select the categories you want to enter from the list above. Please provide 2 bottles of wine for each category you are entering, including a spec sheet with the level of residual sugar information.

Deliver your wine to the SIFF office @ 103 E Napa Street, Ste. B, Sonoma, CA (above Maya Restaurant) before March 11th, 2022.
Contact Chay or Danyelle, 707-200-8215 , if you have any questions.

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Get Your Tickets To Telluride Wine Festival: Sept 23-26!

A little delayed this year for safety but IT IS ON! Check out the details at Telluride Wine Festival and join the 40th Anniversary celebrations throughout the week of September 23-26.

I am hosting four spectacular seminars with amazing wines from Acumen, Felix Solis Avantis, Davis Bynum, Rodney Strong, Chehalem, Stoller, Three Wine Co., The Lineage Collection, Chappellet, J. Lohr, The Storm Cellar, Santa Ynez Valley, Kind of Wild and more. . . WINERIES, it is not too late to register and come along! Email me back to find out more.

WINE LOVERScheck the schedule and join my seminars for delicious wines and lively discussions including:

  • Red Wine Heaven! Pinot Paradise
  • What’s a Rhone? The Art of Blending
  • New Altitude! Pure Mountain Wines
  • Exploration Tour of Secret Varieties

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! Christopher

Throw back to a pre-pandemic year, still loads of fun but without the crowding this time!

SIFF: The Wine Awards 2021!

Congratulations to the winners of our 4th Annual SIFF | Safe Harbor Wine Storage Wine Awards presented by San Francisco Magazine

Sonoma International Film Festival and our jury of tasting experts, led by noted sommelier Christopher Sawyer, toast the winners and thank all that participated. Watch the Wine Awards announcement on the SIFF Vimeo Channel and check out the details below!