Special announcement! If you are considering the Napa Valley Film Festival this week then maybe I can entice you to join me: I will be moderating the Culinary Demos throughout the week, as well as attending Variety’s 10 to Taste. Get your tickets ASAP!
Maybe not the river you are thinking of, but distinctive to Sonoma County nonetheless! The Petaluma River Craft Beer Festival is coming, next Saturday September 17, from 1-5pm.
The festival will include 20 local breweries and some delicious bites. Add live music to the mix, including our favorite little western swing band Sugar Moon! Here is a preview. . .
The 7th Annual “Stars Under the Stars” Outdoor Film Festival at St. Francis Winery finishes off the season with an evening at “Jurassic 
Park”! Perhaps not the scariest film of the season following last week’s political fare but definitely a freak fest for the whole family. I will be there as your festival sommelier to pair St Francis’ world class wines with world class films. Starts at 7pm.
Jurassic Park
Starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern & Jeff Goldblum (1993)
Pre-show concert by: Band Camp
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Featured Wines
$10 per glass (Includes a keepsake St. Francis logoed glass) | $8 Refill
2014 Chardonnay, Wild Oak Vineyard, Sonoma Valley
2014 “Old Vines” Zinfandel, Sonoma County
Admission & Popcorn are Free!
Wines and El Coyote Mexican Food will be available for purchase.
This week at the 7th Annual “Stars Under the Stars” Outdoor Film Festival at St. Francis Winery will be the political classic “The Candidate”, starring a youthful Robert Redford and Peter Boyle. I will be there as your festival sommelier to pair St Francis’ world class wines with world class films. Starts at 7pm, admission is free!
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The Candidate
Starring Robert Redford & Peter Boyle (1972)
Pre-show concert by: The Atomic Lounge Show
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Featured Wines
$10 per glass (Includes a keepsake St. Francis logoed glass) | $8 Refill
2015 Chardonnay, Sonoma County
2013 Old Vines Zinfandel, Bacchi vineyard, Russian River Valley
The 7th Annual “Stars Under the Stars” Outdoor Film Festival at St. Francis Winery continues. Get ready for an evening of intrigue with “National Treasure: Book of Secrets”, which includes an introduction by the film’s Executive Producer Charles Segars. I will be there as your festival sommelier to pair St Francis’ world class wines with world class films. Starts at 7pm, admission is free!
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National Treasure: Book of Secrets
Starring Nicolas Cage (2007)
Pre-show concert by: Ragtag Sullivan Duo
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Featured Wines
$10 per glass (Includes a keepsake St. Francis logoed glass) | $8 Refill
2015 Chardonnay, Sonoma County
2013 Meritage, Anthem, Sonoma County
It’s back again, the 7th Annual “Stars Under the Stars” 
Outdoor Film Festival at St. Francis Winery. I will be there every Thursday in July as your festival sommelier to pair St Francis’ world class wines with world class films. Starts at 7pm, admission is free!
Sleepless in Seattle
Starring Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan (1993)
Pre-show concert by: Z & The Benders
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Featured Wines
$10 per glass (Includes a keepsake St. Francis logoed glass)
2015 Chardonnay, Sonoma County
2014 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
First of all a big THANK YOU to the wonderful folks at Gloria Ferrer, Wilson-Daniels, Deutch Family, Keller Estate, Banfi, Ramey, Failla, Aril, Goosecross, Grieve, Arista, Garnet, Palm Bay Imports, E&J Gallo, Rodney Strong, Southern Wines & Spirits, Republic National Distributing Co & Grand Vin, and especially my assistant Teale. They all made this happen!
In the mix of organizing wine seminars, shipments and special guests for the Telluride Wine Festival, I also made time to record this podcast interview with Susan Viebock at Telluride Inside & Out. Keep an eye on my social media for interesting wines, guests and activities this week at the festival!
For more about TWF and the Somm go to
Somm Of It All, Christopher Sawyer!
(Much gratitude to Adolfo & Daedalus for their technical assistance!)
Take the shortcut to Tuscany, via Telluride Wine Festival! Join me and Lars Leicht from Banfi to taste through an amazing samplings of 
Vermentino and Bolgheri Rosso from the coast; a new single vineyard Chianti, and bringing it all together with the newly released 2011 Brunellos. Fantastico!
Extraordinary Tuscan Experience
with Cru Artisan Wines/Banfi Vintners
June 24, 2016 – 2:00pm – 3:00pm
La Pettegola Vermentino Toscano
Another great seminar and guest at Telluride Wine Festival! Jeff Boyer of Ramey Wines, to discuss and taste through a selection of their wines.
The Taste of Two Valleys will encompass the wines of David Ramey, whom has crafted world-class Chardonnay and Syrah with premium grapes grown in Russian River Valley and the Sonoma Coast appellations in Sonoma County for two decades. Join us Friday, June 24 from 3:30-4:30pm!
Ramey 2013 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley