Talking fine Japanese cuisine on THE VARIETAL SHOW with superstar Two-Star Michelin awarded Chef Yoshinori Ishii of Auberge Tokito in Tokyo, whose documentaries “Tokito: The 540-Day Journey of a Culinary Maverick” and “Tanagokoro” showed at the 2025 Sonoma International Film Festival!
Sip, Sip, Hooray! is a Podcast From Mary Orlin & Mary Babbitt: Where Wine Is Always Fun, Tasty And Inspirational
Chris Sawyer Shares Stories, Music, Movies and Wine
Revealed during the Awards Brunch, hosted by Fairmont Mission Inn, at the Sonoma International Film Festival last Sunday March 24th. Watch the highlights, peruse the list for more details: Congratulations & THANK YOU to everyone involved!
SPARKLING WINE
DBL GOLD / 96 Pts Breathless NV Blanc de Noirs Brut, Sonoma County
DBL GOLD / 95 Pts Gloria Ferrer 2019 Brut Rosé, Carneros
DBL GOLD / 95 Pts Breathless 2018 Pinot Meunier Sparkling Wine, Sonoma County
GOLD / 92 Pts Gloria Ferrer 2013 Carneros Cuvée, Carneros
GOLD / 92 Pts Glen Lyon 2021 “Lexy’s Toast” Sparkling Rosé, North Coast
GOLD / 91 Pts Bennett Valley Cellars NV ” Cuvée Marina” Sparkling Wine, Sonoma County
GOLD / 91 Pts Glen Lyon 2021 “Lexy’s Toast” Sparkling Wine, North Coast
SILVER Breathless 2018 Pinot Blanc Sparkling Wine, Reserve, Alexander Valley
SILVER Gloria Ferrer 2019 Blanc de Blancs Brut, Carneros
SILVER Larson Family NV Sparkling Wine, Carneros
AROMATIC WHITES (ALSATIAN, RHONE & ITALIAN WHITE VARIETALS)
DBL GOLD / 97 Pts Larson Family 2022 Gewurztraminer, Estate Grown, Carneros
DBL GOLD / 96 Pts En Garde 2022 Viognier, Petaluma Gap
DBL GOLD / 95 Pts Thirty-Seven 2022 Albarino, Estate Grown, Petaluma Gap
GOLD / 92 Pts Anaba 2022 Viognier, Landa Vineyards Sonoma Valley
GOLD / 90 Pts Anaba 2022 Turbine White Blend No. 02, Sonoma Valley
SILVER Muscardini 2021 Vermentino, Coyote Creek Vineyard, Clements Hills, Lodi
SILVER La Prenda 2021 “The Copper” Pinot Grigio, Napa Valley
SILVER Sebastiani 2022 Pinot Grigio, Russian River Valley
SILVER Glen Lyon 2022 “Suzie’s Toast” Viognier, Margarets Vyd, Sonoma Valley
SILVER Mountain Terraces 2021 Viognier, Estate Grown, Moon Mountain District
SAUVIGNON BLANC
DBL GOLD / 96 Pts Laurel Glen 2022 “Blanc Slate” Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley
DBL GOLD / 95 Pts Capo Isetta 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, North Coast
DBL GOLD / 95 Pts Ledson 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Little Horse Estate Vineyard, Sonoma Valley
GOLD / 94 Pts Zina Hyde Cunningham 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Estate, Sonoma Valley
SILVER Highway 12 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
SILVER Kukeri 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley
CHARDONNAY
DBL GOLD / 97 Pts Capo Isetta 2022 Chardonnay, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Carneros
DBL GOLD / 95 Pts Buena Vista 2021 Eleanora’s Selection Chardonnay, North Coast
DBL GOLD / 95 Pts Idell Family 2022 Chardonnay, Michael Mara Vineyard, Sonoma Coast
DBL GOLD / 95 Pts Banshee 2021 Chardonnay, Sonoma County
GOLD / 92 Pts Bennett Valley Cellars 2022 Chardonnay, Sonoma County
GOLD / 92 Pts Ferrari-Carano 2021 “Tre Terre” Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
GOLD / 91 Pts Anaba 2021 Chardonnay, Carneros
GOLD / 91 Pts Larson Family 2022 Three Lab Chardonnay, Sonoma County
GOLD / 90 Pts DeLoach 2021 “Fleur de Lys” Estate Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
GOLD / 90 Pts Sonoma Creek 2022 Chardonnay, Sonoma County
GOLD / 90 Pts Larson Family 2022 Millerick Road Chardonnay, Sonoma County
SILVER Bennett Valley Cellars 2021 Bin 5757 Uoaked Chardonnay, Sonoma County
SILVER Gloria Ferrer 2021 Vista Reserve Chardonnay, Estate Grown, Carneros
SILVER La Chertosa 2022 Reserve Chardonnay, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley
SILVER Ledson 2021 Chardonnay, Adelines Vineyard, Anderson Valley
SILVER Thirty-Seven 2020 Estate Chardonnay, Petaluma Gap
SILVER Sebastiani 2020 Butterfield Station Chardonnay, North Coast
PINK WINES / ROSÉS
DBL GOLD / 97 Pts Benziger Family 2023 Rosé of Grenache, Frank Johnson Vyd, Dry Creek Valley
DBL GOLD / 96 Pts Lasseter Family 2022 “Enjoue” Rosé, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley
GOLD / 94 Pts Ledson 2022 Counoise Rose, Redwood Valley
GOLD / 93 Pts Ferrari-Carano 2022 Dry Sangiovese Rosé, Sonoma County
GOLD / 92 Pts Muscardini 2022 Rosato di Sangiovese, Santo Giordano, Sonoma Valley
GOLD / 91 Pts La Chertosa 2022 “Eye of the Swan” Reserve Aleatico Rosé, Sonoma Valley
SILVER Glen Lyon 2022 “Blush O’ The Boar” Syrah Rosé, Estate, Sonoma Valley
SILVER Capo Isetta 2023 Rose of Pinot Noir, Carneros
PINOT NOIR
DBL GOLD / 98 Pts DeLoach 2018 “Fleur de Lys” Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
DBL GOLD / 97 Pts Thirty-Seven 2022 Pinot Noir, Estate Grown, Petaluma Gap
DBL GOLD / 97 Pts Banshee 2022 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County
DBL GOLD / 96 Pts Gloria Ferrer 2021 Pinot Noir, Estate Grown, Carneros
DBL GOLD / 96 Pts En Garde 2022 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
DBL GOLD / 96 Pts Sonoma Creek 2022 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County
GOLD / 94 Pts Capo Isetta 2022 Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Petaluma Gap
GOLD / 94 Pts Kukeri 2021 Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap
GOLD / 94 Pts Buena Vista 2021 Pinot Noir, Carneros
GOLD / 93 Pts Bennett Valley Cellars 2021 Bin 5757 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County
GOLD / 91 Pts Anaba 2022 Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Petaluma Gap
GOLD / 90 Pts Larson Family 2021 Millerick Road Pinot Noir, Sonoma County
SILVER DeLoach Vineyards 2021 Pinot Noir, Van Der Kamp Vyd, Sonoma Mountain
SILVER Glen Lyon 2022 Pinot Noir, Parmelee Hill Vineyardd, Sonoma Coast
SILVER Bennett Valley Cellars 2021 Pinot Noir, Bennett Valley
SILVER Larson Family 2021 Three Lab Pinot Noir, Sonoma County
SILVER Larson Family 2020 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County
RHONE REDS (VARIETALS & BLENDS)
DBL GOLD / 97 Pts Ledson 2021 Grenache, Ricetti Lane, Redwood Valley
GOLD / 94 Pts Lasseter Family 2019 “Chemin de Fer” Red Wine, Estate, Sonoma Valley
GOLD / 91 Pts Idell Family 2019 “Compound” GSM Blend, Sonoma County
GOLD / 91 Pts Glen Lyon 2022 Estate Syrah, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley
SILVER Idell Family 2019 “Oscar” Syrah, Sonoma Valley
RED WINE BLENDS
DBL GOLD / 98 Pts Glen Lyon 2021 “Squire’s Toast” Red Wine, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley
DBL GOLD / 95 Pts Muscardini 2019 “Tesoro” Red Wine, California
GOLD / 91 Pts Ferrari-Carano 2022 “Siena” Red Wine, Sonoma County
SILVER Idell Family 2018 “MB-5V” Red Wine, Oscar Vineyard, Sonoma Valley
ZINFANDEL
DBL GOLD / 96 Pts Ledson 2019 Zinfandel, Old Vine, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
GOLD / 92 Pts Muscardini 2020 Zinfandel, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Moon Mountain District
GOLD / 91 Pts Tom Mackey 2021 Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley
SILVER Sebastiani 2022 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley
MERLOT & OTHER BORDEAUX VARIETALS
DBL GOLD / 97 Pts Serres Ranch 2019 “Buchanan” Merlot, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley
DBL GOLD / 97 Pts En Garde 2021 Petit Verdot, Moon Mountain District
DBL GOLD / 96 Pts Highway 12 2022 Cabernet Franc, Private Reserve, Sonoma Valley
DBL GOLD / 96 Pts En Garde 2021 Cabernet Franc, Knights Valley
DBL GOLD / 95 Pts Ledson 2019 Reserve Merlot, Estate Vineyard, Sonoma Valley
GOLD / 92 Pts Larson Family 2019 Malbec, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley
GOLD / 94 Pts Serres Ranch 2019 “Watriss” Red Wine, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley
GOLD / 92 Pts Benziger Family 2020 “Three Blocks” Estate Red Wine, Sonoma Valley
GOLD / 91 Pts Larson Family 2021 Meritage Red Wine, Sonoma County
GOLD / 90 Pts Thirty-Seven 2019 “The Hermit” Reserve Red Blend, Estate, Petaluma Gap
SILVER Ledson 2019 “Cepage” Red Wine, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley
SILVER Tom Mackey 2021 “Sirius” Red Wine, Sonoma Valley
SILVER Millerick Road 2020 Meritage Red Wine, Lake County
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
DBL GOLD / 98 Pts En Garde 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain, Napa Valley
DBL GOLD / 97 Pts Laurel Glen 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Grown, Sonoma Mountain
DBL GOLD / 97 Pts Laurel Glen 2019 “Counterpoint” Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Mountain
DBL GOLD / 96 Pts En Garde 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Moon Mountain District
DBL GOLD / 96 Pts Mountain Terraces 2019 Block 14 Cabernet Sauvignon, Moon Mountain
DBL GOLD / 96 Pts Muscardini 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Madrona Ridge Vyd, Moon Mountain
DBL GOLD / 96 Pts Serres Ranch 2019 “Marshall” Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
DBL GOLD / 95 Pts Sebastiani 2019 “Cherryblock” Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
GOLD / 94 Pts Sebastiani 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley
GOLD / 92 Pts Tom Mackey 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
GOLD / 92 Pts Capo Isetta 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Moon Mountain District
GOLD / 92 Pts Sonoma Creek 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
GOLD / 91 Pts Banshee 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
GOLD / 91 Pts Buena Vista 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
GOLD / 91 Pts Ferrari-Carano 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
SILVER Tom Mackey 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
SILVER Tom Mackey 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
SILVER Larson Family 2019 Three Lab Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
DESSERT WINE & PORT
DBL GOLD / 96 Pts Bee Hunter 2014 Late Harvest Riesling, Greenwood Ridge Vineyard, Anderson Valley
GOLD / 90 Pts Glen Lyon 2021 Syrah Port, Estate Grown, Sonoma Valley
SILVER Anaba 2018 Late Harvest Viognier, Sonoma Valley
Nestled in the idyllic Sonoma Valley lies a winery run by some clown: Squire Fridell, that is. Find out how GlenLyon Winery came to be through his distinctive road to success. Delicious and award-winning, we discuss Suzy’s Toast, Viognier; Hog Wilde Chardonnay; Squire’s Toast Red Blend; GlenLyon Estate Port.
LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST! Email me about featuring your winery on #THEVARIETALSHOW
The crew is wrapping the final sound mix of Werewolf Serenade this week in beautiful Burbank! It has been quite a journey, and everyone has done a remarkable job.
This week a crowdfunding campaign was launched to raise $3,000 to round-out the post-production budget. Among other perks, contributors can obtain seats to the private Cast, Crew, and Patron Screening (date TBD), where you, and your +1s, can join us to celebrate our brilliant project.
Please donate HERE! See you at the Screening. . .
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.
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!
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
Catch the films and events at Sonoma International Film Festival, March 22-26: And tune in here next week for results from our 6th Annual SIFF Wine Competition! Cheers, Chris
For Valentines Week, I am going to assail you with some special tidbits in this single blast of love! Start by reading this seductive article by Dr. Liz Thach, for a lovely selection of cocktails: Mine is the Blood Orange Rose 75, so start mixing!
Follow that up with the classic romantic film, An Affair To Remember: A fine sparkling wine that can live up to this level of romance is Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé. This charming bubbly exudes fruity, tangy flavor, has a beautiful color and a long enchanting finish. To further enliven the senses, serve this sparkling gem with aphrodisiac delights such as oysters on the half shell, fresh berries, or toasted nuts.
Lastly, let’s revisit my wine & chocolate pairing on THE VARIETAL SHOW from last year. It’s never too late to get specialty treats for your loved ones! Especially if it is Acumen Wine & Phillip Ashley Chocolates.
LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST!
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.
