Category Archives: Food

Event, Food, People, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Wine

Trifecta Of CABERNET! Thursday, September 21st

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On the cusp of Autumn, Gravenstein Grill would like to invite you to the FIRST Annual Trifecta Of Cabernet Tasting, on Thursday, September 21st, featuring a variety of spectacular Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc & Merlot! Enjoy wines from 20+ local world class Cabernet producers including Ehret Winery, Ramey Wine Cellars, Laurel Glen, Tom Mackey Cellars, Zialena Estate, Merriam Vineyards, Alexander Valley Vineyards, Flanagan Wines, Goldschmidt Vineyards, Fritz & MORE!

As always, deliciously paired passed appetizers will be provided by Chefs Bob Simontacchi & Makana Colunga; as well as featured live music by Jay Messer. Get your TICKETS! ($45 pre-ordered, $55 at the door)

Event, Food, Sommelier, Varietal, Wine

Rhone Rendezvous – Thursday August 24th!

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This month’s featured tasting at Gravenstein Grill is an exciting and varied category of wine – Rhone inspired blends & varietals grown here in Northern California!

Get your tickets to join me on Thursday August 24, 5-7pm, for a celebration of this incredibly exciting segment of our regional wine industry, featuring over 20 wineries including: Capo Creek, Cochon, Quivira, Jeff Cohn, Cline (one of the original Rhone Rangers), Truchard, Two Shepherds, Meadowcroft, Kobler Estate, Ramey, Terminin, Emmitt-Scorsone, Maclaren, Crux, Lasseter, Miner Wines, Box Wine Co., Thirty-Seven, Beven Cellars & more!

There will also be passed appetizers featuring locally sourced meat & produce by Chefs Simontacchi & Colunga, and live music by Jay Messer!

Appellation, Event, Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Wine

Wind To Wine Festival!

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Join THE PETALUMA GAP AVA on Saturday, August 5, at SOMO Village in RP, for a celebration and tasting of over 100 wines! Enjoy artisanal cheese pairings by Point Reyes Cheese Company, wine-infused chocolates by Bert’s Desserts, and savory bites catered by the culinary talents of Sally Tomatoes.

General Admission TICKETS are still available with entry at 2 PM. The last pour is at 4 PM (ends time is 4:30 PM). See you there! Chris

Event, Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Virtual, Wine

Celebrating ZIN On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

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With the upcoming Zin-spiration Festival at Gravenstein Grill on Wednesday July 19th, we want to highlight a few amazing interviews with local producers whose wines will be featured at the amazing event among these stellar selections: Croix, Three Wine Co, Robert Biale, Carol Shelton, Florence, Gamba, Goldschmidt, Nalle, Jeff Cohn, Hendry, Limerick Lane, Woodenhead, Wilson, Cast, Pezzi King, Hartford, Ridge, Once and Future, Pedroncelli & MORE! See you there. . . meanwhile watch these ZIN episodes with Miro and Dry Creek Vineayards.

Event, Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Wine

1st Annual Zin-spiration Festival! Wednesday, July 19th

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Come to Gravenstein Grill and taste the varied styles of California’s own varietal: Zinfandel! The grapes grown & produced here in Sonoma County boast a huge range of styles, from the soft elegant cold climate coastal Zins to the bold, in your face juicy ripe Zins from Dry Creek & the gnarly unique and full of character old vine Zinfandels that were grown in the region for over 100 years!

Taste wines from 20 select world class Zinfandel producers, including Gamba, Biale, Limerick Lane, Nalle Winery, Jeff Cohn Cellars, Three Wine Co, Woodenhead, Croix, Carol Shelton, Wilson & Pezzi King!

There will also be passed appetizers featuring locally sourced meat & produce by Chefs Simontacchi & Colunga, and live music by Alan Watt! Get your TICKETS!

Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Wine

Passion For Pinot On Thurs June 29 @Gravenstein Grill!

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It’s here – the Passion for Pinot segment of the Summer Wine Series! Join Gravenstein Grill for 25 of the top Pinot Noir producers who work with world-class fruit grown in the celebrated cool-climate regions of Russian River Valley, Green Valley, Petaluma Gap, Sonoma Coast and beyond.

Featured wineries include: Benovia Winery, Cobb Wines, Marimar Estate, Joseph Swan, Radio Coteau, Sherrer Winery, Papapietro Perry, Hartford Family Winery, La Follette Wines, Davis Bynum, & More!

Appetizers will be provided by Chefs Bob Simontacchi & Makana Colunga & live Jazz Guitar by Jay Messer on the scene!

This event sells out and is not to be missed, so buy a ticket today! Tickets are $55 preorder, $65 at the door, and include tastings with all participating wineries.

Appellation, Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

Flambeaux Wine On THE VARIETAL SHOW Is Tres Fabuleux!

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In the northern regions of Sonoma County lies the Dry Creek Valley AVA, where Flambeaux Wine is located, not far from the idyllic town of Healdsburg. THE VARIETAL SHOW joins proprietor Art Murray and winemaker Ryan Prichard for a discussion of New Orleans roots, culinary connections and to taste some mighty fine wines!

  • Flambeaux 2020 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
  • Flambeaux 2020 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley
  • Flambeaux 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST! Email me about featuring your winery on #THEVARIETALSHOW

Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

Getting Todo Un Poco On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

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Be forewarned, this episode will make you hungry! Todo Un Poco is the creation of Chef & Sommelier Maria Mertz; THE VARIETAL SHOW visits this amazingly unique restaurant located in Elk Grove, not far from Sacramento. To translate from Spanish, it means “a little bit of everything” which perfectly describes the menu of these Mexican & Italian dishes with influences from around the world.

Celebrating their 25 year anniversary we sample prawn salad, meatballs with tomatilla salsa and an Indian chorizo mixup, as well as some equally interesting wines of their list; Clarksburg Wine Co, White Delta Blanc & Zuccardi, Concreto Malbec.

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

Event, Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Wine

Rose & Aromatic White/Pink Wine Festival on Thurs May 25th!

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Join Gravenstein Grill for an early evening celebrating all the incredible aromatic white & rose wines produced in Sonoma County! We’ll have wines being poured by over 20 guest wineries, including Balletto Vineyards, Anaba, Crux, Cochon, Banshee, Davis Family, Muscardini Cellars, Radio-Coteau, Red Car Wine, Sea Wolf, Marimar, Porter Creek, Raft, Inman Family, Quivira, Chenoweth Wines, Kobler Estate, Benziger Winery, Imagery Winery, Rodney Strong & More!

This event is Thursday May 25th, 5-7pm, outdoors on the garden patio. TICKETS are $35 if ordered online, $45 at the door, and includes tastings with all the wineries!

To accompany these world class wines there will be passed appetizers by Chefs Bob Simontacchi & Makana Colunga. This is the first of the Summer wine series at Gravenstein Grill – and it is not to be missed!

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Appellation, Event, Farm, Food, Garden, History, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Wine

Get Your PASSPORT To Dry Creek Valley! April 29-30

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Join 35 wineries for the 32nd Passport to Dry Creek Valley April 29 & 30, 2023. Enjoy amazing wine, delicious food, vibrant entertainment and a fun-filled spring weekend within the backdrop of idyllic Dry Creek Valley.

TICKETS with the special Sawyer Somm pricing are available at this link! How does it work?

  • Choose your starting winery and go at your own pace with no reservations necessary
  • Fabulous wine & food pairings
  • Access to countless wines that you can’t find on the shelf
  • Interactions with the winemakers and growers
  • Coveted spots in wine clubs
  • Entertainment all weekend
  • Skip the line with check-in option Friday in Healdsburg (info at checkout)
  • OPTION to purchase Friday evening (April 28) Winemakers welcome dinner at The Madrona
  • Hope to be seeing you in DCV! ~Chris