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!
Kicking off the 2022 season with a double header, just in time for Valentines Day: The Varietal Show is joined by Diana Schweiger of Acumen Wines and chocolatier Phillip Ashley. So sit down for a delicious pairing with us, wine and Phillip Ashley Chocolates!
LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @12:30pm!
Enjoy a romantic three course dinner, all weekend long! To celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, Chef Simontacchi & Chef Garcia worked together to create a fantastic meal full of locally sourced meat, fish, & produce.
Gravenstein Grill menu items include locally sourced NY Strip Steak, Foraged Mushrooms, & Pacific Halibut: To see the menu, click here!
Make Reservations for dinner 4:30pm-9pm Friday, Saturday & Sunday (February 11-13) in either the spacious dining room or the open air patio. The cost of the dinner is $80/person.
Happy New Year! Here is a list of sparkling wines to consider as your celebrations continue throughout 2022, derived from my radio chat with Kim McCallister on KGO 810 AM a few weeks back. CHEERS! Christopher
KGO Exclusive: SawyerSomm’s Sophisticated Sparkling Wine Picks for the New Year, Valentine’s Day & beyond!
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BRUTS
The classic style of sparkling wines crafted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes, using the traditional methode champenoise techniques in the cellar.
SawyerSomm Picks (local):
SawyerSomm Picks (imports):
Pairings Tips: Raw oysters; chips with creamy dips; brie and young cheeses; gourmet soups and salads; fresh seafood, sushi; spicy pasta dishes; chicken, pork, and stews. Delicious way to create smiles and open up the palates at great gatherings.
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BLANC DE BLANCS
In French, the fanciful term blanc de blancs literally means ‘white of whites’. In France’s famous region of Champagne and top winegrowing regions in Northern California, it refers to sophisticated sparkling wines that are made exclusively with high-quality Chardonnay grapes.
SawyerSomm Picks (local & imports):
Pairings Tips: Oyster with shallot-bases mignonette; rich, earthy cheeses; appetizers with tangy aioli; creamy soups or seasonal bisques; fresh Dungeness crab; pasta dishes with wild mushrooms; grilled fish; roasted chicken; pork stew; grilled meats.
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BRUT ROSES
As the flavorful counterpoint to blanc de blancs. The French term blanc de noirs means ‘white of blacks’, referring to elegant sparkling wines with translucent white or slightly pink hues made exclusively with the black-skinned grapes Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. These special grape varieties are also used to craft styles of Brut Roses.
SawyerSomm Picks (local & imports):
You won’t want to miss what he is cooking up this month at Gravenstein Grill, with the best local meats, foraged mushrooms, & seasonal vegetables and turning them into a holiday feast.
Reservations are required and seating is limited, make ONLINE or call 707-634-6142. Check the Xmas menu below or NYE menu here. Dinner is $150/person + tax & gratuity.
Ready to move beyond the challenges of a pandemic year? Well, it is not quite over yet, so hopefully this video, featuring Suzy Fridell of Glen Lyon Winery, will give you one last push to make it through!
Taking a step back to April, when I joined this Inaugural Zoom “Virtual Tasting” of the Breathless Blanc de Blancs with Winemaker Penny and the Breathless Sisters: Penny shares recipes to pair, plus trivia. A perfect way to get your sparkling fix with me for the transition to 2021! CHEERS & HAPPY NEW YEAR from SAWYER SOMM!
If you missed our live air date, never fret, I have it for you here! The special holiday inspired episode with Spottswoode Winery is linked here for your viewing convenience. So grab yourself a bottle to enjoy with some favorite holiday snacks and tunes, then follow this link below to join me for our titillating conversation.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Christopher
What better way to celebrate than with nature and family. In that vein this episode of The Varietal Show features my son and I on an outing in the Redwoods! Enjoy our adventure and many more on my YouTube Channel and more in this collection of The Varietal Show episodes!
Remember to hit LIKE, SHARE, and FOLLOW my channel for more exciting weekly episodes on Tuesdays at 12:30pm!
#GoMendo
Jump in on this Webinar with ME and the Rhone Rangers, that I will be moderating next Thursday, November 19th, at 4pm PST! White Rhône-blends are perfect for sipping fireside and celebrating the holiday season: Hear direct from the winemaker’s who craft these incredibly versatile wines, optimal in any season. Discover favorites to pair with your Thanksgiving menu!
Advance registration via Zoom is required; click here to Register. Featured wines include:
Caliza Winery, Paso Robles – Carl Bowker, 2019 Kissin’ Cousins (47% Viognier, 31% Grenache Blanc, 22% Roussanne)
Kita Wines, Santa Barbara County – Tara Gomez, 2018 T’aya (Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc)
Terre Rouge/Easton Wines, Sierra Foothills – Bill Easton, 2013 Enigma (49% Marsanne, 26% Viognier, 24% Roussanne, 1% Grenache Blanc)
Tablas Creek Vineyard, Paso Robles – Jason Haas, 2018 Esprit de Tablas Blanc (66% Roussanne, 21% Grenache Blanc, 8% Picpoul Blanc, 3% Picardan, 2% Clairette Blanc)
Caption this! In the days before social distancing at Hospice du Rhône, a Paso Robles staple in years gone by.
