It’s been a minute since our last YouTube content of THE VARIETAL SHOW, with lots of interim shorts on Instagram, but never fear, we will always be back!
Kicking things off we celebrate the accomplishments of Lodi Wine with star wine writer & sommelier Randy Caparoso and former Lodi Mayor and Wine Commission Director Mark Chandler! Together we share wines from Birichino, Ironstone & St. Amant.
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The AFWC’s THE Rosé Competition 2025, which benefits multiple charities, is thrilled to announce the outcome of its twelfth annual event, hosted along with The Fort Lauderdale Women’s Club in South Florida on Saturday, May 31st, 2025. It was a special year welcoming Chris Sawyer to the team, and adding new categories due to the abundance of entries. (Scroll down for full results!)
Outstanding Winners in THE Rosé Competition
The prestigious organization, The American Fine Wine Competition, which encompasses both THE Rosé Competition and The Invitational (held in January), has crowned the 2019 Gloria Ferrer Cuvee Rosé, Methode Champenois, as the Best of Show Sparkling ($94). Located in Carneros (Sonoma), California, the wine is described by the judges as complex and elegant, with aromas of cranberries, strawberry, and rhubarb pie; apples, cherries and some spice. It’s beautifully balanced and just delicious!
In the Dry Rosé category, the prestigious Best of Show title was bestowed upon V. Sattui Rosato di Pinot Noir, priced at $37. Last year V. Sattui earned Best of Show for their Sparkling Rose! This winery is worth paying attention to! The judges were captivated by their juicy watermelon flavors and vibrant strawberries; and a sophisticated profile that culminates in a long, gratifying finish.
Moving to the Off Dry Rosé category, the highest accolade was secured by one of Sonoma’s most beautiful wineries, Deerfield Ranch. Their Checkerbloom Rosé, made from organic Syrah grapes, at $28 impressed the judges! They were enchanted by the lusciousness and vibrant flavors. A slightly sweet wine that should be enjoyed year-round.
A new category was introduced by Chris Sawyer this year called “Super Blend”, the blend of the winner was Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Petite Sirah, Black Muscat, Carignan and Syrah. The winner was Banshee with 97 points. Banshee is located in Sonoma and produces this magnificent wine plus multiple other varietals.
Congratulations to these exceptional Rosé wines and all the winners!
This year, the event “Fifty Shades of Pink” followed THE Rosé Competition 2025 and was held on June 1st, also at the Ft. Lauderdale Women’s Club. Attended by more than 150 guests, it proved to be a huge success for the charities as well as for the wineries. The event benefited both the Ft. Lauderdale Women’s Club and the Joel Feigenheimer Endowment Fund. It featured scores of magnificent award-winning Rosé wines plus fine red and white wines from AFWC’s The Invitational. Since its inception, AFWC has donated more than $1,250,000 to charity.
Exciting news on the SoCoBA fundraising front! $328,000 in proceeds will assist in creating marketing programs and initiatives that support the Sonoma County wine trade and community. Presented by American AgCredit and hosted at the Landmark Vineyards Hop Kiln Estate on Friday, May 2, 2025. The auction featured 59 unique barrel lots ranging from 5 to 20 cases from 63 participating Sonoma County vintners.
Honorees this year included:
Lifetime Achievement Award to David Hirsch, Founder of Hirsch Vineyards
2025 Sonoma County Innovators — David Stare, Founder of Dry Creek Vineyard; Kim Stare Wallace, President; and Don Wallace, Partner
The SoCoBA events kicked off with a tasting preview event on May 1 at Bacchus Landing, which offered trade buyers the opportunity to speak with the vintners, taste barrel samples and learn more about the auction lots before the live auction the following day. More epic auction info available HERE!
Save the date: SoCoBA planned for April 30 – May 1, 2026!
More tasty talk about Aromatic Whites and Rosé Wine Delights and the exciting Pour+Explore wine event that my special guest Jamie Benziger of Imagery Estate Winery, Sonoma County Vintners and myself will be part of next Thursday, April 17 from 5:30-7:30 PM at Balletto Vineyards near Santa Rosa.
Get your TICKETS for this celebratory SCV-style kickoff to Spring and Summer wines being poured by 30 + wineries that I helped hand select to participate. SEE YOU THERE!~Chris
THE VARIETAL SHOW gets in depth with Cristina Torres of Marimar Estate to discuss their fantastic Spanish varietals that will be featured at Pour+Explore Rosés & Aromatic Whites, being hosted by myself and Sonoma County Vintners, next Thursday, April 17 from 5:30-7:30 PM at Balletto Vineyards.
Join us for this celebratory SCV-style kickoff to Spring and summer wines being poured by 30 + wineries I helped hand selected to be part of this amazing event! Get your TICKETS while you can.
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!
Join Sonoma County Vintners and Sawyer Somm for this exclusive wine tasting event at Balletto Vineyards, featuring a special selection of Rosés & Aromatic Whites from over 30 wineries across Sonoma County! The evening festivities will be hosted in The Reserve Room, surrounded by estate vineyards, gorgeous views of the Backyard Gardens and stunning West County sunsets.
Celebrate springtime with a walk-around tasting of a curated selection of wines from each vintner, and enjoy light bites of cheeses and charcuterie. TICKETS available now!
Featured Sonoma County producers include Balletto Vineyards, Banshee Wines, Benziger Family Winery, Bricoleur Vineyards, Chalk Hill Estate, Chenoweth Vineyards, Comstock Wines, DaVero Farms & Winery, Davis Bynum, Dry Creek Vineyard, Ferrari-Carano, Foley Sonoma, GC Lurton Vineyards, Hamel Family Wines, Imagery Estate Winery, Inman Family Wines, Knights Bridge Winery, Kokomo Wines, Lasseter Family Winery, Laurel Glen Vineyard, MacLaren, Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery, Mascarin Family Wines, Meadowcroft Wines, Medlock Ames, Rodney Strong Vineyards, Roth Estate, Senses Wines, Solo Nostro, The Setting Wines, Three Sticks Wines, Valette Wines, Zialena and more!
Speaking of PINOT, enjoy this fun interview with Tom and his daughter Rachael Rochioli, of Rochioli Vineyards, one of the great Sonoma County Vintners that will serving their amazing Pinot Noir selections at Pour & Explore on Thursday March 13 at Bricoleur Vineyards in Windsor!!! Get your LAST MINUTE TICKETSwhile you still can!
Enjoy THE VARIETAL SHOW with my great pals Ben Papapietro & star winemaker David Lowe of Papapietro Perry about the glories of working with the Pinot Noir grape grown in Sonoma County and the special wines they’ll be serving at the exciting upcoming Sonoma County VintnersPour+Explore Pinot Noir Tasting, an exclusive event with 35+ revered Pinot producers pouring from 5:30-7:30 PM this Thursday, March 13th at Bricoleur Vineyards in Windsor. TICKETS are limited so get yours soon!
THE VARIETAL SHOW visits Bricoleur Vineyards to taste and talk about the joys of Pinot Noir, and the epic SCV Pour & Explore event happening there next Thursday, March 13th, with superstar winemakers Bob Cabral and Tom Pierson. Get TICKETS while you still can!
