Category Archives: Sommelier

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

Partaking In Pennyroyal Farm On THE VARIETAL SHOW

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You have to admit, they have it all! Nestled along the scenic Hwy 128 drive through Mendocino, rolling into Boonville, is Pennyroyal Farm in Anderson Valley. Proprietor Sarah Cahn Bennett shares the wines & cheeses (of goat and sheep) with THE VARIETAL SHOW for the ultimate pairings. And we learn a little “Boontling”.

The Wines: Pennyroyal Farm 2023 Pinot Trio; 2021 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley ; 2021 Pinot Noir, Monty In; 2020 Pinot Noir, Eye of the Needle Vineyard

The Cheeses: Pennyroyal Farm Laychee, Velvet Sister, Bollie’s Mollies, Boont Corners


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

In Oakland At Bardo lounge On THE VARIETAL SHOW

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Having cocktails and apps at Bardo Lounge & Supper Club in Oakland, with owner Seth Bregman, Beverage Director Ben Dimond & Chef Amol Thanky! THE VARIETAL SHOW gets a taste of creating cocktails by Ben with a Golden Era, Cosmopolitan & Jackie O Daiquiri. We also walk through the wine list offerings. Followed by Chef Amol discussing construction of a complementary menu, with fantastic foods that stand alone; Chicken Liver Mousse, Deviled Eggs, Lamb & Pork Meatballs. YUM!

Reserve a table at BARDO! 3343 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland, CA

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History, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Varietal, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

THE VARIETAL SHOW Visits Yorba Wines

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It was a lovely afternoon in the foothills with Ann Kraemer and her dog at Yorba Wines! THE VARIETAL SHOW visited with her in Amador County, where we discussed the long history of vineyards at high elevations, going back to gold rush times, and amazing wine community. With nods to winemaker Ken Bernards of Ancien Wines.

Together we taste through her Yorba Barbera 2016, Tempranillo 2013 & Syrah 2014.

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

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Art, Music, People, Sommelier, Tasting, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

Rock On With David J On THE VARIETAL SHOW

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What??? Yes, David J, British alternative rock musician, producer, writer, and bassist for iconic goth rock bands Bauhaus and Love & Rockets. He joins local musician Darwin Meiners (of the band Temptation) on THE VARIETAL SHOW to reminisce about Spanish wine, B Sides and #LIVE105! We all share a glass of Patz & Hall, Pisoni Vineyard, Pinot Noir & Lasseter Family Winery, Amoureux

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

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Event, Farm, Festivals, Food, Sommelier, Wine

Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience! May 16-19, 2024

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The Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience is a weekend-long celebration featuring the best of Sonoma County and world-renowned food and wines. Showcasing the region’s makers – farmers, growers, winemakers and chefs – alongside globally recognized wines from the greatest wine regions of the world.

Lots of exciting events to choose from, I will be at the Bollywood Night at La Crema! Choose your favorite from the TICKET site. Cheers! Chris

Art, Sommelier, Tasting, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

Episode #150 With Heidi Barrett On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

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Celebrating the150th Episode, and 4 years of THE VARIETAL SHOW, by visiting my great friend Heidi Barrett of La Sirena Winery! Started in 1994at the northern end of Napa Valley in Calistoga, we discuss the ocean, time capsules, magic carpets and of course, wine. Taste these gems with us: 2023 La Sirena Moscato Azul, 2020 Aviatrix Grenache, 2019 La Sirena Studio Series.

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

Event, Food, People, Sommelier, Tasting, Wine

Global Tasting Series, May 23rd: Italian Wines & Dinner

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Announcing the premiere of The Global Tasting Series, brought to you by Tony Moll of Three Fat Guys Winery! A special blind-tasting of six Italian wines from different regions of Italy, will be paired with a spectacular Italian dinner, catered by A16 restaurant of San Francisco, which is celebrating its 20 year anniversary. Wines to be revealed after the tasting!

Dinner and tasting will be at Three Fat Guys Winery, 6:30 to 9pm on Thursday, May 23rd. TICKETS $135, available through Cellar Pass!

Join Tony, along with proprietor Shelley Lindgren of A16, and Sonoma County “Sommelier to the Stars” Christopher Sawyer to explore this fantastic wine and food pairing. Lindgren recently published her book Italian Wine.

Contact Dusty (dusty@tfgwines.com) or Chris (wine@sawyersomm.com) for more information!

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

Spectacular Starfield Vineyards On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

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Heading east over route 50 is a scenic wilderness wonderland! This is where THE VARIETAL SHOW settles in at Starfield Vineyards & Winery with Rob Sinton, to enjoy a dazzling sampling of his high elevation wines. Placerville is in the El Dorado AVA, established in 1983, home to many wineries and a bucketload of California history! Taste along with us: 2021 Blanc de Blancs, 2020 The Miner’s Inch, 2020 The Big Canyon & 2020 Barbera Reserve.

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

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Farm, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Video, Virtual, Wine

A Saini Vineyards Visit On THE VARIETAL SHOW

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In Dry Creek Valley, THE VARIETAL SHOW sits down with John and Mike Saini, of Saini Vineyards. This old family farm started in 1917, originally growing prunes, apples, pears, walnuts, and just planted grapes where soil wasn’t so good. Now all 300 acres is grapes with the winery label debut in 2018. Join us to slow down in nature, discussing farming, Italian heritage and the Golds they won from North Coast Wine Challenge: Enjoying 2023 Nonno’s Bianco, 2021 Angelo’s Paint Brush & 2021 Olive Block Old Vine Zinfandel!

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

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Sommelier, Tasting, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

Going Whole Hog At Cochon Tasting Bar On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

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Just off the Sonoma Plaza is a quaint little wine spot nook. THE VARIETAL SHOW chats with Adam Webb of Cochon Tasting Bar about his migration from OK to CA. We taste a sampling of his amazing wines, that truly represent how innovation meets tradition.

  • 2023 Cochon Old Vine Rose
  • 2023 Cochon Pinot Blanc, Dutton Family-Shop Block
  • 2021 Cochon Pinot Noir, Les Sirenes, Russian River Valley
  • 2022 Gardienne des Vignes, Old Vine Zinfandel, Collins Vineyard, RRV

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

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