Category Archives: Sommelier

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

The Amazing Chef Duskie Estes On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

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So much to OINK about! THE VARIETAL SHOW visits the amazing Chef Duskie Estes whose culinary history in Sonoma County is outstanding. She and husband, fellow chef, John Stewart, currently run the amazing “Black Piglet”, food truck featuring their Black Pig Meat Co. However she is also Executive Director at Farm To Pantry, a volunteer organization that gleans produce from all over the county, for distribution to more than 100 community organizations!

Join the conversation and taste a few wines with us! Davis Family Vineyard, 2021 Cuvee Luke, Mendocino County & Kobler Estate, 2021 Grenache, Russian River 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

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

Talking RHONE With Emmitt-Scorsone On THE VARIETAL SHOW

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Taking a wee break before the Rhone Rendezvous tasting at Gravenstein Grill, THE VARIETAL SHOW sits down with the dynamic duo at Emmitt-Scorsone, located in the Dry Creek Valley AVA. Winegrowers Palmer Emmitt and Michael Scorsone lead us through a discussion and tasting of their Rhone varietals; 2020 Grenache Blanc, 2019 Grenache Estate & 2018 Gusto Rosso.

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

THE VARIETAL SHOW Visits Merriam Vineyards

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In Healdsburg at Merriam Vineyards, in Russian River Valley THE VARIETAL SHOW chats with Evan Merriam. In the original location of Windacre Vineyards, it was recently certified CCOF, and has an interesting connection with Bordeaux style wines! Tasing together their 2021 Danielle’s Vineyard Fume Blanc, 2019 Merlot, and 2019 SNED Red Blend.

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

Truly Truchard On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

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At Truchard Vineyards in the cool climate Carneros AVA, southwest corner of Napa Valley, THE VARIETAL SHOW visits with Tony Truchard. We discuss the soil dynamics, how it determines what varietals or clones to grow! Pouring the 2022 Estate Rousanne (TOP white wine of the AFWC!), 2020 Old Block Pinot Noir & 2020 Merlot.

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, 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!

Music, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Virtual, Wine

Ahoy Alaska! Special Episodes Of THE VARIETAL SHOW.

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Off we go, on another epic cruise to ALASKA on the Celebrity Solstice: Sharing wine with my special guests and enjoying the panhandle of this spectacular state! THANK YOU to all the wineries sending along splendid tastes for the journey; J. Lohr, Dry Creek Vineyards, Muscardini, Cuvaison, Bee Hunter, Cochon, Rodney Strong, Davis Family, Chehalem, Balletto, Davis Bynum & Fifth Hill.

To celebrate, here are a few episodes of THE VARIETAL SHOW, including Stoller, which I will be pouring onboard, and a musical guest from a previous voyage. See more cruise episodes on the YouTube channel!

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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!