Category Archives: Sommelier

Event, Food, Sommelier, Wine

Sommelier Stars @Sonoma Wine Country Weekend!

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Start getting ready for Labor Day Weekend! There will be 15 wine professionals, including myself, at Sonoma Wine Country Weekend this year: We will all amplify the experience for you, while we serve as guest all-star wine guides at key events throughout the three-day, charitable event.

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Don’t miss the exciting adventure with me and my sommelier buddies!
  • Benjamin Appleby, Abe & Louis Steak House, Boston, MA
  • Cassandra Brown, Hakkasan Restaurants, Las Vegas, NV
  • Mark Canak, The Metropolitan Club, Chicago, IL
  • Joy Cushing, Nick & Stefs, Los Angeles, CA
  • Seamus Dooley, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
  • Chuck Herrold, Dolce Pane e Vino, Rancho Santa Fe, CA
  • Leslie LaMont, Leña Brava, Chicago, IL
  • Steven McDonald, Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, Houston, TX
  • Patrick Olds, Louie’s Wine Dive, Clayton, MO / St. Louis, MO
  • Nadia Pavlevska, Darrens, Manhattan Beach, CA
  • Chris Reid, 101 Steak, Atlanta, GA
  • Christopher Sawyer, SawyerSomm.com Consulting, Petaluma, CA
  • Steve Steese, Shanahan’s Steakhouse, Denver, CO
  • Lindsay Thomas, Camerata at Paulie’s, Houston, TX
  • Tyler Wesslund, Edison: food + drink lab, Tampa, FL

See you there! Christopher

Festivals, Nerd Stalker, People, Sommelier, Wine

Podcast featuring Sawyer Somm!

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In the mix of organizing wine seminars, shipments and special guests for the Telluride Wine Festival, I also made time to record this podcast interview with Susan Viebock at Telluride Inside & Out.  Keep an eye on my social media for interesting wines, guests and activities this week at the festival!

For more about TWF and the Somm go to
Somm Of It All, Christopher Sawyer!

(Much gratitude to Adolfo & Daedalus for their technical assistance!)

Judging, Sommelier, Video, Wine

Welcome to Wine Judges Corner!

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winejudges-300x180Wine Channel TV has a new digital online wine lifestyle community called Wine Judges Corner dedicated to wine competitions, award-winning wines and wine judges!

Not only does the site provide extensive competition information for both past and future events, but it also offers the inside scoop from competition organizers, exclusive interviews with renowned judges and extensive wine reviews by experts in the field.

Start your exploration by reading up on yours truly,
follow that up with details about the site!

Wine Judge Christopher Sawyer

Awards, Sommelier, Wine

Bohemian 2016 Best Sommelier of Sonoma County is . . .

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Yep, you guessed it.  I have won this prestigious honor again for 2016, third year running!  HUGE thank you to all of you that took time to vote for me, it is ever so much appreciated.

Minervalogocolor1.psdSorry I had to miss the celebration as well, hosted by my good friend Daedalus Howell at the Flamingo in Santa Rosa on Friday night.  I was kinda busy working Flavor! Napa Valley as Wine Director (hey, Best Somms gotta work!), which was an incredibly fulfilling experience.

Peruse and congratulate the other Bohemian Winners of 2016 – and don’t forget to vote again in the fall!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Wine

On The Wine Road: Breakfast with the Winemakers!

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The next two weekends On The Wine Road will be Barrel Tasting, and four opportunities for you to have breakfast with local winemakers! Join me or another knowledgeable host for a full breakfast along with time for Q&A with the winemakers. Bring your questions—learn more about winemaking, what to be aware of when tasting barrel samples, and what to look for when making buying decisions when purchasing futures.

Breakfast with the Winemakers

March 5 – Sbragia Family Vineyards
CHRISTOPHER SAWYER
Katarina Bond, West Wines
Paul Brasset, Bluenose Wines
Ed Sbragia, Sbragia Family Wines

March 5 – Inspiration Vineyards
ZIGGY THE WINE GAL
Jon Philips , Inspiration Vineyards
Stew Lauterbach, Lauterbach Cellars
Wendy Morrow – Tara Bella Winery

March 12 – J. Rickards Winery
CHRISTOPHER SAWYER
Jim Rickards, J. Rickards Winery
Ed Sbragia, Sbragia Vineyards
Gio Martorana, Martorana Family Winery
Joe or Dom Foppoli, Christopher Creek Winery

March 12 – Siduri Wines
MARCY GORDON
Adam Lee, Siduri
Randy Pitts, Harvest Moon
Tim Borges, Portalupi
Rod Berglund, Joseph Swan

Breakfast tickets also include your weekend Barrel Tasting pass. Seating is limited for each breakfast, so don’t delay in purchasing your tickets!

Find Sawyer! At the 40th Anniversary of The Wine Road in Sonoma County, one of these wine fans of world-class wines could be you!
Find Sawyer! At the 40th Anniversary of The Wine Road in Sonoma County, one of these wine fans of world-class wines could be you!
Appellation, Event, Food, Sommelier, Sports, Tasting, Wine

Celebrating Sonoma County wines at Super Bowl City!

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Smiles everyone smiles, welcome to ‪Super Bowl 50‬! Great fun stopping by the ‪Taste of Sonoma‬ Lounge in ‪Super Bowl City‬ in SF this weekend. Even better seeing enthusiastic football fans from across the nation lovin’ the wines from ‪Sonoma County‬!

Make sure to visit Ferry Building Wine Merchant & Wine Bar, Hogsland Oyster Co, Cowgirl Creamery Cheese Shop, Slanted Door, and the other amazing food and wine purveyors inside the Ferry Bldg this week too!
Make sure to visit Ferry Building Wine Merchant & Wine Bar, Hogsland Oyster Co, Cowgirl Creamery Cheese Shop, Slanted Door, and the other amazing food and wine purveyors inside the Ferry Bldg this week too!

Here are some photos to pique your curiousity:  Later this week, catch me at Market One restaurant on Feb 5 & 6 as a featured pre-game sommelier!

My kind of trophy! Festive SB50 photo taken by Carolyn Stark of Sonoma County Vintners.
My kind of trophy! Festive SB50 photo taken by Carolyn Stark of Sonoma County Vintners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fabulous lineup of wines from Sonoma County producers Lambert Bridge Winery, Sehesio Family Vineyards and Parmeson Wines.
Fabulous lineup of wines from Sonoma County producers Lambert Bridge Winery, Sehesio Family Vineyards and Parmeson Wines.

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The Taste of Sonoma Lounge at Super Bowl City in San Francisco
The Taste of Sonoma Lounge at Super Bowl City in San Francisco

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selfie Delux with great friends from Sonoma County Vintners, Sonoma County Tourism, and a happy photo bomber in the background! — with Carolyn Stark, Capo Creek Winery, Ken Fischang, #designatedphotobomber and Marta Hayden at SB50 Super Bowl City.
Selfie Delux with great friends from Sonoma County Vintners, Sonoma County Tourism, and a happy photo bomber in the background! — with Carolyn Stark, Capo Creek Winery, Ken Fischang, #designatedphotobomber and Marta Hayden at SB50 Super Bowl City.
Festivals, Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Wine

Start getting ready for Flavor! Napa Valley

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The countdown to ‪Flavor! Napa Valley‬ is on! I am the wine director for this year’s festivities March 16-20: Organizing tastings, food pairings and seminars has given me some things to get excited about, hopefully you can join in the fun as well. For more info, visit FlavorNapaValley.com.

flavor1Here are a few photos from the exciting Preview Party in SF, featuring a great mixture of media and team members from ‪American Express‬, ‪CIA Greystone‬, ‪Celebrity Cruise‬, ‪‎Visit Napa Valley‬, ‪DPEM‬, ‪‎AF&Co‬ and me, who brought a tasty array of sips provided by four special wineries that will be involved in the culinary festival along with other members of the ‪Napa Valley Vintners‬.

Fabulous wines I brought to the event provided by Grgich Hills Estate, Trefethen Family Vineyards, Bouchaine Vineyards & Stags Leap Winery. Look for these wineries and other top producers at the events, March 16-20!
Fabulous wines I brought to the event provided by Grgich Hills Estate, Trefethen Family Vineyards, Bouchaine Vineyards & Stags Leap Winery. Look for these wineries and other top producers at the events, March 16-20!
As Wine Director for Flavor Napa Valley, a few words from me, about the irresistible wine offerings that will be happening at the upcoming Wine Seminars, Wine Tours, Terroir to Table events, and unforgettable dinners in the making.
As Wine Director for Flavor Napa Valley, a few words from me, about the irresistible wine offerings that will be happening at the upcoming Wine Seminars, Wine Tours, Terroir to Table events, and unforgettable dinners in the making.
Competition, Event, Festivals, Judging, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels

The SawyerSomm.com 2016 Calendar is UP!

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My resolution for 2016, to share a calendar of my upcoming adventures that may be investigated by my readers: This is a way for you to anticipate upcoming events that might be of interest, and maybe even join in the fun!

The Calendar Page is here on my site, among the tabs at the top right, and will be updated periodically as new plans are made, so hope to be seeing you in this exciting new year.

Cheers!  Christopher

Ready for action at MacMurry Ranch for Taste of Sonoma, a few years back.
Ready for action at MacMurry Ranch for Taste of Sonoma, a few years back.
Event, Holidays, Sommelier, Wine

PinotFest 2015 at Farallon Restaurant, SF

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Short notice for a great event!

pinotfest15PinotFest 2015 is happening on Saturday November 21st, 3-6pm at the Farallon Restaurant in SF (450 Post Street, 4th Floor). Get tickets HERE.

A great opportunity to find exciting new Pinot Noirs to serve with festive cuisine or give as presents during the holidays. Join me and an all-star lineup of winemakers, sommeliers, and wine pros for this extensive tasting from 60 of Oregon and California’s best Pinot Noir producers. Featuring sumptuous hors d’oeuvres to complement the wines and an opportunity to meet the winemakers.

Fabulous wines on site will include Alma Rosa, Archery Summit, Au Bon Climat, Bonaccorsi, Byron, Calera, Charles Heintz, Chehalem, Cobb, Costa de Oro, Domaine de la Côte, Domaine Drouhin, Drake, En Route, Ernest, Etude, Failla, Fiddlehead, Flowers, Foxen, Freeman, Gloria Ferrer, Greenwood Ridge, Handley, Hartford Family, Hendry, Hitching Post, Joseph Phelps, Keller Estate, Kendric, Kosta Browne, LaRue, Littorai, Lutum, Lynmar, Marimar Estate, Melville, Merry Edwards, Morgan, Patz & Hall, Paul Hobbs, Paul Lato, Peay, Radio Coteau, Reuling, Saintsbury, Siduri, Sinor-LaVallee, Soliste, Soter, Talisman, Talley, Tendril, Testarossa, Thomas Fogarty, Twomey, Wayfarer, Whitcraft, WillaKenzie, Williams Selyem