Category Archives: Sommelier

Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Wine

Passion For Pinot On Thurs June 29 @Gravenstein Grill!

Leave a comment

It’s here – the Passion for Pinot segment of the Summer Wine Series! Join Gravenstein Grill for 25 of the top Pinot Noir producers who work with world-class fruit grown in the celebrated cool-climate regions of Russian River Valley, Green Valley, Petaluma Gap, Sonoma Coast and beyond.

Featured wineries include: Benovia Winery, Cobb Wines, Marimar Estate, Joseph Swan, Radio Coteau, Sherrer Winery, Papapietro Perry, Hartford Family Winery, La Follette Wines, Davis Bynum, & More!

Appetizers will be provided by Chefs Bob Simontacchi & Makana Colunga & live Jazz Guitar by Jay Messer on the scene!

This event sells out and is not to be missed, so buy a ticket today! Tickets are $55 preorder, $65 at the door, and include tastings with all participating wineries.

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

Nalle Winery Has It All On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

Leave a comment

Let’s talk about cult wine in Dry Creek Valley with a visit to Nalle Winery! THE VARIETAL SHOW is honored to be hosted by Lee & April Nalle, on the 40th Year Anniversary for both the winery and AVA. Their unique style of Zin, and other Reds, come from some very old gnarly vines, and we taste the 2021 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley & 2020 Ranch Red, Dry Creek Valley for an amazing sampling!

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

Appellation, Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

Flambeaux Wine On THE VARIETAL SHOW Is Tres Fabuleux!

Leave a comment

In the northern regions of Sonoma County lies the Dry Creek Valley AVA, where Flambeaux Wine is located, not far from the idyllic town of Healdsburg. THE VARIETAL SHOW joins proprietor Art Murray and winemaker Ryan Prichard for a discussion of New Orleans roots, culinary connections and to taste some mighty fine wines!

  • Flambeaux 2020 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
  • Flambeaux 2020 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley
  • Flambeaux 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander 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

Festivals, Literature, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Varietal, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

Rex Pickett Goes Sideways On THE VARIETAL SHOW

Leave a comment

At the Anderson Valley Pinot Festival, THE VARIETAL SHOW was lucky to run into Rex Pickett, world renowned author of Sideways. If you recall the film based on his novel, it makes sense to find him celebrating Pinot Noir. Together we discuss the AVA, the film, his books and his latest novel based in New Zealand. Of course, all the while, tasting spectacular PN from Anderson Valley, including Waits-Mast Family Cellars, Lula Cellars & Goldeneye Winery! #GoMendo #GoSideways

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST!

20230519_182444
20230519_192912
20230519_132542
Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

Getting Todo Un Poco On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

Leave a comment

Be forewarned, this episode will make you hungry! Todo Un Poco is the creation of Chef & Sommelier Maria Mertz; THE VARIETAL SHOW visits this amazingly unique restaurant located in Elk Grove, not far from Sacramento. To translate from Spanish, it means “a little bit of everything” which perfectly describes the menu of these Mexican & Italian dishes with influences from around the world.

Celebrating their 25 year anniversary we sample prawn salad, meatballs with tomatilla salsa and an Indian chorizo mixup, as well as some equally interesting wines of their list; Clarksburg Wine Co, White Delta Blanc & Zuccardi, Concreto Malbec.

20230511_130656
20230511_121328
20230511_114647

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST!

Event, Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Wine

Rose & Aromatic White/Pink Wine Festival on Thurs May 25th!

Leave a comment

Join Gravenstein Grill for an early evening celebrating all the incredible aromatic white & rose wines produced in Sonoma County! We’ll have wines being poured by over 20 guest wineries, including Balletto Vineyards, Anaba, Crux, Cochon, Banshee, Davis Family, Muscardini Cellars, Radio-Coteau, Red Car Wine, Sea Wolf, Marimar, Porter Creek, Raft, Inman Family, Quivira, Chenoweth Wines, Kobler Estate, Benziger Winery, Imagery Winery, Rodney Strong & More!

This event is Thursday May 25th, 5-7pm, outdoors on the garden patio. TICKETS are $35 if ordered online, $45 at the door, and includes tastings with all the wineries!

To accompany these world class wines there will be passed appetizers by Chefs Bob Simontacchi & Makana Colunga. This is the first of the Summer wine series at Gravenstein Grill – and it is not to be missed!

Red Car Rose
20190418_172925
20180719_193257
Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

Diggin’ Jessies Grove Winery On THE VARIETAL SHOW

Leave a comment

Proprietor Greg Burns, and winemaker Tana Cole, of Jessies Grove Winery in Lodi host THE VARIETAL SHOW! Find out about this historic property from 1868, before wine grapes were finally planted in 1900. Together we taste unique grape varietals including . . .

  • 2022 Rose of Cinsault, Bechhold Vineyard
  • 2021 Cinsault, Bechhold Vineyard
  • 2019 Carignane, Ancient Vine, Estate
  • 2020 Fancy Quest Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi Appelation
  • 2020 Alicante Bouschet, Estate

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST!

Sommelier, Tasting, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

THE VARIETAL SHOW Celebrates 3 Years With Peju Winery!

Leave a comment

In 2020 THE VARIETAL SHOW began, and is now celebrating its Third Anniversary! We celebrate by exploring the wonders of Napa Valley, with Peju winemaker Sarah Fowler, talking about being Nor Cal natives, Rutherford Dust and the AVA 40 Year Anniversary! Tasting REDS together: 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford, 2018 Cabernet Franc & 2019 Fifty/Fifty!

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST!

20230427_093035
20230427_100042
20230427_100058