Category Archives: Tasting

Appellation, Tasting, Wine

Mt. Veeder Tasting on Saturday, August 6th

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mtveeder080616Here is a great opportunity to taste amazing wines from 25 Mt. Veeder wineries!  There will also be food pairings from Hess Executive Chef, Chad Hendrickson and live high-energy blues from The Hummingbirdz. More fun to be had when you peruse the Silent Auction and participate in the Raffle.  Best of all, take home limited production Mt. Veeder gems from participating wineries!

Mt. Veeder Appelation Wine Tasting
Saturday, August 6
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
The Hess Collection Winery
4411 Redwood Road, Napa

Purchase $75 tickets at MtVeederWines.com
or call 707-266-1296 ($100 Tickets at the Door)

PARTICIPATING WINERIES
Anthem Winery & Vineyards
VGS Chateau Potelle
Fontanella Family Winery
Godspeed Vineyards
HALL Wines
The Hess Collection Winery
Howell at the Moon Winery
Lagier Meredith
Marketta Winery
Mayacamas Vineyards
Mithra Winery
Mount Veeder Winery
Mt. Brave
O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery
Paratus Vineyards
Progeny
Random Ridge
Robert Craig Winery
Rubissow Wines
Sky Vineyards
Vinoce Vineyards
Y. Rousseau Wines
Yates Family Vineyard

Art, Literature, Tasting, Wine

Wine & Poetry at Gun Bun this Sunday, May 22!

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poemwineCome get poetic with me and some friends at the Flight of Poets event, this Sunday May 22. It will be from 2-4:30pm at Gundlach Bundschu Winery in Sonoma, 2000 Denmark Street in Sonoma.

Poets Hollie Hardy, Ada Limon, Dean Rader, and Tess Taylor will share their work along with a complementing wine flight of four tastes prepared by myself.

$20 entry fee (includes flight), Presale tickets HERE! Must be 21+. This is a KQED Lit Pick for the month of May, not to be missed.

Event, Tasting, Travels, Uncategorized, Wine

International Chardonnay Symposium on May 12-14

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I am getting ready for another trip to the lovely Central Coast.  This time for The Chardonnay Symposium, May 12 through 14, in the coastal resort towns of Pismo Beach and Avila Beach.

I will be moderating the seminar Taste the Difference: Exploring California’s Distinct Chardonnay Regions on Saturday (10am to 11:30am) at Edna Valley Vineyard, where I will talk about how climate, soil and elevation influence each of these five world-class regions and how to determine the origin by simply nosing and tasting the wine.

However there will be a fabulous selection of events and locations to attend starting on Thursday, here is the list, with more details on each HERE:

Thursday
Vintners Wine Tech Symposium (9:00am–4:00pm)
Sommelier Chardonnay Challenge (10:00am–3:00pm)

Friday
French Forum: Exploring The Wonders of French Chardonnay-lunch included (11:00am–1:30pm)
Wente Clone Comparative Tasting (2:00pm–3:30pm)
Pét-Nat, Sparkling Wine & Oysters Gala (4:00pm–6:00pm)
La Paulée Dinner and Vintners Awards Ceremony (7:00pm–10:00pm)

Saturday
Hone Your Chardonnay Blind-Tasting Skills (10:30am-12:30pm)
What’s Oak Got To Do With It? (11:00am–12:30pm)
Pairing Chardonnay & Artisanal Cheese (11:30am–1:00pm)
Saturday Grand Tasting (1:00pm–5:00pm)
Winemaker Dinners (7:00pm–9:00pm)

Hope you are able to join me for this exciting event!
Cheers, Christopher

 

Event, Food, Tasting, Wine

The Annual Paulée dinner at Arista, April 30th

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To celebrate the SoCo Barrel Auction, the Russian River Valley Winegrowers and Arista Winery in Healdsburg will be hosting THE ULTIMATE WINEMAKER DINNER on April 30th.

The Annual Paulée Dinner is timed to coincide with the Sonoma County Barrel Auction.  In the spirit of the Paulée tradition, which originated in Burgundy, the Russian River Valley Paulée brings winemakers and collectors together to enjoy an elegant multi-course meal paired with rare and favorite wines from winemakers’s & guests’ personal cellars, in a family style seating which fosters the spirit of community and an ideal format for the shared love of great wine.

Purchase Tickets!

paulee dinner
Savor specialties from Russian River Valley chefs:
Tim Kaulfers of Arista Winery, Duskie Estes of ZAZU kitchen & farm, Dustin Valette of Valette Restaurant and Cheyenne Simpkins of Wine Country Feasts.

Enjoy the Wines of Arista Winery, Bacigalupi Vineyards, Balletto Vineyards, Benovia Winery, Davis Bynum, Davis Family Vineyards, Dutton-Goldfield, Gary Farrell, Gordian Knot, J Vineyards & Winery, Joseph Swan, MacPhail Family Wines, MacRostie Winery & Vineyards, Martinelli Winery, Migration, Ramey Wine Cellars, Sonoma-Cutrer & Viszlay Vineyards.

paulee

Appellation, Event, Tasting, Travels, Wine

Hospice du Rhône is almost here! April 14-16

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Too late to buy tickets online, but sales at the door are worth the trip to Hospice du Rhône in Paso Robles, CA!  Be sure to check the website for more information.  And play “Where’s Chris?”  you can find me roaming about.

hdr16bHospice du Rhône is located on the Central Coast of California, operates to improve the business conditions of the grape growers and wine producers of Rhône variety wines and grapes throughout the world.

Appellation, Food, Tasting, Wine

Join the Mt. Veeder Spring Tasting – Thursday April 21st

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I will be moderating the fabulous Mt. Veeder Spring Tasting yet again this year in San Francisco on Thursday April 21!  The event is from 5–7pm at The Presidio Golden Gate Club, on 135 Fisher Loop, SF.

MVSF 2016Twenty Mt. Veeder wines will be featured with gourmet small bites from Presidio Foods Catering and assorted artisan cheeses, charcuterie, crackers and breads.  Don’t miss out…it’s the only time of the year you can TASTE and PURCHASE Mt. Veeder wines ON SITE…most of which are not open to the public.

Purchase tickets HERE, visit MtVeederWines.com
or call 707-266-1296.

Cheers! Christopher

Festivals, Food, Tasting, Wine

Bubbles & Blooms at Gloria Ferrer on Sat, April 9th!

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A Festival of Spring at this amazing House of Bubbly, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, on Saturday from 12-4pm!

gf_bloomsBubbles & Blooms brings professionals from Flower Magazine to teach creative floral arranging, displays, wreaths, and more! See colorful flower art installations perfect for special occasions.

Peruse the on-site garden market for plants and fresh arrangements to get you started enhancing your home. Test your luck winning raffle prizes ranging from floral arrangements to garden equipment!

See you there! Christopher