I am sharing this highlight reel with you courtesy of the Crushed Grape Chronicles. Zaca Mesa has turned out a plethora of amazing wine makers, my seminar led a discussion with 4 of the best! Ken Brown, Jim Clendenen, Bob Lindquist & Eric Mohseni – read more in the CGC Article.
They will start releasing the full seminar in segments for you to enjoy on May 20th. This will include the tasting with wine from each of these amazing winemakers.
On April 14th & 15th I helped judge the North Coast Wine Challenge in Santa Rosa. The judging compares select California North Coast AVAs including Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Marin and parts of Solano County. As recently announced the 2015 winner is. . .
ROCHE 2013 Carneros Chardonnay French Oak Reserve!
Congratulations to all the winners, search the List and follow-up with a summary in this Press Democrat article.
Now you have a chance to taste over 80 Gold Medal winners at the North Coast Wine Challenge Tasting hosted by the Press Democrat on Sunday May 17, 1-4pm, at The Barlow in Sebastopol. It will feature the highest scoring wines from the 2015 judging.
This year, the event will include Storytellers & Innovators. Guests will be able to hear from and meet pioneers of the past and today’s innovators to learn what’s new in winemaking in California’s North Coast. There will also be a pre-event seminar, 11:30 – 12:30 pm:
A Conversation with Gold Medal Wine Makers and Award-Winning Chefs
The Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend and Festival is nearly here and tickets are almost sold out for the Friday night Vintage Party and Saturday morning wine seminar.
FRIDAY NIGHT VINTAGE PARTY
First join me at the Vintage Party, a traditional La Paulee style dinner hosted by the Santa Barbara Vintners and Mattei’s Tavern to welcome Spring Weekend visitors to Santa Barbara Wine Country on the evening before the Festival. In the La Paulee tradition, attendees will bring their favorite Vintage 2009 or older wine from Santa Barbara County or beyond to share.
THE SANTA BARBARA WINE SEMINAR
Next I will be moderating this engaging wine seminar on Saturday morning before the Festival at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott. This year it will feature winemakers whose wine careers were influenced by their time working at Zaca Mesa. 
Want me to join your group for a specialized Napa or Sonoma wine tasting extravaganza? Now you can book it with Pure Luxury Transportation, the exclusive transportation venue to enjoy an extravagant Wine Country adventure!
Call 1-800-626-5466 to reserve your Exclusive Sommelier Tour by Pure Luxury.
This month leads into a collection of treks that keep me moving throughout April! So many exciting events that I want to share some details. Perhaps a few of you will be joining me along the way. . .
Begining this week, on Thursday April 16th, I will be at the Mt. Veeder Spring Tasting, discussing the 25-year anniversary of the appellation at their media luncheon.
This is an exciting event so take advantage to participate in their public tasting, tickets are available at Mt Veeder Appellation.
Even sooner, I will be judging two prestigious wine competitions. The first is the Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge, April 
14-15, at the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country Hotel at Fountaingrove in Santa Rosa. Winners of the event will be announced in the Press Democrat. On May 17, many of these award winning wines will be featured along with dishes made by some of Sonoma County’s top chefs at The Barlowe in Sebastopol.
Then, for the long haul south, I will be at the Sunset International Wine Competition judging between April 26-28. Besides being one of the top wine competitions in the nation, this year also marks the last time the competition will be held at the expansive Sunset Headquarters in Menlo Park. For that reason, the other judges and I will be sure to make the most out of this experience, before final sale of the property. Entries for this competition end on April 17th.
You can continue to follow these exploits by virtual means, on my Social Media outlets; Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. There will be fun pictures and daily updates.
Last note, don’t forget that Friday, April 24th is International Sauvignon Blanc Day! When posting use #SauvBlanc, #nzwine, etc, and don’t forget to spread the word! -CS
It’s time to taste through some of the finest new releases California has to offer at the 33rd Annual Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend, April 23-26. For starters, guests will be able to visit 12 wineries involved in the Vintners Visa festivities going on from Thursday to Sunday. But for foodie lovers, the fabulous weekend kicks off with the Friday Night Vintage Party at Mattei’s Tavern in Los Olivos, where star sommelier Eric Railsback and I will help serve 
magnificent cellar selections from Dierberg and Star Lane Vineyards, Qupe Wine Cellars & Verdad Wine Cellars, Turiya Wines, Dascomb Cellars, Presqu’ile Winery, Imagine Wine, Rusack Vineyards, Melville Winery, and Martellotto Wines.
On Saturday morning, I’ll be leading a special seminar focused on the history of the Santa Ynez Valley, a legendary appellation established in 1983, through the eyes of gifted wnemakers who all worked at Zaca Mesa Winery during the early stages of their careers. Then, it’s time for the Grand Tasting at the River View Park in Buellton. This popular afternoon will feature offering from over 120 wineries paired up tasty bites from the best chefs in the county.
For more information, visit Vintners Spring Weekend.
In a recent Press Democrat article it was announced that Pure Luxury, a local transportation service has developed it’s own on-demand car service called BlinkCar. This Smartphone App will allow customers to book rides instantaneously.
BlinkCar began in December but just in Petaluma. Service is now expanding to Santa Rosa and Sonoma, and in the spring to Napa Valley.
If you have not yet, peruse the Wine Tour options on their website and definitely give Jennifer & Gary Buffo your business: The soon to be developed Sommelier Tours will be featuring Yours Truly!
A very special guest accompanied me to the San Francisco Wine Competition Public Tasting over Valentines Weekend: The Nerdstalker himself, AKA Adolfo Foronda. He chronicled our adventures with audio winemaker interviews and photographs on his home page and various other social media.
The Nerdstalker: Be sure to continue following his exploits, to keep in tune with your inner nerd!
Take a little time to stop by Sonoma Portworks in Petaluma: Every weekend in February is their special Port & Cookies Tasting from noon to 5pm.
The tantalizing treats are provided by another local company, Bad Girls Bakery, so join in for the complimentary port tasting and pairing. I plan to drop by next weekend, February 21 or 22, so let me know if I might see you there!
To celebrate the recent Zinfandel Experience 2015 and the San Francisco Chronicle Public Tasting happening at Fort Mason on Valentine’s Day, below are my notes from some of the delicious Gold 
Medal winners in the under $30 category I judged at the #SFCWineComp in early January. Don’t forget to also visit my Pinterest: The Zinfandel Experience album to enjoy some pictures from the fantastic ZAP events and check out the great article my friend Julie Santiago of Examiner.com, who wrote about the events in San Francisco: ZAP 2015 – An Epicurian Celebration of Zinfandel. For more information about the Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (a.k.a ZAP), visit www.zinfandel.org and www.zinfandelexperience.com. ______________________________________________________
Amador Cellars 2011 Zinfandel, Amador County ($28): Vibrant combination of ripe cherry, raspberry and blueberries accented with notes of wild herbs, mineral, fresh ground black pepper, cocoa, roasted walnuts, chewy tannins, and a lingering finish. Double Gold. www.amadorcellars.com / www.amadorwine.com. Mazzocco 2012 Reserve Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley ($28): Made by talented winemaker Antoine Favero, this wine features a classic “field blend” combination of 76% Zinfandel and 24% Petite Sirah. Enchanting aromas and deep flavors of black raspberry, boysenberry, fresh currants, peppermint, allspice and a burst of fresh acidity of the long, refreshing finish. Best of Class. www.wilsonartisanwines.com / www.wdcv.com.
Pezzi King 2012 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley ($25): Another gem from the Dry Creek Valley appellation. This mixture of fruit from old and younger vines creates a playful profile with sweet core notes of brambly blackberry and raspberry, spicy flavors of clove, pepper and blood orange peel, and a rewarding combination of structure, acidity, and balanced tannins. Gold. Also worth noting that the winery’s more limited release counterpart, the Pezzi King 2012 Row 14 Reserve Zinfandel won for the Sweepstakes Red Wine for the competition. Overall, a great showing for the brand! www.pezziking.com / www.wdcv.com
McNab Family Reserve 2012 Zinfandel, Old Vines, B-Bar-X Ranch, Mendocino County ($26): At the main ZAP Tasting event in late January, I had the great opportunity to do a seminar with Rich Parducci, whose family has been making wine in Mendocino County for four generations. As a result, we were able to pour this limited release wine (239 cases made) for a wide range of members of the media, trade, and curious consumers who were able to enjoy the lavish flavors of wild berries, white pepper, and chocolate bark this wine has to offer. It’s a fantastic food pairing wine as well, especially with heavy red sauces. Kudos to the Parducci family for another great accomplishment! Gold. www.mcnabridge.com / www.mendowine.com.
Opolo Vineyards 2013 Mountain Zinfandel, Summit Creek, Paso Robles ($29): Medium to full-bodied wine with aromas of wild berries, violets, licorice, and hickory smoke. Bright fruit-driven flavors of ripe plum, raspberry, and hints of boysenberry jam, sweet potato, black pepper, and a long spicy finish. Unique and distinctive. Double Gold. www.opolo.com / www.pasowine.com.
Earthquake 2012 Zinfandel, Lodi ($26): From Michael David Winery in Lodi, the new release of the Earthquake Zinfandel features enticing aromas and concentrated flavors of dark cherry, raspberry, boysenberry, blueberry, wild herbs, cocoa, and a long, dry finish. The original fruit for the blend was made with berries from vines planted in 1906, the same year the famous San Francisco earthquake occurred. In addition to helping preserving these old vineyards and promoting sustainable farming practices in the region, the winery has also become an integral part of enhancing the true wine country experience for consumers who visit the Lodi appellation over. The commitment to quality shows in this wine. Gold. www.MichaelDavid.com / www.lodiwine.com.
Miro Cellars 2012 Zinfandel Reserve, Wolcott-Bevill Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley ($28): This fantastic single-vineyard designate is made by my fellow wine judge Miro Tcholakov, a Bulgarian native who made his first splash in the US while working at Dry Creek Vineyards. Today, his latest offering from his Miro Cellars label is loaded with deep aromas of ripe dark fruits and berries, roasted espresso beans, and savory spices. On the palate, the wine delights the senses with integrated flavors of blackberry, dark cherry cola, wild strawberry, vanillin, sarsaparilla and dark chocolate. Dazzling from start to finish. Double Gold. www.mirocellars.com / www.wdcv.com.
Pozzan Gold Series 2012 Zinfandel, Back Barn, Oakville ($25): This gracious wine made by Michael Pozzan Wines features sultry aromas of ripe berries, sandalwood, and smoked meats. In the glass, the wine continues to expand with deep flavors of dark plum, huckleberry, boysenberry jam, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, cracked black pepper, and finishes with a tingly sensation at the tip of the tongue that makes you want more. Made with pure Oakville fruit, this Zin is a fantastic bottle at only $25 per bottle. Gold. www.michaelpozzanwinery.com.
For more information about the Zinfandel Advocates
and Producers (a.k.a ZAP), visit www.zinfandel.org
and www.zinfandelexperience.com.
#ZinEx #ZAP #Zinfandel @TheZinfandelOrg