Category Archives: Virtual

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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Cochon tasting bar red pig
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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.

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

THE VARIETAL SHOW Chats With Fred Cline

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At Cline Family Cellars, the Rhone Rangers were honoring American Rhone pioneer Fred Cline. THE VARIETAL SHOW sat down with him (yes, in a train car) to talk about his legacy, Carneros AVA, and more! Tasting some gems together: Cline 2021 Ancient Vines Mouvedre, Contra Costa County; 2021 Estate Grown Syrah, Los Carneros; 1999 Viognier, Los Carneros.

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

A classic snapshot of Fred, with good buddy Randall Grahm, of Bonny Doon Vineyard.
Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

Madroña In The Mountains On THE VARIETAL SHOW

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Climbing the Sierra Nevadas, one does not often think of growing wine. But that is just what some Gold Rush settlers planted in this historical Zinfandel region. Stepping in the footsteps of these pioneers, Paul Bush and his family started Madroña Vineyards & Winery 50 years ago. Their celebration at 3000 feet elevation, overlaps the 40 Year Anniversary of its AVA, El Dorado. THE VARIETAL SHOW reminisces and discovers their unique Nebiolo 2019, Syrah 2019 Signature, Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Signature and in closing with a classic 1993 Cabernet Sauvignon!

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, Varietal, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

Nalle Winery Has It All On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

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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!

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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

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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

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

Getting Todo Un Poco On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

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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.

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

Diggin’ Jessies Grove Winery On THE VARIETAL SHOW

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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

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Sommelier, Tasting, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

THE VARIETAL SHOW Celebrates 3 Years With Peju Winery!

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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!

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