Category Archives: Travels

Appellation, Event, Farm, Food, Garden, History, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Wine

Get Your PASSPORT To Dry Creek Valley! April 29-30

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Join 35 wineries for the 32nd Passport to Dry Creek Valley April 29 & 30, 2023. Enjoy amazing wine, delicious food, vibrant entertainment and a fun-filled spring weekend within the backdrop of idyllic Dry Creek Valley.

TICKETS with the special Sawyer Somm pricing are available at this link! How does it work?

  • Choose your starting winery and go at your own pace with no reservations necessary
  • Fabulous wine & food pairings
  • Access to countless wines that you can’t find on the shelf
  • Interactions with the winemakers and growers
  • Coveted spots in wine clubs
  • Entertainment all weekend
  • Skip the line with check-in option Friday in Healdsburg (info at checkout)
  • OPTION to purchase Friday evening (April 28) Winemakers welcome dinner at The Madrona
  • Hope to be seeing you in DCV! ~Chris
Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

Feelin’ Foxen On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

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Reminiscing about my visit to Santa Maria Valley last year: The Varietal Show sat down with Dick Dore & Jenny Williamson Dore at Foxen Vineyard & Winery! Join us to taste and talk about a slew of wonderful wines; 2020 Chenin Blanc, 2017 Syrah, 2018 Cuvee Jeanne Marie, 2017 Pinot Noir Block 8, 2017 Pinot Noir from Santa Rita Hills and 2018 Cabernet Franc.

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

Art, Event, Festivals, Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Virtual, Wine

Let SAWYER SOMM Entertain YOU!

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Want to spice up your wine tastings? Bring in Sawyer Somm!

I am always interested in sharing my knowledge with you, and your group, at wineries or along with tour visits. We could also set up a special tasting, Seminar Style, for your large or small group onsite, or at another select venue around wine county. Food pairings are always a fun addition!

So let us know what you are thinking and let Sawyer Somm supplement your incredible wine experience! Cheers, Chris

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

Friends Of Pinot Meunier Society Visit THE VARIETAL SHOW

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For the past 5 years, down in Del Mar at the Toast Of The Coast (TOTC) Wine Competition, the annual meeting for Friends of Pinot Meunier Society has been held. THE VARIETAL SHOW talks to Traci Dutton (CIA) and Adam LaZarre (LaZarre Wines) to find out more about this distinctive varietal!

Join the FOPMS group on Facebook! LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST!

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Some stellar PINOT MEUNIER examples to share: Best’s Great Western, Bouchaine, Draxton & Left Coast!

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

Passion For Posada On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

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Do you have a hankering for contemporary southwestern cuisine? Well then you should hop on the saddle and mozy over to Posada Restaurant in the Livermore Valley! THE VARIETAL SHOW sips wine with owner Eduardo Posada & sommelier Jorge Tinoco, to discuss the humble beginnings of this fine establishment, featuring Mexican food with a twist! #MakeThePanCry

Match that with an extensive wine list from around the world;
Jean-Claude Ramonet Chardonnay, Familia Torres Pazo das Bruxas Alberiño, Steven Kent Cabernet Franc

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

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Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Wine

ALASKA 2023: Cruise With Me On The CELEBRITY SOLSTICE!

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Did you miss my epic Alaska wine cruise last summer? Well now you have another opportunity to join me on this spectacular voyage!

This 7-day Celebrity Cruise on the Solstice, exclusively through Costco Travel, departs from Seattle on July 21, 2023. Your exclusive wine experiences will include a welcome reception, two wine tasting seminars and a wine-paired luncheon!

Let me know if you have any questions and BOOK YOUR WINE CRUISE (<—here) before it sells out like the last one. Cheers! Chris

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Some snapshots from my Alaska cruise in Summer 2022!

Competition, Event, Food, Holidays, Judging, Sommelier, Travels, Wine

Happy Holidays from Sawyer Somm!

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Just a quick note to say I appreciate you following my exciting adventures this year! Stick around for more in 2023 and enjoy this little collection of photos from a year of memories.

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A perfect vintage 2022

From my visit to Chef Laura Pauli, winter lights in Oregon, chocolate & wine at Acumen, and the release of A Perfect Vintage. . .

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. . . to Be Bubbly in Napa, the stellar crew of Celebrity Solstice, Sonoma Burger delights and the always incredible eats at Gravenstein Grill! So much to share, join me for more in 2023. CHEERS! Christopher

Literature, Travels, Wine

Enjoy WINE & SPIRITUALITY, In The Book By ANNA PAKULA

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This inspiring book, Wine and Spirituality, is a reflective and passionate spiritual journey by the author Anna Pakula, drawn from the dedication of some of the world’s most famous vintners’ with whom she has forged lasting relationships:The list includes AXR Napa Valley, Chappellet, Continuum Estate, Darioush & Opus One!

Anna presents a “collection of pictorial stories” about winemakers, vineyards and spirituality: Presenting a correlation between the art of wine creation with enjoyment, and human spiritual growth, including inspirations drawn from the symbology of relevant Biblical quotes.

This coffee table book would be a special holiday gift, not to be missed for wine enthusiasts, that enjoy reading with a good glass of wine, and reflections on the deepest connections between vine, wine and wisdom!
Wine and Spirituality available for purchase through ANNAPAKULA.CO

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

In The Cellar At Joel Palmer House Restaurant On THE VARIETAL SHOW

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Levi Seed is the Sommelier extraordinaire at the amazing Joel Palmer House Restaurant! THE VARIETAL SHOW huddles with him in the wine cellar to discuss the history of this mushroom centric eatery in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, as well as the ‘Omakase’ Experience, and the largest selection of Pinot Noir in the country: We celebrate with some Ribbon Ridge ‘RR‘ Reisling & Authentique Pinot Noir!

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @12:30pm!

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

Sergio González On THE VARIETAL SHOW Sharing Mexican Wines!

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México Selection is a special competition put on by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. This year THE VARIETAL SHOW was in Parras de la Fuente, in the region of Coahuila. While there I sat down with representative Sergio González, Certified Sommelier for The Court of Master Sommeliers, to discuss the history of wine in México, which includes the oldest winery in the Americas. Together we enjoy the tastes of Casa Madero, Don Leo and Parvada. (Of special note, this region is also famous for Dinosaurs!)

México Selection RESULTS from a total of 737 wines and spirits, from 21 producing states of Mexico and the United States, “Guest Country of Honor 2022”, competed for a distinction. LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @12:30pm!

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