Category Archives: Travels

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

Stoller & THE VARIETAL SHOW Wishing You HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

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With a nod to Thanksgiving week, THE VARIETAL SHOW returns to Stoller Family Estate, that was originally home to a turkey farm! Here I met with Karl Weichold, Production Winemaker, in the vineyard to discuss weather patterns in Willamette Valley, winemaking techniques and his status as Vigneron. Taste along with us the 2021 Chardonnay, Rose and Pinot Noir Dundee Hills.

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

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

Chillin’ With Chehalem Winery On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

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Continuing my visits in the Willamette Valley, next stop Chehalem Winery for THE VARIETAL SHOW. There I met with winemaker Katie Santora where we discuss some interesting sub-AVA’s, and dip into the beauty of Pinot Blanc, Reisling fruit and Reserve Pinot Noir!

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

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

The Swingin’ Crew Jazzes It Up On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

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On my final Celebrity Cruises voyage this year along the Mexican Riviera, I was pleased to see my favorite jazz quartet The Swingin’ Crew! These talented young musicians are from Buenos Aires, Argentina: Sophia, Ailen, Tomas & Theo are on a six-month Solstice ship tour that ends in January. THE VARIETAL SHOW shared some delicious Bacigalupi Petite Sirah and Kokomo Grenache, discussing some interesting comparisons to their wines back home.

Scroll below to enjoy their fabulous music, or hop onboard the Celebrity Solstice, and be sure to pair it with some spectacular wines! LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @12:30pm.

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All aboard the amazing Celebrity Solstice, with views of Cabo San Lucas! Drinking fine wines with Theo, Sophia, Ailen & Tomas.

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

Join THE VARIETAL SHOW For Some Special Cruise Memories!

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Taking a little break this week for my Costco wine cruise to Mexico, on the Celebrity Solstice: I will surely have lots of tales to tell after the fact, but for now enjoying sun and sea with the family!

Until then please enjoy these episodes of THE VARIETAL SHOW featuring new friends, musician Daniel East & Dr. Dave, from my earlier 2022 cruises & come back next week for a new episode, CHEERS!

Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Wine

Cruising To Mexico With Some Amazing Wines!

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Just sending a shout out to all the wines coming along on my Celebrity Solstice wine education cruise to Mexico, departing October 1st for a week – CHEERS!

Bacigalupi Vineyards: 2 Hawk Wines: Keller Estate: DNA Vineyards: Kokomo Winery: Mucho Mas: Three Sticks: Marimar Estate

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