DRUMROLL PLEASE Finally the results you have all been waiting for! 2021 México Selection, a division of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in Guanajuato, Mexico last month. Click the links to find out more!
Cheers & Happy New Year from Sawyer Somm!
Experiencing México Selection 2021 with Master Sommelier & Master of Wine Doug Frost: We meet up at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in Guanajuato, Mexico to film this special international episode of The Varietal Show! Together we experience Mexican wines, Mezcal, intriguing foods, including some insect snacks, where they truly honor the local flora and fauna. Join us to taste Cuna de Tierra and talk about wines!
LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @12:30pm!
A little delayed this year for safety but IT IS ON! Check out the details at Telluride Wine Festival and join the 40th Anniversary celebrations throughout the week of September 23-26.
I am hosting four spectacular seminars with amazing wines from Acumen, Felix Solis Avantis, Davis Bynum, Rodney Strong, Chehalem, Stoller, Three Wine Co., The Lineage Collection, Chappellet, J. Lohr, The Storm Cellar, Santa Ynez Valley, Kind of Wild and more. . . WINERIES, it is not too late to register and come along! Email me back to find out more.
WINE LOVERScheck the schedule and join my seminars for delicious wines and lively discussions including:
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! Christopher
Can you say Edelzwicker? Talking about this award winning wine and others with Winemaker Jim Klein of Navarro Vineyards. Join The Varietal Show on this Anderson Valley stop near Philo, along Hwy 128 in Mendocino County to taste their spectacular Edelzwicker, Pinot Noir and Riesling. #GoMendo #MendoWines
LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for weekly notifications on more exciting upcoming episodes, mostTuesdays @12:30pm!
The 2021 Chardonnay Classic, from May 20-22, 2021 will reunite wine enthusiasts’ minds and palates to celebrate the greatness of Chardonnay. One of the world’s most beloved, dynamic, and delicious grape varieties. This inaugural gathering will feature some of the finest domestic and international producers of Chardonnay and will take place at the Meritage and Vista Collina Resorts.
A weekend of indulgence curated by master sommeliers and acclaimed winemakers set in the beautiful Napa Valley. The program features iconic wine country experiences, gourmet lunches, luxury dinners and 22 unique tastings that culminate in a Grand Tasting of Chardonnay. Vintners, industry experts, and enthusiasts alike gather together to celebrate the incredible range of Chardonnay!
Purchase your full weekend ticket before 5/8 and save $300 with Early Bird pricing! Use promo code CHARD15 to claim the savings. To purchase your Chardonnay Classic ticket(s) click “TICKETS”.
With oodles of safety measures in place the Amador Vintners have organized a three day BCD experience! Your ticket will allow you to pre-select each personal time slot and winery of your preference. So check out the list of wineries, get your TICKETS, and lodging if necessary, to enjoy an intimate wine tasting weekend!
What better way to celebrate than with nature and family. In that vein this episode of The Varietal Show features my son and I on an outing in the Redwoods! Enjoy our adventure and many more on my YouTube Channel and more in this collection of The Varietal Show episodes!
Remember to hit LIKE, SHARE, and FOLLOW my channel for more exciting weekly episodes on Tuesdays at 12:30pm!
#GoMendo
Did you miss Zinfandel Day on Thursday November 19th? That’s OK, I have you covered here for an extended celebration with my recent article Preserving the Zinfandel Legacy of Mendocino County published on the ZAP Blog. (And mark your calendar for some social zintancing with ZinEx in January 2021!)
It was my pleasure to taste and muse about the fabulous flavors from a memorable visit up north: My Mendocino trek also involved a few conversations that are documented on The Varietal Show, from my YouTube channel; including Chef Mark Dym of Little River Inn; Steve Alden spinning the tale of Murder Ridge; and this extra little repost below from my visit with Lorenzo Pacini at the famous Pacini Vineyard! Enjoy and FOLLOW my channel for more exciting episodes to come . . .
Where’s Waldo? Find the visitor flying around in one of these three videos. Name that bird! #GoMendo
It is the final stretch, next weekend we depart toward our embarkment in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Celebrity Edge, with Costco Travel, sets sail towards the Eastern Caribbean on Sunday December 15th into an amazing row of islands with three spectacular stops: Puerto Rico, Tortola and St. Maarten.
I will be hosting a Pinot Noir reception, two seminars and a specialized luncheon. For those fortunate enough to be joining me, or just PN curious, then take a gander at the delicious Pinot Noir selection and education to be gained on the journey!
Pinot in Paradise Reception: To start the cruise off in style, the opening night reception will allow me to meet the guests. I will greet them with wine and give a short overview of the Passion For Pinot Wine Cruise events taking place over the next few days.
Featuring: Cline Cellars, Gloria Ferrer Vineyards, Olivet Lane & Rodney Strong!
Pinot Noir Seminar #1: From Genus to Genius
On route to the Caribbean, I will cover the history of this noble grape in Burgundy and the Old World; the genetic offspring of the varietal (Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier); and the emergence of this beloved grape and delicious new styles of sophisticated wines that have become the calling cards for the cool-climate regions of Sonoma County and other special winegrowing regions on the West Coast over the past 50 years.
Featuring: Bacigalupi Vineyards, Breathless Wines, Rodney Strong & Roessler Wine Cellars!
Pinot Noir Seminar #2: Going Coastal
This special seminar will focus on a special series of cool-climate appellations, the term terroir, and the unique styles of world-class Pinot Noirs being made in the top regions of Northern California. A rare opportunity to taste and discuss the unique characteristics of each of these wines and how they represent the wonderful growing conditions in every sip.
Featuring: Davis Bynum Winery, Gloria Ferrer Vineyards, Thirty-Seven & Zina Hyde Cunningham Winery!
Pinot in Paradise Luncheon
This extravagant luncheon focuses on top producers, revered vineyard sites, delicious flavor profiles of wines, and the history of the Russian River Valley appellation in Sonoma County. I pair each wine with delicious dishes making the experience that much more memorable!
Featuring: Balletto Vineyards, Davis Bynum & Scherrer Winery!
Embarking on my amazing Pinot adventure, try these wines at home to create your own! Cheers, Chris
Looking forward to the amazing views inTortola BVI; Bacigalupi & Rodney Strong are both featured in my Genus to Genius seminar!
Imagine this. Seven days of luxurious ocean travel with three special ports to explore along the way; San Juan in Puerto Rico, Totola in the British Virgin Islands and Philipsburg at St. Maarten. And wine! Aboard ship, I will be hosting special Costco member-only tastings, pairings and more, focused on Pinot Noir wines.
Then, at each of these scenic Eastern Caribbean ports, enjoy soft white beaches, clear blue waters and deep green landscapes; Historic Puerto Rico, with its imposing forts and rhythmic salsa; Nearby St. Maarten, sample cheese on the Dutch side and wine on the French side.
Join my family and I for this exciting adventure!
Departing December 15 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida:
Returning December 22.
SEE TRAVEL INFORMATION HERE. . .
