Category Archives: Uncategorized

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Visit Amador Wine Country! At Behind the Cellar Door, March 7-8

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This is an opportunity for you to taste wines in one of my favorite California places, the Sierra Foothills!  In fact, I have 2 General Admission Tickets to give away for Behind the Cellar Door.

Since I cannot make it, the first person to write me at wine@sawyersomm.com with their mailing address will receive my set of tickets.  If you can make the trek that weekend, then you will get to will reap the benefits of touring lovely Amador County wineries, towns and landscape!  I just ask that afterwards you post a comment here for all of SawyerSomm with your favorite wines from the tour.  Believe me, you will thank me for this!

For those that aren’t quick enough on the draw, you can still purchase tickets HERE, have fun everyone!

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The Results! Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2018

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Remember all those cool pictures I posted in social media from Beijing? Well, we did actually get some work done too! Here are the spectacular results and statistics of our labours.

The RESULTS are in and medals went to wines from 39 countries!

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Food, Sommelier, Travels, Uncategorized, Wine

Balletto Vineyard Winemaker’s Dinner on June 8th

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Join me for our inaugural wine dinner at Gravenstein Grill featuring Balletto Vineyards & Winery.  I am hosting the event with winemaker Anthony Beckman, pairing Balleto wines with an incredible menu by Bob Simontacchi, sure to entice and delight any palate! 

Seating is limited so call 707-634-6142 or email brandon@gravensteingrill.com now, to guarantee your spot! 

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Cochon555 Tour Stops in SF on June 4th

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A little video to entice your interest in the Cochon555 Heritage BBQ coming to San Francisco on June 4th:  This is where five chefs are each given one whole, heritage breed pig and one week to prepare the entire 200 pound animal. The winner is decided between a People’s Vote and 24 Celebrity Judges, who then crown the winner, San Francisco’s “Prince or Princess of Pork.” The winning chef advances to the year-end finale competition called Grand Cochon, to be held this year on October 1st in Chicago.

Event, Tasting, Travels, Uncategorized, Wine

International Chardonnay Symposium on May 12-14

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I am getting ready for another trip to the lovely Central Coast.  This time for The Chardonnay Symposium, May 12 through 14, in the coastal resort towns of Pismo Beach and Avila Beach.

I will be moderating the seminar Taste the Difference: Exploring California’s Distinct Chardonnay Regions on Saturday (10am to 11:30am) at Edna Valley Vineyard, where I will talk about how climate, soil and elevation influence each of these five world-class regions and how to determine the origin by simply nosing and tasting the wine.

However there will be a fabulous selection of events and locations to attend starting on Thursday, here is the list, with more details on each HERE:

Thursday
Vintners Wine Tech Symposium (9:00am–4:00pm)
Sommelier Chardonnay Challenge (10:00am–3:00pm)

Friday
French Forum: Exploring The Wonders of French Chardonnay-lunch included (11:00am–1:30pm)
Wente Clone Comparative Tasting (2:00pm–3:30pm)
Pét-Nat, Sparkling Wine & Oysters Gala (4:00pm–6:00pm)
La Paulée Dinner and Vintners Awards Ceremony (7:00pm–10:00pm)

Saturday
Hone Your Chardonnay Blind-Tasting Skills (10:30am-12:30pm)
What’s Oak Got To Do With It? (11:00am–12:30pm)
Pairing Chardonnay & Artisanal Cheese (11:30am–1:00pm)
Saturday Grand Tasting (1:00pm–5:00pm)
Winemaker Dinners (7:00pm–9:00pm)

Hope you are able to join me for this exciting event!
Cheers, Christopher

 

Competition, Judging, news, Uncategorized, Wine

2016 North Coast Wine Challenge Results!

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The fabulous panels for the 2016 North Coast Wine Challenge.
The fabulous panels for the 2016 North Coast Wine Challenge.

Spectacular finish to the North Coast Wine Challenge with some of the finest wine judges in America. Our team sent the top red & white wine winners to the final round and the 2012, 2013 & 2014 vintages were brilliant.

Enjoying the fabulous Judges Dinner at MacMurray Ranch in Russian River Valley.
Enjoying the fabulous Judges Dinner at MacMurray Ranch in Russian River Valley.
My fellow judges and two of my favorite people in the wine industry: Traci Dutton, Manager of Wine & Beverage Studies at the Rudd Center at the Culinary Institute of America Greystone, and Master Sommelier Fred Dame.
My fellow judges and two of my favorite people in the wine industry: Traci Dutton, Manager of Wine & Beverage Studies at the Rudd Center at the Culinary Institute of America Greystone, and Master Sommelier Fred Dame.

The big winners have been published in the Press Democrat in this article by Diane Peterson:

Find the entire winners’ list is HERE!
Cheers! Christopher

 

Event, Food, news, People, Uncategorized, Wine

Wine Radio! Tune in to Talk910 for Somm Talk today. . .March 19th

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JRNew.phpJoel Riddell talks Flavor! Napa Valley starting today at 1:15, you can listen via the Dining Around link or on the airwaves at Talk910.  Listen for his interviews with winemakers, chefs and, at 2pm, myself and Master Sommelier Gillian Balance!  Gillian is on the panel for High Elevation Wines Part 1 and The Rhone Zone wine classes:  Listen, learn and join one of our classes!

Cheers! Christopher

Food, Tasting, Travels, Uncategorized, Wine

Oregon Chardonnay Celebration, Feb 27 in Newberg, OR

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Pack your bags, and book a flight for the 5th annual Oregon Chardonnay Celebration!  This year there will be 48 Chardonnay producers featured  this coming Saturday, February 27th at the Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg, Oregon.

I have yet to attend this event but have enjoyed my affiliation with the Chardonnay group through other OR ventures.  This year, the tasting explores the role of the winemaker in presenting the character of this elegant white grape.

Elaine Brown guides through a focused tasting of five winemakers’ interpretation of Durant Vineyard’s 2014 Chardonnay.  A Grand Tasting of over 40 of Oregon’s top Chardonnay producers will follow, accompanied by small bites from Sunny Jin, executive chef at Jory at The Allison Inn & Spa.  Purchase tickets HERE!