Category Archives: Varietal

Pour & Explore Bordeaux Varietals Tasting – Rodney Strong on February 13th!


Pour + Explore is an exciting tasting series produced by Sonoma County Vintners in collaboration with Sommelier Christopher Sawyer!

Join us for this exclusive wine tasting event to celebrate Valentine’s Day at Rodney Strong Vineyards, featuring a special selection of red Bordeaux varietals from over 25 wineries across Sonoma County. Discover wonderful wines that epitomize the essence of each winemaker’s individual style and Sonoma County’s distinctive vineyards.

TICKETS are $65.00 per person, plus tax and service fee. We hope to see you there – Cheers! Chris

Walk-around the RS Artisan Cellar tasting a curated selection of wines from each vintner, and light bites with a selection of cheese and charcuterie: Dress in Valentine’s Day attire to snap a selfie at the photo wall and enjoy romantic lounge beats by DJ J-KIND!

Featured POUR + EXPLORE Wineries

Aperture Cellars, Benziger Family Winery, Bricoleur Vineyards, Chalk Hill Estate, Chateau St. Jean, Flambeaux Wine, Hamel Family Wines, Imagery Estate Winery, Lambert Bridge, Lancaster Estate, Lasseter Family Winery, Laurel Glen Vineyard, Mauritson Wines, Medlock Ames, Merriam Vineyards, North Coast Wine Co., Pride Mountain Vineyards, Ramey Wine Cellars, Robert Young Estate Winery, Rodney Strong Vineyards, Roth Estate, ROWEN Wine Co., Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, Silver Oak, Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyards & Winery, Stuhlmuller Vineyards, Trentadue Winery, and more!

Happy New Year from SawyerSomm!

Hey everyone, just want to say THANKS for joining in on my adventures and CHEERS to more fun in 2025!

To start, more Sonoma County Vintners Pour & Explore tastings coming throughout the year! First up will be Cabernet Sauvignon on February 13 at Rodney Strong, ticketing information coming soon so STAY TUNED.

And did you reserve a spot on the Breathless River Cruise this coming July? Just a few spots left, here is the LINK to check it out.

Follow me on SOCIAL MEDIA if you cannot get enough! Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, X & of course SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel for more episodes of THE VARIETAL SHOW

TVS Greets A DANDY WARHOL at Bimbo’s in SF

Happy Holidays everyone! Enjoy this special treat of music, wine and old school fun with Courtney Taylor-Taylor, founding member and frontman of The Dandy Warhols, which is celebrating 30 years, and contributor to the podcast “Wine Acoustics”. We met up in the famous back wine cellar of Bimbo’s 356 Club, before the show in San Francisco, to share some tastes.

THE WINES: Domaine Daniel Bouland, Maison Louis Jadot, Radio-Coteau & Jordon!

THE PODCAST: Wine Acoustics

THE BAND: The Dandy Warhols

THE GIG: Bimbo’s 365 Club

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

Pour + Explore Sparkling Tasting at Gloria Ferrer on December 11

Pour + Explore is an exciting new tasting experience produced by Sonoma County Vintners in collaboration with Sommelier Christopher Sawyer!

Join us for this exclusive wine tasting event to ring in the holidays at Gloria Ferrer featuring sparkling wines from 25 wineries across Sonoma County. Discover wonderful wines that epitomize the essence of each winemaker’s individual style and the region’s distinctive vineyards.

This festive evening includes a walk-around tasting of a curated selection of wines from each vintner, along with light appetizers. All attendees must be at least 21 years of age.

TICKETS are $65.00 per person, plus tax and service fee. We hope to see you there – Cheers! Chris

Featured POUR + EXPLORE Wineries

Bacigalupi Vineyards, Balletto Vineyards, Banshee Wines, Benovia Winery, Breathless Sparkling Wines, Bricoleur Vineyards, Cartograph Wines, DaVero Farms & Winery, Deerfield Ranch Winery, Domaine Carneros, Freeman Winery, Gloria Ferrer, Inman Family Wines, Iron Horse Vineyards, J Vineyards & Winery, JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset, Keller Estate, Kokomo Winery, Korbel Champagne Cellars, Longboard Vineyards, Naidu Wines, Patz & Hall, Pellegrini-Olivet Lane, Schug Winery, Sosie Wines

Covenant Wines On THE VARIETAL SHOW

After our stint with Winesong in Mendocino, Jeff Morgan joins THE VARIETAL SHOW at Little River Inn, to discuss Covenant Wines. Now based in Berkeley, he has a long and “varietal” history in wine country. We taste these treasures together: 2022 Covenant Solomon Blanc, Sonoma County; 2023 Red C Rose, Lodi; 2023 Landsman Pinot Noir, 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

Going To Goosecross On THE VARIETAL SHOW

Having a grand ol’ time with Goosecross Proprietor Christi Coors Ficeli & Winemaker Bill Nancarrow at the Yountville winery in Napa Valley! THE VARIETAL SHOW talks about harvest, fowls and the balance of terroir and weather. Taste along with us: 2020 Goosecross State Lane Merlot; 2020 Goosecross State Lane Cabernet Franc; 2019 Goosecross Holly’s Block 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

Featuring Beauregard Vineyards On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

THE VARIETAL SHOW climbs the Santa Cruz Mountains to visit Beauregard Vineyards. We learn that wine has been here for a long time from Winemaker Ryan Beauregard, representing the farm’s fourth generation, which dates back to 1945 AND is one of the oldest continuously farmed vineyards in California!

Together we taste these amazing wines: 2022 Chardonnay Bald Mountain Vineyard; 2023 Pinot Noir ‘Carbonica’ Coast Grade Vineyard; 2021 Pinot Noir Coast Grade Vineyard & 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beauregard Ranch.

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

In Oakland At Bardo lounge On THE VARIETAL SHOW

Having cocktails and apps at Bardo Lounge & Supper Club in Oakland, with owner Seth Bregman, Beverage Director Ben Dimond & Chef Amol Thanky! THE VARIETAL SHOW gets a taste of creating cocktails by Ben with a Golden Era, Cosmopolitan & Jackie O Daiquiri. We also walk through the wine list offerings. Followed by Chef Amol discussing construction of a complementary menu, with fantastic foods that stand alone; Chicken Liver Mousse, Deviled Eggs, Lamb & Pork Meatballs. YUM!

Reserve a table at BARDO! 3343 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland, CA

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THE VARIETAL SHOW Visits Yorba Wines

It was a lovely afternoon in the foothills with Ann Kraemer and her dog at Yorba Wines! THE VARIETAL SHOW visited with her in Amador County, where we discussed the long history of vineyards at high elevations, going back to gold rush times, and amazing wine community. With nods to winemaker Ken Bernards of Ancien Wines.

Together we taste through her Yorba Barbera 2016, Tempranillo 2013 & Syrah 2014.

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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A Saini Vineyards Visit On THE VARIETAL SHOW

In Dry Creek Valley, THE VARIETAL SHOW sits down with John and Mike Saini, of Saini Vineyards. This old family farm started in 1917, originally growing prunes, apples, pears, walnuts, and just planted grapes where soil wasn’t so good. Now all 300 acres is grapes with the winery label debut in 2018. Join us to slow down in nature, discussing farming, Italian heritage and the Golds they won from North Coast Wine Challenge: Enjoying 2023 Nonno’s Bianco, 2021 Angelo’s Paint Brush & 2021 Olive Block Old Vine Zinfandel!

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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