Category Archives: Varietal

Rochioli Rocks on THE VARIETAL SHOW!

Speaking of PINOT, enjoy this fun interview with Tom and his daughter Rachael Rochioli, of Rochioli Vineyards, one of the great Sonoma County Vintners that will serving their amazing Pinot Noir selections at Pour & Explore on Thursday March 13 at Bricoleur Vineyards in Windsor!!! Get your LAST MINUTE TICKETS while you still can!

Pinot With Papapietro Perry On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

Enjoy THE VARIETAL SHOW with my great pals Ben Papapietro & star winemaker David Lowe of Papapietro Perry about the glories of working with the Pinot Noir grape grown in Sonoma County and the special wines they’ll be serving at the exciting upcoming Sonoma County Vintners Pour+Explore Pinot Noir Tasting, an exclusive event with 35+ revered Pinot producers pouring from 5:30-7:30 PM this Thursday, March 13th at Bricoleur Vineyards in Windsor. TICKETS are limited so get yours soon!

Sawyer Somm On Sip, Sip, Hooray!

Sip, Sip, Hooray! is a Podcast From Mary Orlin & Mary Babbitt: Where Wine Is Always Fun, Tasty And Inspirational

Chris Sawyer Shares Stories, Music, Movies and Wine

SUBSCRIBE to Sip Sip Hooray using your favorite Podcast platform: https://substack.com/@sipsiphooraypodcast

A Taste of Bricoleur On THE VARIETAL SHOW

THE VARIETAL SHOW visits Bricoleur Vineyards to taste and talk about the joys of Pinot Noir, and the epic SCV Pour & Explore event happening there next Thursday, March 13th, with superstar winemakers Bob Cabral and Tom Pierson. Get TICKETS while you still can!

AFWC: THE ROSÉ COMPETITION Is OPEN!

The American Fine Wine Competition is both pleased and honored to invite you to submit your rosé wines to THE Rosé Competition 2025This will be the 12th edition of this noted wine competition, taking place in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on May 31, 2025. Our esteemed judges from across the country include a balance of sommeliers, chefs, wine writers, retailers and educators.     

REGISTER HERE! The fee is $70.00 per wine entered.  Registered wines will be accepted through May 20, 2025. Both International and domestic rosé wines are invited to participate. This includes sparkling, dry, and sweet wine categories.

We require four bottles of each wine entered, two for the competition, one to promote your wine at our annual “Fifty Shades of Pink” fundraising event (date and location will be announced soon), and one signed bottle for our charity auction. Thank you and we look forward to sharing your wines. ~Shari & Chris


Fun Times With Cobb Wines On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

A brilliant afternoon opening bottles (by any means necessary), tasting, and THE VARIETAL SHOW with Ross Cobb of Cobb Wines near Occidental in Sonoma County, discussing the upcoming Pour+Explore Pinot Noir Tasting on Thursday,March 13th happening at Bricoleur Winery, that I am co-hosting with the Sonoma County Vintners. Get your TICKETS for this epic Pinot tasting!

Get Your Tickets! SCV Pour+Explore Pinot Noir ON Thursday March 13th

Pour + Explore: Pinot Noirs Tasting at Bricoleur Vineyards Thursday, March 13, 2025 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM Produced by Sonoma County Vintners in Collaboration with Sawyer Somm

Join us for this exclusive wine tasting event, featuring a special selection of Pinot Noirs 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.

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!

Featured vintners include Balletto Vineyards, Benovia Winery, Bricoleur Vineyards, Buena Vista Winery, Cartograph Wines, CIRQ & CHEV, Cobb Wines, Davis Bynum, DeLoach Vineyards, Domaine de la Rivière, Elaine Wines, En Garde Winery, Gloria Ferrer, Hartford Family Winery, Hirsch Vineyards, Inman Family Wines, Innumero Wines, Joseph Jewell Wines, Joseph Swan Winery, Kanzler Vineyards, Kistler Vineyards, Landmark Vineyards, Martinelli Winery, Merry Edwards Winery, Panther Ridge, Papapietro Perry Winery, Rochioli Vineyards & Winery, Schug Winery, Tamber Bey Vineyards, Three Sticks Wines, Williams-Selyem and more!

Beautiful Bricoleur Vineyards will host Pour+Explore Pinot Noir on Thursday March 13, 2025!

At the Chateau On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

THE VARIETAL SHOW is at Chateau St Jean with star winemaker Mari Wells Coyle, one of the amazing 30+ wineries that will be joining us at the fabulous Pour & Explore: Red Bordeaux Variety Wine Tasting happening at Rodney Strong Winery on Thursday, Feb 13th!

Come taste Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Bordeaux blends, etc at this epic Pre-Valentine’s Day event that I’ll be co-hosting with Sonoma County Vintners! Get your TICKETS for only $65 (+ tax and handling)

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.

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