Category Archives: Varietal

People, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

GO-GO-GO Goldschmidt Vineyards On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

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Intrepid tasters are we, Nick & me (center row above) at the North Coast Wine Challenge! Get ready for fun times with legendary Kiwi and Sonoma County winemaker Nick Goldschmidt! THE VARIETAL SHOW talks to this multinational wine personality about his history in the industry, with his home base in Dry Creek Valley for Goldschmidt Vineyards. Tasting together the 2019 Singing Tree Chardonnay, Dutton Ranch, Russian River Valley; 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Game Ranch, Oakville; 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Yoeman, Alexander Valley.

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Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Video, Virtual, Vlog, Wine

THE VARIETAL SHOW Tastes Talisman Pinot Noir!

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What is a variety show? Join Scott Rich of Talisman Wine, and Chris Sawyer of THE VARIETAL SHOW for a little introduction and pontification about the splendors of Pinot Noir; tasting, plantings, sites, textures & clones! Find out why Talisman likes small clonal selections, and being patient with the vines when you taste this perfect panel of Pinot:

  • 2018 PN Gunsalas Vineyard, Russian River Valley (Green Valley)
  • 2018 PN Red Dog Vineyard, Sonoma Mountain
  • 2016 PN Adastra Vineyard, Los Carneros, Napa Valley
  • 2004 PN Ted’s Vineyard, Russian River Valley

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Awards, Festivals, Film, Judging, Sommelier, Varietal, Wine

6th Annual SIFF Wine Awards

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It is official as of today, Sunday March 26th, where the announcement was made at the SIFF Awards Brunch! Here are the best of the best, selected by our premiere judging panel. Try some for yourself to find out why.

BEST SPARKLING WINE

Breathless NV Blanc de Blancs, Sonoma County 98 Points

BEST AROMATIC WHITE WINE

En Garde 2021 Allez Blanc, California 94 Points

BEST SAUVIGNON BLANC

Gehricke 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma Mountain 91 Points

BEST CHARDONNAY

Dutton Estate 2021 Chardonnay, Kyndall’s Reserve, Dutton Ranch, Russian River Valley 96 Points

BEST PINK WINE

Benziger 2022 Rosé, Sonoma County 97 Points

BEST PINOT NOIR

DeLoach 2019 Pinot Noir, Green Valley of RRV 97 Points

BEST RHONE WINE (Tie)

Idell Family 2018 MB-5V Red Wine, Oscar Vineyard, Sonoma Valley 98 Points

BEST RHONE WINE (Tie)

Larson Family 2019 Syrah Sonoma Coast 98 Points

BEST RED BLEND

Bartholomew Estate 2019 Press Release Red Wine, Sonoma Valley 95 Points

BEST ZINFANDEL

Buena Vista 20120 Zinfandel, Private Reserve Sonoma County 95 Points

BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Sebastiani 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Cherryblock, Sonoma Valley 98 Points

BEST DESSERT WINE

Larson Family 2018 Late Harvest Gewurztraminer, Dolce, Carneros 98 Points

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

Friends Of Pinot Meunier Society Visit THE VARIETAL SHOW

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For the past 5 years, down in Del Mar at the Toast Of The Coast (TOTC) Wine Competition, the annual meeting for Friends of Pinot Meunier Society has been held. THE VARIETAL SHOW talks to Traci Dutton (CIA) and Adam LaZarre (LaZarre Wines) to find out more about this distinctive varietal!

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Some stellar PINOT MEUNIER examples to share: Best’s Great Western, Bouchaine, Draxton & Left Coast!

Event, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Wine

ZinEX 2023-Get Your Tickets!

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Coming up quickly it is time for ZinEX, in San Francisco on January 26, 27 & 28 atThe Pavilion at One Market (30 Steuart St)! So many events, so many winemakers, so many somms – myself included!

Schedule of Events begins Thursday, January 26 – Opening Night Dining; Friday, January 27 – Flights! and Winemakers Dinner & Auction ~ A Red Carpet Gala; Saturday, January 28 – Grand Tasting

Get your TICKETS! Catch the Somm-Winemaker pairings at the Friday Flights! event & lot of Zinfandel every day:

  • Ian Blackburn, Learn About Wine – Paired with Ryan Schmaltz, Winemaker at Bella Vineyards
  • Matt Montrose, OMVino – Paired with Clay Mauritson, Owner of Mauritson Wines
  • Tonya Pitts, One Market Restaurant – Paired with April Nalle, Co-owner at Nalle Winery
  • Cara Patricia, DECANTsf – Paired with Hugh Chappelle, Winemaker at Quivira Vineyards
  • Chris Sawyer, Sawyersomm.com – Paired with Jeff Stewart, Winemaker at Hartford Family Winery
  • Sarah Trubnick, The Barrel Room – Paired with Trester Goetting, Ridge Vineyards

SEE YOU ALL THERE! Christopher

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!

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Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Video, Virtual, Wine

Chappellet LOVES Chenin Blanc On THE VARIETAL SHOW

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At my monthly educational wine lunch we dove into Chenin Blanc, which of course had to include Chappellet in the lineup! THE VARIETAL SHOW snagged Dominic Chappellet for a wee discussion about his winery’s story and their first vintage in 1969. We rounded it out discussing some of the other amazing contenders present; Haarmeyer 2021 Cresci, The Sadie Family ‘Skurfberg’ South Africa, Domaine des Baumard 2017 Quarts de Chaume & Domaine Huet 2016 Vouvray, Cuvee Constance.

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @12:30pm:Watch the classic TVS interview with Haarmeyer Wine Cellars!

Event, Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Wine

Pinot Paradise On Thursday August 18th At Gravenstein Grill!

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Join Gravenstein Grill & Sawyer Somm on the patio to enjoy wine tastings with 15+ top Pinot Noir producers! Talk to winemakers & growers while enjoying paired hors d’oeuvres from Chefs Bob Simontacchi & Makana Colunga.

Guest wineries include: Marimar Estate, Scherrer Winery, Anaba Wines, Davis Bynum, Calstar Cellars, Dutton-Goldfield, Keller Estate, Bacigalupi, Ancien, Radio-Coteau, Benovia Winery, Kobler Estate, Bucher Wines, Papapietro-Perry, Lombardi Wines, Porter Creek Vineyards, Freeman Winery, Kanzler Vineyards, Balletto Vineyards, Purple Pacyderm & More!

TICKETS are $50 preorder and $60 at the door, and includes tastings with ALL of the guest wineries as well as light seasonal appetizers.

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Event, Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Varietal, Wine

Rosé & Aromatic White Wine Tasting – July 21st At Gravenstein Grill!

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Enjoy the Gravenstein Grill Summer Wine Series, with Sawyer Somm on the patio and enjoy wine tastings with 15+ top Rosé & Aromatic White Wine producers Thursday July 21, 5:30-7pm! Talk to winemakers and growers while enjoying paired hors d’oeuvres from Chefs Bob Simontacchi & Makana Colunga.

Guest wineries include: Acumen, Paradise Ridge, Acorn Winery, Flanagan Wine, Carol Shelton Winery, Radio Coteau, Red Car Wine, Talisman Wine, Trecini Winery, Marimar Estate, Balletto Vineyards, Bucher Wines, Vine Wrangler, Chenoweth Wines, Cornerstone Cellars, J. Cage Cellars, Kobler Estate Winery, Claypool Cellars, Crux Winery, Viszlay Vineyards & More!

TICKETS are $40 pre-order and $50 at the door, and includes tastings with ALL of the guest wineries as well as light seasonal appetizers.

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