Category Archives: Varietal

Penny Gadd-Coster Sparkles on THE VARIETAL SHOW!

Winemaker Penny Gadd-Coster of Breathless Wines and Rack & Riddle, shares with THE VARIETAL SHOW her evolution into making sparkling wines: With wine judging and winemaking in her pocket, she helps make life festive with her bubbly creations! We taste the Breathless Blanc de Blanc, Sonoma County & Blanc de Blanc, Reserve Organic, Cox Vineyard, Mendocino Co together and discuss the best food pairings.

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Trifecta Of CABERNET! Thursday, September 21st

On the cusp of Autumn, Gravenstein Grill would like to invite you to the FIRST Annual Trifecta Of Cabernet Tasting, on Thursday, September 21st, featuring a variety of spectacular Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc & Merlot! Enjoy wines from 20+ local world class Cabernet producers including Ehret Winery, Ramey Wine Cellars, Laurel Glen, Tom Mackey Cellars, Zialena Estate, Merriam Vineyards, Alexander Valley Vineyards, Flanagan Wines, Goldschmidt Vineyards, Fritz & MORE!

As always, deliciously paired passed appetizers will be provided by Chefs Bob Simontacchi & Makana Colunga; as well as featured live music by Jay Messer. Get your TICKETS! ($45 pre-ordered, $55 at the door)

Talking RHONE With Emmitt-Scorsone On THE VARIETAL SHOW

Taking a wee break before the Rhone Rendezvous tasting at Gravenstein Grill, THE VARIETAL SHOW sits down with the dynamic duo at Emmitt-Scorsone, located in the Dry Creek Valley AVA. Winegrowers Palmer Emmitt and Michael Scorsone lead us through a discussion and tasting of their Rhone varietals; 2020 Grenache Blanc, 2019 Grenache Estate & 2018 Gusto Rosso.

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Rhone Rendezvous – Thursday August 24th!

This month’s featured tasting at Gravenstein Grill is an exciting and varied category of wine – Rhone inspired blends & varietals grown here in Northern California!

Get your tickets to join me on Thursday August 24, 5-7pm, for a celebration of this incredibly exciting segment of our regional wine industry, featuring over 20 wineries including: Capo Creek, Cochon, Quivira, Jeff Cohn, Cline (one of the original Rhone Rangers), Truchard, Two Shepherds, Meadowcroft, Kobler Estate, Ramey, Terminin, Emmitt-Scorsone, Maclaren, Crux, Lasseter, Miner Wines, Box Wine Co., Thirty-Seven, Beven Cellars & more!

There will also be passed appetizers featuring locally sourced meat & produce by Chefs Simontacchi & Colunga, and live music by Jay Messer!

Celebrating ZIN On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

With the upcoming Zin-spiration Festival at Gravenstein Grill on Wednesday July 19th, we want to highlight a few amazing interviews with local producers whose wines will be featured at the amazing event among these stellar selections: Croix, Three Wine Co, Robert Biale, Carol Shelton, Florence, Gamba, Goldschmidt, Nalle, Jeff Cohn, Hendry, Limerick Lane, Woodenhead, Wilson, Cast, Pezzi King, Hartford, Ridge, Once and Future, Pedroncelli & MORE! See you there. . . meanwhile watch these ZIN episodes with Miro and Dry Creek Vineayards.

1st Annual Zin-spiration Festival! Wednesday, July 19th

Come to Gravenstein Grill and taste the varied styles of California’s own varietal: Zinfandel! The grapes grown & produced here in Sonoma County boast a huge range of styles, from the soft elegant cold climate coastal Zins to the bold, in your face juicy ripe Zins from Dry Creek & the gnarly unique and full of character old vine Zinfandels that were grown in the region for over 100 years!

Taste wines from 20 select world class Zinfandel producers, including Gamba, Biale, Limerick Lane, Nalle Winery, Jeff Cohn Cellars, Three Wine Co, Woodenhead, Croix, Carol Shelton, Wilson & Pezzi King!

There will also be passed appetizers featuring locally sourced meat & produce by Chefs Simontacchi & Colunga, and live music by Alan Watt! Get your TICKETS!

THE VARIETAL SHOW Chats With Fred Cline

At Cline Family Cellars, the Rhone Rangers were honoring American Rhone pioneer Fred Cline. THE VARIETAL SHOW sat down with him (yes, in a train car) to talk about his legacy, Carneros AVA, and more! Tasting some gems together: Cline 2021 Ancient Vines Mouvedre, Contra Costa County; 2021 Estate Grown Syrah, Los Carneros; 1999 Viognier, Los Carneros.

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A classic snapshot of Fred, with good buddy Randall Grahm, of Bonny Doon Vineyard.

Passion For Pinot On Thurs June 29 @Gravenstein Grill!

It’s here – the Passion for Pinot segment of the Summer Wine Series! Join Gravenstein Grill for 25 of the top Pinot Noir producers who work with world-class fruit grown in the celebrated cool-climate regions of Russian River Valley, Green Valley, Petaluma Gap, Sonoma Coast and beyond.

Featured wineries include: Benovia Winery, Cobb Wines, Marimar Estate, Joseph Swan, Radio Coteau, Sherrer Winery, Papapietro Perry, Hartford Family Winery, La Follette Wines, Davis Bynum, & More!

Appetizers will be provided by Chefs Bob Simontacchi & Makana Colunga & live Jazz Guitar by Jay Messer on the scene!

This event sells out and is not to be missed, so buy a ticket today! Tickets are $55 preorder, $65 at the door, and include tastings with all participating wineries.

Nalle Winery Has It All On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

Let’s talk about cult wine in Dry Creek Valley with a visit to Nalle Winery! THE VARIETAL SHOW is honored to be hosted by Lee & April Nalle, on the 40th Year Anniversary for both the winery and AVA. Their unique style of Zin, and other Reds, come from some very old gnarly vines, and we taste the 2021 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley & 2020 Ranch Red, Dry Creek Valley for an amazing sampling!

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Rex Pickett Goes Sideways On THE VARIETAL SHOW

At the Anderson Valley Pinot Festival, THE VARIETAL SHOW was lucky to run into Rex Pickett, world renowned author of Sideways. If you recall the film based on his novel, it makes sense to find him celebrating Pinot Noir. Together we discuss the AVA, the film, his books and his latest novel based in New Zealand. Of course, all the while, tasting spectacular PN from Anderson Valley, including Waits-Mast Family Cellars, Lula Cellars & Goldeneye Winery! #GoMendo #GoSideways

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