Category Archives: Wine

Pinot Noir at Keller Estate with The Varietal Show

The Varietal Show talks about Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir with my friend Ana Keller of Keller Estate. Enjoy our conversation and then make your tasting appointment to try it for yourself! (And if you fancy Pinot Gris, then watch our previous episode . . .)

Be first to watch when you SUBSCRIBE to my You Tube Channel for new episodes on Tuesdays at 12:30pm.

Setting PINOT NOIR free at vineyards of Keller Estate!

Summing Up the North Coast Wine Challenge For 2020

It finally happened, after an initial postponement in April, so now rounding back to the big (socially distanced) competition in July, you can read some results about The Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge (NCWC) in my follow up article published by Spirited Magazine in September, and then scroll down for a full list of winners!

WINNING WINES: RESULTS FROM THE NORTH COAST WINE CHALLENGE 2020

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Photo by Kent Porter for The Press Democrat.

Climb Up To Perli Vineyards With The Varietal Show

High up on the Mendocino ridge where wine does grow, things are a little different: I ascended for The Varietal Show to visit with Steve Alden at Perli Vineyards, and find out the secrets of Murder Ridge Winery.

Watch our discussion and visit their Facebook page for some AMAZING #WildWednesday photos to appreciate the remote nature of the task!

Check it out here and remember to hit LIKESHARE, and FOLLOW my channel for more exciting weekly episodes on Tuesdays at 12:30pm!

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#MerlotMe Mania Continues!

Just a brief reminder about my Masters of Merlot Webinar with Cuvaison & Duckhorn Vineyards on Wednesday October 28th at 5pm PST: Reserve your Zoom space NOW!

Also, with Merlot Month ending on Saturday, we just had to squeeze in one more treat (no tricks!). Join ME along with two powerhouse Merlot producers, Peju Winery & Markham Vineyards, for a celebration of Napa Valley Merlot, its beauty, and styles, October 29th at 5pm PST, join via Zoom and Facebook Live.

The #MerlotMe festivities may continue even past October, moving toward International Merlot Day on Saturday November 7th: Keep tuned in for further developments! Cheers, Chris

Sawyer Somm Birthday Fire Relief Fundraiser Pizza Party! November 2nd

A socially distanced Pizza Party at Gravenstein Grill celebrating my birthday – benefiting the Sonoma Resilience Fund! Monday, November 2nd, 5-8pm

RESERVE YOUR SEATS HERE! Pizza, Wine & a Full Bar will be available. Groups must be 10 or fewer and be pre-reserved to maintain social distance. Each group will receive their own table.

Allen Wines & Bucher Wines will be pouring at the event as well as a cash bar: 50% of all ticket sales goes directly to the resilience fund!

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8050 Bodega Avenue, Sebastopol, CA 95472
(707) 634-6142

Masters of Merlot: Duckhorn Vineyards & Cuvaison, October 28th

Join me in celebration of International Merlot Month as I host a very special virtual tasting with two of America’s most acclaimed MERLOT winemakers, Renée Ary of Duckhorn Vineyards and Steve “Roggy” Rogstad from Cuvaison. Together, we’ll explore how these two iconic wineries helped to establish Napa Valley Merlot as one of America’s greatest wines, and how they are leading the way in showcasing the beauty and sophistication of Merlot in the modern era.

Click Here To Register
ZOOM Webinar – Wednesday October 28 at 5pm

Top: Steve “Roggy” Rogstad from Cuvaison
Above: Renée Ary of Duckhorn Vineyards
Top: Steve “Roggy” Rogstad from Cuvaison
Above: Renée Ary of Duckhorn Vineyards

As we taste through sought-after wines from both wineries, Renée and Roggy will discuss what makes great Napa Valley Merlot so extraordinary, how beautifully it pairs with food, and how the film Sideways was actually good for Merlot. Whether you’re a Merlot fanatic, or are just discovering how approachable, age-worthy, and simply delicious Merlot is, this is a tasting you do not want to miss!

We will sample wines from the famed vine rows of Duckhorn’s Three Palms Vineyard in Calistoga, which was the source for Wine Spectator’s 2017 “Wine of the Year,” to Cuvaison’s legendary estate in the cooler Los Carneros region of Napa—which has unique parallels to the Merlot heartland of Bordeaux’s Right Bank—to learn about the terroirs where Merlot achieves its finest expressions. JOIN US!

2017 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot Three Palms Vineyard
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2017 Cuvaison Arcilla Merlot

A Petrified Forest Experience On The Varietal Show

The Varietal Show sits down with Ken & Susan Piters at Petrified Forest Vineyard to explore the wonderful wines at Totem Ridge Vineyards, in Knights Valley. For even more about this stunning sipper check out these other posts TAKE A LITTLE SOJOURN TO PETRIFIED FOREST VINEYARDS WITH THE VARIETAL SHOW and TRY SOME STELLAR WINES FOR YOUR INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Check it out here and remember to hit LIKESHARE, and FOLLOW my channel for more exciting weekly episodes on Tuesdays at 12:30pm!

A Napa Valley Visit With Matthiasson Wines on The Varietal Show

Amidst the smoke I traveled over to Napa Valley for an
insightful conversation with well-respected farmer and winemaker Steve Matthiasson: The Varietal Show finds out more about working with unique grape varieties from Matthiasson Wines.

Check it out here and remember to hit LIKESHARE, and FOLLOW my You Tube channel for more exciting weekly episodes on Tuesdays at 12:30pm!

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Catch A Wine Wednesday Patio Pop-UP Pouring!

With outdoor dining in full swing at Gravenstein Grill, we mark the successful return of weekly Wine Wednesday #pop-up pourings from 5:30 to 7pm!Reserve your RESY table, or call (707) 634-6142, at Gravenstein Grill one evening to try some new or favorite wines.

October 14: O’Connell Family Wines
October 21:
Raeburn Winery
October 28:
Dutton Estate
November 4:
Singer Cellars
November 11:
Marimar Estate
November 18:
Iron Horse Vineyards

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Clockwise from top-left: Oct 7/O’Connell, Nov 11/Marimar Estate, Oct 21/Raeburn Winery, Nov 18/Iron Horse Vineyards, below Oct 28/Dutton Estate!