Category Archives: Wine

Event, Sommelier, Varietal, Wine

Make your way to Rosé at Gravenstein Grill on April 18th!

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Join us for the first event of Gravenstein Grill‘s second annual Summer Wine Series for a taste of the AMAZING new Rosé releases by Sonoma County wineries!

On April 18th, from 5:30-7:30,  enjoy sips and appetizers with these participating wineries; Radio-Coteau, Kokomo Winery, Papapietro Perry Winery, Balletto Vineyards & Winery, Talisman Wines (Official Fan Page), Claypool Cellars, ACORN Winery, Rodney Strong Vineyards, Jigar Wines, The Larsen Projekt, Muscardini Cellars, Halleck Vineyard, RED CAR WINE and many more stylish producers of dry pink wines!

All for $25: Get your TICKETS!

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There will also be live music in outdoor on our Grove Patio, so come ready to eat, drink, mingle and have a great time in West Sonoma Wine Country!

 

Tasting, Travels, Wine

Winemaker Galas in April, during the El Dorado Passport Weekends!

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The Annual El Dorado Winery Association’s Passport Weekends includes two added adventures in taste, the Winemaker Galas!  Each of the Galas take place on the Passport weekend’s preceding Friday evenings, April 5th and 12th at Mercedes-Benz of El Dorado Hills from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Experience the great wine and food from this region in an intimate setting:  Guests will rub-shoulders with the winemakers themselves from C.G. Di Arie Vineyard & Winery, Mediterranean Vineyards,  Bumgarner Winery,  Fenton Herriott Vineyards and many more of the region’s winemakers will be on hand as well pouring specially selected, rare and reserve wines from their cellars that are not generally available for the public.

Delicious food to pair from  top regional restaurants presenting hors d’ oeuvres to pair with the evening’s selection of wines.  Placerville’s Farm Table, and Heyday Café, plus El Dorado Hill’s C Knight’s Steakhouse, Milestone, and the new, Osteria Moto, to drop a few names.

A silent auction of limited hand-picked offerings and live music will cap the evening off.  Tickets are $85 per person for either of the two Friday events.  Purchase them HERE!!!

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Food, Sommelier, Wine

Double Win in Best of Bohemian for 2019!

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That’s right!  I won Best Sommelier for the 6th year running, but now add Best Wine List to that.  Have you tried out my award winning wine list at Gravenstein Grill yet?  Time to check it out and get some delicious food by the fabulous Chef Bob Simontacchi to pair!

THANK YOU for all your votes and support!  Hope to be seeing more of you at Gravenstein Grill soon.

Cheers! Christopher

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Event, Food, Wine

Let Fire & Vine heat up your Kitchen!

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Hot off a delectable Fire & Vine evening:  A personal food and wine experience featuring Sonoma county locals Chef Pat Langst and myself, Sommelier Christopher Sawyer!

Host either one of Chef Pat’s specially crafted dinners or a “Wine & Cooking Boot Camp” to prep it yourself!  Either partnered perfectly with wines selected by your favorite Sommelier to accentuate the dining experience!  Perhaps these recent photos will entice you to schedule your event?

Please inquire through wine@sawyersomm.com for more details. 
Locally sourced ingredients.
Vegetarian and Gluten-Free options.
Some special diets can be accommodated.

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History, Sommelier, Wine

African American History Month meets the Wine Industry!

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Many people enjoy their vino without knowing where or whom has contributed to their treasured tasting.  Well I think it is appropriate to point out some stellar wines to try during African American History Month both for educational and pleasurable purposes!  Please peruse this informative article that shares 31 Black Owned Wine Businesses to get started before February ends!

In the article you will find featured, as well as pictured above, Winemaker/Proprietor Mac McDonald of Sonoma County-based Vision Cellars (center).  With us is star sommelier Tonya Pitts of One Market restaurant in San Francisco (left), along with myself and fellow judges at the Annual KRSH FM Thanksgiving Wine Picks team last fall.

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Also included in the article is Brown Estate, their fabulous Zinfandel is made with fruit from the family’s high-elevation vineyard in the Vaca Mountains above Napa Valley.: Here is a special selfie with Coral Brown (bottom right), before our special Napa Valley Zinfandel Advocates & Producers seminar at the CIA at COPIA.

The top right photo features Football legend Charles Woodson, who launched his Napa-based Charles Woodson Wines with business partner Rick Ruiz in 2001.

Cheers! Christopher

Food, Sommelier, Wine

March 2nd Vintner Dinner with Halleck Vineyard!

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Join me at Gravenstein Grill for a very special evening featuring special guest Ross Halleck of Halleck Vineyard!

Chef Simontacchi has created a dish to go alongside some of Halleck Vineyard‘s finest wines – including the #1 Pinot Noir in the US from the 2019 SF Chronicle Wine Competition.

Check out the five course wine-paired menu below and call 707-634-6142 to make your reservations!

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Competition, Judging, Wine

Enter Your Wines NOW in East Meets West next week!

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Happy New Year,  just getting back after a family loss and a slew of travel, including Miami, the Capital city and the lovely Sierra Foothills!

But next week I will be local and working my palate at the EAST MEETS WEST Wine Challenge: Two competitions in one and open to all domestic and internationally produced wines according to regional designations.

Follow this LINK to enter your wines ONLINE
( & to save $5 per wine)!
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Event, Tasting, Wine

Zinfandel Experience: January 17-19

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Add this to the holiday wish list!  Dine, Learn, Enjoy, Taste with legends and emerging rock stars of Zinfandel. ZinEX is a three-day wine and food extravaganza attracting wine lovers from around the world. Experience the classic character of Zinfandel at four extraordinary events featuring a diverse selection of wines and styles. The weekend includes a Welcome event Dine-Around at One Market , Flights seminar, Winemakers Auction & Dinner, and Grand Tasting.

ZinEX 2019 features access to winemaker celebrities at three impressive venues, showcasing the talents of winemakers, chefs, and artisanal food purveyors. Your VIP package includes Heritage Club membership, tickets to each of these events and so much more.

Charity, Food, Wine

Dec 18th Dine&Donate at Gravenstein Grill!

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Bring your big hearts and voracious appetites to help raise money for Ruby the Warrior Princess!  A brave little girl diagnosed last November with B-cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).

Please join the Sebastopol and greater Sonoma Couunty communities at Gravenstein Grill (8050 Bodega Avenue, Sebastopol) on December 18th from 5-8pm in support of her family and medical care, or just make a donation directly at her Fundraiser Page.

Thanks for sharing your holiday spirit!

Cheers, Christopher