The rumblings are true. I will be revisiting my college days by spinning vinyl at Winery Sixteen 600 (589 1st St West in Sonoma) for Vinyl Sunday. Together we will be celebrating Grenachista in honor of International Grenache Day this Friday. Get your tickets while they are still available: pre-sale saves you 5 clams.
To review your Grenache knowledge, watch this video produced for that purpose a few years back. Enjoy & hope to see you there!
I have been saving this! It was given to me by a wine colleague and waiting for just the right moment. That moment came this weekend at Flying Cloud Farm for my brother Ethan’s nuptials and celebration. It was an amazing event with lots of wine (of course) and the ritual Nigerian style sharing of the Kola Nut in honor of my new sister-in-law Amaka’s family heritage. So when the time to toast the newly betrothed couple came I whipped out the Rehoboam of delectable Gloria Ferrer Brut and proceeded to fill almost every glass at the reception!
Congratulations to Ethan & Amaka!
Here’s to many happy years together. With wine. XO from yer bro.
Take a peek at my article Underground Sips, published this June in Napa Sonoma Magazine. In it I lead you through five fabulous wine caves that you can make a part of you amazing Labor Day weekend plans in Sonoma Valley. (That is, after you endeavor the spectacular Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, where you will find moi and other select sommeliers.)
Cheers! Christopher
Talk about turning Wine into Water! This September, Vineyards to Villages will host the 2nd Annual V2V Wine Safari, giving people the opportunity to drink boutique Sonoma County wines while bringing clean water to children in Kenya.
The “safari” tours will have complimentary tastings at 11 wineries in northern Sonoma County from September 3-11. Intimate tastings of exceptional high-end wines, often hosted by the owners themselves, will allow for a truly unique wine country experience. Visit any or all of the wineries at your own pace any time throughout the week. Participating wineries donate 1/3 of the sales price of these wines to V2V throughout the event.
The particpating wineries include: Christopher Creek Winery, Deux Amis Winery, Fritz Underground Winery, Merriam Vineyards, Pedroncelli Winery, Portalupi Wine, Thumbprint Cellars, Trione Winery, Williamson Wines, the Windsor Tasting Lounge, and Viszlay Vineyards.
Tickets available HERE! $50 each (a $130 value),
and all ticket sales go directly to V2V.
Also, with the purchase of every ticket, you will be entered to win wine raffle prizes! If you visit every “animal” (winery) on the safari and show your complete safari pass on the Facebook page, you’ll get an additional 10 raffle tickets: Plus an extra raffle ticket with every purchase of V2V wine!
Welcome to Episode 2 of The Sawyer Somm Podcast! Tech expert Adolfo Foranda and I set this one up a little differently with three short sequential episodes for your viewing pleasure.
Watch and enjoy!
Pt 1: Aromatic White Wines for Summer
Pt 2: Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley in Oregon
Pt 3: Zinfandel & Beyond: Special Vineyard Designate from
Klinker Brick and More
Start getting ready for Labor Day Weekend! There will be 15 wine professionals, including myself, at Sonoma Wine Country Weekend this year: We will all amplify the experience for you, while we serve as guest all-star wine guides at key events throughout the three-day, charitable event.
See you there! Christopher
If you are interested in a whole animal fire roasting experience then set your sites for this event! 2016 Heritage Fire Napa, by Cochon555, will feature heritage and heirloom foods including dry-aged beef, whole pigs, lamb, goat, squab, rabbit, duck, fish, chicken, artisan cheeses, oysters, and heirloom vegetables. So set your sights on Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena next Sunday August 21st, and plan to please your palate!
I am getting excited for my first time at the Wine Bloggers Conference, this year in Lodi, CA from August 11-14. Hopefully much of it will be indoors as the Central Valley can get pretty toasty in the summer!
If you happen to attending as well, then make time on Friday evening for a Charles Communications event with me spinning vinyl on the Klinker Brick patio! RSVP to Greer Shull at rsvp(at)charlescomm.com or 415-701-WINE to save your space.
We’ve all seen the billboard driving north on Hwy 101, right? Well Virginia Dare has returned thanks to the direction of Francis Ford Coppola Winery. You can read my brief article about it in Napa Sonoma Magazine, published February of this year.
Virginia Dare Winery
22281 Chianti Road, Geyserville
(707) 735-3500
virginiadarewinery.com
Here is a great opportunity to taste amazing wines from 25 Mt. Veeder wineries! There will also be food pairings from Hess Executive Chef, Chad Hendrickson and live high-energy blues from The Hummingbirdz. More fun to be had when you peruse the Silent Auction and participate in the Raffle. Best of all, take home limited production Mt. Veeder gems from participating wineries!
Mt. Veeder Appelation Wine Tasting
Saturday, August 6
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
The Hess Collection Winery
4411 Redwood Road, Napa
Purchase $75 tickets at MtVeederWines.com
or call 707-266-1296 ($100 Tickets at the Door)
PARTICIPATING WINERIES
Anthem Winery & Vineyards
VGS Chateau Potelle
Fontanella Family Winery
Godspeed Vineyards
HALL Wines
The Hess Collection Winery
Howell at the Moon Winery
Lagier Meredith
Marketta Winery
Mayacamas Vineyards
Mithra Winery
Mount Veeder Winery
Mt. Brave
O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery
Paratus Vineyards
Progeny
Random Ridge
Robert Craig Winery
Rubissow Wines
Sky Vineyards
Vinoce Vineyards
Y. Rousseau Wines
Yates Family Vineyard
