Have a hankering for some robust Rhone inspired local wines?  From aromatic white wines and elegant red blends, to bold and spicy vineyard designates, taste and discover why many talented winemakers in Napa Valley are working with grape varietals that were originally made famous in the Rhone Valley of France and other special regions around the globe at this amazing wine class and tasting!

Exploring the Rhone Zone
The Rudd Center at The Culinary Institute
of America Greystone, St. Helena
Saturday, March 19 / 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Get your tickets!

Moderated by Esther Mobley, Wine Writer, San Francisco Chronicle and joined by an amazing panel;  Carole Meredith, Proprietor/Co-Founder, Lagier Meredith Vineyard, David Miner, Proprietor, Miner Family Winery, Ashley Hepworth, Winemaker, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Gillian Balance, Master Sommelier, Stags Leap Winery/Treasury Wine Estates and Jeff Cohn, Winemaker/Proprietor, Jeff Cohn Cellars.

Featured Wines!
Jeff Cohn Cellars 2013 Viognier, 2 Guys/2 Barrels, Stagecoach Vineyard, Atlas Peak
Joseph Phelps 2012 Syrah, Larry Hyde & Sons Vineyard, Carneros
Lagier Meredith 2003 Syrah, Estate Grown, Mount Veeder
Miner Family 2011 Syrah, Stagecoach Vineyard, Napa Valley
Stags Leap 2012 Petite Sirah, Ne Cede Malis, Estate Grown, Stags Leap District

Yum!  Christopher

This Saturday March 19th, join my class, High Elevation Wines Part 1: Eastside, covering the amazing wines of the Vaca Mountain range in Napa Valley, along with some of the wonderful women involved in their production!

Antica Napa Valley
Beringer
Cimarossa
Cliff Lede
Palmaz Vineyards

High Elevation Wines Part 1: Eastside will be held at The Rudd Center at The Culinary Institute of America Greystone, St. Helena, from 10:00 – 11:30am.  Get your tickets now!

Continue your Flavor! Napa Valley adventure on Saturday to the afternoon follow-up High Elevation Wines Part 2: Westside or Exploring the Rhone Zone, both at 3pm.

See you this weekend! Christopher

A little history lesson for you, before Cabernet Sauvignon became the most popular grape in the Napa Valley, most of the full-bodied red wines were made with Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Charbono and other legendary grape varietals referred to as “mixed blacks.”  Come find out what an all-star cast of Napa Valley farmers, winemakers, vintners and boutique producers are doing to preserve these special old vineyard sites.

Preservation Society
The Rudd Center at The Culinary Institute
of America Greystone, St. Helena
Friday, March 18 / 3:00pm – 4:30pm
Get your tickets!

I’m honored to be the moderator for this Flavor! Napa Valley class, alongside this amazing panel of professionals; Robert Biale, Proprietor, Robert Biale Winery: Aldo’s Vineyard, Tegan Passalacqua, Winemaker, Turley Wine Cellars: Hayne Vineyard,  Mike Hendry, Proprietor, Hendry Winery: R.W. Moore Vineyard,  Russell Bevan, Winemaker, Chase Cellars: Hayne Vineyard, Genevieve Janssens, Winemaker, Robert Mondavi Winery: To Kalon Vineyard.

Test your wine knowledge by matching the label with the appropriate Flavor! Napa Valley event, taking place March 16-20.  These delicious beauties were all dropped off this week in preparation of all the upcoming to-do’s.  Hope to be seeing you in the mix! Christopher

Here are the possibilities:
a) Pinot Paradise
b) Aromatic White Wines for Spring
c) High-Elevation Wines Part 1: Eastside
d) High-Elevation Wines Part 2: Westside
e) Forward Thinking: The Young Stars of Napa Valley
f) Exploring the Rhone Zone
g) Terrior to Table: Five Decades Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting with Trefethen Family Vineyards
h) BRIX after-party

Find the answers at my Napa Valley – Pinterest page. 

For more event options check out the full Flavor! Napa Valley Schedule At a Glance.

Here is a refreshing opportunity!  Join moderator, Bob Bath, Master Sommelier and Professor of Wine and Beverage Studies at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone and at COPIA as well to check out the new delicate styles of white wine from Napa Valley that are becoming very fashionable to pair with so many styles of fine cuisine.

Aromatic White Wines for Spring
The Culinary Institute of America at Copia
500 1st Street Napa, CA 94559
Friday, March 18, 2016 from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Get your tickets!

This Flavor! Napa Valley class will enlighten you to some crisp alternatives to Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, with lovely aromatic aromas.  An amazing crew of panelists will be in attendance as well: Heidi Barrett, La Sirena Wines; Mike Chelini, Stony Hill Vineyard; Jeff Virnig, Robert Sinskey Vineyards; Craig Becker, Priest Ranch/Somerston Estate; Ken Foster, Mahoney Vineyards; Ry Richards, Chappellet Winery.

Enjoy!