Category Archives: Wine

Food, news, Tasting, Wine

Downtown Tasting Rooms: An Urban Twist

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As the number of popular Napa and Sonoma wineries continues to grow, choosing where to taste can sometimes seem intimidating. This is especially true when you have to figure in the time it takes to drive from one winery to the next, plus where to eat along the way.

The wondrous fountain at the new Starmont tasting room in Napa.
The wondrous fountain at the new Starmont’s new tasting room in Napa.

To keep it simple, start by heading to Wine Country’s downtown tasting rooms to try some of the area’s best wines. Many of these hip places stay open into the evening, so it’s easier than ever to make the most of the day.

To read more go to my Downtown Tasting article that was published recently by Napa Sonoma Magazine.

If I missed your favorite, please share it in a comment below!

Food, Tasting, Wine

“Pinot on the River” in Healdsburg Plaza – Sun, Oct 25

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It’s that time, the 12th Annual Pinot On The River Festival which I attend every year!  It is a fun filled weekend of Pinot Noir, in the beautiful Russian River Valley town of Healdsburg. This year sit with the winemakers and other Pinot-loving consumers as we focus on limited production West Coast Pinot Noirs.

The Artisanal Pinot Noir Grand Tasting on Sunday, October 25, from 12-4pm, will have over 100 wineries plus guest Artisan Food Vendors all in the heart of downtown Healdsburg!

From Riverbench Winery, Laura Booras offers a tasty sip of Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County.
From Riverbench Winery, Laura Booras offers a tasty sip of Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County.
Warning: Smiles abound at Pinot Noir on the River!
Warning: Smiles abound at Pinot Noir on the River!
Event, Food, Travels, Wine

Luncheon & Wine Tasting at Historic Fort Ross, Sat Oct 17th

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Driving home with my family along Hwy 1 a year ago, from a scenic Sea Ranch stay, we saw signage for an event I missed. This year, I am going! The Fort Ross-Seaview Wine Festival will be this Saturday, October 17, from 11am-4pm. It will be an exquisite way to take in breathtaking views, enjoy the lingering warmth of autumn, and experience  celebrations of the Russian, Alaska Native, and Native American history, that worked these lands two hundred years ago.

fortrossFrom 1-3pm is the Grand Luncheon: A four-course meal of seasonal fare expertly paired with wines from the area, prepared by renowned local chefs and served on a marine terrace overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Tickets are available by advance purchase only and will sell out. Purchase them here–ASAP-only available until 9pm tonight!

An amazing array of wines will be poured by
Flowers Vineyard & Winery
Fort Ross Vineyard & Winery
Kutch Wines
Martinelli Winery
Precious Mountain Vineyard
RAEN Winery
Tin Barn Vineyards
Wayfarer Vineyard
Wild Hog Vineyard
Williams-Selyem Winery

See you there! Christopher

Art, Event, Literature, People, Wine

Wine & Poetry: Litquake: October 15, 2015

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Litquake arrives in San Francisco on October 9th this year, departing October 17th, so don’t forget to join me for my 6th Annual Flight of Poets on Thursday October 15th!  Featured wineries include Gundlach Bundschu, Hess Collection, Three Wine Co., LaFollette Wines, Tin Bar & Breathless.

To whet your palate,  enjoy this poem by my friend Dean Rader, who is in the Department of English at USF, that was a finalist in the Caldwell Vineyard – Rocket Science Label Contest 2014.

Red is landing and launch,
Orbit and origin, both cork and
Crush. It’s motion, evolution,
Kinesis. It’s fire and flight.
Every color moves, but red
Takes off, it rockets through
Space, through science. Look: the
Capsule is in your hand. Explore.
Imbibe sun and skin, drink the
Earth. You too can discover the
New world; for in this realm, in this
Cosmos, in this universe,
Everything is wine.

And while you are feeling the wine vibe, chew on this little extra from Dean as well!

Take me

over tongue over teeth
over cusp cut and rim
over skin

Peel me
back and push
me down I want
to go deep

below body and bone
beneath darkness and dirt

and there raise
me up to
mouth on mouth
on lip on tip

I want to go deep
I want to be squashed
quashed and quelled

I want to be crushed
Event, Food, People, Sommelier, Tasting, Wine

Petaluma GAP, McEvoy and the great wines of Autumn

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Winemaker Blake Yarger speaks at the inagural Summer Winemaker Dinner at the McEvoy Ranch Chinese Pavillion.

Love this great article by Linda on the Salvation Sisters blog about the Petaluma GAP and first ever winemaker dinner, McEvoy Ranch Summer Winemakers Dinner — the McEvoy Ranch Chinese Pavilion and the Petaluma Gap American Viticultural Area (AVA).  Leslie Sbrocco and I are featured in this story as well:  See us in action at the Gloria Ferrer Glorious Bites Appetizer Challenge event this Saturday October 10th.

That evening I will also be attending another culinary event at Jessup Cellars so look for my posts from the Surreal Harvest Dinner with gastronaut Bob Blumer!

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The elegant, dry, and refreshing Rose from #McEvoyRanch, #PetalumaGap.

 

Charity, Competition, Event, Food, Music, Tasting, Wine

Mix your wine with charity this weekend!

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bless1If you aren’t feeling the pull, like I am, to the Sierra Nevadas this weekend (see The Big Crush), then perhaps you can enjoy some local sips to support worthy North Bay causes?

On Saturday October 3rd you can Raise the Roof  along with an assortment of farmers, wineries, restaurants, hoteliers, insurance agents, realtors, event planners, civic leaders, local law and fire department personnel, and many other local Sonoma County businesses.   Proceeds go to help victims of the recent Valley fire in Lake County.

roof2Attend the event and participate in the silent auction while enjoying delectable wines from the most sought after wineries and sensational bites from featured chefs including Dustin Valette, Duskie Estes, Guy Fieri, Nicolai Lipscomb to name a few. Tickets are $100 pre-sale or $125 at the Sonoma Jet Center doors in Santa Rosa.

On Sunday, October 4th is the 15th Annual Blessing of the Animals at St. Francis Winery. Bring your best furry friend to the Winery to be blessed and spend the afternoon helping raise money for the Sonoma Humane Society.

Admission is FREE! Winery Dog of the Year Contest entry is $10. Wines by glass, raffle tickets, silent auction all contribute to funds raised for animals in need.
bless3

Event, Food, Tasting, Wine

Glorious Bites Appetizer Challenge @Gloria Ferrer – Oct 10th

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For the first year, Gloria Ferrer and Top Chef star, Brooke Williamson, have teamed up and are on a mission to discover the most glorious appetizer recipe in the country at the Glorious Bites Appetizer Challenge.

GFsonomabrutAll appetizers will be judged by Williamson and an expert panel on originality, perceived taste appeal and perceived ability to pair with the Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut. In addition to Williamson, final event judging panelists will include: myself, Christopher Sawyer, founder of SawyerSomm.com, Sondra Bernstein, Proprietor of the girl & the fig and ESTATE in Sonoma & the fig café & winebar in Glen Ellen, CA, and Steven Urberg, Winemaker for Gloria Ferrer. The cook-off will be emceed by award-winning author, speaker, wine consultant, and television host Leslie Sbrocco.

The regional finalists will participate in a live cook-off on Saturday October 10th, 11am to 2pm, that will culminate at the National Finals at Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards in Sonoma, CA.

Get your tickets to attend the “Glorious Bites Challenge” Finals now!

Event, Music, Tasting, Travels, Wine

My Big Crush in Amador County, Oct 3 & 4

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Finally getting a family trip away and you know there will be wine!  We will be trekking to beautiful Amador Wine Country just in time to experience Big Crush Harvest Festival on October 3 & 4.  It will include 42 Amador Wineries that open up their cellar doors and tasting rooms with ultimate hospitality paired with music, food and fun.  Presale tickets will be sold online until September 29.

amadorBC2015The BIG CRUSH is your ticket to the Shenandoah Valley and Fiddletown appellations, historic main streets of Sutter Creek, Amador City, Plymouth, and beyond!

Two days of bountiful cuisine, world-class wines, along with sounds of acoustic to rock & roll music wafting from every crush pad in the county.  Scenes of teeming vineyards, trudging tractors, bustling crush pads await!

Find me at a winery or follow my social media posts on Sunday Oct 4th to join in on the adventure!

Awards, Competition, Judging, Wine

Harvest Fair Photos and Database of Winners

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Here are a few candid shots from my days judging with the 2015 Harvest Fair. Before you jump into the Press Democrat Database of Winners, get primed with this article published on Sunday that features an interview with me, Harvest Fair wine entries impress judges.

Judge Christopher Sawyer checks the color of a zinfandel at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair wine competition. (JOHN BURGESS / The Press Democrat)
Judge Christopher Sawyer checks the color of a zinfandel at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair wine competition. (JOHN BURGESS / The Press Democrat)

Harvest Fair Wine Database
There were 1,189 award-winning wines, given in the categories of Best of Class, Gold, Silver and Bronze. A total of 629 silver and 205 bronze medals were awarded. Among 1,254 entries, only 65 wines received no award.

Fabulous Sonoma County Harvest Fair Judges Dinner hosted by the Gallo Family at the Frei Ranch in Dry Creek Valley.
Fabulous Sonoma County Harvest Fair Judges Dinner hosted by the Gallo Family at the Frei Ranch in Dry Creek Valley.
With my co-judges Liz Thach MW and wine writer Mike Dunne.
With my co-judges Liz Thach MW and wine writer Mike Dunne.
Getting ready for the Sweepstakes Round of the judging at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.
Getting ready for the Sweepstakes Round of the judging at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.