Here comes the Meat! Cochon 555 feast this sunday August 2nd

Napa Valley’s cult-favorite-whole-animal-wood-fired-outdoor feast, brought to you by Cochon 555’S Heritage Fire, features 3000 pounds of fire kissed meat at Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena this Sunday August 2nd, 3pm– 7pm.

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Join me and the Nerd Stalker for this one! The goal of the events produced by the team at Cochon 555 are to promote honest food artisans, celebrate family farms, and create culinary awareness for those hard working people responsibly raising heritage species. The events tilt the scales in favor of the farms and the relationship with the emerging chef community constantly struggling with paying premium food prices when the decision is made to serve their guests safer, flavorful food raised locally.

*Tickets available at COCHON 555*
A portion of the ticket proceeds will benefit St. Helena Farmers Market and the American Institute of Wine & Food. A group of celebrated butchers will host a Pop-Up Butcher Shop presented by Williams-Sonoma where 100% of the proceeds will benefit the students of the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone.

Get Back to the Future @St Francis on July 23

This is the final installment of “stars under the stars” Outdoor Film Festival at St Francis Winery for summer 2015. Sorry to miss all the fun but you can have a fabulous evening!

Back to the Future
Starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd & Lea Thompson (1985)
Pre-show concert by: Windsor Jazz Ensemble
Thursday, July 23, 2015

future1Featured Wines
$8 per glass (Includes a keepsake St. Francis glass)
2013 Chardonnay
2012 Three Valleys Zinfandel

On the Menu by Executive Chef Bryan Jones
$10 per plate
Meatloaf Sandwich
Mac & Cheese

Admission & Popcorn are Free!
Wine, Food and Sweets will be available for purchase.

ZigSaw Summer Wine Picks 2015

What is ZigSaw? It’s when Sawyer Somm and Ziggy the Wine Gal get together to talk about their favorite subject! Keep an eye out for our show on Allvino.com starting in August 2015.

Korbell NV Blanc de Noirs Sparkling Wine, California ($11.99) One of the most intriguing sparkling wines around! Unlike most Blanc de Noirs, which are made primarily with just Pinot Noir grapes; this magnificent new release has smaller portions of three other flavorful red grapes varieties: Zinfandel, Gamay and Sangiovese. As a result, the wine has lively flavors of raspberry, strawberry and cherry; soft, spicy notes of ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg; and a long, enchanting finish that makes you want more!
SawyerSomm Pairings: Great wine to serve with brunch, especially with Lox & Bagels, fresh fruit and tangy salads; for lunch, think chilled soups, BLTs, turkey sandwiches; and for dinner, salds with goat cheese and berries, tuna tartare, salmon, sushi, pork with fruit chutney.

Thirty-Seven 2013 Albarino, Paradise View Vineyard, Sonoma Coast ($22) Crisp, dry and refreshing wine with fresh aromas of summer flowers, melon, citrus, and mineral. Lively flavors of Meyer lemon, lime peel, cantaloupe, white pepper, and a burst of bright tangy acidity on the finish.
SawyerSomm Pairings: fresh oysters, Ceviche, spring rolls, fish tacos, and grilled chicken with zesty lime aioli.

Trattore Farms 2013 Roussanne, Estate Grown, Dry Creek Valley ($28) Blended with a small portion of Viognier, too. This dazzling medium to full bodied wine has lovely aromas and bright flavors of white peach, ripe melon, fresh squeezed grapefruit, hint of apricot, vibrant acidity and lush creamy texture.
SawyerSomm Pairings: Medium cheeses, guacamole, Heirloom tomato salad, peaches and citrus, poached scallops, sea bass, pasta with tangy white sauce, and lemon chicken.

Acorn 2012 Dolcetto, Alegria Vineyards, Russian River Valley ($35) Dolcetto is best known for being one of the flavorful red grapes grown in the Piedmont region of Italy. Through the years, Acorn Winery in Healdsburg has made one of the finest offerings from the United States. Not surprisingly, this new release did great against selections from around the globe at the San Francisco International Wine Competition 2015. Captivating notes include: lofty aromas of wild berries, citrus peel, cocoa and spice; vibrant flavors of fresh-picked blackberries, blueberry, boysenberry, black pepper, espresso, and roasted walnut; tangy acidity; soft texture. Alluring, playful and generous.
SawyerSomm Pairings: Salty cheeses, especially parmesan or Vella Dry Jack; pulled pork sandwiches; grilled veggies, Ahi tuna with Espresso Rub, pan-seared Liberty Duck breast; gourmet sausages and juicy burgers done on the grill.

McEvoy 2011 Red Piano, Estate Bottled, North Coast ($35) Gold Medal winner at both the San Francisco International Wine Competition 2015 and the North Coast Wine Challenge earlier this year, this wine is all about Mediterranean delights. Made with a selection from special blocks of Syrah, Grenache, Montalpuciano and Refosco planted at the McEvoy Ranch south of Petaluma, the wine features lovely aromas of red fruits, red apple peel, blood orange and spice. On the palate, the flavors are layered with notes of dark cherry, pomegranate, licorice, white pepper, and fresh herbs.
SawyerSomm Pairings: A dazzling picnic wine, especially when paired with a selection of local chesses, charcuterie, baguette, fresh berries, roasted nuts, cured olives, and McEvoy Olive Oil. Other tasty pairings include grilled fish with savory herbs; pasta with hearty red sauce; pomegranate chicken; lamb sliders; sweet & sour pork; baby back ribs; and grilled red meats.

McEvoy Ranch.
McEvoy Ranch.

Casablanca @St. Francis Winery on July 16th

Casablanca will be the featured film this Thursday July 16th at St Francis Winery for the 6th Annual Outdoor Film Festival. While I will be tasting wines in Italy, imagine the amazing pairing you can enjoy with St Francis wines and Moroccan Chicken Tagine & Apricot-Almond Couscous!

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The film begins at dusk, seating begins at 7pm, so you can enjoy the pre-show concert by The Atomic Lounge Show.

Admission is Free!

Rose Rendezvous on Saturday, August 1st

Here is an opportunity to taste some great wines, some which I was fortunate enough to award Gold Medals at the recent Rose Competition.

roserendevouz-250August 1st, 2:00-5:00pm

Rose Rendezvous will be a charming event where you can meet some winemakers and celebrate all things Rose. SIMI’s Executive Chef Kolin Vazzoler will be cooking up tasty noshes while music will be provided by the eclectic band Full Chizel.  Be sure to get primed for the day with my recent article Ten New Pink Wine picks with Class and Style.

$35.00 per person includes all sips, bites plus a custom souvenir Rose glass to take home.  Buy your tickets at HTTP://ROSERENDEZVOUS.BPT.ME/

For further information contact Bob Ecker (707) 421-1701

Outdoor Film Festival at St. Francis Winery begins July 9th!

It is time to dust off your picnic supplies for “stars under the stars” at the St. Francis Winery 6th Annual Outdoor Film Festival!

seattlesleepAs tradition holds I will be there for the inaugural evening Thursday July 9th at 7pm for the pre-show concert, the film begins at dusk. However as blog followers already know, I will be leaving the following week on a Mediterranean Wine Cruise with St. Francis President Chris Silva. So join me the first night for Sleepless In Seattle, then follow Chris and my social media to keep tabs on our upcoming European adventure. But don’t forget to catch the other exciting films on the venue!

Here is the schedule to mark calendars:
July 9 Sleepless In Seattle
July 16 Casablanca
July 23 Back To The Future