Russian River Valley – Single Vineyard Night in SF – Weds, Nov 4th

Another excuse to sip RRV wines, join me next Wednesday, November 4th, for this event at the Golden Gate Club, in the Presidio, San Francisco.

Great vineyard selections from the dynamic sub-zones of Russian River Valley.
Great vineyard selections from the dynamic sub-zones of Russian River Valley.
Single Vineyard Night will be more than 30 winemakers and winegrowers will be pouring small-lot, single vineyard wines from the Russian River Valley, including premier Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc.

Guests will also be treated to small bites from the Spinster Sisters, including chili rubbed flank steak with avocado salsa and madras curry chicken puffs among other delectable tastes, plus exquisite cheeses from Freestone Artisan Cheese. There will also be a silent auction and instant cellar raffle (to win 4 cases of RRV wine).

See you there!

Downtown Tasting Rooms: An Urban Twist

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!

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

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!

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

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 hereASAP-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

Wine & Poetry: Litquake: October 15, 2015

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

Petaluma GAP, McEvoy and the great wines of Autumn

20150807_184424
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!

20150807_175032
The elegant, dry, and refreshing Rose from #McEvoyRanch, #PetalumaGap.