Monthly Archives: April 2025

Awards, Competition, Event, Judging, Sommelier, Varietal, Wine

Feeling Pink? Time to Enter THE Rosé Competition 2025!

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THE Rosé Competition 2025 will be taking place on May 31st in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for its 12th edition!

Featuring world-renowned judges who are professionals in the wine industry. They include chefs, sommeliers, retailers, writers and educators

  •         * Winning medals can help boost sales and brand awareness.
  •         * Give your brand pride, prestige and bragging rights.
  •         * Gain recognition with consumers, distributors and retailers.
  •         * Wines awarded medals receive a beautiful Medal/Ribbon to display.
  •         * Digital medals are provided for promotions, online marketing, and social media.
  •       * Medals help you sell more wine

REGISTER HERE! The fee is $70.00 per wine entered.  Both International and domestic rosé wines are invited to participate: Including sparkling, dry, and sweet wine categories. (We require four bottles of each wine entered, two for the competition, one to promote your wine at our annual “Fifty Shades of Pink” fundraising event and one signed bottle for our charity auction.)  CHEERS! Chris & Shari

Awards, Farm, History, Judging, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Varietal, Virtual, Wine, Winery

A Visit With Mohr-Fry Ranches on THE VARIETAL SHOW

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Stuck in Lodi again? HELL yeah!Join THE VARIETAL SHOW for this special visit with Mohr-Fry Ranches, recently awarded 2025 Vineyard of the Year by California State Fair for  “Marian’s Vineyard”. We discuss gnarly old Zinfandel vines, the amazing Fry family who care for this famous vineyard planted in 1901, and a collection of seven other wonderful old Zinfandel plantings.

Joining us are my great friends Lodi Mayor Emeritus Mark Chandler, Stuart Spencer of St. Amant Winery (whose family has worked with the precious fruit from this historic vineyard for over three decades), and Fry family father Jerry, son Bruce and granddaughter Morgan (holding my camera).

Event, Food, People, Sommelier, Sonoma County Vintners, Tasting, Varietal, Video, Vlog, Wine, Winery

Tastes of Imagery On THE VARIETAL SHOW

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More tasty talk about Aromatic Whites and Rosé Wine Delights and the exciting Pour+Explore wine event that my special guest Jamie Benziger of Imagery Estate Winery, Sonoma County Vintners and myself will be part of next Thursday, April 17 from 5:30-7:30 PM at Balletto Vineyards near Santa Rosa.

Get your TICKETS for this celebratory SCV-style kickoff to Spring and Summer wines being poured by 30 + wineries that I helped hand select to participate. SEE YOU THERE!~Chris

Event, Food, People, Sommelier, Sonoma County Vintners, Tasting, Varietal, Video, Vlog, Wine, Winery

Marimar Estate & Spanish White Wines On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

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THE VARIETAL SHOW gets in depth with Cristina Torres of Marimar Estate to discuss their fantastic Spanish varietals that will be featured at Pour+Explore Rosés & Aromatic Whites, being hosted by myself and Sonoma County Vintners, next Thursday, April 17 from 5:30-7:30 PM at Balletto Vineyards.

Join us for this celebratory SCV-style kickoff to Spring and summer wines being poured by 30 + wineries I helped hand selected to be part of this amazing event! Get your TICKETS while you can.

Art, Event, Festivals, Food, Sommelier, Tasting, Travels, Wine

Getting A Bump At Puerto Rico Wine & Food Festival!

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In case you missed this IG post, it was the final hurrah at Puerto Rico Wine & Food Festival that happened April 3-6! Our joyous version of a caviar orgy at the Bubbles & Brilliance: A Champagne & Caviar Experience with my dear pals star Chef Todd English, my fellow Somms team, and the small group of our wonderful guests, who stayed around to taste more caviar with us at this magnificent seminar before the Grand Tasting happened in the historic section of San Juan . . . and yes, that’s me standing on a chair above everyone and we ate the whole can of caviar after Chef Todd popped it open. (Never doubt Chef’s McGyver skills!)