Vintage Beacon Circa Feb. 2011: How Was the First SCV Wine FEST?

For our first effort, out of the chute, outstanding! The SCV Wine Fest is officially now the largest wine event in town.

A small line curled around the outdoor patio, filled with cigar-smoking guests of the event, at the 2pm event start. Many guests arrived early to take advantage of some of the classes also offered: a wine seminar by sommelier Mark Newman, Scotch tasting class with Scotch Master Chris Uhde, Sake tasting class led by Yoshi Murakami and our own Cindy Schwanke from COC’s Culinary Arts department, making and pairing chocolate desserts with wine.

One of the first people I got to see again was Dr. Joel Fisher. Planning for his 6^th annual LA Wine Fest after completing his 1^st SCV Wine Fest Joel said, “I’ve already decided. Same weekend, same hotel, for SCV Wine Fest 2012.”

From there I worked my way through the program (See the entire list and my favorites below) with a handy bottle of water courtesy of Castaic Lake Water Agency. I was pleased to see my own name in a special thanks section, as well as the highly-respected publications I write for as sponsors: The West Ranch Beacon, Elite Magazine and The Magazine of Santa Clarita.

The fest guests had so many choices! Besides tasting wine from Temecula to Napa, they could peruse gifts, sip sake, get a scotch lesson, taste beers, weird wine tastings, sample wine from the Ventura County Wine Trail, enjoy food truck fare or, get a palm reading!

I made my way stealthily through the tented area outside, then I ventured inside. (I had to double back to both places when peeps told me about wines they wanted me to try.) And got to spend as much time as I could with both Yoshi for Sake and Chris for Scotch – thrilled to find that those that didn’t get to attend the classes could still benefit from tastings, and, their expertise.

When it was time for me to go I wanted to record a bit more of my day so I videotaped the indoor crowd and a small group of Pulchella winery admirers outside. (Go to http://www.youtube.com/Evewine101 for those.)

Of the guests I interviewed all were pleased with the event. The one thing that struck me most was not only how well attended the inaugural effort was, but how well it was put together. I think next year this will be the number one Valentines Day Pick!

Who Was Seen

Dr. Joel Fisher, David and Nancy Bossert, Steve and Cathy Martin, Pam Ingram, Laura Garcia, Susan Fujiki, David Barlavi, Will Davison, Lisa Hawkins Blowers, Gary Choppe, Jeff Shapiro, Rich Soto and Jane Bettencourt-Soto, Paul de la Cerda and Andrea Nelson, John Dickey and Denise Lowe, Danise Davis, Yoshi Murakami, Chris Uhde, Gary and Karen Stewart, Lora Simonsgaard, Steve Lemley, Nate Hasper, Shawn Halahmy, Kari Dauer Hewitt, Tony Wire and Tanya Green, Debbie Clark, Laura Bengford, Rob Barnett, Mo, Alex and Linda Hafizi, Ann Schwartz, Kevin Kistler, Mary Bradway, Kym Cappi, Michele Buttelman, Lola Piraino, Yoti Telli, Brandon Drake, Kari Hewitt, Byron Alvarado, Norma Serrano, Debbie Clark, Sharon Lindquist, Chef Cindy Schwanke…