“Excuse me, are you Eve Bushman from the Wine Down show? (Over 15k views so far of my episode Wine Immersion for Beginners!) I’m at this event because of you, and how you said the best way to learn about wine is to attend tastings like Family Winemakers…” Yes, apparently I do have a fan! Made my day! Now, where was I learning about wine:
Our first tasting was held on November 12, 1991, in the Sheraton Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Family Winemakers had 71 member wineries back then, and 47 of them poured that night for about 350 members of the wine trade. We’ve grown. We have over 375 members today and many of them pour at one or all of our tastings: Bay Area, Del Mar and Pasadena. We’ve grown, and so have our tastings, but some things haven’t changed. The wineries are just as dedicated as they were in 1991 to producing the finest wines they can, the winemakers are just as passionate about the right soil, the right grape, the right microclimate. And Family Winemakers is just as committed to presenting our member wineries and their wines at tastings that showcase the breadth and depth of winemaking in our state. Family Winemakers … Great Wine a Family Tradition!
Tasting
Thanks to my editor Michael Perlis I first learned about this event quite a few years ago. Every time they do have the tasting in Pasadena I make an effort to cover it. This year we both did so look for his coverage on this website too – just use our handy search button.
At the event I was in the mood for Rhônes, Zinfandel and Bordeaux varietals so if I have bolded a winery below, and didn’t note the specific wine I liked, it would definitely be in one of those categories! (The multi-page program included a handy “varietal map” for those that also were in the mood for a certain type of wine.)
As is the case in a walk around tasting, it’s not always convenient to make a lot of notes without a crowd building up behind you at the tasting table. (Some tables I missed due to crowds too.) I did however, try to note every wine, vintage year and varietal of most:
Wineries
Amizetta Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
Angwin Estate Vineyards with a deep and dark Cabernet Sauvignon
Ascension Cellars all good especially the “Soul Searcher” blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
AvinoDos Wines Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and a Zinfandel.
Blair Estate
Blue Farm
Bokisch Vineyards
Brecon Estate
Brutocao/Bliss Family Vineyards
G. Di Arie Vineyard & Winery
Cass Winery
Collier Falls
De Novo Wines
Dewitt Family Wines 2014 and 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Donum Estate
DRNK Malbec (DRNK are the initials of the four owners, all family members.)
Fiftyrow/Smokescreen
Frisson Wines
Fritz Winery
Frogs Tooth Vineyards Barbera
Frostwatch Vineyard and Winery
Gordenker 2013 and 2012 Moon Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, 2016 Cabernet Franc.
Greyscale Wines 2015 Merlot.
Hagafen Cellars
Hawk and Horse Vineyards
Hearst Ranch Winery Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2015 Petite Sirah.
Heritage Oak Winery
Hook & Ladder Winery
Howell Mountain Vineyards
Huge Bear Wines this was probably my pick of the day: 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, their current vintage.
Inspiration Vineyards & Winery
Rickards Winery
Keenan Winery
Kieu Hoang Winery
Meeker Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and “Frozin” dessert wine.
Murder Ridge Winery 2015 Zinfandel and 2015 Red Blend.
Navarro Vineyards
Oak Farm Vineyards
Oakville Cross Wines 2007 (thank you!) and 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Opolo Vineyards
Parmeson Wines
Pech Merle Winery 2015 Cabernet Franc, 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2014 Zinfandel.
Petree Cellars
Petrified Forest Vineyards
Pierce Ranch Vineyards
Pine and Brown Winery
Pride Mountain Vineyards everything they poured: 2016 Chardonnay, 2015 Merlot and 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon with a little Petit Verdot and Merlot.
Quady Winery
Rack & Riddle Winery
Robert John Vineyards 2010 to 2014 vertical tasting of their Cabernet Sauvignon.
Saddleback Cellars
Scotto Cellars
Shadow Ranch Vineyard
Silkwood Wines
Sobon Estate/Shenandoah Vineyards
Sojourn Cellars
Sol Rouge Vineyard & Winery had a huge lineup and a sign mentioning many of their 90+ scores from Wine Enthusiast. I enjoyed the Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Zinfandel and Cinsault.
Tablas Creek Vineyard both of their white and red Rhône blends.
The Farm Winery 2013 Cardinal Cabernet Sauvignon and “Touchy Feely” Grenache.
Treasure Island Wines 2010 Big Game.
Trione Vineyards & Winery
Uncorqed
Velvet Bee LLC
Vineyard {511} 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Vino Noceto Zinfandel.
WesMar Winery
Windrun Vintners
Woodenhead
Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyards
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com
