Dressing in all white, as suggested by the event planners, is always special – when attending a wine tasting. I think I did it once before. Honestly, anytime I see someone wearing white to a wine event I think, whoa, there’s some confidence there. Not only are they sure of not spilling themselves, they’re (overly) confident others will reach the spittoon 100% of the time.
Our teaser: Join LA’s first ‘All White Wine’ showcase featuring some of the greatest white wines ever made!
Besides all that delectable white wine the event also included several educational sessions, five in all, that we could step in on if space allowed. I was headed for the “Medi-Tasting – Meditation on champagne sponsored by Henriot” while others included: Champagne Session hosted by Master Sommelier Christopher Miller, Chardonnay Challenge hosted by Master Sommelier Nick Hetzel, Autres Blancs hosted by Master Sommelier Christopher Miller and Winemakers Panel sponsored by Jackson Family Wines.
We started with a delightful lunch that was sponsored by the Jackson Family Estates…and then got into the wines:
Tasting
These are all of the wineries at press time and I have bolded those that I was able to taste and particular vintages I enjoyed. See my photos to see more of them as well: Dom Perignon, Ruinart (NV Blanc de Blancs), Moet & Chandon (2009 vintage), La Crema, Cambria Estate (2018 Viognier, Tepusquet Vineyard), Brewer-Clifton (all Chards Greg Brewer poured, especially the 2018 Diatom Bar M), Seabold Cellars (2017 Dry Riesling and 2017 Olson Chardonnay), Copain Wines, Champagne Henriot, Bouchard Pere et Fils, William Fevre, Stonestreet (2016 Alexander Valley Chardonnay) , Matanzas Creek (2016 Knights Valley Sauvignon Blanc), Bernardus (2016 Chardonnay and 2012 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc), Mail Road Wines (2014 Chardonnay), Cloudy Bay, Newton Vineyard, LAW Estate (2015, 16 and 17 “Soph” white Rhone blend), J.J. Vincent, Cuvaison, Pol Roger, Domaine Faiveley, Famille Vincent, Pascal Jolivet (2017 Sancerre “Sauvage”), Famille Hugel, Olivier Leflaive, Hecht & Bannier, Long Meadow Ranch, Stony Hill, Domaine Schlumberger, Famille Perrin, Miraval Provence, Chateau De Beaucastel, La Vielle Ferme, Domaine & Maison Alexandrins, Schloss Lieser, Reichsrat Von Buhl, Weingut Pfeffingen (2017 Estate Scheurebe), Weingut Okonomierat Rebholz (2014 Riesling), Schafer-Frohlich, Hans Wirsching (2016 Silvaner) and Becker Estate.
Medi-Tasting
See below for the details from the organizers, my takeaways from the session included looking at the wine as a beginner would to get a fresh outlook: listen to it – you will hear the ocean the wine may have traveled over before it arrived to you, put your finger in it, think about all that went on from planting to delivery and honor it. We practiced a bit of meditation as well, and noted how our frame of mind and stressors can add to or take away from our enjoyment. When we got down to tasting we already knew they would all be remarkable wines from Champagne Henriot – NV Blanc de Blancs, 2008 Brut Millesime (released a year ago, 100% Grand Cru) and 2005 Cuvee Hemera that I meditated the longest over as I found it so delicious.
Blanc de Blancs Medi-Tasting (Abbreviated From WineLA.com)
Medi-Tasting is a new, exciting and engaging wine tasting experience, created by Champagne Henriot, including practices of mindfulness to elevate the art of tasting…Elisha Goldstein, PhD, is co-founder of The Center for Mindful Living in West Los Angeles and creator of the 6-month coaching and mentorship program, A Course in Mindful Living. A psychologist, and international speaker and mindfulness educator, his books include Uncovering Happiness and The Now Effect…
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 (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
