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How it Began: Bushman and Perlis and Wine

August 19, 2022 by evebushman

Back in 2009, or maybe even a bit earlier, I had an appointment with our insurance agent at her office in Newhall. She mentioned that a “money guy” who worked down the hall, had been reading my wine column in The Signal newspaper and wanted to meet me. The guy was Michael Perlis. That fateful day was the beginning of a great relationship.

I walked over to Michael’s office, knocked, and we met. Come to find Michael was a fan and a wine lover, but he also had a motive in meeting me, he wanted to contribute to Eve’s Wine 101 website and also…be my editor to catch and correct all of the errors he had read of mine over the years! Egads – one of Michael’s favorite Eve-ism words – and off we were. I don’t know if he said all of this in our first meeting or later after we four – with our spouses Eddie and Karen – had met over wine a few times, but this is how I remember it.

Flash forward a bit more to one of my articles for Eve’s Wine 101, and the first time that Michael chimed in on my post. That was May of 2009. Michael began writing a weekly column, which ran most Saturdays following my column on Fridays. Over the years I’ve learned more about wine through Michael’s articles – even more now that his wife Karen is co-writing them – and I suspect he’s learned from some of mine.

We’ve shared wine event plans, wine trip plans, tasting notes, and plenty of wine over the years. But mostly we’ve shared a deep friendship, common interests and goals for our website.

More collaboration included Michael pushing me to create Eve Bushman Consulting where for over a decade we assisted non-profits but also wineries, bars and restaurants with marketing and events. (We had been asked for advice many times, based on our wine/spirits knowledge, experience and knowing our city.) More of that can be found via a Google search or Eve’s Wine 101 blog.

Some of our amazing memories include the story behind the photo I chose for this post: we offered our consulting services to the Wish Education Foundation when we presented an idea of having the first wine tasting in the Old Town Newhall Library. We recruited pals, including co-host Marlee Lauffer, to open their own cellared wines, as well as wineries and local restaurants that were willing to participate. There’s a lot more on that event and others in our blog, it’s just one example to illustrate our collaboration, and the support of our spouses that also gave up their time and their wine. This particular event was called A Toast And A Wish.

Wine Interests

While Michael and Karen had wine tasted in Paso Robles, when we first met I hadn’t been there yet. Michael taught me that the Central Coast – and Sonoma, an area I also didn’t visit often – had plenty to offer. I learned pretty quickly that it was time to hit the road. I was mostly an armchair writer at that point, except for trips only to Napa now and then.  Our wine tastes sometimes differ- I am big on Napa Cabs, Rhônes and Bordeaux – but we appreciate each other’s palate. We both love Zinfandel! I’ve learned that getting out of my comfort zone – and a rut – helped me learn even more about wine.

Our own relationship

On a personal note, up until Covid, Michael and I enjoyed monthly staff lunches over wine. Michael brought the wine and I footed the bill, and I know Michael was the more generous one here! We would cover business, and then get down to harmless gossip, travel plans and ideas. Almost every time when a new challenge faced us, Michael always found a way to bolster my ego – and our collective talents – to take on any challenge. We enjoyed supporting our favorite local restaurants too, and hope to renew these lunch meetings as soon as Covid stops plaguing us all.

Michael’s Bio

I have been pursuing my passion for wine for more than 25 years. I have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show me the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages me and shares my interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as I possibly could, I had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, I do my best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. You can contact Michael at: michaelthezinfan@aol.com

From Eve

Not sure what prompted this article. I had recently reached out to Michael for his thoughts on changing our weekly newsletter to twice monthly, and possibly not having daily content. While I’ve retired Eve Bushman Consulting, Eve’s Wine 101 blog is standing firm as both of us have no plans to stop writing and supporting the wine and spirits industry. Whatever it was, I’m happy to report that we are both thankful to our loyal readers, now for well over a decade! And maybe I just wanted Michael to know, as he is editing this article like all of my others, how much he is loved and appreciated. Egads!

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.

Filed Under: Eve Bushman Tagged With: bar, Bordeaux, cabernet sauvignon, California, cellar, Central Coast, eve bushman, eve wine 101, michael perlis, Napa, non profit, Paso Robles, restaurants, Sonoma, tasting notes, vineyard, wine event, wine events, Wine tasting, wine trip, wineries, winery, wish education foundation

Broken Shed Vodka: Fastest Growing Imported Vodka Brand in the U.S.

August 18, 2022 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Broken Shed Vodka (http://www.brokenshed.com), New Zealand’s award-winning, super-premium vodka, is now the fastest growing imported vodka brand selling over 10,000 9 liter cases in the U.S. Its 4 year growth rate surpassing all others in the class.

For the fiscal year from March 31, 2021 to March 31, 2022, Broken Shed sold 13,139 9 Liter cases, which is a 59% growth in overall case depletion within the country over last fiscal year. Broken Shed recently reported an impressive compound annual growth rate of 132% over the course of the last 4 years. The top 3 markets in the U.S. are North Carolina, Connecticut and Tennessee.

“All of us at Broken Shed are pleased to see such impressive sales growth in the United States within the last few years,” says Steve Bellini, President of Broken Shed Vodka, “We look forward to continuing to expand our footprint across the country and introducing new consumers to a crisp, modern vodka made without any additives, sweeteners or GMOs.”

Broken Shed is currently available in the 27 states of Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, California, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Washington D.C. Broken Shed will be expanding its distribution soon within the U.S., with the three new markets of Nebraska, West Virginia and Florida, increasing total availability to 30 states. Globally, you can find Broken Shed in New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

Broken Shed’s ‘Vodka of Tomorrow’ Campaign, which launched last summer and will continue through 2022, was developed by Broken Shed Vodka’s Chicago and New Zealand based creative agency family of record, Schafer Condon Carter (SCC) and TimeZoneOne (TZO), resulted in over 16.6 million impressions. The campaign demonstrates that Broken Shed is what vodka can be, made sustainably without additives and pays tribute to the vodka’s home country by highlighting that, thanks to being in the time zone where each day begins, it’s already tomorrow in New Zealand.

To learn more about what makes Broken Shed Vodka the ‘world’s most unique vodka,’ visit the website Brokenshed.com

About Broken Shed Vodka: Broken Shed Vodka © 2022 is based in Wanaka, New Zealand. Distilled, crafted and bottled in New Zealand ever since its inception in 2009, its vodka draws upon the country’s pristine natural aquifers and spring waters, made without any hint of gluten, additives, sugars or GMOs. Since entering the U.S. market in June 2012, Broken Shed Vodka has won a legion of loyal fans, and an impressive collection of awards. Broken Shed Vodka started in a ‘broken’ down old shed on Lake Wanaka where the formula was originally crafted and produced.

Broken Shed Vodka, 40% ABV, Distilled from Whey, imported to the USA by Broken Shed Imports, Manhasset, NY. Broken Shed Vodka is produced by Broken Shed Limited., Wanaka, New Zealand.

Broken Shed Limited is a private limited company based in Wanaka, New Zealand and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Yes Whey LLC. Yes Whey LLC is a limited liability company based in Glenview, Illinois. Drink Responsibly.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: award, California, craft, distill, nevada, New Zealand, sustainable, u.s., united states, vodka

Madera Wines Are Winners!

August 14, 2022 by evebushman

MADERA, CA  — Each summer season the California wine world is abuzz with news from the prestigious Sunset International Wine Competition. More than 2,900 vintages vie for the annual accolades, and this year, two of Madera County’s most beloved wineries took home Double Gold!

To earn a Double Gold medal, the judges must award a score higher than 95 points. This is no easy feat amongst the distinguished applicants in this year’s field. Excitingly, San Joaquin Winery’s 2021 Toschi Vineyards Red Moscato did exactly that, earning the winery its highest award to date. In addition, Westbrook Wine Farm, located in the Sierra foothill hamlet of O’Neals, also took home Double Gold and Best of Class for the Westbrook Wine Farm NV Malmsey Dearest.

“To have a wine receive a medal here is no small achievement,” stated Debra DelFiorentino, CEO / Executive Director of the Sunset International Wine Competition. “Our competition is one of the most respected, recognized for consistently identifying the best wines produced internationally. This contest again drew top-level wines, and our hand-picked, top-quality judges determined which wines stood out as worthy of accolades.”

In addition to their first Double Gold Medal, San Joaquin Winery also earned silver medals for their Moody Press Cellars Brut Blanc de Blanc and Toschi Vineyards Family Blend at the 2022 Sunset International Wine Competition. Furthermore, the winery earned silver medals and 91 points each for the 2021 Toschi Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, 2020 Moody Press Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2019 Toschi Vineyards Pinot Noir at the California State Fair.

“We are very proud and excited to receive our latest medals, especially the Double Gold for our Toschi Vineyards Red Moscato. The Moscato grapes come from our locally farmed vineyard, which we carefully evaluate for quality from bud break to harvest,” San Joaquin Winery, Winemaker Miguel Sanchez, shared. “The hours spent monitoring this vineyard have definitely paid off! We hope you will stop by our tasting room, open seven days a week, and try these latest award-winning wines.”

Westbrook Wine Farm winemaker Ray Krause, gives thanks to his clientele (the ultimate judges) for their continued support. Westbrook Wine Farm is open for wine tasting by appointment only. Cheers!
 

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About Visit Yosemite | Madera County

Formed in 1985, Visit Yosemite | Madera County’s mission is to draw the millions of Yosemite National Park visitors to its gateway’s many businesses and attractions. We invite visitors to take a journey from the Fossil Discovery Center to the Madera Wine Trail and onward into the High Sierra. Discover incredible dining, talented tradespersons, four seasons of water sports at Bass Lake, the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad, and mighty adventures right up to the massive Giant Sequoia trees. Madera County is the gateway to so much more.

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Education Program Announced for Western Foodservice Expo and Coffee Fest LA

August 11, 2022 by evebushman

LOS ANGELES, CA, August 10, 2022 – Dozens of food & beverage education session led by leading subject matter experts will be offered at this month’s Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo and Coffee Fest Los Angeles taking place August 28-30, 2022 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.  The education is part of the Food & Beverage Academy offering unprecedented access to the full scope of hospitality-based education for restaurants, foodservice, specialty beverage, and café owners. The brand-new Education Summits will focus on the most important issues including business solutions, marketing tips, operational efficiency and staffing solutions in tracks for all segments of the industry – from independent owners to chains to specialty coffee and tea. 

“We are thrilled to be bringing California restaurant, foodservice, specialty beverage and café owners back together for these two trade shows and conferences and to provide a strong education program, through our new Food & Beverage Academy which will feature dozens of subject matter experts discussing the most important topics facing the industry,” said Rita Ugianskis, Vice President, Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group. “During the three-day event, attendees will have access to four new Education Summits, Workshops, Coffee Fest Education, special presentations on Center Stage, workshops, and much more.” 

The four new Education Summits will focus on staying on top of trends from inventory management and pricing; to strategizing how to keep customers coming back and staffing, hiring, and training. A few of the sessions that will be part of the Independent Operator Summit will be The Secret to Creating a Franchisable Restaurant Concept, The Way to Profitability Starts with a Sustainable Mindset, and Legal Center Live, presented by the California Restaurant Association (CRA). Click here for the full program.  

The Multi-Unit and chain Operator Summit will offer insight from subject matter experts on in-house vs. third party delivery, ghost and virtual kitchens, how to leverage customer data, sourcing and retaining talent, and more. Sessions will include The Big Pivot: Full-Service Restaurant Adds Market & Direct-to-Customer Wine & Whiskey, US Supreme Court Important PAGA Case Decision, and Menu to the Max: Creative Approaches to Menu Development. Click here for the full program.  

Foodservice and dining pose a number of challenges that differ from a traditional restaurant. The Foodservice Summit, sponsored by US Foods, will address micro-markets or menu variety, foodservice or dietary needs feeding those in educational, medical, or corporate dining environments. Session will include Top 10 Leadership Traits in Hospitality, Leasing Restaurant Space – Negotiate to Win, and How to Build a Successful Beverage Program. Click here for the full program.  

Navigating today’s technology landscape – from mobile payments to delivery and ghost kitchens, AI and machine learning, and more, is a challenge for everyone in the hospitality industry. Hear from leading technology experts in the Technology Summit, with sessions focused on: Virtual Brands: Are They Worth the Hype?, The State of Foodservice Technology and Turning Vendors into Partners: Considerations for Selecting Technology. Click here for the full program.  

Attendees will have access to over 20 free seminars within Coffee Fest LA designed for Owner/Operators, Roasters, Baristas and New Start Ups as well as 30 paid workshops covering Business Operations Roasting & Green Coffee and Skills Training. Speed-session style education will take place on the trade show floor in the Conversation Corner sponsored by Odeko and the Business Building Essentials by DCS and Barista 22. For details on specific seminars, workshops and education only at Coffee Fest Los Angeles can be found at https://www.coffeefest.com/los-angeles/coffee-fest-la-education. 

In addition, the Western Foodservice Expo has partnered with the San Francisco Wine School to host a special session on Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) Training in conjunction with the California Restaurant Association on Tuesday, August 30 from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm. Responsible Beverage Service training educates persons seeking employment or who are currently employed as servers of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption. It aims to provide servers the necessary skills to responsibly serve alcoholic beverages and mitigate alcohol-related harm in California communities. San Francisco Wine School is one of only 10 in-person providers authorized to train throughout this state. To learn more about the Responsible Beverage Service Training Act and complete the mandatory RBS Training by the Aug 31, 2022 deadline, click here.

Register for the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo and Coffee Fest Los Angeles before August 27 to receive advance admission pricing to both events and all free education sessions. Workshops are $99 if purchased prior to the August 27. On-site rates are $129 per workshop. The trade show and conference will take place Sunday, August 28 through Tuesday, August 30 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015. 

The Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo is owned by Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group and sponsored by the California Restaurant Association. Clarion Events (us.clarionevents.com) produces 37 events across thirteen sectors of both trade and consumer events. The Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group also includes the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show, the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of Western, Coffee Fest and The NGA Show.  Clarion Events acquired PennWell in early 2018, bringing 4 Tradeshow 200 events into the U.S. portfolio and super-charging the already rapid growth. Clarion Events has offices in Trumbull, CT; Kennesaw, GA; Boca Raton, FL; Tacoma, WA, and Fairlawn, NJ.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: alcohol, beverage, California, chef, coffee, education, food, foodservice expo, hospitality, kitchen, los angeles, menu, restaurant, san francisco wine school, whiskey, wine education, Wine tasting

Today: Grand Opening of Maria Concetto Winery Tasting Room in Calistoga

August 6, 2022 by evebushman

MARIA CONCETTO WINERY OPENS NEW TASTING ROOM IN DOWNTOWN CALISTOGA

Grand Opening Celebrations – Wine, Food and Live Music by Ke Marie on Saturday, August 6th, 2022

NAPA VALLEY, California – The new Maria Concetto Winery has opened a tasting room in beautiful downtown Calistoga in the Napa Valley and is officially welcoming guests. Located at 1367 Lincoln Avenue, the Maria Concetto Winery tasting room is ideally situated between Napa Valley and Sonoma County, less than an hour’s drive from San Francisco and Oakland. The winery offers an elegant, upscale chic aesthetic that reflects the style and vibrancy of the wines being produced by Maria Reznikova, owner and wine entrepreneur. The tasting room is open to the public by-appointment, with seated tastings available between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. Walk-ins are always welcome. 

“We are excited to be putting down roots in this sensational community,” says Reznikova. “Not only is Calistoga one of the premier wine destinations, but it is also a lovely place for guests to relax and enjoy the charming environment as they explore our world-class wines. With our portfolio of wines focusing on Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties, we offer a variety of wines for most every level of wine consumer. I love Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s one of our flagship wines; however, Moscato has become fashionable and is in high demand at our new tasting room too. I believe Calistoga is the ideal place to experience our vibrant style of winemaking, which emphasizes lush fruit, bright acidity and impeccably balanced oak.” 

The new tasting room features beautifully appointed interiors for sit-down tastings, including a VIP area and a welcoming wine bar, as well as an all-season patio for outdoor tastings. Adding to its allure, the tasting room is close to vineyards, public bike and hiking trails, and is a short distance from desirable accommodations, restaurants and other acclaimed tasting rooms. In addition to the unveiling of Maria Concetto Winery’s new home, there are other noteworthy destinations nearby, including the highly anticipated Four Seasons Resort and Residences and Solage, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection.
Maria Concetto Winery is dedicated to producing wines of integrity from Napa Valley, Sonoma County and Mendocino County.
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It was founded in 2020 with a focus on sourcing and producing the region’s best expression of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Bordeaux style reds, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Rosé of Pinot Noir and Moscato from Northern California’s top appellations. The portfolio will soon add Sauvignon Blanc and Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Wine.

The Maria Concetto Winery tasting room is open to guests who are 21 or over. Reservations are recommended but not required. www.mariaconcettowinery.com
PHONE:(707) 860-5774 | EMAIL: maria@mariaconcettowinery.com | ADDRESS: 1367 Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga CA 94515 | Walk-ins Welcome.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: blanc, Bordeaux, cabernet sauvignon, California, calistoga, Chardonnay, mendocino, moscato, Napa Valley, Pinot Noir, Rose, san francisco, Sauvignon Blanc, sonoma county, Sparkling wine, tasting room, vineyard, wine bar, winery, Zinfandel

Paso Robles Wine Country Partners With Wine Folly To Create A Digital Paso Robles Region Guide

August 3, 2022 by evebushman

Paso Robles, CA – The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (PRWCA) announced that it has partnered with Wine Folly to create a Paso Robles Region Guide on their digital education platform. Through this partnership, the PRWCA has opened Wine Folly’s platform for all Paso Robles wineries to reach their over 20 million wine learners. Click here to visit the Paso Robles Region guide on winefolly.com. 
 
Through the PRWCA’s investment, all wineries in the region, ranging from large production to the boutique brands, can participate and populate their information. Producer data is managed by the winery which can be updated in real time. This keeps all winery information fresh, including available wines, varieties grown and produced, and their brand story. Currently, more than 180 brands have uploaded their information. The Wine Folly Paso Robles Region Guide reached 2.6M in the first month it was live, with nearly 300,000 users engaging with the content.
 
“The online opportunities to learn about wine are constantly evolving and Wine Folly is at the forefront of reaching new audiences in a fun and informative manner; they have become a go-to resource for wine lovers around the globe.” said Joel Peterson, Executive Director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. “Through this partnership, we really wanted to make sure all Paso Robles wineries have the opportunity to showcase their brands on a platform with an incredible reach.”
 
The region guide is also complemented with exclusive content created by award-winning author Madeline Puckette and Wine Folly’s Head of Wine Education, Christine Marsiglio, MW. Including a great video overview of what makes Paso Robles unique as well as wines emblematic of the region. Working with the PRWCA, they were able to capture and relate Paso’s unique growing environment into their style. Wine Folly takes their audience on an approachable and informative path that encourages further exploration into the region.
 
“Our Region Guides are the first time in the wine industry where wineries are treated as equals. Wine producers share their stories with over 20 million wine learners. Explore wineries and wines without any bias or filters between discovery. It’s an even playing field.” said David Gluzman, CEO of Wine Folly. 
 
Paso Robles is the seventh Region Guide produced by Wine Folly, and only second in California. Other regional guides include Walla Walla Valley, Napa Valley, Argentina, Alto Adige, Sicily, Bordeaux, and now Paso Robles. The region guide is live now and attracted positive reactions around the world. The introductory video by Madeline Puckette about Paso Robles has already been viewed 50,000 times on their social media channels.
 
ABOUT PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is the official trade and marketing organization that represents wineries, growers, and businesses in the Paso Robles American Viticultural Area. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country encompasses more than 40,000 vineyard acres and 200 wineries. For more information, visit pasowine.com. Facebook- @PasoRoblesWine, Instagram and Twitter – @Pasowine, #pasowine.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: cabernet sauvignon, California, education, Paso Robles, paso robles wine country alliance, travel, variety, vineyard, Wine tasting, winery

Seven In-Depth Workshops Added to Western Foodservice Expo Education Program

July 30, 2022 by evebushman

LOS ANGELES, CA – Seven educational workshops, created to focus on the topics restaurateurs and foodservice professionals have said are most important to their business, have been added to the education offerings at the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo. The workshops will provide actionable solutions and ideas, from industry subject matter experts focused on battling inflation, negotiating leases, marketing, winning talent, customer loyalty, starting a restaurant, and improving customer service. The Food & Beverage Academy will run from Sunday, August 28 through Tuesday, August 30 at the Los Angeles Convention Center and feature 50 free education sessions. In addition, these in-depth workshops are $99 each and focus on the following:  

  • The Restaurant Inflation Battle Plan (Sunday, August 28 from 11:30 am -1:30 pm) Donald Burns, Founder & CEO, The Restaurant Coach™, will provide restauranteurs with valuable insight on how to analyze financials to identify where inflation is hitting the hardest. Attendees will learn how to develop a pricing strategy, balance quality and affordability, adjust a menu to maximize profit, and implement operational efficiencies. Click here for session details.
  • Negotiating Restaurant Tenant Leases (Sunday, August 28 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm) Dale Willerton, The Lease Coach, will offer a deep dive into the process of negotiating restaurant leases. This session is ideal for both new startup tenants negotiating their first lease, multi-unit restaurant owners and lease renewal tenants hurt by the pandemic needing a rent reduction. Session attendees will receive a complimentary autographed book Negotiating Commercial Leases & Renewals FOR DUMMIES by Dale Willerton. Click here for details.
  • A Five Step Framework for Marketing any Restaurant (Monday, August 29 from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm) Chip Klose, Restaurant Coach & Host of the Restaurant Strategy Podcast will provide a simple 5-step framework for marketing any restaurant in any market in the world. Learn more about a restaurant and their customer base and discover what it is customers want and how a restaurant is uniquely qualified to deliver it to them. Come out of the session with a new way of thinking about a business, and with a better strategy for growth. Click here for session details. 
  • Interviewing and Selecting Winning Talent (Monday, August 29 from 12:45 – 1:45 pm) Bill Wagner, CEO, Accord Management Systems will provide practical, easy-to-use tools to help assess candidates more objectively. The focus is on behavior-based interviewing, which has been shown to be three to five times more effective than the traditional interview. This program will provide models to improve promotions, teamwork, and employee development. Participants will learn how to determine critical behaviors and interview questions, use past behavior as a future predictor, conduct legally defensible interviews, link reference checks to critical job behaviors, and get beyond the canned responses of the well-coached candidate. Click here for details.
  • Building Customer Loyalty Through Email Marketing (Monday, August 29 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm). Elizabeth Jacobi, Founder, MochaBear Marketing will teach how to create a successful email marketing program for restaurants, hospitality, and food service businesses. She will cover: how to get started, basic best practices, how to utilize POS data to drive repeat business, acquisition best practices, what makes a successful email marketing campaign, and quick B2B email marketing tips. Walk away with a solid understanding of acquiring, connecting, and retaining loyal customers through email marketing. Click here for details.
  • Starting a Successful Restaurant – The Non-Negotiables (Monday, August 29 from 3:15 – 4:15 pm) Doug Radkey, President and Project Manager, KRG Hospitality Inc., will go over the general requirements, costs, mindset, characteristics, and strategy plans needed to start a successful brand in this industry. Learn the five key characteristics needed to win in today’s environment, the self-assessment needed to complete to prepare for the journey ahead, and the systems and strategy plans that are 100 percent non-negotiable. Click here for details.
  • Talk is Cheap: How to Deliver Better Customer Service Experiences That Multiply Loyal Customers Word of Mouth Referrals (Tuesday, August 30 from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm) Jesse Good, Customer Relationship Expert, Jesse B. Good. Talk is Cheap is an entertaining, educational, and engaging experience that teaches specific actions for building a word-of-mouth customer service strategy. Loaded with real-life examples, current research, and successes (and failures) learned from serving more than one million customers, this workshop offers keys for designing remarkable experiences. Click here for details.

 In addition to these workshops the Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo and Coffee Fest Los Angeles will showcase hundreds of leading vendors, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, demonstrating and sampling the newest food products, technology and equipment for the restaurant, foodservice, specialty beverage and hospitality markets. Attendees will also have access to the brand-new Food & Beverage Academy, offering program tracks for all segments of the industry – from independent owners to chains to specialty coffee and tea – offering more than 50 complimentary educational sessions included with show admission.   

Registration is now open at www.westernfoodexpo.com with early bird rates available until July 26th Each workshop is $99 if purchased prior to the August 27. On-site rates are $129 per workshop.  The trade show and conference will take place Sunday, August 28 through Tuesday, August 30. The Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo is owned by Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group and sponsored by the California Restaurant Association. 

Clarion Events (us.clarionevents.com) produces 37 events across thirteen sectors of both trade and consumer events. The Clarion Events Food & Beverage Group also includes the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show, the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York, Coffee Fest and The NGA Show.  Clarion Events acquired PennWell in early 2018, bringing 4 Tradeshow 200 events into the U.S. portfolio and super-charging the already rapid growth. Clarion Events has offices in Trumbull, CT; Kennesaw, GA; Boca Raton, FL; Tacoma, WA, and Fairlawn, NJ.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: beverage, California, education, food, food event, foodservice expo, los angeles, restaurant

Knox and Dobson Introduces Superior Ready-To-Drink Bottled Cocktails 

July 27, 2022 by evebushman

(Los Angeles, CA) – Knox & Dobson toasts to their new collection of premium ready-to-drink bottled cocktails that are expertly designed to be shared with friends, so simply Open, Pour, and Enjoy!

Knox & Dobson’s new bottled cocktail collection was meticulously curated with an uncompromising commitment to excellence in quality, craftsmanship, and taste by Knox & Dobson President Rob Levy and Creative Director Peter Lloyd Jones (The Raymond 1886, Everson Royce Bar) who heads Knox & Dobson’s formulation and product development. Featuring a gin Martini, classic Old Fashioned, Improved Whiskey Cocktail with Maraska Maraschino Liqueur, and Rye Manhattan, Knox & Dobson uses the highest quality ingredients including hand-selected barrel aged whiskey, distilled gin, natural cane sugar, and authentic Angostura Bitters. From the award-winning design of the bottle, these superior bottled cocktails were solely created so expertly handcrafted cocktails could be shared and effortlessly enjoyed anywhere.

“Our mission was to create a collection of cocktails that were equal in taste and quality to those freshly crafted by a skilled bartender. Peter Lloyd Jones was the best choice, and I can’t imagine working with anyone better, “ says Levy. “Pete was Head Barman at 1886 Bar at The Raymond and he was also behind the stick at Everson Royce Bar for several years, so his experience is invaluable, and his passion and creativity make him the perfect partner at Knox & Dobson.”

Levy’s upbringing in Skokie, Illinois, at Knox Avenue and Dobson Street is where Levy spent most of his adolescence in the ‘60s and 70’s hanging out “on the corner” with neighborhood kids who remain lifelong friends. Knox & Dobson is as much an elevated on-the-go craft beverage experience as it is a distillation of hometown pride and a love of bringing people together.

Each Knox & Dobson bottled cocktail is 200 milliliters and features two servings. Whether you are a classic Martini drinker (34% ABV), this is a take on the classic combining gin with dry vermouth to create a flavor profile of an aromatic gin martini that is slightly earthy and refreshing to drink. Lloyd Jones recommends serving this cocktail up or over ice, garnished with olives. Old Fashioned aficionados (38% ABV) can savor this cocktail which consists of straight aged bourbon, natural cane sugar, orange oil and Angostura Bitters with tastes of aged bourbon with bright citrus flavors, bitters, raw cinnamon, clove, and American oak. The Improved Whiskey Cocktail (35.42% ABV) – made with straight aged rye whiskey, Maraska Maraschino Liqueur and Angostura bitters – has a spiced flavor profile combined with American oak, citrus, along with bright and deep cherry notes. This is a whiskey cocktail that is meant to be sipped and savored. Finally, the Rye Manhattan (36% ABV) is made with straight aged rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and Angostura bitters. The tantalizing pairing of the aged whiskey combined with the aromatic Italian-style vermouth creates a spice, citrus and charred oakwood profile that will have anyone asking for another round.

Who’s ready for happy hour? And, if your go-to cocktail isn’t on the menu just yet, don’t worry. The Knox & Dobson bar cart will be rolling this Summer with more cocktails on the way and no shortage of inspiration. Knox & Dobson’s new collection of superior bottled cocktails are best served chilled or over ice and each cocktail features two servings, perfect for sharing, so simply chill, Open, Pour, and Enjoy!

Knox & Dobson is available for delivery anywhere Nationwide, so visit www.KnoxandDobson to order your new favorite bottled cocktails today. Knox & Dobson is now available at 15 Total Wine & More California stores – Brea, Daly City, Long Beach, Northridge, Pasadena, Rancho Cucamonga, Redondo Beach, Roseville, San Diego, San Jose, San Mateo, San Ramon, Temecula, Thousand Oaks, Tustin and soon to be in all 28 Total Wine & More California stores; Bristol Farms South Pasadena and soon to be in all 14 Bristol Farms California stores; Bar Keeper Los Angeles; Cypress Liquor Los Angeles; Everson Royce Bar Pasadena; Gerlach’s Pasadena; Highland Park Wine; K&L Wine Merchants in Los Angeles and San Francisco; and The Ace Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. To see the full list of locations, please visit Knox & Dobson’s Find a Stockist.

# # #

About Knox & Dobson:

Knox & Dobson crafts premium, ready-to-drink cocktails expertly designed to be shared and enjoyed anywhere. Our multi-award-winning bottled cocktails are made with an uncompromising commitment to excellence in quality, craftsmanship, and taste, featuring the highest quality ingredients including premium barrel-aged whiskies, Maraska Maraschino Liqueur, and authentic Angostura Bitters. Whether you’re a classic Martini drinker, Old Fashioned aficionado, Rye Manhattan enthusiast, or searching for the perfect Improved Whiskey Cocktail, serve Knox & Dobson’s bottled cocktails chilled or over ice and discover the pleasure of true craft cocktails created to simply open, pour, and enjoy. That’s something we can all toast to!

Knox & Dobson Awards:

Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) Gold Medal – Knox & Dobson Old Fashioned 2022

Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) Silver Medal – Knox & Dobson Improved Whiskey Cocktail 2022

Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) Bronze Medal – Knox & Dobson Martini 2022

San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) Silver Medal – Knox & Dobson Old Fashioned 2022

San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) Silver Medal – Knox & Dobson Improved Whiskey Cocktail 2022

San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) Silver Medal – Knox & Dobson Gin Martini 2022

San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) Bronze Medal – Knox & Dobson Rye Manhattan 2022

San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) Silver Medal – Knox & Dobson Bottled Craft Cocktails. Designer: Knox & Dobson 2022

Photo Credit:  Jakob N. Layman

Social Media:  Follow Knox & Dobson on Facebook @KnoxandDobson and Instagram @knoxanddobson

Knox & Dobson

www.KnoxandDobson

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: abv, aged, award, Barrel, bartender, bitters, bronze medal, California, canned cocktails, cocktails, distill, gin, gold medal, liqueur, los angeles, manhattan, old fashioned, ready to drink, rye, san francisco, silver medal, sugar, vermouth, whiskey

California Dreamin’: Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration Returns September 10

July 25, 2022 by evebushman

(ST. HELENA, CALIFORNIA ) – HALL Napa Valley, one of the leading luxury Cabernet Sauvignon producers in the Country, has announced a date for its annual Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration taking place at HALL St. Helena on September 10, 2022. The California Dreamin’ themed event coincides with the release of the new 2019 vintage of HALL’s flagship wine, Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Kathryn Hall Harvest celebration this year is inspired by the uniqueness of the state of California. Along with its Mediterranean climate, soil rich with sediments to create deep topsoil and prime farmland, coastal proximity and sunshine, Napa Valley is an ideal location to grow grapes.

The Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration will include a variety of California-inspired experiences including coastal cuisine by live entertainment by Notorious, coastal cuisine by Tre Posti, a Surf-inspired Selfie Station, and more.

The event includes three ticket options for guests to purchase, including:

  • Main Event – $150
    Join Vintner Kathryn Hall to celebrate the bounty of the unparalleled 2019 Napa Valley harvest with educational wine tastings, delicious food bites, live music, and of course, mark the release of the newest vintage of our flagship wine. This ticket includes admission to all the fun at the main event at HALL St. Helena on our Great Lawn from 12 PM – 3 PM
  • Library Pass + Main Event – $200
    The Library Pass includes access to all of the fun at the main event on our Great Lawn as well as access to our Kathryn Hall Library Selections at our Gallery 401 Bar from 12 PM – 3 PM celebrate the release of our flagship wine each year with our Club Members and good friends.”

• Platinum Pass + Main Event – $300
This all-access pass includes access to the main event on our Great Lawn, access to the Kathryn Hall Library Selections at our Gallery 401 Bar from 12 PM – 3 PM, and an intimate guided tasting of HALL’s Platinum Wine Collection hosted by Kathryn Hall and HALL’s winemakers from 11 AM – 12 PM in our historic Bergfeld Winery building. Additionally, Platinum Pass holders have in and out access to the “Platinum Lounge” for the duration of the event after the tasting concludes. This package is extremely limited, so act quickly to secure your tickets.

The celebration allows guests to learn more about HALL’s flagship wine, the Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is defined by its core of dark, succulent Sacrashe Vineyard fruit located just above the Rutherford Appellation at the top eastern ridge of the Vaca Mountain range in Napa Valley.

Since the first vintage was produced in 1996, the Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon wine has been one of the highest rated in HALL’s portfolio, earning 99 scores rated 90 points and above from the industry’s top critics including The Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Jeb Dunnuck and Vinous. Additionally, Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon earned the #2 spot in Wine Spectator’s “Top 100” list in 2011.

WHAT: WHEN: WHERE:

TICKETS:

Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration Saturday, September 10

HALL St. Helena
401 St. Helena Hwy S. St. Helena, CA 94574

Three Ticket Options

Main Event – The Great Lawn
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
$150 per person – admission to Main Event

Library Pass + Main Event

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
$200 per person – admission to Main Event + Gallery 401 Bar

Platinum Pass + Main Event

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Platinum Tasting 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Main Event
$300 per person – all access pass

For more information, please visit Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration, follow on social @hallwines, or by calling 707-967-2626.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: cabernet sauvignon, California, food pairing, harvest, Jeb dunnuck, Napa Valley, points, st. helena, vineyard, vintage, wine advocate, wine club, wine enthusiast, wine event, wine spectator, Wine tasting, winemakers, winery

SOUTH COAST WINERY NAMED “GOLDEN STATE WINERY OF THE YEAR” BY CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR

July 24, 2022 by evebushman

TEMECULA, Calif. – South Coast Winery announces with great pride it has been designated as the esteemed Golden State Winery of the Year by the California State Fair in the California Commercial Wine Competition, which recently took place at Cal Expo in Sacramento. This is an unprecedented fifth win of this title by any California winery with South Coast also winning this designation in 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2016.

This year, a panel of 44 official judges led by Chief Judge Mark Chandler tasted and evaluated 1,953 California wines from 443 California wineries. The competition is open only to wines made with fruit grown and produced in the 11 growing regions across California. Wines are evaluated by class, varietal, style and region based upon the source of the grapes. The expert judging panel includes respected winemakers, wine merchants, writers, promoters and educators.

“The California State Fair Wine Competition, which dates back to 1854, along with its pronouncement of South Coast Winery as Golden State Winery of the Year 2022 is so important and meaningful to us,” said Jeff Carter, president of South Coast Winery. “We owe this amazing kudo and the award recognition of the 29 wines we entered in the competition to the incredible Temecula Valley terroir, to our dedicated team and highly valued winemakers – Jon McPherson and Javier Flores – and to over 20 years of successful viticulture production.”

The 2022 California State Fair Wine Competition results included awards bestowed on all the 29 wines entered by South Coast Winery. They include Double Gold Awards for the vineyard’s 2020 Pinot Blanc, Best of Region White with a score of 100 and NV Daybreak with a score of 99. Gold Awards were given to 2018 Meritage Best of Appellation, 2018 Viognier Best of Class Appellation, 2021 Dry Gewurztraminer Best of Appellation, NV Brut, 2020 Riesling and NV Vineyard Rose. South Coast Winery also accrued 13 Silver Awards and eight Bronze.

About the California State Fair

The California State Fair is an international award-winning fair, receiving top honors at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions out of more than 1,100 fairs world-wide. The California State Fair is dedicated as a place to celebrate the best the state has to offer in agriculture, technology, and the diversity of its people, traditions, and trends that shape the Golden State’s future. The 2022 State Fair will include a comprehensive list of competitions, including California’s best commercial wines, cheeses, craft beers, cannabis, olive oils and fine arts, among others.

About South Coast Winery

The only state winery to claim the title of California Winery of the Year five times at the California State Fair Wine Competition, South Coast Winery sets the gold standard for excellence amongst California wineries, earning more than 3,000 awards since its inception in 2003. Situated on 63 lush acres, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa offers a breathtaking retreat for wine tours, romantic getaways and group events with 132 rooms and villas, a working winery and tasting room, gift shop, full-service spa and restaurant.

South Coast Winery is a family-owned and offers a broad portfolio of 45 wine labels, the majority of which are available for sampling in its main tasting room – from robust reds such as Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Petit Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir to whites including Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Riesling. Also available are sparkling wines, dessert wines and other specialty offerings. The winery employs a staff of skilled winemakers, including master winemaker Jon McPherson and winemaker Javier Flores, both with decades of experience in the wine industry.

For more information, visit www.southcoastwinery.com.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: award, brut, California, double gold, education, fruit, judge, Meritage, restaurant, Riesling, Rose, Temecula, vineyard, Viognier, wine competition, Wine tasting, wine writer, winemaker, winery

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Eve Bushman, owner Eve’s Wine 101 and Eve Bushman Consulting.

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