Eve's Wine 101

Vintage Eve circa 11/2015: Tasting into the Sunset…in the Vineyard 2015

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Oh dear, the ladies stepped it up a notch this year! The ladies, those being the hardworking ladies for the Assistance League Santa Clarita, not only gathered a unique group of non-commercial Santa Clarita Valley-based winemakers (only a small handful are commercial), beer brewers, the DeRobertis Family Artisan cheese makers, the ultra-hidden Speakeasy Bakery and College of the Canyons Culinary Arts students – this year they added more space to the two-house-long event by moving a lively auction to the expansive front yard.

L to R: Eve Bushman, Marlee Lauffer, Ann Marie Bjorkman and Alesia Humphries

But that didn’t happen until 2 ½ hours into the event. Guests began by tasting with several winemakers, brewers and food artisans while experiencing one of the rarest sites of the Santa Clarita Valley: the local Compa Vineyard owned by Chris, Jeannie and Tim Carpenter.

Many of the wines we tasted came from grapes grown in and around the Santa Clarita Valley and are similar to the Carpenter’s vineyard; while others source grapes or juice from the Central Coast and beyond. The event, now in it’s 8th year, has motivated many wannabe winemakers to plant grapevines and become dedicated winemakers.

There were several wines that struck my fancy at the tasting, a benefit of having a designated driver perhaps (and I liked the musicians that serenaded us both in the front and in the back of the property too) while I enjoyed:

Mystic Hills Vineyard Unforgiven blend, Les Deux Chats Zinfandel, Compa Vineyard Rose, Whistling Vineyard Syrah, Hundred Red Vines Zinfandel/Petit Syrah blend, Golden Star Purple Haze and Viognier, Bellissimo Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Bouquet Vineyard 2014 Merlot (my fave of the day) and Cabernet Sauvignon, Due Nasi Mourvedre, Stephen Hemmert 2012 Zinfandel and 2014 Entwined white blend, Reyes Winery 2013 Quinn’s Zinfandel and many others offered by the Beer Garden, Browne Family, Capuano Winery, CP Iconic Wines, Pagter Brothers, Gagnon Cellars, One Vine Four Branches, Alonso Family Vineyards, Pulchella Winery, Two Hearts Vineyard and Nuggucciet Cellars.

I took a bazillion photos of the wines and the people tasting, and turned it into a YouTube slide show you can see here.

Sunset  in  the  Vineyard Artisans

Alonso Family Vineyards, Bellissimo Cellars, Bobcat Red, Bouquet Vineyard, Browne Family, Capuano Winery, Compa Vineyard, Copper Hill Brewery, CP Iconic Wines, DeRobertis Family Artisan Cheeses, Due Nasi, Gagnon Cellars, Golden Star Vineyards, Les Deux Chats Cellars, VNYBC, Mystic Hills Vineyard,
Nuggucciet Cellars,
Oasis Vineyard,
One Vine Four Branches, Pagter Brothers Winery, Pulchella Winery, Reyes Winery, Speakeasy Bakery, Two Hearts Estate Vineyard, Nanno Brewery, Wheelhouse Band and Whistling Vineyard.

What The Auction and Ticket Prices Do For Our Community (From the Assistance League Website)

We provide over 22,000 hours of community service each year and touch the lives of over 3,500 people in our valley. We provide new school clothes for students, we cook meals for convalescent home residents, we provide teddy bears to people in traumatic situations, we play games with schoolchildren in an after school program and we help students see better with new eyeglasses.

We are a hands-on group of individuals committed to helping others in need. We operate Assistance League Resale, an all-volunteer thrift store in downtown Newhall. We hold two fundraisers each year to help fund our programs. An added bonus is that Assistance League members become life-long friends.

Platinum Partners: Woodward and the Magazine of Santa Clarita.

Gold Partners: SGL Group, KHTS AM 1220, LensCrafters, Mr. and Mrs. Phil Carlson, Mr. and Mrs. John Hamby, C.A.M. Johnson Family Foundation

Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years.  She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column.

What Did Everyone Think of Wine on the Roof?

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Guests that had been to Cocktails on the Roof knew where to park, knew where to check in, knew their hosts and the non-profit – WiSH Education Foundation – but after that everything else we dreamed up for them was completely different. Cut to the chase to see just some of my photos here. We (see the # of volunteers below that contributed) had surprised our guests with several innovative ideas:

  • A small select group of winemakers and vintners from the SCV Custom Crush Services, owned by winemakers Steve Lemley and Nate Hasper, were chosen for the collaboration. Steve Lemley would also serve his first time as a co-host for our non-profit event. The winemakers, five of them, were seated among the guests ready to answer questions during dinner.
  • Rows of tables, almost all joined, were topped with floral centerpieces, waxed topped wine bottles that held the table numbers and bamboo flatware wrapped in cloth napkins. Many selfies were taken with the bottles and keepsake wine glasses!
  • Bare bulbs were strewn across our roof that were only outshone by a lingering sunset and then, one guest noted, a crescent moon and Venus.
  • There were about a dozen volunteers from Pinups for American Heroes decked out in 1950’s styles and adorned with cigarette trays filled with bread from The Speakeasy Bakery. Another volunteer followed them…seemingly to be holding a bourbon bottle that instead was filled with herb infused dipping oils.
  • A few of our chefs were on the roof for their first Santa Clarita Valley event and are noted below as DEBUTING AT EVENT.
  • DEBUTING AT EVENT: The Newhall Press Room offered up a half dozen of their popular “Valley Boards” that are about 3 feet long. As lines began to form winemakers worked the crowd sharing their own wines.
  • The menu was not public. Each bamboo plate was delivered with its own menu card describing the dish with the name of the restaurant, chef, wine pairing, winemakers and wineries. Guests were prompted to take home the cards to make sure they would frequent their favorites.
  • There were three desserts! As guests started to pack up after the first dessert luckily Assemblyman Scott Wilk was on hand and announced that there were more desserts coming out.
  • Music was provided all evening long by local “everyone loves” Lance Allyn.

wine on the roof crowdFor me, the day after (I had too much adrenaline to sleep) I finally got out of bed and was greeted by over 100 notifications on Facebook. I’m thinking…we did pretty well! So, when I recovered I looked at what those 100 notifications said. Amazing success! These are just a few:

Some of the Quotes

“Those two opening salads from Hundred Miles and Old Town Junction were the best courses of the night – along with the bread and the short rib! It was a fantastic night.” Steve E.

“Who knew that the best restaurant in Santa Clarita Valley is on the top of Macy’s parking garage?” Jeff J.

“HUGE shout out and THANK YOU to Brittany M Sanders and the ladies of PinUps For American Heroes. They truly deserve “Claritan” Medals of Honor for sticking around after our bread service was finished to help out serving. Above and beyond the call of duty.” Scott E.

“Thank you for having us! All of us from Pinups for American Heroes had a great time!” Brittany S.

“Highlights from me for the evening were, without a doubt, the bread… but the opening salad from Chef Otto at Old Town Junction was out of this world! Perfectly composed, perfect blend of flavors. Every bite was incredible! Also the two desserts from Wolf Creek and Salt Creek were amazing!” Todd W.

“I had the best evening under the stars enjoying amazing wine, delicious food and friends! What a unique collaboration that will become THE annual event for SCV.  I am really looking forward to Cocktails on the Roof in September again!” Lynne S.

“Congrats to fellow foodie Eve Hammond Bushman for pulling off a wonderful charity dinner/wine event atop the mall parking garage last night. Fabulous wines overseen and poured by Steve Lemley from Pulchella Winery and Tasting Room. Bread overseen by Scott Ervin and Todd R. Wilson of The Speakeasy Bakery.” Larry M.

“Great event Eve! Beautiful setting, perfect weather and very well executed!” Steve C.

“Congratulations to everyone involved, it was a very fun evening, food was outstanding!” Debra H.

“That was a RAGING SUCCESS! Thanks for putting on such a WONDERFUL event!” Bill M.

“Wine on the Roof…Thank you Eve Hammond Bushman and Amy Sieger Daniels for an amazing event, and evening!” Sandi P.

“I am so proud of the Wine on the Roof team. They have put on an amazing event tonight. Please remember that all that fun is to raise money for our public school kids. And give.” Amy D.

For me: It was seeing the collaboration really at work. Chefs helping other chefs in the prep tent, servers from different restaurants bringing individual menu cards and dishes to guests from other restaurants, iCue students working among tenured seasoned professionals, loyal long-time volunteers from Cocktails on the Roof working with all of the lovely ladies from Pinups for American Heroes. We envisioned how that would work; they did the work and made it come true.

We Thank:

Collaborating Chefs and Restaurants

Before the restaurants we were lucky to add in Jennifer Chadwick, of Salt Creek Grille, to be our Lead Coordinator in the prep tent. She worked with all of the various chefs and staffs to create a seamless presentation from: The Speakeasy Bakery, Bakers Scott Ervin and Todd Wilson, assisted by volunteers and DEBUTING AT EVENT: Pinups For American Heroes; DEBUTING AT EVENT: Newhall Press Room, Chef Trevor; DEBUTING AT EVENT: The Old Town Junction, Chef Daniel Otto; DEBUTING AT EVENT: Hundred Miles, Chef Louis Pechan; Olive Terrace Bar and Grill, Chef Lucio Teraza and Chef Alfonso Canuto; Bonefish Grill, Culinary Team; Sweet Beams Ice Cream Truck, Karin and Chris Beam; Nothing Bundt Cakes, Jennifer and Zachary Zeidler; Wolf Creek Restaurant, Pastry Chef Meghan Launier, 8. Salt Creek Grille, Pastry Chef Kristina Waggoner and Honu Coffee, Brew master James.

Wineries for all Pairings

DEBUTING AT EVENT: Byron Blatty Wines, winemakers Steve Lemley and Nate Hasper; Pulchella Winery, winemakers Steve Lemley and Nate Hasper; Hoi Polloi Winery, winemakers Ted Behlendorf, Doug Minnick, Dan Erland Andersen; Pagter Brothers, Scott Page-Pagter winemaker; DEBUTING AT EVENT: Parhelion Cellars, winemaker Adam Hasper.

Volunteers and Sponsors

From WiSH Board members Richard Cohn and Lynne Secrest, co-chairs Eve Bushman, Steve Lemley, Amy Daniels and Marlee Lauffer and additional committee members Alex Hafizi, Dawn Begley, Ed Masterson, Mitch Russell, Lisa Holt and Judy Penman we were also assisted by Nicole Stinson who was asked very late in the game to manage all volunteers that included: Kat Kombrinck, Carolyn Lodes, Lee Lodes, Vicki White, Nicole Feast-Williams, Jen Duke, Leslie Navarro, Andrea Pivaral, Grace Gopeng, Johann Nepomuceno, Renee Schluter, Grace Marquez, Mikki Anthony Toya, Steve Portraro, Jennifer Goins, Melissa Velasquez, Mia Slotve, Damien White, Ciria Cordero, Jason Gibbs, Chelsea Martinez, Brittany Sanders, Allison Mazhari, April Thompson, Haylee Boersch, Ashley Borow, Donna Carrion, Mary Bird, Karina Garcia, Elnaz Mazhari, Scott Ervin, Todd Wilson, Wendy Wolfe, Carol Rock, Sean Griffin, Blaze Patricio, David Graham, David Perloff, Kevin Hobart, Michell Peranich, Timbrel Pechan, Sam Dadnino, Kelsey Schneider, Bailey Lu, Michael Liscoumb, Haley Zwack, Sheri Staulbaum and Beth Wageman.

Sponsors included the Magazine of Santa Clarita, Elite Magazine, VIA Promotionals, Lundgren Management, California Credit Union, Brightview Tree Company, Peterson Printing, 24/7 Events, Andy Gump, SOS Entertainment,  KHTS Radio, SCVTV, The Signal and Fagen, Friedman and Fulfrost.

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

Get Ready For: Wine on the Roof…Dine on the Roof, a Collaborative Experience (Early Bird Ticket Sales End 4/15)

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Apparently you Santa Claritans and wonderful supporters of local charity have demanded, yes demanded, more than one rooftop event from the people (see below) that have brought you Cocktails on the Roof. Your loud cries for us to keep your glass filled have been heard. We have now added Wine on the Roof to your calendar May 17!

Read on, as it’s definitely not the same kind of rooftop event we’ve ever had in Santa Clarita…

WOTROur Event: The Details From WiSH Executive Director Amy Daniels

The community came out in force for our signature event, Cocktails on the Roof, three sold out years in a row. With encouragement to do a second event during the year, this one with wine as the focus, we teamed up once again with Eve Bushman of Eve’s Wine 101 and Marlee Lauffer, President of the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation, for Wine on the Roof. This gathering promises to be like nothing else offered in our region.

With beautiful lighting, music, photo opportunities and more, we will welcome our guests to a remarkable, one of a kind special evening that people will not soon forget. This evening promises to be like nothing else offered in our region.

Eve has teamed up with Steve Lemley as our co-host for this unique event. Lemley is a well-respected SCV winemaker that co-owns the SCV Custom Crush Services. Lemley will curate our wines from his local facility that houses over twenty different wineries – most, if not all, will be making their debut that evening – and we will have winemakers seated throughout the venue to allow for interesting and knowledgeable discourse.

Wine on the Roof has a distinctive layout to allow for camaraderie and conversation and you will be treated to a multi-course dinner. Because this is seated dining, a limited number of tickets are available. The event is open from 6-10pm and ticket pricing is set at $125pp or 2/$200. Please note that after April 15th, ticket pricing will be $150 or 2/$275. More information is available and tickets can be purchased at www.WiSHscv.org.

Collaborators: Winemakers, Chefs, and Restaurants

As we are just putting together our puzzle pieces of which chefs wants to provide which course, Steve and I will be tasting wines with them – if they like – in an effort to help with the food pairing. So far we will have Chef Daniel Otto’s debut from his soon to open restaurant, Chef Lucio Teraza of Olive Terrace Bar and Grill, Chef Ignacio “Nacho” Munoz and Pastry Chef Kristina Waggoner of Salt Creek Grille, Chef Louis Pechan of Hundred Miles LA, the Culinary Team at Bonefish Grill, Chef Trevor of the Newhall Press Room, Pastry Chef Meghan Launier of Wolf Creek Restaurant and Brewing Company, the baristas of Honu Coffee, the sweet makers from Nothing Bundt Cakes and the Beams of Sweat Beams Ice Cream.

We will definitely be starting our evening with appetizers, then bread from the one and only infamous Speakeasy Bakery, mains, dessert – all with wines from winemakers exclusive to Pulchella Winery. Santa Clarita winemakers at press time include Steve Lemley, Nate Hasper, Mark Blatty, Scott Page-Pagter, Doug Minnick, Ted Behlendorf and Dan Erland Andersen.

Your Rooftop Team: Dreamers and Worker Bees

Besides the names of our co-hosts listed above this event is orchestrated by countless volunteers (thank you) and an energetic committee that sometimes takes up two dining room tables at my house: Ed Masterson, Richard Cohn, Alex Hafizi, Lynne Secrest, Judy Penman, Lisa Holt, Mitch Russell and Dawn Begley.

Sponsorships: Many Ways to Support the WiSH Education Foundation

ROSE – Exclusive (1) $15,000: SIX tickets and first mention in all press releases and social media marketing; we will promote you prominently as the PRESENTER of the event on event signage; listing on website as Presenter; mention in print advertising.

VIOGNIER $10,000: FOUR tickets and mention in all press releases and social media marketing; we will promote you on event signage; listing on website; listed on print advertising. Email marketing included to approximately 35,000 emails.

CABERNET $5,000: FOUR tickets and mention in all press releases and social media marketing; we will promote you on event signage; listing on website. Email marketing included to approximately 35,000 emails.

ZINFANDEL $2,500: TWO event tickets and mention in all press releases and social media marketing; we will promote you on event signage; listing on website. Email marketing included to approximately 35,000 emails.

PINOT NOIR $1,500: TWO event tickets and mention in all press releases and social media marketing; listing on website. Email marketing included to approximately 35,000 emails.

Please contact Exec. Dir. Amy Daniels: wish@hartdistrict.org for current sponsorship opportunities.

Details: Early Bird Tickets and Sponsorships Now Available

Tickets go up in price after April 15th so get them now – only 200 will be sold!

Information and tickets: http://wisheducationfoundation.org/wine-under-the-stars/

Facebook event page has updated info and has a very interactive “discussion” tab: https://www.facebook.com/events/533629337011873/

Save the date: Cocktails on the Roof 9/7.

About: The WiSH Education Foundation

“WiSH was founded in 2011 by parents and partners of the community to directly support the students and staff of the William S. Hart school district and are a designated 501c(3) non-profit foundation.

WiSH raises critically needed funds to directly support students and educators in our District…money for much-needed technology, special education and technical programs, materials, books, software, musical instruments & calculators, just to name some recent initiatives. We’re not funded by any local, state or federal agencies and rely on contributions, grants and sponsorships to bridge the ever-widening gap of student’s needs directly in classrooms…” read more here.

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

Almost here! The 9th Annual Sunset in the Vineyard!

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The 9th Annual Sunset in the Vineyard, benefitting programs of Assistance League® Santa Clarita, will be held on Sunday, November 6th from 1- 4 pm at Compa Vineyard in Newhall.

sitv-logoThis palate-pleasing fall celebration has quickly become one of Santa Clarita’s premier wine events:

“It’s a celebration of the best of the Santa Clarita Valley–a generous, giving community, excellent local wineries and craft food vendors, and gracious hosts with a stunning backyard.” Marlee Lauffer, Foundation President of Henry Mayo Memorial Hospital and Assistance League Santa Clarita member

“It’s the closest thing to sipping and savoring in Tuscany – without having to go through an airport scanner.” Diana Sevanian, Community Writer, Non-profit Volunteer

“This event, while fun, offers the opportunity to make a difference in a young person’s life by providing basic fundamental needs.” Rose Chegwin, VP of Administration, Del West Engineering

The Chairs for the afternoon will be Jeannie Carpenter, Chris Cook and Stacey Mayfield. Many of our valley’s private vineyards and wine makers will be represented along with De Robertis Family Artisan Cheeses, VNTBC Nano Brewery, Copperhill Brewery and Speakeasy Bakery. We will have the opportunity to taste and savor wine, craft brews, cheeses, and breads directly from the artisans. Chef Cindy Schwanke and Michelle Razzano, along with their talented students from College of the Canyons Institute for Culinary Education will be making pizza from Tim’s wood-fired oven. While guests are enjoying this lovely event and partaking in an exciting live and silent auction, they will be entertained by music performed by Dole/Humphries.

ARTISANS

ALONSO FAMILY VINEYARDS, BELLISSIMO CELLARS, BOBCAT RED and DUE NASI, BOUQUET VINEYARD, CAPUANO WINERY, COMPA VINEYARD, COPPERHILL BREWERY, CPB WINES, DEROBERTIS FAMILY ARTISAN CHEESES, GAGNON CELLARS, GOLDEN STAR VINEYARDS, HOI POLLOI WINERY, HUNDRED VINES, MYSTIC HILLS VINEYARD, NUGGUCCIET CELLARS, PAGTER BROS, PUCHELLA WINERY, REYES WINERY, SPEAKEASY BAKERY, STEPHEN HEMMERT WINES, VNTBC NANNO BREWERY, WHISTLING VINEYARD.

Tickets for Sunset in the Vineyard are $85 in advance and $95 at the door. Complimentary valet parking is included. Tickets go on sale September 20th. To purchase tickets, donate an auction item, or learn more about Assistance League go to www.assistanceleaguesantaclarita.org and/or like us on Facebook at facebook.com/assistanceleaguesantaclarita/

Some of these needs are met by Assistance League’s® signature program, Operation School Bell®. As guests stroll by the “Back to School” display at Sunset, they will have the opportunity to see what this program is all about. Child sized mannequins decked out in Old Navy clothes and Payless Shoe Source shoes bring to life the reality that for many children in our valley, the only way they will be wearing new school clothes is through this program. The handwritten thank you notes Assistance League® receives communicate heartfelt messages of gratitude from the students and families. This year over 2500 students in need were clothed through the program!
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Assistance League Santa Clarita, organized in 1989 by local women, was chartered in 1993 and has grown to 174 members and 51 Assisteens®. A chapter of National Assistance League, it is a nonprofit, nonpolitical, nonsectarian, and IRS 501(c)(3) service organization. It is also a 100% volunteer-driven organization.
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All funds raised from Sunset in the Vineyard benefit Assistance League programs exclusively in the Santa Clarita Valley such as Operation School Bell® and i-care for kids which provides new prescription glasses for students.