Perlis Picks: Double Trouble Wine Room

July 29, 2017 by Michael Perlis Leave a Comment

Downtown Newhall is fast becoming an all-in-one destination for the Santa Clarita Valley.

With a state of the art public library standing guard at the north end of Main Street and Newhall Refinery restaurant and Pulchella Winery tasting room near the southern end, along with everything else going on nearby and in-between, it is easy to see why this area’s popularity is only going to increase.

Recently, Karen and I had the opportunity to visit the Double Trouble Wine Room on Main Street, a joint project of Hoi Polloi Winery and Pagter Brothers Winery. Both wineries make their wines locally at SCV Custom Crush Services, sourcing grapes primarily from vineyards on California’s Central Coast.

PAGTER BROTHERS WINERY

For some years, I’ve enjoyed the wines made by Scott Pagter of Pagter Brothers Winery. I can’t remember all the details of when he shared the wine [under his previous wine label] with me at the much missed All Corked Up wine bar, but I do remember it being a pretty killer Grenache. [I also have very fond memories of Scott’s band Stupid Pony from those days. Fronted by excellent lead singer Sidney Iverson, I always looked forward to this band’s rare appearances.]

Scott and his brother Gib formed Pagter Brothers Winery in 2013 specializing in “big, bold reds.” That being said, the first wine we tried was the 2014 Chardonnay which was excellent, a fairly light wine but with a touch of oak on the finish to give it some body.

After that, though, we did move on to those big bold reds, tasting through a selection of wines from the 2014 vintage, mostly Rhone varietals with Syrah sourced from the White Hawk Vineyard in Santa Ynez and the Grenache from the Hoyt Vineyard in Paso Robles…

Notorious – blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah, named after Gib’s day job as an attorney.

Melodious – a reverse of the Notorious, 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache, a tribute to Scott’s music/entertainment background.

Syrah – 100% from the White Hawk Vineyard. This was delicious, but we also got a sneak peek of the 2015 vintage which if anything was even better.

In addition, Pagter Brothers makes a Tempranillo. I think Tempranillo does very well in Paso and this 2014 was no exception.

Finally, another sneak peek – the 2015 Tannat. From Paso’s Adelaida district, this wine belied Tannat’s reputation as being monolithic and unapproachable. Definitely the opposite of that, drinking very well right after bottling and will only get better. My fave of the Pagter Brothers tasting.

Scott told me that their motto is to “make wine they like to drink…so if no one buys it they can drink it.” With these wines, they’re not going to be able to keep much for themselves.

HOI POLLOI WINERY

My relationship with Doug Minnick, one of the three owner/winemakers of Hoi Polloi Winery, goes back several years as well. Doug is also one of the co-founders of the Garagiste Festivals and he and I first met when I interviewed him for our Eve’s Wine 101 website about the inaugural event that was coming up.

So, it was a natural progression to want to make wine. The special focus is on Syrah and Doug says they will soon be able to do side-by-side single vineyard Syrah tastings from all four of their Syrah sources – Sebastiano Vineyard [Sta. Rita Hills], Alta Colina Vineyard [Paso Robles], Hoppe Kelly Vineyard [Russian River Valley] as well as the iconic Larner Vineyard in Ballard Canyon. If you know Syrah, you know that Doug et al have connected with some pretty outstanding vineyards. I feel that Syrah is one of the best varieties for showing off differences in terroir, so this is pretty exciting stuff.

But they do make other wines besides Syrah. We started our tasting with the newly released 2016 Grenache Rosé from Colburn Vineyards in Paso Robles – one of the best Rosés that I’ve had.

We then moved to the reds by first tasting the 2015 “Illicit” Pinot Noir from Santa Maria and the 2014 “Touch of Evil” Cabernet Sauvignon from the Cass Vineyard in Paso Robles. Both solid wines.

Now, time for the red Rhones!

We eased into them, starting with the 2015 Syrah / Grenache Blend called Tryst, so called because while the 34% Grenache is entirely from Paso Robles, the 66% Syrah is a combination of Paso and cool-climate Sonoma. Makes for a very tasty wine.

Not messing around now, we tasted the Sebastiano Vineyard Sta. from Rita Hills and the Alta Colina Vineyard from Paso Robles, both from the 2014 vintage. I had already tasted these wines from last year’s Garagiste Festival in LA and knew what to expect. I was not disappointed. [Not tasted this time but tasted at that same festival was the 2014 “Double Exposure” blend from both of these vineyards, which was actually one of my favorites that day.]

We got a sneak peek here as well – the 2015 Petite Sirah from the Loma Seca Vineyard in Paso Robles. Delicious now, this wine is going to be fun to watch develop.

The Double Trouble Wine Room is definitely worth your time. Gorgeous facility, now with a patio, along with great wines poured by nice people. I expect this is a place you may want to become a “regular” at before it becomes too popular.

DOUBLE TROUBLE WINE ROOM

24338 Main St.
Newhall, CA 91321

Vintage Beacon Circa 9/2012: The Henry Wine Group Taste the World

July 5, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

By now you readers are used to these “virtual tastes” from my various tastings. But, in case you are here for your first sip, a media/trade tasting, by definition, allows the wine/spirit maker or winery/spirit representative (rep) the opportunity to “sell” their product by talking about their offerings and pouring a small sample to writers, restaurant owners and shop owners.

wine tasting sign

The Tasting

Now, onto some outstanding wines and spirits that were represented at the Henry Wine Group tasting. The total list of suppliers is below this text. I had 236 pages in my Tasting Book. And this time, instead of deciding in advance what to try, I walked over the entire tasting room at the Beverly Hills Hotel and then doubled back to sample just a few, very remarkable, wines and spirits when I saw that the reps were free. Suffice it to say in my three-hour-tour I missed quite a bit but there was no way I could taste for the full five-hours they had invited us for.

WINES

Clear Creek Distillery, Portland Oregon (The rest of the strictly spirit category is just below this section.)

Sent over by another rep to try their Grappas, I loved the Muscat for what the rep deemed was a great “starter” Grappa. I was lulled in by the sweetly scented nose, a more traditional taste and a slightly sweet finish. I followed that with their Pinot Noir Grappa and noted, “Gotta have it!” The other liqueur I noted was a new-for-me refreshing Eau de Vie Douglas Fir “tree spirit”. I might have to contact Steve McCarthy, the man behind some of these libations for “further study and review” as they were that amazing.

Donum

(The rep explained it was pronounced Don-um and means donation in Latin.) ‘10 Estate Chardonnay, three Pinot Noirs: ‘08 Carneros, ‘09 West Slope and ‘09 Russian River were all outstanding. I was able to make a brief note on the Chard for its creamy nose followed by a balanced acidity and grapefruit on the palate.

Kistler

It was one of a few wineries that day that I not only knew but also didn’t have a crush of media clamoring, just yet, for a taste. I was able to sample all ‘10 Chardonnays: Sonoma Mountain, Vine Hill and McCrea and the ‘10 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. I stepped away from the tasting table and jotted down a couple of notes on the Pinot: aromas of tart black cherries, green fruit…and something that reminded me of a cool breeze off a lake. On the mouth that same tart cherry, green tomato…or something else green and vegetal, a dry finish that left my palate tingling.

Long Shadows Vintners

Out of Washington, the rep gave me an education on the state’s wines and boasted that his winemakers were experienced and knowledgeable. I enjoyed ‘08 Saggi’s blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Syrah, ‘07 Pirouette blend, ‘07 Chester Kidder, 08 Feather Cabernet Sauvignon, ‘08 Pedestal Merlot, and the ‘07 Sequel Syrah with its deep fruit aromas.

Terra Valentine

I had been to the winery this past year, but the rep gave me a taste of the newly released ‘09 Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon. Outstanding.

David Bruce

Another winery I was familiar with, so I restricted myself to the latest release, the’ 09 Santa Maria Pinot Noir. Exceptional.

Mills Reef

I enjoyed an ‘09 Merlot/Malbec reserve blend. Will keep my eye out for this wine.

Saucelito Canyon

A reader had suggested I try these wines when they were offered a couple of years ago at the LA Wine Fest and they did not disappoint. I was equally happy to discover that they still didn’t! I enjoyed the ‘11 Cote de Blanc blend, ‘11 San Luis Obispo Backroads Zinfandel and ‘10 Arroyo Grande Valley Estate Zinfandel.

Shafer

‘10 Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay had a beautiful full-mouth viscosity with flavors of lemon-lime, grapefruit, apple and a touch of minerality (due to some of its fermentation in stainless steel.) I followed that with a ‘09 Merlot that had a mouth full of dark plums, black pepper and a smooth, dry, finish. Next came great fruit in the ‘09 One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon, a perfect nose and a taste I had a hard time tossing out in the ‘09 Relentless blend of Syrah and Petite Sirah. The final was, a ‘08 Hillside select, I simply described as “stellar.”

Swanson

I had dinner with Chris Phelps, the winemaker at Swanson, a few years ago and was anxious to re-taste Alexis. Today I sampled and enjoyed the ‘10 Napa Valley Pinot Grigio, ‘08 Oakville Merlot, ‘08 Alexis Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and the Instant Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. The “instant” according to the reps, was supposed to take you to Napa instantly. I liked the subliminal message…and it worked.

Uvaggio (pronounced Oh-Vaggio)

Two very affable reps, one was the winemaker and the other the sales rep I believe, were very entertaining, as was the wines I tried: the refreshingly crisp ‘10 Vermintino, ‘10 Moscato Secco, ‘10 primitive and ‘09 Barbera.

Vinum

One of my top picks for the day was the Vinum Veritas label that included the ‘11 White Elephant Rhone blend, a ‘10 Red Dirt Red Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre (GSM) blend that proved to be one of my fave GSMs that day, with The Scrapper Cabernet Franc was a close second.

Under the Vinum label alone, with prices under $15 per bottle, I enjoyed the ‘11 Chenin Blanc Viognier, ‘10 Monterey Chardonnay, ‘10 Pinot Noir with its interesting mint-ish nose, ‘08 Merlot, ‘08 Cabernet Sauvignon and ‘09 Petite Sirah.

Zuccardi

An Argentinean winery, I liked two Series A: ‘10 Torrontes that I noted for honey and floral notes on the nose with a beautiful full mouth feel of nice acidity and fruit, and the ‘10 Malbec. I had another Malbec, a ‘10 that I noted was “lovely.”

I loved the sweet buttery floral aromas and fruity taste of their ‘11 California Chardonnay.

Zotovich

This was my actual favorite winery of the day and I think it may have been the 10^th wine (translates to pretty early in the tasting) I had tried. The three the winemaker brought included an ‘09 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay that I found refreshing and steely, the ‘09 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir for its traditional cherry and stem flavors without a ton of alcohol or tannin (things I don’t like that some seem to be reaching for in Pinots) and the ‘09 Sta. Rita Hills Syrah that was both soft and then sturdy on the back palate. Want more.

SPIRITS

I saved the few spirits I wanted to taste before my 45-minute forced sit-down to rest before considering the drive home. The spirit tasting was done in small relish-style cups, just enough to whet your palate, with plenty left over – to pour out. Here’s what rang my bell after my palate had been wHined:

Boyd and Blair Potato Vodka

The 151-proof vodka was shown with three flavor additives, so mixologists could see how it would lend itself to their own flavored simple syrups. I tried it straight first, and I found it very clean with a little sweetness, with the flavors I found it irresistible: rhubarb, roasted pumpkin and clemencello.

Dancing Pines

Husband and wife team, Kimberly and Kristian, had a little funny story to tell me about their distillery name: Kimberly had written a song for Kristian called Dancing Pines. If romance has anything to do with distilling, from their town of Loveland, Colorado, these too had blended an outstanding lovechild in their Bourbon. I wished I had tried more…

Meletti

I met Matteo Meletti (He had traveled from Italy to share his liqueurs) and I for one didn’t miss a single one: a sharp Anisette, lingering Sambuca, new-to-me and very interesting Amaro (herbs and botanicals), thick Cioccolato and refreshing Limoncello. I hope to find these locally, and soon.

Smooth Ambler

I enjoyed their Old Scout Bourbon, Gin and Rye. I especially enjoyed having John Little, the VP and master distiller, there to talk about his products. When he mentioned, “pipe tobacco” in regards to the Bourbon, he had me. I hate when reps tell me what I’m going to taste in their wine, maybe it’s because I just want to find flavors myself, but as a Bourbon-novice, Little’s help was appreciated.

VAD Premium Vodka

Smooth and easy to drink, I was enamored with some of their marketing ideas: the cap could double as a shot glass and, their Thrive label had additives of vitamin B complex, vitamin C and electrolytes to stave off hangovers!

2012 Suppliers Attending

Adelsheim, Alfredo Roca, Alice Bonaccorsi, Allan Scott, Altadonna, Altozano, Alvear, Ancient Peaks, Andeluna, Andre Brunel, Andrew Murray, Araucano, Argiano, Arido, Avive, Bargemone, Bastianich, Bellafina, Benton-Lane, Beronia, Bessaret de Bellefon, Billhook, Bisol, Blue Rock Vineyard, Bodega Noemia, Bodegas Alto Moncayo, Bodegas Avanthia S.L., Bodegas Borsao, Bodegas Breca, Bodegas Fernando Remirez de Ganuza, Bodegas La Cana, Bodegas Luis Canas, Bodegas Muga S.A., Bodegas Nekeas, Bodegas Ordonez, Bodegas Sierra Cantabria, Bodegas Venta Morales, Bodegas Volver, Brandini, Broglia, Ca’ del Bosco, Cain Vineyard & Winery, Calera (So Calif. Only), Camigliano, Cantele, Capture, Carneros Highway, Carpineto, Castello di Meleto, Cataldi Madonna, Caves i Vins El Cep SA, Chateau de Lancyre, Chateau de Parenchere, Chateau Pey, Chateau Segla, Ciacci Piccolomini, Cimarone Estate Wines, Claiborne & Churchill, Clear Creek Distillery, Clos de los Siete, Colosi, Contratto, Damilano, Dashe, David Bruce, De Martino, Del Fiore, DiamAndes, Dinastia Vivanco, Domaine Bouchard Pere et Fils, Domaine Cazes, Domaine du Tariquet, Domaine Gournier, Domaine Villa Ponciago, Domaine William Fevre, Dominio De Eguren, Donum Estate, DouRosa, Dourthe, Dr. Thanisch, Due Torri, E. Pira, Elvio Cogno, Exem, Fattoria del Cerro, Finca Allende, Finca Constancia, Finca La Anita, Finca Nueva, Finca Sandoval, Fire Road, Flor, Font du Vent, Francois Montand, Gagilole, Gonzaga, Gonzalez Byass, Graham Beck, Grande Cassagne, Hanzell Vineyards, Heggies, Heinz Eifel, Henriot Champagne, Henschke, Hermanos Lurton, Highway 12, Hope Estate, Jean Laurent, Jim Barry, Joullian, Jules Taylor, Karly, Kistler Vineyards, La Fiera, La Mozza, La Noble, La Spinetta, Lander Jenkins, Langmeil, Le Salette, Lechthaler, Lola Kay, Long Meadow Ranch, Long Shadows Vintners, Longboard Vineyards, Luisa, MacRostie Winery and Vineyards, Marenco, Mas Carlot, Mas de Guiot, Mas Fi, Mas Igneus, Maso Poli, McManis, Medlock Ames, Milbrandt Vineyards, Millsreef, Ministry of the Vinterior, Monteverro, Montgravet, Mountain View, O’Fournier, Pali, Paolo Scavino, Pecchenino, Penya, Pepper Bridge Winery, Pewsey Vale, Pierre Boniface, Plan Pegau, Pratsch, Predator, Principe Corsini Le Corti, Produttori del Barbaresco, Puydeval, Quinta de la Rosa, Quinta Nova, Red Car, REDS, Resso, Rhiannon, Rocca del Principe, Rocca di Frassinello, Rose’s, Round Hill, Round Pond, Rubissow, Ruca Malen, Rutherford Ranch, Saint Clair, San Michele, Santa Barbara Winery, Santa Julia, Saucelito Canyon, Scott Family, Selby, Selection Laurence Feraud, Senorio de San Vicente, Shafer Vineyards, Staete Landt, Ste Eugenie, Suavia, Swanson Vineyards, Tenuta di Ghizzano, Terlano, Terra Valentine, Terredora, Teso la Monja, The Four Graces, Three Creek Vineyard, Three Sticks, Tiamo, Tierra Divina, Tolaini, Tomero, Tortoise Creek, Tower 15, Travis, Trolley, Txakoli Txomin Etaniz, Uvaggio, Vasse Felix, Verget, Vida Organica, Vie di Romans, Vilarnau, Villa des Anges, Villa Rosa, Vina Ventisquero, Vinas del Vero, Vinum Cellars, Vistalba, White Hart, Wild Earth Vineyards, Woollaston, X. Monnot, Yali, Yalumba, ZaZin, ZD Wines, Zotovich Cellars, Zuccardi…

http://www.henrywinegroup.com/henrywinegroup/action?do=welcome

The 2016 International Chardonnay Symposium Announces Medal Winners

July 3, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Awards were handed out in four categories and The SOMM Journal named its top sommelier

Pismo Beach, CA – The International Chardonnay Symposium, (ICS), TheChardonnaySymposium.com, the world’s foremost gathering of premium Chardonnay producers, sommeliers, trade and enthusiasts, announced the official medal winners of the 2016 International Chardonnay Symposium Wine Competition.

The ICS 2016 and The SOMM Journal selected leading sommeliers to judge the extensive double-blind tasting of Chardonnay from around the globe. The medal winners were announced at the Symposium’s Annual La Paulée Dinner and Vintner Awards Ceremony, held this year at Greengate Ranch & Vineyard in the heart of the Edna Valley AVA in mid-May.

The 2016 ICS was held in the seaside resort towns of Pismo Beach, ClassicCalifornia.com; Avila Beach, VisitAvilaBeach.com; and the Edna Valley, an area of the Highway 1 Discovery Route in San Luis Obispo County, Highway1DiscoveryRoute.com.

The 2016 International Chardonnay Symposium Wine Competition “Best” category winners are:

v Best of Show

Alpha Omega 2013 Reserve (Napa Valley)

Platinum medal

v Best Unoaked Chardonnay

Simonnet-Febvre 2014 Chablis Premier Cru “Vaillons” (Chablis)

Double Gold medal

v Best Oaked Chardonnay

Grgich Hills Estate 2013 Miljenko’s Selection (Carneros)

Double Gold medal

v SOMM Journal’s Choice

Arínzano 2010 Gran Vino White (Arínzano, Vino de Pago, Spain)

Gold medal

The Best of Show award was especially meaningful for vintner Robin Baggett, the proprietor of Alpha Omega in Napa Valley and Tolosa Winery in San Luis Obispo. Baggett said, “Having graduated from Cal Poly and raised by family in San Luis Obispo, then starting my wine career in Edna Valley at Tolosa Winery, it’s an honor to return and receive such a prestigious award for our Napa Valley efforts.”

The SOMM Journal and the ICS named Alicia Ajolo of taste wine-beer-kitchen in Long Beach, California, as the Symposium’s 2016 Top Sommelier. Ajolo was one of the judges at the day-long wine competition where she determined the origin of the most of wines during a double-blind tasting.

Platinum Medal Winners

Alpha Omega 2013 Reserve (Napa Valley)

Hearst Ranch Winery 2014 Proprietor’s Reserve (Central Coast)

RUSACK Vineyards 2014 Santa Maria Valley Reserve (Santa Maria Valley)

Double Gold Medal Winners

ADELAIDA 2014 Estate, (Adelaida District)

Bernardus 2013 Sierra Mar (Santa Lucia Highlands)

Clos Pepe 2013 Estate Barrel Fermented (Sta. Rita Hills)

CRU Wine Co. 2014 Montage (Monterey)

El Pistolero 2015 “Cold Steel” (Santa Lucia Highlands)

Grgich Hills Estate 2013 Miljenko’s Selection (Carneros)

Simonnet-Febvre 2014 Chablis Premier Cru “Vaillons” (Chablis)

Wente Vineyards 2014 The Nth Degree (Livermore Valley)

Windemere 2014 MacGregor Vineyard (Central Coast)

Gold Medal Winners

Alpha Omega 2013 Chardonnay (Napa Valley)

Arínzano 2010 Gran Vino White (Arínzano, Vino de Pago, Spain)

Baileyana 2014 Firepeak (Edna Valley)

Chartron et Trébuchet 2012 Meursault (Meursault)

Cotiere 2014 Talley Rincon (Arroyo Grande Valley)

DeLoach Vineyard 2013 Estate (Russian River)

Edna Valley Vineyard 2014 (Central Coast)

Edna Valley Vineyard 2014 Winemaker Series Heritage (Santa Lucia Highlands)

Landmark Vineyards 2014 Overlook (Sonoma County)

Louis Latour 2010 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru (Corton-Charlemagne)

Nottingham Cellars 2014 1846 by Nottingham Cellars (Arroyo Seco)

Sextant Wines 2014 Central Coast (Central Coast)

Sinor-LaVallee 2014 White Label-Bassi Vineyard (Santa Lucia Highlands)

St. Francis Winery 2014 Behler (Sonoma Valley)

Tolosa Winery 2014 569 (Central Coast)

Tolosa Winery 2014 Dijon (Central Coast)

Silver Medal Winners

ADELAIDA 2014 HMR Vineyard (Adelaida District)

Buena Vista Winery 2013 Private Reserve (Sonoma County)

Capensis 2013 (Western Cape, South Africa)

Chartron et Trébuchet 2013 Rully Premier Cru Les Grésigny (Rully)

Clos Pepe 2013 Estate (Sta. Rita Hills)

CRU Wine Co. 2014 Unoaked (Arroyo Seco)

Domaine L’Arjolle 2015 Côtes de Thongue (Côtes de Thongue)

Harmony Cellars 2014 (Central Coast)

Hearst Ranch Winery 2014 Glacier Ridge (Santa Lucia Highlands)

Jean-Charles Boisset 2013 JCB #81 (Sonoma Coast)

Presqu’ile, 2013 Presqu’ile Vineyard (Santa Maria Valley)

Talley Vineyards 2014 Estate (Arroyo Grande Valley)

Trefethen 2014 (Oak Knoll District)

True Myth 2014 Paragon Estate (Edna Valley)

About The International Chardonnay Symposium

The International Chardonnay Symposium attracts winemakers, sommeliers, media, trade, wine enthusiasts and tastemakers from across the globe to enjoy and study the world’s favorite grape. When the discussion ends, there’s plenty of time for exploring nearby Central Coast wineries, as well as the hosting seaside resort towns of Pismo Beach and Avila Beach that offer downtown winetasting rooms, pristine beaches, surfing and kayaking, hiking and biking trails, farm-to-table and seaport-inspired cuisine, boutique shopping, and more. The International Chardonnay Symposium is sponsored by Pismo Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau, Avila Beach Tourism Alliance, California Highway 1 Discovery Route, Visit San Luis Obispo County, The Tasting Panel Magazine, The SOMM Journal, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, 805 Living, Touring & Tasting, Greengate Ranch & Vineyard, Riedel, Farm Credit West, San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, and Yelp.

About Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, & Highway 1 Discovery Route of SLO County

San Luis Obispo County’s Pismo Beach, Avila Beach and the Highway 1 Discovery Route destination towns are located on California’s famous Central Coast, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. With miles of pristine Pacific coastline, enjoy great weather, a plethora of outdoor activities, rich wild life and nature preserves, downtown wine tasting rooms, and the neighboring world class wine producing regions of the Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande Valley, Santa Maria Valley and Paso Robles. For information on the wide variety of lodging choices, accommodating every budget and lifestyle, visit ClassicCalifornia.com, VisitAvilaBeach.com, and Highway1DiscoveryRoute.com.

Santa Barbara Road Trip Los Angeles: Rhone Varieties

June 3, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Home to the only transverse mountain range in North America, the Santa Barbara County Appellation is made up of diverse regions and six AVAs – Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria Valley, Sta Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara and Los Olivos District. The region is also home to an unrivaled growing season with coastal influences, where pinot noir, chardonnay, syrah, grenache, roussanne, marsanne, viognier, sauvignon blanc, merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and more thrive. (From the organizer, PleaseThePalate.com)

Eve and Michael Larner of Larner Vineyard and Winery.

As I’ve said before and will say again: One of the best ways for wine 101ers to learn about wine is to do a comparative tasting of the same grape or region. This time it was wine only from the Santa Barbara AVA, and to narrow it down further, I only did the Rhone portion of the tasting that included Viognier, Marsanne, Roussane, Counoise, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre (the last three often blended together and referred to as a GSM).

Wine 101 note: Rhone wines traditionally come from Rhone, France, where only certain varietals are allowed to be grown and turned into wine. Of course someone living in the Rhone valley could plant a grape that isn’t considered the best for the terroir (soil, climate, etc.) but they wouldn’t be allowed to sell it commercially.

Now, back to this stateside tasting. A few fun photos can be seen here of my afternoon at LA’s Republique restaurant tasting all things Rhone from Santa Barbara County. And my favorites of the day are listed below in bold, however, I didn’t make it to every table.

Participating Santa Barbara County Wineries

Andrew Murray

Beckmen 2013 Syrah, Purisima Mountain Vineyard, Ballard Canyon AVA blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and a bit of Counoise.

Bien Nacido 2012 Estate Syrah, Santa Maria Valley.

Casa Dumetz with the lovely-as-always winemaker Sonja Magdevski pouring at least two that I thought were very pretty: 2014 Grenache, Santa Ynez Valley and 2014 GSM, Santa Ynez Valley.

Central Coast Group Project (CCGP) Really big: 2012 “Names” Syrah, White Hawk Vineyard, Santa Barbara County. And on the huge scale: 2012 “Barrington Hall Wine Dinner Special Cuvee” (so named after wine dinners Scott Sampler attended in college) GSM, Santa Barbara.

Fess Parker

Imagine

Jaffurs

Larner 2014 Estate Viognier was a wonderful mix of refreshing fruit and vibrant floral, and my fave white of the day. Followed that up with Michael Larner’s 2011 Estate Syrah, Ballard Canyon.

Margerum 2015 Riviera Rose, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County was my fave Rose of the day. But I didn’t stop there, I also enjoyed Doug Margerum’s 2013 Grenache, Santa Barbara County; 2013 Syrah “UBER”, Santa Barbara County; 2014 M5 Rhone blend of GSM, Counoise and Cinsault, Santa Barbara County.

Qupe

Saarloos & Sons

SAMsARA

Sanger Family, pouring their Consilience label, shared at least three wine I thought were great: 2013 Syrah, Santa Barbara County; 2013 Viognier, Santa Barbara County; 2013 Grenache Blanc, Santa Barbara County.

Stolpman, poured by Jessica Stolpman, had a perfect line-up – as I had tasted them all recently. But I still enjoyed tasting them all again, including the 2013 L’Avion, blend of Roussanne and Chardonnay, Ballard Canyon and the 2014 Grenache, Ballard Canyon.

Tercero was my first stop as winemaker Larry Schaffer was free when I walked in. Another I had tasted recently, it didn’t stop me from enjoying (again) his 2015 Mourvedre Rose, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara; 2014 Verbiage Blanc blend of Roussanne, Viognier and Grenache Blanc, Santa Barbara County; and a lovely Verbiage Rouge red blend.

William James

Zaca Mesa is an old favorite I used to love to visit and I was not only happy to revisit, but to discover two new wines to enjoy: 2012 Z Blanc, Santa Ynez Valley and 2011 Mesa Reserve Syrah, Santa Ynez Valley.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), 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

Sta. Rita Hills Road Trip to The Wine House

April 22, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

The Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance presented Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and other cool climate varieties at the Wine House in Los Angeles this past week. Guests were told not to “…miss this opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones and see what is up in the Hills!” And, in my usual form, those with short attention spans can get their fill in this 1 minute YouTube slideshow from the event.

For a change, and because this was going to be a tasting of only a select group of winegrowers, I made an effort to visit every table…but I didn’t drink everything as some (Brewer-Clifton, Crawford, Clos Pepe and Longoria) I had recently tasted at other events and from home.

I’d have to say that all, again for a change, were a hit with me. I may not have loved every wine from every winery but I did love at least 1-2 wines from most. This was a first for me. My takeaway notes from most are below. Sorry to the very few that I did miss!

Participating Wineries For Trade
AVE Wines – Loved at a recent STARS tasting but this was my chance to try three “above 90 pointers” from their Pinot program. Well done.

Bratcher
Brewer – Clifton – Already a fan of this rock star winemaker.
Clos Pepe – I always love seeing the hard-working Andrew Turner with the Pinot that, in my opinion, put Sta. Rita Hills on the map.
Crawford Family – Love seeing Mark Horvath, and his wines never disappoint as well.
Fess Parker – Busy table with lots of great Pinots, as it’s been doing for years.
Fiddlehead Cellars – Been a fan for a while, well done wines.

Flying Goat Cellars– Loved the “Goat Bubbles” for its great fruit, cheese and toast notes.
Foxen Winery – Nice Pinots, and killer 2014 Chenin Blanc.
Hilliard Bruce Vineyard and Winery
Hitching Post Wines– One of publicist Jannis Swerman’s favorites, her marketing helps me not to forget about this long-standing respected winery.
Ken Brown Wines– Classic Pinots as usual: Encantada Vineyard and Rita’s Crown Vineyard were my choices.
Kessler-Haak Vineyard – Fun 2014 Rose of Pinot Noir and a nice 2014 Chardonnay as well. And they did sneak in a bottle of 2013 Syrah that was great.
Longoria Wine – It was nice to see Richard Longoria with his impressive Pinots at the event. (I’m a former club member and have met with him at his Lompoc Ghetto tasting room.)
Montemar – Followed wine pal Marla Hofstee to this table, plenty of vintages to try and enjoy.
Pali Wine Company – Loved at least two of their Pinots: Huber Vineyard and Summit!
Prodigal Wines – Had to agree with Wine Enthusiast: the 2013 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir was well deserving of its 93 points.

Purisima – Loved the Zotovich Vineyard 2015 Chardonnay!
The Hilt – Their fun wine rep walked me through a few nicely made Pinots.
Transcendence Wine
Wan Fiore Project – The first table I stopped at, I recall liking the 2013 La Encantada the most. The winery name is a blend of the names of two brothers-in-law, one named Wan, the other, Fiore.

Parting Words

If you are a Pinot Noir and/or Chardonnay fan you MUST plan a visit. Start here: http://www.staritahills.com

Vintage Eve: Santa Rita Hills Tasting

January 12, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

It’s a great day job, that some would kill for, but take a contract on someone else, the wine has made me bulletproof.

Dear Eve,

The Sta. Rita Hills is best known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay but there are over 20 wine grape varieties planted and produced in our AVA.  We invite you to join us at palate for this Sta. Rita Hills AVA focused tasting, meet with our producers, taste the wines and learn more about our distinctive growing region.   Come Meet with Our Wineries, Old and New  . Cargasacchi ~ Clos Pepe ~ Cold Heaven ~ D’Alfonso Curran ~ Demetria ~ Dragonette Cellars ~ Fiddlehead Cellars ~ Flying Goat Cellars ~ Gypsy Canyon Winery ~ Hitching Post Wines ~ Ken Brown Wines ~ Kessler-Haak ~ Longoria Wines ~ Pali Wine Company ~ Prodigal ~ Seagrape Wine Company ~ Sweeney Canyon ~ Weber Wine Company ~ Zotovich Cellars

I’ve had a few of these wines before at the Family Winemakers and Pinot Days events. But a media tasting in Glendale, at Palate Food and Wine, was a new venue for me – and much closer than the events I go to in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. The parking was ample, and the two rooms were not filled to capacity and plenty of ice water and cheese and friends and friendly winemakers and the weather was good and there wasn’t any traffic between the 12-3 event, and and and and…

Once again, I barreled through the tasting, one sip per Pinot gal that I am, but also because I was due at Valencia Wine Company’s new CLASSY HOUR at 5 p.m. and back again at 7 p.m. for our monthly Grape of the Night “study group”. And, in true wine 101 fashion, I really wanted a nap in between each one…

Of the wines listed above I made a special note, though not enough room for full tasting notes (unless the area is otherwise noted, majority are from the Santa Rita Hills) of: Caragasacchi 07 and 08 Pinot Noirs (And winemaker Peter Caragasacchi’s wicked sense of humor paired very well.), D’Alfonso-Curran 06 Rancho Las Hermanas and Rancho La Vina, Badge 09 “Blue Steel” Chardonnay Sierra Madre, Di Bruno 09 Pinot Grigio Sanford and Benedict, Demetria Estate 07 Pinot Noir, Dragonette Cellars 09 Pinot Noir, Fiddlehead Cellars 07 Pinot Noir Cuvée “Seven Twenty Eight” Fiddlestix Vineyard, Pali Wine 08 Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard, Seagrape 07 Pinot Noir Huber Vineyard and Sweeney Canyon 2000 Chardonnay and 08 Pinot Noir.

Three from Longoria: 08 Pinot Noir “Lovely Rita”, 07 Pinot Noir, Fe Ciega Vineyard, and 07 Tempranillo Santa Ynez Valley.

Another three from Prodigal Wines: 09 Pinot Gris Sierra Madre Santa Maria Valley, 08 Pinot Noir Fiddlestix and 07 Pinot Noir Appellation Cuvée.

Okay, so is it too late for a nap now?

http://www.staritahills.com/appellation.html

The Hungry Cat Welcomes Steve Clifton and Palmina Wines for Winemaker Dinner on September 29

September 19, 2015 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Chef David Lentz and Chef de Cuisine Kris Longley Showcase Palmina’s Italian Styled Wines with a Menu Inspired by the California Central Coast

WHO: Chef/Owner David Lentz, Chef de Cuisine Kris Longley, The Hungry Cat Santa Monica and Winemaker Steve Clifton of Palmina Wines

WHAT: David Lentz’s seaside restaurant, The Hungry Cat in Santa Monica Canyon, welcomes Winemaker Steve Clifton and Palmina Wines for an exclusive Winemaker Dinner on Tuesday, September, 29, 2015.

Steve Clifton, winemaker and owner, produced the first Palmina wines in the basement of his home in 1995. Steve’s appreciation for Italian wines began while working in Italian restaurants. His career in the wine industry began in 1991 when he left his previous incarnations as a musician and nightclub entrepreneur behind and decided to beg his way into a tasting room position at Rancho Sisquoc winery. In 1995, Steve met Greg Brewer and formed the partnership that has become Brewer-Clifton, a winery solely devoted to vineyard-designated Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills appellation in western Santa Barbara County.

The evening with Palmina Wines begins with a Swordfish Crudo with Crushed Pistachios, Mint, Lemon, Extra Virgin Olive Oil served with the winery’s Malvasia Larner Vineyard 2013. Next courses include Baked Scallop with Sunchoke Velouté, Charred Broccoli, Pine Nuts, Bread Crumbs and House Made Rigatoni with Braised Rabbit Ragout, Chanterelle Mushrooms, Hazelnuts with two Italian style wines – a Tocai Friulano from Honea Vineyard and a rich Dolcetto from Santa Ynez Valley. The culmination is The Hungry Cat’s Wood-Grilled Rib Eye with Romano Beans, Smoked Tomatoes, Gorgonzola served with Palmina’s Nebbiolo from Santa Barbara County. Ending the feast is a Cardamom Panna Cotta with Persimmons, Toasted Walnuts served with a late harvest Tocai from Honea Vineyard.

Cocktails begin at 6 p.m. followed by a seated dinner at 7 p.m. Pricing is $150 per guest for menu and wines. To reserve for this event, call (310) 459-3337 or email infosantamonica@thehungrycat.com.

An Evening with Winemaker Steve Clifton and Palmina Wine

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

COURSE I

SWORDFISH CRUDO

crushed pistachios, mint, lemon, extra virgin olive oil

MALVASIA larner vineyard 2013

COURSE II

BAKED SCALLOP

sunchoke velouté, charred broccoli, pine nuts, bread crumbs

TOCAI FRIULANO honea vineyard 2013

COURSE III

HOUSE MADE RIGATONI

braised rabbit ragout, chanterelle mushrooms, hazelnuts

DOLCETTO santa ynez valley 2013

COURSE IV

GRILLED RIB EYE

romano beans, smoked tomatoes, gorgonzola

NEBBIOLO santa barbara county 2009

DESSERT

CARDAMOM PANNA COTTA

persimmons, toasted walnuts

TOCAI (LATE HARVEST) honea vineyard

$150/person

Winemaker Steve Clifton

WHEN:

One night only, Tuesday, September 29, 2015

6 p.m. cocktails, 7 p.m. dinner

$150 per guest, excluding other beverages, taxes and gratuities

Limited seating for this event

Call (310) 459-3337 or email infosantamonica@thehungrycat.com

WHERE: The Hungry Cat Santa Monica

100 W Channel Rd, Santa Monica, CA 90402
(310) 459-3337

WHY: Chef /Owner David Lentz creates a new American Seafood sensibility inspired by his Maryland roots, incorporating sustainable, seasonal fish, shellfish and produce into his weekly changing menus. Consistently named among the LA Weekly’s 99 Essential Restaurants, critic Besha Rodell states, ”The Hungry Cat has…not has only stood the test of time, in fact, is far better than much of what now qualifies as the new hotness. Lentz delivers menu of beautiful seafood dishes that aren’t built on nostalgia but rather a foundation of creativity and old-school technique.” This Santa Monica outpost brings it all together with its seaside setting, complete with signature raw bar, perfectly mixed craft wines and camaraderie at the bar and tables.

ABOUT PALMINA WINES: Palmina crafts wines can be enjoyed every day, complementing a wide range of food styles. Palmina produces wines from Italian varietals grown in Santa Barbara County, California. The climate and soil types are similar to those in Northern Italy. Each – Piemonte, Friuli and Santa Barbara share particular microclimates that feature cold air pushing warm air to create growing conditions that provide enough sunlight to help fully develop fruit flavors. These regions also enjoy cool night temperatures that maintain the grape’s natural acidity levels, allowing winemakers to create “food wines” with a balance of fruit, tannin and acid. Read more about Palmina Wines at www.palminawines.com

Perlis Picked: Wine In The Pines 2015

July 11, 2015 by evebushman Leave a Comment

The middle of June 2015 was truly a wine-soaked weekend in the Los Angeles area, with Wine in the Pines on Saturday, June 13^th at Pine Mountain Club followed on Sunday, June 14^th by the Ojai Wine Festival.

First – Wine In The Pines

The annual Wines In The Pines festival was started in 2003 by the Village Pine Mountain Club. We are very proud to have helped the event be a huge hit this year. Lots of good wines, very well organized, great food and entertainment as well. And even though it was warm [mid 80s, I think, which happens sometimes up here] I heard hardly any comments about the weather as people were just having too good of a time.

I saw many Santa Claritans at the festival, as usual. After all, the event is just over an hour away from the SCV. Yet, once you leave the 5 freeway at Frazier Park and head into the mountains you are quickly transported into another world – they don’t call it Mount Pinos for nothing.

While walking amongst the towering pines, you are able to sample wine from dozens of wineries, along with beer and food. You can check out the list of participating wineries, breweries and restaurants here:

http://www.wineinthepines.com/winefood.html

Some of the winery highlights for my wife Karen and me [note that if a winery isn’t mentioned it just means we probably didn’t get to it]:

Ampelos Cellars: A fortunate cancelation of a meeting at the World Trade Center led to Peter Work missing the 9/11 tragedy. Rethinking their lives, he and wife Rebecca plunged full-time into their Ampelos vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills, which they had acquired in 1999. My favorites were the “Syrache” [blend of Syrah and Grenache] as well as the standalone Syrah.

Ascension Cellars: Winemaker Erick Allen uses fruit from the Cass Vineyard in Paso Robles and makes his wines there as well. Focusing primarily on Rhone and Bordeaux blends with minimal use of oak, we enjoyed the “Silver Blanc” [Chardonnay and Viognier blend] and the “Trinity” [Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre].

Bellissimo Cellars: owner/winemaker and Santa Clarita Valley resident Lora Marie Taylor obtains grapes from organically farmed vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills and the Central Coast. Her Chardonnay was clean, bright and refreshing on a warm pre-summer day.

Cantara Cellars: From their winery in Camarillo, Mike and Chris Brown continue to craft delicious wines from Lodi grapes. Enjoyed the “Mischievous” blend of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Coruce: Based in the high desert, Coruce went commercial in just 2013. Some of their wines are still made with Central Coast grapes [like their excellent Viognier from the Bien Nacido Vineyard] but they are focusing more and more on local grapes, like their tasty Antelope Valley Zinfandel and Syrah bottlings.

Gen 7: Are you old enough to remember the Brookside Winery tasting rooms that dotted the landscape in the late 60s and early 70s? Probably not, but I am. Gen 7 represents the latest efforts of that winemaking family. Best ones here for me were the “Road to Morocco” blend of Cabernet, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah as well as their “1832” Zinfandel.

Golden Star Vineyards: Lee and Helen Williams continue to impress me with their tasty wines from the High Desert. Loved their Chardonnay, Zinfandel, three different Syrahs as well as their signature Purple Haze blend. Their daughter Heather introduced me to their “desert wines” a few years ago and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Mystic Hills: Based in San Miguel [just outside of Paso Robles] but with Santa Clarita Valley roots, Judy and Joel Cox’ winery is producing some wines that are really getting noticed and bringing in the awards. My favorite is their “Unforgiven” red blend.

Plan B Wine Cellars: Based in Ventura, Plan B does a great job with the grapes it purchases, focusing primarily on Zins and Rhones, which are right up my alley. Really enjoyed their Syrah.

Rotta: Winemaker Jeff Branco brings his impressive to pedigree to Rotta Winery in Paso Robles. Loved his Cabernet but it was his Syrah that really knocked me out.

Zotovich: Their tasting room is in Lompoc and their vineyard is in the Sta. Rita Hills. They sell a lot of their grapes to other wineries in the area, but keep some for themselves, making some delicious wines like the great Syrah that I tasted.

To sum up: a great day in the mountains, a great day in the woods, a great day for wine, beer, food and fun. Be sure to join us next year.

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com

Stunning Wines from an Even More Beautiful Family, by Barbara Barrielle

May 21, 2015 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Go on the website for Crawford Family Wines and you will see photos of a family that look torn from a fashion catalog…surely they can’t be that good-looking and produce amazing wines. But, they are and they do. In fact, the quick snap I took of winemaker and family head, Mark Horvath, during our group wine tasting got more “likes” on Facebook than almost anything else I’ve posted. Yep, that good looking.

And the wines are just as gorgeous. The 2013 Rose of Pinot Noir and Grenache is absolutely refreshing and a sports a floral bouquet of fragrant rose and ripe strawberries and follows with the same on the palate. This well-made Rose may actually do well with some age and is a summer steal at $18.

All of the wines are excellent but the 2013 Chardonnay, Tin Shack, Rita’s Crown Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills, is one of the most memorable wines I have tasted recently. Fresh and Burgundian in style, the aroma of caramelized apples is unique and pronounced and becomes phenomenal on the palate where a bit of nutmeg and baking spices add to the lingering finish. I loved this wine and it was beautiful with the Prosciutto Wrapped Halibut but would have been spectacular with the creaminess of the Jumbo Shrimp we had paired with the Rose.

The 2012 Walk Slow, Santa Rita Hills, is half Babcock Vineyard and half Bentrock Vineyard and the combination creates layers of complexity and concentration form the 30 year old Babcock vines. Bentrock has a slatey minerality and together they create a sense of place and a rich Pinot that punches smoke and cherry and continues into and smooth, long finish. Yummy and stands up well to the gaminess of wild boar.

Finishing a tasting of Crawford Family Wines mean indulging on their first release of a Syrah-Grenache blend named 2^nd Street Cuvee from the hippest new AVA, Ballard Canyon. Completely drawn from the Tierra Alta Vineyard, two steep hillside blocks produce this lush Cotes-du-Rhone style wine. Aromas of dark and dried fruit with violet undertones with spice on the palate and juice acid through the finish. The rare cut of Teres Major (shoulder) beef was a treat with this meat-friendly wine that also drinks nicely with hard cheeses of a little duck breast.

A glimpse at the menu prepared by wonder chef Laura Scallan at West Restaurant at Hotel Angeleno:

FIRST COURSE ~ Rose

GARLIC JUMBO SHRIMP

LEMON-PEPPER FETTUCINI, ARTICHOKE ALFREDO

SECOND COURSE ~ Chardonnay

PROSCUITTO WRAPPED HALIBUT

GRILLED EGGPLANT, TOMATO CAPER SAUCE

THIRD COURSE ~ Pinot Noir

BRAISED WILD BOAR

TRUFFLED POLENTA, CRISPY BRUSSEL SPROUTS

FOURTH COURSE~ Cuvee

GRILLED TERES MAJOR

WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO, SPRING PEA PUREE

Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure Announces 2015 Winemaker Line-up, Plus New Events

March 9, 2015 by evebushman Leave a Comment

‘Wildly exuberant and fun wine event’ returns to Solvang March 27^th – 29^th; features hard-to-find, cutting-edge micro-production wineries from Santa Barbara County and Santa Ynez Valley; adds new Winemaking Symposium, Winemaker Mixer and Big Red ‘Shoot Out”

Paso Robles, CA – Garagiste Events today announced that tickets are now on sale for the third annual Santa Ynez Valley-based “Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure,” which will feature over 60 of the area’s hard-to-find, micro-production commercial “garagiste**” winemakers. All festivities will take place at the beautiful, Mission-style Veterans’ Memorial Hall in the heart of Solvang, California from March 27^th – 29th. Proceeds benefit the Cal Poly Wine and Viticulture program.

Dubbed a ‘wildly exuberant and fun wine event’ by the LA Times, Southern Exposure features a ‘Grand Tasting’ on both Saturday and Sunday, each showcasing a completely different slate of winemakers. And, like all Garagiste Festivals, Southern Exposure offers attendees a low-crowd experience, high-quality wines, first-time and ‘soon-to-break-out’ discoveries, personal winemaker interaction, diverse varietals and, of course, a renegade and fun-loving spirit.

This year, the festival kicks off with two new events on Friday (March 27^th):

Happy Yeast Make Better Wine an educational (but fun) winemaker symposium sponsored by Laffort, and featuring Cal Poly professor and winemaker Matt Brain of Baker and Brain (5:00 – 6:30pm).
No Repeats: Rare & Reserve Winemaker Mixer where winemakers bring out the best of their best for attendees, including Club Only, Library and Pre-Release bottles, and compete in the “Big Red Shootout,” a friendly competition in which they blind-taste each other’s wines and vote for the best red in the room. (7:00 – 9:30pm).

Each Grand Tasting is preceded by one of the festival’s signature tasting seminars,*** moderated by Garagiste Festival Co-founder and radio host Stewart McLennan:

Saturday (March 28^th) – The Diversity of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA: It’s Not All Pinot & Chardonnay featuring Dan Kessler of Kessler-Haak, Chad Melville from SamSARA Wine Co. and Peter Work from Ampelos Cellars
Sunday (March 29^th) – The Elephant in the Bottle: The Great California Alcohol Debate with panelists Norm Yost from Flying Goat Cellars, Keith Saarloos from Saarloos & Sons and Stillman Brown from Zeppelin Winery.

“We could not be happier to be back in Solvang for the third year in a row with yet another extraordinary slate of 60 talented and innovative micro-production winemakers from Santa Ynez and Santa Barbara, over 20 of whom are pouring at the festival for the first time,” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Doug Minnick. “More and more winemakers are telling us that The Garagiste Festivals are the only wine events they participate in because they are so full of passionate, knowledgeable (but decidedly un-snobby) fans of these very special handcrafted wines.”

Added McLennan: “Most of these wineries do not have tasting rooms and can’t be found on tour maps. The Garagiste Festivals bring them together under one roof, so our fans can not only try these fantastic, limited-supply wines, but also meet the cutting-edge winemakers behind them. And because it’s a Garagiste event, attendees know it will be fun and casual.”

Launched in Paso Robles in 2011, the non-profit Garagiste Festivals were the first to shine a light on the American garagiste winemakers, commercial artisan winemakers who handcraft under 1,500 cases a year and pay close, hands-on attention to every wine they make. The only festivals in the US dedicated to these innovative, hard-to-find, micro-production winemakers, the Garagiste Festivals have introduced hundreds of outstanding artisan winemakers to thousands of passionate wine consumers, members of the trade and media, raising the profiles of many of the winemakers nationally for the first time, and raising thousands of dollars for the education of future winemakers.

Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure – Grand Tastings

Winemakers on Saturday Include: Apical Cellars*, Archium Cellars, Baehner Fournier, Bellissimo Cellars*, Bradley Family Winery, Brophy Clark, Carivintas Winery*, Carucci Wines, Clos Des Amis, Cordon Wines, Cotiere, Crawford Family Wines, Dascomb Cellars, Ferguson Crest*, Kessler-Haak Vineyards, La Montagne Winery*, Larner Vineyards, Levo Wines, No Limit Wines*, Pence Ranch, Press Gang Cellars, Roark Wine Co., SamSara Wine Co., Scott Cellars, Seagrape Cellars, Section Wines*, Solminer Wines, Turiya Wines and Weatherborne.

Winemakers on Sunday Include: Alta Colina Vineyards, Ascension Cellars, Barbieri Wines*, Big Tar Wines*, Central Coast Group Project*, Center of Effort Wines, Cloak & Dagger Wines, Conarium Wines*, Dilecta Wines, Dreamcote Wine Co.*, Falcone Family Vineyards, Graef Wines, Imagine Wines*, J. Brix Wines*, J. Ludlow Vineyard*, Mattina Fiore*, MCV Wines, Mount Dorado Winery*, Pace Family Wines*, Ryan Cochrane Wines, STANGER Vineyards, Tercero Wines, Tierra y Vino*, Vines on the Marycrest, Vino Vargas, Wandering Dog Wines*, Workman Ayer* and Zeppelin Winery.

Tickets are very limited and Garagiste Festivals always sell out. For the full Southern Exposure schedule, seminar details, participating hotels and to buy tickets go to http://garagistefestival.com.

To be alerted to breaking news about Southern Exposure and additional Garagiste events, sign-up for our free newsletter, The Dirt at http://garagistefestival.com/sign-up/, or follow us on Twitter (@GaragisteFest) or Facebook.

Garagiste Festival Sponsors include:

Major Sponsors

Visit Santa Ynez Valley.com, Wandering Dog Wine Bar, Travel Paso Alliance, Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, mWEBB Communications, Glenn Burdette, G3 Enterprises, WiVi Central Coast Wine Industry Conference and Laffort USA.

Contributing Sponsors

Farm Credit West, Hinman & Carmichal, Pack and Ship Direct, Visit Atascadero, Digital Dogma, Distinctive Glassware, Stolzle Glasware, Scott Laboratories, Sempli Design, Vinzy, Enartis Vinquiry, Umpqua Bank, Soiree Home, Baker Wine and Grape Analysis, One West Insurance Services, The Good Life, Chumash Casino Resort, Spin the Bottle Wine Studio, Wood and Vine Restaurant, All American Containers, Golden State Overnight, GoVino and Zin Chair.

Media Sponsors

KSBY, KCBX, The KRUSH, 92.5, The Los Angeles Register, Wines & Vines, Vineyard & Winery Management, The Tasting Panel.

Hotel Sponsors

The Hamlet Inn, King Frederik Inn, Pea Soup Andersen’s Inn, The Oaks Hotel Paso Robles, La Quinta Inn and Suites Paso Robles, The Carlton Hotel.

For sponsorship info, email info@garagistefestival.com.

*New to the Garagist Festival

**Garagistes (garage-east) is a term originally used in the Bordeaux region of France to denigrate renegade small-lot wine makers, sometimes working in their “garages” (anything considered not a chateau), who refused to follow the “rules,” and is now a full-fledged movement responsible for making some of the best wine in the world.

***VIP Ticket holders only