Garagiste Wine Festival Comes to the Heart of Sonoma Wine Country in May

April 16, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (PRWEB) – Garagiste Events today announced that its internationally renowned Garagiste Wine Festival comes to the heart of Sonoma, California on May 12th for the very first time. The festival will showcase the rich variety of small-production wines currently being crafted by some of the most innovative winemakers in Sonoma, Mendocino, Livermore, Lodi, and Napa, as well as other California regions. The non-profit event will be held at the Sonoma Veterans Building near Sonoma’s historic downtown plaza. Tickets are on sale today at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1st-annual-garagiste-festival-northern-exposure-tickets-43108506704

Like many small production wineries, over ninety percent of participating wineries are without a tasting room where they can meet the public, making the premier Sonoma Garagiste Festival a one-of-a-kind opportunity for consumers to discover, and meet, 40 winemakers while tasting 150+ wines made from over 15 varieties. This is why The Garagiste Festival, which always sells out, has been dubbed ‘wine tasting Nirvana;” ‘a wildly exuberant and fun wine event,’ and “not-to-be missed’ by the LA Times.

“Sonoma-area winemakers and wine lovers have been asking us for quite some time to bring the Garagiste Festival further north,” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Douglas Minnick. “On May 12th, at last, we are able to offer this fertile and creative winemaking community the opportunity to share their delicious wines in the intimate and unique Garagiste Festival setting. Bringing these winemakers onto the radar of passionate wine fans on the lookout for new wine discoveries is one of the great pleasures of the festival.”

“And, if you think you know the garagiste line-up, think again…” added Festival Co-founder Stewart McLennan. “Over half of these wineries are brand new to the festival, as are many of the Northern California regions represented. In the wake of the Northern California fires, we are glad to spread the word that this part of California not only remains open for business, but is thriving.”

Known for high quality wines, first-time and ‘soon-to-break-out’ discoveries, diverse grape varieties, a ‘no snobs allowed’ policy and a renegade and fun-loving spirit, the non-profit Garagiste Festivals are the only festivals in the US dedicated to micro-production winemakers. Garagiste Festivals have introduced hundreds of outstanding artisan winemakers (who produce under 1500 cases of wine) 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.

Cris Carter owner and winemaker of Weatherborne Wine Corp, and who owns a vineyard in the Anderson Valley, has showcased his wines at multiple Garagiste Festivals. “The Garagiste Fest is the perfect place for small-production, family-run wine brands to meet their audience. Winery owners meet face-to-face with interested and engaged consumers who often wind up being their most loyal customers and brand advocates,” says Carter. “Attendees get to pick the brains of the people actually making the wine and running the business, learning the wine’s story in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. For the wine trade, it’s a great place to unearth the next wave of exciting California producers; a true opportunity to find hidden gems for your wine list or portfolio.”

The Sonoma Garagiste Festival will kick off at 11:30 am on Saturday, May 12th, with a signature tasting seminar: “The Garagiste Variety Show: Exploring the Diversity of Small-Production Winemaking.” The seminar will focus on the range of wines being produced by Garagiste winemakers, and investigate why garagiste winemakers have stepped away from Cabernet and Chardonnay to work with grapes considered under-the-radar in Northern California. Moderated by McLennan, panelists include: Paul Gordon of Halcon Vineyards and Randy Hester of Lightning Wines. In the afternoon is the main event: the Grand Tasting, which runs from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. Like all Garagiste Festivals (and unlike many larger wine festivals), the Sonoma festival will limit ticket sales to give attendees a comfortable and relaxed tasting experience with personal winemaker interaction.

For the full schedule, more information, go to: http://garagistefestival.com or follow us on Twitter (@GaragisteFest) or Facebook. For breaking festival news and special discounts sign-up for our free newsletter, The Dirt at http://garagistefestival.com/sign-up/.

Winemakers already scheduled to pour include:
Betwixt Wines, Calstar Cellars, Camlow Cellars, Chenoweth Wines, Crux Winery, Enoteca Five, Fallon Place Wine, Fields Family Wines, Gordenker Wines, Gregory James Wines, Halcon Vineyards, Kendrick Vineyards, La Pitchoune Winery, Lightning Wines, Magna Vita Cellars, Mastro Scheidt, Merisi Wines, Montagne Russe, Montemaggiore, Murder Ridge, Nowell-Smith Wines, Parmeson Wines, Piezo Winery, T. Berkley Wines, Trojak-Knier Winery, Von Holt Cellars and Weatherborne Wine Co.

Sponsors include: ETS, Laffort, Glenn Burdette, Digital Dogma, mWEBB Communications, Farm Credit, and G3

For sponsorship info, email info@garagistefestival.com.

About The Garagiste Wine Festivals
The Garagiste Wine Festivals (http://www.garagistefestival.com) are the first and only wine festivals dedicated to the undiscovered and under-recognized American artisan ‘garagiste’ producers who are making some of the best, most exciting, handcrafted small-lot production wines in the world. Founded by fellow garagiste winemakers Stewart McLennan and Douglas Minnick, the Garagiste Festivals are committed to discovering the best and most innovative limited-production winemakers and promoting and showcasing them to a broad audience of discerning wine consumers. In addition to its flagship annual festival in Paso Robles, CA, the Garagiste Festival line-up includes Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure, featuring Santa Ynez Valley garagistes; the Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure, in Los Angeles; the Garagiste Festival, Northern Exposure, in the Bay Area; winemaker dinners, a newsletter, garagiste profiles and more.

The festivals were named one of the ‘Top Nine Incredible Epicurean Vacations’ in the world by ABC News,* “one of the premier wine events of the year,” by the LA Times and “Best Festival” by Sunset Magazine’s ‘Best of the West.’ The festivals are produced by Garagiste Events, a non-profit dedicated to furthering the education of future winemakers and those training for employment within the wine industry. Garagiste Festivals Inc. is a 5013c non-profit organization and proceeds from the festivals support the Garagiste Festival Scholarship fund of the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo Wine and Viticulture Department.

**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.

Hundreds Race in the Wine Galleries of the Republic of Moldova

March 29, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

U, Moldova (PRWEB) CHIȘINĂ – Over 300 people, including athletes and sports enthusiasts, took part in “Cricova Wine Run 2018”, a one-of-a-kind event celebrating its third year of existence. Participants ran a 10 km course and reached depths of 100 meters (330 feet) in the underground galleries of the famous Cricova Winery, near the Moldovan capital, Chisinau.

Cricova is an important part of Moldova’s cultural and national heritage, and is a symbol of its thousand-year-old winemaking tradition. Hundreds of underground “streets” cover a distance of over 120 kilometers within the limestone hillside, forming a unique underground city that hosts Cricova’s wine production. Cricova is famous worldwide, especially for its sparkling wines and wine storage facilities, the National Wine Collection, the wine collections of famous world leaders, a Wine Museum, and five underground tasting rooms. This major attraction welcomes over 70,000 visitors each year, drawn by opportunities for wine tourism.

“Cricova Wine Run 2018” race participants were cheered along the galleries by traditional folk groups, musicians, and traditional artisans. At the finish line, the runners were rewarded with a “Masa Mare” (“The big table/feast”) – a traditional feature of every major Moldovan holiday, bringing together food, family and friends. At the “Masa Mare” the athletes enjoyed traditional Moldovan dishes and had a glass of mulled wine.

Despite the freezing winter weather above ground, Cricova’s cellars maintain a stable temperature of 12-14°C (54-58°F) all year round, making them perfect not only for wine storage, but also for hosting cultural and sporting events during the winter months. This competition breaks the stereotype that running races cannot be held in the region during the cold season, where temperatures may drop as low as -20°C (-4°F).

The second result was recorded by a guest from US, Clayton Strycker from Chicago, with an overall time of 39 minutes and 28 seconds.

“Cricova Wine Run 2018” was organized by the social organization Sporter and Cricova Winery, with the support of the Moldova Competitiveness Project (MCP). MCP is funded by USAID and the Swedish Government, and supports the development of Moldova’s wine and tourism industries.

This year’s edition of “Cricova Wine Run” took place under the aegis of Moldova’s tourism brand “The Tree of Life” and the national wine brand “Wine of Moldova. A legend alive”, and is part of an international program dedicated to promoting Moldovan wine and Moldova as a wine tourism destination. In addition to promoting sports, a healthy lifestyle and a thousand-year-old wine-making tradition, “Cricova Wine Run” has great potential to attract foreign tourists to the Republic of Moldova, and could become a flagship international event.

“Cricova Wine Run” began on January 31st 2016, and takes place every year on the last weekend of January.

Moldova – an emerging tourism destination

Efforts to promote the Republic of Moldova as a tourism destination were consolidated in 2014 with the launch of the national tourism brand “The Tree of Life”, backed by an international marketing and promotion strategy. The “The Tree of Life” brand embodies traditional cultural values and represents the Republic of Moldova’s tourism offer, which comprises opportunities in cultural, rural, wine and soft adventure tourism.

Since then, Moldova has rapidly risen in world tourism rankings, thanks to international communication campaigns such as #BeOurGuest. In 2013, Lonely Planet listed Moldova as one of the least visited countries in its “off the beaten path” category (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/blog/2013/02/26/lonely-planet-travellers-choice-the-top-destinations-of-2013-part-3/), and by the end of 2017 the same site ranked Moldova as one of Europe’s best countries to visit (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-europe) and a “Fastest-growing travel destination” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/news/gallery/2017/07/19/worlds-fastest-growing-travel-destination/).

National Geographic also lists Moldova as one of its “10 Places That Deserve More Travelers” because it “gained international attention for its burgeoning wine trade”. (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/lists/2017-places-that-deserve-more-travelers/)

“Wine of Moldova” – a leading Moldovan national brand
The launch of the national wine brand “Wine of Moldova. A Legend Alive” in 2014 marked an important milestone in the Moldovan wine industry’s efforts to redefine itself. The industry is implementing dramatic reforms and diversifying its export markets to fight the consequences of two consecutive trade embargoes imposed by Russian Federation. Since its launch, and due to consistent efforts to promote Wine of Moldova internationally, almost 70% of Moldova’s bottled wine is now exported to new, non-traditional (non-CIS) markets, including Europe and China.

Wine plays an important part in Moldova’s culture and traditions, as well as a major role in the economy, accounting for 5.3% of exports, 2% of the GDP, and contributing to the employment of over 200 thousand people.

Useful links:
Facebook video: https://goo.gl/sN52Wa
Youtube video: https://goo.gl/jKkhmq
Instagram video: https://goo.gl/HBBPtT
Photo archive: https://goo.gl/fuE7xK

Vintage Eve Circa 1/2015: What’s Happening in Our Local Bonded Winery?

March 27, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

If you live anywhere in the Santa Clarita Valley, and you are into wine, you probably already know that we have a wine tasting room in downtown Newhall. You might even know that we have a licensed and bonded winery in the Valencia industrial center. But did you know that our only winery has become a home for many commercial and non-commercial wineries…many of which use our local winemakers as consultants? Maybe even up to 15 wineries?

The “unbreakable” Pulchella glasses, photo credit: Rick Lott

Yes, this is the growth that local winemakers Steve Lemley and Nate Hasper have seen since opening their TWO doors. You can taste Paso Robles wine at Pulchella Winery Thursday through Saturday evenings, and make an appointment to see the SCV Winery facility if you would like to make your own wine.

And to help you get started I asked Steve Lemley to give readers an update:

EB: Steve, please tell us a little (because I know you do a lot) about what you do at the winemaking facility.

SL: Nate and I fuel our passion and produce all of Pulchella Winery’s allocations here along with working with 15 other wineries as their consulting winemaker to produce their wine labels as well. Producing wines in small lots from fruit sourced primarily from the central coast. We are super excited to have invested in state of the art equipment, expanded the operation and opened it up to a select group of other wineries and vineyard owners who share our stylistic approach to winemaking.

EB: And do we get to taste the fruits of your effort in your Newhall tasting room? Tell us about your current releases and if club memberships are available.

SL: Absolutely! Pulchella Winery’s current releases are poured in our tasting room Thursday through Saturday from 5pm to 10pm without any appointment needed. We are currently pouring 8 wines. In spring, we will release the next allocation, which we are by far the proudest of as we have had time to focus the brand and make some really solid wines. Our wine club has recently re-opened to new members, which offers just two allocations a year, 20% off all purchases, free tastings and more. For a full list of current and upcoming wine releases, visit our website.

EB: How about a story of something funny that has happened during your years of winemaking…something wannabe winemakers might be interested in.

SL: We get asked a lot how the Westside Paso Robles, Cerro Prieto vineyard Pinot Noir named “Deadbeat”, fell into our program. In spring 2013 we took on a project with a new client and were asked to source some of the best quality Pinot Noir from the Paso Robles Willow Creek area. Making an extensive amount of Pinot Noir for clients in the past, we took the challenge and poured our hearts, souls and wallets into the project just to have the client inform us a few months later that he could not continue and would not be able to pay for any of the fruit and barrels. Given that we sourced and paid for the fruit, produced the wine and designed the barrel program for it, it only seemed right to release it under Pulchella Winery’s label and see what everyone thought. The now past client got the wine named after him and it was loved by everyone so much that it has now become a staple in our portfolio of wines.

EB: Can you give us an update on the vines you and Nate helped plant at College of the Canyons?

SL: For the last two years Nate and I have also expanded our operation to include full scale vineyard management for many of our clients. Donating our time as full time vineyard consultants for College Of The Canyons is a dream come true for us. The college shares a vision with us and the fruits of everyone’s labor is starting to take shape.

After the 50 year old zinfandel transplant project was completed, we have planted another zinfandel block and have completed the architectural design and installation of yet another Syrah block. We have had a 100% success rate with the vineyard and are very proud to have been given the freedom to establish an infrastructure that will offer a very complex curriculum of viticulture and enology in the future for COC students. We will continue to manage the project until COC has a program in place to take it over.

EB: What do you and Nate see for the future?

SL: It’s easy to increase production but we want to honor the support we have and will not increase our production so that we can offer the same quality wines year after year to everyone who supports us. We will continue to focus our brand and dedicate every waking moment to increasing the quality of our wines and the wines we produce for our clients.

Santa Clarita will soon have other very high quality brands to enjoy and we are humbled to be involved with the vision and production of them. Visit our website or come visit us in the tasting room and see what’s down our dirt road of passion.

The winery tasting room is located at: 24261 Main Street in the Old town Newhall historical district. (91321). For current tasting room hours, please call our tasting room at 661-799-wine. Closed most major holidays.

http://www.pulchellawinery.com

Customerservice@PulchellaWinery.com

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 guest judge for the L.A. International Wine Competition. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Visit Temecula Valley Announces New Offerings

March 14, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Temecula Valley, CA (PRWEB) – 2018 aims to be a banner year for Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country with growth, expansion, openings, and new beginnings hitting the scene throughout the region. In 2018, visitors to Temecula Valley will have the option to dine at new restaurants, stay at new and newly remodeled hotels, know the secret password to enjoy access to local speakeasies, take new brewery tours, sip exclusive varietals at premier tasting rooms, and enjoy world-class live entertainment.

New for 2018: Hotels and Hotel Renovations

Pechanga Resort and Casino finalizes its $285 million expansion this spring, with an exciting new lobby, additional meeting space, an entire 568 room wing of AAA Four-Diamond rooms and suites, luxury 25,000 square foot spa and additional 4 ½ acre pool complex with lagoon, swim-up bar and waterslides, doubling down on the already award-winning resort.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Temecula Valley Wine Country also recently completed its own multi-million dollar renovation of suites and meeting spaces, while Best Western Plus will finish building its first property location, complete with upgraded amenities in an upscale setting, in Temecula, set to open this year.

New for 2018: Wineries, Brewery Tours and Speakeasies

Temecula Valley’s wine and brewery scene will receive a substantial amount of growth in 2018.

From The Winery Hopper Facebook page.

On the wine and vineyard front, Akash Winery, featuring a selection of zinfandels, cabernet sauvignons, roses, and petit sirahs, is set to open this year while Wilson Creek Winery recently began its Upper Room Tasting Experience, an exclusive guided tour of reserve wines paired with small bites and appetizers prepared by their Executive Chef. Sweet Oaks Ranch, home to a premier equestrian riding facility, will soon open Sweet Oaks Winery, which will also feature live entertainment. The new Wine Cave Tour by Aall in Limo includes dining at a Temecula Valley restaurant, a Wine Cave tour at Oak Mountain Winery with wine tasting, and transportation is included. The Winery Hopper is also a brand new company that offers drop off and pick up to all the wineries; advance reservations are not required and hop-on, hop-off schedules make wine tasting a breeze. Winery tours are now being offered by air with Air Temecula. Both helicopter and airplane tours can take visitors to wineries in the highest style.

Hip, new speakeasies opened in Old Town this year, including Thompson & Twain, located between Crush & Brew and Espadin in Old and The Apparition Room, located next to Devilicious Eatery in Old Town. But don’t tell anyone we told you.

New brewery tours will be offered in 2018, including a new Brewery Tour at Karl Strauss, offered both weekdays and weekends. The tour takes visitors into the 7 BBL facility, showcases the stages of brewing process, history, and equipment; tours include a tasting flight. Brewery Tours are also now available in Temecula Valley from outside vendors including Aaal in Limo, Temecula Winery Transportation , Little Bus Tours, and Grapeline. Visitors won’t want to miss Craft Beer Month featuring specials, events, and activities at Temecula breweries throughout the month of May.

New for 2018: Restaurants

Temecula will welcome a handful of new restaurants this year to add to their culinary collection. Espadín Mezcal + Cocina, which recently opened its doors in Old Town Temecula, features a menu that highlights several regions in Mexico with authentic ingredients and food always made from scratch.

The Restaurant at Leoness Cellars recently reopened after a multi-million dollar expansion which will add space (both indoor and out) as well as updated amenities for the popular restaurant, rated #1 winery restaurant by USA Today’s 10 Best Reader’s Choice and Best Restaurant in the Inland Empire for four consecutive years. Their seasonal selections, created by Executive Chef Daragh Matheson, are prepared from scratch in the kitchen daily.

New for 2018: Festivals, Events, & Services

The inaugural Temecula Blues Festival will take to the streets of Old Town Temecula this April, showcasing local, regional, and national artists. A Vendor Blues Village will complement the event with food, beer, wine, and merchandise.

2017’s last minute Western Days will be showcased this coming year, back by popular demand. The event will feature a gunfighters shoot-out at high noon, street vendors, and plenty of family activities.

Temecula Lavender Company, a popular artisan gift store in Old Town, will begin hosting Farm Tours this June that allow visitors to explore the Lavender fields before harvest.

For visitors traveling to and from Temecula, Temecula Air Shuttle is a new service that provides transportation from all major airports to Temecula Valley.

The Alpaca Hacienda and Temecula Valley Alpacas both offer unique farm tours for groups and individuals wishing to learn about and even interact with alpacas. Advance reservations are required.

Vail Headquarters, originally founded in 1867, is the site of the newest hip and happening scene to settle in Temecula. With specialty shops, boutique stores, and living history festivals and activities offered weekly, Vail Headquarters is a great spot for family-friendly entertainment and dining.

About Visit Temecula Valley

Visit Temecula Valley is the region’s official tourism marketing organization and an online resource for visitors at VisitTemeculaValley.com. Temecula Valley Visitors Center is located in Old Town Temecula (Third Street and Mercedes). For visitor information and assistance, call (888) 363-2852 or (951) 491-6085.

Caliza Winery Celebrates 10 Years with a Look to the Future

March 8, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Paso Robles, Calif. – Celebrating 10-years of crafting estate-grown, sustainably-farmed Rhone wines, and already looking to the next 10-years is Caliza Winery. Situated in the heart of Paso Robles wine country, the small, family-owned and operated winery has big dreams for what the future holds. Including new vineyard plantings, hospitality space and a winery on their estate property just off Highway 46 West.

Nestled into the rolling hills of the Paso Robles’ AVA Willow Creek District, Caliza has become known for crafting wine with a purpose and control from vine to glass. Hands on from day one, husband and wife team, Carl and Pam Bowker don’t plan to change that aspect one bit. In fact, they look forward to bringing on new staff who, alongside the Bowkers, will welcome guests to share the wines, history and vision of Caliza Winery.

“Learning about the viticulture and winemaking process had become a passion of mine through the years and it became extra serious after a trip to Europe,” said Carl Bowker, co-owner/winemaker of Caliza Winery. “When we discovered the diverse soils, vast microclimates, and most of all the welcoming community of Paso Robles, we knew this was the place where we would start our next adventure and ultimately Caliza.”

Pam and Carl Bowker happened upon Paso Robles in 2002 as they traveled down Highway 101 towards San Diego. After a night’s rest followed by breakfast at the charming circular counter of the Paso Inn the couple was hooked. After much research, many more trips to Paso Robles, the Bowker’s purchased their first property in December of 2003. Followed by a 2004 purchase of land that is now home to the current 20-acre vineyard and tasting room site. Then, in 2006 things started to become very real as they planted their vineyard. Two years later, in late November of 2008, the doors to the Caliza tasting room opened.

Looking to the next 10 years, one main goal and vision the Bowkers have is to build. The process has begun with drafted plans that include building a new hospitality space for enhanced wine tasting and guest experiences along with construction of a winery adjacent to the current and future tasting room. Additionally, the plans include a chef’s kitchen that will allow the Bowkers to host wine dinners, provide food and wine pairing opportunities and a space to host a variety of wine club gatherings.

“We feel that being able to show guests the whole process, from vine to glass, allows them to truly understand the passion we have for crafting wines here in Paso Robles,” notes Pam Bowker, co-owner of Caliza Winery. “It has been our dream to have both of these buildings on our estate-property from day one, and we truly see this vision coming to life in the near future.”

Crafting wine in a new on-site building is only one goal the Bowkers plan to achieve within the next 10 years. The duo is also anticipating the expansion of their current 20-acre vineyard planting and possibly even add new acreage down the line. The new plantings will allow Caliza to grow their current wine production in order to meet a growing demand for current and future customers. Plus, when they plant, the Bowkers plan to add different wine grape varieties and clones (other than what is already planted) that will allow Carl to make new wines and unique blends to compliment the current Caliza portfolio.

“We are blessed with the ability to have our own property to experiment with new plantings, clones and trellising designs,” says Carl Bowker, co-owner/winemaker of Caliza Winery. “Plus, that is sort of what this whole winemaking thing is about; experimenting, taking a risk and enjoying the process along the way.”

In celebration of Caliza’s 10-year milestone, the Paso Robles winery will host a variety of events at the tasting room, the winery and even on the road throughout California. For a complete list of exciting events and celebrations head to calizawinery.com.

To get to know the small family-owned winery team and wines, visit Caliza Winery at their Tasting Room located off Anderson Road within the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles wine country Friday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Guests looking for a private tasting or a focused wine experience may do so by booking in advance.

“To hit this milestone and to say we are thrilled is an understatement,” mentioned Carl Bowker, co-owner/winemaker of Caliza Winery. “We are filled with much gratitude for the support from the Paso Robles community, our loyal wine club members and anyone who buys Caliza wines.”

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About Caliza Winery

Sharing a love for both wine and the Paso Robles wine region, husband and wife team, Pam and Carl Bowker, invite you to visit Caliza to taste a true dedication to estate-grown, sustainably-farmed Rhone wines and unique blends. Celebrating 10 years in 2018, Caliza’s 20-acre estate vineyard lies within the rolling hills of the Paso Robles AVA Willow Creek District. The Bowkers oversee all aspects of viticulture allowing them to meticulously control the winemaking process from vine to glass. Their small-lot wines are beautiful representations of the Paso Robles AVA – bold, expressive, elegant. Open Friday – Sunday, Caliza also offers focused tastings and appointments with advance reservations. To learn more visit calizawinery.com

Visit the Tasting Room

2570 Anderson Road

Paso Robles, CA 93446

Tasting Room Hours

Friday – Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Monday – Thursday: by appointment

Get Social With Caliza

facebook.com/calizawinery

instagram.com/calizawinery

10-Year Hashtag: #CALIZA10

Vintage Eve Circa 10/2014 Sonoma Part Two: Discovering Seghesio and Mauritson

February 27, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

In this Part Two story from my Healdsburg trip, today I’ll be sharing a few tastes from Seghesio Family Vineyards and Mauritson Family Winery.

Seghesio

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Photo: Seghesio Facebook page

When Edoardo Seghesio came out to California from Italy it was to work for Italian Swiss Colony wines. He, along with all of the winery workers, was given room and board. Seghesio worked three years before getting paid; and lots of workers at the time took the money they had earned to buy land and grow grapes – which Swiss Colony encouraged.

Seghesio stuck it out for 8 years, as he was a single guy like most of the others. He became the head winemaker at Swiss Colony before cashing out. He then began to plan to return to Italy to bring a bride to California with him.

The boss didn’t want Seghesio to go back to Italy, as he was afraid he wouldn’t come back. He warned Seghesio that he would most likely run through his money, lose out on the best land, and his girl at home was probably not waiting around for him anyway. Promising Seghesio that he had marriageable nieces coming for a visit in just two months, Edoardo said yes, and ended up married to the boss’s niece. Seghesio and 16 year-old Angela waited until she was 18 to be married, then in 1895 Edoardo and Angela purchased land from “the Colony” and planted it to Zinfandel – the same Zinfandel used today to make the Home Ranch wine. By 1902, Seghesio built a house and finished his own winery on the Home Ranch.

By 1902, Seghesio built a house and finished his own winery on the Home Ranch. They got cuttings of Sangiovese in 1910. With prohibition they continued working by making wine for churches. They also planted plums during the 14-years of prohibition. The Seghesios bided their time, and were in the bulk wine business for over 80 years.

In 1949, the Seghesio Family bought the current property. They now make wine with mostly Italian grapes*; 90% are Zinfandel. During the tour we noted ginormous redwood barrels that are rumored to be the largest, and possibly the oldest, in Sonoma.

*If you consider Zinfandel to be an Italian grape

Tasting Seghesio

(Aromas and flavors separated by 😉

2013 Arneis (Italian white grape varietal) Russian River Valley

Like a fruity Viognier, peaches, pink sweet grapefruit; tangy, acidic, red delicious apples, nice palate cleanser.

2012 Barbera

Strong smoky dark fruit; dark fruit, cigar, bittersweet chocolate.

2011 Sangiovese

Milk chocolate covered cherries, figs, wet bark; sharp, biting red fruit, made me want pizza.

2011 Block 8 San Lorenzo Zinfandel Alexander Valley

Black pepper, Italian plums, mint; same flavors follow through to the palate, nice drying tannins.

2013 Sonoma County Zinfandel – their workhorse, 2/3 of all the wine they make. Cigarette, nice smoky fruit; easy drinker, with or without food.

2012 Rockpile Zinfandel

Bursting black cherry, milky, mint, earth; chewy, tannic, ripe and ready.

2012 Home Ranch Alexander Valley (the oldest owned by Seghesio)

Balanced fruit and spice of Petite Sirah and Zinfandel; I liked this blend, nice peppery feel against juicy dark fruits. My favorite.

2012 Old Vine Zinfandel – the “Big Brother” of Sonoma

Cinnamon, cut figs, wet earth; perfect expression of Sonoma Zinfandel.

Marian’s Reserve Field Blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane.

Lighter nose, dusty red to dark fruit, dark chocolate with a hint of red pepper flakes; nice and chewy, redder fruit, peppery. Another favorite.

2010 Il Cinghiale Petite Sirah

Black color, darkest of blackberries, sweet plump raisins, mushroom; port-filled chocolates, dry, spice and smoke.

Mauritson

Clay Mauritson, a 6th generation winemaker, sells the majority of his winery’s fruit to other wineries, and does about 13,000 cases of his own. The wines are distributed to restaurants mostly, and direct from winery sales. The popular Rockpile label is all from that designated area, and one of the wine grape growing areas getting a buzz.

In the bright tasting room many guests had cozied up to bar stools – Clay’s father had brought one in for himself one day and realized how comfy it was so he had to bring in more. Carrie Mauritson, Clay’s wife, shared four different soil samples with us depicting the different areas they had chosen for grape growing. The example drove home the different terroir (earth and conditions) making up their wines.

During the tour we met Clay in his laboratory tasting samples. His energy was palatable for his task at hand, surprising, as they were also knee deep in harvest at the time.

Tasting Mauritson

2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley

Allspice, grapefruit, mown grass, dried apples, lemon zest; kiwi, mango, crisp acidity, titillating finish.

2012 Chardonnay, Alexander Valley

Buttery, salted caramel, lightly toasted oak; nice oaky Chardonnay, malolactic acid, mouth-coating viscosity.

2012 Zinfandel, Dry creek Valley (They make 7 Rockpile zinfandels, this is their signature Zinfandel.)

Smooth chocolaty nose with hints of strawberry, to dark fruit; balanced fruit to pepper to tannin.

2012 Westphall Ridge Rockpile single vineyard (highest elevation)

Smoky, fruit-forward dark fruits; tannic, dark chocolate finish.

2012 Jack’s Cabin Rockpile single vineyard (lowest elevation)

Sweet dark fruit, slight port qualities, smoke, hay; great fruit and juicy finish.

2011 Rockpile Syrah, Madrone Spring Vineyard

Earthy, leather, violet; biting fruit, eucalyptus, peppery finish.

2010 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

Sweet plums, white pepper, bark; dry, tannic yet full-blown dusty fruit.

Facebook album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10204030874999605.1073741881.1455706632&type=1&l=ef858e481a

Ole Smoky Distillery, Yee-Haw Brewing & Music City Roots Have Teamed up

January 8, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (PRWEB) – Ole Smoky Distillery, the leading craft distiller of Moonshine and home of the world’s most visited distillery, announced today that they are expanding their East TN presence by joining forces with Yee Haw Brewing Company, one of Tennessee’s top craft breweries. In collaboration with Music City Roots, they will collectively open an entertainment complex in Nashville’s burgeoning area of SoBro. The venue, currently being called 6th & Peabody will feature a distillery, brewery, live music, bars, tasting rooms, beer & bottle shops and merchandise. Visitors will be able to enjoy cocktails by the glass, as well as purchase jars of moonshine and bottled beer for enjoyment at home. Doors are scheduled to open in the second half of 2018.

“We are all very excited about this new endeavor,” says Joe Baker, Owner of Yee-Haw Brewing Company and Founder of Ole Smoky Distillery. “By providing guests with the best of Tennessee music, beer and moonshine, in a comfortable setting, we are confident that our newest venue will do extremely well in Nashville.”

The announcement of the multidimensional property comes after years of planning the overall concept. Having a brewery and distillery under the same roof will give visitors a unique experience with something that appeals to every individual, which is what the companies always envisioned. On any given day, there will be at least six beers on tap, and ten moonshine flavors being poured.

Along with experiencing a unique drinking occasion, guests will also enjoy authentic, world–renowned musical performances. Music City Roots, will be curating the live music talent and entertainment for the venue. Music will be presented day and night with an intimate performance area in the tasting room, a full-production concert stage in the main hall, as well as a broadcast studio for WMOT Roots Radio 89.5 FM. In order to build anticipation for the new venue, Music City Roots will be hosting a “Roots on the Road” campaign where they will go to various venues in Nashville, performing and spreading the word about the new location.

“Music City Roots looks forward to continuing to export the diversity and quality of our musical culture to a national and international audience from the heart of Nashville. We are honored to expand our long-term relationship with the great folks at Yee Haw and Ole Smoky by opening what will be an iconic and authentic addition to Music City,” says executive producer Todd Mayo.

“The heart of this partnership is our shared goal to curate a world-class listening environment, and present the music with the utmost respect for the artists that create it. In addition to being a live venue, it will be fully equipped for HD video broadcast, state-of-the-art live audio recording and radio broadcast”, says executive producer John Walker.

Baker and team will be transforming a warehouse currently standing on a 12k square foot property located in SoBro, also known as the South Six District. Currently the area is surrounded by a number of apartment buildings and hotels in development, which means there will be a need for more entertainment facilities for these residents and guests to enjoy. SoBro is a short walk and easily accessible from the popular “Lower Broadway” strip, the Music City Convention Center, and Bridgestone Arena.

“It makes sense for Ole Smoky and Yee-Haw to team up and create a space where all of our fans can enjoy themselves outside of our East Tennessee home base,” says Robert Hall CEO of Ole Smoky. “Both brands have a strong presence in the state and by joining forces we can offer great entertainment and a wide variety of beverages to fit every taste.”

This facility will be Yee-Haw’s second location and Ole Smoky’s fourth location.

Details about the bottle shops and tasting room (including a full beer and moonshine list, hours, events, and more) will be available soon. For more information about Ole Smoky please visit http://www.olesmoky.com. For more information about Yee-Haw please visit http://www.yeehawbrewing.com. For more information about Music City Roots please visit http://www.musiccityroots.com.

About Yee-Haw Brewery Co:
Founded in 2015, Yee-Haw Brewing Co is a craft brewery and tap room located in a historic railroad depot built in the late 1800’s in Johnson City, TN. Yee-Haw quickly grew from a start up to one of the southeast’s fastest growing craft breweries. Best known for their World Beer Cup award-winning Dunkel, Yee-Haw Brewing’s reputation for high quality ales and lagers is built on their commitment to using only the finest ingredients.

Yee-Haw is an expression of exuberance, a celebration of life, and a commitment to adventure. They’re serious about making great beer and improving the lives of those around them. Whether it is their commitment to a local nature conservancy, reviving a local outdoor concert series, supporting local art programs, or helping a local bike club raise money to build new trails, Yee-Haw is part of that experience. Remember, you’ll say it when you drink it, and cheers to the good times.

About Music City Roots:
Founded in October of 2009, Music City Roots is a weekly live musical variety radio show hosted by Grammy winning “Mr Americana” artist, Jim Lauderdale. Streamed live every week online to a global audience and airing on over 25 radio stations, Music City Roots has aired nationally in 75% of the United States on public television. Roots was created to shine a light on the variety and diversity of American Music. Roots has hosted Grammy winning artists like Chris Stapleton , Sturgill Simpson, Emmylou Harris as well as iconic American acts like The Doobie Brothers and features a weekly emerging artist as well. A community of fan’s, bands and brands, Music City Roots hearkens back to the golden age of live radio utilizing traditional and present platforms of discovery: radio, television, and streaming both live and on demand.

About Ole Smoky Distillery LLC:
Ole Smoky is the leading distiller of premium moonshine in the U.S. and the first federally licensed distillery in the history of East Tennessee. The company’s roots can be traced to the early settlers of the Smoky Mountains. In 2009, the law in Tennessee changed and suddenly, it was legal to make, distill and sell the infamous bootlegger’s hooch. It was at that point that a group of families decided to bring their artistry of superior moonshine making to the world at large.

And the world welcomed it. Ole Smoky was named an Impact Hot Brand by M. Shanken Communications, a leading publisher in the U.S. wine & spirits industry. The Hot Brand Award is given to both established and upcoming brands that achieve double-digit growth in each of the past three years, with a minimum of 200,000 cases. Additionally, people from all over the world visit the famed Gatlinburg Distillery, The Holler™, to see and experience how Ole Smoky moonshine is made. Since it’s opening in July of 2010, Ole Smoky Distillers have opened two more locations with The Barn™ in 2013 and the Barrelhouse™ in 2015, which produces the company’s new whiskey line that just launched nationally in Fall 2017. 2018 will mark the opening of the company’s fourth distillery in Tennessee.

Ole Smoky now retails globally and offers more than twenty creative flavors crafted from authentic family recipes. And while Ole Smoky has long been enjoyed on the porch from the jar or the jug, Ole Smoky now finds itself mixed in handcrafted cocktails of the finest order in establishments across the U.S. including at some of the biggest music and sporting venues in the country.

For more information, please visit http://www.olesmoky.com and find them on social media @olesmoky.

Shine Responsibly®

More From Napa: Phifer Pavitt, Tank Garage Winery, Larkmead, Joseph Phelps and Switchback Ridge

December 29, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

This is the last article in my series on the Napa Valley for 2017. Today we will have a virtual taste from Phifer Pavitt, Tank Garage Winery, Larkmead and Joseph Phelps.

Phifer Pavitt

We met with Luke Speer, the Director of Hospitality, for our tasting. Phifer Pavitt is known (written up in Wine Spectator 13 times so far) for their “Date Night” Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. New for them: the XRoads Cabernet Sauvignon. A sparkling has recently been added but, woe is me, none was available for tasting during our visit.

We began with the 2016 Phifer Pavitt Sauvignon Blanc – fresh, crisp, lemon-lime, fleshy peach with low acid and a long finish. I’m partial to this wine as I’ve known the winemaker before he made commercial wine and have been a longtime fan: Gary Warburton. Next we tried the 2013 Date Night – It was big, dry and tannic with exceptional plump blue to black fruit, fig, smoke, aromatic and perfumy. Their red winemaker Ted Osborne always does a great job. Now onto the 2014 Date Night – I got a bit brighter fruit than I did from the 2013, but with the same plumpness. Very well done. The 2014 XRoads Cab had great fruit from the valley floor: red fruit, dried blueberry, black cherry, and very balanced with the tannins. Destined to be a hit.

www.phiferpavittwine.com

Tank Garage Winery: Completely Out of the Tasting Room Box

Can’t recall exactly where I heard about the Tank Garage Winery, but it was either via a wine trade or marketing magazine. I had read it was a unique space with a unique brand. What I discovered is that this is a must stop for those looking for a different experience, or those new to wine looking for some fun.

Several out-of-the-box ideas flew at me:

Turned a 1930s era filling station into a tasting room and…a cozy Speakeasy in the back for members only.

The wines are all one and done. Each release is an all new blend, name and package.

The official motto is actually “Never Dream Alone” and they’ve “found a ton of amazing people to dream” with them.

All of their wines are in fact small batch. At one point, they were all under 125 cases, but as they’ve grown, some are as large as 500 cases, like their brand new Chrome Dreams.

They have four wines that are distributed at larger production including a Rosé, Chardonnay, Cab and Red Blend called All or Nothing, which is primarily Zin, Cab and Petite Sirah.

The Wine Club has three levels, 3-Bottle, 6-Bottle and 12-Bottle. The Half-Tank and Full-Tank options are just for purchases in the tasting room.

The wines we quickly tasted through (I didn’t make an appointment and had another coming up) included a 2016 “California Stroke” White Wine, California, 92% Vermentino with 8% Verdelho, skin fermented; 2015 “Nothing Gold Can Stay” 100% Chardonnay, Napa Valley, 40% new oak and 60% neutral; 2015 “Like You Stole It” Red Wine, Contra Costa County, blend of Mourvedre, Grenache and Carignane; 2015 “Take It Easy” Red Wine, Sonoma County, a blend of 96% Zinfandel, 3% Petite Sirah and 1% Carignane; 2014 “The Heavy” Red Wine, Napa Valley – the only label that stays with each vintage – and a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc.

Larkmead Vineyards

Jeff Smith from Hourglass suggested we make a reservation to taste at Larkmead. Beautiful tasting areas both inside and out, we snagged a couch and settled in for a few tastes. We did learn that the vineyards were established back in the 1800s and the first vintage came in 1930s! Look up Lillie Hitchcock Coit (yes, of Coit Tower fame) to sleuth around more. Lillie had a wild life before she died in 1929. She was the first female volunteer firefighter and sold grapes to churches during prohibition – among other things.

The wines are “heavily allocated” to loyal members. Though all from the valley floor the vineyards have a diversity of soils and gravel. One vineyard, the Dr. Olmo, is named after the famed UC Davis Dr. Olmo that is credited for fighting Phylloxera. We tasted three wines: 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon was all mature developed fruit, velvety soft, pepper and nicely balanced black currant, black plum and black currant with crushed black pepper and spice. The 2014 Dr. Olmos started with that barnyard nose with the addition of dark chocolate and blackberry while the taste was dry with layered black fruit and tasted oak. The final wine, the 2014 Solari Cab had that barnyard funk, prune, ripe berries, dusty, mint and tannin. The lingering length on this one made it our favorite.

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

The benefits of membership: calling to make an appointment as you park the car in their lot! We had just received our allocation but my hubby wanted to taste the new Insignia before we put it away for a few years. We got to try more than that, and as I wasn’t “covering” the winery I just wanted to at least give their wines a shout out, sans tasting notes, as I’ve never ever been disappointed with Joseph Phelps: 2014 Pinot Noir, Pastorale Vineyard, Sonoma Coast; 2014 Pinot Noir, Quarter Moon Vineyard, Sonoma Coast; 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley; 2012 INSIGNIA, Napa Valley (I did note this one as “perfect”); 2014 INSIGNIA, Napa Valley; and a 2015 INSIGNIA, Napa Valley, barrel sample.

Switchback Ridge

Last but not least we had the opportunity to try another winery new to us: Switchback Ridge. Their 2014 Switchback Ridge Merlot gave off that interesting funky barnyard nose, saddle leather at first. Some of that blew off and I got good dark fruit while the 2014 Switchback Ridge Cabernet had pungent thick fruit that softened in the glass, a bit of mint and licorice on the nose as well. In the mouth I tasted layers of blackberry, black cherry, cigar, oak and tannin. Bob Foley makes these two wines.

www.switchbackridge.com

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

Napa 2017 After The Fires: Clos Pegase

December 22, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Last time we visited the grand Clos Pegase was…before I started writing about wine! Over ten years! Eddie, the husband, looked for photos…and lo and behold we were there February 6, 2004! Definitely overdue for a visit! And gotta hump that thumb again!

Visiting Clos Pegase – Over A Decade Later

This “need for a re-visit” has happened to us before as there is so much to taste in Napa, wineries change hands, winemakers move and then there is a buzz about a new place that takes precedent sometimes. We were happy for the opportunity for a re-visit.

Arriving a wee bit early we took a look at the grounds. Things had been moved, new sculptures in and older ones, like the infamous thumb, had been removed. No worries, we got to taste in a brand new tasting room that was designed with both standing tasting bars, seated sections and outdoor tastings. New owners means new vineyards and one, now the namesake “Mitsuko’s Vineyard” in the Carneros/Napa appellation, joins Tenma Vineyard and Applebone Vineyard both in the Calistoga/Napa Valley appellation.

We chose a grouping of cozy of couches and settled in for our tasting with winery rep Diane Rubenfeld. Beginning with a 2016 Mitsuko’s Vineyard 100% Sauvignon Blanc fermented and aged in tanks and neutral oak I noted a very bright style reminiscent of a New Zealand Sauv Blanc with stone fruit, apricot, pear and a medium acid.

Next came the 2014 Hommage Chardonnay Mitsuko’s Vineyard that had been aged for 28 months in 78% French oak. Notes of oak, toast, green-skinned fruit like green apples came to mind, butter…with a long satisfying finish.

The 2014 Pegaso Red Blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot came from a single vineyard, 18 months oak aged. This was their first year they didn’t use Syrah in the Pegaso blend. I got notes of chocolate, spice, black fruit, drying tannins but a lovely balance as the blend may have made it not as spicy as I would have expected.

Now we had the 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in our glasses. A round bouquet of spice, fruit, dust and rose petals was followed by a juicy and tart taste, a bit of cigar, wet earth and incense.

A 2015 Mitsuko’s Vineyard Merlot was next up. With 90% Merlot and the remaining percentages included both Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Fresh ripe red berries, mushroom and some dust floated up in the nose, followed by flavors of bright red fruit, green peppercorn – it was another nicely balanced wine.

Our final wine was the 2014 Syrah Mitsuko’s Vineyard with 6% Petite Sirah. Yummy raspberry fruit, brambles, stems, earth and drying tannins, followed a nose of blue fruit, pepper, raspberry and pepper. Nice for only being three years old.

#NapaFire

A 10-day “cloud” hung over the valley floor during the fires. The cellar workers stayed until the evacuation orders came through. They returned when the order was lifted and resumed pump overs. Their grapes are still in the process of being smoke tested, however, 90% of their fruit had already been picked. No one in the Clos Pegase winery family lost a home.

About Clos Pegase

Eve and Eddie Feb 2004 with the thumb!

RoBIN AKHURST’S ROAD TO THE NAPA VALLEY took him around the globe, through eight consecutive and exhausting harvests, picking up an impressive list of mentors along the way. In 2016, he took over winemaking for Clos Pegase, one of the Napa Valley’s landmark wineries….read more.

http://www.clospegase.com/

1060 Dunaweal Ln, Calistoga, CA 94515. (707) 942-4981.

Vintage Eve Circa 4/14: Free Wine Tastings! Aka: YOU SHOULD Buy a Bottle if You Liked the Wine!

October 31, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

The only free tasting room I knew of in Paso Robles was Tobin James, however, when I sat down to research and write this article (NOTE: This article was written in 2014, it would be best to check with the wienries you plan to visit to find out current fees.) I found may more. In “Part One: Free Wine Tastings” I will give you a list of the wineries I could find in Paso Robles, Napa and Sonoma that offer free wine tastings. In “Part Two: Your Thoughts on Free Wine Tastings”, I will share the Facebook Roundup I collected when I asked friends “If you visit a winery that offers free tastings do you tend to buy a bottle? Or just indulge away?” next week on this blog.

l-r: Michael Perlis, Tobin James, Gaetano Marsano

So, how did it come down to this? I had heard, from more than one winery employee, that people that take advantage of free wine tasting don’t buy wine. It’s not very motivating for them to share their wines, talk about their winemaking practices and answer questions when the person sampling appears to be similar to that Costco customer, that dropped in to do their shopping just before lunch time, or just after picking up their young children, and stand by every aisle’s table waiting for the employee to finish baking, frying or cutting up something for free – that they had no intention of buying but…maybe the sample will be good enough and prompt them to spend?

The winery staff believe that if you sample for free, and you like the wine, you should purchase it – and come to the tasting room prepared to spend as well as taste! I couldn’t agree more. For myself, I’ve found that the greater the experience is, coupled with the wine, I want to buy the wine and join a wine club that promises more great experiences!

Come back for “Part Two: Your Thoughts on Free Tasting” to find out what wine drinkers say they really do. For this week I will leave you with these wineries that offer free sampling, please note that they were garnered from different websites. If I was planning a trip I would confirm policies have not changed.

Paso Robles

According to Yelp:

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Free+Wine+Tasting&find_loc=Paso+Robles%2C+CA and include Ecluse Wines, Eberle Winery, EOS Estate Winery (free and reserve wines can be tasted for $5), J Lohr, Castoro Cellars (first 3 are free, $first five is $3), Sculpterra Winery and Vineyards, Niner Wine Estates (free with a check in on Yelp), Tobin James, San Marcos Creek Vineyard, Alta Colina (two free tastings with a Yelp check in), Parrish Family Vineyard (waved if you purchase a bottle), Zenaida Cellars, Mondo Cellars, Eagle Castle Winery, Minassian-Young Vineyards, Dunning Vineyards (free for non-reserve wine tasting), Broken Earth Winery, Le Vigne Winery, Peachy Canyon Winery (free with bottle purchase), Clavo Cellars, and Veris Cellars.

Napa

According to Yelp http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Free+Wine+Tasting&find_loc=Napa%2C+CA

There aren’t too many: Naked Wines, Trahan Winery, Mason Cellars Oxbow, Laird Family, Truchard, White Rock Vineyards…maybe this is why all my pals seem to be hitting Sonoma more these days!

Sonoma

According to http://www.sonomacounty.com/articles/free-wine-tasting-sonoma-county wineries include, Rafanelli, Adrian Fog, Alexander Valley Vineyards, Annapolis, Benziger Family, BogDog Wines at Sky Pine Vineyards, Bodega Ranch Cellar Door, Calstar Cellas, Carol Shelton Wines, Cline Cellars, Collier Falls Vineyards – Family Wineries Tasting Room, Coturri, D.H. Gustafson, Dehlinger, Draxton, Eric K James, Francis Ford Coppola, Frick, Frostwatch, Grey Stack, Gundlach Bundschu, Hafner, Hans Fahden, Hauck, Highway 12, Holdredge, Hook and Ladder, J. Rickards, Jacuzzi, Johnson’s Alexander, Karah, Ketcham, Kobler, Lauterbach, Locals Tasting Room, Loxton, Manzanita Creek, Martin Ray, Mercury Geyersville, Merry Edwards, Mojon’s Bench, Munselle, Novy Family, Optima, Partake by Kendall-Jackson, Pellegrini Family, Pendleton, Peter Cellars, Peterson, Porter Bass, Raymond Burr, Ridge Vineyards, Rielle, River Road Family, Ross Road Custom Crush, Route 128, Saini, Sausal, Selby, Siduri, Simoneau, Sonoma Valley Portworks, Starlite, Stuhlmuller, Suacci Carciere, Sunce, Tara Bella, Toad Hollow, Trecini and Williamson.