Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley to showcase the best of wine country

September 19, 2019 by evebushman

(SANTA YNEZ VALLEY, Calif.) — The Santa Ynez Valley will celebrate the bounty of the region in a fresh, unique way with the inaugural Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley, a four-day experiential event scheduled for Oct. 17-20. The event will be an immersive experience designed to serve as an introduction to the food, wine, and beer that have made the Santa Ynez Valley the wine country jewel of California’s Central Coast.

Over four days, more than 100 restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, and breweries will come together for nine main events and dozens of ancillary events set in and around the distinct communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley — Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Solvang, and Santa Ynez. With so much to offer, Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley promises to be the signature event on the region’s fall calendar for years to come.

“Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley is meant to be a celebration of everything that has made this region such a world-renowned wine country and foodie destination,” said Shelby Sim, President/CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley, which is overseeing the event’s production. “With four days of events incorporating the diverse and unique aspects of all six of our communities, Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley will offer a little bit of something for everyone, both visitors and locals alike. And it will ultimately put on full display the many reasons the Santa Ynez Valley has earned its reputation as a must-visit wine region.”

Each day of the Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley will focus on specific communities in the region, beginning on Thursday, Oct. 17, with a day in the charming Old West town of Los Alamos, and ending on Sunday, Oct. 20, with a celebration of the best of Buellton. The events will include wine tastings, special dinners, vineyard experiences, wine and cheese pairings, grape stomps, cooking classes hosted by local chefs, and much more.

Along the way, Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley will incorporate longtime favorite events — such as the Solvang Grape Stomp (Oct. 19) and the Los Olivos Day in the Country (Oct. 19) — with an all-new lineup of experiences.

It’s also during Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley that the region will be marking the 15th anniversary of the release of Sideways — the movie that helped put the Santa Ynez Valley wine region on the map — with Sideways Fest. The celebration of the film will include a screening of the movie under the stars at Solvang Festival Theatre and a Sideways-themed Wine Festival.

“One of the most appealing aspects of the The Santa Ynez Valley is that each community has its own culture, offering its unique food and wine experiences,” Sim said. “Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley will give each attendee a feel for its diversity, while still enticing each to return for an even deeper exploration of the region.”

The event includes an array of single- and multi-day ticket packages to fit most any budget. For more information on ticket packages and a full list of Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley events, including dates and times, please visit www.tastesyv.com.

About the Santa Ynez Valley:
Barely two hours from Los Angeles and a scenic four-hour drive from San Francisco, the Santa Ynez Valley is home to six distinct towns each with their own culture, vibe and menu of experiences. Blanketed with fruitful farms and vineyards, the California Central Coast wine region’s temperate weather allows for year-round activities of all sorts, spread throughout the historical communities of Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Solvang. Destination dining and world-class wines await, accompanied by lodging at every level, all painted into atmospheric backdrops which colorfully mesh Old World and Old West. Visit more than 100 wineries, feast on chef-driven cuisine, and enjoy festive events and design details from Victorian-era to mid-century to modern Danish. For more information, including a listing of wedding venues, restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms and events, go to VisitSYV.com.

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TASTE OF THE SANTA YNEZ VALLEY HIGHLIGHT EVENTS

Thursday, Oct. 17 – Los Alamos

Los Alamos Tasting in Ferrini Park: 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Bell Street Restaurant Dinner in Los Alamos: 5:30-9 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 18 – Santa Ynez

Morning Wine Seminar in Santa Ynez: 10:30 a.m.-noon.
Grand Tasting of Santa Ynez and Happy Canyon Wines: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Cooking Class at The Baker’s Table with Chef Robin Goldstein: 2-4 p.m.
Wine and Cheese Seminar: 2-4 p.m.
FrancFest at Gainey Vineyards: 4-6 p.m.
Sideways Movie Experience and Tasting at Solvang Festival Theater: 6-10 p.m.
Grimm’s Bluff Vineyards & Winery Dinner at the Estate: 6:30-10 p.m.
BBQ Dinner and Live Music at Maverick Saloon: 6:30-10 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 19

Solvang Events:
- Solvang Grape Stomp and Santa Ynez Valley Grand Wine Tasting: 2-5 p.m.
- Pence Vineyards & Winery Dinner at Root 246: 6:30-10 p.m.
- First & Oak Restaurant Winery Dinner: 6:30-10 p.m.
Los Olivos events:
- Los Olivos Wine Roundup + VIP Tent at ‘Day in the Country’: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Day in the Country.
Ballard events:
- Cooking Class with Chef Budi Kazali of The Ballard Inn and The Gathering Table: 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
- Winery Dinner with Chef Budi Kazali of The Ballard Inn and The Gathering Table: 6:30-10 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 2 – Buellton

Cutting, Casing and Curing Cooking Class with Industrial Eats + Lunch: 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m
Sideways Wine Festival: Noon-4 p.m.
Sta. Rita Hills vs Santa Maria Valley Wine Seminar at the Sideways Inn: 10:30 a.m.-noon
Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. Craft Beer Dinner: 6-9 p.m.

Bledsoe Family Winery’s Bend Tasting Room Now Open in Walla Walla Oregon

September 15, 2019 by evebushman

(BEND, Ore.) — For the last 12 years, Drew and Maura Bledsoe have been raising their four children in Bend, Oregon, while successfully operating Doubleback Winery and Bledsoe Family Winery in Drew’s hometown of Walla Walla, Wash. It’s only fitting, then, that the former NFL quarterback would opt to open his second Bledsoe Family Winery tasting room — and the first outside of Walla Walla — so close to his adopted and current home in Central Oregon.

The trendy and historic Box Factory between downtown Bend and the Old Mill District, Bledsoe Family Winery’s 3,593-square-foot tasting room will welcome wine lovers with an indoor/outdoor concept that will be right at home in Bend. A formal grand opening event is being scheduled for early September.

“We are thrilled to be able to share our passion for wine with a community that has created so many wonderful opportunities and memories for our family,” said Drew Bledsoe, who moved to Bend with his family shortly after he retired from football in 2006. “Bend has long been a beer and outdoors town, both of which have become interwoven into the fabric of the town. And we felt that the timing is right to pair great wine with the area’s beloved outdoor-oriented culture, too, and to do so in a way that is both unique and fun. This has long been a dream for us.”

With soaring ceilings, walls lined with staves that have been repurposed from Doubleback and Bledsoe Family Winery wine barrels, and large, roll-top doors that make for a seamless indoor-outdoor transition, the tasting room creates an experience that is at once elegant, refined, industrial, and rustic.

White quartz countertops befitting a formal tasting room are contrasted by a large barn mural on one of the interior walls that pays homage to the Bledsoe family’s Flying B ranch in Ellensburg, Wash. The spacious tasting room offers indoor and patio seating on the first floor, a mezzanine for private tastings and events, and a lineup of wines available for purchase by the glass or bottle.

Given the success of Bledsoe Family Winery’s Walla Walla tasting room, president and director of winemaking Josh McDaniels expects the Bend location to be similarly received by locals and tourists alike.

“The Bledsoe Family Winery tasting room is designed to be open and accessible for all to enjoy,” said McDaniels. “We want our guests to be able to enjoy a great wine in a beautiful space, while at the same time creating a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere, a hallmark of both Bend and Walla Walla.”

For a $20 tasting fee, which is refundable with any bottle purchase, guests can sample a flight of four Bledsoe Family Winery wines from a rotating lineup that includes Elizabeth Chardonnay, Healy Rosé, Stolen Horse Syrah, Flying B Cabernet Sauvignon, and Bledsoe Family Wine. Wine club members will receive as many as six complimentary tastings per month and a 20% discount off wines by the glass or bottle.

The tasting room — at 555 NW Arizona Ave, Suite #198 — is open from noon-8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. For more information on Bledsoe Family Winery, visit bledsoefamilywinery.com.

About Doubleback & Bledsoe Family Winery:
Founded in 2007 by retired NFL quarterback and Walla Walla native Drew Bledsoe and his wife Maura, Doubleback Winery is committed to producing ultra-premium, estate-focused wines from the Walla Walla Valley that enrich life’s experiences. In April 2018, Doubleback took occupancy of its new 14,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art winery and appointment-only tasting room along Powerline Road, on Walla Walla’s southside. The Bledsoe’s second label, Bledsoe Family Winery, is committed to producing premium wines for any occasion, with tremendous value, from the same family that brings you Doubleback. Bledsoe Family Winery operates a tasting room at 229 E. Main St. in downtown Walla Walla that is open Wednesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., or by appointment. For more information, or to join the Doubleback mailing list or the Bledsoe Family Winery wine club, visit www.doubleback.com or www.bledsoefamilywinery.com, email info@doubleback.com or info@bledsoefamilywinery.com, or call 509-525-3334.

Fan Girl Alert: Margerum and Barden Tasting Rooms in Santa Barbara

September 13, 2019 by evebushman

During my Santa Barbara trip this past summer – the word trip is used lightly as we only stayed two days – my focus was on the winery tasting rooms in the Funk Zone for an article for Elite magazine.

Photo credit: Mergerum’s Facebook page.

One of the winemakers that I interviewed was Doug Margerum of Margerum Wine Company. (Photos) I’d tasted Doug’s wines, mostly Rhônes, at different events over the years but when I learned he had just opened this new tasting room I really wanted to visit. I wrote up some for the magazine, below, but also had a LOT of notes on the wines and on Doug himself. Hence, this blog article just to cover all of the bases. First, we’ll start with the section in the magazine:

From Elite Magazine

Margerum Wine Company and Barden: Not what I expected when I walked into the new tasting room for Margerum wines. First of all Doug Margerum, owner and winemaker, was there – a special treat – as my eyes also took in two stories, lots of seating, a “from the kitchen” menu (rarity in tasting rooms, and probably the only one in the Funk Zone), open in the evenings on weekend, and a tasting flight showing off all of his Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator high scorers: 2017 D Sauvignon Blanc, 2017 M5 White Rhone, 2017 Grenache, 2016 M5 Red Rhone Reserve, 2017 Black Oak vineyards Syrah and an Amaro liqueur that was also infused in an ice cream! At his second label, Barden up the road award winners included their 2018 Vin Gris of Pinot Noir, 2018 Viognier, 2017 Fonte (white blend), 2017 Chardonnay, 2018 Grenache and 2016 Pinot Noir.

Doug shared more than his wines, at both Margerum and Barden with me. He shared some of his stories. And over the years I’ve learned that connecting to a winery – how much we like the wine, how they treat us in the tasting room and knowing the stories behind some of the labels – compel us to become fans. Here’s what I learned from Doug that turned me into a bigger fan:

Each of Margerum’s wine bottles are individually hand-numbered, as they are all small lot wines and collectibles. His first vintage was 2001. (Click through the link for the website below to see some of the library wines available.)

The name Barden is Welsh for “boar’s den” and happens to be Doug’s middle name, though he wasn’t born with it. At his 40^th birthday party, he asked his friends to help come up with a suitable middle name for him. His grandmother, 89-year-old Ruth Barden, suggested that his middle name be her surname. His friends agreed.

The Margerums lost 23 neighbors during the Montecito floods.

Barden, located in downtown Santa Barbara, serves a “couture collection” of “limited release wines from the cold climate of the Sta. Rita Hills.”

Doug had been in the restaurant industry before the wine industry. The Wine Cask, his former restaurant in Santa Barbara, was sold in 2007 and he stayed on as a consultant for a few years. His restaurant experience made having a kitchen at Margerum a natural fit, and he hopes to have a full time chef in the near future.

Open just since this past May, the Margerum Tasting Room, with tastings, wines by the glass, light fare at the bar and the upstairs mezzanine, is available for private parties and special events.

*Margerum Tasting Room

19 East Mason
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

805-845-8435

www.margerumwines.com

www.facebook.com/margerumwine/

*Barden Wines

32 El Paseo in the Center Courtyard

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

805-686-8500

www.bardenwines.com

*Note: Both Margerum and Barden have tasting rooms in Buellton, this article is about the tasting rooms in Santa Barbara.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Clavey Vineyard and Winery Wins Top Placements with Wine Enthusiast, Sunset International Wine Competition, and Monterey International Wine Competition

September 11, 2019 by evebushman

NEVADA CITY, Calif. (PRWEB) – Grass Valley-based boutique winery, Clavey Vineyards & Winery, has won top placements from three prestigious establishments: Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Sunset International Wine Competition, and Monterey International Wine Competition.

Wine Enthusiast (will appear in late summer issues)

2015 Syrah – 90 pts
2015 Sangiovese – 91 pts
2016 Rose – 89 pts
2015 Class III – 86 pts

Sunset International Wine Competition

2016 Sangiovese – Gold Award
2016 Syrah – Bronze Award

Monterey International Wine Competition

2015 Sangiovese – 92 pts
2015 Class III – 90 pts

This brings us to 13 awards to date for 2019, including recognition from the esteemed San Francisco Chronicles, West Coast Wine Competition, and the Jefferson Cup Invitational among others.

“My wife Summer and I are excited to bring our boutique winery on a national stage,” says Executive Winemaker Josh Orman. “We are very proud that our family-owned winery is furthering the Sierra Foothill appellation on the wine map. Our dream is to bring more delicious natural wine options to the public.”

From the Sierra Foothills in Northern California, Clavey Vineyards & Winery specializes in unfiltered and unfined wines that are Certified Vegan. With a growing portfolio of award-winning wines, Clavey’s eco-friendly wines are ideal for environmentally conscious wine consumers and those with dietary restrictions.

These wines are now available in several locations including our Tasting Room in Nevada City, the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-Op, and online at http://www.claveywine.com.

For more about Clavey, please visit http://www.claveywine.com or connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

PRESQU’ILE WINERY AGAIN SCORES HIGH AMONG USA TODAY’S 10 BEST TASTING ROOMS IN THE UNITED STATES

September 8, 2019 by evebushman

Presqu’ile, the contemporary-styled minimalist estate winery poised high in the hills of Santa Maria with stunning ocean and vineyard views, has announced their second year win in USA TODAY’s 2019 National Readers Poll of 10 Best Tasting Rooms across the United States. Presqu’ile proudly served as the only representative and entry from Santa Barbara County, a region rich with over 200 wineries and tasting rooms. The top ten winners were announced late August.

“It’s always been our mission at the Presqu’ile tasting room is to share our passion for the wines from Santa Maria Valley and our estate vineyard in a relaxed, elegant setting while providing world-class hospitality,” states Matt Murphy, co-founder and president. “This nomination for the top 10 Best Tasting Rooms and eight place finish in the poll is a testament to the hard work our team puts in daily to deliver this experience. They are an extension of our family and do an incredible job living up to our high expectations for the guest experience at Presqu’ile. A huge thanks to our friends and extended family who voted for us; we are so appreciative of the support.”

Nominees for USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards categories are chosen by a panel of relevant experts which include a combination of editors from USA TODAY; editors from 10Best.com; relevant expert contributors; and sources for both these media and other Gannett properties and included experts Jill Barth, a Provence Wine Master; Shana Clarke, Wine Editor for inside.com and contributor to Eat Sip Trip; Karen MacNeil, one of the foremost wine experts in the U.S.; Ziggy Eschliman, publisher of ZiggytheWineGal; and June Rodil, a Master Sommelier, all chosen for their knowledge of wine and the American wine scene.

All voting is digitally submitted by the public, and the 10Best Readers’ Choice Award contest is accessible on the 10Best.com website. 10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased, and experiential travel content of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. The team of local travel experts is a well-traveled and well-educated group who are not only experts in their fields – and their cities – but discriminating in their tastes. These local experts live in the city they write about and the content is constantly updated. 10Best.com averages 5 million visitors per month.

The Murphy family’s efforts have established Presqu’ile as one of the Santa Maria Valley’s defining wineries, recognized for making balanced and sophisticated cool-climate wines. From directing the planting of the Presqu’ile Vineyard to overseeing the design and construction of the state-of-the-art gravity-flow winery, shaping the elegant stylistic identity of the winery’s Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, to shaping the tasting experience, the Murphys’ collective vision has established Presqu’ile as one of California’s leading wineries. And thanks to USA TODAY it is now a must stop on anyone’s wine-bucket list.

ABOUT PRESQU’ILE WINERY:

Located in the heart of Santa Barbara County’s Santa Maria Valley, Presqu’ile (pronounced press-KEEL) is a small, family-run winery dedicated to making exceptional cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Presqu’ile is a multigenerational collaboration between Madison and Suzanne Murphy, their three adult children, Matt, Anna and Jonathan, and their daughters-in-law, Amanda and Lindsey. No strangers to agriculture, four generations of the wine-loving Murphy family have been farming land in Louisiana for almost a century. Led by eldest son Matt Murphy, the family founded Presqu’ile—the Creole word for “almost an island”—both as a tribute to a beloved Gulf Coast family gathering place that was lost in Hurricane Katrina, and because they envisioned Presqu’ile as an island-like haven amid the vines. Also on the team is rising star winemaker Dieter Cronje.

The Santa Maria Valley is one of the most distinctive winegrowing appellations in the world. With one of the longest growing seasons in all of California. The Santa Maria Valley is a true cool-climate winegrowing region, yielding wines of extraordinary elegance and purity—qualities that define the world’s best Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. To preserve the complexity of these grapes, the Murphys worked with acclaimed San Francisco-based Taylor Lombardo Architects to create a gravity-flow winery designed to Matt and Dieter’s specifications. And to ensure that each wine reflects its vineyard, Dieter practices a naturally minimalist approach to winemaking, with a focus on whole clusters, native yeasts and modest new oak. As a result, Presqu’ile’s wines are pure and purposeful, conveying the authentic charm, complexity and signature Santa Maria spice that have made the wines of the Santa Maria Valley famous among enthusiasts of elegant and balanced wines. In addition to being featured by USA TODAY, Presqu’ile Winery has received accolades in numerous publications including Vinous; Santa Barbara News-Press; The Daily Meal; Santa Barbara Independent’s “Tastings To Do;” Condé Nast Traveler’s “Beautiful Wineries in California;” Must Do Travel Show and the Travel Channel.

USATODAY.com

AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW!

Click here for USA TODAY’S 10 BEST TASTING ROOMS

PRESQU’ILE WINERY

5391 Presqu’ile Drive

Santa Maria, CA 93455

Phone 805.937.8110

Become a fan of Presqu’ile Winery:

on Facebook: www.facebook.com/presquilewine

on Twitter: @PresquileWine

on Instagram: @presquilewine

WALT WINES ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEW TASTING ROOM LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN NAPA

July 31, 2019 by evebushman

SONOMA, CA – WALT Wines, a leading luxury Pinot Noir producer owned by Craig and Kathryn Walt Hall, has opened a new tasting room in the Oxbow District of downtown Napa. The new location, WALT Napa Oxbow, marks the second tasting room location for the prominent, luxury wine brand led by General Manager Jeff Zappelli and Winemaker Megan Gunderson Paredes.

“Downtown Napa has an energy that ushers in a more urban experience for the new type of wine consumer,” says WALT General Manager, Jeff Zappelli. “We found an ideal Tasting Room location in the Oxbow District that is directly across the street from the Oxbow Market and CIA Copia. The location is walking distance to the Napa Riverwalk, Napa Fairgrounds, and a collective of tasting rooms, notable modern art galleries, high-end hotels and renowned restaurants. Expanding WALT from the tasting room in Sonoma to include a second location in Napa allows us to share our quality Pinots with locals, Bay Area day-trippers and tourists alike as this area is typically the first stop for visitors entering Napa Valley.”

The 1500 square foot indoor tasting room space features a three-dimensional, custom designed tasting bar comprised of an Italian-porcelain countertop, and the bar is illuminated with LED gold globes hanging above the countertop. The building was renovated with low energy lighting, and includes a series of landscape and structural upgrades to improve the energy efficiencies, beautify the property and reduce water usage. The Hall’s extensive collection of art compliments the décor and experience.

WALT Napa Oxbow has four tasting offerings for guests to experience including:

CURRENT RELEASE TASTING, $30pp

Guests will explore five current releases including single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines spanning 1,000 Miles of Pinot, a concept designed to educate Pinot fans with vineyard sourcing and terroir.

PORTFOLIO TASTING, $30pp

Guests will have access to taste through all three HALL Family Wine brands including WALT Pinot Noir, HALL Cabernet Sauvignon and BACA Zinfandel wines in a tasting that highlights current releases for each varietal and background about the Hall family.

WINE & CHOCOLATE PAIRING, $50pp

Guests are able to indulge in the decadent world of wine and chocolate through a tasting experience that explores the senses through taste and aromatics. The experience includes six Pinot Noir wines paired with Kollar Chocolates, a leading luxury chocolatier based in Yountville, CA.

ROOT 101, $60pp

Root 101 is the signature food and wine pairing experience at WALT. This seated tasting includes six single vineyard Pinots paired with a seasonal, farm-to-table bite prepared by renowned Napa-based eatery, Carpe Diem. The experience aims to educate guests by exploring one’s palate as it relates to flavor profiles. Reservations are required.

The WALT Napa Oxbow renovation included a number of prominent, luxury consultants including:

Architecture: Jarrod Denton, Signum Architecture
Contractor: Frank Bourges General Contractor
Art Curator: Virginia Shore – Shore Art Advisory
Interior Design: Carol Padham, Padham Design

WALT produces single vineyard Pinot Noir wines from appellations stretching from as far north as the Willamette Valley in Oregon, through Anderson Valley, the Sonoma Coast, Carneros, Santa Lucia Highlands and the Sta. Rita Hills of the Santa Barbara County. WALT specializes in premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced from vineyards spanning 1,000 miles, a mile marking distance that coined the brand’s popular 1,000 Miles of Pinot concept.

For more information, please visit www.waltwines.com, follow on social @waltwines, or by calling 707-933-4440.

WALT: 1,000 Miles of Pinot

WALT specializes in premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced from the most coveted vineyards along the Pacific Coast, spanning 1,000 miles from as far north as the Willamette Valley to the Sta. Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County. WALT represents wines of a place – these special sites allow thoughtful viticulture to enable winemakers to create expressive wines that reflect the signature personality of each site. WALT farms three estate vineyards and partners with meticulous growers who aspire to share standards of quality. Owned by Kathryn Walt Hall and her husband Craig, WALT honors Kathryn’s parents, Bob and Dolores Walt, who were grape growers in Mendocino County since 1972 and nurtured Kathryn’s passion for vineyards and wine. WALT has two tasting room locations including one adjacent to the Sonoma Square in Sonoma, CA, and the second in the Oxbow District of downtown Napa, CA. Both Tasting Rooms are open to the public. For more information, please visit www.waltwines.com or by calling (707) 933-4440. @waltwines #1000milesofpinot.

Solvang Stomp: 2nd Annual Wine Harvest Street Festival Set for Saturday, 10/19/19

July 24, 2019 by evebushman

Solvang, California, USA –Tracy Farhad, Executive Director of the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau, has announced the return of Solvang Stomp, a Wine Harvest Street Festival. The second annual event will be happening on Saturday, October 19, 2019, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. in downtown Solvang on First Street (between Mission Drive/Hwy 246 & Copenhagen Drive) and the adjacent Solvang Park.

Solvang Stomp guests will have the opportunity to stomp grapes in vats barefoot, sip tastes from dozens of area wineries, dance to a live band, drink pink in the “I Love Rosé Lounge” and be able to purchase food inside the festival area from popular area eateries as well as participate in the “Lucy & Ricky Ricardo Look-a-Like Contest based on Lucille Ball’s famous grape stomp episode on her TV show. All “Solvang Stompers” will receive a souvenir logo wine glass and foot towel plus a ticket to win wine-related prizes.

Daniel Lahr, Solvang CVB’s Special Program Manager shared, “Solvang is surrounded by world-class vineyards, wineries and tasting rooms. October is harvest time which means it’s a festive time to taste new wine and stomp some grapes.”

Farhad remarked, “Our inaugural 2018 event attracted 500 guests with 46% staying in a Solvang hotel, 60% purchasing wine or beer, and an impressive 75% shopped and dined locally according to our after-event survey. Solvang CVB is proud to present this event to celebrate our local wine heritage.”

Solvang Stomp general admission from 2:00-5:00 p.m. is $75 per person and VIP Stompers (limited to 250 guests) features early admission at 1:00 p.m. and private VIP area for $125 per person. Guests must be ages 21 years and beyond. Advance ticket purchases are highly recommended online at www.solvangusa.com/STOMP

The second annual Solvang Grape Stomp is presented by the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau with event production by Cultivate Events. For more information about lodging, dining, wine tasting and attractions year-round in Solvang, visit www.SolvangUSA.com

Allegretto Wines Releases The Report ‘Storage Tips For Wine Collectors

July 21, 2019 by evebushman

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (PRWEB) – Allegretto Wines, the source for some of the best single vineyard wines in Paso Robles, has released the report ‘Storage Tips for Wine Collectors.’ “One of the conversation topics in our tasting room is the best storage methods for wine,” said Quin Cody, Director of Hospitality, “the tips in this report are going to help answer some of those questions.”

Photo from Allegretto Facebook page.

The report provides information for estimating the storage space, storage methods, the best temperatures for storing and serving, and some creative ideas for building a wine cellar on a budget.

Figuring out storage space

The storage space needed depends on how many bottles you would like to have on hand, or already have but don’t have adequate space. Buying a wine refrigerator is a common solution to storing wine, but sometimes the wine refrigerator you would like costs more than the family budget allows.

There are options for adding or increasing wine cellar space that include re-purposing a closet or cabinet or even adding a “wine room” in the garage. But before getting into remodeling ideas, you still need to know how many bottles you want to have available. Here is a quick estimate (based on ceilings that are nine feet high):

500 bottles or less needs about 25 square feet of space
1,000 bottles would use 50 square feet

It might seem that 500 bottles are a lot of wine, but a single person enjoying a bottle with dinner three or four nights a week adds up to more than 200 bottles a year. Figure in what is shared with dinner guests and gifted to friends and family. If you entertain frequently you can reach 500 bottles a year easily.

The space calculations need to include wines that are being allowed to age, those you are keeping for special occasions and those you will be drinking soon. Once the storage space is figured out, decide on the best affordable storage method that is going to meet the temperature and humidity needs of your special wines.

Temperature, UV light, and humidity

Wine is typically stored at one temperature and served at a different temperature. The ideal storage temperature for most reds and whites is 55 degrees. Serving temperatures vary by the wine:

Traditionally, red wines were served at room temperature, but the modern-day thermostat means homes are kept at a variety of temperatures for personal comfort. The ideal serving temperature for red wine is from 60 – 65 degrees F.

White wines are best served slightly chilled between 50 – 60 degrees.

Sparkling wines and champagne usually taste best chilled to around 40 degrees.

The kitchen refrigerator temperature is usually at around 40 degrees F. Too cold to store wine but a good temperature to chill a sparkling wine. Not sure when the wine has reached the appropriate serving temperature? Use an inexpensive wine bottle thermometer to know when the bottle is ready to pour.

UV rays and humidity

UV rays cause chemical reactions that can change a wine’s flavor and color in unfavorable ways. Keep your wine collection out of the sunlight.

Wines with cork closures need sufficient humidity at around 70-percent to keep the corks moist and expanded so some kind of humidity control is important. Store corked wines on their sides to help keep the cork moist. Screw top bottles don’t require the same kind of humidity control, but since most people collect both corked and screw-topped wines these days, humidity control is the best way to go.

The ‘cellar’

Most of us don’t have space or finances for a high-tech wine cellar with sophisticated humidity and temperature controls and there are affordable options.

Wine coolers, or refrigerators, start at around $200 for 20 or so bottles of wine and price upwards from there. When space is an option, some wine refrigerators can be stored in closets or in the garage and this works perfectly for many people. Some collectors want a more formal “cellar.” Remodeling closets, under stair spaces, kitchens, and garages are becoming popular ways to create dedicated wine storage. There are several good do-it-yourself sources on the Internet or give your local construction company a call for an estimate.

If you are collecting as an investment, leasing commercial wine storage is a safe way to protect your investment.

About Allegretto Wines

Good conversation is part of the wine experience, especially at the Allegretto Wines tasting room. Drop in for a unique tasting experience, good conversation and a staff that enjoys answering questions and keeping the conversation going. The tasting room is located at 2700 Buena Vista Drive in Paso Robles. Hours are Sunday and Monday 1 – 7 p.m.; Wed-Sat noon – 7 p.m. Tuesdays are by reservation only.

Allegretto Wines
2700 Buena Vista Drive
Paso Robles CA 93446
(805) 369-2526

Celebrate The Summer In Walla Walla

June 27, 2019 by evebushman

(WALLA WALLA, Wash.) — Summer is a season for the outdoors in Walla Walla. It’s a time when the days start with a morning hike or bike ride that reveals endless natural beauty, continues with an afternoon tasting on the terrace of a local winery, and ends dining al fresco in Walla Walla’s charming and walkable downtown. It’s rural chic Americana at its finest, and it makes summer perhaps the best time of year to experience Walla Walla in all her glory.

Average high temperatures in Walla Walla peak at 90 degrees in July, and most days are mild and sunny. It’s why the region bustles with outdoor festivals and events, adventures, highly acclaimed golf, cultural events, baseball, farmers markets, and more.

One thing Walla Walla does lack relative to many other world-class wine destinations are the summer crowds. Named Sunset Magazine’s “Best Wine Town” in 2018, it’s not that Walla Walla is a secret. With more than 120 wineries and deep agricultural roots fostering a true farm-to-table culinary scene, this unofficial capital of Washington wine country was bound to be discovered. But Walla Walla remains just far enough from typical that it can hold on to its slower pace and small-town friendliness.

“One of the remarkable aspects of Walla Walla is that even as it has grown into an acclaimed wine destination, the town remain as welcoming as ever,” said Ron Williams, CEO of Visit Walla Walla. “The weather draws people outside, and visitors and locals mingle at outdoor markets, wineries, Walla Walla Sweets baseball games, and more. It’s an atmosphere unlike anywhere else.”

First Friday Art Tour, held the first Friday of every month through October, the Downtown Farmers Market, held Saturdays through October, and the summer evenings spent at Borleske Stadium to watch the Walla Walla Sweets baseball club, offer regular reminders of Walla Walla’s unique mix of a robust arts and culture scene, agricultural and rural roots, and traditional Americana.

A busy and eclectic events schedule makes almost every weekend a special occasion during summer, too. The Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival (June 6-29), Celebrate Walla Walla Valley Wine (June 13-15), Walla Walla Movie Crush (July 12-14), Walla Walla Sweet Onion Festival (July 20), Annual Dunham Days Festival (Aug. 23-25), and the Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days (Aug 28.-Sept. 1) all give reason for the community and its visitors to come together and celebrate what makes Walla Walla special.

Regardless of the season, the world-class wines and farm-to-table culinary scene of Walla Walla are forever a draw. From pastoral estate vineyards and wineries to intimate downtown wine tasting rooms, Walla Walla is an oenophile’s dream. In summer the region’s wineries and tasting rooms, many of which also offer outdoor spaces for the kids to roam, are particularly family-friendly. http://wallawalla.org/listing-category/wineries/

Much of Walla Walla’s dining scene can be found in its charming downtown — where foodies sample the creations of renowned chefs using locally grown ingredients. In summer, sidewalks and restaurant patios fill with those who would never miss an opportunity to dine al fresco. And the farms that nourish Walla Walla’s best dishes invite foodies to discover the source of their meal at u-pick farms, orchards, and roadside farm stands.

Walla Walla is an active town, too. Golfers will discover the rolling terrain of Wine Valley Golf Club, one of three championship golf courses in Walla Walla and among the must-play golf courses in Washington. Cyclists will find a road-biking mecca with country roads that wind through a storybook landscape of vineyards and farms, and even join a group ride with Allegro or Bicycle Barn. The nearby Blue Mountains attract outdoor adventurists for a hike or ride, and some drawn to the Blues Crew work parties. Birders are lured by the more than 300 bird species that call the area home, and fishing is abundant in and around Walla Walla. And kids are invited to learn though education events, such as Learning on the Land, BioBlitz, and Nature Kids on the Farm.

“Summer makes everything in Walla Walla possible,” Williams said. “Walla Walla isn’t just about wine. Outdoor excursions, incredible food, golf, baseball, and invitations to immerse yourself into music, food, and culture all make Walla Walla a summer trip worth remembering.”

For more information on planning a trip to Walla Walla, go to the redesigned visitwallawalla.com.

About Walla Walla:
As the unofficial capital of Washington wine country, Walla Walla is home to more than 120 wineries, a nationally recognized culinary scene, access to an abundance of outdoor recreation, and an arts & entertainment scene that rivals cities many times its size. This community of just over 30,000 residents is known for many things, including its friendliness and hospitality, the quality of its wine, and of course the famous Walla Walla Sweet Onion. An easy and scenic four-hour drive from Seattle, Portland, or Boise, Walla Walla can also be accessed via Alaska Airlines daily non-stop flights from Seattle. For more information and to begin planning a trip to Walla Walla, visit www.visitwallawalla.com.

MARGERUM WINE COMPANY ANNOUNCES NEW TASTING ROOM IN SANTA BARBARA’S FUNK ZONE

June 26, 2019 by evebushman

Santa Barbara, California; May 28, 2019 – Doug Margerum and the Margerum Wine Company announce the opening of their new tasting room at the Hotel Californian in Santa Barbara, California. The Margerum Wine Company tasting room offers distinctive flights and wines by the glass from their premium wines produced at their state-of-the-art Buellton winery.

Leading the Margerum Wine Company team is creator and namesake, Douglas Barden Margerum, a long term Santa Barbara resident who has been a fixture in the Santa Barbara food and wine scene for over 35 years. Rani Mclean oversees the tasting room as the Direct to Consumer Manager.

Enter the MARGERUM WINE COMPANY tasting room across from the entrance to the Hotel from Mason Street, near the corner of Helena Avenue, and discover a balanced mix of quintessential Santa Barbara Spanish Colonial architecture and a multi-faceted modern style. The interior was styled by designer Marni Blau Margerum and she describes it as “where modern farmhouse meets couture boutique”. Marni’s eclectic design style centers around an expansive bar made of a reclaimed and flattened oak barrel staves from the winery. The bar is the main focal point, anchoring the spacious and exquisitely finished interior to create a naturally defined room for wine tasting and socializing.

The oak stairs lead one past the hand-forged cast-iron railings to the stunning private room that sets the stage for an unforgettable wine tasting experience in Santa Barbara. The private tasting room accommodates up to 32 people for a seated event or 50 for a stand-up reception or custom wine-tasting menu. Crafty details and sky-high ceilings are accented by the crimson red velvet curtains on the mezzanine, providing a cozy lounge for wine club members and for larger groups with reservations. Private lunches or dinner parties are available for an exceptional wine and dining experience.

The beautiful outdoor patio boasts a spectacular vantage point for lounging, wine tasting and people-watching. The patio can also be transformed into a private space for exclusive events day or night, which can accommodate up to 24 guests for an alfresco experience at this quintessential Santa Barbara wine tasting venue.

The wines are produced from their Estate vineyard and from purchased top Santa Barbara County growers to create hand-crafted wines that are indicative of the region, showcasing individual characteristics and personality of each terroir. The scale of production is kept at a level where they can touch and know the wine as it is raised to the bottle. The standards of quality are measured by their own criteria (not by external sources) and they only make wines they personally enjoy – some to drink young; others for long aging in cool cellars for future generations to enjoy.

Margerum produces several different wine varietals, including Sybarite Sauvignon Blanc; UBER Syrah (a blend of Syrah grapes from Santa Barbara County’s best vineyards); Riviera Rosé (made primarily from Grenache grapes); the flagship Rhône Varietal Red Blend M5 (blended from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Counoise grapes); the M5 White (blended from Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier and Vermentino); and Amaro – a fortified wine made from Herbs (Sage, Thyme, Marjoram, Parsley, Lemon Verbena, Rosemary, and Mint), Barks, Roots, Dried Orange Peels, Barrel-Aged Brandy and Caramelized Simple Syrup. Currently, the Margerum Wine Company produces about 16,000 cases a year.

The Tasting Room will be its ever-changing menu featuring rare bottlings and excellent older vintages of Margerum Wines. For those seeking a more refined experience, the Margerum Wine Company offers customized Private Winemaker Tastings with Doug Margerum by appointment.

The Margerum Wine Company tasting room is open daily from 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Friday/Saturday and by appointment.

ABOUT MARGERUM WINE COMPANY:

MARGERUM WINE COMPANY produces limited quantities of wines made from grapes grown both on their estate vineyard and grapes purchased from other top vineyards from in and around Santa Barbara County. The 18-acre estate vineyard is planted exclusively to Rhône grape varietals. The acreage is divided between limestone hillsides and gravelly alluvial flatlands along Alamo Pintado Creek. The wines are made at their state-of-the-art winery located on Industrial Way in Buellton. Owner and Director of Winemaking, Douglas Barden Margerum, works with the top vineyards from the cool, eastern end of the valley in Happy Canyon to the western end’s cold vineyards of Sta. Rita Hills. Doug carefully selects the vineyards with meticulous attention to detail in all factors influencing the ultimate quality of the wines, including pruning, soil, climate, and farming methods. MARGERUM WINE COMPANY is committed to creating hand-crafted wines using only the highest quality grapes in order to make wines that are indicative of the place where they are grown. They strive to make wines naturally, to make wines that have individual characteristics and to make wines with personality. The scale of production is kept at a level where they can touch and know the wine as it is raised to the bottle – the antithesis of mass production. The standards of quality are measured by their own rigid criteria – not by external sources. They make wines they personally enjoy – some to drink young, others for long aging in cool cellars for future generations to enjoy, but mostly to share at the table with family and friends.

ABOUT DOUG MARGERUM:

Doug’s multi-faceted background as the Sommelier/Owner of The Wine Cask, a Wine Spectator Grand Award restaurant recipient, and as a highly respected winemaker made him sought out by a variety of wineries to assist in the formation of their brands. Doug has consulted for Chêne Bleu super Rhône wines in France, and continues to consult for La Encantada Vineyards, Rancho Boa Vista and Happy Canyon Vineyards, all in Santa Barbara County, as well as the Santa Barbara wines of Paradise Springs Winery based in Virginia.

MARGERUM WINE COMPANY TASTING ROOM

19 Mason Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

805.845.8435

tastingroom@margerumwines.com

For more information the public can visit:

www.margerumwines.com

Follow MARGERUM WINE COMPANY:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/margerumwine

Twitter: @MargerumWine

Instagram: @margerumwine

For information on the Barden Wines visit: