Stu and the Kids Announces 2017 Fundraiser at Vibiana on July 30

July 17, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

A Thai flavored Food & Wine Festival hosted by Chef Stuart Skversky and his chef friends who will create dishes for the 4^thannual Stu and the Kids Fundraiser on Sunday, July 30. Proceeds will fund scholarships for Hill Tribe kids in Chaing Mai, Thailand.

Stu and the Kids 2016 – photo credit Erik Fisher

Participating chefs for this year’s event include Hosts Neal and Amy Fraser, Vibiana; Brooke Willamson and Nick Roberts, Playa Provisions; Walter Manzke, République; Eric Klein and Connor Shanahan, Wolfgang Puck Catering; Shirley Chung, Steamer’s Co. Raw Bar & Bowl of Hug; Gilberto Cetina, Chicken Itza; Matt Lee, Restaurant 917; Kris Yenbamroong, Night+Market; Jason Neroni from The Rose Café; Akasha Richmond, AKASHA and AR cucina; Sherry Yard, The Tuck Room; Warren and Rose Schwartz, Magpies Softserve; Jason Fullilove, Barbara Jean’s; Tetsu Yahagi,Spago Beverly Hills; Roxana Jullapat, Friends & Family; Gavin Mills, Miro; Joel Miller, The Wallace; Carlos Enriquez;Bakers Kneaded; Matt Dixon, Division 3; Gilberto Cetina, Chichen Itza; Food Network Celebrity Chef Jet Tila and special guest Rocco Whalen of Fahrenheit who will be flying in from Cleveland, Ohio with his team. Other chefs to be announced.

Other participating restaurants include 71 Above; Bar Alma; Chadaka Thai; and Jitlada (complete list of participating chefs and restaurants below).

Beverages will be plentiful, featuring the Stu and The Kids popular fresh Coconut Bar and Herb + Orchard water infusions. The Bodega Wine Bar will offer Santa Monica Brew Works beer and a great selection of beverages for a summer afternoon. Wines will be provided by Youngs Market, including sparkling wine and cider. Thanks to a generous donation from Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the festival will showcase a Thai-inspired cocktail mixed with Austin’s favorite spirit.

In 2009, Stuart Skversky, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and a rising- star chef, made a dramatic life change by giving up a promising chef career in Los Angeles to move to Chiang Mai, becoming a full-time volunteer at the Wat Dan Chan (a local Buddhist temple), teaching local children English, cooking and baking. Recognizing a need to help prepare these high-risk Hill Tribe kids following their graduation, he founded Stu and the Kids to better prepare them for adulthood, helping them get into a university or technical college and giving them the tools for an independent future. Proceeds from this event go directly to the children’s education, school uniforms, supplies, housing, food and tuition for higher education. Now in their ninth year of fundraising throughout the world, Stu and the Kids has raised over $300,000 for the charity, including last year’s astounding record of $110,000 accumulated from the LA festival, fundraising on the east coast and online donations during 2016. Stu and the Kids supervise seventeen kids, including fifteen who have earned four-year scholarships to university and a seven and fourteen-year-old that is supported with rent and food due to family hardship. The charity hopes to increase the awards to twelve four-year university scholarships in the coming year.

During the evening there will be an educational presentation and activities for all ages, including a vivid display of Northern Thai umbrellas and lanterns from the Tourism Authority of Thailand and performances of Thai music and dancing. The silent auction benefiting Stu and the Kids will include photos of locations in Chiang Mai, Thailand, hand-made Hill Tribe bags and silver jewelry, gift certificates, gift baskets, autographed cookbooks and a month of yoga classes.

The incomparable Billy Harris, celebrity charity auctioneer and host of Hanging with Harris will lead the live auction with several spectacular experiences:

An exclusive 4 night, 5 day trip to Thailand to meet the kids and enjoy the beauty and flavors of Chiang Mai.
2 tickets to the two hour finale and live reunion show for Survivor: Heroes v Healers v Hustlers.This also includes an exclusive, fun luncheon with the Survivor players where the winner can meet, chat and take photos. Winner of the auction will also participate in some Survivor challenges that will be set up on the CBS lot. This once in a lifetime afternoon for the diehard Survivor fan is tentatively scheduled for Dec 20th, 2018 at CBS in Los Angeles. Dates might fluctuate slightly.
Dinner for eight guests at The Rogue Experience, Wolfgang Puck’s experimental Test Kitchen at the Pacific Design Center. A one-of-a-kind full dining experience valued at $5000.
Dinner for four at Vespertine by Jordan Kahn, valued at $1000.

Hours are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $125 General Admission, $195 for VIP Admission and $25 for children 6-12. To purchase tickets, visit StuandtheKidsTickets
Sunday, July 30, 2017, 4 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. for VIP tickets

General Admission: $125

VIP Admission: $195; early admission at 3:30 p.m. including a meet and greet with Chef Jet Tila, the Culinary Ambassador to Thailand and of the Food Network fame. Includes a personalized autographed copy of Chef Tila’s new cookbook, “101 Asian Dishes You Need To Cook Before You Die.”

Kids tickets: $25 for kids 6-12
Tickets for general admission, VIP admission and kids may be purchased online: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stu-and-his-friends-a-thai-style-food-festival-to-support-stu-and-the-kids-tickets-33984327037

Vibiana, 214 South Main Street | Los Angeles, California 90012

ABOUT STU AND THE KIDS:

Stu and The Kids is a 501c3, tax-exempt nonprofit organization that provides scholarships for orphaned and underserved Hill Tribe children for continuing their education in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

For further information on Stu and the Kids, visit www.stuandthekids.org

Become a fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/stuandthekids

Follow Stu and the Kids on Twitter and Instagram at @stuandthekids

****

Participating Chefs

Presenting Chef and Culinary Ambassador to Thailand – Chef Jet Tila

Gilberto Cetina

Shirley Chung

Neal and Amy Fraser

Jason Fullilove

Eric Klein and Connor Shanahan

Jason Neroni

Warren and Rose Schwartz

Rocco Whalen

Brooke Willamson and Nick Roberts

Sherry Yard

Tetsu Yahagi

Kris Yenbamroong

Participating Restaurants

71 Above

Akasha

AR cucina

Bar Alma

Barbara Jean

Broken Spanish

Chadaka Thai

Chichen Itza

Division 3

Fahrenheit (Cleveland, Ohio)

Friends & Family

Jitlada

Magpies Softserve

Miro

Night+Market

Pastry Lab

Patina Catering

Playa Provisions

Redbird and Vibiana

République

Restaurant 917 at the Porches Experience

Savore Catering

Sinners & Saints

Spago Beverly Hills

Steamer’s Company, Raw Bar and Bowl of Hug

Tender Greens

The Ensaymada Project

The Olive Pit

The Rose Café

The Tuck Room

The Wallace

Wolfgang Puck Catering

Sponsors

6 Degrees LA

Behind the DJ Booth

Chef Spoons

Chefs to End Hunger

Erik Fisher Photography

LA & SF Specialty

Sustainable Works

The Bouqs.com

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

Tourism Authority of Thailand

Vibiana

Wolfgang Puck Catering

Young’s Market Company

Perlis and Haig Pick: South Bay Beer & Wine Festival

July 1, 2017 by Michael Perlis Leave a Comment

Recently, thanks mainly to the efforts of my sister-in-law Elizabeth (Liz) Haig, we attended the 4^th Annual South Bay Beer & Wine Festival. Our spouses Karen and Brian tagged along.

Since Liz went to all this trouble. I’d like to share her thoughts on the event and introduce you all to the person who has really been like my sister for about half [geez!] of my life.

Here’s Liz…

The South Bay Beer and Wine Festival in Rolling Hills Estates is a fundraiser for the El Segundo, Palos Verdes Peninsula and South Bay Sunrise Rotary clubs who volunteer and contribute to many worthwhile charities in our community.

It was a sold out event with nearly 1,300 guests. There were about 30 breweries and almost 20 wineries scheduled to pour and many local restaurants and other vendors serving up great food. I enjoyed several tastings that I thought I’d comment on a few that I really liked. I couldn’t get to all of them.

Kinship Winery in Paso Robles had a very nice Pinot Noir, it was light and refreshing and not too sweet. The Chardonnay was mild and had a fruity after taste. A portion of their proceeds goes towards helping children in Guatemala.

I tasted a flavored cognac, vodka and fruit juice blend called Mascarade with club soda and a mint leaf. It was very good and reminded me of a Mai Tai. And I really like Mai Tais.

Common Cider Company had several interesting flavors and their drinks were about 8% alcohol. We tried the Hibiscus Saison and Blackberry Sangria. Hibiscus Saison tasted like a mild cranberry drink without the tartness. The Blackberry Sangria was fruity and smooth.

Tito’s Vodka was serving up cool, refreshing cocktails and since it was extremely hot, it helped cool things down.

As for the beers, there were so many to choose from with a wide variety to sample. Absolution, Arts District, Knee Deep, RIPP Beer, Ironfire, Mother Earth Breweries and Scholb Premium Ales had some interesting new beers.

Red Car Brewery, Rock & Brews and Truxton’s had delicious sliders. Wa Dining, Pei Wei Asian, Silvio’s Brazilian BBQ, Tamiza’s Treats and Luna Grill had very tasting offers and it was nice to have a variety of different food choices.

Live music from the band, Detour, who played pop rock classics made us feel like dancing and really added to the atmosphere. I would definitely go again next year!

Thanks Liz.

I have a few more things to add.

On the day of the event [May 21^st] we were experiencing unseasonably warm weather, which made it a perfect day to get out of the Santa Clarita Valley and head down to the South Bay. It was somewhat warm down there too [although not like here] so it was a perfect day to focus on beer, which is what I did.

I had no idea there was such a craft beer movement going on in the South Bay. That area was well represented as well as other parts of LA and beyond.

Here were some of my favorites…

Arts District Brewing Company

Avery Brewing

Brouwerij West

Eagle Rock Brewery

House Beer

Iron Triangle

Phantom Carriage

Smog City Brewing Company

Three Weavers Brewing Company

Iron Triangle’s Dark Ale got my nod a second time [see my Masters of Taste article] for my favorite beer.

Also, Phantom Carriage gave me a good education on the purposeful use of brettanomyces in beer, which is usually a no-no for wine. They are definitely worth a trip to Carson to check out.

All in all, a nice way to spend a warm day out of the SCV.

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

Vine & Dine Festival in Montana Takes Wining and Dining to New Heights

June 18, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

BIG SKY MONT. – It’s time to take sipping to new heights.

The 4^th Annual Vine & Dine Festival, Aug. 17^th – 20^th, is an intriguingly delightful and adventurous artisanal-food and wine festival at beautiful Big Sky Resort, located south of Bozeman, Mont., and a short distance from Yellowstone National Park. Taste hundreds of obscure wines from boutique wineries in a dozen different countries and listen to Master Sommeliers with some of the most sophisticated palates in the world discuss Portuguese, orange and mineral wines. Plus, Google’s culinary team will be on hand preparing exquisite tasty delights to personalize your food experience.

PH_VineandDine_W1617 Not only is Vine & Dine Montana’s most prestigious wine festival, but it is truly unlike any other.

Back again for the fourth year is Vine & Dine’s signature event: Pinot on the Peak. Big Sky Resort combines delicious pinot tastings with the resort’s popular Lone Peak Expedition. It’s the ‘Biggest Tasting in America,’ and includes a ride on the Swift Current chairlift, an alpine picnic, a covered safari ride and an aerial tram ride to the top of Lone Peak. Toast to good wine, new friends and new adventures at 11,166 feet.

New to the festival is an opportunity for hospitality professionals to take an intensive introductory Sommeliers class from a team of Master Sommeliers. Nearby Bozeman’s metropolitan-influence is drawing a growing number of consumers with sophisticated palates and an affinity for fine wine and cuisine. This intro course is an opportunity for local and regional wine and hospitality professionals to keep pace with their knowledge of proper wine service and deductive tasting.

The Vine & Dine Festival also offers creative and sophisticated seminars with some of the foremost experts on Portuguese wines. Master Sommeliers Fred Dame and Jay Fletcher, both at the top of their class, will teach deductive tasting techniques. American chef and TV personality John Besh will dazzle attendees with exquisite Southern delights, and Google Global Program Chef Scott Giambastiani will prepare plant-based dishes made from Montana-grown produce. All of this plus music, a thriving local arts scene and beautiful landscapes for as far as the eye can see. Come, kick back and enjoy the mountains with superb wine and dining.

Visit bigskyresort.com/vine to purchase tickets and for a list of scheduled seminars.

Garagiste Wine Festival Brings Hidden Winemaking Gems to Hidden Architectural Gem

June 5, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Paso Robles, CA (PRWEB) – Garagiste Events Inc., producers of the renowned Garagiste Festivals, has announced that tickets are now on sale for The Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure, which returns to Los Angeles County on July 15th, at a stunning new historic location in Santa Monica, just a few blocks from the ocean (and close to the Expo Line).

Celebrating its fourth anniversary in Los Angeles, the festival features 50 micro-production, craft wineries from across California – including Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez and SLO counties; Livermore, Mendocino, Napa, Paso Robles, and Sonoma – and is the only wine event on the Los Angeles calendar to exclusively feature high quality, hand-crafted wines from commercial California ‘garagiste*’ winemakers.

“The great thing about our Urban Exposure festival is that Angelenos can discover these hard-to-find wineries, taste hundreds of their wines, and meet the winemakers all under one roof — for less than the cost of gas for a trip to wine country,” said Doug Minnick, Co-Founder of The Garagiste Festival. “Besides, the majority of these under-the-radar wineries do not have tasting rooms, are not on “wine country” maps, and are very difficult to find. But we bring them all together for our guests to discover at the Garagiste Festival. There’s nothing else like it.”

“And, in keeping with our tradition of unique venues with character, this year our attendees have an opportunity to discover hidden wine gems in a hidden architectural gem: a 100+ year-old Historic Landmark Classical Revival building in downtown Santa Monica,” continued Minnick. “Take the train, take in the ocean air and taste some of the best wines of your life. What’s not to love?”

Dubbed “one of wine’s premier events…fun and exuberant…not to be missed” by the Los Angeles Times, the Garagiste Festival is renowned for its ‘crazy thrill of discovery,’ one-on-one interactions with winemakers, fun ‘no-snobs-allowed’ atmosphere and interesting and intimate venues.

Time and Place: The Garagiste Wine Festival: Urban Exposure Grand Tasting will take place from 3pm – 6pm on Saturday, July 15th, with the Rare and Reserve tasting at 2pm, all at the ballroom and balcony at 1210 Fourth Street, right in the heart of Santa Monica. The event is a short stroll from the ocean and easily accessible by train via the Expo Line, which stops at Colorado and Fourth Street. And, for your designated driver, there is plentiful parking in the many public parking structures close by.

Winemakers: Among the fifty winemakers already scheduled to pour are Alta Colina Vineyards, Anglim Winery, Ann Albert Wines, Ascension Cellars, Bodega de Edgar/Hug Cellars, Brophy Clark, Burning Bench Winery, Caldera Cuvee, Caliza Winery, Carucci Wines, Chenoweth Wines, Cholame Vineyards, Cloak & Dagger Wines, Coruce Vineyards, Cutruzzola Vineyards, Deno Wine, El Lugar Wines, Enoteca Five, Golden Star Vineyards, Golden Triangle, Halcyon Wines, Hoi Polloi, Hoyt Family Vineyard, JPIII Wines, Kaena Winery, Kaleidos Winery, Loubud Wines, Malibu Ridge Wines, March Wines, MCV Wines, Metrick Wines, Monochrome Wines, Nowell-Smith Wines, Olsen Perri Wines, Pagter Brothers, Penville Wines, Press Gang Cellars, Prizm Winery, Pulchella Winery, Rendarrio, Ryan Cochrane Wines, SLYD Wines, Starfield Vineyards, Tao Winery, The Farm Winery, Theopolis Vineyards, Two Shepherds Wines, and Vinemark Cellars.

Tickets: To preserve an intimate experience with one-on-one interaction with winemakers, tickets are very limited for the Garagiste Festivals and always sell out. Tickets are available at http://garagistefestival.com. For special discounts and updates on Urban Exposure, Taste of Garagiste mini-tastings and other Garagiste Festival events and news, sign up for The Dirt at http://garagistefestival.com/sign-up/, or follow us on Twitter (@GaragisteFest) or Facebook (http://on.fb.me/1rgBC80).

Festival Sponsors: ETS, Glenn Burdette, Bidwell Insurance, Farm Credit, Laffort, Digital Dogma, mWEBB Communications, Travel Paso, Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. For sponsorship info, email info(at)garagistefestival(dot)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 garagistes 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 Festial, Northern Exposure, in the Bay Area; garagiste mini-tastings presented from So Cal to Tahoe; 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. 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. The Garagiste Festivals were the first to shine a light on the American garagiste winemaker in 2011. Since then, the festival has helped thousands of consumers discover the remarkable wines of hundreds of true garagistes, who handcraft under 1,500 cases a year and pay close, hands-on attention to every wine they make.

South Bay Beer & Wine Festival

May 11, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

South Bay Beer & Wine Festival

May 21^st 2017 at Ernie Howlett Park in Rolling Hills Estates

1 PM to 5 PM

VIP – 12 NOON to 5 PM

The South Bay Beer & Wine Festival invites you to enjoy the wares of approximately 70 Craft Beer, Wine & Restaurant exhibitors this May. The best of Southern California’s regional breweries, wineries and restaurants are featured, yet the Festival in its fourth year is a mecca for craft brewers from throughout the west. Tasting of all beer, wine and food is unlimited, and each festival attendee receives a great souvenir glass to take home.

The VIP upgrade adds tastings of assorted spirits, preferred parking, and entry to the Festival one hour before general admission. We applaud the generosity of all our exhibitors who energetically participate each year to raise money for our charitable beneficiaries. Treat your palate and have a blast with your friends this Spring on the beautiful Palos Verdes Peninsula.

All proceeds fund the community outreach programs of Rotary Clubs within the South Bay and Harbor cities of Los Angeles. It’s a Springtime event that can’t be missed.

Tickets Prices

Tickets for the South Bay Beer & Wine Festival includes unlimited tasting of craft beers, fine wines, delicious food, live music, and silent auction.

General Admission $75.00 online; Day of the event, if any are still available, $75.00 at the gate.
Your Ticket includes:

Festival Access from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Souvenir Tasting Glass
Unlimited Tastings of Craft Beer, Fine Wines, and Foods from ~70 Great Exhibitors
Live Music
Art Exhibition
Free Parking

Unlike many festivals, your ticket price provides an “all-inclusive” experience. No hidden costs (like food trucks or parking). It’s a great value!

VIP Upgrade $30; Limited; advanced online purchase only. Day of the event: Not available.

Access to VIP Tent with seating and shade for relaxing
Premium distilled spirits tastings
Preferred parking next to event field
Early entry to event. Access at 12 noon — 1 hour before General Admission
To be used with a General Admission ticket

Fine Print: You must be at least 21 years old to enter the Festival. No smoking in the Festival. And, please, no pets.

Vintage Eve Circa May 2013: “It’s Just Wine” Said the Client to the Consultant

May 2, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

When my associate/partner/friend Michael Perlis successfully got me to agree to take on consulting clients (yes it took awhile) my only concern was that I didn’t want to do any less wine writing. So, instead, after every pitch we made was accepted, I gave up some of my non-wine writing gigs.

I knew that I had to give up something I didn’t need to do in order to do something that would be more profitable. Now the challenge would be, could we get our own clients to see things this way too?

It was obvious to us that anyone who wanted to hire a consultant needed some help. A client would tell us what they want accomplish, we would do a study of their business, and then come back with our proposal.

Some clients said yes to everything; they were not on the edge of losing their businesses, and we were only there to market a well-conceived plan. This has been the case with the wine fests we have assisted in marketing.

However, other businesses, such as wineries and restaurants, called us in for help that required them to give up something to do something new. Much like I did.

And we could also see that those companies, like a marriage on the verge of a break-up, waited a long time before calling in a counselor. And their immediate reaction to our proposals, well, they were like a knee jerk kick to our stomachs.

Our proposals (which is a timeline of changes we wanted to make before bringing in new customers) are made to help insure that a new customer would return. These clients had a habit of just checking off the items at the end of the proposal.

This is a very shortsighted way of “Give me the reward now and it’s enough.” And, if I can go back to the marriage counselor scenario: One visit with a counselor is going to straighten out years of a miss-managed marriage?

We think not. There is a difference in marketing and consulting; and the consulting has to come before the marketing. If that’s not what you are looking for, you are not looking for us.

If your model isn’t working – listen to what we are trying to do to change it. Whether it’s training a restaurant staff on wine service or changing a hard-sell approach in a winery, this is why you hire us to consult, then market.

Which brings me to the title of this column. One client, exasperated with me as I quoted negative Yelp reviews, wine pricing, management techniques and basic branding said, “It’s just wine.”

That three-word sentence really got me thinking.

If your business is wine know this: There are reasons, beyond common business logic, why people drink wine. We can’t even go total screw cap because of the “romance” of popping a cork. Wine drinkers are not like beer drinkers; give us a nice crystal glass to taste from. Don’t hold my bottle of wine between your thighs as you retrieve the cork. Don’t open my bottle of wine behind the counter. Don’t serve yourself a sample of my wine unless I offer it to you.

And from there I’d add more: Don’t pitch me anything if I didn’t ask for it. If I said yes to a taste, that’s a taste. Wait for me to ask for more. No one wants to dine in a restaurant or taste at a wine bar where the staff has an agenda. If I wanted to buy a timeshare I wouldn’t sit in for the 90-minute or more sales pitch, I’d just buy it.

Play nice, don’t bad mouth other wineries or restaurants. Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties have done a lot to market their wine trails. Each winery is vested in return business and having each winery look good. And wine people like to “shop” at more than one winery when out for a day of tasting – these trails get that, and so should you if you want to see growth.

Michael, when I told him about this conversation said, “Our new slogan is IAATW. It’s All About The Wine.”

We aren’t selling cars. We are selling wine. Take a lesson from Clos Pepe winemaker Wes Hagen, “The perfect meal is 33 percent wine, 33 percent food and 33 percent company. I’d rather drink shitty wine with this group than the best wine in the world with a bunch of d—-.”

Yes, I could go on, but you’d have to pay us. And we don’t work with d—- either.

Yountville Chamber of Commerce Announces Taste of Yountville

March 2, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Yountville, Calif. – New for 2017, Yountville Chamber of Commerce has retained the creatives behind the wildly successful Yountville Live (and Live in the Vineyard) to produce its highly anticipated annual wine and food festival – Taste of Yountville. This annual walkabout tasting festival features renowned food and wines that make Yountville a world-class destination for all things refined and gastronomic in pleasure.

Taste of Yountville, March 17-18, has now commingled with the Yountville Live weekend happening March 16-19. The coalescence of these events will provide attendees with several ticket options to experience a music, food and wine sensory experience over four jam-packed days.

Yountville Live Schedule, March 16-19:
Here is a look at what will be happening throughout the weekend (schedule subject to change):

Thursday, March 16:

VIP Welcome Reception, 3-5 p.m. at Brix Restaurant
A beautiful, Yountville welcome in the Brix Restaurant gardens, featuring French inspired California cuisine, 10 Yountville appellation wineries, and an intimate performance by multi-Platinum and GRAMMY Award nominated singer-songwriter Five For Fighting.

Welcome Gala, 6-9 p.m.
A four-course wine dinner prepared by world renowned chefs and winemakers featuring Graham Elliot and Thomas Keller Group’s – Team USA.

Thursday Night Concert, 9-10 p.m.
An exclusive, up-close-and-personal performance by internationally acclaimed Mexican acoustic rock guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela.

Late Night VIP Events, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Late night bites, artisan cocktails, beers and wines located at Ottimo! In the heart of Yountville.

Friday, March 17:

Friday Taste of Yountville, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Ticketholders will enjoy customized programs and activations from event partners at the V Market Pavilion, some of Yountville and Napa Valley’s most revered wineries at the Taste of Yountville Pavilion, an exclusive beer garden and live chef demonstrations at the Culinary Pavilion, and live musical performances at the North Yountville Pavilion (NOYO), making this the must see center of attention during Yountville Live. A grand crew tasting room featuring cult and highest end wine.

Master Classes, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Exclusive epicurean experiences hosted by world-renowned chefs, winemakers and artisans, offering insight into the creative genesis that makes them the masters of their craft.

Music, Food & Wine Dinner, 8-11 p.m.
Intimate food & wine dinners featuring local chefs, winemakers, and private performances by up-and-coming artists.

Late Night VIP Events, 11 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Late night bites, artisan cocktails, beers and wines located at Hurley’s featuring The Rua

Saturday, March 18:

Saturday Taste of Yountville, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Ticketholders will enjoy customized programs and activations from event partners at the V Market Pavilion, some of Napa Valley’s most revered wineries at the Wine Pavilion, an exclusive beer garden and live chef demonstrations at the Culinary Pavilion, and live musical performances at the North Yountville Pavilion, making this the must see center of attention during Yountville Live.

Master Classes, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Exclusive epicurean experiences hosted by local chefs, winemakers, and artisans offering insight into the creative genesis that makes them the masters of their craft.

Music, Food & Wine Dinners, 8-11 p.m.
Intimate food & wine dinners featuring renowned chefs, winemakers, and private performances by up-and-coming artists.

Late Night VIP Events, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Late night bites and craft cocktail competition located at Bottega Restaurant featuring a special performance with Spencer Ludwig and DJ set by Mayer Hawthorne

Sunday, March 19:

Bubble Brunch, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wind down the weekend with a southern inspired, open-fire brunch featuring chef Morgan Robinson from SMOKE, a sparkling wine and mimosa bar and an intimate performance by American folk, soul, pop music duo JOHNNYSWIM.

Tickets for all Yountville Live Events can be purchased at https://yountvillelive.com/tickets.

Tickets for Taste of Yountville at Yountville Live:
Single day or weekend long admission tickets are available for the Taste of Yountville attraction at Yountville Live. Tickets range from $125 per person for a single day admission or $225 per person for both Friday and Saturday. Tickets include one tasting with each vendor and unlimited access to all four event tasting pavilions: V Market Pavilion – food, wine and more, Wine Pavilion – wine tastings, Culinary Pavilion – cooking demos, tastings and a beer garden, and the North Yountville Pavilion – live music, food and wine.

ABOUT YOUNTVILLE LIVE

The third annual Yountville Live, the ultimate, luxury getaway event, featuring exquisite cuisines from world-class restaurants and Award-winning rock star chefs, exclusive intimate performances from some of today’s hottest recording artists and a unique variety of some of Napa Valley’s most celebrated wineries and finest beers and spirits available, is set to take place in Yountville, California from March 16th to the 19th. Tickets are on sale now for the four day event in the culinary capital of Napa Valley that will feature performances by multi-Platinum selling Five for Fighting, internationally acclaimed Mexican acoustic rock guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela, duo JOHNNYSWIM, well-known singer-songwriter Emerson Hart, up and coming trumpet sensation Spencer Ludwig, a DJ set by the talented Mayer Hawthorne, rising sibling trios JOSEPH and The Rua, singer-songwriters LOLO, Jillette Johnson, Brendan James, Jon McLaughlin, Zach Heckendorf, Paul Loren, Keaton Simons and more.

World renowned and celebrated chefs set to take part in Yountville Live are Graham Elliot, Gale Gand, Victor Scargle, Thomas Keller Group – Team USA, Michael Chiarello, Art Cohtino, Bob Hurley, Carey Delbridge, Nate Lindsay, Chris Cosentino, Chris Kollar, Chris Patrick, Claudia Sansone, David Roberts, Dean James Max, Ernesto Martinez and more. There will be pourings by some of the most revered vintners including Aaron Pott, Benoit Touquette, and Julien Fayard and high end wineries including Jessup Cellars, Trinchero, Robert Mondavi Winery, Franciscan Estate Winery, Campana Ranch Winery, Azur, Miner Family Winery, Nickel & Nickel Winery, Silver Trident Winery, Priest Ranch Winery and more. Yountville marries a breath-taking setting and small-town ambiance with a sophisticated Wine Country lifestyle.

Yountville Live is the next generation of food and wine events with a vast array of events for attendees to choose between from Master Classes that are a true epicurean experience hosted by world-renowned chefs, winemakers and artisans, offering insight into the creative genesis that makes them the masters of their craft to intimate dinners, performances and of course the “Taste of Yountville” experience. Yountville Live has something for everyone that will not only compliment and highlight all the best that Yountville and the Napa Valley have to offer in the culinary and winemaking world with truly incredible music infused, but also the best across the country has to offer in all three. This four day event is an up close and personal experience while being on a larger scale.

For further information about Yountville Live, journalists are asked to contact Denise Carberry, dcarberry(at)pfamedia(dot)net, or visit the event website at yountvillelive.com. Follow the event on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

ABOUT LIVE IN THE VINEYARD

Live in the Vineyard is a private music-food-wine festival that marries peoples’ access to recording artists, top tier wine makers, and world- renowned chefs amongst the lush scenery of the legendary Napa Valley. Tickets for LITV, taking place again in November 2017, are only available through special radio station promotions featured on http://www.liveinthevineyard.com that include Sirius/XM The Pulse, On-Air with Ryan Seacrest, On with Mario Lopez, and Premium Choice Hot AC. Tickets are also available through exclusive sweepstakes and offerings from LITV’s partnerships with Aloft Hotels, National Car Rental Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Sutter Home, Southwest Airlines, Stella Artois, UPS, Sacramento International Airport and a few others. Live In The Vineyard assures that attendees have total immersion in music, wine and food. LITV was created by Bobbii Jacobs and Claire Parr, who together share over 40 years of experience in the music industry, and has since grown into a well-known and sought-after ticket. Jacobs and Parr are the producers of Yountville Live.

ABOUT YOUNTVILLE, TASTE LIFE HERE

Considered the culinary heart of Napa Valley, Yountville is the ultimate luxury get-away. With its world-class restaurants and accommodations, and many of the Valley’s most celebrated wineries, Yountville marries a breath-taking setting and small-town ambiance with a sophisticated Wine Country lifestyle.

The small town of Yountville was the site of Napa Valley’s first planted grapevines. The walkable village amid the vines with gorgeous mountain views offers luxe lodging from cozy to indulgent, the only hot air ballooning launch in Napa Valley, five sites on the National Register of Historic Places, unique shopping, golf, art galleries and performing arts, plus a constellation of Michelin stars and renowned restaurants. An ideal base for wine lovers, Yountville’s microclimate pedigree has its own American Viticultural Area (AVA) and offers unparalleled wineries and producers.

For further information about Yountville, visit http://www.yountville.com.

Toast of the Coast Wine Fest Accepting Entries

December 19, 2016 by evebushman 1 Comment

DEL MAR, Ca. – The Toast of the Coast is now accepting entries for the 2017 wine competition which will take place February 18-19, 2017. Hosted by the San Diego County Fair, The Toast of the Coast evaluates wines produced throughout the United States and Mexico.

What makes The Toast of the Coast unique in the world of wine competitions is the ability for wineries to actually sell product that will be poured during the wine festival, noted Director Rich Cook. The Toast of the Coast Wine Festival will be held Saturday, June 10 during the Fair and attracts more than 1,200 wine enthusiasts.

This year, in partnership with Albertsons|Vons, participating brands carried in Southern California will be featured in-store, creating excellent exposure opportunities to the San Diego wine consumer. Combined with the marketing exposure of The Toast of the Coast Wine Festival, this is the single best competition for wineries trying to increase sales in the San Diego market.

Wineries can register at thetoastofthecoast.com and receive the early bird price of $55 per entry from now until January 6, 2017, after which entry fees will increase to $80 each. Deadline to enter is January 27, 2017. Wines will be evaluated by an expert panel of judges featuring wine writers, buyers and sommeliers.

The San Diego County Fair, presented by Albertsons|Vons, is the largest fair in California with attendance of more than 1.6 million. Last year, more than 70 top wines were poured at the one-day ticketed tasting event during the 26 day run of the Fair.

About The Toast of the Coast

The Toast of the Coast wine competition and festival is produced by the 22nd District Agricultural Association in conjunction with the San Diego County Fair. 2017 marks the sixth year of The Toast of the Coast. The competition is open to bonded wineries throughout the United States and Mexico. The festival is open to the public and features award-winning wines and is held during the annual San Diego County Fair, presented by Albertsons|Vons. The San Diego County Fair is the largest county fair in the United States, drawing more than 1.6 million visitors annually. For more information, visitwww.thetoastofthecoast.com.

Paso Robles BlendFest Set for January

December 15, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

BLENDFEST ON THE COAST SHOWCASES PASO ROBLES WINES IN CAMBRIA AND SAN SIMEON
Event Weekend Features Multiple Opportunities to Experience the Wines of Paso Robles, Tickets Now On Sale

Paso Robles, CA – The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (PRWCA), in conjunction with Visit Cambria, Visit San Simeon, and the California Highway 1 Discovery Route announce the return of BlendFest on the Coast. Over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, the Third Annual BlendFest on the Coast will showcase the wines of 32 Paso Robles wineries at a new location, The Cambria Pines Lodge. This limited audience event has been in high demand the previous two years, so wine enthusiasts are encouraged to book their accommodations and tickets early to avoid missing out. Ticket information can be found here – www.pasowine.com/events/blend-fest-tickets.php.

On Saturday, January 14, BlendFest features two sessions, including an Afternoon Tasting (1 – 3 p.m.) and a Sunset Tasting (4:30 – 6:30 p.m.). The afternoon tasting, at $45, will include tasting from 32 different wineries pouring more than 90 wines and accompanied by cheeses that pair well with wine. The Sunset Tasting, at $65, features the same wineries sharing their best blended wines along with savory bites from The Pairing Knife. A complete list of ticket levels are detailed on – www.pasowine.com/events/blend-fest-tickets.php.

Attendees staying at San Simeon and Cambria hotel properties will receive a VIP entry. Each guest can access the tasting 30 minutes early by presenting their room key at the time of entry. More than 40 properties are available for guests to book reservations directly. Participating hotels can be found here – www.pasowine.com/events/blend-fest-lodging.php. With the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, people are encouraged to book early to guarantee their VIP status.

The BlendFest weekend kicks off on Friday, January 13 with an intimate winemaker dinner at Robin’s in Cambria. This specially paired dinner will feature wines from multiple wineries along with Robin’s signature world cuisine. The long weekend will also highlight a memorable BlendFest brunch menu, paired with Paso Robles wines. There are no tickets for brunch, but reservations are encouraged. More detail and links are coming soon to www.pasowine.com

BlendFest on the Coast concludes Sunday, January 15, with two live blending sessions. Wine enthusiasts can participate in two different, concurrently running sessions. Winemakers from the Paso Robles CAB Collective will blend Bordeaux varieties in one session, and winemakers with the Paso Robles Rhône Rangers will blend Rhône varieties in the other session. Seminars take place at the Cavalier Oceanfront Resort at 10 a.m. Seating is limited, tickets are $40 per person and includes a barbecue lunch immediately following the seminars. Tickets for both events can be purchased at www.pasowine.com/events/blend-fest-tickets.php. The Cavalier Oceanfront Resort will also play host to an artist guided painting session, as part of Cambria’s Stewardship Travel Program. The subject is the Piedras Blancas Light Station and a docent will be in attendance to provide education on this iconic landmark to our majestic coast. More information is coming soon to www.pasowine.com.

ABOUT PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance represents wineries, growers and businesses in Paso Robles Wine Country. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country is California’s third largest wine region. It encompasses more than 41,000 vineyard acres and 200 wineries. For more information, visit www.pasowine.com. Social – @PasoRoblesWine, #PasoWine, #PasoBlendFest

Vintage Eve March 2012: Santa Clarita Wine Fest – Part Deux!

September 27, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

It was a picture perfect day for wine tasting. The pesky wind was held at bay and white wine stayed chilled under the expansive tents while guests collected at tables serving wine, spirits, beer and lots of goodies to pair them with.

Also cool this year was that the event was held at the Bridgeport Marketplace. Guests had the food trucks by day, and by night, so many great restaurants to have dinner in (and sober up!) before driving home: Sabor Cocina Mexicana, Marston’s, SAKE Bistro and Sushi, and Frankie’s NY Italian being some of my favorites.

Faves

The Michael Hoefflin Foundation table had an impromptu raffle set up that few were aware of. For a $10 donation you went home with a $10 bottle of wine…or up to a $100 bottle of wine. Even I bought a ticket. I hope they did well.

The P and the K in P & K Chocolates were charming: Pam Dirickson and Kim Larsen. Serving several different cake bites they were certainly a hit. Reminded me to make the short trip to their Canyon Country store and get a box.

My other personal favorites included Wedell Cellars three Pinot Noirs and one Syrah, B & P Winery’s 08 Merlot, Robert Reyes Chardonnay and White Port, ValBeMar Specialty Coffee, Inception Wines 10 Viognier and Pinot Noirs, Sips Sparkling Cocktails’ Cucumber Mojito, Ventura Limoncello by the shot and in a cocktail, the fun people in the Valencia Cigar Lounge, Rocky Fino, aka “Will Cook for Sex”, The Wine Rack, and the entire lineups from Boutique Sake, JVS Imports for Scotch, Bourbon and Rye, Pacific Edge for Anejo, Tequila and Reposado.

Jenny Ketchepaw on the wine Sexual Chocolate: “I liked the wine, I liked that it’s from San Luis Obispo, I liked the vibe, I liked that it’s young and fresh – great with a chocolate-covered strawberry!”

Kathleen Carson Marquart: “Inception – the purple labeled Pinot.”

Matthew Rungaitis and Christine Andrews: “B & P had the best wines!”

Danielle Whitener: “The Cielo Purple Haze…smoky, and so good!”

Dan and Joanie Warner: “The tequila was great! Our fav wine was Inceptions Viognier…we really liked the limoncello too. Dan did try the scotch.”

Meredith Kent McGowan: “I was impressed with the Malibu hills winery, Cielo!”

Kevin Friend: “Loved the Tempranillo from Witch Creek, also the Roxo Bordeaux blend ‘port’.”

Jacob Stark: “The Firestone Walker Brewery was great.”

Denise Lowe, Fest Sommelier: “It was a crazy day! Everyone was happy, challenges were well-handled and a lotta money was raised for the Michael Hoefflin Foundation. My team worked their butts off and made me look good.”

Seen

Bob Kellar, David Gauny, Chris Shoemaker, Judy Penman, Meredith Kent McGowan, Cheryl Gray, Tim and Jenny Ketchepaw, Danielle Whitener, David Barlavi Lxix, Jacob and Ann Stark, Dave and Patty Williams, Adam Rubenstein, Brandon Drake, Eric Bermudez, Carla Palacios, David Locken, John Dickey and Denise Lowe, Xochitl Maiman, Shawn Burgert, Dan and Joanie Warner, Joe Wehinger, Kai Ellis, Kimberly Rockwell Clark, Kim Larsen and Pam Dirickson, Mark Newman, Barrie Lynn, Shawn Halahmy, Tanya Dickson, Kym Cappi, Patrice Rifkind, Bob Jones and Susie Majesky, Kai Ellis, Julie Edwards-Sanchez, Darrin and Cathy Craig, Dr. Andrew Friend and Jessica Javier, Kathleen Carson Marquart, Matthew Rungaitis and Christine Andrews, Dave Dow and Lisa Hawkins Blowers, Sharon Lindquist, Laurie Rein, Kathy Lockhart, Rob Barnett, Carol Maglione, Mary Bradway, Jim Walker, Shannon Bohte, Yoshi Murakami, Chris Uhde, Qiana Tarlow and Karen Dhillion.

Beverage List

Accolade Brands
Casa Dumetz, Malibu
Cielo Winery, Malibu
Dalton Winery, Israel

Firestone Walker Brewery, Paso Robles
Grizzly Republic, Paso Robles
Grande Cortage, France
Inception Wines, Santa Barbara
JVS Imports, Scotland
Chieftains Aberfeldy 1998 13yr un-chillfiltered
Isle of Skye 12yr
Hart Brothers Tobermory 13yr
Isle of Arran 14yr un-chillfiltered
Isle of Arran Amarone Cask Finish
Caol Ila 1997 St. Etienne Rum Finish 14yr un-chillfiltered
Chieftains Mortlach Cask Strength 1995 16yr 54.2% alc
Benrinnes 1984 26 yr Cask Strength 58.1% alc
Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition
LAWineFest, Los Angeles
Marston’s Restaurant, Santa Clarita
Patel Winery, Napa
Regency Wines, France
Chateau Galiniere cuvee Cengle Cotes de Provence (Rose), France
Chateau d]Eau Pinot Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Languedoc, France
Moillard Cotes du Rhone Red, Les Vilettes, France
Reyes Winery, Agua Dulce
White Port
Riboli Family Wine Estates
San Simeon Winery, Paso Robles
Maddalena Winery, Central Coast
Bodega del Fin del Mundo, Argentina
Alberft Bichot Wines,Burgundy, France
Pasqua Wines, Italy
Sips Sparkling Cocktails, US
Roxo Port Cellars, Paso Robles
Port
San Antonio Winery
SLO Down Wines, Napa
Stanger Vineyards, Paso Robles

Ventura Limoncello Company, Ventura
Vin Village
Carpathian Wines
Vino Kupjen, Slovenia
Bock Prince, Hungary
Ricardus Corculom Winery, Napa
Witch Creek, San Diego
Wedell Cellars, Arroyo Grande

Lifestyle

BevWizard
Cambozola
The Chocolate Traveler
Culinary Brand Management
Diamond Studios
Essence of Jeunesse
Exquisite Handbags with Heart
Glitz N’ Glamour
Gourmet Blends
Green Convergence
Massage Envy Spa
Pacific Monarch Resorts, Inc.
Inside Pandora’s Box

PK’s Chocolates
Somerdale
ValBeMar Coffee
Will Cook for Sex
Wine Spectator
Wine Treasures

Programs

Wines of Italy and Spain
Discover the wines of Italy and Spain with international wine consultant and sommelier ‘Million Dollar Palate’ Mark Newman

Artisanal Cheese & Wine Pairing
The Cheese Impresario will be pairing cheeses from the Artisan Cheesemakers of Wisconsin with three of San Antonio Winery’s finest wines. It will fill up. First come gets the limited number of seats. If you want to learn more about cheese before you experience the Santa Clarita WineFest, check out Barrie Lynn’s show, CHEESE RULES .

The Cheese Impresario will be presenting cheeses from the Artisan Cheesemakers from Wisconsin’s Sartori Family along with the impressive wines from Maddalena Wines and Riboli Family Estate.
Scotch Tasting
Learn about the single malt making process including what separates single malts from blends as well as a scotch from other whiskies. You will try 8 different malts from different regions around Scotland. This class will be hosted by Chris Uhde, Scotch Master for the USS Highland Games Costa Mesa and Brand Ambassador for Impex Beverages and Chieftain Single Cask Whiskies. Chris has over 12 years experience in the Spirits industry. Pouring:
Chieftains Aberfeldy 1998 13yr un-chillfiltered
Isle of Skye 12yr
Hart Brothers Tobermory 13yr
Isle of Arran 14yr un-chillfiltered
Isle of Arran Amarone Cask Finish
Caol Ila 1997 St. Etienne Rum Finish 14yr un-chillfiltered
Chieftains Mortlach Cask Strength 1995 16yr 54.2% alc
Benrinnes 1984 26 yr Cask Strength 58.1% alc

Close Up Magic by Steve Silverman
Featured performer at the Magic Castle will be astounding guests at various locations.