UNCORKED: DERBY DAYS COMING BACK WITH A NEW TWIST!

November 4, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Uncorked Wine festivals is partnering up with the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club to bring you Uncorked: Derby Days at the race track.

Del Mar, CA – Ladies, wear your hats. And gents, grab your bow ties! Uncorked Wine Festivals is bringing its national wine tour back to CA. The third Uncorked: Derby Days Wine Fest will take place on Saturday, November 17th at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. This is more than just your average wine tasting. This event features over 100 wines to sample, a Champagne bar, gourmet food trucks, live music by the California Feetwarmers, best “Derby Dame and Dapper Dan” contest (with amazing goodie bags for the winners sponsored by several of our wineries), special seating in the grandstands and a fun atmosphere trackside where you can enjoy your wines while the horses race past you.

There are two ticket options to choose from. VIP admission at 12pm, providing an extra hour to taste, an exclusive tip sheet from DMTC and features special wines to be poured during only that hour. General admission begins at 1pm and the event ends at 4pm. Admission is $75 for VIP and $65 for general admission, and includes all wine tastings with food sold separately.

This event is 21 and over only.

www.uncorkedwinefestivals.com

The Garagiste Festival Wins ‘Best Wine Festival’

October 1, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (PRWEB) – The Garagiste Wine Festival has been named the US’ “Best Wine Festival” in USA Today’s 10Best Readers Choice Awards.

Launched in 2011 in Paso Robles, the Garagiste Festival was the first to define, and shine a spotlight on, the American “garagiste*” wine movement and features the wines of commercial artisan winemakers who make under 1500 cases. At its festivals across California – from Paso to Los Angeles to Sonoma to Solvang – The Garagiste Festival has introduced hundreds of outstanding under-the-radar California artisan winemakers to thousands of passionate wine consumers, members of the trade and media.

“When we came up with the idea eight years ago, we were pretty sure we had lightning in a bottle, but at that point it was just intuition,” said Doug Minnick, Co-founder of The Garagiste Festival. “Fortunately, there was an amazing core of people who understood our vision – from the wineries who poured, the sponsors who supported us, the volunteers who helped make it happen and the fans who bought tickets to what was then an unknown event. We sold out that first festival – and every festival since then.”

Dubbed “tasting nirvana” ‘strange and wondrous,’ and “one not to miss” by the LA Times, the Garagiste Festival is renowned for its renegade spirit, passionate winemakers, handcrafted wines and rules-breaking, ‘no snobs allowed’ ethos. The non-profit festival, which celebrates its 21st festival in Paso Robles in November, has raised over $125K to support the education of future winemakers through the Garagiste Festival Scholarship fund of the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo Wine and Viticulture Department.

“We are eternally grateful to our supporters, a network that has continued to expand and which has had a real impact not only on the wine world, but also, through the Garagiste Scholarship Fund, on the future of winemaking,” continued Minnick.

A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Jill Barth, a Provence Wine Master; Karen MacNeil, one of the foremost wine experts in the U.S.; and June Rodil, a Master Sommelier were chosen for their knowledge of wine and the American wine scene.

“We have always been focused on quality and pushing the boundaries of convention, and we have never lost our healthy dose of irreverent optimism,” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Stewart McLennan. “Thank you to everyone who voted for us as the Best Festival in the US for validating that optimism, and to the 10Best Editors for nominating us. The Festival, like the wineries who participate in it, sprang from humble beginnings and has flourished as a true labor of love.”

The US’ Best Wine Festival marks its 21st festival, and 8th anniversary, at its home base in Paso Robles, November 9th through the 11th, with three days of events, including a Grand Tasting that showcases over 60 micro production winemakers (20% pouring at the festival for the first time), tasting seminars, a Rare and Reserve tasting, a Keep It Rockin’ After Party, and more. Tickets are on sale now at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-8th-annual-paso-garagiste-wine-festival-tickets-49769338431?aff=web.

For full schedule details, go to http://californiagaragistes.com/2018-paso-fest. For special discounts and updates on 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).

About The Garagiste Wine Festival
The Garagiste Wine Festival (http://www.garagistefestival.com), named the ‘Best Wine Festival in the US in 2018 in USA Today’s 10Best Readers Choice Awards, is the first and only wine festival 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 Festival, Northern Exposure, in Sonoma; winemaker dinners, a newsletter, garagiste profiles and more.

In addition to being named the US’ Best Wine Festival, the Garagiste Festival was 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.

Garagiste Wine Festival Turns ‘21’: Showcases Over 60 Artisan Winemakers

September 27, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (PRWEB) – The Garagiste Wine Festival marks its 21st festival, and 8th anniversary, at its home base in Paso Robles, November 9th through the 11th, with three days of events, including a Grand Tasting that showcases over 60 micro production winemakers, 20% of whom are pouring at the festival for the first time. Tickets are on sale now at http://californiagaragistes.com/buy-tickets/.

In addition to its signature range of over 200 wines, over 20 different grape varieties and new and iconoclastic blends, this year’s festival pays tribute to the increasing influence of Spanish grape varieties in California. This includes a Rare and Reserve tasting matched with Paella and a seminar dedicated to Spanish varieties – from Albarino to Graciano – and how today’s artisan winemakers, including Enrique Torres of Diablo Paso, Louisa Sawyer Lindquist of Verdad and Jeremy Leffert of Croma Vera Wines, are crafting trail-blazing wines from them.

“We are turning ‘21!’ This doesn’t necessarily mean crossing into adulthood (we’ll never grow up!); but it does mean we’ve hit on something that both dedicated wine drinkers and the growing micro-winery community find valuable,” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Doug Minnick. “It feels great to have helped so many wineries find their audience, while helping new audiences find exciting new winemakers. We’re like a matchmaking service where everyone ends up getting married!”

Dubbed “tasting nirvana” ‘strange and wondrous’, and “one not to miss” by the LA Times, the Garagiste Festival is renowned for its renegade spirit, passionate winemakers, handcrafted wines and rules-breaking, ‘no snobs allowed’ ethos. Launched in Paso Robles in 2011, the festival features the wines of commercial garagiste* winemakers who make under 1500 cases at festivals across California, including Solvang, Sonoma, Los Angeles and Paso Robles. Over 350 different wineries have poured over 3,000 wines for over 10,000 wine lovers at Garagiste Festivals since inception.

The festival takes place at the Paso Robles Fairgrounds and other area locations and includes Thursday’s Industry Night, featuring the Garagiste’s annual Winemaker Shootdown; Friday night’s ‘Rare and Reserve’ event, and Saturday’s seminars and epic Grand Tasting, followed by the Keep It Rockin’After Party, featuring special 8th Anniversary guest, Stephen Rowe and the Lonely Loners, who played at the very first Garagiste Festival in 2011. On Sunday, Garagiste Paso Passport Day returns, which offers festival attendees discounts and events at garagiste wineries throughout the area.

Saturday morning’s VIP tasting seminar on Spanish varieties, ‘The Rise of Spanish Varieties: Classic Grapes find a home in California,’ is moderated by Garagiste Festival co-founder, KRUSH radio host and Golden Triangle Wines winemaker, Stewart McLennan.

Said McLennan: “The festival is a Paso wine-tasting tradition. Big, bold and badass. So if you’ve never been to our Paso festival, you need to come join the fun.”

“And it is all for a good cause – the festivals have raised over $125,000 for The Garagiste Scholarship at Cal Poly. So, as you broaden your exposure to some of the most innovative winemaking in California, you are also supporting winemaking’s future generations,” concluded Minnick.

The Garagiste Festival was the first event to define, and shine a spotlight on, the American “garagiste*” wine movement and has introduced outstanding California artisan winemakers to thousands of passionate wine consumers, members of the trade and media, helping to ignite the awareness, business and reputations of hundreds of artisan winemakers.

For full schedule details, go to http://californiagaragistes.com/2018-paso-fest/

Among the over 60 winemakers already scheduled to pour are:
Adron Wines*, Alta Colina, Armitage Wines*, Artisan Uprising, Ascension Cellars, Bevela Wines, Bolshoi Family Wines*, Caldera Cuvee, Caliza Winery, Circle B Vineyards, Cloak & Dagger Wines, Copia Vineyards, Corner Cellars*, Cutruzzola Vineyards, Decroux Wines*, DENO Wines, DeWitt Vineyard*, Diablo Paso, Dusty Nabor Wines, Gary Kramer Guitar Cellars*, Golden Triangle, Hoi Polloi Winery, Hoyt Family Vineyards, Jardesca*, Kitson Wines*, Last Light Wine Co, Leverage Wines, Lost Blues, MagnaVita Cellars*, Marin’s Vineyard, Mastro Scheidt*, MCV Wines, Merisi Wines*, Montage Russe, On Your Left Wine Co., Powell Mountain Cellars, Saint K Wines, Seven Angels Cellars, Seven Oxen Estate Wines, Sea Shell Cellars, T. Berkley Wines*, Tlo Wines, TOP Winery, Torch Cellars, Transmission Wine Co.*, TW Fermentations, Ultima Tulie, Vandella Vineyards*, Vigo Cellars*, Vinemark Cellars, Vino Vargas, Volatus Wines, and Willow Creek Wine Group*.

*First time pouring at the Paso Festival.

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://californiagaragistes.com/buy-tickets/. For special discounts and updates on 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).

Sponsors include: Travel Paso Robles Association, ETS Laboratories, Farm Credit, G3, Glenn Burdette, Hanover Insurance, mWEBB Communications, Digital Dogma, Laffort USA, WiVi Central Coast, The Oaks Hotel, La Quinta Inn and Suites. House Copper

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 Festival, Northern Exposure, in Sonoma; 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.

Château de Pommard presents Rootstock 2018, Burgundy’s music, wine and food festival

June 24, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

POMMARD, FRANCE – Rootstock, Burgundy’s music, wine, and food festival returns this summer for the French holiday Bastille weekend (July 13-‐15, 2018). The festival will feature a roster of chart-‐topping international acts, including British band Jungle, Canadian group Soul Jazz Orchestra, Swiss band Le Roi Angus, and Nigerian-‐born guitarist Keziah Jones. This international lineup will be completed with the French pop electro group Isaac Delusion and a special Bastille Day DJ set of the unmissable Breakbot. Château de Pommard throws open its doors and invites international travelers to its new luxury Pop Up Hotel, where guests can sleep in an elegant outdoor setting surrounded by hundreds-‐year-‐old vines and 17th-‐century architecture. Discover the finesse of food and wine pairings in the Chefs Alley, learn to taste like a professional in the Burgundy tasting seminar, bike the ancient vineyards on a guided cycling tour, meet the chicest designers from Paris and Marrakech or join your friends and family for a picnic in the ancient Clos Marey-‐Monge.

With 50,000 US travelers heading to Burgundy from May to September, the Californian owners of Château de Pommard, want to share their love of the French countryside and music with fellow Burgundy-‐lovers around the world. The team at Château de Pommard conceived of the Rootstock music festival to attract world-‐class talent to the region, and to support young, rising artists at the beginning of their careers. Awarded annually to select performers, the Rootstock Artist Package, provides financial support early in an artist’s career including; professional recording studio time at Paris-‐based Studio Ferber, media promotion and, connection with booking agents. Theo Maxyme, a 2017 Rootstock Artist Package winner, recently released his first single ‘Sur le Fil’. The song is topping the rock chart on iTunes France.

With only 1,500 Rootstock Passes available, these three days of world-‐class music among the vines is the exclusive summer vacation of a lifetime. Just three hours from Paris, and 90 minutes from Lyon, one of the nation’s most popular tourist hotspots, Château de Pommard is ideally placed to receive international travelers. A new Concierge Service is now available to coordinate visitors’ arrangements, with travel and accommodation packages

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1 Day Pass: 60€
3 Days Pass: 150€
VIP 3 Days Pass: 250€
(USD prices at the time of release: 1 Day Pass $75 -‐ 3 Days Pass $180 -‐ VIP 3 Days Pass $350)

Booking & information -‐ www.rootstockburgundy.com Château de Pommard -‐ 15 Rue Marey Monge, 21630 Pommard

About Château de Pommard

Founded in 1726 by Vivant Micault, secretary to King Louis XV, Château de Pommard remains one of the most iconic and visited wine estates in Burgundy. Clos Marey-‐Monge, at the heart of the domain, has been producing one of the greatest expressions of Pinot Noir for more than two millennia. The 20-‐hectare clay and limestone rich terroir make it the largest and most interesting monopole in the Côte d’Or. In July 2015, UNESCO declared the clos a world heritage protected Climat of Burgundy. The Carabello-‐Baum family of San Francisco purchased the domain in 2014 and became just the fifth family to guide the estate in almost 300 years. The family has transformed the estate into the ultimate wine education destination where anyone can experience the phenomenon that is Burgundy.

For more information, visit www.chateaudepommard.com

Perlis Picks: Benom Wines

June 23, 2018 by Michael Perlis Leave a Comment

In a recent article, I wrote about Guillaume Fabre, who came from the South of France and created Clos Solene for his wife and fortunately for all of us as well.

BENOM As it turns out, Guillaume has a brother – Arnaud. And while Karen and I had initially met Guillaume at a wine festival, our introduction to Arnaud was indirectly related to one.

Back in 2013, we attended the Ojai Wine Festival for the first time. Karen came across a new winery that she insisted I try…Law Estate Wines. She was right, of course. The wines were great and we’ve been fans of Law ever since.

But that’s not when we met Arnaud.

A couple of years later, we were tasting at the new Law tasting room in Paso Robles where we met Arnaud for the first time when he conducted a tasting for us. Now, I’m no genius but even I could figure out when we met this tall young man from France with the last name Fabre, that he must be the brother of Clos Solene’s winemaker / owner Guillaume.

In my article about Clos Solene, I wrote about how Guillaume convinced the love of his life, Solene, to come to Paso Robles. Arnaud’s story is similar, as he found his soulmate once he joined Guillaume in Paso and met Chloe of L’Aventure Winery. His job as Sales and Marketing Manager of Law keeps him very busy, especially now that he and now-wife Chloe have a baby.

Busy as he is, the pull of making wine with his brother Guillaume has always been present. So, when Guillaume moved Clos Solene from its spot in Tin City to the new estate property, it was time for the brothers to see what they could do together.

Benom was born. Arnaud told us that focusing on Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends, they wanted to bridge their roots (Languedoc-Roussillon and Bordeaux) with Paso Robles, producing wine that reflects the style of a French wine with the richness and power of Paso Robles.

What does “benom” mean? Don’t try to look it up. It is the phonetic spelling of the French word “binôme”, meaning “a project together, a duo”. I’ve tried to allude to similarities and differences of the two Fabre brothers, such as how we met both of them and how they met their loves. The wines reflect this as well.

The 2017 Contrast is an almost 50/50 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, which is a very atypical blend. It is definitely not something you’d find in France or in many places, actually. It turns out that the natural acidity of the SB matches up perfectly with the richness of the Chardonnay.

Another blend is the 2017 L’Essor, 52% Grenache and 48% Cabernet Sauvignon. Did I mention this was a Rosé? When did you last or ever come across Cab in a Rosé? The Grenache was picked especially for this wine and the Cabernet is the bleed-off from their 100% Cabernet Sauvignon [more on this below]. This is an unusual blend that really works well.

Speaking of unusual blends, the 2015 Les Deux Frères is comprised of Grenache, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. Even my very limited knowledge of French enabled me to translate this as The Two Brothers; and a fitting tribute to them it is as it was my favorite wine of our visit.

Finally, we tasted the 2015 Origin. This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon has everything the Cab lover could want – great fruit and aging structure. It is a beautiful nod to the Fabre brothers’ French roots with the power of Paso Robles. But, a sneak peek of the 2016 makes me think the best is yet to come.

It is going to be exciting to see what this project borne of brotherly love creates for the future.

Benom

3050 Limestone Way

Paso Robles, CA 93446

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.

New Rosé All Day Garden Announced

April 2, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. (PRWEB) – America’s most renowned wine and food festivals have four main ingredients—celebrity winemakers, top culinary talent, thought-provoking tasting seminars, and elements that highlight and celebrate current trends. The South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival, April 26 – 29, combines these elements to create the ultimate wine weekend in Northwest Florida. Held in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin’s Town Center, the 2018 South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival will feature a dazzling roster of celebrity winemakers, distillers, chefs, brew masters and entertainers while introducing grand new features, including the Rosé All Day Garden, provocative seminars with industry leaders and culinary masters, aiming to please every palate.

“We’ve watched Rosés grow and grow in popularity, and wanted to replace Champagne Lane with something new,” said Chan Cox, founder of the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival and owner for Wine World. “Inspired by New York City Rosé festivals, including La Nuit en Rosé and Pinknic, we believe the Rosé All Day Garden will beautifully complement our April weather.”

Presented by ResortQuest, the Rosé All Day Garden will feature Rosés from around the globe, including Italy, Spain, France, South America and from North America, California and Oregon. The entire Grand Park will be transformed into all things Rosé. From pink décor to machines whipping out Frosé, a popular frozen drink made with Hendrix Gin and Marques De Caceres Rioja Rosé, the Garden will be blooming pink. Rosé vodka, Rosé champagne, Rosé sparkling wines and Rosé wine from domestic and international vineyards will be among the hundred different tasting options. Attendees are invited to embrace the theme by donning their favorite pink, rose or blush colored attire. A photo booth and Rosé swag from ResortQuest give guests every opportunity to see and drink pink.

“Europeans have been drinking Rosés forever. However, in the last four or five years, Americans began discovering European Rosés, which are light in color with lots of flavor yet dry,” said Chan Cox, founder of the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival and owner of Chan’s Wine World. “Dry rosés are so versatile. They go with anything and they are pleasant for warm summer enjoyment.”

Educational tasting seminars are another critical element of a world-class wine festival, and the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival will once again feature highly-sought after winemakers and master distillers from around the world sharing their knowledge and love of producing fine wines and spirits.

On Saturday, April 28, Anthony and Olive Hamilton Russell of Hamilton Russell Vineyards as well as Southern Right and Ashbourne wineries will lead the first seminar beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Honoring one of the master distillers featured at the Craft Beer & Spirits Jam on Friday (4/27), Master Distiller with Maker’s Mark, Rob Samuels, will lead an educational tasting seminar on Saturday (4/28) from 2:45 – 3:30 p.m.

Among the master distillers at the 2018 Craft Beer & Spirits Jam and featured within Spirits Row at the Grand Tasting will be Master Distiller Dave Pickerell of WhistlePig.

On Sunday (4/29) from 1:30 – 2:15 p.m., Mathieu Pouchan of Salon Delamotte will lead a tasting seminar on the timeless classic, Champagne.

Oregon wine pioneer David Adelsheim’s Sunday tasting seminar will focus on the Pinot Noirs that put Oregon wines on the map. His seminar runs 2:45 – 3:30 p.m.

Finally, a grand wine festival deserves an exceptional culinary program, and the Savor South Walton Culinary Village is set to deliver delicacies that pair beautifully with the wines. Lead by the Culinary Director of Wine World’s The Wine Bar and The Craft Bar, Scott Plumley, the creative spread infuses local produce along with local meats from Heureux Beef just north of Defuniak Springs, Fla., and Coastal Blue Farms in Freeport, Fla. With distinct flavor profiles to blend acidity with bases and balance the wines, the menu includes: Alabama goat cheese fritters with San Marzano Tomato Sauce; avocado sourdough paired with marinated baby tomatoes and Aleppo pepper; Heureux Beef slider topped with aged gouda, tomato-bacon marmalade, and Coastal Blue Farms Micro Arugula; as well as Low Country Shrimp and Grits paired with Conecuh Sausage, Shellfish Nage and Collard Greens.

Award-winning cheeses will also be on the menu. Presented by Gourmet Foods International, world-renowned cheese expert and educator Michael Landis will present a sampling of the American Cheese Society’s Medal-winning cheeses.

The four-day celebration of wine also includes Craft Beer & Spirits Jam, Spirits Row, Nosh Pavilions, live entertainment and more than 800 wines poured by knowledgeable wine industry insiders.

Tickets are now on sale. Event details and tickets are available at http://www.sowalwine.com. To purchase tickets, visit https://sowal-wine.xorbia.com/.

Presented by Wine Enthusiast Media, Grand Boulevard at Sandestin and Visit South Walton, the festival offers the ideal backdrop for a beach getaway. The Festival is made possible by the generous support of the following Founding Partners: Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, Visit South Walton Tourist Development Council, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Wine World of Northwest Florida and Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals is the official lodging partner of the festival.

About South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival
This year’s annual South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival will be held April 26-29, 2018 throughout the Town Center of Grand Boulevard at Sandestin. The festival features a stunning showcase of the best wines in the world. Meet the celebrity wine producers and master distillers presenting their fine wine and spirits from around the world. The Savor South Walton Culinary Village offers a sumptuous array of foods to taste, wines to pair, as well as wine and food tasting seminars. Visit the new Rosé All Day Garden, Spirits Row and Nosh Pavilions and enjoy live entertainment throughout the weekend. The Craft Beer & Spirits Jam and Winemakers & Shakers events round out the extended festival weekend. The event is a major fundraiser for Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, which benefits children in need in Northwest Florida. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.SoWalWine.com.

Bodega Catena Zapata Draws $260,000 at Naples Winter Wine Festival

March 1, 2018 by evebushman 1 Comment

NAPLES, Fla. (PRWEB) – A dazzling journey through Argentina donated by Bodega Catena Zapata exceeded expectations at the Naples Winter Wine Festival auction with a winning bid of $260,000, making it one of the top lots at the leading charity wine auction in the United States. The lot—which combines wine, art, food, and culture in a getaway for four—inspired spirited bidding during the auction, with auctioneer Humphrey Butler hammering it “Sold!” to Joan and Bob Clifford for more than a quarter-million dollars.

“The energy in the room was incredible,” said Dr. Laura Catena, the winery’s managing director. “The driving force was to raise money for children and that got everybody fired up to bid up, up, and up! I adore the Cliffords and I am going to make sure that it is the best trip their family has ever taken.”

The journey begins in Buenos Aires at the Faena Hotel, the glamorous property designed by Philippe Starck in the Puerto Madero neighborhood. Chefs at the city’s top restaurants—Tomás Kalika of Mishiguene, Donato De Santis of Cucina Paradiso, and Germán Martitegui of Tegui—will open their kitchens for private, behind-the-scenes culinary tours. A visit to the studio of the renowned Buenos Aires artist, Luti Vernet, will include sitting for a portrait. And Nicolás Catena, Bodega Catena Zapata’s third-generation winemaker and considered the father of the modern Argentine wine industry, will host an intimate lunch with his wife, Elena.

Then it is on to Mendoza, the country’s premier wine region, with relaxing stays at the Park Hyatt hotel and La Vendimia, the Catena family’s weekend retreat outside the city. An in-depth visit to the Catena Zapata winery, led by Dr. Laura Catena, will include a blending session to create a unique personal bottling to take home, along with other treasures from the Catena cellar that were part of the Naples auction lot, including: double-magnums of Nicolás Catena Zapata, the winery’s flagship blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, as well as current releases of their pure Malbec releases, including Malbec Argentino, Fortuna Terrae, River Stones, and Mundus Bacillus Terrae.

The trip will conclude with a celebratory night at chef Francis Mallmann’s renowned restaurant, 1884, and tango at Bodegas Caro, the winery that was created in partnership by Nicolás Catena and Domaines Barons de Rothschild, whose holdings include Château Lafite Rothschild.

The generous bid on Bodega Catena Zapata’s donation helped boost the total proceeds of this year’s Naples Winter Wine Festival to $15.15 million. The funds will benefit the Naples Children & Education Foundation, an organization supporting charitable programs in Collier County, FL. Since its inception in 2001, the Naples Winter Wine Festival has raised more than $176 million for children in need.

About Bodega Catena Zapata:

Bodega Catena Zapata has been at the forefront of wine culture in Argentina since their vineyards were first planted in 1902. Over the past 40 years, the pioneering vision and tireless work ethic of Nicolás Catena Zapata has been rewarded by the fact that Argentine wine now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best wines in the world. Nicolás Catena Zapata is the only South American to have received both Decanter’s Man of the Year Award and Wine Spectator’s Distinguished Service Award. Under the current direction of winemaker and managing director Dr. Laura Catena, Bodega Catena Zapata continues to lead Argentina into the next century of winemaking, balancing a ceaseless study of Argentina’s high altitude climate and soils with the family’s century-old heritage. For more information about Bodega Catena Zapata, please visit http://www.catenawines.com, or visit Catena’s U.S. Importer at http://www.mundovinoimports.com.

Ways Top Winemakers and Merchants Are Utilizing Virtual Reality

January 29, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Virtual Reality (VR) has long been viewed as a powerful marketing and engagement tool. The wine industry is also awakening to this fact, with multiple winery virtual reality solutions and studios on the market. Through case analysis, we’re going to break down 6 ways for wine makers and merchants to explore new business opportunities through VR.

Creating multi-sensory experiences: Brancott Estate

Brancott Estate is a New Zealand-based winemaker with over 40 years history of crafting wines. Partnering with Found Studio, they created “The Red Shed”, an unprecedented tasting experience that brings their story to life by engaging all your senses. The experience later went on a worldwide tour of wine festivals to showcase BE’s service and products.

‘The Red Shed’ reconstructs a virtual set of Brancott Estate’s vineyard and wine cellar, as well as features a vivid experience of wine serving and tasting. You head movements would trigger different actions from the environment; they also installed custom devices to release scents of flourishing grapes and fruit being sliced, to prepare your nose and palate for an expert wine tasting afterwards.

Making vineyard virtual tours: Flora Springs Winery, Napa Valley, CA, USA

Flora Springs is a family-owned and operated winery founded in Napa Valley in 1978, committed to producing sustainably farmed, estate-grown, handcrafted wines. Napa Valley is north of San Francisco, with more than 400 wineries in its wine region, whose Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys worldwide fame.

This video takes you on an exploration into Flora Springs’ premises, vineyards and cellars, with its current owner explaining the history of the winery. By VODE VR.

Making wine cellar virtual tours: Le Chai au Quai, Castillon-la-Bataille, France

Le Chai au Quai is a French boutique winery boasting a large 19th century cellar on the banks of the Dordogne in Castillon, just a stone’s throw from the medieval town of Saint-Émilion. With no vineyards attached, the winery purchases grapes regularly of its own choice. This is also why it decided to show you around its historied cellar instead of a vineyard tour. By Liquid Productions.

Producing wine tasting experiences: Vincent Gandia

Vicente Gandia is a Valencian wine producer and seller company founded in 1885, now managed by the 4th generation of the Gandia family. Its family-owned estate is located in Utiel, Spain. The cellar produces and sells wines from different appellations of Origin including Utiel-Requena, Valencia, Alicante, Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Rías Baixas, Rueda and cava (sparkling wine).

Bodegas Vicente Gandia is one of the top 15 cellars in Spain as well as one of the top 100 European wine companies according to Plimsoll ranking. By Oud Reuchlin & Boelen

Demonstrating wine portfolio & recording press events: Inverarity Morton

Founded in 1945, Inverarity Morton is Scotland’s leading independent wines and spirits merchant.

Being the only SOPA-certified organic wine importer in Scotland, Inverarity Morton’s wine list features over 2,000 wines from around the world, many of which carried exclusively. By WBC (Watchtower Broadcasting Corporation)

Recording wine festivals: Wine Festival, Landau in the Palatinate, Germany

Palatinate is a German wine-growing region in the area of Bad Dürkheim, Neustadt an der Weinstraße, and Landau in Rhineland-Palatinate. With 23,461 hectares (57,970 acres) under cultivation in 2008, the region is the second largest wine region in Germany after Rheinhessen. There are about 6,800 vintners producing around 6.5 million hectolitres of wine annually. By uSphere.

7. Die Bergkelder, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Built in 1968, Die Bergkelder (now Fleur du Cap) is one of the world’s most advanced underground cellars. It produced one of South Africa’s premier and best known wines – Fleur du Cap. It’s a member Distell group, the country’s top producer and marketer of fine wines and spirits.

The Fleur du Cap wines are made from grapes cherry picked from vineyards in the Cape Coastal region, which captures and reflects the highly sought-after varietal character and terroir.

Dedicated to making wine “the way Mother Nature intended”, winemakers Pieter Badenhorst and Elmarie Botes strive to make quality wines with minimal intervention in the cellar. By Chris du Plessis.

2018 PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY EVENTS ANNOUNCED

January 14, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Paso Robles, CA – Tickets for Paso Robles Wine Country’s marquee events are now on sale at www.pasowine.com. Blendfest on the Coast brings blended wines of Paso Robles to Cambria and San Simeon, February 9 – 11, 2018. The annual celebration of Paso’s heritage variety, Vintage Paso: Zinfandel Weekend is scheduled for March 16 – 18, 2018. Paso Robles’ signature wine event for 36 years, the Paso Robles Wine Festival takes place on May 17 – 20, 2018. With all three events on sale at the same time, it’s a one-stop shop to plan for 2018.

Blendfest on the Coast kicks off with a winemaker dinner at Indigo Moon restaurant on Friday, February 9, showcasing Paso Robles blended wines with winemakers pouring. Saturday, February 10 features a two-session walk-around tasting within one of the most exclusive venues on the coast, the Hearst Ranch property overlooking the San Simeon bay. Each session offers limited tickets, creating an intimate tasting where everyone has an opportunity to spend time with the winery representatives. This event will have a charitable element, raising funds to benefit those impacted by the southern California fires. Blendfest continues Sunday, February 11 with a winemaker led blending seminar, letting audience members try their hand at the art, and science, of blending wines. Blendfest on the Coast is presented in conjunction with Visit Cambria, Visit San Simeon, and the California Highway 1 Discovery Route.

Vintage Paso: Zinfandel Weekend begins on Friday, March 16 with Zinposium, a Zin-focused seminar in downtown Paso Robles at the Paso Robles Inn Ballroom. Moderated by iconic winemaker, Wes Hagen with J.Wilkes Wines, a panel of winemakers will share some vintage stories to go with their Zinfandel and Zin blended wines. This seated tasting is guaranteed to be educational and entertaining.

In the evening, the ballroom transforms into a lounge atmosphere for Z After Party. Join up to 20 Paso wineries for a savory walk-around Zinfandel tasting, complemented by a fantastic selection of desserts and live music by the Darrell Voss Trio. This intimate tasting is sure to sell out with 80 seats for Zinposium and 175 tickets for Z After Party. Advance purchase only.

Zinfandel Weekend continues on Saturday, March 17 and Sunday, March 18 with more than 100 wineries holding their own individual events throughout Paso Robles Wine Country. Visit www.pasowine.com to search by winery, activity or day to plot a course for fun.

The Paso Robles Wine Festival returns May 17 – 20, 2018 with the 36^th annual celebration of everything Paso Robles wine. Wine Fest kicks-off Thursday, May 17, 2018 with Winemaker Dinners, each featuring multiple winemakers at the table with their wines paired with the cuisine of two iconic Paso Robles restaurants, Thomas Hill Organics and The Hatch. On Friday, May 18, RESERVE delights a limited gathering of wine and food lovers with Library, Reserve, White/Rosé, and Barrel Sample wines, complemented by fresh and local gourmet bites.

The following day, Saturday, May 19, begins with a Winemaker Seminar. Five winemakers sharing their vintage stories about a uniquely named wine that is a perfect example of the Paso Robles region. The day culminates with the Wine Festival Grand Tasting in the Paso Robles Downtown City Park. This unique outdoor tasting features 70+ wineries arranged by “regions” (Bordeaux-style, Rhône-style, Zinfandel, Burgundian-style, Italian varieties and Other Wild Wines) with wineries pouring their best. In the picnic area and gazebo, live music will provide the perfect atmosphere to enjoy a beautiful summer day sipping Paso Robles wines.

Back by popular demand, the 2018 Wine Festival will feature complimentary food tasting from the region’s best chefs and caterers. Visit www.pasowine.com often to see updates on who will be sampling their delicious creations. Creativity abounds with the return of a limited lineup of handpicked artisan merchants. These entrepreneurs will offer a selection of unique local and wine country themed products.

Sunday, May 20 of Wine Festival weekend encourages people to travel beyond the Park to explore more than 100 winery events throughout the weekend including winemaker dinners, live music, barrel samples, and so much more!

Tickets – All Blendfest on the Coast, Zinposium, Z After Party, Wine Festival Winemaker Dinners, RESERVE, Wine Festival Seminar, and Wine Festival Grand Tasting Tasting tickets are now available on www.pasowine.com.

Blendfest on the Coast, February 9 – 11, 2018

Afternoon Session: 1 – 3 p.m.
Admission: $45 ($35 until January 2)
Wine & cheese
Sunset Session: 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Admission: $65 ($55 until January 2)
Wine, cheese, and passed hors-d’oeuvres (menu coming soon!)
Tickets available here – https://pasowine.com/events/blendfest-on-the-coast/
Guests staying in Cambria and San Simeon lodging can enter each session 30 minutes early with the presentation of a room key.

Vintage Paso: Zinfandel Weekend, March 16 – 18, 2018

Zinposium Seminar – $40
Z After Party – $40
Combo: Zinposium Seminar & Z After Party – $70
Tickets available here – https://pasowine.com/events/vintage-paso-zinfandel-weekend/

36^th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival, May 17 – 20, 2018

Winemaker Dinners – Thomas Hill Organics ($125), The Hatch ($100)
Combo: Friday, RESERVE & Saturday, Grand Tasting, Early Entry – $145 ($135 until March 15)
RESERVE only – $90
Saturday, Grand Tasting, Early Entry (12 p.m.) – $90 ($80 until March 15)
Saturday, Grand Tasting, General Admission (1 p.m.) – $70 ($60 until March 15)
Winemaker Seminar (10:30 a.m.) – $25
Designated Driver (Grand Tasting, 1 p.m.) – $25
Locals Only Ticket (1 p.m.) – $50 (until March 15)
Early Bird Pricing applied to Combo, Early Entry or General Admission Tickets only, with $10 savings
Early Bird Offer Expires March 15, 2018

During Paso Robles Wine Country event weekends, visitors and locals alike are encouraged to travel beyond the park to visit the more than 100 wineries that host special activities including winemaker dinners, food pairings, barrel tastings, winery and vineyard tours, and much more. Visit www.pasowine.com to plan a complete Paso Robles Wine Country experience, including lodging, restaurants, transportation, and more things to explore.

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 40,000 vineyard acres and 200 wineries. For more information, visit www.pasowine.com. @PasoRoblesWine, @PasoWine (Insta), #PasoWine, #BlendFest, #VintagPaso, #PasoWineFest,

San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival

November 6, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

San Diego, CA – The San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival^®, Southern California’s largest food and wine celebration, held November 12-19, 2017 invites travelers to explore America’s Finest City with culinary getaway packages that offer savings on luxury food and wine tastings.

With incredible sights, sounds, and flavors, San Diego offers an exceptional warm weather getaway, and the San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival^® dishes out five mouthwatering travel packages that include tickets to a selection of the week’s signature events.

For VIPs – Enjoy access to exclusive tastings and highly allocated wines. Priced at $315 and includes:
- The Tasting at SommCon: The Vault Access ($125 value)
- Grand Tasting VIP Experience ($225 value)

For Wine Lovers – Taste hundreds of wines from around the globe alongside Master Sommeliers. Priced at $310 and includes:
- Blind Taste with the Masters ($85 value)
- The Tasting at SommCon: The Vault Access ($125 value)
- Grand Tasting General Admission ($135 value)

Experience San Diego– Taste from the city’s best chefs, restaurants and dining locales. Priced at $340 and includes:
- Fish Taco TKO ($45 value)
- Ocean-to-Table RoséWineLuncheon ($115 value)
- Grand Tasting General Admission ($135 value)
- Cali Baja Brunch ($85 value)

Producer’s Picks – Specially curated by Festival Producers, this package features a handpicked selection of can’t miss events. Priced at $665 and includes:
- Ocean-to-Table RoséWineLuncheon ($115 value)
- Culinary Icons Featuring Chefs of the Relais and Châteaux ($250 value)
- Flavors of Spain ($65 value)
- Grand Tasting VIP Experience ($2250 value)
- Cali Baja Brunch ($85 value)

Crème de la Crème – Luxury without limits, this all-inclusive getaway pulls out all the stops. Priced at $25,000 for two people and includes:
- Two (2) night stay in Presidential Suite at Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
- Bottle of Screaming Eagle
- In-Room Massage for Two
- The Tasting at SommCon: The Vault Access ($250 value)
- Sail around San Diego Bay with Veuve and Caviar
- Private Cabana at Grand Tasting with Vintage Bottle of Dom Perignon
- Luxury Transport to After Party
- Private Table at After Party with Chef Meet and Greet

To book a hotel stay at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, call 877-385-9595 or book online here.

For a complete schedule of events or to purchase tickets and packages, visit

www.sandiegowineclassic.com.

SAN DIEGO BAY WINE + FOOD FESTIVAL^®

The 14^th Annual San Diego Bay Wine + Food Festival^®is an international showcase of the world’s premier wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities, and gourmet foods. Held November 12-19, 2017, the event benefits culinary arts and enology scholarships awarded by Fast Forward Futures. Over 150 wineries, breweries, and spirit companies and 50 of San Diego’s top fine-dining restaurants will participate in the 2017 Festival. For more information visit www.sandiegowineclassic.com. Produced by World of Wine Events and Fast Forward. For more information call 619-312-1212.