POURTAL WINE BAR TAPS LOCAL TREASURES FOR THE 2ND ANNUAL "MADE IN MALIBU" TASTING TOUR & WINEMAKER EVENT SERIES

Pourtal, Santa Monica’s seaside wine tasting bar, proudly presents the 2nd annual “Made in Malibu,” Tasting Tour and winemaker event series that explores the bounty of Malibu’s burgeoning wine region, and toasts the mounting makers.

The tasting begins January 10, when Pourtal taps the “Made in Malibu” Tasting Tour featuring a flight of ten esteemed wines crafted solely from grapes grown in the Malibu American Viticultural Area(AVA), offered by the taste via Pourtal’s Enomatic machines through the first week of February.  Each wine in the Tour is priced per 1 oz. pour, and guests are welcome to sample at their leisure. The featured wines of the “Made in Malibu” Tasting Tour include:

2008 Hoyt Family Vineyards Chardonnay
2008 Malibu Sanity Vineyards Chardonnay
2009 Casa Dumetz “El Camino” Pinot Noir
2006 Rosenthal Estate “The Devon Vineyard” Merlot
2008 Cielo Estate Malibu Rouge
2007 The Malibu Vineyard “Rambla Pacifico” Pinto Noir
2008 Semler “King of the Mountains Cuvée”
2008 Jim Palmer’s Malibu Vineyards “Vortex” Sangiovese
2008 Surfrider Sauvignon Blanc

Throughout the month, Pourtal will host a series of intimate special hand-poured tasting events, inviting featured winemakers and guests to meet and greet, taste and tour  off-the-list selections from each of their respective labels. Some will also be offered for retail purchase; inquire for details and availability.

“Made in Malibu” Winemaker Events:

Wed., Jan. 12, 7-9 p.m.
“Made in Malibu” Winemaker Social & Launch Party
Raise a glass with the “who’s who” of Malibu AVA, as Pourtal gathers this the esteemed  line-up of featured winemakers to pop the celebratory cork on the “Made in Malibu” tasting series. Winemakers will hand-pour a sampling of their wines, while Pourtal will pass apps to complement

Thurs., Jan. 20, 7-9 p.m.
Meet the Makers: Charles Schetter of Malibu Sanity and Jim Palmer of Malibu Vineyards
Join two of the regions leading winemakers who do it all: Plant, Prune, Ferment and Bottle. Charles Schetter of Malibu Sanity and Jim Palmer of Malibu Vineyards will be pouring their latest releases and talking about the Malibu AVA.
          
Wed. Jan. 26, 7-9 p.m.
Meet the Women of Malibu Wine: Carol Hoyt of Hoyt Family Vineyards & Sonja Magdevski of Casa Dumetz

Carol Hoyt’s Hoyt Family Vineyards started with one acre in 2001. With their love for growing grapes and making wine by the sea, Carol & Stephen Hoyt bring you their unique hand crafted wines posses extraordinary character, depth, and flavor.

Sonja Magdevski’s Casa Dumetz vine yward began in 2004 with a patch of raw earth, a bucket of grapevines and plenty of sweat from family and friends who joined together to make a dream come true. From these efforts emerged a love story and a sincere commitment to producing authentic (and of course great) wine.

Thurs. Jan 27, 7-9 p.m.
Meet the Makers: Semler
Get up close and personal with one of the leading vintners in Malibu.
 
Thurs. Feb. 3, 7-9 p.m.
Meet the Makers: Rosenthal Estate
Get up close and personal with one of the pioneers of Malibu AVA.
  
Prior to prohibition, LA County was the center of the California wine world with some 43 wineries producing four million gallons of wine. Nearly a decade later, Malibu AVA  is rising country strong. With over 50 vineyards and 20-30 diverse vintners, from backyard growers to vineyards sprawling the hillsides, wealthy hobbyists and magnate pioneers passionately produce varietals according to the area’s unique micro-climate and terroir with award winning results.

Admission to each tasting events ranges from $10 – $15 depending. Reservations are not necessary.

Pourtal
104 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310.393.7693

About Pourtal Wine Tasting Bar
Pourtal, Los Angeles’ premiere wine tasting bar, is a playground for the wine enthusiast and the wine curious. Combining the traditional wine bar concept with a state-of-the-art self-service tasting room, Pourtal offers an innovative wine experience that allows guests to explore at their own pace. The thoughtful wine list features 40 wines by the taste via a high-tech Enomatic dispensing system and another 20 wines available by the glass. Wine lovers can delve into Pourtal’s unique Tasting Tours, self-guided flights that explore the world of wine from the ground up, complete with comprehensive tasting notes and pairing suggestions.

Pourtal is open seven days a week, Monday and Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Wednesday to Sunday from noon until closing.  Their award-winning Angel Shares Happy Hour, in which Pourtal donates 15% of their Enomatic wine sales to a local charity, runs all night Mondays and Tuesday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.  To stay up-to-date on all of Pourtal’s events, visit their website at www.pourtal.com