With wine festival season in full swing, and the weather finally cooperating after a period of unusually warm spring temperatures, we headed over to Conejo Creek North Park in Thousand Oaks for the 3rd Annual California Jazz & Wine Fest.
This event, presented by The Rotary Club of Westlake Village Sunrise, is a fairly new and somewhat intimate festival, with a huge focus on the entertainment. Great bands were playing all afternoon: Geyer-Drummond Trio, Mighty Mo Rogers, Alphonso Johnson, all leading up to the appearance by Ambrosia.
Most of the wineries were fairly local, although there were a few from Paso Robles:
Opolo Winery (www.opolo.com)
VinAlegre (www.vinalegre.com)
Other wineries we enjoyed were:
Aldabella Custom Crush Winery and Storage
Westlake Village, CA
Not only does Aldabella produce wine under its own label, but they operate a custom crush facility for others to make wine as well. They also provide wine storage facilities.
Cielo Farms
Agoura, CA
This winery continue to make outstanding wines. It is my understanding that consulting winemaker Jason Moore, who is based in Napa, is still involved.
Helen and Lee Williams of Golden Star
Golden Star
Littlerock. CA
It was nice to see owners Helen and Lee Williams again. Their wines continue to impress. An oaked chardonnay has been added to go with their unoaked version. The Syrah continues to be my favorite, and clearly I am not the only one, based on it recently being award a double Platinum medal.
J. Hamilton Wines
Westlake Village
Especially enjoyed the sparkling wines at this table.
Sunland Vintage Winery Tasting Room
Thousand Oaks, CA
Nice to taste some Italian wines produced under the Giovinazzo label.
Great beers and food, along with vendors in the central marketplace, helped to round out the afternoon.
List of wine, beer and food vendors per the festival program:
Island Brewery
The LAB Brewing Co
Surf Brewery
Fresh Brothers
Holdren’s Steak House
I Would Rather Be Baking
Aldabella Winery
Cielo Farms
Bean Crazy
Marmalade Café
Niroj Levant
Sheraton Agoura Hills
Golden Star Vineyards
Paul Martin’s American Grill
Trancas Vineyards
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
AB Caffe
All Things Tea
Firestone Walker Brewing Co
Opolo Winery
BX3 Wines
VinAlegre
J. Hamilton
The Patio at Player’s Casino
Vom Fass
DJ’s Catering
Herzog Cellars
Casa Barranca
Alma Sol Winery
Sunland Vintage
Magnavino Cellars
Panaro Brothers
Vinemark Cellars
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’s Wine 101 Consulting (http://evewine101.com/eveswine101consulting/). Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com.