Held at the private homes and vineyards of Chris, Jeannie and Tim Carpenter, the third annual Sunset in the Vineyard drew hundreds of supporters of the efforts of both the Assistance League (AL) and the Santa Clarita Valley Vintners and Growers Association.
The Wine
Here is the wine line-up from Jeannie Carpenter, host of Sunset in the Vineyard: “Randy Bartlett from ‘Four Joe’s”, the Clark’s from ‘Two Hearts Vineyard’, Steve Lemley and Nate Hasper from ‘Pulchella’, the Chris and Patty Connolly from ‘Les Deux Chats’, Tom and Jenny Lukas, Jeff and Ed Campuano from ‘Campuano Family Wines’, Danny Mascari from ‘Bouquet Vineyard’, Juan Alonso owner of Le Chene, Stephen Hemmert, Kevin and Sandy Browne, DeRobertis Custom Cheese, Chris Carpenter, Tim Carpenter – Compa Vineyard…”
During the event guests were treated to breaking news from two of the local winemakers present that day: Pulchella’s tasting room will soon be open in downtown Newhall and Les Deux Chats just went commercial.
And for the very first time I didn’t balance pen and paper at a wine event. My loving-husband, Eddie, adorned me with a hand-held video camera to record my interviews and scenes. There are about a dozen you can look over, all less than two minutes long at Eve’s Wine 101 You Tube channel (link).
But, in case you prefer to read, I will tell you that I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed myself. I tasted some Rhone varietals – Mourvedre being a standout from both Juan Alonso and Four Joes, a newly barreled port from Chris Carpenter, a blend from Browne Family Wines, a Zin from Les Deux Chats, barrel samples from Pulchella (They had no less than a dozen wines presented), everything Kerry and Susie’s Two Hearts made especially Susie’s favorite Chardonnay, Danny Mascari’s Cabernet…
My only problem was that I didn’t get to everyone’s wines, or every wine in everyone’s lineup! Maybe next year I’ll just have to try harder…
Food, and more, by Assistance League of Santa Clarita
Instead of the expected appetizers when guests revisit a venue, the Assistance League Chefs, organized by Betty Rabin-Fung and Bobbi Welton, wowed the crowd with an entirely new, and unexpected menu for their wine pairings:
- Assorted cheeses with baguettes and crackers
- Warm brie with homemade fig jam and crushed walnuts
- Goat cheese Torta with sundried tomato and basil pesto
- Savory squash soup with crushed pepitas
- Miniature caprese salad
- Pastel de Elote
- Canapés of rare roast beef with horseradish sauce and roasted red peppers
- Dates stuffed with roasted almonds and wrapped with Prosciutto
- Brownie bites with chocolate Ganache
Raffle items included more than one night’s stay at Meadowood Napa Valley, and plenty of gourmet baskets with wines, oils cheeses & gift cards. New this year were high-end vintage coats, hats, jewelry and handbags displayed as part of a “Boutique” that highlighted the fabulous items that can be found at the AL resale shop, Take Two, on Main Street in downtown Newhall.
Who Was Seen
Jim and Monica McClafferty, Chris and Jeannie Carpenter, John and Jackie Hamby, Rick and Betty Rabin-Fung, Ron Horton and Stephanie Laney, Perry and Kim Mangers, Laurie Ender, Bob and Margo Hudson, Robert and Annie Schwartz, Jeff and Joan Jacobson, Danny and Nina Mascari, Steve and Megan Lemley, Nate and Jennifer Hasper, Leah Granen, Rose White, Bobbi Welton, Judy Penman, Ann Schwartz, Mark and Ginger LeVang, Juan Alonso, Kerry and Susie Clark, Elizabeth Teagle, BJ and Jeanne Atkins, Lois Bauccio, Leila Rosenberger, Michele Buttelman, Corry and Carol DeRobertis, Stephen Hemmert, Jo Ann Vindigni, Cheryl Gray, Chris and Patty Connolly, Robert Schwemmer, Doug Gould and Lisa Cole, Derrick and Maureen McKaughan, Betsy Linn, Cheryl Phillips, Kathy Phillips, Chuck and Marca Johnson, David and Chris Tanner, Bruce Fortine and Gloria Mercado-Fortine, Tomas and Jenny Lukas, Ann and Rob Piscetello and all of the wonderful volunteers.
Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years. She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a guest judge for the L.A. International Wine Competition. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com
