Eve's Wine 101

Meet Tuscan Women Cook, the Culinary Vacation Program in the Tuscan Village of Montefollonico

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Check this out: Tuscan Women Cook, the unique and popular culinary vacation located in the heart of Tuscany that celebrates the food and culture of the Italian region ensconced in the beautiful village of Montefollonico.  

During each day of the week-long program, a group of 16 participants learn to cook authentic Italian recipes from some of the best cooks in all of Italy…the local grandmothers, or “nonnas of Montefollonico.” These extraordinary women teach their cooking classes sharing family recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation.

Los Angeles-based owner and host, Coleen Kirnan works closely with the businesses in Montefollonico creating new class experiences, fun and relaxing side trips and activities for her guests.

“Tuscan Women Cook is proud of our deep relationships forged with the residents and businesses of Montefollonico. We’ve been here since 2000 and feel deeply connected to this community,” Coleen says. “The warm welcome our guests receive from the residents and the personal ties we have with the very best vintners, restaurateurs, and, of course, our cherished nonnas, gives our guests unparalleled, exclusive access to a true Italian culinary experience.”

While staying within the walls of the magical village of Montefollonico, guests stay at the beautiful I Castagni hotel.  Perched at the very top of Montefollonico, guests enjoy spectacular views of the Chiana valley and the picturesque village from their suites and I Castagni’s well-appointed expansive outdoor terrace.

“Families, friends, couples, and solo travelers of all ages from around the world join us every spring and fall for this life-changing experience,” Coleen states.  “Join a group of accomplished cooks, the culinary curious, and grateful, happy eaters who may very well become your new foodie friends for life. Where better to launch a new friendship than relaxing with a glass of Super Tuscan wine while admiring the breathtaking view of the Tuscan countryside?”

And after a day of cooking, eating, and wine tasting, participants are taken on shopping and sightseeing trips in the many beautiful villages and towns of Tuscany, with maybe a little more wine tasting and afternoon gelato sampling, ending each day with a memorable gourmet dinner in the region’s top locales.  

Tuscan Women Cook’s week-long program runs during the months of May, June, September and October.

You can see more about the program on their website, www.TuscanWomenCook.com.

BAR AND RESTAURANT EXPO 2023 TO PRESENT INAUGURAL INTERNATIONAL PAVILION OF 50 JAPANESE FOOD AND BEVERAGE PRODUCTS

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LAS VEGAS- Bar & Restaurant Expo, returning to the Las Vegas Convention Center March 27-29, will introduce the first International Pavilion of Food and Beverage Products at this year’s event, featuring the expo’s first Japanese Food & Beverage Showcase.

Sponsored by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the Japanese Food & Beverage Showcase will present an exciting mix of Japanese products, flavors, and globally renowned specialties from 50 leading international suppliers. Attendees will be treated to delicious food and beverage samples and will have the opportunity to learn how to incorporate these key products into versatile menu items and creative beverage offerings.

“The Government of Japan is excited for the opportunity to present at this year’s Bar & Restaurant Expo, our first ever Japanese Food & Beverage Showcase at this event” said Osamu Taki, chief executive director of JETRO Los Angeles, “We strongly believe the Japanese Food & Beverage Showcase will have a great impact on the traditional bar and restaurant scene by teaching industry professionals how to incorporate the latest trends in Japanese cuisine.”

This experience will showcase traditional Japanese alcoholic beverages including sake and shochu – which have a rich 500-year history in Japanese cuisine, plus many renowned food products including wagyu beef, ramen, takoyaki and more. Attendees can also sample Japanese products that are new to the U.S. market, including dried sweet potato and baked sweet potato. With more than 20,000 Japanese restaurants currently operating in the United States, JETRO and MAFF look forward to promoting the unique and exciting specialties the country has to offer to the culinary world at this year’s expo.

“The addition of the Japanese Food & Beverage Showcase demonstrates the expanding global influence of Bar & Restaurant Expo, and the appetite for new products, different experiences, and fresh ideas to help fuel the growth of the bar & restaurant industry”, said Tim McLucas, Vice President of Bar & Restaurant Group, Questex. “We are excited to welcome so many Japanese companies, products and connections to the 2023 event in partnership with JETRO and MAFF.”

In addition to the International Pavilion, Bar & Restaurant Expo will offer attendees exclusive access to leading suppliers launching new and exciting products, endless networking opportunities and the latest industry topics and trends through an array of expert speakers, educational workshops, offsite trainings and amazing nightlife events. View the current exhibitor list and floorplan here.

Those interested in attending the 2023 Bar & Restaurant Expo can find more information about the expo and purchase tickets at https://www.barandrestaurantexpo.com/. Bar & Restaurant Expo is a trade event and not open to the public.

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About Bar & Restaurant Expo

Bar & Restaurant Expo, formerly known as Nightclub & Bar Show, has continued to evolve to mirror the fast-paced, trend-setting nature of the hospitality industry. The event has been providing the specific tools that bar and restaurant owners, operators, and managers need to grow their businesses, compete, and succeed in this hyper-competitive and dynamic industry. The Bar & Restaurant Group is a division of the Questex Hospitality Group which also produces VIBE Conference, World Tea Conference & Expo, and daily content on barandrestaurant.com.

Wine Spectator Unveils 2022 WINE VALUE OF THE YEAR

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New York, NY —Wine Spectator, the world’s leading authority on wine, has unveiled its Top 10 Wine Values of 2022, with Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019 taking top honors as the Wine Value of the Year. At a $33 price point, the bottle offers consumers an entrée to a historic winery whose roots lie in a four-acre estate in the heart of Rutherford.

Spotlighting the best-priced wines of the year, the list features bottles that are rated 90 points or higher on Wine Spectator’s 100-point scale, cost $40 or less and are made in large enough quantities to be widely available. 

“The thrill of trying something new is one of the many pleasures of wine, and as quality has risen across the globe, it’s easier than ever to find a wine you love,” said Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher, Wine Spectator. “This means that well-priced wines from California to Italy to Argentina offer some of the special qualities that distinguish their pricier counterparts.”

The Top 10 Wine Values of 2022 are:

  1. Beaulieu Vineyard | Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019 | 92 points | $33 | 44,700 Cases Made | California
  2. Decoy | Limited Red Napa Valley 2019 | 91 points | $30 | 32,500 Cases Made | California
  3. Antinori | Toscana Villa Antinori 2019 | 90 points | $20 | 80,000 Cases Imported | Italy
  4. Bodegas Marqués de Murrieta | Rioja Finca Ygay Reserva 2018 | 91 points | $32 | 14,000 Cases Imported | Spain
  5. Joel Gott | Sauvignon Blanc California 2021 | 91 points | $16 | 92,000 Cases Made | California
  6. Domaine Bousquet | Malbec Tupungato 2021 | 90 points | $13 | 49,122 Cases Imported | Argentina
  7. Mumm Napa | Brut Napa County Prestige NV | 90 points | $24 | 220,000 Cases Made | California 
  8. Kendall Jackson | Merlot Sonoma County Vitner’s Reserve 2019 | 90 points | $24 | 50,000 Cases Made | California
  9. Montinore | Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Red Cap 2019 | 90 points | $25 | 19,849 Cases Made | Oregon
  10. Drouhin | Chablis 2020 | 90 points | $27 | 19,000 Cases Imported | France

The full Top 10 Wine Values List can be found at WineSpectator.com, and in the February issue of Wine Spectator.

About Wine Spectator

Wine Spectator is the world’s leading authority on wine. Anchored by Wine Spectator magazine, a print publication that reaches around 3 million readers worldwide, the brand also encompasses the Web’s most comprehensive wine site (WineSpectator.com), mobile platforms and a series of signature events. Wine Spectator examines the world of wine from the vineyard to the table, exploring wine’s role in contemporary culture and delivering expert reviews. Parent company M. Shanken Communications, Inc., also publishes Cigar Aficionado, Whisky Advocate, Market Watch, Shanken News Daily and Shanken’s Impact Newsletter.

Where it Began: Phifer Pavitt and Del Dotto Hospitality

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I’ve done retrospective articles before, and for those I often turn to Google searching my name and the subject so I can refresh my memory and share links. Today I feel reflective without Google and want to share some of my favorite memories, those that involve the first two Napa wineries that I covered as press over a dozen years ago. (If you’re looking for wine reviews for these two fine places, search this blog or Google!)

Del Dotto

In looking for a winery to write about I was immediately attracted to Del Dotto Vineyards as the tasting room looked so grand, and there was more than one location. I called the winery, told them I was a wine blogger and asked for a press – aka FREE – tasting. They asked me which location and I remember answering, “whichever you think might like press” as I really had no clue what I was doing.

My first tasting at Del Dotto – and every tasting after that over the years – was with their esteemed winemaker Gerard Zanzonico. Gerard had a fascinating story, coming from Chateau Montelena during the time of the Judgment of Paris, and winemaking for other Napa wineries while gaining a wealth of experience before his decades at Del Dotto. But what slayed me was his accessibility to this new blogger. He spent several hours with Eddie and me, using a wine thief to extract samples from probably 60 barrels – barrels made from oak all over the U.S. and Europe – as well as clay pots. Subsequent visits included time with Dave Del Dotto, visiting their other properties and of course, more sampling. The wine was as grand and memorable as were the experiences these fine gentlemen extended to us.

Gerard always teased me about my blog, asking questions about who would ever read it, with a sly smile, while admitting that he appreciated the press and critics  – and of course his high Robert Parker scores to name one. One other memory I’ll share involves Dave Del Dotto and when he sat with us as I took meticulous tasting notes. He nodded yes as he looked over my shoulder, he noted chocolate too…then I turned to query him as my WSET instructor queried me so long ago, “What kind of chocolate Dave? Dark, milk, chocolate covered cherry, brownie…?” To which Dave returned to the wine to further identify, and in my memory he laughed as well.

Fast forward to today. My visits have temporarily ended at the winery, as I wasn’t able to secure an appointment last year. No matter, as I’ve since followed Gerard and am now tasting his wines – albeit without him for the first time – that he now makes from his home in Valle de Guadalupe, Baja, California. So far I’ve tried every vintage of his Syrah, Chardonnay and Nebbiolo. We plan to follow Gerard on social media and purchase his wines from LMA, a Baja distributor until I’m a wino no more.

https://www.lmawines.com/shop?Category=Vinos+Zanz%C3%B3nico

Phifer Pavitt

At the LA Wine Fest over a decade ago I met home winemaker Gary Warburton and his Chateau Pacific – bottled at his home in Manhattan Beach – wines. We struck up a conversation that day (he was a dentist and I worked part time for one at the time – now we’re both retired) that turned into a friendship. I went to his home in Manhattan Beach for bottling parties, and soon, would be introduced to his son Shane and daughter in law Suzanne’s Napa winery Phifer Pavitt at a private fundraising event.

After that, while planning my first trip as press to Napa, I reached out to Suzanne Phifer Pavitt for a tasting appointment. She also extended an invitation for us to stay in her guesthouse. (This would be on the same trip I first visited Del Dotto.) The wine at the time was Date Night Cabernet Sauvignon, they would later add more reds, a sparkling and a Sauvignon Blanc made by Gary.

Suzanne impressed us with her southern hospitality, warmth and charm. She was the type of vintner I had never encountered before, and never would again. One story she shared with us, after a few repeat visits, I will always remember this way: A fellow southerner came in late to the tasting room (with or without an appointment) and Suzanne gave him the same experience she gives all of her guests. After his lengthy stay she asked if he cared to purchase some wine and he replied, “one”. Oh boy, she may have thought, all this time and he only wants one bottle. Then he edited his response: he wanted one full pallet of her only wine at the time, Date Night Cabernet Sauvignon. Charm should always pay off this way.

For several years Gary and I would meet up locally, often over lunch with him toting his latest Phifer Pavitt Sauvignon Blanc for me to review. He eventually began to spend more time in Napa and less in Manhattan Beach so now I just order Phifer Pavitt wines when the winery calls me to talk about their newest releases. We have fond memories of the last dinner we had with Gary and his wife Terry at the restaurant at Auberge du Soleil, where Gary introduced me to one of their new wines, fried Kale chips and my first Espresso Martini. His wine and their company were the highlight.

https://www.phiferpavittwine.com/

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards, Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

HALL CABERNET COOKOFF RETURNS APRIL 22

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(ST. HELENA, CALIFORNIA) – HALL, one of the world’s most notable, high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon producers, has announced plans for its annual Cabernet Cookoff to return on Saturday, April 22 at HALL St. Helena. Hosted by Vintner Kathryn Hall, the annual event will feature an impressive lineup of renowned culinary teams vying for a chance to win proceeds for a charity of their choice by participating in a food and wine pairing competition. 100% of ticket proceeds benefit non-profit organizations as selected by the winning chef teams. The event includes two ticket options; a VIP Ticket granting access to pre-event activities from 11:00a.m. to 12:00p.m, as well as a Main Event Ticket that takes place from 12 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

“This event makes a difference for many lives in our community. So many people come together to celebrate passion for food and wine, and in the end, local non-profits garner awareness and proceeds,” says Vintner Kathryn Hall. “Bringing together foodies and wine lovers by way of this enthusiastic competition helps expand our commitment to supporting the community and its many diverse organizations.”

Chef teams are tasked with creating a small dish they feel pairs best with 2020 HALL Jack’s Masterpiece Cabernet Sauvignon, a highly rated wine that has earned praise from the wine industry’s top critics. The 2023 Cabernet Cookoff also serves as the public release of the 2020 vintage of the coveted Jack’s Masterpiece wine. Guests in attendance will sample 15 different dishes and sip on the featured wine while voting for two People’s Choice Winners.

Additionally, a star-studded panel of celebrity judges will taste the pairings to vote for two Judges’ Choice Awards. In total, four winners will be announced – two People’s Choice Awards and two Judges’ Choice Awards.

The HALL Cabernet Cookoff has two ticket options that include:

• VIP Ticket, $300pp. 11:00am – 12:00pm @ Olive Grove
Guests are invited to join Vintner Kathryn Hall and Rock and Roll icon, Huey Lewis for a Q&A and vertical wine tasting of Jack’s Masterpiece Cabernet Sauvignon prior to the main event. All VIP ticketholders will have IN/OUT access to the VIP location throughout the main event that takes place from 12:00pm – 2:30pm. The VIP ticket will offer elevated wines and small bites. VIP Ticketholders also receive a HALL Tote Bag that includes a bevy of luxury products as part of the VIP ticket purchase.

• Main Event Ticket, $150pp. 12:00pm – 2:30pm @ Great Lawn
Guests with the Main Event ticket can sample bites from all competing chef teams, enjoy the 2020 Jack’s Masterpiece Cabernet, and vote for the People’s Choice Award via mobile devices.

Chef teams for 2023 include Sobra Mesa, Luce at InterContinental San Francisco, Tarla Grill, One Market, Aurum, Clandestine Table Napa Valley, Oenetri, FARM at Carneros, Lucy Restaurant & Bar, Crisp Kitchen & Juice, The Vault Steakhouse, Nob Hill Club at InterContinental Mark Hopkins, and more. Each chef team will be competing for a charity of their choice. Past non-profit beneficiaries include Napa Humane, JDRF, All Stars Helping Kids, Sprouts Chef Training, California Pit Bull Rescue, Hands Across the Valley, St. Helena Hospital, NEWS, No Kid Hungry, FIREFLY Autism, Collabria Care, Napa Valley Food Pantry, Zero Prostate Cancer Napa Valley, and more.

The 2023 line-up of celebrity judges include Natalie Morales, Co-Host of CBS’ The Talk; singer/songwriter Huey Lewis; Bravo tv personality Craig Conover; Michelin-rated Chef Ken Frank, NBC Bay Area’s Raj Mathai, and Nutrition & Healthy Lifestyle Expert for NBC’s TODAY Show, Joy Bauer.

HALL Cabernet Cookoff Sponsors include Sewing Down South, Chefs Life Olive Oil, Cypress Grove, Alastin Beauty, Aloha Collection, Benefit Marketing, PrintInk, Harvest Sanitation, ProForma Wine Country, Kollar Chocolates and Signum Architecture.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2023
11:00am-12:00pm: VIP Ticket, $300pp
Jack’s Masterpiece Cabernet Sauvignon Vertical Tasting + Q&A with Vintner Kathryn Hall, President Mike Reynolds & Huey Lewis.
Includes access to the Main Event.

12:00pm-2:30pm: Main Event Ticket, $150pp

HALL St. Helena
401 St. Helena Hwy. S. St. Helena, CA 94574 (707) 967-2626

To purchase tickets, please visit: www.hallwines.com/cabernetcookoff

Since inception, the HALL Cabernet Cookoff has raised hundreds of thousands of dolla

HALL Cabernet Cookoff Sponsors include Sewing Down South, Chefs Life Olive Oil, Cypress Grove, Alastin Beauty, Aloha Collection, Benefit Marketing, PrintInk, Harvest Sanitation, ProForma Wine Country, Kollar Chocolates and Signum Architecture.HALL St. Helena
401 St. Helena Hwy. S. St. Helena, CA 94574 (707) 967-2626

To purchase tickets, please visit: www.hallwines.com/cabernetcookoff

Since inception, the HALL Cabernet Cookoff has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for non- profit 501c3 organizations all over the country. For more information, or to get involved as a culinary team, sponsor, or non-profit organization, please visit www.hallwines.com/cabernetcookoff.

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HALL produces award-winning Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at two properties in Napa Valley in St. Helena

ABOUT HALL Wines: The Art of Cabernet

and Rutherford. Owned by Craig and Kathryn Hall, the winery produces artisan wines that express the unique and diverse character of the wine country’s soils and climates through meticulous attention to detail in the vineyards and the winemaking process. The family’s luxury wine portfolio, led by Vice President of Winemaking Megan Gunderson, sources fruit from the most prominent vineyards up and down the West Coast Led by Vice President of Winemaking, Megan Gunderson, HALL focuses on producing distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings highlighting the finest vineyards and sub-appellations of the Napa Valley. The HALL St. Helena Winery was the first LEED® Gold Certified Winery in the State of California in 2009 and earned another LEED® Gold certification for its high-tech production facility and Tasting Room in 2014, making HALL a leader in green efficiencies. For more information about HALL, please visit www.hallwines.com or by calling 707.967.2626. @hallwines #artofcabernet.

HITCHING POST 2 HOSTS JIM CLENDENEN TRIBUTE DINNER FOR 110 BENEFITING SANTA BARBARA CHARITIES

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Winemakers, Chefs, Vineyard Owners and Friends Gather to Honor the Legacy of Santa Barbara County Wines First Ambassador Raising $100,000 for Direct Relief and the Community Health Centers of the Central Coast

BUELLTON, California – On February 4, 2023, Jami and Frank Ostini of the Hitching Post 2 in Buellton, California, hosted the Jim Clendenen Tribute Dinner benefiting Direct Relief and the Community Health Centers of the Central Coast. One hundred ten guests came from distances as far away as Boston, Atlanta and Hawaii to honor Jim Clendenen, the founder and “Mind Behind” the highly acclaimed Au Bon Climat Winery located near Santa Maria, California. The event raised $100,000 at the Santa Barbara Wine Auction sponsored by the Santa Barbara Vintners Foundation, with proceeds from the dinner benefiting the two charities.

Jim Clendenen started his winery in 1982, rising in prominence locally and internationally as he aspired to emulate Burgundy’s culture and wine styles by creating unique Santa Barbara wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. He became an international ambassador for Santa Barbara Wines while traveling the world and returning to California to mentor the first and second-generation winemakers in Santa Barbara County. Jim befriended the best chefs and winemakers worldwide and built a wine business that sells across America and the globe – England, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Canada, Japan and Korea.  

Jim’s children have taken up the torch. Daughter Isabelle is traveling to represent Au Bon Climat at the Triangle Wine and Food Experience in North Carolina, and Knox is selling wine in Japan. Like father, like daughter, like son. The rest of Jim’s Au Bon Climat team was in the room – long-time winemaker Jim Adelman, first ABC employee cellar master Enrique Rodriguez, assistant winemaker Mark Piro, Michael Meluskey, James Sanders and Randi Chavoya. Surrounded with pictures of Jim’s life, the dinner featured a slideshow of 300 photos. Endless storytelling filled every table as Jim’s spirit lit up the room.

Stories of Jim’s 40-plus year career and how he touched thousands of lives were shared by local grape growers, winemakers and friends, including Bob and Louisa Lindquist, Doug Margarum, Paul Lato, Brian and Lisa Babcock, Chad Melville, Andrew Murray, Katy Grassini, Matt Murphy, Justin Willett, James Ontiveros, Matt Turrentine, Gary and Jeanne Newman, Chuck and Kathleen Carlson, Chris Brown, Pierre LaBarge, Coby Parker-Garcia, Gary and Teresa Burk, Jessica Gasca, Debra Eagle, Drake Whitcraft, Jessica Stolpman and Gray, Charlotte and Weston Hartley.

Other attendees of note came to pay tribute to Jim:  David & Judy Breitstein, David Fink, Bill Shea, Jay Mcinerney, Keith Pitts, Tom Black, Jimmy Davis, Blake Brown, Michael and Kathy Gordon, Bhupi Singh, Gurinder Kaur, Drs. Mark Goodman and Greg Hallert, and Jim and Jody Rea. The traveling contingent was led by Roy Yamaguchi, Chuck Furuya and Warren Shon from Hawaii, Chip Coen from Boston, Scott and Margret Dozier from Atlanta, and many others.

A spectacular five-course feast was prepared and served by the Hitching Post staff of 20 led by George Alvarado, Brad Lettau and Angel Carmona with the help of chef friends. Clark Staub of Full of Life Flatbread Los Alamos had a strikingly colorful Chicory and Citrus Salad; Roy Yamaguchi of Roy’s Restaurants of Hawaii served the pinnacle plate of Sea Bass enhanced with fresh-caught uni from Santa Barbara’s renowned fish-monger Stephanie Mutz.  Budi Kazali, formerly of the Ballard Inn, followed with a wonderfully earthy Smoked Duck Breast with Turnips and Tempura Chanterelles. 

The Hitching Post served their signature Oak-Grilled New York with Black Truffled Mashed Potatoes and finished the evening with an assortment of cheeses and small bites of sweets.

The menu was paired with ten outstanding wines poured from five-liter bottles of Au Bon Climat vintages that spanned four decades – 2020 to 1986. A team of eleven sommeliers meticulously served the wines under the leadership of fellow winemakers Bob Lindquist, Doug Margarum and Paul Lato.

The evening was a wonderful and memorable tribute to a great friend, Jim Clendenen.  And as Jim would have done himself, a generous sum was raised for charity while enjoying fine food and wine.

ABOUT HITCHING POST 2 and HITCHING POST WINES:

The Hitching Post 2 Restaurant and Hitching Post Wines offer a quintessential Santa Barbara Wine Country food and wine experience in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley. One can enjoy traditionally made Pinot Noirs in a nearly 100-year-old wine-tasting room along with a casual high-quality BBQ lunch out back, set in a glorious outdoor setting with a mountain backdrop. In the evening, you can visit the iconic Hitching Post 2 steak house that has been a Santa Ynez Valley institution since 1986 – a restaurant where you can enjoy Central Coast oak wood BBQ’d steaks and seafood matched with Hitching Post and fine local wines from Santa Barbara County. 

This endeavor is directed by owners Frank and Jami Ostini, whose family has been central Coast oak wood BBQ leaders since 1952 with the original Hitching Post Restaurant in Casmalia. Grilling over an oak wood fire is a Central Coast tradition that goes back over 200 years to the Spanish Rancheros, a practice perfected by parents Frank and Natalie Ostini, which continues to be refined by sons Bill and Frank. Originally a beef-only restaurant, over the years, the Hitching Post cuisine has been expanded to include other proteins like quail, duck, lamb and fresh seafood items, as well as oak-grilled vegetables, including mushrooms and the signature grilled artichokes. The Hitching Post 2 buys from and supports many local farmers and fishermen and secures prime beef sourced from the heart of America’s Midwest.

Frank Ostini is a singular figure in the food and wine business as he leads both the cheffing and winemaking for Hitching Post. For Frank, the food came first, and he subsequently made wines to pair with his food. Starting in 1984, Frank began making Pinot Noir from the Santa Maria Valley and the Sta. Rita Hills to match with Hitching Post cuisine. Winemaking became an obsession and inspiration that continues to this day. Frank mentors the experienced kitchen and dining room staff, many of whom have more than 25 years with the Hitching Post. This long-standing team brings a family atmosphere that is essential to the success of the Hitching Post.

Hitching Post 2 has a long-established reputation, having received high acclaim from the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Sunset, USA Today, and Forbes and has been showcased with Frank’s appearances on Food Network with celebrity chefs Wolfgang Puck and Bobby Flay. None of this was as consequential as Hitching Post 2 and Hitching Post Wines being featured in the 2004 Academy Award-winning film Sideways. Regardless of this international fame, the Hitching Post continues to provide high-quality, uniquely flavored foods and honest customer service in a casual, friendly atmosphere that is home to so many of its customers.  

Taste Hitching Post wines from some of the region’s best vineyards. Enjoy lunch behind the tasting room on the bank of the Santa Ynez River overlooking the glorious Santa Ynez Mountains. It is casual and easy, with high-quality food and ideal for kids and dogs. Spend the evening dining at the Hitching Post 2 for simply one of the best food and wine experiences in the Santa Ynez Valley. The Hitching Post has something special for everyone.

HITCHING POST 2

406 East Highway 246, Buellton, CA 93427

follow Hitching Post:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HitchingPost2

Twitter: @HitchingPost2

Instagram: @hitchingpost2

For information on the Hitching Post 2 restaurant, visit:

 www.hitchingpost2.com 

Best Wine Destinations and Events in the Pacific Coast

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SEATTLE (PRWEB) – Where When Wine, the first woman-owned business to create an online directory and community dedicated to wine destinations and events launches thousands of listings featuring the best wineries, top tasting rooms, the most popular wine event venues, and the best places to stay and dine when wine tasting. The website also features fun and useful blogs on family-friendly wineries and dog-friendly vineyards, plus keeps wine aficionados informed on new wineries and winemakers to watch.

Napa has been world-renowned for producing the best cabernets and chardonnays for decades—but the Pacific Coast from the state of Washington all the way to the southern tip of California, has been producing some of the best wines in the world and some of the most scenic locations beyond the valleys of northern California.

“I built this online community for fun, for friends and families who wanted recommendations of my favorite wine destinations and wedding spaces along the west coast. Over the past year, it’s taken a life form of its own, since there is no website dedicated to all things wine for the vineyards of the Pacific Coast. So now we’ve launched it as an official online community for wine lovers who want to explore everything our west coast wine destinations have to offer,” remarked Where When Wine Founder, Christine Sternfels.

Walla Walla’s lush valleys in Washington State offers more than 120 wineries consisting of 2,900 acres of grapes. The Willamette Valley, Oregon’s leading wine region, has two-thirds of the state’s wineries and vineyards and is home to more than 700 wineries. And Temecula Valley in Southern California is one to watch with nearly 50 wineries populating the region’s rolling hills and sprawling valleys producing a variety of wines, including award-winning and artisan Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

WhereWhenWine.com features these regions and so much more including onsite and nearby lodging such as the quintessential hotels to stay at and vineyards that allow overnight stays for recreational vehicles. Onsite bistros and nearby eateries from a hole in the wall to restaurants with Michelin star chefs. Amenities such as spas, golf destinations and family and pet-friendly wineries. Many bucket list items to check off.

In addition to exploring the best in #winelife, wine aficionados can become members of Where When Wine to join an annual road trip planned by the founder so its like-minded community can explore the same destinations and share their experience in real life #IRL and on social media. Wine enthusiasts can sign up here to become members for free or follow Where When Wine on Instagram. Wineries, vineyards, wine bars, wine shops, hotels, spas, and wine-related vendors can also apply to become members of the community here.

Reviewing the New Smith-Madrone 2018 Riesling

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Before tasting the latest Riesling from Smith-Madrone I was reminded of a time years ago when I attended a Riesling class and food pairing. The wines were from one winery in the Mosel region of Germany (grown on steep hillsides similar to Smith-Madrone) and I remember that only the last couple of wines we sampled could be described as sweet. It was eye-opening for me at the time as I had assumed all Rieslings to be sweet, prior to taking my first wine certification classes, and was pleasantly surprised to learn that I was wrong.

I was equally – and very pleasantly – surprised when I had my first Riesling wine from Smith-Madrone. The 2017 Smith-Madrone Riesling review of mine is here and here is the fact sheet for the 2018 that I’m tasting with you today. Below are my tasting notes and below that is information from the winery.


2018 Smith–Madrone Riesling Tasting Notes

13.3% alcohol, Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley

The wine is the color of pale gold, and sparkly, making it very appealing. On the nose, which I detected from about three inches away, I was reminded of sweet Meyer lemons, ripe grapefruit, wet pebbles in a stream, a touch of pineapple, talcum powder and Golden Delicious apples. I was anxious to taste the wine and immediately noted its rich mouth-coating viscosity, a lot of that Golden Delicious apple I found on the nose, as well as more pineapple, less lemon, with a mild to medium acidity that held on for a nice long finish. It wasn’t bone dry or sweet; instead it had a nice sweet spot that I thought would pair well with a cheese board, pasta in a cream sauce, fried chicken or all by itself!

From The Winery

The wine is all estate Spring Mountain District fruit, 100% Riesling, grown at an elevation of 1,300-1,900 feet, with slopes angling up to 34%. The vineyard is partially dry-farmed and most of the Riesling was planted on its own rootstock…the same hands cleared, planted, tend and make the wine…for the last fifty years.

Only 1,611 cases made. SRP is $36.00.

Winemaker Charlie Smith describes the wine: The 2018 Riesling opens with abundant floral notes buttressed by underpinnings of lime, lemon and exotic oranges. This delicate, fetching aroma leads one to expect a wine on the lighter, more delicate side and, when tasted, this expectation is confirmed. On the palate the wine is stylish and elegant, demonstrating a brilliant acidity that is at once fine and lively, tasty and fun and not the least off putting. The acid feels just right; it’s very much like biting into a delicious, crunchy Riesling flavored apple. For a wine of this delicate construction, it still manages to retain a solid core of vibrant fruit. It’s svelte and elegant, it’s drinking beautifully now and shows great promise for the future.

Smith-Madrone was founded partly on the premise of making great Riesling (i.e., not to dis the Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay!), given its mountain site and steep slopes. Stu Smith describes the effort to market Riesling as Sisyphean…and to that point beginning with the 1983 Riesling vintage Smith-Madrone went where no other American winery would go for the next 17 years – changing the label from Johannisberg Riesling to “just” Riesling, and essentially outlasting the BATF and prevailing with that name.

Smith-Madrone’s Riesling is one of perhaps less than ten Rieslings grown/made in the Napa Valley.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

ERIC JENSEN NAMED THE 2022 PASO ROBLES WINE INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR

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(Paso Robles, CA) On Thursday, February 2 the Paso Robles wine community came together to recognize one of their own who has exemplified the spirit of Paso Robles Wine Country with outstanding leadership and vision. Eric Jensen, Farmer-Winemaker at Booker Vineyard, will receive the 2022 Paso Robles Wine Industry Person of the Year award at the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance’s Annual Gala.

Eric Jensen has been a champion for the Paso Robles American Viticultural Area (AVA), its wines, people, and community since 2001 when he first planted his vineyard. In 2005, Eric, and his wife Lisa, launched Booker Vineyard’s first vintage. Jensen began making wine with the help of his mentors, Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure and Justin Smith of Saxum Vineyards, both past Industry Person of the Year awardees. Eric’s wines have since been recognized with the highest of accolades from all publications and industry notables.
 
“What an unbelievable honor to even be nominated for an award that is selected by industry friends whom I’ve respected and worked alongside for more than two decades,” said Eric Jensen. “Lisa and I chose to get married here in 1997 and to move to Paso Robles permanently in 2001. It’s where our hearts were. We wanted to keep the name Booker and with that the responsibility of putting our neighbors and community first. Watching Paso Robles continue to grow and reach new heights has been the greatest journey of our lives. I’m grateful and humbled that we can play even a small part in that. Thanks to my wonderful friends and the entire wine industry.”

Eric is one of the founding supporters of Must! Charities, and the originator-host of the organization’s annual PURPOSE auction event, which raised $2.5 million in its second year this last summer. He is also a founding supporter of the Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship Fund, which provides academic opportunities to children of vineyard and winery workers.
 
“We built our business in Paso Robles, our kids grew up here,” Eric says. “We want to help make sure that we have a community that serves everyone and leaves no one behind.”
 
“Eric Jensen’s commitment to the region is special. His tireless promotion professionally, and his personal support for the community is steadfast, which makes him more than deserving of this award,” said Joel Peterson, Executive Director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.
 
Eric Jensen was nominated and named the 2022 Paso Robles Wine Industry Person by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance membership which represents 450+ companies including wineries, vineyards, and associated businesses. Eric was recognized by industry colleagues at the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance’s Annual Gala on Thursday, February 2 at Rava Wines. Elected officials and representatives from national, state, and local offices were also on hand to commemorate the honor.

The evening also featured the installation of the Alliance’s 2023 Board of Directors and will recognize the departing board members. The 2023 Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Board of Directors (in alphabetic order) are as follows:

  • Chloe Asseo – L’Aventure 
  • Josh Beckett – Peachy Canyon Winery
  • Cris Cherry – MAHA Estate / Villa Creek
  • Randy Heinzen, Coakley Vineyard / VPS
  • Carole MacDonal – Il Cortile Ristorante / La Cosecha
  • Noreen Martin – Martin Resorts
  • Molly Scott – JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery
  • Jeff Strekas – ONX Winery
  • Maggie Tillman – Alta Colina Vineyard & Winery

Austin Hope, Hope Family Wines, departs the board with Maggie Tillman set to replace his seat. Austin has served on the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Board of Directors since 2008.

ABOUT PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is the official trade organization that 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 250 wineries. For more information, visit PasoWine.com. Facebook – @PasoRoblesWine, Instagram – @PasoWine, #pasowine.

Middle West Spirits Receives 12 PR%F Awards

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COLUMBUS, OHIO (PRWEB) – Middle West Spirits has been awarded 12 medals in the PR%F Awards powered by Food and Beverage Magazine. Middle West’s Sherry-Finished Bourbon received two Century Awards, meaning it received a 100-point perfect score from all judges.

The competition includes two categories. Masked is the double-blind tasting competition where brands are judged on taste and sensory perceptions like color, aroma, taste, and finish. It’s followed by the Unmasked competition where the judges evaluate each brand for its total package—they see and feel the bottle, read the ingredients, hear the story, and see the overall marketing package. The rating system is Century Award (100 Points voted unanimously), Double Gold (96 to 99 points), Gold (91 to 95 points), Silver (85 to 90 points), and Bronze (79 to 85 points).

Middle West Spirits awards include:

“We’re passionate about pursuing the perfect pour, and this recognition for a substantial number of spirits in our portfolio shows we’re delivering a high-quality tasting experience,” said Ryan Lang, founder, CEO and distiller, Middle West Spirits. “We simply want to make the best product possible, and we’re proud the judges could taste the difference.”

For more information about Middle West and its spirits, please visit MiddleWestSpirits.com.

ABOUT MIDDLE WEST SPIRITS
Middle West Spirits is built around a passion for crafting the highest quality spirits. That’s why Middle West hand-selects unique, local grains that go into every batch and controls every step of the production process––from distillation to aging to packaging––all in its Columbus, Ohio distillery. By always pursuing the perfect pour, Middle West delivers a difference you can taste. Its spirits have earned top honors by the 2022 ASCOT Awards, 2022 PR%F Awards, Beverage Tasting Institute, and more. Through its world-class distillery and production facility, Middle West has also built strategic partnerships to bring other celebrated spirits brands to life. In addition to the distillery, guests can enjoy the full Middle West experience at Service Bar, its acclaimed restaurant in Columbus. To learn more about Middle West Spirits, visit middlewestspirits.com, or follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

ABOUT PR%F AWARDS
PR%F Awards is the premiere spirits, wine & beverage awards program held annually in Las Vegas. Hand-selected judges, all buyers, from across the US rate and merit spirits, wine and beverages to win medals and accolades while giving our judges a chance to be introduced to hundreds of emerging new brands. PR%F Awards and PR%F-The Magazine are owned and operated by The Original Brand, LLC. Go to http://www.proofawards.com or call 888-959-7260.