32nd Annual Winesong event on the Mendocino Coast

May 26, 2016 by evebushman

DETAILS ANNOUNCED AROUND 32nd ANNUAL WINESONG, MENDOCINO’S PREMIER FOOD & WINE EVENT

Tickets Now on Sale for Annual Event to Benefit Mendocino Coast District Hospital

— Lowell Herrero Named 2016 Artist of Year in Memoriam —
— Grace Family Vineyards Named as 2016 Honored Winery —

FORT BRAGG, CA – Tickets are now on sale for the 32nd Annual Winesong event—a spectacular weekend of award winning wine, fabulous food, fine art, music, merriment, and charitable giving. Produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, the main event takes place at the gorgeous Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Saturday, September 10th, with A Pinot Noir Celebration at the nearby Little River Inn on Friday, September 9th. Mendocino wines are building a reputation for excellence, and Winesong allows attendees the opportunity to explore the local vintages connoisseurs have already discovered, alongside fine wines from elsewhere around the world. It’s also the perfect opportunity to sample culinary delights from locally-based purveyors and take in world-class artwork. Winesong aims to create harmony between one of the most breathtaking vistas on earth and all of your other senses, and there’s a reason it’s considered to be Mendocino’s premier food and wine event—there’s no better way to savor what this stunning stretch of the Pacific Coast (and beyond) has to offer, all while raising money for the Mendocino Coast District Hospital.

Revered artist and long-time Winesong supporter, the late Lowell Herrero, has been announced as 2016’s Artist of the Year. A WW II vet and California native, Lowell’s joyous works exalt the bountiful and bucolic lifestyle that Winesong supports. Every year from 1997 through 2015, the Herreros contributed special pieces to the Charity Auction, and every year bidders were whipped into a frenzy by his offerings (oftentimes depicting large, brightly attired people picking overly large, juicy grapes, ripe olives, and lush lavender). Janet Herrero has been generous enough to donate one of her late husband’s classic images, Garvey Grape Harvest, to grace the cover of the auction catalog and appear in posters and other materials. It will also be etched on a 3-liter of wine from Grace Family Vineyards, the Honored Winery of 2016. In addition, a giclee print on canvas will be offered for auction. In all of these ways, Winesong will bring Lowell’s sublime vision to our community one more time to honor the memory of this magnificent man.

This year’s Honored Winery is Grace Family Vineyards. As humanitarians with a compassionate world-view and as vintners creating world-class wines, Dick and Ann Grace personify the very best of philanthropy and stewardship of the land. Grace Family Vineyards has been a cornerstone of Winesong every year since 1992, and by donating annually and attending frequently, Dick and Ann Grace stood by their personal commitment—“Wine as a catalyst toward healing our planet.” For the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, that “healing” came in the form of quality medical treatment that the Graces helped to provide for countless Mendocino residents. The Graces have also directed their humanitarian efforts around the globe, in the form of relief work in Nepal, India, and Katmandu, and have had the pleasure to host Unsung Heroes of Compassion in years past, which is presided over by His Holiness, the 14th Dali Lama. Like the Herreros, the Graces have been cornerstones of the Winesong community, and it is a profound privilege to honor them this year.

Here’s a quick overview of what you can expect at this year’s Winesong event. Tickets to each event are available for purchase at: https://winesong.ejoinme.org/purchase-tickets-winesong-2016.

A Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers

Friday, September 9, 2016 | 1 to 4 p.m.

The weekend kicks off with a prestigious Pinot Noir tasting, presented by Winesong and hosted by Little River Inn. Attendees will enjoy Pinot Noir from renowned Anderson Valley, along with wines from other award-winning pinot regions, alongside tastes of Little River Inn’s finest culinary offerings. General Admission Tickets for A Pinot Noir Celebration: Meet the Winemakers are $75 per person.

Wine & Food Grand Tasting in the Gardens

Saturday, September 10, 2016 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Stroll through the lush Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens while enjoying vintages poured by world-class wineries from Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and beyond. Sample beer, spirits, and food from 50 of Mendocino County’s finest purveyors. The tasting is accented by various musical groups performing a variety of styles including jazz, classical, blues, calypso and folk rock. General Admission Tickets with festival seating at auction and access to wine and food tasting are $125 per person for Early Responders; $150 per person after June 1st.

Silent & Live Auctions

Saturday, September 10, 2016 | SILENT: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; LIVE: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The centerpiece of Winesong weekend is the Charity Auction, featuring both a silent and live auction. More than 200 lots will be on offer, featuring spectacular wines from the world’s most prestigious wine producers, rare vintages, large format bottles and special vertical and horizontal collections, as well as original art from acclaimed California artists (including Lowell Herrero) and highly coveted international and domestic vacation packages. Auction Reserve Tickets with assigned seating under the auction tent (w/catered lunch) and access to wine and food tasting are $225 per person for Early Responders; $250 per person after June 1st.

For further information, please visit http://winesong.org or call (707) 961-4688.

About Winesong & the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation

Winesong is produced by the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for the Mendocino Coast District Hospital. Its mission is to help the small rural Hospital provide the best possible medical care to residents as well as the many visitors to the Mendocino Coast. Winesong proceeds have enabled the Hospital to purchase chemotherapy equipment, portable ultrasound machines for the Emergency Room as well as a state-of-the-art Diagnostic Imaging Center,, Cardiology Equipment, and most recently, a Bedside Medicine Verification System.

Results Are In for the 2016 Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge

May 8, 2016 by evebushman

Westwood Estate, 2014 Sonoma Valley, Annadel Gap Vineyard, Clone 37, Pinot Noir takes “Best of the Best of the Best”

Santa Rosa, Calif. – From the heart of North Coast wine country, Vineyard & Winery Management magazine (V&WM) and The Press Democrat have concluded the fourth annual North Coast Wine Challenge, a wine competition focused exclusively on wines produced in this prestigious region. Wines were judged from a field of nearly 1,050 entries.

In the good nature of competitive spirit and ultimate bragging rights, this challenge rated wines produced and bottled by wineries with grapes grown only in North Coast AVAs. The challenge was created to highlight the best of each county and ultimately, the entire region. The North Coast served as its own jury in the decision-making, with competition judges representing the best sommeliers, winemakers, retail buyers and media.Top wines received prestigious rankings of Best of Class by Category, Best of County, and ultimately one wine took the Best of the Best Award.

This year’s highest honor went to Westwood Estate, 2014 Sonoma Valley, Annadel Gap Vineyard, Clone 37, Pinot Noir receiving 99 out of 100 points and taking home the Best of Show Red, Best of Sonoma County and ultimately the Best of the Best. Judges described it as “an absolute stunner. Wow!” “It’s always a nail-biter to discover the winner from a field of so many spectacular entries,” according to Wine Competition Director Debra Del Fiorentino.

Other 2016 “Best Of” winners include:

Best of Lake County: Hagafen Cellars, 2015 Lake County, Clearwater Ranch, White Riesling
Best of Marin County: DeLoach Vineyards, 2013 Marin County, Pinot Noir
Best of Mendocino County: Navarro Vineyards, 2015 Mendocino County, Pinot Blanc
Best of Napa County: Amizetta Estate Winery, 2013 Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon
Best of Solano County: Cairdean Vineyards, 2014 Suisun Valley, Riesling
Best of Sonoma County: Westwood Estate, 2014 Sonoma Valley, Annadel Gap Vineyard Clone 37, Pinot Noir

Only wines rating 90+ points were awarded gold medals and were eligible to move on to the ‘Best Of’ Category. “Our criteria is to only announce gold medal winners and above. This enables us to keep the prestige level high in this exclusive and wine judging,” added Del Fiorentino. All gold medal winners were featured in the Sonoma Feast section of The Press Democrat on Wednesday, April 20.

Chief Judge Daryl Groom said, “This Challenge just keeps getting better and better. Wines were tasted and evaluated by a very diverse, talented pool of influential judges. And the real stars of the show…the wines themselves. Over 18% gold. Wow! Congratulations to all our gold medal winning winemakers.”

New this year was the addition of young Associate Judges to the judging panels. Groom added, “I feel proud that not only is The Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge an awesome wine competition but it will also be known as a fostering and education platform for our next generation of wine professionals.”

Daryl Groom’s expertise includes serving as wine judge in more than 150 wine shows across the United States, and he has made many award-winning wines in California’s North Coast and his native Australia. He was named Winemaker of the Year by eight publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times.

The Press Democrat will subsequently host a trade and public tasting of North Coast Wine Challenge gold medal winners on May 15, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Sonoma Mountain Village Event Center in Rohnert Park. Tickets and information are available at NorthCoastWineEvent.com. Guests may taste wines paired with delicious food bites prepared by iconic North Bay chefs. “From the start of this competition four years ago we talked about a first class, quality experience for all involved and we not only met, but exceeded those expectations!,” said Steve Falk, CEO of Sonoma Media Investments, owners of The Press Democrat.

For more details about the tasting, contact Ginger Hopkins, Events and Sponsorships Manager for The Press Democrat (see contact information above) or visit NorthCoastWineEvent.com for full details.

Award winners will be posted at NorthCoastWineChallenge.com, NorthCoastWineEvent.com, winecompetitions.com, vwmmedia.com, and pressdemocrat.com.

Sponsors of Vineyard & Winery Management’s Competition: www.northcoastwinechallenge.com
Judging event sponsors include Penta Water, Wine Country Shipping, Alsco, Graber Olives, Sonoma Wine Country Hilton, Costeaux French Bakery, Sonoma Cider, Chris’s Stuff, Pasta Sonoma, Bottle Barn, Traditional Medicinals, Guayaki Yerba Mate, G&G Supermarkets, Sonoma Spice Queen, Sungo, Govino, Mycopia Mushrooms, Mezzetta, Comet Corn, Bella Rosa Coffee Company, North Coast by Manzana, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Wine Country Chocolates, Mateo Granados, and Pamela’s.

About Vineyard & Winery Management
Based in Santa Rosa, Calif., Vineyard & Winery Management is an independently owned and operated multimedia company that produces a leading international wine trade publication, conferences, and wine competitions. See vwmmedia.com for more information.

About The Press Democrat
Based in Santa Rosa, Calif., The Press Democrat is the North Bay’s most-read provider of up-to-the-minute local news. It is a recognized leader in the development of highly effective integrated media solutions for its business clients. The Press Democrat is owned by Sonoma Media Investments LLC, a multimedia company that provides world-class local news, information and entertainment to audiences throughout San Francisco’s North Bay. See pressdemocrat.com for more information.

A Taste of HALL Returns in 2016 – Monthly Food and Wine Workshop Aims at Inspiring and Educating

February 25, 2016 by evebushman

HALL, one of the leading Cabernet producers in the world, has announced plans to renew its premiere culinary offering, A Taste of HALL, for 2016. The wildly popular food and wine pairing workshop is designed to engage, inspire and educate guests about seasonal food and wine pairings while channeling ones inner chef.

Taste of HALL – John & Chris

We are thrilled to be able to offer our guests an unparalleled wine and food pairing experience in the Valley, says Director of Hospitality, Jocelyn Hoar. This program combines our passion for quality winemaking with exceptional culinary arts, and our chef team has garnered significant recognition for their dynamic approach with this series.

The monthly workshops will feature a different, seasonal theme each month as selected by HALLs In-House Chef / Wine Education team made up of Chris Quillen and John Pelham. The dynamic duo bring a modern perspective to Napa cuisine while aiming to engage guests by sharing a fresh approach to pairing workshops. Chef Quillen and Chef Pelham bring a diverse background to the program, combining two decades of luxury wine and culinary education.

Each guest attending A Taste of HALL will receive a recipe card featuring the courses and wine pairings discussed in the Workshop and have the chance to purchase HALL and WALT wines. A Taste of HALL takes place on one Sunday per month during the lunch hour and will include a three course meal paired with a combination of HALL and WALT wines.

2016 A Taste of HALL Schedule includes:

Sunday, March 13: LUCK OF THE IRISH
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, April 10: SPRING FLING
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Bergfeld Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, May 8: COOKING FOR MOM
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Ellies Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, June 12: CHILLIN & GRILLIN
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Jacks Masterpiece Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, July 17: RED, WHITE & BLUE
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Eighteen Seventy-Three Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, August 7: A FOODIES VACATION
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, September 18:KATHRYN HALL YALL
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, October 9: HAPPY HALLOWINE
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, November 13:THANKSGIVING DAY FEAST
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Sunday, December 11: PERFECT HOLIDAY PAIRINGS
Feature Wine: 2013 HALL Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon

Tickets are $125pp and are available to purchase at http://www.hallwines.com/hall-st-helena.

HALL Wines owns over 410 planted acres in Napa County, Sonoma County and Mendocino County that includes five California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) Estate vineyards in Napa and Sonoma Counties.

ABOUT HALL
HALL produces critically acclaimed artisan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, available to taste and buy at two tasting room and winery locations in Napa Valley. Owned by Craig and Kathryn Walt Hall, its vineyard collection features five Certified Organic estates producing classic Bordeaux varietals. Each vintage, Director of Winemaking Steve Leveque crafts distinct Cabernet Sauvignon wines which demonstrate the unique characteristics and diversity of Napa Valley. HALLs highly rated wines include two 100pt scores given by Robert Parker for its 2013 Rainin Vineyard Cabernet and its 2010 Exzellenz. HALL also earned the #2 spot in Wine Spectators Top 100 for its 2008 Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon. Since the first vintage in 2002, over 170 HALL wines have been rated 90 points and above. HALL employs high-density plantings and small vine viticulture combined with two cutting-edge, gravity-flow wineries to produce the highest quality wines. 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. Each of HALLs state-of-the-art winemaking facilities and tasting rooms combine modern art and architecture matched with spectacular settings. HALLs partner winery, WALT, known for producing premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from distinctive vineyards, is located in Sonoma, California. For more information, please visit www.hallwines.com, @hallwines, or by calling 707.967.2626.

THE OTHER WINE COUNTRY? PART I: Perlis Picks TIMBER COVE INN

January 23, 2016 by Michael Perlis

I realize that to most of the US, and even internationally, when California wine country is mentioned, people think Napa. Places like Paso Robles and Santa Barbara County are often considered “other” wine countries.

But here in Southern California, not surprisingly, we tend to think a little differently. Santa Barbara County is close by and Paso Robles not much farther. In fact, I would hazard an educated guess that Paso Robles is the wine country of choice for many [if not most] wine lovers in the Santa Clarita Valley. Not only is it just a hop, skip and a jump – up the 5, turn left at the 46 and before you know it you’ll be at the Tobin James Cellars tasting bar – but the wines have continued to improve since we started going there in the 1990s, turning the area into a true world-class wine destination.

Obviously, Paso holds a special place in our hearts, which I guess is pretty obvious given how often I write about the region. But, late last year, my wife Karen and I drove up the 5 and when we got to the 46 we did not turn, but kept going to a wine country that may be considered an “other wine country” to many SCV residents. For just about double the time it takes to get to Paso Robles, we were heading up to one of my absolute favorite places on Earth – Sonoma County.

We wanted to enjoy a little bit of the coast before starting the heavy-duty wine tasting part of the trip, so our first stop was a the Timber Cove Inn in Jenner, California. If you haven’t heard of Jenner, it is just north of another small town, Bodega Bay, which was the setting for the famous Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds.

So our drive took us up the 5, across the 580 and then up the 101, finally hitting the town of Petaluma.

From there we headed west to Highway 1 and north with the Pacific Ocean to our left. From here on up, the drive was peaceful and beautiful – and just a little bit harrowing, as the weather had turned foggy and visibility was, shall we say, minimal. But getting there was worth the trip, both in its initial fog-shrouded beauty and seeing the inn the next day in the pristine sunlight.

Quiet solitude and the ocean literally next door should be enough for anybody, but the hotel is great in other respects too. Extensive hiking trails [they give you a map] along with an excellent restaurant, and the full bar offers local wines by the glass as well as flights, which you know we couldn’t pass up. My favorite that evening definitely surprised me: the Greenwood Ridge Riesling from Mendocino County.

Staff is gracious and enthusiastic. Big “thank yous” to GM Julian Payne and restaurant manager Leif Goldfield, along with everyone else we encountered.

The hotel is currently undergoing a complete remodeling. When we were visiting this was still in the early stages, with room-by-room changes being made. But by the time you are reading this, Timber Cove Inn will have been completely shut down for the first quarter of 2016 and will soon be all bright, shiny and modern, and ready for you to come visit. Julian says “we will of course still be keeping the rustic feel, less shiny and modern but blended with rustic and modern amenities.”

TO BE CONTINUED…

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.

Experience California Wine Month this September

August 31, 2015 by evebushman

Celebrate harvest at more than 50 festivals, winemaker dinners, concerts, tours and classes

SAN FRANCISCO (August 24, 2015)— September is the height of harvest season when a wine lover’s thoughts turn to all things wine. California Wine Month is a great way to celebrate with more than 50 amazing events and immersion experiences—from wine festivals and winemaking classes to winemaker dinners, VIP tastings and tours happening around the state.

This September marks the 11th consecutive year that California’s Governor has proclaimed California Wine Month, honoring America’s largest wine producing state. “We appreciate Governor Brown recognizing the contributions of vintners and growers to our state’s economy, culture and lifestyle,” said Robert P. (Bobby) Koch, president and CEO of Wine Institute. “Whether you’re a novice or an expert, California’s diverse winegrowing regions offer plenty of activities in America’s leading wine destination.”

Click here for a complete listing by region of all the activities or go to: www.discovercaliforniawines.com/californiawinemonth to search by date. For great California wine and food road trip ideas click here. California Wine Month is a campaign created by Wine Institute.
Event highlights include:

North Coast

Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, Sept. 4-6 over Labor Day weekend has been named one of the “10 Best Wine & Food Events in the U.S.” As Sonoma County’s largest charity event, it brings together over 200 of Sonoma’s top winemakers and growers, along with a collection of the area’s best chefs. For three delicious, decadent days, guests can enjoy the Taste of Sonoma at MacMurray Ranch, as well as a wine auction, seminars, cooking demonstrations, vineyard tours and multiple winery parties.

Up in redwood country, Mendocino’s Annual Winesong Charity Auction & Tasting begins with the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Celebration on Sept. 11. Mingle with winemakers and savor the offerings of 25 wineries paired with culinary delights, overlooking the ocean at Little River Inn. On Sept. 12, the Winesong Food & Wine Tasting offers guests the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens setting paired with regional vintages, 50 Mendocino County food purveyors and nine diverse music groups. That same day is the Winesong Charity Auction, featuring bidding on incredible trips, wine, art and food—benefitting local health services.

Finish out the month at the 2015 Sonoma Valley Crush Sept. 25-27, where wine lovers can get their grape on. For three days, wineries will be offering a variety of harvest activities including grape sampling in the vineyards, crush pad tours, samples of just-pressed juice and grapes picked fresh off the vine. Guests can sip wine while it’s fermenting and chat with artisan winemakers about harvest.

Napa Valley boasts many fantastic events and immersion experiences, from barn bashes and winemaker tours to harvest balls. An intense immersion experience is the Trefethen Harvest Boot Camp on Sept. 26, where guests can spend the morning “working” in the vineyard followed by an al fresco lunch under the canopy of an ancient walnut tree.

Inland Valleys

The Madera Vintners Association’s California Wine Month Celebration on Sept. 18 will offer wine tasting from local wineries, food by a variety of local restaurants and live music. The Association will be announcing special awards for wine industry professionals and guests will have the opportunity in the People’s Choice Award to vote for their favorite wine of the evening. Proceeds benefit the Community Food Bank.

Lodi vintners and growers will host SIP SAVOR LODI— a three-day harvest celebration held Sept. 25-27, showcasing the region’s agricultural bounty through its boutique wineries, varietal wines and local farm-to-fork restaurants. Festivities kick off on Sept. 25 with an alfresco Harvest Dinner in historic downtown Lodi, with some of the region’s finest wines. Guests will return to downtown Lodi for a Grand Tasting on Sept. 26, highlighting Lodi’s wines alongside savory bites from the region’s restaurants and artisan vendors. The weekend culminates with Cellar Tours on Sept. 27 where guests can visit vintners in their cellars.

San Francisco Bay Area

A great kickoff event on Labor Day weekend is Livermore Valley’s 34th Annual Harvest Wine Celebrationon Sept. 6, where you can visit more than 40 Livermore Valley wineries sharing their finest wines and take in local music, art and food.

In the Santa Cruz Mountains, the 33rd Annual Capitola Art and Wine Festival brings together 23 wineries, local restaurants, 160 artists, crafts and music for a fun weekend Sept. 12-13 near the beach in Capitola. A Kid’s Art Area offers ongoing craft projects while local dance, music and performing arts groups and street performers perform all weekend.

Central Coast

Santa Barbara’s Santa Ynez Valley Wine Month Sept. 1-30 features various wineries offering fun events, classes, winemaker dinners, tastings and special wine and hotel packages in the towns of Buellton, Ballard, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Solvang. Another delicious bet is Taste of the Town Santa Barbara on Sept. 13, with tastings from 80 of the finest local restaurants and Central Coast wineries at the beautiful Riviera Park Gardens.

Step into the pages of Sunset magazine and experience the 6th Annual Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast on Sept. 24-27, one of the premier wine and food events in the West. This four-day wine and food extravaganza takes place at the renowned Santa Margarita Ranch and throughout San Luis Obispo County. Enjoy celebrity chefs, winemaker seminars, more than 200 regional wine tastings, adventure tours and attend a new opening night event, Strings at Sunset at the Vina Robles Amphitheatre.

Sierra Foothills

In South Lake Tahoe, Sample the Sierra on Sept. 6is the area’s only farm-to-fork festival, giving guests the chance to taste the creations of Sierra Nevada talent—from food, wine and spirits to fresh produce and art. Each dish is prepared with local ingredients and then paired with a complimentary drink to create a unique local experience.

The 30th Annual Lake Tahoe Autumn Food & Wine Festival on Sept. 11-13 offers wine and food pairings, celebrity chefs, wine seminars, cooking demos, Farm-to-Tahoe Dinner, the Blazing Pans Mountain Chef Cook-Off, kids cook-off, a “winemaker for a day” immersion class, hikes, gourmet marketplace, culinary competition and grand tasting, winemaker dinners and live entertainment.

Southern California

At The Los Angeles Times’ The Taste, wine and food are the stars Sept. 4-6. Celebrate Southern California’s vibrant culinary scene at Paramount’s iconic backlot, presenting five events with leading chefs and restaurants in L.A. and unlimited tastings. Guests can learn more about wine and food during special seminars and live demos.

Enjoy California wines at CRUSH: Temecula Valley Wine & Culinary Showcase, a Sept. 19 harvest festival featuring 100-plus wines from over 30 Temecula Valley wineries, paired with food from local restaurants and farms and live music. Wine lovers can purchase a SIP, Temecula Style passport, offering savings at four out of 30-plus wineries anytime during the month of September.

Visit www.discovercaliforniawines.com for information on wine regions, wines and winery amenities to plan a trip to California wine country. Established in 1934, Wine Institute is the association of nearly 1,000 California wineries and wine-related businesses with the mission is to initiate and advocate state, federal and international public policy to enhance the environment for the responsible production, consumption and enjoyment of wine. See: www.wineinstitute.org.

Vintage Beacon Circa 9/10: Your Fine Wineries

June 16, 2015 by evebushman

What’s the one thing that you must have when you visit wine country? A driver? A roadmap? Reservations? Okay, there’s more than one thing. But for me, the one thing I don’t want to leave out is: A Plan. And the only way to get said plan is to research. Talking to friends, Internet search and notes…all necessary “pairings”, but the one thing I won’t leave home without is…

The California Directory of Fine Wineries

What makes this guidebook different? The world-class photography? The work of no less than four award-winning writers?

Recently I sat down with editor and publisher Tom Silberkleit, before his book-signing debut at Vino 100 Valencia event last month, to learn more.

What makes your books the definitive choice for wine area planning?

“Half the fun of visiting wineries is getting a real ‘sense of place’. When folks take a wine country holiday, their intention is to return home with good wine and good memories.” began Silberkleit. “Wine tasting is much more fun when you experience true hospitality and meet good people along the way. Our books focus on ‘destination wineries’, places with a secondary reason for the visit—in addition to good wine.

More please.

I do the ‘prep work’ for my editorial staff. If a winery is producing good wine (of course, that’s the pre-requisite) and has beautiful gardens, award-winning architecture, underground wine caves, an on-site museum, world-class photo exhibits; a patio for picnics… that’s what I’m looking for. Places like this have something for everybody whether people in a group drink wine or someone chooses to abstain. I want readers who visit California wineries to feel that they’ve gone somewhere special. Wine country is very much like Disneyland for adults.

I spend much of the year driving the state to research and taste. However, in selecting wineries for our books I never trust my palate alone. Everyone’s taste is different. I confer with wine tasters who frequent tasting rooms and special events, wine writers, fine wine sellers, and, most importantly, winemakers themselves. It’s all in order to get a broad consensus on quality.

My photographer and writers are top professionals in their fields. They have published works in various media and live right here in California’s wine regions.

Tell me about the Quiz, that I lifted for my blog, on winery trivia, did one of your four writers make that up?

“It turns out, it’s a rather tough quiz. I took the questions directly from The California Directory of Fine Wineries books and had fun doing it!”

About Tom Silberkleit

As a teenager Tom signed up for a free correspondence course on the wines of France. Attending his freshman year of college in Europe further developed his palate.

When a sommelier friend suggested that Tom try a second growth Bordeaux: Chateau Léoville-Las Cases as an investment, Tom dove in and bought 4 cases. He admitted that at first the young wine tasted horrible but 20 years later it garnered him a hefty profit – and a perfect taste, “It was smooth – front to back – and I made enough from the venture to take a holiday.”

Later in life, his career as a writer turned to the promotion of California wines and wineries. Tom spent 27 years touring different places just in Sonoma alone while he wrote about his adventures in a local newspaper. Then, leaving the rat race behind, he started his own graphic design studio while simultaneously making a string of major book sales to such publishers as Doubleday, St. Martin’s Press, and Stein & Day.

In 2001, Tom made the complete switch from writing to publishing. “The idea of working for twelve months on a project only to sell the rights to a large corporation with a large front-list of competing titles always felt counterintuitive. I primarily work on projects that I feel very passionate about. I love the wine industry and certainly made the right choice in retaining editorial control and publishing this best-selling series through my own company.”

“I’ve covered glamorous wine estates in Napa Valley as well as the so-called ‘wine ghetto’ of Lompoc in search of quality wineries. Accuracy is very important to our books. Up until the final publication goes to press I am updating tasting fees, menus, and details of the overall experience. You’ll notice in our books, we don’t make the mistake of offering ratings or suggesting the latest, greatest wine. As I’ve learned, once the word gets out on a hot wine—it’s gone all too quickly.”

The Wines Vino 100 Valencia Paired

No less than 7 wines were partnered for the book signing that night. Lil LePore had arranged with Chris Rigdon, our newest rep in the area for TGIC Importers, to pour Halter Ranch Vineyard from Paso Robles—one of the wineries featured in the Central Coast edition of Tom’s book. I found out from Chris that Halter Ranch wines could only be procured from Vino 100.

Guests were to taste a Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, Cotes de Paso Blanc, GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre blend), Syrah, Cotes de Paso and Cabernet Sauvignon. As it was only 4pm, and I had another interview to conduct over wine that evening, I limited myself to only a few sips of the much recommended Rose, while chatting with Tom.

Great ripe-strawberry color, a floral nose with drops of both honey and light fruit, a watermelon taste that was remarkable as was a little white pepper on the back palate.

The Books

There are two editions of The California Directory of Fine Wineries currently available at Vino 100 in Valencia, Barnes & Noble, Borders Books, Amazon.com, and Southern California Bristol Farms stores. The Central Coast edition covers Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara while the Northern Region book, now in its 4^th edition, highlights the wineries of Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino.

You can keep up with wine country news by becoming a fan of The California Directory of Fine Wineries on Facebook as well as find Tom’s Winery Trivia Quiz by clicking the blog button on his website http://californiafinewineries.com

(Editor’s note: Vino 100 is now closed.)

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

Welcome: Jim and Debby Kimmel of Kimmel Vineyards, and Paul LaRussa of Premier Cru Collection

May 15, 2015 by evebushman

Right off the bat Mendocino County vintner Jim Kimmel of Kimmel Vineyards explained that he’s not related to celebrity Jimmy Kimmel, but yes, these two are email friends and have common friends. Jimmy sent Jim an email three years ago to the effect of, “Hi, my name is also Jimmy Kimmel, I host a late night show on ABC…” and they’ve been communicating off and on ever since.

Jim warned us that he had more stories like that one to share, and would most likely tell plenty while a group of us wine writers enjoyed a beautifully paired 4-course meal prepared by Chef Laura Scollan at West, the fine restaurant inside the Hotel Angeleno.

The next story was about Kimmel’s parents who bought the Kimwood ranch in 1963 with 1,100 acres. They raised cattle back then where his vineyards are today. Kimmel noted that they actually use less water now then they did with cattle, back then water was delivered via overhead sprinklers, now its all done with drip irrigation.

In 1986 Kimmel’s dad looked for something else to use his land for besides cows – as they would routinely get out, onto the street, at midnight. And though they grew up in Sonoma the family didn’t have wine interests – yet.

Fast forward to 2007 and Kimmel had used LinkedIn to find out who was in the wine business, found a consultant, and scheduled a meeting for the very next day. When the two met Kimmel said, “Turn around, I want to see if you have wings…because I need an angel.” Turned out the consultant had worked with Don Sebastiani first and helped to get Kimmel going.

By 2010 Kimmel was doing a few hundred cases but not using all of the grapes he was growing – then and still today Kimmel sells some of his juice to Kendall Jackson. Kimmel has since tried lower price point wines and works very hard with his family to get into stores. As he’s a smaller winery the competition in California is fierce so he has had more success being the only Mendocino wine for out-of-state retailers.

He doesn’t have his own facilities to make wine on the ranch. Yet. But you can purchase Kimmel online NOW.

#LAWineWriters Tasting

My aromas and flavors separated ;

2013 Illuminate Sauvignon Blanc

Color: soft, pale, yellow diamond.

Meyer lemon, pineapple, kiwi, ice wine, wet pebbles; lovely viscosity, bright lemon, lemon hard candy, green apple, acid softens into a perfect balance.

2012 Four Blocks Mendocino Chardonnay

Color: 14k gold, nice darker ribbon.

Fresh cut apples, popcorn, lemon zest; pink grapefruit, butter, nice mouthfeel, slightly grassy. Yummy with Tortellini and Clams!

2012 Kimmel Mendocino Chardonnay (Sunset Magazine Gold Medal winner)

Color: Palest gold (coordinated with our fish)

Sweet white peach, fresh cut grass, sandalwood; clean fruit, apples, cream and acid are nicely balanced, long finish.

2013 Four Blocks Mendocino Merlot (and a small percentage of Cabernet Franc and Malbec

Color: Deep ruby with a garnet edge.

Ripe plum, sliced fig, a dusting of cocoa, green peppercorns; brighter fruit on the palate, peppery, medium length, I’d give this one some time in cellar.

2010 Kimmel Mendocino Merlot (100% Merlot)

Color: Dark red/crimson, with a browner edge, opaque.

Blackberry, blueberry, black pepper, dark chocolate, cigar; remarkably balanced, good fruit and spice, balanced through to the finish. This was a favorite of the group.

2012 Kimmel Mendocino Merlot

Color: Dark magenta with a purple ribbon edge.

Dark juicy fruits, moistened bark, milk chocolate; definitely tastes younger than the 2010 but may be more complex with ripe red and blue fruit flavors of that just need to be rounded with age.

2010 Kimmel Mendocino Cabernet Franc

Color: Dark garnet, pale brown edge.

Dark fruit, cracked black peppercorns, s bit of chocolate fudge; dark spicy fruit, tannic, long palate drying finish. Favorite of the tasting.

We were also sent home with a bottle of their 2012 Illuminate Red Blend (Merlot-based blend) to review:

Color: Purple, opaque.

Plum, prune, earth, very dark chocolate; same flavors in the mouth with the addition of black olive, with firm tannins, would like to see some age on this one.

Premier Cru Collection – First Class Provenance

A Fine Wine Accessory Brand – handmade stemware.

While the luncheon (see the menu below) and the wines were great on their own, we also had the benefit of having our wines served in elegant Premier Cru handmade wineglasses. Yes, the wine glass is just as important to improving your wine experience as is the wine, the food and the company. Trust me. The stems on these glasses were so thin and delicate I first only felt confident holding them by the base. After learning that they were lead-free, and therefore stronger, I grew more confident holding them by their lovely stems.

Paul LaRussa, founder and chief designer at Premier Cru Collection said that too many people “in certain ways live in a throwaway society. This (stemware) elevates the fine wine experience. Handmade and lead free (they are) more durable stemware than you would expect by the elegance and thin stem.” The glasses can be used outdoors, have even been knocked over on granite counter top and they survived – but I wouldn’t try this at home.

LaRussa believes that “Light stemware allows weight of the wine to be highlighted.”

The company builds large custom wine cellars that LaRussa said are highly artistic. It is LaRussa’s vision to bring those that appreciate a handmade cellar a handmade tabletop to go with it. Wine is handmade so this stemware “completes the cycle.” Their 200-year old German factory makes the stemware and a French company makes their corkscrews.

The tagline of the company is, “Essence of the Fine Wine Experience…”

To see the glasses go to the website and click the online boutique: www.pcwinecellars.com/boutique Stemware is currently being used locally at Ysabel restaurant to drink from and K & L for purchase.

Menu

FIRST COURSE

Sauvignon Blanc

SPINACH TORTELLINI

LEMON GARLIC CLAMS, CHORIZO CRUMBLE

SECOND COURSE

Chardonnay

SEA BREAM

WARM POTATO & OLIVE SALAD, BABY SPINACH

GRAIN MUSTARD VELOUTÉ

THIRD COURSE

Merlot

VEAL MARSALA SPRING PEA RISOTTO, RAINBOW CARROTS

FOURTH COURSE

Cab Franc.

GRILLED SKIRT STEAK

CRISPY FINGERLING POTATOES, CHIMICHURRI SAUCE

From Kimmel Vineyards Website

“…as we usher in a new era on the Ranch, we are working even harder to maintain a healthy ecological balance through sustainable farming practices. Our commitment to the land has carried us from cattle ranching to the vineyards. Our practices permeate every area of our operations out to the unplanted habitat acres and extending to the people who work in our vineyards. We continue to look for ways to improve our practices including solar, water, and wind power opportunities. All that we do and plan to do is with the sole purpose of producing the best possible grapes and absolutely delicious wine for you!”

Kimmel Vineyards is located in Potter Valley, Mendocino County, California. Established as Kimwood Ranch in 1963, the property is approximately 1100 acres with the vineyards at an elevation of about 1000 feet. The first Chardonnay vines were planted in 1986. The Merlot vineyard was planted in 1997. Recent grafting with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot and Malbec will provide for future Bordeaux blends.

Winemaker: Bruce Regalia

https://www.facebook.com/KimmelVineyards

http://www.kimmelvineyards.com/

Pinot on the River, by Rick Fraga

December 27, 2014 by evebushman

Did you do anything interesting or fun on Sunday, October 26th? Yard work, shopping, maybe a laid back day of football may have been your way of relaxing a day before heading back to the Monday routine of work. For hundreds of people (myself included), we spent the afternoon roaming the beautiful, tree lined Plaza in downtown Healdsburg, California exploring the delicious world of the Pinot Noir grape. I don’t know about you, but on the 26th I was at the Grand tasting for the 11th annual Pinot on the River event celebrating the Pinot Noir grape and benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sonoma County.

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon that saw 100 Pinot Noir producing wineries gather to pour and share their finely crafted wines with eager tasters from all across the United States. Of course the tasting public had a distinct California make-up, but I met visitors from Texas, Florida, New York, North Carolina, Illinois and many other states, all here to explore and savor the diversity that Pinot Noir can exhibit depending upon the winemaker. The participating wineries came from all over California, both known and revered names like Martinelli, Littorai, Paul Hobbs, Patz & Hall. But also included were newer producers stepping out to show their skills and wines such as Fel, Kanzler, Friedeman and Masut (part of the original Fetzer Family in Redwood Valley up in Mendocino County California).

With such excellent weather and many handcrafted Pinot Noirs to experience, the only hard part of the day was to figure out what wines to taste and what to pass on. With only five hours to taste, I couldn’t try everyone (plus I was working my day job, pouring wine for Martinelli Winery part of the day) so I sought out mostly places that I had heard of and never tasted or never heard of at all. It proved to be a great way to go, as I was able to experience and enjoy a wide variety of wine making styles, vintages covering 2010 to 2013 and fruit from all the different pinot growing regions in California. The Pinot Noir growing regions were well represented including a variety of Central Coast areas, Carneros, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley and even the new Eagle Peak region in Mendocino County. Honestly, there was more than a little something for everyone to enjoy.

I should add that not only was there great wine to appreciate, but also the opportunity, in many cases, to speak with winemakers while sampling the fruit of their efforts. It was a pleasure for me to speak with some of the youth movement of Pinot producers, passionate winemakers like Alex Kanzler of Kanzler Vineyards, Brooks Friedeman of Friedeman Wines and Jake Fetzer of Masut. It was extremely interesting to hear who their influences were, their focus on their style of wine making, as well as where they farmed or bought their grapes from and why those areas. Each of these young men made nicely crafted Pinot Noir, definitely worthy of sitting in anyone’s cellar or being poured with a fine dining experience in your favorite restaurant.

I was also able to experience some of the treats offered by Littorai, Clouds Rest, Siduri, Nunes/St. Rose, Papapietro Perry and a few more throughout the day. My finds for the day…………hmmmmm, how about a nice everyday Pinot for under $15 from Jamieson Ranch known as the 2012 Light Horse Pinot Noir? Maybe you are seeking a vineyard designated Pinot, well I found that both Fel and Littorai were both showing 2012 Pinot Noirs from the Savoy Vineyard in the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County. Both were beautiful wines, but very different in style and flavors. The 2012 Dichotomy from the Sonoma Coast AVA by Friedeman Vineyards, the 2012 Freeman Russian River Valley and the St. Rose 2011 Nunes Vineyard 777 clone were all standouts for me, just to name a few.

I think the best recommendation I can think of is for those of you who read this review of a wonderful Pinot Noir event, make note of next year’s Pinot on the River event. Next, you find the date it will be held and plan a weekend in the Healdsburg area to go out and taste at a few wineries and then catch the actual event. How can you go wrong, great weather, beautiful area in wine country, a cool city like Healdsburg to hang out around and hopefully you bring good company with you to share a wonderful time?

Maybe next year I’ll bump into YOU at Pinot on the River, only you can make it happen! As always, Life is too short to drink bad wine. Drink well and enjoy life!

Rick Fraga is living his dream now after 30 years as a consumer and over 20 years working in various aspects of the wine industry, after surviving a “corporate management” life. He currently is the Wine Educator for Martinelli Winery and Vineyards up in the Russian River Valley. Additionally he is a professional Wine Judge most recently judging the San Francisco Chronicle and Lake County Wine Competitions. In recent years Rick has served as a member of the AgBusiness/Wine Studies Advisory Committee at Santa Rosa Junior College, as well as a guest lecturer for classes at the college.

His introduction to wine started in the US Army in Germany, continued with the help of his father and a sizable group of vinophile friends, and over the years it has grown to an obsession. Due to a fortuitous meeting with a fellow wine geek, Michael Perlis, at a notoriously great food and wine spot in Las Vegas three years ago, he has become an occasional contributor to Eve’s Wine 101. He is hoping to continue in the wonderful world of wine until he can no longer climb out of bed. If you would like to keep up a bit more with Rick, find him on his Facebook page, at gatewaytowine.com or contact him at gatewaytowine@gmail.com. As Rick learned from his Father, Life is too short to drink bad wine!

California Directory of Fine Wineries E-Books Debut for Kindle, Kobo, Nook, iPad on April 7, 2014

March 3, 2014 by evebushman

Classic Guides to California’s Destination Wineries Go Digital!

Back in 2010 I met and interviewed editor/publisher Tom Silberkleit of The California Directory of Fine Wineries at the now defunct Vino 100. Tom had come to the shop for a book signing and I came in about an hour ahead of time to meet with him. I was quite taken with his work and the story of our discussion can be read here.

How do you visit 1000+ California wineries in three days??

The Dilemma — Most wine tasting holidays last for only an extended weekend. With hundreds of wineries between California’s Central Coast (Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles) and Northern California’s Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino wine country… where do you go? How do you choose? The biggest mistake visitors make is wasting precious time trying to navigate this vast maze of choices by themselves. But help is on the way…

Enter The California Directory of Fine Wineries e-book series — the latest release in the best-selling travel series from California wine travel insider Tom Silberkleit. Beginning April 7, both regional editions (Northern California and Central Coast) will be available in interactive e-book versions, optimized for tablets, yet able to be read on Smartphones too!

• The Writers – Professional travel writers K. Reka Badger, Cheryl Crabtree, and Marty Olmstead are at the top of their game, revealing winery back-stories and concise tools for quick and easy travel planning.

• The Photographer – World renowned for his artistry, veteran travel photographer Robert Holmes takes readers on a stunning visual expedition of each winery. He’s been named Travel Photographer of the Year a record three times by The Society of American Travel Writers.

• The Wine Travel Insider – Award-winning editor and publisher Tom Silberkleit has spent the past 15 years traveling the back roads of California searching out and selecting grand estates and elegant salons serving up the ultimate tasting room experience.

So grab your Kindle, Nook, or iPad, click on the Northern California or Central California edition of The California Directory of Fine Wineries, and let your California wine-venture begin!

Robert Mondavi winery. (Photo credits: 2014 Robert Holmes)

Less than a year after signing contracts with Barnes & Noble, Apple, and Amazon to distribute a line of interactive e-books based on their best-selling The California Directory of Fine Wineries travel series, Sonoma-based book publisher Wine House Press will launch the new products on April 7, 2014.

“These e-books are geared toward a national audience of over 70 million Kindle, iPad, Android and iPhone users,” said Tom Silberkleit, long-time series editor and publisher for Wine House Press. “They are designed and optimized for tablets yet can also be read on Smartphones. We’re confident that users will find our e-books to be elegant, attractive and fully-functional.”

Now in its 11th year of publication, The California Directory of Fine Wineries travel series has two regional editions: Northern California 6th Edition (Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino) and the California Central Coast 2nd Edition (Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles). Praised for its inspiring photography and high production values, the series takes travelers on a visual expedition of the Golden State’s premiere destination wineries and tasting rooms—their inspired architecture, lavish salons, museum-quality art exhibitions, and magnificent gardens. Written by K. Reka Badger, Cheryl Crabtree, and Marty Olmstead with photographs by Robert Holmes, these books are designed to help readers sift out choice spots that make for quick and satisfying wine tasting get-a-ways.

Interactive touch-screen features for the e-books include:

•One-Touch Website & Email Hyperlinks – contact each winery directly •Keyword Search – find each winery’s unique specialty
•Onboard Dictionary – defines all unknown words
•Detailed Winery Maps – view onscreen OR download and print from the web •Bookmarks – save favorite pages

•Highlight Text – your choice of colors •Customize screens – font size and themes •Works on ALL handheld devices

The new e-books will be distributed nationally through the Perseus Books Group, LLC, and available online at the Amazon Kindle Store, Barnesandnoble.com, Kobobooks.com, and Apple’s iBookstore.

Prices vary by on-line distributor and can fluctuate. For Kindle via Amazon, the Northern California and Central Coast e-books will be priced at $11.49 each. Kobo will list them at $12.39 each. Barnes and Noble will offer the Northern California and Central Coast Nook e-books for $11.49 each. And the Apple versions for iPad and Mac will be $13.99 each.

For more information visit www.CaliforniaFineWineries.com or contact Wine House Press directly at 707-996-1741.