Eve's Wine 101

The Moon Mountain District Winegrowers Association will hold Reach for the Moon On June 3

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SONOMA, CA – The Moon Mountain District Winegrowers Association will hold Reach for the Moon!, the inaugural Moon Mountain District Master Class and Grand Tasting on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at the Gallo Family’s historic Monte Rosso Vineyard. 

Renowned wine authority and Vinous critic Antonio Galloni will host the Master Class, featuring a curated selection of wines made from celebrated Moon Mountain District sites, which are illustrated on Vinous’ groundbreaking new map of the region. A private tour of the Monte Rosso Vineyard, hosted by Ranch Manager Brenae Royal, follows. The Grand Tasting will include a wider offering of small-production wines from 30 of the Association’s members wineries, presented with a special menu developed by Executive Chef Joseph Paire of Berkeley’s Claremont Club and Spa Hotel.

Wineries confirmed to present their Moon Mountain District wines at Reach for the Moon! include Kamen Estate, Louis M. Martini, Lasseter Family Winery, Repris Wines, Pangloss Cellars, B. Wise Vineyards, Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyards & Winery, Bedrock Wine Company, Hanzell Vineyards and many more.

One of the country’s newer American Viticultural Areas (AVA), having been officially recognized in 2013, the Moon Mountain District has been home to carefully tended mountainside vineyards and small-production wines for over 130 years. The AVA is noted for its early efforts in organic and biodynamic vineyard practices dating to the 1980s. 

“Although the Moon Mountain District AVA is young, the region is steeped in history.” Antonio Galloni continues, “Reach for the Moon! will shine a light on the world-class wines being made in one of the most fascinating and storied viticultural areas in California.”

“As grape growers and winemakers in the Moon Mountain District, we carry on a generational commitment to serve as stewards of the AVA from which our highly regarded, small-production wines are sourced. Most of these wines are only available direct from the wineries or with limited distribution, so it’s a pleasure for us to share our wines at this first-of-its-kind event,” said Jim Momtazee, President of the Moon Mountain District Winegrowers Association and Proprietor of Moon Mountain Vineyard, Repris Wines and Pangloss Cellars. 

In recognition of the contributions of the Sonoma community to the success of the AVA, a portion of the proceeds will go to La Luz Center, supporting family services, economic advancement and community engagement. 

Reach for the Moon! tickets are available at  www.moonmountaindistrict.org/events  and include two ticketing options. The Full Pass Ticket is limited in availability and includes the Master Class, Monte Rosso Vineyard Tour and Grand Tasting, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Full Pass Tickets are $400 per person. The Grand Tasting Ticket provides access to the walk-around Grand Tasting where guests will enjoy wines from more than 30 Moon Mountain District wineries along with a substantial menu of food pairings designed to complement the wines. Grand Tasting Tickets are $250 per person.

Located on the Sonoma County side of the Mayacamas Mountains, the Moon Mountain District AVA descends from the tallest ridge peaks at an elevation of 2,200 feet, down the mountain slopes to an elevation of roughly 400 feet. The district’s western boundary rises above the towns of Kenwood and Glen Ellen and continues southeastward just above the city of Sonoma and reaches toward Carneros. Bordeaux varietals comprise the vast majority of plantings on Moon Mountain, primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, while Chardonnay is the major white grape varietal. The AVA also produces Zinfandel and Syrah as well as other desirable Bordeaux varieties including Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot, plus Pinot Noir from the southwestern edge of the AVA.

For more information and an overview of the wineries and growers within the Moon Mountain District Winegrowers Association, please visit the website at www.moonmountaindistrict.org. 

Review: Piper Sonoma Brut NV

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Love reviewing bubbly, and this time it was a Piper Sonoma Brut NV from Sonoma! Below are my tasting notes, information from the winery and a Brut-ish cocktail recipe for those that dare! (Note: my sample arrived packed in Styrofoam, which left a bit of “snow” on the bottle. I left it for the photograph as it was winter and I thought it apropos!)

Piper Sonoma Brut NB (SRP $22)

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes

Evaluated in a wine glass as opposed to a flute, the bubbles clung to the edges and center of my glass and the color was a pale lemon yellow. Aromas reminded me of peach, cantaloupe melon, kiwi, Bananas Foster and a wet sandy beach, all very interesting. Going in for a taste I noted fleshy ripe peaches, pears and lots of lemons, then toasty French bread with orange marmalade jam. A mild to medium acidity allowed for an extensive length that simply danced on my palate until I returned for another taste. Nicely done.

From the Winery

For nearly 40 years, Piper Sonoma has been handcrafting sparkling wines using Méthode Traditionnelle, the same technique used to craft the best Champagnes, but with a personality that is pure Sonoma. Here, creativity and individuality can run rampant, tempered only by an ingrained respect for the land and community.

It’s delicious on its own and is the perfect foundation for memorable mimosas, as well as seasonal cocktails like our “Winter in Sonoma” (recipe below and attached).

Winter in Sonoma

3oz Piper Sonoma Brut NV

1oz Gin

1oz Fresh clementine juice (1 juiced clementine)

1/2oz Winter simple syrup

1tsp fresh ginger zest Rosemary sprig

*Serve in coupe glass*

Instructions: Combine all ingredients (except Piper Sonoma) in ice-filled mixing glass and stir until cold. Strain into glass and top with Piper Sonoma Brut. Garnish with Clementine wheel and rosemary sprig.

Winter Simple Syrup (recipe makes 1 cup):

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

1 tsp whole cloves

2oz fresh ginger chunks

1 rosemary sprig

Instructions: Combine water, herbs and spices in a saucepan and bring to boil. Simmer for 10 minutes, then add sugar. Once sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and let steep for at least 30 minutes before using. Strain syrup into container. Can be stored in refrigerator for 2 weeks. 

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.

Garagiste Wine Festival Returns to Santa Ynez Valley: February 10th and 11th

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PASO ROBLES, CALIF. (PRWEB) – America’s Best Wine Festival, The Garagiste Wine Festival, returns to Solvang in Santa Ynez Valley on February 10th – 11th, offering rare access to over 30 of the most exciting small-production winemakers from the Santa Barbara County area. Tickets are now on sale here. Following on the heels of another sold-out year of events, the festival also announced its line-up for 2023, which includes Sonoma, Los Angeles and Paso Robles.

Hosted in Solvang, one of America’s 10 Best Small Historic Towns, for the ninth time, ‘Southern Exposure’ will be held at the landmark Mission-style Veterans’ Memorial Hall on Solvang’s Mission Street, which was named one of the US’ Top Ten Best Looking Main Streets.

“This charming town has a special place in our hearts, not least because it is at the center of some of the best winemaking in the world, but also because it is a beautiful and walkable place to spend a weekend –all while tasting over 150 ultra-premium, handcrafted small-lot production wines, and meeting their winemakers, under one roof,” said Doug Minnick, Garagiste Festival Co-founder.

2023 ‘Southern Exposure’ includes Garagiste’s Friday night signature “Rare & Reserve” tasting with a traditional Santa Maria-style BBQ dinner buffet on February 10th and the Grand Tasting on Saturday February 11th, which includes a Silent Auction filled with first-rate wine packages that benefit The Garagiste Festival Scholarship Fund at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Weekend Pass holders have entry into both events, along with lunch and a special Valentine’s Day treat. Sunday, February 12th is the popular Garagiste Passport Day, during which several participating wineries – including some “Garagiste Graduate” wineries who have poured with Garagiste in past, but have grown larger in over the years – will be offering special treats and discounts for Garagiste Festival attendees.

“We love our Solvang event,” continued Minnick. “The Vet’s Hall is right in the heart of the village and makes for a fantastic casual weekend of walking the town, seeing the sights, and enjoying the many restaurants, shops, and all that Solvang has to offer. It’s a great way to get a jump on celebrating with your Valentine. And Sunday’s Passport Day is a perfect excuse to take an extra day and night in town. Call in sick if you have to – we always do!”

Southern Exposure starts the 2023 Garagiste Festival season which will bring hundreds of new wine discoveries from across California to wine lovers in Solvang, Paso Robles, Sonoma and Los Angeles. Of the nearly 200 wineries showcased by the festival in 2022, 45 were new to the festival. The 2023 line-up, in addition to Solvang, includes: Garagiste ‘Northern Exposure’ in Sonoma (April 29), Garagiste ‘Urban Exposure’ in Los Angeles (June 17) and the ‘OG’ Festival in Paso Robles (November 10-11).

The Garagiste Festival premiered in Paso Robles in 2011 and is the only wine festival that exclusively features high quality wines from commercial California ‘garagiste’ winemakers. Unlike other festivals, the wines are poured by the winemakers/owners themselves, offering a rare opportunity to interact with the creative forces behind the wines, while making brand new wine discoveries. The festival expanded to the Santa Ynez Valley in 2013 to highlight the wines of Santa Barbara County and surrounding AVAs, as well as small production wineries from across California.

The 30+ winemakers scheduled to pour at the Garagiste Festival Southern Exposure include: 
Camin’s 2 Dream, Costa Vinedo*, Cypher Winery, Diablo Paso, Dusty Nabor Wines, Entourage Wines, Fuil Wines*, Greyscale Wiines, Hayseed and Housdon, Herrmann York Wine*, Imagine Wines, Kendric Vineyards, Kimsey Vineyard, Lepiane Wines, LePoidevin Cellars, Lions Peak Winery, MCV Wines, Montagne Russe, Montemar Winery, Pine Moutain Vineyards, RF Fine Wines, Seven Oxen Estate, Silver Wines, Steinbeck Vineyards, Sycamore Ranch, Tercero Wines, Tomi Cellars, Trixon Wine Company.*

*New Wineries

For more information and full Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure schedule details, go to: http://www.garagistefestival.com/

Tickets are limited for Garagiste Festival Southern Exposure. Garagiste Festivals always sell out in advance. To buy tickets, go to: https://www.my805tix.com/e/garagiste-solvang

For breaking Garagiste Festival news and special discounts, sign-up for our free newsletter, The Dirt, at https://www.garagistefestival.com/garagiste-blog or follow us on Twitter (@GaragisteFest) or Facebook.

Sponsors include: 
Bank of Marin, Digital Dogma, ETS Laboratories, Farm Credit West, Fortis Solutions Group, G3, Glenn Burdette, Laffort, mWEBB Communications, Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang, TricorBraun winepak, Vinland Hotel & Lounge, WIVI.

About The Garagiste Wine Festival 
The Garagiste (pronounced garage-east)Wine Festival (http://www.garagistefestival.com), named “Best of the Fests” for 2019 by Fest Forums and the ‘Best Wine Festival in the US in 2018 in USA Today’s 10Best Readers Choice Awards, is the first and only wine festival dedicated to the undiscovered and under-recognized American artisan ‘garagiste’ micro-wineries who are making some of the best, most exciting, handcrafted small-lot production wines in the world. Founded by fellow garagistes Stewart McLennan and Douglas Minnick, the Garagiste Festivals are committed to discovering the best and most innovative limited-production winemakers and promoting and showcasing them to a broad audience of discerning wine consumers. In addition to its flagship annual festival in Paso Robles, CA, the Garagiste Festival line-up includes Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure, featuring Santa Ynez Valley garagistes; the Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure, in Los Angeles; the Garagiste Festival, Northern Exposure, in Sonoma; winemaker dinners, a newsletter, garagiste profiles and more.

In addition to being named the US’ Best Wine Festival, the Garagiste Festival was named one of the ‘Top Nine Incredible Epicurean Vacations’ in the world by ABC News, “one of the premier wine events of the year,” by the LA Times and “Best Festival” by Sunset Magazine’s ‘Best of the West.’ The festivals are produced by Garagiste Events, a non-profit dedicated to furthering the education of future winemakers and those training for employment within the wine industry. Proceeds from the festivals support the Garagiste Festival Scholarship fund of the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo Wine and Viticulture Department.

Garagiste (garage-east) is a term originally used in the Bordeaux region of France to denigrate renegade small-lot wine makers, sometimes working in their “garages” (anything considered not a chateau), who refused to follow the “rules,” and is now a full-fledged movement responsible for making some of the best wine in the world. The Garagiste Festivals were the first to shine a light on the American garagiste winemaker in 2011.

The 2023 Rhone Rangers Experience

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(Paso Robles) – The national Rhone Rangers will host the 15th “Rhone Rangers Experience” on Sunday, February 19, 2023, in Paso Robles, CA. A full day is planned during the annual Presidents’ Weekend event, including a “Rhone Essentials” seminar, Vintners’ Luncheon, Grand Tasting of 200+ wines, and a Silent Auction benefitting the Rhone Rangers Scholarship Fund. Rhone Rangers from throughout the organization will be represented, including wineries from Paso Robles, Santa Barbara County, Monterey County, Napa, Sonoma, Lodi, the Sierra Foothills, Oregon, and Texas.

The Rhone Rangers, who are dedicated to the education and the promotion of American Rhone varietal wines, will present a top example of each of the principal categories of Rhone wines during the seminar. The morning session will be moderated by Jess Lander, wine reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle and author, with a panel of winemakers and principals who have chosen the Rhone Ranger route. Rhone Rangers representing the nine essential categories include: Viognier –Eberle Winery-Paso Robles, Obscure White-Rhone Varietal (Picpoul) – Bonny Doon Vineyard,-Central Coast, White-Rhone Blend – Acquiesce-Lodi, Dry Rosé – Margerum Wine Company-Santa Barbara County, Grenache – Starfield Vineyards-El Dorado, Mourvèdre – J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines-Paso Robles, Syrah – Cline Family Cellars- Los Carneros, Sonoma County, Obscure Red Varietal (Counoise) – Adelaida Vineyards & Winery-Paso Robles, and Red-Rhone Blend – Stolpman- Ballard Canyon, Santa Barbara County.  Following the seminar, participants will enjoy an al fresco luncheon prepared by Chef Jeffery Scott.

The afternoon segment of the Rhone Rangers Experience will include a Grand Tasting of 200+ wines from Rhone Rangers members, including top single Rhone varietals and the best in Rhone blends. Throughout the tasting, guests are invited to bid on auction lots donated by Rhone Ranger member wineries, with proceeds benefitting the Rhone Rangers educational and scholarship fund.

An “All-Access” package is available, including the Welcoming Coffee Bar/Auction Preview, Seminar, Luncheon, and early-entry into the Grand Tasting and Silent Auction ($165 per person + tax/fees), or guests may select the Grand Tasting/Silent Auction afternoon segment ($75 per person + tax/fees). Trade and media inquiries may be sent to kim@rhonerangers.org. For additional information and to reserve tickets, visit the Rhone Rangers website, www.rhonerangers.org.  

About the Rhone Rangers

Founded in 1998, the Rhone Rangers are a group of 100+ wineries throughout the United States dedicated to making wines from the 22 grape varieties originally made famous in France’s Rhône Valley.  With a mission to educate and promote American Rhone varietal wines, the organization holds special events and fundraisers throughout the year to raise funds for the Rhone Rangers Scholarship Fund, which benefits students studying viticulture, enology and wine business.

Third Generation Family-Owned Sangiacomo Vineyards Celebrates 95 Years of Farming in Sonoma County

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SONOMA, Calif.,/PRNewswire/ — The pioneering Sangiacomo family, leaders in sustainable grape growing in Sonoma County, are honored to celebrate 95 years of farming and stewardship in Sonoma.

The Sangiacomo family’s roots in Sonoma County began on August 30, 1927, when founder Vittorio Sangiacomo signed the deed to the 55-acre Eden Dale ranch, at the southern end of the Sonoma Valley in what is now the Carneros appellation. The historic agricultural property, dating back to the mid-1800s, was at the time an award-winning fruit tree farm, planted to apples, pears, peaches, prunes and cherries. Though Vittorio and family first found success focusing on the cultivation of pear trees, the Sangiacomos shifted their agricultural focus when they planted their first Sonoma vineyard, Green Acres, in 1969. For the past 53 years, the family has continued their farming heritage by growing premium cool-climate wine grapes from their 1,600 acres of certified sustainable estate vineyards in Carneros, the Petaluma Gap, and Sonoma Coast. Along with launching their namesake wine brand in 2016, they are proud to continue to work with over 70 wineries, many with long-lasting relationships spanning decades.

The original Eden Dale property, now known as the Sangiacomo family “Home Ranch,” is the heart and soul of the family business. It’s where the second and third generations of the family learned the value of stewardship and sustainability, and where, 95 years later, they continue their long-standing tradition in farming. The 110-acre Home Ranch is also home to the Sangiacomo Family Wines tasting room, where visitors can taste small-lot Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon wines from the family’s historic vineyards, while gaining insight into the history of the family and the land they’ve farmed for nearly a century.

“When my brother Mike, sister Mia and I reflect on 95 years of farming, commitment, passion, and family heritage come to mind,” says Steve Sangiacomo, third-generation partner. “From the progression of growing pears to wine grapes, three generations have worked side-by-side and have shared the vision to seek opportunity, take risks, and evolve our family business. We would not be where we are today without the knowledge and values we learned from our grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunt. It’s an honor to continue our family’s agricultural journey, planting the seeds to enable future generations to build upon this legacy.”

To celebrate this near-century milestone, the Sangiacomos are releasing the remaining amounts of their Home Ranch Chardonnay from their library, including the inaugural 2016 vintage, along with many of their other exclusive estate bottlings. All are available at the Sangiacomo Home Ranch tasting room, located two miles south of the Sonoma Plaza.

About Sangiacomo Vineyards

As multigenerational Sonoma farmers with roots tracing back to 1927, the Sangiacomo family have continued their farming heritage by growing premium cool-climate grapes from their 1,600 acres of certified sustainable estate vineyards. Widely recognized as leading growers in California, the Sangiacomos also make estate wines for their own label, Sangiacomo Family Wines. A true family business with over 50 years of grape growing experience, they bring unparalleled knowledge and expertise, and lead with a commitment to quality and authenticity in all areas of operations. Working with acclaimed winemaker James MacPhail, the family produces limited quantities of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon wines that express the character of the land they’ve farmed for 95 years, and hope to call home, for generations. For more information, visit www.sangiacomowines.com.

How it Began: Bushman and Perlis and Wine

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Back in 2009, or maybe even a bit earlier, I had an appointment with our insurance agent at her office in Newhall. She mentioned that a “money guy” who worked down the hall, had been reading my wine column in The Signal newspaper and wanted to meet me. The guy was Michael Perlis. That fateful day was the beginning of a great relationship.

I walked over to Michael’s office, knocked, and we met. Come to find Michael was a fan and a wine lover, but he also had a motive in meeting me, he wanted to contribute to Eve’s Wine 101 website and also…be my editor to catch and correct all of the errors he had read of mine over the years! Egads – one of Michael’s favorite Eve-ism words – and off we were. I don’t know if he said all of this in our first meeting or later after we four – with our spouses Eddie and Karen – had met over wine a few times, but this is how I remember it.

Flash forward a bit more to one of my articles for Eve’s Wine 101, and the first time that Michael chimed in on my post. That was May of 2009. Michael began writing a weekly column, which ran most Saturdays following my column on Fridays. Over the years I’ve learned more about wine through Michael’s articles – even more now that his wife Karen is co-writing them – and I suspect he’s learned from some of mine.

We’ve shared wine event plans, wine trip plans, tasting notes, and plenty of wine over the years. But mostly we’ve shared a deep friendship, common interests and goals for our website.

More collaboration included Michael pushing me to create Eve Bushman Consulting where for over a decade we assisted non-profits but also wineries, bars and restaurants with marketing and events. (We had been asked for advice many times, based on our wine/spirits knowledge, experience and knowing our city.) More of that can be found via a Google search or Eve’s Wine 101 blog.

Some of our amazing memories include the story behind the photo I chose for this post: we offered our consulting services to the Wish Education Foundation when we presented an idea of having the first wine tasting in the Old Town Newhall Library. We recruited pals, including co-host Marlee Lauffer, to open their own cellared wines, as well as wineries and local restaurants that were willing to participate. There’s a lot more on that event and others in our blog, it’s just one example to illustrate our collaboration, and the support of our spouses that also gave up their time and their wine. This particular event was called A Toast And A Wish.

Wine Interests

While Michael and Karen had wine tasted in Paso Robles, when we first met I hadn’t been there yet. Michael taught me that the Central Coast – and Sonoma, an area I also didn’t visit often – had plenty to offer. I learned pretty quickly that it was time to hit the road. I was mostly an armchair writer at that point, except for trips only to Napa now and then.  Our wine tastes sometimes differ- I am big on Napa Cabs, Rhônes and Bordeaux – but we appreciate each other’s palate. We both love Zinfandel! I’ve learned that getting out of my comfort zone – and a rut – helped me learn even more about wine.

Our own relationship

On a personal note, up until Covid, Michael and I enjoyed monthly staff lunches over wine. Michael brought the wine and I footed the bill, and I know Michael was the more generous one here! We would cover business, and then get down to harmless gossip, travel plans and ideas. Almost every time when a new challenge faced us, Michael always found a way to bolster my ego – and our collective talents – to take on any challenge. We enjoyed supporting our favorite local restaurants too, and hope to renew these lunch meetings as soon as Covid stops plaguing us all.

Michael’s Bio

I have been pursuing my passion for wine for more than 25 years. I have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show me the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages me and shares my interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as I possibly could, I had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, I do my best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. You can contact Michael at: michaelthezinfan@aol.com

From Eve

Not sure what prompted this article. I had recently reached out to Michael for his thoughts on changing our weekly newsletter to twice monthly, and possibly not having daily content. While I’ve retired Eve Bushman Consulting, Eve’s Wine 101 blog is standing firm as both of us have no plans to stop writing and supporting the wine and spirits industry. Whatever it was, I’m happy to report that we are both thankful to our loyal readers, now for well over a decade! And maybe I just wanted Michael to know, as he is editing this article like all of my others, how much he is loved and appreciated. Egads!

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in 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 Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Eve Picks: Garagiste Wine Festival Returns to Glendale with 40+ Wineries On July 22nd and 23rd

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America’s Best Wine Festival [1], The Garagiste Wine Festival, returns to LA July 22nd and 23rd with a dynamic line-up of over 40 of some of the best micro-production ‘garagiste’ wineries from across California, including Santa Barbara County, Paso Robles, Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Los Angeles. Events include a Friday evening Rare and Reserve party and a tasting seminar on ancient winemaking techniques made modern. All events take place at the Glendale Civic Auditorium. Tickets on sale here.

“We are excited to be back in Southern California with another slate of remarkable and innovative wineries from almost every California AVA,” said Garagiste Festival Co-founder Doug Minnick. “The Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure offers one of the most unique wine discovery opportunities available in the LA area. Most of these wineries do not have tasting rooms, and you will never find them on supermarket shelves, but you will find them all under one spacious roof in Glendale this July. You’ll be able to taste a wide range of California wine country’s hidden, and one-of-a-kind, gems right in your backyard. And all for considerably less than the cost of gas for a trip to wine country.”

Dubbed “tasting nirvana,” “strange and wondrous,” and “one not to miss” by the LA Times, the Garagiste Festival showcases under-the-radar, innovative, commercial winemakers who handcraft 1500 cases or less of wine and is renowned for its diversity of wines, renegade spirit, passionate winemakers, handcrafted wines and rules-breaking, ‘no snobs allowed’ ethos.

Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure is Los Angeles’ only wine festival that exclusively features high quality wines from commercial California ‘garagiste’ winemakers and, unlike other festivals, the wines are poured by the winemakers/owners themselves, offering a rare opportunity to interact with the creative forces behind the wines, while making brand new wine discoveries.

The Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure kicks off on Friday night July 22nd at 6:30 pm with the “No Repeats Rare and Reserve” party, an exclusive and intimate event (only 200 tickets available) that showcases over 50 extremely limited Club Only, Library and Pre-Release bottles, as well as some barrel samples. The event includes a taco buffet from Ibarra Catering and Eating.

Saturday’s festivities begin at 11:30am for VIP ticketholders with “Ancient Techniques in Modern Times,” a tasting seminar moderated by Garagiste Festival co-founder Stewart McLennan and featuring Nathan DeCamps of Innate Wines and Greg LaFollette of La Follette Wines. The seminar takes attendees on an exploration of ancient fermentation and aging techniques used by winemakers today to create expressive and distinctive wines.

“What is old is new again … and this seminar proves that with tastings of delicious wines vinified with techniques inspired by the past,” said Minnick. “Many of these techniques are labor-intensive and time-consuming, relying on a true ‘hands-on-every-barrel’ approach that typifies Garagiste winemaking. As with all Garagiste events, ‘Ancient Techniques in Modern Times’ is a fantastic opportunity for our attendees to taste, learn and have fun, all at the same time.”

Saturday’s main event, The Grand Tasting, starts at 2:00pm (1:00pm for early access ticket holders) and features over 40 winemakers pouring 150+ wines and 20+ grape varieties. Complimentary cheese and charcuterie will be provided, along with food samples from local artisan vendors, bottled water and a souvenir Stolzle crystal wine glass.

All events take place at Glendale Civic Auditorium, 1401 North Verdugo Road, Glendale, CA. There is plenty of onsite parking and easy access from the 134 and 210 freeways

Among the over 40 winemakers pouring at The Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure 2022 are:
Acri Wine Co.*, Alms Sol Winery, Amrita Cellars, Arianna Wines, Boonville Road Wines, Bushong Vintage Wine Co., Caelesta Vineyard*, DENO Wines, Dusty Nabor Wines, Etnyre Wines, Ferguson Family Wines, Forgotten Union Wines, Greyscale Wines, Intent Wines*, Kaleidos Winery, Light of Day Winery*, Marin’s Vineyard, MCV Wines, Murder Ridge, Omega Road Winery*, Optio Vineyards*, Pine Mountain Vineyards, Prima Materia*, Purple Dragon Cellars, Rails Nap Wines, RF Fine Wines, San Rucci Winery, Seven Oxen Estate, Terre et Sang, Tomi Cellars*, Topophilia Wines*, Trois le Fou*, Turiya Wines, Two Papas Wines, Wander Must Wine, Wildflower Winery* and Zobeto Wines*.

*First Time Garagiste Participants

Tickets are very limited for the Garagiste Festivals and always sell out. Tickets are available here.

For breaking Garagiste Festival news and special discounts, sign-up for our free newsletter, The Dirt, at https://www.garagistefestival.com/garagiste-blog or follow us on Twitter (@GaragisteFest) or Facebook.

Sponsors include:
Bank of Marin, Cabot Cheese, Digital Dogma, ETS, Farm Credit West, Glenn Burdette, G3, Laffort, mWEBB Communications, Vinebase, WIVI. For sponsorship info, email info(at)garagistefestival.com.
The non-profit Garagiste Festivals benefit the Cal Poly SLO Wine and Viticulture program.
For sponsorship info, email info@garagistefestival.com

For more information and full Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure schedule details, go to: https://www.garagistefestival.com/los-angeles-2022

About The Garagiste Wine Festival
The Garagiste Wine Festival (http://www.garagistefestival.com), named “Best of the Fests” for 2019 by Fest Forums and the ‘Best Wine Festival in the US in 2018 in USA Today’s 10Best Readers Choice Awards, is the first and only wine festival dedicated to the undiscovered and under-recognized American artisan ‘garagiste’ micro-wineries who are making some of the best, most exciting, handcrafted small-lot production wines in the world. Founded by fellow garagistes Stewart McLennan and Douglas Minnick, the Garagiste Festivals are committed to discovering the best and most innovative limited-production winemakers and promoting and showcasing them to a broad audience of discerning wine consumers. In addition to its flagship annual festival in Paso Robles, CA, the Garagiste Festival line-up includes Garagiste Festival: Southern Exposure, featuring Santa Ynez Valley garagistes; the Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure, in Los Angeles; the Garagiste Festival, Northern Exposure, in Sonoma; winemaker dinners, a newsletter, garagiste profiles and more.

In addition to being named the US’ Best Wine Festival, the Garagiste Festival was named one of the ‘Top Nine Incredible Epicurean Vacations’ in the world by ABC News, “one of the premier wine events of the year,” by the LA Times and “Best Festival” by Sunset Magazine’s ‘Best of the West.’ The festivals are produced by Garagiste Events, a non-profit dedicated to furthering the education of future winemakers and those training for employment within the wine industry. Proceeds from the festivals support the Garagiste Festival Scholarship fund of the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo Wine and Viticulture Department.

Garagiste (garage-east) is a term originally used in the Bordeaux region of France to denigrate renegade small-lot wine makers, sometimes working in their “garages” (anything considered not a chateau), who refused to follow the “rules,” and is now a full-fledged movement responsible for making some of the best wine in the world. The Garagiste Festivals were the first to shine a light on the American garagiste winemaker in 2011.

[1] The Garagiste Wine Festival was named “Best of the Fests” for 2019 by Fest Forums and the ‘Best Wine Festival in the US in 2018 in USA Today’s 10 best Readers Choice Awards.

Perlises Pick: Soda Rock Winery

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A trip to the Healdsburg area wouldn’t be complete without visiting Antoine Favero. Antoine is a winemaker for several of the Wilson Family Wineries. We’ve met with him a few times at Mazzocco Sonoma in Dry Creek Valley [with a focus on amazing Zinfandels] and at Jaxon Keys in Mendocino County [love those Rhone varietals] but we felt we should expand our reporting so we agreed to meet at Soda Rock Winery in Alexander Valley, which specializes in Bordeaux varietals.

Pulling up to Soda Rock Winery should be very impressive for any first-time visitor. It sure was for us. Visible from the road is the towering figure of Lord Snort, who is directly in front of the sadly burnt-out husk of the original winery and tasting room that was destroyed in the 2019 Kincade fire. The winery building was about 150 years old and was the original site of the Alexander Valley general store and post office. Ken and Diane Wilson purchased the property in the year 2000.

By now, you might be wondering who is Lord Snort, whose photo is included with this article. Lord Snort is a 20,000 steel sculpture created by local artist, Bryan Tedrick. This is the second of his sculptures at a Wilson family winery property, being preceded by the Coyote sculpture at Wilson Winery in the Dry Creek Valley.

Lord Snort actually made his debut at Burning Man – check out this video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=edNJ_uGzlmA – and the rumor is he will be there again.

We arrived at Soda Rock a little before Antoine got there and were greeted warmly by tasting room hostess, Madison. She gave us the option of tasting in the refurbished barn or outside among the trees right next to the vineyard and we chose the latter. Although Antoine had planned an afternoon of red wines for us, Madison poured us a couple of whites to get us started.  She also brought over some cheeses and charcuterie to nibble on, which are available for purchase with your tasting.

Kenneth Carl Sparkling Brut – blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with a kiss of Pinot Meunier.  Notes of green apple, ripe pear.  Made at the Jaxon Keys winery in Mendocino but available at all of the Wilson family wineries. 

2019 Chardonnay Reserve West Soda Rock – Alexander Valley, 100% Chardonnay. Notes of lemon, blood orange and sweet honey.

By now, Antoine had arrived. It was such a pleasure to see him again. Not only is he a great winemaker but the passion he exudes for his craft is infectious. It had clearly rubbed off on Madison who continued to pour the wines and share her thoughts on them.

2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Twisted Rail – Alexander Valley near Cloverdale   Named for a 2011 abandoned railroad tunnel fire that was originally built in 1898, this wine is 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot.  Medium color and tannin, big and bright with notes of cigar and black cherry and a dry, clean finish.

2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Five Star General – Alexander Valley.   95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot.  The best of the barrels for each varietal go into this.  Chocolate, blue and black berry notes with supple and subtle tannins.

2018 Malbec Reserve Runway – Dry Creek Valley near the Mazzocco winery. 77% Malbec, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon. Tangy and deep, but brightened up by the Cabernet.  Cherry, cedar and leather notes. 

2019 Cabernet Franc Warm Springs Ranch – Dry Creek Valley near Lake Sonoma, the wine is   93% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot. These vines are at 1700 ft elevation; they get stressed from the high elevation, but are cooled by the nearby afternoon marine breezes. Fruit forward and very well rounded.

2019 Meritage Alexander Valley – Sonoma County. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot. Notes of dark plum fruit along with chewiness from the Cab Franc, with a full mouthfeel and a long finish.

2019 Lord Snort – Sonoma County. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot   We might have expected a wine named after a steel sculpture of a wild boar to be frivolous, but we should have known better. This was a serious wine, with lots of depth from the Merlot

2019 Zinfandel Wentworth – Sonoma County. It wouldn’t have been a visit with Antoine without a great Zin; this one is 75% Zinfandel, 20% Primitivo and 5% Petite Sirah. It is named after Fred Wentworth, the original owner of the Alexander Valley general store that housed the Soda Rock Winery before the fire.  Tart, fruit-forward, dark fruit, chocolate and vanilla notes, tinge of nutmeg and ginger, herbaceous.

2019 Primitivo Lytton Station – Alexander Valley. 96% Primitivo, 4% Petite Sirah. Persian cucumber nose with vanilla and cinnamon notes, refreshing and cool.

We really enjoyed all of these wines and highly recommend visiting Soda Rock Winery. There is so much local history in the refurbished barn saved from the fire that we found interesting.  It made for a leisurely wine tasting afternoon.  We would be remiss if we did not remind our readers of the Children of Vineyard Workers Scholarship Fund created by Ken and Diane Wilson in 2002 in collaboration with the Sonoma County Farm Bureau. Per the website, this fund has distributed more than $500,000 in scholarships. Antoine administers this program and was excited to tell us that one of their recipients had just gotten accepted into Yale. Wow, talk about life-changing!

Soda Rock Winery

www.sodarockwinery.com

8015 CA-128, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Please note there is also a tasting room in downtown Healdsburg:

409A Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.

Vintners Resort Appoints New General Manager

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Santa Rosa, Calif. — Vintners Resort announces the appointment of Brian Sommer as General Manager. He will continue to guide the vision of owner Rhonda Carano, and her late husband, Don, for the 92-acre Italian-inspired property that is home to a luxury hotel, an event center, Vi La Vita Spa, and three restaurants, including the acclaimed John Ash & Co. 

“Brian brings the expertise, skillset and ambition we need to maintain the standard of excellence we’ve established at Vintners Resort,” said Rhonda Carano. “He understands high levels of service and understands guests’ needs. He will be an integral part of our team and a big part of this property’s bright future.”

Sommer brings 22 years of hospitality experience in addition to being a graduate with honors from The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. Most recently, he helped Chef Dustin Valette and Craig Ramsey launch The Matheson, a three story, 231 seat restaurant and roof top bar, located on the plaza in downtown Healdsburg. Prior to opening The Matheson, Sommer was the longest tenured General Manager at Hotel Les Mars in Healdsburg where he earned the highest Forbes rating for lodging in Sonoma County. He’s also worked with the Four Seasons in New York, Dallas, Palm Beach, and the West Indies.

Sommer has served as chair of the Healdsburg Tourism Improvement District (HTID) and was selected as a recipient of The Spirit of Sonoma Award for his dedicated support of the local lodging industry and his commitment to economic development in his community. He currently serves on the board of directors for Reach for Home, a non-profit organization whose mission is to end homelessness in Sonoma County. “Vintners Resort and John Ash & Co. have been home to many of the great chefs and hospitality leaders in Sonoma County,” said Sommer. “I hope to further its storied history by combining the warmth of Sonoma County’s down to earth personality with a detailed level of service that makes each guest feel valued and cherished.” 

About Vintners Resort

Vintners Resort is a serene, luxurious getaway in Sonoma County, CA. Encompassed by 55 acres of vineyards in the Russian River Valley appellation, The Hotel at Vintners Resort is a AAA, Four-Diamond 78-room boutique hotel that is California Green Certified. The property features award-winning, on-site dining, a luxury spa, a conference and events center and an array of amenities from Bocce ball to a vineyard trail. The resort is an ideal location for a romantic getaway, wellness retreat, business trip or a dream wine country wedding. Reminiscent of a European village with culinary gardens, sparkling fountains and vineyard views, this lush enclave offers a tranquil escape that is conveniently located in the best of wine country.  Learn more at VintnersResort.com.

Perlises Pick: Jeff Cohn Cellars

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We’ve tasted wines from Jeff Cohn Cellars many times, but always at events, where the wines were poured by Jeff or his wife, Alexandra. We had never had an opportunity to sit down and taste through the lineup with Jeff and hear the full story.

We finally were able meet with Jeff at their recently opened tasting room in Healdsburg. You can read all about Jeff Cohn Cellars on the website here www.jeffcohncellars.com/about-our-story but ultimately, it turns out that their story is a multi-faceted love story.

First and foremost, the love story of Jeff Cohn Cellars is about Alexandra and Jeff and their family. They met while they were both working at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Virginia – Jeff was F&B Cost Controller and Alexandra was an accounting trainee. Coincidentally, they had both also attended Florida International University. Alexandra’s career path took her back to Florida and Jeff joined her there, working on cruise ships for two years. But being in the hospitality industry often means being bitten by the wine bug and eventually, they moved to California. Jeff had already worked as an intern at Boordy Vineyards in Maryland but during the process of obtaining his Master’s in Agricultural Chemistry at Cal State Fresno, he discovered French techniques as well as the wines of the Northern and Southern Rhone plus Zinfandel. The rest was history.

It is also apparent the love that Jeff has for his colleagues and mentors, both former and current, most notably the late Kent Rosenblum. Jeff went to work for Kent at Rosenblum Cellars after graduating from CSUF, moving up the line to eventually become winemaker and then vice president of winemaking and production. He left in 2006 to focus on Jeff Cohn Cellars [then called JC Cellars] which he had founded in 1996, but not before making his permanent mark on the wine world by having Rosenblum’s 2003 Rockpile Road Zinfandel hit #3 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list.

Finally, and certainly not least, is Jeff’s love of wine grapes, particularly, as mentioned above, Rhones and Zins.

So yes, we are finally getting to what we tasted –

2017 Iris Sparkling Brut Rose – named after Jeff’s beloved mother, this delicious bubbly is a blend of 60% Grenache (Rossi Ranch), 20% Syrah (Rockpile) and 20% Mourvedre (Rossi Ranch). Modeled after the wines from the France’s Tavel region, Karen picked up notes of Persimmon.

2018 Rossi Ranch GSM – a classic blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 20% Mourvedre, this wine had a long finish, with sausage spices notes.

2018 Maggie’s Vineyard – 100% Zinfandel from vines that are over 120 years old         . Many textures and layers on this wine that Jeff dedicated to his friend Kent [see above].

2017 Sweetwater Springs – 100% Petite Sirah. Dark, ruby red, purple in color, big and balanced.

2017 Domain Des Chirats -100% Rockpile Syrah – A joint project with Yves Cuilleron, Northern Rhone winemaker from Chavanay, France (half of this wine’s production is exported to France). Big luscious berry notes; one of the finest Syrahs we’ve tasted.

2016 Stagecoach Marsanne – 85% Marsanne, 15% Roussanne. The last wine we tasted was a white. We asked Jeff why other wineries pour their whites first and he said “because they are doing it wrong.” Seriously though, white wines poured at the beginning of a tasting are often forgotten by the end. We wouldn’t have forgotten this one though no matter where in the tasting it was poured. A wonderful palate brightener with delicious tropical fruits to wake up the taste buds. Crisp citrus notes and a big mouth feel. This Napa Valley vineyard was bought by Gallo a few years ago so we are not sure what the future holds for these varietals there.

Jeff Cohn makes more wines in addition to the ones we tasted.  He has many more Rhones and single vineyard Zins sourced from Sonoma, Napa and the central coast. They are definitely worth a stop when you are in Healdsburg or in the Santa Rosa area or interested in making an online purchase.

We expect you’ll love them as much as we did.

Jeff Cohn Cellars

34 North St, Healdsburg, CA 95448

www.jeffcohncellars.com

Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.