Eve's Wine 101

Auberge du Soleil Celebrates Third-Annual “Rosé All May

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RUTHERFORD, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Signaling the first taste of summer, Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley’s quintessential adults-only getaway, unveils its third-annual, month-long “Rosé All May” celebration centered around the release of the hotel’s private label Rosé. Throughout the month of May, hotel guests are invited to join in the festivities by reserving a Rosé All May special offer that includes:

  • A two-night stay in a choice of luxurious accommodations (Sunday through Thursday)
  • An upgrade to the next available room category upon arrival (subject to availability)
  • In-room welcome bottle of Auberge du Soleil Rosé
  • Three-course prix fixe lunch on the hotel’s famed outdoor dining terrace, with each course paired with a select Rosé
  • Full breakfast served daily at the Michelin Star Restaurant
  • 10% off all services at the exclusive Auberge du Soleil Spa
  • Access to the complimentary Mercedes-Benz Guest Drive Program

“Nothing expresses the first taste of summer like a perfectly chilled glass of Rosé,” said Bradley Reynolds, Managing Director of Auberge du Soleil. “Each year we look forward to celebrating the official opening of Rosé Season by showcasing everyone’s favorite summer beverage throughout the property. From complimentary daily Rosé tastings to Rosé-inspired spa services, Auberge du Soleil will be ‘in the pink’ the entire month of May.”

Photo Arizona Foothills Magazine

Special Rosé cocktails will be featured throughout the month as Auberge du Soleil partners with Haus, a local pioneer of farm-to-bottle apéritifs, to create refreshing low-ABV (alcohol by volume) beverages. Guests may enjoy Haus Spa Water featuring Haus Rose Rosé served over ice with cucumber and lemon while relaxing after a treatment at the Spa; a Rose Rosé Spritz while lounging poolside; or a refreshing Haus on the Rocks at The Bistro.

“We’re thrilled to work with the team at Auberge du Soleil, who share our values of quality, sustainability, and creativity,” said Helena Price Hambrecht, Haus Co-Founder and CEO. “We look forward to working together to bring a unique, rose-themed cocktail experience to Napa Valley.”

In addition, the following Rosé All May amenities will be available to all guests at the property throughout the month:

  • A selection of still and sparkling Rosés available at guest check-in
  • Welcome bottle of Auberge du Soleil Rosé delivered to each guest room upon arrival
  • La Vie en Rosé Body Treatment and Rejuvenating Rose Spring Facial featured at the exclusive Auberge du Soleil Spa
  • Complimentary afternoon Rosé tastings in the Courtyard each day of the month
  • An expanded list of still and sparkling Rosés served by the glass at The Bistro
  • Rosé Sangria served at the La Plage adult swimming pool and sun terrace

To reserve the Rosé All May guest stay experience book online or contact Auberge du Soleil Reservations directly at 1.800.348.5406. Dining reservations are available at OpenTable for The Restaurant and The Bistro.

About Auberge du Soleil
Inspired by the relaxed sophistication of the South of France and infused with California soul, Auberge du Soleil features wine country’s most luxurious accommodations, spectacular valley views, a Michelin Star Restaurant, and the exclusive Auberge du Soleil Spa. Nestled within a 33-acre hillside olive grove, the “Inn of the Sun” is celebrated for delivering passionate, intuitive service that embodies gracious Napa Valley hospitality. The 50 residential-style rooms, suites and private maisons set the stage for romance in the seclusion of the adults-only environment. The property is a long-standing member of Relais & Châteaux, an international association of outstanding boutique properties known for their excellence in hospitality and the culinary arts and the flagship hotel for the Auberge Resorts Collection.
For more information visit http://www.aubergedusoleil.com and follow on Instagram or Facebook @AubergeduSoleil.

About Haus
Haus is the pioneer of the modern apéritif market, creating better-for-you, great tasting low-ABV beverages for every palate. Made with natural, responsibly sourced fruits, herbs, and botanicals, Haus is transparent about their processes and ingredients so you know exactly what’s in your glass. With about half the alcohol of hard liquor, Haus is for those who want to enjoy the social ritual of drinking without the undesired consequences. Haus is sold in select retail, bars, and restaurants across California with continued expansion to other states in 2022. Visit drink.haus and follow along @drinkhaus.

About Relais & Châteaux
Created in 1954, Relais & Châteaux is an organization of more than 560 exceptional hotels and restaurants run by independent men and women, all driven by a passion for their profession and dedicated to the authenticity of the relationships they build with their customers. With operations on all five continents, from the vineyards of Napa Valley to Provence and the beaches of the Indian Ocean, Relais & Châteaux members invite all to discover the art of living enshrined in the location’s culture, and share a unique, human story. Relais & Châteaux members have a profound desire to protect and showcase the richness and diversity of the cuisine and inviting cultures of the world. They worked towards this goal, along with the goal to preserve local heritages and the environment, through a UNESCO Manifesto in November 2014. For more information please visit http://www.relaischateaux.com.

About Auberge Resorts Collection
Auberge Resorts Collection is a portfolio of extraordinary hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs. While each property is unique, all share a crafted approach to luxury and bring the soul of the locale to life through captivating design, exceptional cuisine, innovative spas, and gracious yet unobtrusive service. With 22 one-of-a-kind hotels and resorts, Auberge invites guests to create unforgettable stories in some of the world’s most desirable destinations.
For more information: aubergeresorts.com
Connect with Auberge Resorts Collection on Facebook Twitter and Instagram @AubergeResorts and #AlwaysAuberge

About The Friedkin Group
The Friedkin Group is a privately-held consortium of automotive, hospitality, entertainment, sports and adventure companies. These organizations include: Gulf States Toyota, GSFSGroup, US AutoLogistics, Ascent Automotive Group, Auberge Resorts Collection, AS Roma, Imperative Entertainment, 30WEST, NEON, Diamond Creek Golf Club, Congaree and Legendary Expeditions. The Friedkin Group is led by Chairman and CEO Dan Friedkin. For more information, visit http://www.friedkin.com.

Breckenridge Wine Classic, Held in the Heart of the Rockies, Returns this September

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GOLDEN, Colo.  – The Breckenridge Wine Classic tickets are now on sale for the September 15-17 festival. Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the Breckenridge Wine Classic is a three-day festival anchored by the two-day Grand Tasting in addition to unique seminars such as a guided hike and pairing with master winemakers, wine dinners planned by world-class sommeliers, and more than 100 wineries, breweries, distilleries, and epicurean purveyors at this ultimate food, wine and sensory experience.

“The Breckenridge Wine Classic is the accessible wine festival with world-class offerings nestled in the mountains that we always wanted to see,” said Breckenridge Wine Classic Festival Events and Marketing Director Kristen Horpedahl. “With pricing starting at $75, it’s an affordable, yet highly desirable destination, for a weekend getaway with friends, bachelorette party, couples’ trip and more.”

The 2022 Breckenridge Wine Classic, celebrating its eighth year, includes:

  • The Grand Tasting, Friday, Sept. 16 and Saturday, Sept. 17: The Classic’s Grand Tasting features an impressive selection of hundreds of domestic and international wines, plus premium craft beer and spirits. In an effort to provide a truly intimate tasting experience for patrons, there will be two sessions of the Grand Tasting. Both sessions feature the same beverages and samples.

  • Pairings & Seminars, all weekend: Ticketed seminars play into a variety of interests and activities. You could take a hike with a winemaker followed by a paired lunch; learn the basics of wine pairing at home; or taste why the wine glass really does make all the difference.

  • Wine dinners, Thursday, Sept. 15: Expertly curated wine dinners and paired lunches will be held at local top dining restaurants across Breckenridge with Master Sommeliers and winemakers.

“Whether you are a full-fledged foodie or an emerging gourmand, you are sure to find more than one event to whet your appetite at the wine classic,” said Slater. “There is something for everyone – from tastings next to a Rocky Mountain backdrop, to deeply educational seminars and luncheons, to outdoor adventures with food and wine influences, there are tastes and temptations at every turn.”

More details regarding the seminars and events will be released closer to the festival. Volunteer applications will open in June.

The Vail Wine Classic Returns August 11-13

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GOLDEN, Colo. – Team Player Productions, producers of world-class food and drink festivals across the country, announces the return of the Vail Wine Classic August 11-13, 2022. The three-day wine destination event of the summer showcases the best wines from around the world to provide an immersive tasting experience that is unparalleled. New to the Classic this year is Best of Fest, a Friday evening event that features exclusive portfolios with 90+ point ratings, reserve bottles, and high end wines. Tickets are via Eventbrite.
“The Vail Wine Classic is the perfect weekend getaway for anyone looking for an elevated wine tasting experience,” says Vail Wine Classic Event Director Kristen Slater. “Beyond the all-inclusive tastings, we’re providing a weekend filled with enticing events that include a sunset tasting featuring high-end wines from the most exclusive portfolios, paired dinners with local chefs, and educational seminars. This is a wine lover’s dream come true!”
Best of Fest (Friday, August 12)
Raise a glass at the Best of Fest as the sun sets over Vail Valley. New to the Classic this year is an intimate event from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Vail Nordic Club (1775 Sunburst Dr. Vail, CO. 81657) that includes carefully selected gems from exclusive portfolios for you to sip, swirl, and savor. Only 90+ point ratings, reserve bottles, and higher price points will make the cut in this unique tasting opportunity where chefs have prepared a menu of small plates with suggested pairings to perfectly compliment your wine collection.
The Best of Fest ($195) ticket allows you to enjoy a curated selection of reserve bottles at the Classic. This all-inclusive access features a tapas style pairing and incredible views of Vail Valley.
The Grand Tasting (Friday and Saturday, August 12 and 13)
Located at Vail Athletic Field (646 Vail Valley Drive, Vail, CO 81657), The Grand Tasting is the crown jewel of the Vail Wine Classic, featuring a diverse and distinctive showcase of wines from around the world. Saunter through an extravagant mountainside tasting while exploring everything from fruit-forward Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Grigios, to rich Cabernets and Zinfandels. In addition to an impressive, curated selection of domestic and international wines, the Grand Tasting has handcrafted cocktails and local beer. Your all-inclusive ticket includes a full size wine glass for you to take home, small bites, and live music at the event.
The Grand Tasting sessions and ticket types include:
  • Premier Access (starting at $169) from 2-5:30 p.m. Premier Access tickets allow you to be the first to enter the event and imbibe with a limited number of other enthusiasts. Enjoy the first sips of wine and an extra hour at the Classic. 
  • Early Access (starting at $139) from 2:30- 5:30 p.m. Early Access tickets allow you to get ahead of the tasting and enter the Classic before the crowd. Select the perfect table by the band with this limited capacity ticket. 
  • General Admission (starting at $119) from 3-5:30 p.m. This all-inclusive ticket allows you to imbibe in two and half hours of mountainside wine sampling during the Grand Tasting event. 
Wine dinner, paired lunches and seminars will be announced at a later time. For more information about the Vail Wine Classic, visit the website. 
About Vail Wine Classic
Vail Wine Classic brings together master winemakers and enthusiasts for a weekend of elevated sips, from Aug. 11-13, 2022, in stunning Vail, Colo. The weekend-long soiree showcases wine from around the world with a weekend of Grand Tastings, educational seminars, paired wine dinners and more. Vail Wine Classic is produced by Team Player Productions, the architects of Breckenridge Wine Classic, Vail Craft Beer Classic and Denver Burger Battle, among others. For more information, including a full schedule of events, visit www.vailwineclassic.com, or follow @vailwineclassic on Instagram and Facebook.
About Team Player Productions
Founded more than 25 years ago in Denver, Team Player Productions (TPP) has produced and managed more than 400 events around the country, raising more than $2 million for its various nonprofit partners. TPP has created and continues to produce beloved annual events including Vail Wine Classic, Breckenridge Wine Classic and Vail Craft Beer Classic, and adopted others, such as Denver Burger Battle and the Boulder Creek Festival. The company was also the originator of events including Taste of Fort Collins, Steamboat Wine Festival and Park City Food & Wine Classic. TPP consults and produces events for a portfolio of clients as well, such as Goose Island Beer Co., Blue Point Brewing Co., Great Divide Brewing Company, Odell Brewing Company, Red Bull, City of Centennial, Anheuser-Busch, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and City of Littleton. For more information, visit TPPEvents.com, or follow @TPPEvents on Facebook and @TeamPlayerProductions on Instagram.

Singular bottle of 27-litre 2003 Sine Qua Non The Inaugural Syrah to Command Auction

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Los Angeles – The Legacy Cellar Foundation will unveil its first fundraiser in grand fashion with a wine of legends: the singular 27-liter bottle of 2003 Sine Qua Non The Inaugural Syrah. The 100-point wine, a generous donation from The Wine Advocate founder, Robert M. Parker, Jr., will be served at “A Goliath 60th Celebration” benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and its mission of “Finding cures. Saving children.®” on Saturday, May 14. The wine will be served alongside dinner prepared by James Beard award winning chef, Nancy Silverton and Steve Samson, chef and owner of Superfine and Rossoblu.

Legacy Cellar Foundation Director Garth Hodgdon.

The intimate, unprecedented affair will be held at a private residence in Bel Air, California. The opportunity to savor the one-of-a-kind wine and dinner is limited to 60 St. Jude supporters to commemorate the 60th anniversary of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, founded in 1962. The evening will honor the legacy of St. Jude founder Danny Thomas and his family, which has carried on his dream. Thomas’ vision for the organization was as rare today as it was then: a research hospital where children with catastrophic diseases receive care and treatment regardless of their ability to pay.

“Through the generosity of Robert M. Parker, Jr. we are thrilled to support his desire to raise much- valued resources for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with this incredible wine, the only bottle of its kind,” said Garth Hodgdon, director of The Legacy Cellar Foundation. Attendance is in such high demand that much of the event is already committed and Hodgdon estimates that a minimum of $3 million will be raised through the once-in-a-lifetime dinner. Tickets may be purchased by contacting St. Jude here.

Because of generous donors and events like this, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Plus, treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since it opened in 1962. St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.

“We are so very grateful that the Legacy Cellar Foundation will help celebrate 60 years of St. Jude advancing lifesaving research and treatment,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., president and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “The funds raised from this gala will make a difference now and in the future of childhood cancer patients by helping St. Jude with its six- year, $11.5 billion strategic plan which includes tripling its global investment and impacting more of the 400,000 kids around the world with cancer each year.”

The inaugural fundraiser for The Legacy Cellar Foundation champions its mission “to convert wine collections into charitable donations – bringing a previously untapped source of funding to the philanthropic sector, enabling greater positive impact and ensuring curated wine collections will be enjoyed by future enthusiasts.” Parker, who plans to pull from his impressive wine collection to raise money for causes important to him and his family, personally selected St. Jude for this initial donation.

More than 20 years ago, Parker, who is widely regarded as the most influential wine critic in the world, recognized the exceptional quality of the harvest and tasked Sine Qua Non’s winemaker, Manfred Krankl, with a commemorative, Goliath bottle. He sought to one day open the bottle for a special occasion, and now, in recognition of the bottle’s tremendous worth, is donating the wine to raise money for St. Jude.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the inaugural fundraiser for The Legacy Cellar Foundation, which provides an innovative new model that makes it possible for me to give 100% of the proceeds from the donation of this wine to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said Parker. “This incredibly special one-of-a-kind bottle from my personal cellar will be converted into a multimillion-dollar gift to honor St. Jude’s Goliath 60th anniversary and advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.”

The 2003 Syrah is the first made entirely from Sine Qua Non’s Eleven Confessions’ vineyard in the cool Santa Rita Hills appellation. Made from 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier, the wine was bottled in 2007 after 38.5 months of aging in French oak. The 2003 vintage precipitated what has become a storied and magical career for Krankl. Parker’s 100-point review of the wine by The Wine Advocate described it as:

“The mind-boggling 2003 The Inaugural Syrah is an emotional experience to taste as well as drink. Aged 38 1/2 months in French oak, it was fashioned entirely from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard, which is planted with Syrah clones #470, 174, and the Estrella River and Alban field selections. This stunning Syrah boasts a magnificent bouquet of spring flowers, blueberries, blackberries, charcoal, licorice, and roasted meats. It hits the palate with remarkable intensity, purity, and full-bodied power, but it somehow manages to dance across the taste buds with the gracefulness of a ballerina.”

Enlisted to prepare a main course to match such an exceptional wine is none other than Silverton, who famously founded La Brea Bakery and later Campanile with her former husband, the late Mark Peel, and Krankl, who led the wine program for the James Beard Award-winning restaurant. After the sale of La Brea Bakery in 2003, Krankl dedicated his full efforts to Sine Qua Non and it was that same year that the 27-litre bottle of Sine Qua Non The Inaugural Syrah was bottled.

Silverton attended Le Cordon Bleu in London and launched her culinary career in the early 1980s as pastry chef of Wolfgang Puck’s original Spago, during which time she penned her first cookbook, “Desserts.” After selling La Brea Bakery, which had become the largest artisanal bakery in the United States, she opened Osteria Mozza, Nancy’s Fancy and Pizzette. Silverton was most recently named Culinary Ambassador of The Farmhouse at Ojai Valley Inn.

More information about The Legacy Cellar Foundation can be found at www.legacycellar.org; and more information about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital can be found at www.stjude.org.

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About The Legacy Cellar Foundation:

The Legacy Cellar Foundation is a 501c3 donor-advised fund that will collect, authenticate and liquidate wine collections for charitable purposes. The organization’s mission is to convert wine collections into charitable donations – bringing a previously untapped source of funding to the philanthropic sector, enabling greater positive impact and ensuring curated wine collections will be enjoyed by future enthusiasts. More information about The Legacy Cellar Foundation and upcoming events can be found on the website at www.legacycellar.org, as well as on Facebook and Instagram.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.

JORDAN VINEYARD AND WINERY MARKS 50th ANNIVERSARY WITH SOCIAL IMPACT SUMMER

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HEALDSBURG, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Jordan Vineyard and Winery will bring the Sonoma alfresco hospitality experience to three cities across the country this June to mark dual milestones: the winery’s 50th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the John Jordan Foundation. For the first time in its history, Jordan will host Social Impact Summer, a multi-day culinary series that will extend Jordan’s philanthropic impact to organizations that need it most. One hundred percent of the event ticket proceeds will benefit nonprofit partners: Clayton Early Learning in Denver, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee in Nashville.

Kicking off in Denver on June 3-4, Jordan’s Social Impact Summer events will be filled with rare Jordan wines from special library vintages to 18-liter big bottles, food pairings by celebrated chefs, live music, celebrity guests and other surprises. The festivities in each city will include two epicurean events: a festive reception-style Big Bottle Party and a decadent multi-course dinner and auction, Gather in the Garden.

“We’re looking forward to ‘going big’ with social impact this summer in Denver, Dallas and Nashville,” says John Jordan, chief executive officer of Jordan Vineyard & Winery. “It is a privilege to partner with organizations with such impressive track records of serving these three communities.”

To learn more about the nonprofit partners, celebrated chefs, wines and highlights of Jordan Social Impact Summer, visit: https://www.jordanwinery.com/50th-anniversary-events/. Tickets sales opened to the general public on March 15. Event dates and beneficiaries are as follows:

  • Denver: June 3-4, 2022. Kicking off in the place where Jordan Winery was born, the Denver Big Bottle Party and Gather in the Garden alfresco dinner and mini-live auction will benefit local nonprofit, Clayton Early Learning.
  • Dallas: June 10-11, 2022. Festivities will include two epicurean events hosted in the gardens surrounding Arlington Hall. Proceeds from all ticket sales will go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas’s Academic Interventions Project.
  • Nashville: June 15-16, 2022. Co-hosted by country music singer/songwriter/producer Jon Pardi, two unforgettable evenings at the Thompson Hotel Rooftop and gardens at The Cordelle will give back to Nashville’s most vulnerable youth in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle Tennesse.
  • Healdsburg: June-August, 2022. Hosted at the Jordan Winery Chateau, a series of four alfresco dinners will highlight local and global causes that the John Jordan Foundation has supported in the last decade in an intimate dinner party setting.

As always, proceeds from Jordan Winery event tickets and wine sales fund the John Jordan Foundation, which works to fight the negative effects of poverty through investments in education, health and humanitarian causes.

About Jordan Vineyard & Winery
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022, Jordan Vineyard & Winery is inspired by the great wine estates of France and the timeless connection between food, wine and hospitality. Under the guidance of second-generation vintner John Jordan, Jordan Estate is an extension of these traditions, with its iconic chateau, breathtaking views, sustainably farmed vineyards, natural habitat for wildlife and gardens for the chef’s inventive cuisine, offering a distinctive sense of place in Sonoma County wine country. A significant portion of the winery’s revenue funds the John Jordan Foundation, which works to provide disadvantaged youth and young adults with the tools needed to succeed educationally and professionally. Learn more at http://www.jordanwinery.com.

South Coast Winery Presents Spring Events

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TEMECULA, Calif. – South Coast Winery Resort & Spa celebrates the beauty and freshness of springtime with appealing events and activities. The resort’s biannual Blessing of the Vines ceremony along with a buffet dinner with wine pairings, live music and dancing is on Sunday, April 10. Easter Brunch on April 17 serves families and friends Chef Esparza’s customary brunch along with some special brunch menu additions. And, as part of South Coast’s continuing Rhythm on the Vine® Concert Series, American pop punk singer, country artist, songwriter and musician Cassadee Pope performs on Thursday, May 19.

Blessing of the Vines

Sunday, April 10, from 5 to 9 p.m.

Biannually, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa shows how grateful it is to be in Temecula Valley and able to successfully cultivate award-winning vines recognized and loved far and near. It’s a time to introduce new seasonal spring wine releases. The evening starts with the blessing ceremony led by Reverend Monsignor Tom Burdick and a sparkling wine toast. Guests savor an impressive chef-driven five-course food and wine pairing repast. Live music is performed by “Anyone’s Guess”, and guests enjoy the opportunity to dance in the spring.

General admission is $98, tax inclusive; Wine Club price is $88, tax inclusive. Tickets available in the online store at www.southcoastwinery.com/blessing.

 

The Vineyard Rose Restaurant Easter Brunch with Holiday Specials

Sunday, April 17, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This brunch at The Vineyard Rose Restaurant is created for lovers of delicious, hearty fare showcasing products and purveyors of the region in its contemporary California cuisine. In addition to its customary brunch menu that offers selections such as Applewood Smoked Bacon Omelet, The Vineyard Rose Salad, House Rubbed Slow Roasted Tri Tip Sandwich and Mediterranean Chicken, along with cocktails, bubbles, craft beers on tap and award-winning wines, there is a temping list of innovative Special Easter Entrees available. The Specials include Asian Chicken Salad with Napa and red cabbage, radish, edamame, shaved carrot and sweet sesame soy mirin dressing; Steak and Eggs with potato-mushroom hash and chimichurri; Chicken Piccata with linguini, citrus beurre blanc, cherry tomato and fried capers; and Cheese Ravioli with sundried tomato cream sauce, toasted pignolias and shaved parmesan. The Special Dessert is Carrot Cake with whipped cream and fresh berries.

Reservations available through OpenTable or by phone, 888-362-4879.

 

Cassadee Pope Concert in the Courtyard

Thursday, May 19, from 7 to 10 p.m.

Hosted by South Coast Winery Resort & Spa and presented by SOUNDSKILZ, South Coast’s Rhythm on the Vine® Concert Series welcomes “The Voice” third season 2012 winner and the first female winner of the show, Cassadee Pope. This multi-talented pop punk/country singer and musician embarked on her solo career in 2012 and has been wowing followers ever since. Her debut country album “Frame by Frame” was released in 2013 and was No.1 on Billboard’s Top Country Album list with 43,000 copies sold in its first week. Opener act is Leaving Austin. All tickets include access to South Coast’s beer and wine bars and food truck dining options, as well as dinner at The Vineyard Rose Restaurant.

Tickets range in price from $40 to $175. Tickets can be purchased by visiting https://soundskilz.ticketspice.com/soundskilz-presents-cassadee-pope-w-leaving-austin-at-south-coast-winery.

 

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa
34843 Rancho California Road
Temecula, California 92591
(951) 587-9463
www.southcoastwinery.com

Stags Leap District Winegrowers Announces Esteemed Culinary Partners for Vineyard to Vintner, April 22-24, 2022

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NAPA, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Offering even more reasons to attend its signature gathering, Stags Leap District Winegrowers today announced the roster of elite chefs and culinary partners for the 2022 Vineyard to Vintner weekend. The annual celebration brings Cabernet Sauvignon enthusiasts together with vintners, winemakers and principals for exclusive tastings, in-depth education and exquisite meals. This year’s event will be held Friday through Sunday, April 22 to 24, 2022.

“While renowned wines and rare library offerings take the spotlight throughout the weekend, guests will also be treated to an array of opulent menus designed to beautifully complement the power and grace of Stags Leap District varietals,” said Nancy Bialek, Executive Director of Stags Leap District Winegrowers. “We’re thrilled to welcome some of the region’s most exciting chefs to Vineyard to Vintner this year.”

Culinary partners include Michelin-starred and Wine Spectator Award-winning chef Ken Frank of La Toque; chef Daniel Gomez, who has more than 15 years of experience at Michelin-starred restaurants including The French Laundry and Cyrus; cookbook author and acclaimed Napa Valley chef Peter Hall; Top Chef finalist and fan favorite Casey Thompson of the newly opened Folk Table restaurant; chef, restaurateur and author Tanya Holland of Brown Sugar Kitchen fame; executive winery chef Travis Westrope of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, along with Elaine Bell Catering; and Tracy and John Anderson, proprietors of Woodhouse Chocolates in St. Helena.

Featured Vineyard to Vintner Culinary Highlights:
Library Wine Dinners: Friday, April 22 // 6:30PM – 10:00PM

  • An Illuminating Wine and Food Experience with Chef, Author and Restaurateur Tanya Holland, hosted at Chimney Rock Winery with Shafer Vineyards and Quixote Winery
  • Homegrown: An Exploration of Fine Wines and Farm-to-Table Dining in Stags Leap District with Chef Casey Thompson, hosted at Regusci Winery with Lindstrom Wines and Stags’ Leap Winery
  • NOLA in Napa with Chef and Author Peter Hall, hosted at Silverado Vineyards with Cliff Lede Vineyards and Ilsley Vineyards
  • A Feast of Legendary Wine and Food with Chef Travis Westrope and Elaine Bell Catering, hosted at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars with Pine Ridge Vineyards, Malk Family Vineyards and Baldacci Family Vineyards
  • An Evening Under the Stars with SLD’s Pioneering Families with Chef Daniel Gomez, hosted at Taylor Family Vineyards with Clos Du Val and Steltzner Vineyards

Vintner-Hosted Gala Luncheon and Appellation Collection Preview: Saturday, April 23 // 12:30PM – 3:00PM at Stags’ Leap Winery.

Guests, vintners and winemakers will join in a celebratory champagne welcome followed by a strolling lunch prepared by Michelin-starred and Wine Spectator Award-winning chef Ken Frank of famed Napa Valley restaurant La Toque, along with specialties from Tracy and John Anderson of Woodhouse Chocolates of St. Helena. Vintners will showcase critically acclaimed wines as well as a sneak preview of the Stags Leap District 2019 Appellation Collection Cabernet Sauvignons, scheduled for release in October 2022.

The full Vineyard to Vintner weekend also comprises “Digging Deeper: Vineyard Walks, Talks and Tastings,” on Saturday, April 23, and “Savor SLD,” exclusive winery tasting experiences, on Sunday April 24. Guests will have the chance to fully explore the region while tasting wines and meeting with vintners from 16 famed properties, including Baldacci Family Vineyards, Chimney Rock Winery, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Ilsley Vineyards, Lindstrom Wines, Malk Family Vineyards, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Quixote Winery, Regusci Winery, Shafer Vineyards, Silverado Vineyards, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Stags’ Leap Winery, Steltzner Vineyards, and Taylor Family Vineyards.

Tickets, Schedule and Additional Information
A limited number of tickets remain available and can be purchased at http://www.stagsleapdistrict.com/V2V. The Friday through Saturday experience (April 22-24, 2022) is $1,200 per person, which includes the entire weekend’s offerings. Visit http://www.stagsleapdistrict.com/V2V for the full schedule and other details.

About Stags Leap District Winegrowers
The Stags Leap District Winegrowers is a non-profit association of vintners and growers united by the mission of enhancing the reputation of the appellation and its wines and sharing its quality with the wine-loving world. The SLDWA is comprised of 16 wineries and 9 grower members. Wineries include: Baldacci Family Vineyards, Chimney Rock Winery, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Ilsley Vineyards, Lindstrom Wines, Malk Family Vineyards, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Quixote Winery, Regusci Winery, Shafer Vineyards, Silverado Vineyards, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Stags’ Leap Winery, Steltzner Vineyards, and Taylor Family Vineyards. To learn more about the Stags Leap District, please visit stagsleapdistrict.

com or find the Association on Facebook.com/StagsLeapDistrict, Instagram.com/StagsLeapAVA and Twitter @StagsLeapAVA.

Eve’s How To: The Wine Night

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We have a “wine night” with friends pretty frequently and it recently dawned on me that I’ve never written about how that works.

For some, or even most of you, you have some experience with this: you invite pals over, everyone brings a bottle or two to share over dinner, and you talk about the wines – why you chose them and how they fared during the evening. This blog post is to remind those with experience how to make it enjoyable for the newbie guest, and the how-to for a newbie host.

This one wine night I will use as an example is described a bit in this social media post: How was your last Wine Night with friends? We recently shared a 2019 Napa Hindsight Chardonnay that was new to me and Chablis-like due to its fresh fruit and no noticeable oak, then came the Grenache we mistook for Syrah or Mourvedre in a 2007 Domaine Du Pegau Chateauneuf Du Pape, a masterfully balanced 2000 Marcarini Brunate Barolo with dinner that benefitted from 6 hours of decanting, and two I was too tired to taste: 2010 Orma Super Tuscan and Camus VSOP Cognac. If I had to pick a favorite of the night it would be hard as the ones I had were all so good for many different reasons.

Now the details to help our wine 101ers:

Let your guests know what your menu is so they can bring a wine (or two) that they believe will be appropriate for pairing.

Always have a white to start. I’m amazed at how many people prefer sparkling, white or pink wines in general; so having at least one leaves no one out.

Decant any wine, in this case it was the Barolo, if you know requires it due to its youth or older age. Decanting allows more air to envelop a wine that needs to “open up” a bit before drinking. If you’re not sure, taste the wine before you serve it to guests. If it’s tight or tart decant it. You can also search the Internet for the same wine (same vintage year too) and see what others recommend.

Serve appetizers as well as a main course during your evening. Drinking wine without food causes early inebriation so having some starters helps. And as this may be when you are drinking your white wine, serve with cheeses, nuts, and crackers – nothing too big – unless you will be moving onto reds. If you do that before dinner then add in the charcuterie. Some wine people like charcuterie with whites too, it’s not my preference, but as in my recommendation for decanting – taste your food with your wine to educate your palate and form your own opinion.

When you do move onto reds you can do it a couple of different ways. Serve the lower alcohol wines first and move up the bigger ones last. You can decide what is served first depending on the menu. Big wine with big food. In this case we had the Barolo with a lasagna dinner, the Rhone that was more Grenache-based just before, and the Napa Chardonnay first. The Super Tuscan came at the end of the meal and the Cognac came last.

One other note on the order of the wines. If you have an amazing wine to share consider serving it early on in the evening. I had “palate fatigue” and couldn’t taste the final Super Tuscan or enjoy the Cognac, and I may have missed out.

Lastly, encourage your guests to taste each wine before committing to a full glass. That way if it isn’t their “cup of tea” they can move onto something else that is. I like to have at least two bottles open at a time to give guests that option.

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.

What I’ve Learned About the Las Vegas Wine, Spirits and Dining Nightlife

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There are so many places to eat and drink in Las Vegas that I can safely say that in the first year we’ve lived here we have barely scratched the surface of what is out here. We have been welcomed by new neighbors in Spanish Trail community for wining and dining, from people I only knew on social media that now include us for blind wine tastings in their home or favorite restaurants, and been invited as guests in the Spanish Trail country club for wine dinners and more casual wine flight nights.

A month after moving into our Vegas home we had our first wine tasting!

The Las Vegas area, of course, is known for its impeccable service to an international community. So I believe that the people living here are an extension of that: welcoming, giving, and truly interested in entertaining guests in style. We have been made to feel so comfortable the first six months that the last six have been a whirlwind of invitations both given and received, and I can safely say that we are socializing much more in Vegas than we expected.

As I had retired the consulting arm of Eve’s Wine 101 with the move, which means all of my big event planning, because of the “open arms” we’ve enjoyed in Vegas I haven’t missed the planning and marketing work I would normally be doing.

Why Is Vegas Different

Besides the feelings I touched on above there are probably more sommeliers working in Las Vegas than any other city the average person is likely to visit. So when I get to go to a blind tasting in a friend’s home there are no less than three or four working sommeliers in attendance.

Their wealth of knowledge and experience makes me so happy, reminds me of the times I’ve judged wines as well as the certification classes I’ve attended.

The wine groups here, at least the ones I’ve attended, started out as groups via the Meet Up website, then they splintered off into smaller groups of people. When the gathering is in a private home usually everyone brings a bottle and a dish to share, and of course you can’t go wrong doing that! I end up sampling almost everything, and then committing to a glass of whatever I liked the best!

At the restaurants and bars there seems to be an earnest desire to make the experience personal. I’ve had restaurant wait staff learn our favorite cocktails and offer them as soon as we sit down, sharing items not on the menu, have incredibly prepared chef menus for the night, introduce their family if they work there too, check on our table more than once and even been a part of inside jokes! It’s like being at home and having an expert family member cook, serve and clean up! We couldn’t be made to feel more comfortable.

Our whisky interests have been more fulfilled than before. We had come to Vegas annually for the Universal Whisky Experience – the epitome of classy whisky tasting and learning events. After moving here I was invited to a local meeting of the Las Vegas chapter of the Drammers Club, and we’ve since attended a few meetings at Vegas resorts led by founder Charlie Prince who never fails to bring us bottles we have never tried before. At one meeting we met a fellow scotch whisky lover that is also the bar manager at Oak and Ivy in downtown Las Vegas – a bar that is well known for its brown spirit cocktails. And though not whisky, we’ve found a favorite bar for fun Tiki drinks and live entertainment too: The Golden Tiki.

Have you noticed that I haven’t mentioned any resorts? Of course there is amazing dining and the same solicitous service on the strip. It’s just that as a local you learn to avoid the crowds and traffic by staying away from the strip. There are many restaurants we’ve enjoyed between our home in Spring Valley, Las Vegas, that is ten minutes from the strip. And if we do crave some strip time we still go down there, but never on a weekend or a weekend night.

As far as all of the restaurants and bars we’ve enjoyed so far I’m not going to even attempt to list them all here. (Though I will give a shout out to D’Agostino’s Trattoria as we’re there most frequently.) If you want to know go to the new Las Vegas Highlights page on Eve’s Wine 101 and scroll away to your heart’s content! And if you like that page, and Vegas, check there often to see #EveBushmanWhatsInYourGlass and #EveBushmahWhatsOnYourPlate Thanks for reading!

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.

“A Taste of the Back Roads” Grand Tasting

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The Back Roads Wineries of Paso Robles, a group of over 30 family-owned boutique wineries located south of Hwy 46 and east of Hwy 101, will be holding a Grand Tasting event showcasing their unique and diversified wines. Many of the wineries will be pouring their Spring Releases, in conjunction with Spring Release Weekend.

Dinner is provided for all attendees and will consist of Fried Chicken with Cole Slaw, Chili & Corn Bread and Peach Cobbler with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream for Dessert.

The Main event will feature live music by The Mother Corn Shuckers, as well as Country & Line Dancing.

The event will be held in the Barrel Room Event Center at Cass Winery on Saturday, March 19th from 7-9pm, with tasting provided by 20 participating wineries.

The Reserve VIP Tasting includes paired appetizers from each of the participating wineries, access to their Reserve or Library selections, as well as dinner. Early entry at 6pm.

VIP Entry 6PM                 General Admission 7-9pm

General Admission – $95.00 (includes dinner & wristband for tasting)

Reserve VIP – $125 (includes early entry at 6PM, access to Reserve & Library tastings, paired appetizers & dinner)

Designated Driver – $40 (Includes dinner, does NOT include wristband for tasting)

PARTICIPATING WINERIES:

Ascension Cellars

Barr Estate Winery

Bella Luna Estate Winery

Bovino Vineyards

Cass Winery

Defiance Vineyard

Demeter Family Cellars

Dresser Winery by Gelfand

Ellas Vineyard

Glunz Family Winery & Cellars

Mitchella Vineyard & Winery

Pear Valley Vineyards

Penman Springs Vineyard

Rasmussen Vineyards & Winery

Rava Wines

RF Fine Wines

Sculpterra Winery

Seven Angels Cellars

STANGER Vineyards

Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery

Still Waters Vineyards

Non-Profit Partners:

#pasowineBRW
PURCHASE TICKETS