Eve's Wine 101

Zinfandel Advocates and Producers Launches The California Zinfandel Trail

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GRASS VALLEY, CALIF. (PRWEB) – Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) is announcing that it will officially launch The California Zinfandel Trail starting March 29, 2021. Zinfandel lovers and the Zinfandel-curious will now have a powerful new tool to explore wineries and plan custom itineraries. This new platform is designed to boost tourism and raise interest in wineries that produce America’s time-honored heritage wine, Zinfandel.

“Consumers and wineries alike will benefit from this fast track connection directly to Zinfandel winemakers, featuring small production artisanal wines that are available to consumers only by visiting the winery in person or virtually,” according to ZAP Executive Director, Rebecca Robinson. “So many of these wines are from historic vineyards and come with wonderful, colorful family stories that are the fabric of American agricultural heritage,” she continues.

Mindful of travel restrictions due to the COVID 19 pandemic, virtual visits and tastings have been made available, in addition to the traditional in-person winery tastings and experiences. Visitors should contact wineries in advance about their latest visiting policies and experiences.

The Zinfandel Trail website includes an easy to use interactive map of California’s Zinfandel wineries for plotting and planning itineraries to vineyards across California. Here, visitors can explore Zinfandel winery experiences by region, such as vineyard and winery tours, specialized tastings, picnicking, food service, and pet-friendly policies. In addition to winery listings are featured winery to winery routes with beautiful Zinfandel vineyard images, regional travel blogs, points of interest, and winemaker stories.

In addition to the California Zinfandel Trail mapping website, ZAP is also creating virtual tours and tastings offered for sale to those wanting to sniff, swirl, and sip while enjoying a themed tour on Zoom hosted by travel experts. The first three-part series will begin in late April with a tour of Sonoma Valley, followed in May by sessions on Women in Wine and in June, Vineyard Tours.

Virtual Tour dates:
Sonoma Valley Zinfandel Tour | Thursday, April 29, 2021 – 4:00 p.m. PDT
HOST: Tim Zahner, Executive Director, Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau
Women in Wine Zinfandel Tour | Thursday, May 27, 2021 – 4:00 p.m. PDT
HOST: Lauren Mowery, Travel Editor, Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Zinfandel Vineyard Tours | Thursday, June 24, 2021 – 4:00 p.m. PDT
HOST: Paul Rubio, award-winning travel journalist AFAR, Conde Nast Traveler and more

The virtual sessions will provide photographic essays, interactive discussion, and in-depth guided tastings from three wineries based on each theme – the next best thing to visiting the wineries and vineyards in person.

Visit zinfandeltrail.com to learn more about the virtual sessions and secure your spot.

“This program gives us the opportunity to expand Zinfandel’s appreciation and reach through a new platform,” explains Robinson.”

Over the last several years, ZAP has successfully reached millions of consumers to improve awareness and adoption of Zinfandel, America’s true heritage wine grape variety. “Zinfandel Stories” and “Legendary Zinfandel Vineyards” campaigns, were delivered with the aim to preserve, protect and continue to grow Zinfandel, both in the fields of California and as a wine category.

“Conditions are slowly improving for travel,” says Robinson. “We’re confident, based on our previous campaign successes, that we’ve got something special here, a unique tool that will last into the future, for when tourism rebounds.” Until then, we’ve developed what we believe are very entertaining, educational virtual sessions that will make people excited to hit The California Zinfandel Trail when they’re ready.”

About Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP)
Created for Zin lovers by Zin lovers, Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. ZAP is dedicated to advancing public knowledge and appreciation for American Zinfandel and its unique place in our culture and history. ZAP actively involves hundreds of wineries and thousands of enthusiasts. Together, ZAP is gaining a national and international understanding of Zinfandel as America’s grape, serving as an innovator and industry leader in the world of wine. ZAP members enjoy benefits throughout the year including access to ZAP’s Premier Winery Experience program. ZAP can be found online at Zinfandel.org, on Facebook @ZAP.org and on Twitter @thezinfandelorg, #CAZinTrail.

Funding for California’s Zinfandel Trail was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grant AM190100XXXXG008. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.

Perlis Picks Zinfandel: Stories from Napa Valley

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During our trip to Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, Karen and I naturally got a hankering for some Zinfandel. So, where did we go? Well, Napa, of course. Wait, really?

Admittedly, Zinfandel may not be the first varietal that comes to mind when one thinks about Napa, but maybe it should be. After all, the popularity of current “fad” grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon is a fairly recent phenomenon and historically vineyards were planted heavily to Zinfandel, often interspersed with other varietals.

Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) is the organization for all things Zinfandel. Perhaps best known for the huge annual January event in San Francisco, ZAP does a number of other things as well. According to the ZAP website: “Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP) is a membership based organization that advances knowledge and appreciation for American Zinfandel and its unique place in our culture and history.”

Last year, ZAP held a series of events in various California wine regions, highlighting the Zinfandel producers and vineyards of those regions. Our timing prevented us from attending the event held in Sonoma County but with Napa being only a hop, skip and a jump over the Mayacamas Mountains [from our morning visit to Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyards & Winery], we were excited to attend…

Zinfandel: Stories from Napa Valley.

Held in the CIA at Copia, Napa, the event consisted of a tasting seminar followed by a walk-around reception. Moderated by the always entertaining “Sommelier to the Stars” Christopher Sawyer, the speaker panel consisted of Julie Johnson (Tres Sabores), Carol Brown (Brown Estate Vineyards), Tres Goetting (Robert Biale Vineyards) and Tegan Passalacqua (Turley Wine Cellars). And, yes, wine was included with the seminar, as any respectable wine seminar should include wines to taste. (Maybe all seminars regardless of whether about wine or not should include wine, but I digress.) The wines presented were:

Tres Sabores – 2015 Estate Zinfandel, Rutherford

Brown Estate Vineyards – 2016 Estate Zinfandel, Chiles Valley

Robert Biale Vineyards – 2016 Aldo’s Zinfandel, Oak Knoll

Turley Wine Cellars – 2016 Dragon Zinfandel, Howell Mountain

The wineries and wines presented offered great examples of the diversity of Napa Valley Zinfandel showcasing wines from the valley floor as well as from mountainside vineyards.

Each speaker had some interesting tidbits for us. Among other things, I learned that Julie Johnson was one of the founders of Frog’s Leap Winery (along with John Williams and Larry Turley) as well as “Women for Wine Sense” before eventually founding her own Tres Sabores winery in 1999. We’ve known Tres Goetting for some time and loved his comment that “I love Zinfandel because it is a mysterious varietal that never ceases to amaze.” I think we’ve known Tegan Passalacqua even longer and found his remark very intriguing that the Howell Mountain AVA is the most unique AVA that he has worked with. But I think that Coral Brown really touched on how I feel about Zinfandel when she said that their goal is to make the wine shine and the food pairing is just like a backup singer to the wine.

During the seminar, Christopher Sawyer also shared with us that ZAP had just received a grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture to help to fund the launch of “Zinfandel Stories: Preserving California’s Legendary Vineyards.” This was especially good news to us, as we are staunch advocates of the importance of California’s historic vineyards, so many of which are Zinfandel-based.

After the seminar it was time for the reception, which included many more wineries organized to showcase Zinfandel from Napa Valley’s different growing regions, along with bites from the CIA kitchen. Here’s what was poured…

From Calistoga:

August Briggs Winery

2015 Ancient Vines

2015 Old Vines

 

Chateau Montelena Winery

2012 Estate

2014 Estate

 

T-Vine Winery

2014 Frediani Vineyard

 

From Chiles Valley: 

Brown Napa Valley

2016 Estate

 

Green & Red Vineyard

2015 Chiles Mill Vineyard

2015 Chiles Canyon Vineyard

 

From Howell Mountain:

Howell Mountain Vineyards

2015 Old Vine

2015 Beatty Ranch Reserve

 

Lamborn Family Vineyards

2014 The Earthquake Vintage

2014 The Platinum Anniversary

 

Outpost Wines

2015 Estate

2016 Estate

 

Summit Lake Vineyards

2014 Summit Lake Vineyard

 

From Napa Valley:

Ballentine Vineyards

2016 Estate

2015 Reserve

 

Grgich Hills Estate

2013 Estate

2014 Miljenko’s Old Vines

 

Hendry

2015 Blocks 7 & 22

2015 Blend

2015 Mike and Molly

 

Saddleback Cellars

2016 Old Vine

 

The Lost Chapters (Scotto Cellars)

2013 The Lost Chapters

 

Turley Wine Cellars

2016 Dragon Vineyard

2016 Hayne Vineyard

2016 Mead Ranch

 

Sattui Winery

2015 Black Sears

2015 Vittoria’s Vineyard

2015 Quaglia Vineyard “Agent Vine”

 

From Oak Knoll:

Robert Biale Vineyards

2016 Aldo’s Vineyard

 

From Oakville:

Oakville Ranch Winery

2015 Field Blend

2014 Field Blend

 

From Rutherford:

Neal Family Vineyards

2016 Rutherford Dust Vineyard

 

Tres Sabores

2016 Estate

 

From St. Helena:

D-cubed Cellars

2014 Korte Ranch

The above list is from the program. (More wines were poured as well.) I listed them all here, not to boost my word count (well maybe a little) but to emphasize that there is really a lot going on in Napa Valley when it comes to Zinfandel. Personally, I’ve always been a fan of wines from Howell Mountain, like Outpost. At the same times there’s no denying the richness of the lower elevation wines like Brown and Green & Red. There’s a lot of diversity and a Zin for every taste, for sure.

I think it is especially important to support Napa’s Zinfandel production as these vineyards are in constant danger of being replaced with more profitable grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon. So please, go out and get some Napa Zin soon.

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Ev Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com.

The Passing of Kent Rosenblum

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Kent Rosenblum passed away on September 5th, 2018. 

Before there were the current big three of Turley, Carlisle and Bedrock [or whoever your favorite Zinfandel producers might currently be], there were the three Rs of Zinfandel: Rosenblum, Ravenswood and Ridge. 

Kent Rosenblum of Rosenblum Cellars, Joel Peterson of Ravenswood and Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards pretty much created the category of Zinfandel as an artisan wine. They paved the way for the quality and variety of amazing Zins that we now get to enjoy on a regular basis. 

Karen and I have had the great pleasure of meeting one of the Rs, Joel Peterson of Ravenswood and also now Once and Future Wine Company, a few times. 

Sadly, we never got to meet Kent Rosenblum and our lives are poorer for that. There are many moving tributes online and I encourage you to seek those out. 

Being a great pioneering winemaker was only part of who he was. He was clearly a good friend to many as well as, most importantly, being a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. 

We’ve been fortunate to meet Kent’s daughter Shauna Rosenblum of Rock Wall Wine Company as she carries on the family tradition. Our condolences go out to her and to the rest of Kent’s family and friends. 

More from ZAP [Zinfandel Advocates & Producers] – used with permission, including the photo:

A bright light has gone out in the Zinfandel community. Beloved husband, father, grandfather and Zinfandel pioneer, Kent Rosenblum died unexpectedly at his home in Alameda early September 5. He was 74 years old.

A founding board member of ZAP, Kent served continuously on the board since the organization started in 1991 and was president in 1997. Throughout the years, Kent was an enthusiastic champion of ZAP’s mission. He was a tireless advocate, always dreaming up new ideas and generously hosting ZAP events (remember Good Eats & Zin!). Most recently, he was working on a new membership passport initiative that will be unveiled this fall. There is so much more to say about Kent’s contributions. He was a leader by example and his was a life well lived.

Heartfelt wishes and remembrances are flowing in by the hundreds and hundreds from all over. Kent touched countless people, not only with his winemaking, but his charming wit, compassion and exuberance were infectious. He created a lasting legacy in the Zinfandel world that lives on with his winemaker daughter, Shauna at Rock Wall Wine Company.

We are deeply saddened by his passing and extend our sincerest condolences to Kent’s wife, Kathy, daughters Shauna and Kristen, his brother Roger, sister Pamela and his granddaughter, Skylar. He was a devoted friend and will be missed dearly.

Rebecca Robinson
Executive Director

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com.

ELEVATING ZIN

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Beverly Hills, CA – Good News, Zinfandel is growing in popularity! 2017 reports show increased prices and very tight supply! Did you know that Zinfandel is known as California’s heritage grape?! In honor of our heritage grape, Montage Beverly Hills and WineLA join together to host Elevating Zin on May 16th, 2018.

ii_jeajojhq1_161e8f474bb6a322Zinfandel is an important and historical crop to California’s wine industry. Growers and Producers agree, the future is about elevating the quality and the reputation of the grape. Zinfandel needs to be considered a fine wine to succeed going forward and now targets those that collect cabernet, meritage, and popular blends. Zinfandel is planted in some of the most valuable soils in Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles and areas in between.

Come and meet the winemakers and namesakes’ for a night of Zin! With over 17 notable wineries set to participate in the festivities, Montage Beverly Hills and WineLA expects to welcome hundreds of wine enthusiasts to celebrate the “Crème de la crème” of the Zinfandel community!

Among the wonderful list of wineries showcasing their most popular wine are Winemaker Clay Mauritson pouring Mauritson, Director Stacy Rafanelli pouring A. Rafanelli Winery, Winemaker Bertus Van pouring T-Vine, Owner Christina Turley pouring Turley, Winemaker Tres Goetting pouring Robert Biale Vineyards, Winemaker/Owner Stephanie Cook pouring Wonderment Wines, Winemaker Brian Lamborn pouring Lamborn Family Vineyard, Winemaker Hugh Chappelle pouring Quivira, Director Mike Hendry pouring Hendry, Winemaker Chris Cottrell pouring Bedrock Wine Co., Winemaker Ted Seghesio pouring Seghesio family Vineyards, Winemaker Agostino Gamba pouring Gamba Vineyards and Winery, VP Mark Malpiede pouring Williams Selyum, and lastly Winemaker Ian Blackburn pouring Beekeeper Cellars.

The evening VIP event will begin at 6 p.m. This experience includes an intimate tasting hour of older-vintage wines with an amazing list of winemakers and heavy appetizers ($125 advanced and $150 at the door). The 7 P.M. General admission($69-79 advanced and $95 at the door) includes unlimited tasting and tray passed appetizers, as well as, access to the charity silent auction containing lots of collectable and large format wines. Auction will benefit the TJ Martell Foundation and Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (AKA ZAP).

Meet with the who’s who of Zinfandel producers while enjoying unlimited wine tasting, great MONTAGE cuisine and a wonderful audience. WineLA welcomes wine fans of all experience levels. Prices subject to change as we approach the event.
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For more information about Elevating Zin or to purchase tickets – visit www.winela.com/elevating-zinfandel

About WineLA

WineLA is about enhancing the wine culture of Los Angeles one event at a time. To do so, wine must be in rhythm with fashion, music, food and other beverages. It must take advantage of the geography, the architecture and the centers of interest. Los Angeles is a giant playground with an amazing array of venues, spaces, wine bars, restaurants, beaches, rooftops, gardens, and magical views. We are a part of the LA lifestyle, the wine lifestyle, and celebrate the people, the place and the passion.

Perlis Picks: Historic Vineyard Society Year in Review

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The Historic Vineyard Society is an organization that is very near and dear to my heart. Dedicated to preserving California’s old vines, the HVS Board members, led by Mike Dildine, have not only spearheaded the efforts to save these important properties but their wineries are responsible for producing some of California’s most exciting wines: Mike Officer [Carlisle], Bob Biale [Biale], Tegan Passalacqua [Turley and Sandlands], David Gates [Ridge] and Morgan Twain-Peterson [Bedrock]. Also on the project team is Joel Peterson [Ravenswood and Once and Future Wine].

I recently received the HVS year-in-review email and wanted to share it with Eve’s Wine 101 readers…

home2Happy New Year, Friends!

It’s hard to believe, but another year has come and gone, and as we reflect on the last twelve months, we’d like to update you on the latest HVS happenings and give a preview of what’s to come for the Historic Vineyard Society in 2017.

The year in review

  • In February, HVS board members conducted a tasting at the annual ZAP festival; this year, the premise was California Great Growths, showcasing exceptional old vine vineyards and wines made from them. Attendees very much enjoyed the discussion and a tasting of delicious wines from historic vineyards, and we look forward to participating at ZAP again in the future.
  • With the goal of educating the next generation of winemakers about historic vineyards, HVS Board Members conducted two educational tastings and presentations in 2016: the first, at UC Davis in March; the second, at Cal Poly in May. Both events were well attended by students eager to help carry the torch of preserving historic vineyards, and we plan to continue these tastings in the future, both in California and beyond.
  • May marked the 6th annual Vineyard Tour & Dinner, celebrating the historic vineyards and wines of the Russian River Valley. A record attendance of about 150 guests enjoyed an informative vineyard tour of Limerick Lane Vineyard, Carlisle Vineyard, Papera Ranch and Belloni Vineyard, led by the inimitable Jake Bilbro and HVS Board Members. Despite the inclement weather, a fabulous time was had by all.
  • In conjunction with the May Vineyard Tour and Dinner, HVS was excited to announce the release of the 2013 vintage HVS wine, a blend made by multiple HVS wineries from the old vines of Bedrock Vineyard. This is a project we hope to continue in years to come, with a different historic vineyard featured each year. Guests at the 2017 Vineyard Tour and Dinner will once again have the opportunity to purchase the HVS wine, this time from the 2014 vintage, a blend from Pagani Ranch.
  • HVS conducted a pop-up tasting at Cadet Beer & Wine Bar in Napa in November, with HVS board members pouring a variety of wines to showcase historic vineyards ranging from Napa (Hayne Vineyard and Aldo’s Vineyard) to Lodi (Bechtoldt Vineyard), the Russian River (Two Acres) and Sonoma (Bedrock Vineyard, Alta Vista Vineyard and Pagani Ranch).

What’s new in 2017

  • Save the date: the 7th annual Vineyard Tour & Dinner is scheduled to take place on June 10th, 2017 at Pagani Ranch in Sonoma Valley; as Morgan describes it, one of the most historically and qualitatively gilded vineyards in the Golden State. Stay tuned for further details on what is sure to be another memorable HVS event.
  • We are excited to announce that HVS was selected by Philadelphia-based freelance videographer Meredith Nutting for a video series on “Heritage Seeds,” with episodes on wheat, apples and grapes. The project will be pitched to the National Geographic Channel, the Smithsonian Channel and PBS, and we will most certainly keep you posted as the project develops in 2017.
  • We plan to schedule another tasting this year at Cadet Beer & Wine Bar in Napa, set up as a guided, classroom-style tasting to allow guests to hear from HVS board members about these historic vineyards and the wines grown therein.
  • Foundation Plant Services has invited HVS to send in clone selections from historic vines to be tested and treated/removed of any virus, then propagated. This has kept the HVS board members busy into harvest, as they’ve begun flagging vines to take cuttings this spring and sent into the FPS — this has the potential to allow public access to HVS selections and even create a special HVS clonal selection in years to come.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Historic Vineyard Society, we thank you for your support over the last six years. We invite you to visit the HVS website, where we are continuing to uncover new historic vineyards across California. We welcome your contributions in support of California’s historic vines, which can be made on the website.

We look forward to a wonderful year ahead.

Cheers,

HVS Board Members:

Signed by Mike Officer, Bob Biale, Tegan Passalacqua, David Gates, Morgan Twain-Peterson and Mike Dildine. 

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com.

FOUR DAYS IN MAY – THE 33RD ANNUAL PASO ROBLES WINE FESTIVAL

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Paso Robles, CA – The 33rd Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival will take place May 14 – 17, 2015. These four days in wine country are set to delight, educate and captivate with winemaker dinners, seminars, musical events, and vineyard tours. This quintessential Paso experience culminates in the picturesque Downtown Paso Robles City Park with more than 70 of Paso Robles’ best wineries sharing their wines on a beautiful day in May.

Wine Festival weekend begins Thursday, May 14 with winemaker dinners at Paso’s top restaurants. Dinners will feature multiple winemakers at the same table pairing wines at the delectable and diverse restaurants that have made Paso Robles a prime attraction for foodies. The first restaurant confirmed is Thomas Hill Organics Bistro & Wine Bar.

2_2015_PasoWineFest_Webheader 10[1]Friday, May 15 features the first of three ticketed events, RESERVE. This outdoor tasting has participating wineries pouring two wines within the categories of Reserve, Library, White/Rosé or Futures. Local restaurants and chefs provide bites specially made to pair with Paso’s wines and an auction like no other takes place giving attendees a chance to take the RESERVE experience home.

Saturday morning, the limited seating Winemaker Seminar will star a panel of six winemakers, each sharing one wine that is indicative of the Paso Robles wine region. Each year, the panel consists of different winemakers, all bringing a new perspective and personality to the seminar, guaranteeing a fun and lively discussion about Paso wines.

At noon, the Paso Robles Wine Festival Grand Tasting begins with wineries set up by varietal “zones” featuring Rhône-style, Bordeaux-style, Italian varieties, Burgundian-style, Zinfandel, and Other Wild Wines. Pop-up seminars sponsored by the Paso Robles CAB Collective, the Rhone Rangers, and ZAP take place in the park’s bucolic gazebo.

New in 2015, festival goers can purchase a Grand Tasting Picnic Lunch from one of five participating caterers, food trucks and restaurants, complete with a Paso Robles Wine Country reusable lunch bag! Menu options are currently available on www.pasowine.com and only available in advance. Also look for a new, specially built stage in the picnic area that will be rocked by the Damon Castillo Band. The new location offers more room to shake it while enjoying Paso’s iconic Wine Festival.

Tickets for the Paso Robles Wine Festival are currently on sale at www.pasowine.com.

Visitors and locals alike are encouraged to travel beyond the park to visit the more than 130 wineries that host special activities including winemaker dinners, food pairings, barrel tastings, winery and vineyard tours, and much more. View the Wine Festival, Accommodations and Touring pages on pasowine.com to plan a complete Paso Robles Wine Country experience.

ABOUT PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE

The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance represents wineries, growers and businesses in Paso Robles Wine Country. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country is California’s third largest wine region. It encompasses more than 32,000 vineyard acres and 200 wineries. For more information, visit www.pasowine.com. @PasoRoblesWine, #pasowine, #pasowinefest

ZAP Announces the 24th Annual Zinfandel Experience Tasting Event January 29-31, 2015 at the Presidio of San Francisco

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Grass Valley, CA – The premier tasting event for Zinfandel lovers will celebrate its 24th anniversary, January 29-31, 2015 with four festive celebratory events over three days that feature a diverse selection of wines and styles from renowned producers and emerging wineries. The Zinfandel Experience provides opportunities for both new and seasoned wine lovers to embrace the varietal’s evolution.

64a585_0eac64eea61647a498a151fe7d5e9e62.jpg_srz_p_897_343_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srzSet at the historic Presidio overlooking the San Francisco Bay and the iconic Four Seasons Hotel, the Zinfandel Experience is the largest single varietal tasting of its kind, bringing together top producers and wine lovers to celebrate America’s grape. “In response to feedback, the Zinfandel Experience is better designed to help attendees make meaningful connections with winemakers, winery owners, and fellow enthusiasts.

Building on the success of our move to the Presidio, the new format for Saturday’s tasting provides each ticket holder with access to all venues and allows participants to taste a wide variety of Zinfandels in a casual and relaxed atmosphere,” said Mark Vernon, President, Ridge Vineyards and Zinfandel Advocates & Producers (ZAP). The 2015 Zinfandel Experience Event Line-Up includes:

Thursday January 29
Epicuria Food & Zin Pairings

6 to 8pm, Golden Gate Club, the Presidio of San Francisco
Mix and mingle with 30 top winemakers, master chefs, culinary experts and Zinfandel lovers while exploring the versatile flavors of Zinfandel at this informal dine-around. New this year is an expanded venue at the Golden Gate Club with the addition of a spacious tented courtyard highlighting its striking views. Taste sophisticated and whimsical culinary creations from some of the Bay Area’s most acclaimed restaurants and food purveyors perfectly paired with top Zinfandels. Friday January 30

Flights! Forums of Flavor
10:30am to 1pm, Four Seasons Hotel, San Francisco

Flights! is a professional tasting seminar focusing on highly allocated, limited production Zinfandels. Experts will offer insights while participants experience the range, depth and character of the wines. ZAP is partnering with the Historic Vineyard Society to present wines from exceptional old vine Zinfandels. Space is limited.

Winemakers Reception, Dinner & Auction
Zin State of Mind – a Benefit with Taste
5:30 to 7:30pm Winemakers Reception
7:30 to 10:00pm Dinner and Live Auction
Four Seasons Hotel, San Francisco

Go glamorous! Mad Men, the popular TV show, is the inspiration for the Winemakers Reception, Dinner and Auction. The stylish, sleek, and jazzy atmosphere captivates as the city lights of San Francisco dazzle. The enhanced reception features winemakers ‘pouring it big’ with magnums and reserve offerings. The intimate dinner hosted by celebrity winemakers features a menu that boasts the best in farm-to-table cuisine. Limited offering wines, one-of-a-kind lots, rare bottles, wine-related experiences and more will be offered at the silent and live auctions. Proceeds benefit ZAP’s programs, education and Heritage projects. Dress in vintage fashion flair and celebrate the mod mood of 1965.
Title sponsor: TricorBraun WinePak

Saturday January 31
The Tasting, 11 am-5 pm
Reserve and Barrel Tasting (VIPs and All-Day ticket holders) 11am to 1pm
ZAP members enter public tasting 1pm
Non-ZAP members enter public tasting 2pm

Golden Gate Club & Film Centre, Presidio of San Francisco The centerpiece of the 2015 Zinfandel Experience is The Tasting, where wine lovers engage in personal conversations with winemakers while exploring the flavors of Zinfandel blends, single vineyards and old vine Zinfandels or discover the distinctive dialects of Zinfandel growing regions. Special workshops on terroir, wine-making styles and sensory aspects will be held. At the reserve and barrel tasting, one hundred winemakers and principals will offer a “sneak peak” tasting at their tables for VIPs and all day ticket holders.

For package details, special ZAP member and non-member ticket prices, information on the ultimate VIP Package and a list of participating wineries at each event, visit Zinfandel Experience. For information on other sponsorship opportunities, contact the ZAP office. Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter.

Zinfandel Advocates & Producers is a 501(c) (3) non-profit, educational organization dedicated to advancing public knowledge of and appreciation for American Zinfandel and its unique place in our culture and history. Winegrowers, winemakers and wine enthusiasts comprise the membership. The common focus is the preservation and recognition of Zinfandel as America’s grape. The Zinfandel Experience is the largest single varietal tasting of its kind, now celebrating its 24th year.

Perlis Picks: Rick Fraga at Dark and Delicious 2014 – An evening with the “Big Dog” (better known as Petite Sirah)

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Well, it’s the time of the year where wine tasting events pop up all over California, covering all kinds of grape varietals.  Some are wide spread, but others are more focused, like Rhone Rangers (French Rhone varietals), ZAP for the Zinfandel lovers and then a number of events for the fans of Pinot Noir (Pinot in the City, Pinot Days).  All of which are typically attended by huge crowds.  I attend some of these, but my favorite is for a lesser known grape with smaller crowds.  I attend an event that has maybe 500 people at most and brings together 40 to 50, and sometimes more producers of the Big Dog, better known to some of us wine geeks as Petite Sirah.  Curious???  Are you a fan of the Big Dog or would like to be?  Please read on and see if you may want to join us next year at “Dark and Delicious 2015”.

DarkandDelicious-KentandShaunaRosenblumbeginningofeventOn the evening of February 21st, my girlfriend Lacy and I attended the 8th Annual “Dark and Delicious” event that celebrates the diverse stylings of Petite Sirah from all over California.  This is the third year in a row I have been in attendance, enjoying the perfect combination of great wine, deliciously paired food and people with purple stained teeth.  Housed under one roof in the barrel room of the Rockwall Winery Facility in Alameda, California, is an amazing event featuring Petite Sirah as the star attraction of the evening.  The cast of wineries pouring this evening was stellar with more than 45 participants turning our teeth deep purple.  You have the old guard Petite producers in Concannon, Fieldstone, Foppiano, Parducci and Trentadue, but then some of the newer faces on the block are well represented too such as Denier-Handal, Occasio, Miro Cellars, Mounts Family and Tres Sabores. 

I’ll bet you are reading this and thinking, “Damn this is an evening of big, full bodied, tannic and potentially high alcohol wines, how can anyone taste much and not get overwhelmed”?  Fortunately, the organizers are ahead of the game here, as the food line-up stood up to the wine producers with some great snacks to pair with the Big Dogs being poured.  The food side of the event was well represented nicely by nearly 30 different vendors.   Some of those wonderful folks matching their food with the Petites were Bert’s Desserts, Bonehead’s Texas BBQ, Chunk Pig, Fiscalini Cheese, Il Posta Trattoria, Montibella Sausage, Venga Paella, “What the Cake?” and Z Cioccolato.  If you would like to see all of the wine and food producers check out the PS I Love you website at psiloveyou.org.

I’ve mentioned that there was great wine and food at “Dark and Delicious 2014”, as happens every year, but let’s talk about the people.  Some of the “people” representing the various wineries can be well known or come from families that are.  The host winery for the event, Rockwall Wine Company, was well represented by the Winemaker and President, Shauna Rosenblum, and her father Kent Rosenblum (former owner of Rosenblum winery).  They were having fun greeting participants, pouring wine and telling stories.  Shauna even led a great VIP tour of the Rockwall facility (one that I was able to tag along on).  Including introducing us to a concoction made of Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine and Petite Sirah, surprisingly delicious and refreshing. 

Shauna leading tour

Shauna leading tour

Shauna and Kent were the hosts, but there were many more primary players of various wineries.  There was a blast from the past pouring at the event as well, as Montgomery Paulsen poured his family’s Pat Paulsen Winery Petite Sirah (yes, his father was that Pat Paulsen, from numerous comical campaigns for president).  Monty, a character in his own right, was pouring the label that he now is the winemaker and owner for.  Additionally, there were a number of other owners or winemakers (Some being both).  Like Miro Tcholokav, the owner and winemaker of Miro Cellars (also winemaker at Trentadue), Rich and David Mounts from Mounts Family Vineyards plus John and Judy Monnich of Silkwood Wines.  Each of these folks, like so many other too numerous to name, were very accessible to talk about their wine, vineyards, history and so much more. This added informational and educational opportunities for the evening along with the enjoyment of so many huge, lush Petites.

Overall, the evening was a success for the team from psiloveyou.org.  Along with the tasting and food, a silent auction took place during the 3 hour Petite Sirah celebration.  There were amazing wines and auction packages available, I’ll bet you are wondering how amazing!  Well, I came home with two of the available lots, one a mixed case of Petites (a diverse kennel of Big Dogs), the second a vertical of wines from Denier-Handal Vineyards that when it was delivered to me, one of the owners invited us to a taste his wines on the front porch of his Dry Creek Valley home in Northern Sonoma County.  Yes, I will be visiting him!!! So……….if you love the Big Dog, or if I caught your curiosity in the telling of this Dark and Delicious tale, join us next February and stain your teeth with the rest of us.

Monty Paulsen and wife

Monty Paulsen and wife

I know it has been a while since you all heard from me, but life has been busy in the last year.  I have been given the title of Wine Educator and Assistant Tasting Room Manager for Martinelli Winery.  Throw in judging for the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and a few other industry related opportunities, you can see life is busy.  I promise though, to make time to get more writing done in the future, hopefully hooking up for some tasting with Eve Bushman and Michael Perlis for a team tasting if we can schedule it.

Before I bid you adieu, I do want share that there are some good events coming up in the SF Bay Area and Wine Country in the upcoming months.  We have the Dry Creek Valley Passport Weekend (April 26-27), A Taste of Alexander Valley (May 17-18), Rhone Rangers (April 5-6), Passport to Pinot in the Russian River Valley May (24-25).  Each of these are excellent events and you can easily find more information by searching them on the Internet if you are interested.  I would also encourage you to keep up with the upcoming events posted regularly here at Eve’s Wine 101.

Just want to say thank you for following my adventures and encourage you to keep searching for the wines you love, whether they are from either your old favorites or from those new unknown creators of delicious wines.

  Remember, Life is Too Short to Drink Bad Wine!!!!  Drink well and enjoy!

Rick Fraga: 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

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Well wine fans, after over 4 months of work, the 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition has officially come to a close.  The final portion of the annual competition ended with the Public Tasting event held at Fort Mason in San Francisco, California, on the 18th of February.  It was a beautiful day, great weather and a sold out venue housing over 5,000 consumers.  Combine that with over 300 wineries serving up their best from across the United States, 29 food producing businesses and let’s not forget Stella Artois serving up beers for a palate change of pace.  Obviously a combination that made for an excellent day of wine tasting next to the San Francisco Bay.

Even though is was a great event, there may be some of you that avoid events like the Public Tasting, ZAP, Rhone Rangers or others because of the crowds.  But, for me this is a great opportunity to sample a variety of wines.  Additionally, it was a time to meet and talk with owners and winemakers, some that you had never met or tasted their wines before.  It is a relaxing way to experience so many different wines from across the country without driving and incurring the expense of lengthy trips.

This day’s tasting was no exception, as I was able to connect with old friends and meet new ones.  I reconnected with friends from Mendocino County wineries like Husch and Simaine, Central Coast producer Odonata and others from Lodi, Sonoma, Napa, Amador County and El Dorado County.
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  Additionally, the time I spent talking with some of the award winning wineries like the McGrail Vineyards (McGrail was the red wine sweepstakes winner), Barnard Griffin’s staff (Blush wine sweepstakes winner) and Bent Creek Winery’s team (Best of Class for Cabernet Sauvignon $25-$30) was well worth it.

The best part of the day though was finding new, small wine producers that are making delicious wine from around the country.  Experiencing wines from these folks was enlightening and fun, especially the small family wineries.  Some of the jewels I ran across were Two Brothers Vineyards (Petite Sirah from Paso Robles), Peltier Station (Teraldigo from Lodi), Paoletti Vineyards (Bordeaux wines from Calistoga).  Each of these small producers were pouring some very intriguing, delicious wines.  They also were represented by the family members that own the winery or made the wines, which allowed us some personal touch.  All in all, it was a fun event and given two thumbs up by me and my friends.

This year I brought some good friends along to share in the food, wine and fun.  Honestly, I thought the event had the best flow and feel to it of the last three that I have participated in.  It just seemed less congested, with the public moving and tasting in a very courteous manner.  Maybe one of the factors that helped was the presence of this year’s current TV dream boat, “The Bachelor” Ben Flajnik.  Yes, he was in attendance with his wine making friends from the Envolve Winery and they drew a huge crowd all day long (mostly of the female persuasion).  Ben’s presence benefitted the other wineries, as he drew constant traffic to see him, allowing the other wineries nearby to have access to the more serious vinophiles throughout the day.  The only disadvantage I saw was it was so loud and congested they didn’t appear to be able to talk about their wines and wineries very easily.

Now, you may be aware that I am from the Sonoma County area, which may make you wonder if I drove home after 3 1/2 hours of wine tasting.  The answer…….No Way!!!  I definitely believe in responsible tasting and drinking, with this weekend being no exception.  This was a weekend event for my friends and me to enjoy.  We handled it responsibly by booking rooms, staying in San Francisco and either walking or using taxis to get to our destinations.  I had made it a two night trip, staying Friday evening as well after attending the “Dark and Delicious” (psiloveyou.org for info and read my blog at gatewaytowine.com for my take on the function) wine event on the 17th, an event that features Petite Sirah just like ZAP does with Zinfandel.  Both events were great fun and I definitely recommend them to people for future attendance.

The Bottom Line

The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition is a great event from beginning to end!  It provides wineries from all over the USA to have their wines evaluated by a diverse panel of wine judges that represent all facets of the industry.  It also makes public its results so that wine consumers can read about the highest awarded wines, the Best of Class wines and see who received medals in the various categories.  This information can act as a guide for the purchase of wine or for potential wineries to visit.  Lastly, the Public Tasting portion of the competition allows the consumer to have the opportunity to meet the producers and taste their award winning and occasionally other wine that they produce all in one stop.

It is important to remember that this is not the only wine competition.  There are others that have similar formats that provide the same information and ability to become familiar with new and award winning wines.  Next time you hear or read about a competition like the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, give it some consideration and maybe even participate if you can.  Who knows, maybe you can make it a weekend of fun like my friends and I did.  Try it……….you may like it.

Until next time, remember…….Life is Too Short to Drink Bad Wine!!!!