11/27 ANDY NINER, NINER WINE ESTATES, DOUG FILIPPONI, ANCIENT PEAKS WINERY, PASO ROBLES CAB COLLECTIVE

ANDY NINER -  PRESIDENT, NINER WINE ESTATES

FAMILY OWNED & ESTATE GROWN 
we are 100% estate grown and the integration of farming and winemaking is the foundation of everything we do.

We currently farm a total of 223 acres across three different vineyards in Paso Robles and Edna Valley, and make all our wine in our LEED Certified Winery at Heart Hill Vineyard.  We are known for our estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well as our flagship blend Fog Catcher; however, we grow a wide range of varietals and specialize in small lot bottlings that we allocate primarily to our Wine Club Members.   After growing up on a farm in West Virginia, Richard Niner spent his career building small businesses across a wide variety of industries.  One of his business ventures brought him to Paso Robles in the early 1990s and he was immediately drawn to the potential of both the land and the people who lived here.  After a long search, Richard and Pam purchased their first vineyard, Bootjack Ranch, in 2001 and spent the next decade building a tasting room and winery, finding and planting two additional vineyards, and assembling the current team. In 2013 they retired and their son Andy took over the day-to-day management of the business. 

WE LOVE WHERE WE LIVE AND WHAT WE DO
We are passionate about sharing our wines with our customers in every aspect of any experience. The Central Coast of California is truly a spectacular place, and we host winery tours, seasonally inspired lunch service and a variety of fun and creative dinners designed to showcase it.  We believe that good people are the key to a memorable experience, so all our events are designed to be interactive and educational. Our Chef might decide to teach you how to shuck fresh oysters during a class; our Winemaker may lead a blending seminar with his favorite barrels; our Vineyard Manager might take you to the top of Heart Hill to geek out about rootstock. Regardless, our goal is to have guests walk away loving this place as much as we do.

THE RESTAURANT 
experience great dining in wine country
lunch served thursday-sunday from 12-3pm. 

Since opening our restaurant doors in early 2014, we have grown to be a family, winery, community and garden that are obsessive about ingredient sourcing. We know the farmers, butchers and artisans that we choose to partner with and our open-kitchen lunch service shows our goal of food-chain transparency. See our current lunch menu here & learn more about upcoming special events & dinners here.

"BEST WINERY RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA" - FOOD AND WINE MAGAZINE, 2017  - OUR RESTAURANT WAS NAMED ONE OF THE BEST WINERY RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA BY FOOD & WINE 

WWW.NINERWINE.COM


DOUG FILIPPONI - CO-OWNER OF ANCIENT PEAKS WINERY AND THE PRESIDENT OF PASO ROBLES CAB COLLECTIVE

Ancient Peaks Winery represents the shared vision of three longtime local winegrowing and ranching families—the Filipponis, Rossis and Wittstroms. Two generations are actively involved in the winery’s daily operations, all dedicated to producing extraordinary wines from Margarita Vineyard.

ORIGINS OF ANCIENT PEAKS 
Rob Rossi acquired Santa Margarita Ranch in 1999. His friends Doug Filipponi and Karl Wittstrom soon joined him as partners in the ownership of the ranch, which they had all regarded as a special property for many years. That same year, the Robert Mondavi family planted Margarita Vineyard on the ranch under a lease agreement (click here for more background on the Mondavi connection).

In 2005, the three families acquired ownership and control of Margarita Vineyard. The obvious potential of the vineyard ultimately inspired the three families to become vintners as well as winegrowers. They knew that they could cherry-pick their favorite blocks and make distinctive wines with a strong sense of place. 

The name Ancient Peaks was chosen to honor the towering Santa Lucia Mountains that border Margarita Vineyard. These peaks define the land’s complex geology and regulate the vineyard’s climate, ultimately shaping the character of the wines.

A RICH VITICULTURAL HISTORY
Santa Margarita Ranch enjoys a long and illustrious cultural pedigree, beginning with the Chumash and Salinan Indians more than 10,000 years ago. In the 1770s, the ranch became part of Father Junipero Serra’s famed Mission trail

Grapes were first planted at the ranch by Franciscan missionaries in 1780. Today, Santa Margarita Ranch remains one of California’s oldest continuously operated cattle ranches.

We are proud to be stewards of the ranch’s winemaking tradition and its legacy of early California rancho hospitality.

WWW.ANCIENTPEAKS.COM
WWW.PASOROBLESCAB.COM

11/20 DAVID HUNT, HUNT CELLARS, DANIEL DAOU, DAOU VINEYARDS AND WINERY

DAVID HUNT – OWNER & WINEMAKER, HUNT CELLARS

It started over 20 years ago as a fantasy: living on a lush beautiful vineyard, producing your own style of favorite premium varietal wines that are well received and appreciated by those who have discovered the wines and shared them amongst friends.

Now, drive along the scenic Highway 46 West, about three miles west of the 101 Fwy at Oakdale Road, you will find this dream has become reality for David Hunt, Winemaker and owner of Hunt Cellars, a winery committed to producing “Memorable Wines”. We believe that great wines leave indelible impressions when poured with wonderful meals and great friends and scintillating conversations. Hunt Cellars was founded on the philosophy of producing wines that you will look forward to simply sipping by a cozy fireplace or pairing with your favorite meals to enhance that special event or moment in time.

How It Began
When The Hunt Family decided to pursue their dream they were uncertain where they would choose to build their vineyard. The Hunts spent exhaustive days and weekends traveling to various premium wine regions from Oregon, Washington, and throughout the State of California. They finally narrowed their decision down to the Central coast to San Luis Obispo County. Paso Robles was selected because of its rich diversity in soils, superb growing climate and unique styles of wine making along with the spirit of graciousness and traditional American values.

Eventually after looking at numerous parcels of vineyard potential property, they settled on uniquely beautiful property containing over 550 acres on Highway 41 in Creston. This unique property met their criteria in topography, soil composition and unparralled beauty. Within the 550 acres there are four terrior’s with varying elevations containing soil composites that mirror the great wine regions of the world. They were convinced that they could grow wonderful exciting intense fruit here on this property.

Destiny Hunt
The Hunt Family decided to name their vineyard, “Destiny Vineyards,” in honor of their new baby girl they named Destiny who was born in 1996. Just ask Destiny who has the best wines today and she will certainly tell you.

Destiny Vineyard’s first planting consisted of: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Syrah, Petite Syrah, Cab Franc, Viognier and Zinfandel. The Hunts decided to build a tasting room for their premium wines, which opened in October of 1999.

In 1997 they began producing their first releases of memorable wines… Experience has taught Hunts that in order to make great wines you must simply have the best fruit. At Hunt Cellars, we believe passion, hard work and never giving up until we have put together all the components and structure that will give our wine the varietal character, flavor and velvet finish that will become a trademark of our wines.

HUNTCELLARS.COM


DANIEL DAOU - WINEMAKER AND CO-PROPRIETOR, DAOU VINEYARDS AND WINERY

THE VISION
Two Brothers: One Dream
Daniel and Georges Daou are committed to producing collectible, world-class Bordeaux style wines to rival those of the most respected appellations in the world.

Their appreciation for quality wine was nurtured throughout childhood, in France, where their father enjoyed good wine with every meal. Daniel and Georges came to appreciate great wines as young adults, and their passion for the fruits of the vine has grown stronger with every passing year.

OUR STORY:
In the golden, oak-studded hills of Paso Robles’ acclaimed west side, not far from William Randolph Hearst’s magnificent castle, there is a man with a Homeric vision. His name is Daniel Daou and he is devoting his life and every imaginable resource to creating, first and foremost, a Cabernet Sauvignon that rivals the very best in the world. Gracefully perched atop a stunning promontory at 2,200 feet, the DAOU Spanish Colonial style winery is embraced by a tangible serenity. Hawks wheel and bank while the all-day sun caresses close planted rows of lush, emerald green vines. The 100 percent calcareous soil makes no sound as it parses out nourishment and only a gentle breeze flows up through the Templeton Gap from the Pacific Ocean. The quiet is bewitching; you want to lay down roots here, just as the seven-year-old vines have done. But the sense of peace belies the serious industry at work on this 212 acre estate. No effort is spared to create the luscious varietals and blends that flow from this limited production winery. This kind of synergy happens rarely: superlative climate and terroir, super intensive vineyard culture, and cutting edge viticultural practice. You’re more likely to find it in Bordeaux than Central California. Coupled with the infectious passion and gracious, family style hospitality of the Daou brothers, Georges and Daniel, the result is pure magic. The kind of magic that comes in a bottle.

WWW.DAOUVINEYARDS.COM

11/13 TONY LOMBARDI, LOMBARDI WINES, RISE UP SONOMA, MORGEN MCLAUGHLIN, WILLAMETTE VALLEY WINERIES ASSOCIATION

TONY LOMBARDI - FOUNDER, LOMBARDI WINES - RISE UP SONOMA, A BENEFIT EVENT FOR SONOMA COUNTY

RISE UP SONOMA

When:  
December 3, 2017 – from 4:00 - 9:00 PM

Where: 
Sonoma Country Day School – Jackson Theatre at 4400 Day School Place, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Price per ticket: 
$500 for general admission. This group will enjoy 30 exclusive dine & wine stations with our featured chefs from San Francisco and Sonoma County. This includes general admission to the seating for the evenings music performance. Limited to 650 seats.

$1500 for VIP. The VIP guests will have access to the dine & wine stations, as well as the Green Room with our special music talent. The Green Room will host a caviar and foie gras station with an assortment of exclusive wines served from magnum. Finally, our VIP guests will enjoy front of the theatre section seats for the music performance. VIP is limited to 100 guests.
All proceeds from the event will be distributed to the following charities in support of victims:

Direct Human Element:
Care Relief Fund: www.calrestfoundation.org/fires.html
Redwood Credit Union Fund: www.redwoodcu.org/northbayfirerelief
UnDocuFund Fire Relief for Sonoma County: http://undocufund.org

Long-term and short-term housing:
Burners Without Borders: www.burnerswithoutborders.org
Homes for Sonoma: www.homesforsonoma.org 
Rebuild Wine Country: www.rebuildwinecounrty.org 

ABOUT RISE UP SONOMA
A very passionate group of dedicated and compassionate people pulled together for an incredible evening in Sonoma County benefiting those deeply affected by the devastating north bay fires. This group consists of San Francisco/Sonoma County’s most influential and notable chefs and restaurants. The winery partners are comprised of the rarest and most sought after in the country. The event is an evening of delectable wine, food, and one of a kind auction items, finished with a sensational concert led by some of music industry’s legendary artists.

WWW.LOMBARDIWINES.COM


MORGEN MCLAUGHLIN - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WILLAMETTE VALLEY WINERIES ASSOCIATION

WINE REGION OF THE YEAR
Wine Enthusiast Magazine awarded Oregon’s Willamette Valley as its 2016 Wine Region of the Year for the annual Wine Star Awards. Meet some of Oregon’s colorful characters and learn why our region has become the home of New World Pinot noir! The award was presented at the Wine Star Awards dinner in Miami on January 30, 2017.

ABOUT THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY
The Willamette Valley, Oregon’s leading wine region, has two-thirds of the state’s wineries and vineyards and is home to more than 500 wineries. It is recognized as one of the premier Pinot noir producing areas in the world.The Willamette Valley is a huge and varied appellation that includes six sub-appellations: Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge and Yamhill-Carlton.

Buffered from Pacific storms on the west by the Coast Range, the valley follows the Willamette River north to south for more than a hundred miles from the Columbia River near Portland to just south of Eugene. To the east, the Cascade Range draws the boundary between the Willamette Valley’s misty, cool climate and the drier, more extreme climate of eastern Oregon.

At its widest point, this long, broad valley spans sixty miles. Overall, the climate boasts a long, gentle growing season – warm summers with cool evenings; bursts of Indian summer into fall; mild winters followed by long springs. In ideal years the maritime climate provides the best conditions possible for growing the cool-climate grape variety for which Oregon is best known: Pinot noir. In lesser years, fall weather can be tricky, causing winemakers to pull their hair. In this matter the Willamette Valley compares favorably with the Burgundy and Alsace regions of France. And, like it or not, the often finicky Willamette Valley climate is the promised land for Pinot noir in America. Wineries also produce Pinot gris, Pinot blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Melon, Gewürztraminer, sparkling wine, Sauvignon Blanc and some Syrah, Cabernet, and Merlot among other lesser-known varieties.

The Willamette Valley wineries are a popular tourist destination, with the area boasting a luxury destination resort, several high-end inns and many delightful bed & breakfasts. The valley also offers a long list of fine dining restaurants. An additional advantage for the wine tourist is the proximity of the wineries to Portland. From Portland, tourists can visit the Willamette Valley winery of their choice in anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours.

WILLAMETTEWINES.COM

11/06 IAN BLACKBURN, WINE LA, MIKE SULLIVAN, BENOVIA

MIKE SULLIVAN - CO-OWNER AND WINEMAKER, BENOVIA

Ben Dewane and Novian Anderson never met, yet they raised their children with similar old-fashioned values. Hard work brings its own rewards, they would say. Be the best at what you do. Surround yourself with good people, and let them get to work. And never, ever produce anything that wouldn't make you proud. With such similar family backgrounds, it's no wonder Joe Anderson and Mary Dewane would eventually find each other and marry. Together, they began a journey that led them to establish a winery that would make them, and their fathers, proud -- proud enough that the Benovia name pays homage to Ben and Novian.

Their journey also inspired Joe and Mary to assemble the best possible team of respected winemaking professionals. They partnered with Mike Sullivan, one of northern California's top winemakers, and someone who shares their passions for quality. With Mike as co-owner and winemaker, they brought in more depth to the winery operations, by hiring Chris Kangas as vineyard manager and Bob Cooley as the VP of Sales and Marketing. All good people who together make an even better team.

"At Benovia, our team is an extension of an extraordinary family," says Joe, "a family that eats, drinks, and breathes a lifelong passion for wine."

That passion led to the purchase of the renowned Cohn Vineyard atop a mountain near Healdsburg, where the couple lives, and led to a new winery in the heart of the Russian River Valley. The journey will continue with an exciting new Pinot Noir vineyard near Freestone, and the Martaella ranch (named after Joe and Mary's mothers), surrounding the winery itself.

Joe and Mary have invested in all the right things to make Benovia flourish-vineyards with unique terroir and a well equipped winery. But their most important investment is people.

"We see these people as the soul of Benovia," says Joe. "Mary and I trust in their passion and in what they bring to the wine. They expect a lot of themselves, and they expect it from each other. We like to call them 'Benovians.' I think our fathers would be proud of them."

BENOVIAWINERY.COM


IAN BLACKBURN – OWNER/FOUNDER, WINE LA & FOUNDER/CO-WINEMAKER, BEEKEEPER CELLARS - UPCOMING EVENTS 

wineLA is about enhancing the wine culture of Los Angeles. 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, roof tops, gardens, and magical views. We want to be a part of the LA lifestyle, the wine lifestyle, and celebrate the people, the place and the passion.

wineLA will promote significant events, occasional classes, and tastings of merit. This is phase two of what we started 20 years ago at LearnAboutWine.com - America’s first wine education website and first in wine event creation. LearnAboutWine will now evolve onto a digital platform; the transformation will take some time; so we will slowly rebrand our event efforts onto wineLA, reduce the number of activities we focus on, and elevate our efforts to focus on the next big thing… Doing what is best for the wine industry and the communities we serve.  Edicts:  innovate, evolve and excite.

We thank you for joining our newsletter, we will be sending fewer emails and packing them with amazing content. We want to be your wine content provider and would love to hear about your favorite places, your music, your locations - we want to be under the influence of what ignites your passion for Los Angeles.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

L.A. SUPPORTS WINE COUNTRY EVENT
Wed. Nov. 15, 2017

The Peninsula Beverly Hills
9882 S Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills
 CA 90212

VIP: 6:00-9:30 PM
General: 7:00-9:30 PM

A benefit for Wildfire Relief Supporting Habitat for Humanity ensuring funds raised go to fire victims in Northern California who need it most. Imagine 100 Wineries, dozens of great restaurants and vendors - all working together to raise money - Los Angeles Style!   Entertainers, bands, DJ's appearing on all 3 mega stages - Costumed performers walking the aisles - Artwork from local artists - Silent Auction items a plenty! Food, food, and more food with over 100 wineries invited! Come and do some holiday shopping and give 100% of the proceeds to charity! Over 8,000 structures and thousands of lives were damaged in the recent disaster. Let's all lend a hand and show the world that L.A. Supports Wine Country.

STARS OF CABERNET
Wednesday / November 15, 2017

Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel
9882 S Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

VIP Ticket Experience  /  6:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Gold Ticket Experience  /  7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

A Cabernet lovers showcase bringing together the most revered wine producers and a beautiful Los Angeles audience! Come meet the best in the business and taste over 100 wines at Beverly Hills most luxurious venue!  Proceeds from the silent auction benefit 501c3 Habitat for Humanity in efforts to help the victims of the devastating Northern California Fires.

WWW.WINELA.COM