12/31 JAMES ONTIVEROS, NATIVE 9, ALTA MARIA, DAVID W. HEJL, DOMAINE DELLA

• FARMER/WINEMAKER/VITICULTURALIST JAMES ONTIVEROS - NATIVE 9 / ALTA MARIA
• DAVID W. HEJL - FOUNDER & WINEMAKER, DOMAINE DELLA

Former NFL Quarterback Drew Bledsoe Talks Doubleback Winery

• Jon Emmerich - Winemaker, Silverado Vineyards
• Former NFL Quarterback Drew Bledsoe - Proprietor, Doubleback Winery & Bledsoe Family Winery

Wine LA's Grenache Wars, Entertaining And Educational Sessions At Croma Vera Winery

• Ian Blackburn – Owner/Founder, Wine LA & Founder/Co-Winemaker, Beekeeper Cellars Talks About The Upcoming Grenache Wars 
• Chris Cuyler - Wine Educator For Croma Vera Winery Shares Details On Entertaining And Educational Sessions At Their New Tasting Room

Delille Cellars, Cocktails And Party Tips

• Jason Gorski, Winemaker For Delille Cellars Joins Us With Some Great Gift Ideas
• Jen Ackrill -  Director Of Mixology, Sky And Top Of Waikiki Shares Holiday Cocktails And Party Tips

Former Nfl Quarterback Drew Bledsoe Talks Doubleback Winery

• Jon Emmerich - Winemaker, Silverado Vineyards
• Former NFL Quarterback Drew Bledsoe - Proprietor, Doubleback Winery & Bledsoe Family Winery

World Of Pinot Noir Wildfire Relief Tickets, Options, Red Mare Wines

• Mike Dawson From Solterra Strategies Talks World Of Pinot Noir And Wildfire Relief Ticket Options 
• Jim Striegel - Red Mare Wines

Signorello Estate & Trombetta Family Wines

• Ray Signorello - Signorello Estate
• Rickey Stancliff & Erica Stancliff- Trombetta Family Wines

Hook & Ladder Winery & Tercero Wines

• Devin Ruddick From Hook & Ladder Winery Talks Holiday Gift Packs
• Larry Schaffer From Tercero Wines Joins Us With A Harvest Recap 

Doug Margerum From Margerum Wines, Holidays in Yountville

• Doug Margerum - Owner / Director of Winemaking, Margerum Wines
• Whitney Diver McEvoy - President & CEO, Yountville Chamber of Commerce - Holidays in Yountville 

Charles Krug Winery, Dry Creek Vineyard

• Peter Mondavi, Jr. - Co-Proprietor, Charles Krug Winery
• Kim Stare Wallace - President, Dry Creek Vineyard

J. Wilkes Wines

• Wes Hagen - Winemaker & Brand Ambassador, J. Wilkes Wines  

Rombauer Vineyards, San Luis Obispo Wine Country Association

• Koerner “Kr” Rombauer Iii - Owner, Rombauer Vineyards 
• Heather Muran - Executive Director, San Luis Obispo Wine Country Association Talks Harvest On The Coast 

Fess Parker Winery, Paradise Ridge Winery

• Tim Snider – President, Fess Parker Winery
• Dan Barwick - Winemaker For Paradise Ridge Winery

Wine Trends And Sonoma Happenings, Santa Ynez Valley

• Larry Van Aalst – Wine Trends And Sonoma Happenings 
• Shelby Sim - Ceo Of Visit The Santa Ynez Valley Talks Fall Events And Happenings

Wine LA's Annual Stars Of Cabernet, Ancient Peaks, Dream Big Darling

Ian Blackburn From Wine LA & Beekeeper Cellars Talks 10th Annual Stars Of Cabernet
Amanda Wittstrom Higgins From Ancient Peaks Talks About Dream Big Darling, A New Nonprofit Dedicated To Mentoring Women In The Wine And Spirits Industry

J. Wilkes Wines, Roar Wines

• Wes Hagen - Winemaker & Brand Ambassador, J. Wilkes Wines  
• Gary Franscioni - Proprietor, Roar Wines

Cirq, Ampelos Cellars

• Michael Browne - Founder And Proprietor, Cirq 
• Peter Work - Founder, Ampelos Cellars

Lando Wines, Mauritson Wines

• Sam Lando - Lando Wines
• Clay Mauritson - Owner/Winemaker From Mauritson Wines Talks Project Zin 

Hamel Family Wines, Grounded Wine Co

• George Hamel Jr. From Hamel Family Wines Is This Year’s Honorary Chair Of The 2018 Sonoma County Wine Auction (September 20-22)
• Josh Phelps - Winemaker/Owner, Grounded Wine Co 

7/23 Winesong, Cass Vineyard & Winery

• Jamie Peters Fills Is In On All The Details For Mendocino’s Premier Food & Wine Event, Winesong
• Steve Cass Talks About Cass Vineyard & Winery Winning Winery Of The Year At The Central Coast Wine Competition

Kanzler Family Vineyards, Stephen Ross Wine Cellars

• Alex Kanzler  - Winemaker, Kanzler Family Vineyards
• Stephen Dooley - Owner, Founder, Winemaker - Stephen Ross Wine Cellars

Taste Of Sonoma, Square Peg Winery

• Executive Director Of The Sonoma County Vintners Michael Haney - Taste Of Sonoma Tickets On Sale Now
• Brad Alper - Winegrower and Owner, Square Peg Winery

The Vincent Estate Vineyards & Winery, Willamette Valley Wineries Association

• Lee Lathouwers - General Manager, the Vincent Estate Vineyards & Winery
• Morgen Mclaughlin - Executive Director, Willamette Valley Wineries Association

Hunt Cellars, Williams Selyem

• David Hunt – Owner & Winemaker, Hunt Cellars
• Mark Malpiede - Vice President Of Sales & Marketing, Williams Selyem

Mauritson Wines, Duckhorn Vineyards

• Clay Mauritson - Owner/Winemaker, Mauritson Wines Tells Us All About The Upcoming Project Zin 
• Renee Ary - Winemaker, Duckhorn Vineyards - Release Of The Highly Anticipated 2015 Three Palms Merlot 

Mauritson Wines, Duckhorn Vineyards

• Clay Mauritson - Owner/Winemaker, Mauritson Wines Tells Us All About The Upcoming Project Zin 
• Renee Ary - Winemaker, Duckhorn Vineyards - Release Of The Highly Anticipated 2015 Three Palms Merlot 

J.Lohr Vineyards & Wines, "King Of Cab" from Saddleback Cellars

• Southern California Area Manager for J.Lohr Vineyards & Wines Mike Bell is in the house!
• Known as the "King Of Cab" Nils Venge Founder/Winemaker of Saddleback Cellars joins the conversation.

The Vincent Estate Vineyards & Winery, Willamette Valley Wineries Association

• Lee Lathouwers - General Manager, the Vincent Estate Vineyards & Winery
• Morgen Mclaughlin - Executive Director, Willamette Valley Wineries Association

Charles Krug Winery celebrates 75th Anniversary Of Ownership, The 36th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival

Peter Mondavi, Jr. - Charles Krug Winery Celebrating Their 75th Anniversary Of Ownership

THE MONDAVI FAMILY
Today, Charles Krug Winery is under the direction of brothers Marc and Peter Mondavi, Jr., who steward the family business passed to them by their father, legendary Napa Valley wine icon Peter Mondavi, Sr. The family is now proudly welcoming members of the fourth generation to the business, continuing a legacy started more than 70 years ago, and setting a foundation for generations to come.


Christopher Taranto - Communications Director, Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance 

THE 36TH ANNUAL PASO ROBLES WINE FESTIVAL

The 36th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival is less than one month away! This annual festival that celebrates the Paso Robles wine lifestyle is set for May 17 – 20, 2018. The festival began in 1983 with 17 wineries sharing their craft in the warmth of the beautiful Paso Robles Downtown City Park. This tradition continues among the trees on Saturday, May 19 with more than 70 wineries, two stages of music, wine-related crafts, and complimentary bites from 14 caterers, chefs, and artisanal purveyors.

The Paso Robles Wine Festival Grand Tasting begins at 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 19 for the early entry ticket holder ($90) or 1 p.m. for the general admission ticket holder ($70) and concludes at 4 p.m. Guests wanting more Paso Wine can still purchase Combo Tickets ($145) which gives them the RESERVE event on Friday, May 18, as well as the Grand Tasting Early Entry on Saturday, May 19. RESERVE Only tickets are currently sold out. Please visit the ticket option page on Pasowine.com to learn more.

NZ Wine Navigator, Sangiacomo Family Vineyards

Dan Keith - West Coast Regional Manager,  NZ Wine Navigator 

 Like so many other enterprises, NZ Wine Navigator began with a group of friends and family and a few excellent bottles of wine. Graham Painter, our Founder, was visiting family in the States and was sent out on the oh-so-common task of fetching a nice wine for dinner. Wanting to show off some of our fine Kiwi wines, he went from one wine shop to the next searching for something beyond the big-name NZ Sav Blancs. A deep, rich Pinot or Syrah? How about a superb Riesling? Surely, with the breadth of fine wines being produced in New Zealand, there was something special to be found.



Steve Sangiacomo - Partner, Sangiacomo Family Vineyards 

The Sangiacomo family has been farming in Sonoma County since 1927, and for 50 years has farmed premium wine grapes in Sonoma soil. Three generations of the family have been dedicated to growing some of the finest grapes in Sonoma County and Napa Valley from vineyards that are 100% certified sustainable. We are committed to crafting the finest wines from our estate vineyards and cementing our position amongst the very best in new world California Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The majority of wine is sold direct-to-consumer and to a select few restaurant accounts. The winery produces a small number of large format bottles for charity auctions only. Information surrounding the allocation of wines is distributed via email a few weeks prior to its annual spring and fall releases. To learn more, please visit www.sangiacomowines.com.

Craig Haserot, Sojourn Cellars, Sally James, Australian Wines

FOUNDER AND PROPRIETOR OF SOJOURN CELLARS CRAIG HASEROT JOINS THE SHOW 

Sojourn Cellars began in 2001 as a collaboration between two tennis buddies who discovered a mutual passion for great wine and the things that tend to go with it – good food and good company. Utilizing Erich’s experience as an Assistant Winemaker at Arrowood Winery, Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley developed a plan to produce distinctive Pinot noir wines complemented by small bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon from extraordinary vineyard sources. Over the next 10 years, they worked together to develop their shared love of fine wine into a winery that has established a consistent track record of producing highly rated wines under the Sojourn brand. Today, what began as their own personal journey into the world of winemaking has evolved into a first-class boutique winery committed to creating high-quality artisan wines for people who know and appreciate them.

Founded by Craig and Ellen Haserot together with winemaker Erich Bradley, Sojourn Cellars makes wines that reflect a heartfelt commitment to producing carefully handcrafted wines for individuals who appreciate sophistication without pretension. Launched in 2001 with 100 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sojourn remains today a boutique artisan producer of Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines sold on allocation to their mailing list members and a select group of restaurants, retailers and distribution partners.


AUTHOR, EDUCATOR, CHEF AND RADIO HOST SALLY JAMES TALKS AUSTRALIAN WINES

Sally James is an award-winning Australian author, educator, chef, television presenter and radio host whose books and recipes have won international acclaim for food & wine pairing, health and creativity. Sally is the author of eighteen cookbooks and publications, including her best-selling Simply Healthy—winner of the prestigious World Cookbook Awards, Versailles, France, 1999 for Best Health Cookbook; Fresh and Healthy–Winner of the 2001 IACP International Cookbook Award in the Health category; Simply Sensational, a finalist for the IACP Award in 2003; Escape to Yountville – Recipes for Health and Relaxation from the Napa Valley, and the Australian Heart Foundation Cookbook. Since relocating to the U.S. in 2001, James has been a guest presenter on the Food Network and UPN Networks, a recurring guest on ABC TV’s View from the Bay, and has been featured in magazines including Cooking Light, Wine Spectator, Fitness, Family Circle, New York Times' Savor Wine Country, Plate, In the Mix and Healthy Cooking. She has been a guest chef and lecturer for the American Heart Association, the Culinary Institute of America, Disney’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, COPIA, Aspen Food and Wine Classic, the National Restaurant Association Show, Draegar's and Publix Markets, the American Institute of Food & Wine, and Johnson & Wales Universities across the United States.

WINE LA'S ELEVATING ZIN, TERCERO WINES

IAN BLACKBURN – OWNER/FOUNDER, WINE LA & - UPCOMING EVENT: ELEVATING ZIN 

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.

ABOUT ELEVATING ZIN
Wednesday / May 16, 2018
Montage, Beverly Hills - 225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
VIP Admission - 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
General Admission - 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

wineLA has teamed up with some of the worlds best Zinfandel Producers to bring you "Elevating Zinfandel"! An event geared on showcasing the "Crème de la crème" of the Zinfandel community in one fabulous location. You will have the chance to meet with the wine producers as well as purchase some of these exclusive wines.


LARRY SCHAFFER FROM TERCERO WINES 

The idea for tercero wines surfaced a number of years back. Larry Schaffer had been in the educational and trade publishing industry for a number of years and had achieved all he had set out to do. It was time for a change . . . . but to what? Larry’s dreams of becoming a professional volleyball player were never going to happen, so he looked towards something he had always been interested in but never understood completely – winemaking. One thing that really interested him was the ‘why’ involved – how in the heck do you start with a grape and end up with this wine? Or that one? He needed to know more – and he needed to challenge his brain.

Fast forward four years . . . and Larry begins his new career in earnest as the Enologist for Fess Parker Winery, a well-respected winery in the Santa Ynez Valley. Why Santa Barbara County? The winemaking community is willing and wanting to help each other, but more importantly, it is simply an incredible place to raise children!

Fast forward another year, and Larry is ready to ‘take the plunge’ and start buying grapes to make his own wines! It’s scary and challenging at the same time – no matter how much you read about it or do it for others, it’s quite different when it’s ‘your own baby’ . . . But it’s also a way for Larry to ‘marry’ his past with his present – to use his sales/marketing skills along with his technical winemaking skills to see what he can produce . . .

28TH ANNUAL ROLL OUT THE BARRELS, HOOK & LADDER WINERY

HEATHER MURAN - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAN LUIS OBISPO WINE COUNTRY ASSOCIATION – ROLL OUT THE BARRELS

28TH ANNUAL ROLL OUT THE BARRELS WEEKEND
Thursday, June 21-Saturday, June 23, 2018 

Kick off the summer in San Luis Obispo’s Wine Country at our 28th Annual Roll Out the Barrels Weekend, June 21-23rd.  Your getaway to our coastal wine mecca begins Thursday, June 21st at Barrels in the Plaza, with over 50 wineries and local chefs dishing out delicious food and wine.  Then on Friday and Saturday, sip your way through San Luis Obispo tasting rooms with our Passport to Wine Country*. Walk the vineyards, barrel sample the new vintage, and enjoy open houses, wine tastings and festivities all day Friday & Saturday! Just pick up your wristband, wineglass and passport booklet at the first winery you head to and bring them along to enjoy the festivities!

EARLY BIRD SAVINGS!
Take advantage of these special savings and purchase your all-inclusive weekend ticket package early!  All-inclusive packages include tickets to Thursday's Barrels in the Plaza & Friday & Saturday Passport to SLO Wine Country.
April 2-May 1st - Early Bird Package Price: $120
May 2nd-June 22nd - Package Price: $130

EVENT LINE-UP

Barrels in the Plaza
Thursday, June 21st, 2018, 4:30-7:30pm
Includes winetasting, commemorative glass, and edibles from local chefs
$60 Ticket / $30 Designated Driver

Passport to SLO Wine Country*
Friday & Saturday, June 22 & 23, 2018
All-inclusive winetasting, commemorative glass, and activities at tasting rooms
$75 Passport • $20 Designated Driver
$50 Saturday Only Passport


DEVIN RUDDICK - DIRECT TO CONSUMER SALES & HOSPITALITY MANAGER,  HOOK & LADDER WINERY 

GROWERS FIRST
In 1970, San Francisco firefighter Cecil De Loach and his wife Christine staked their claim in the wine grape business by purchasing 24 acres of old-vine Zinfandel in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County. In the early seventies, the De Loaches decided to acquire additional vineyard land. For several years they watched others make notable wine from their grapes before making the decision to produce wine under the De Loach label in 1975. More than three decades later, Cecil and Christine sold that label and have continued their winemaking skills at the helm of a small family winery that employs a simple philosophy – craft exceptional wines, from the highest quality grapes, that people love to drink. We consider each step of the winemaking process an opportunity to showcase the distinctive flavors contained within our carefully cultivated grapes. Every bottle of wine is a worthy representation of the best effort from each and every person at Hook and Ladder Vineyards and Winery.

OUR VINEYARDS TODAY
On 375 acres situated in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, our vineyards produce cool climate grapes widely recognized as some of the finest in the world. Grape growers of the early 1900’s recognized the sites of our vineyards as being uniquely suited for wine grape growing. Building on their knowledge and experience, we have matched the soil and climate of each parcel with the varietals most likely to achieve its full potential.

SHARON KAZAN HARRIS AND JIM RICKARDS

SHARON KAZAN HARRIS - OWNER & DIRECTOR OF WINEMAKING, RARECAT WINES

It was during a junior year abroad in France where Sharon Kazan Harris spent a year at the Université de Bordeaux. As a student she was taken under the wing of the wife of the University’s president, which is how she found herself, at age 20, being taken on a personal tour of Chateau Haut Brion, producer of one of the greatest wines in the world. The tour was led by the legendary Monsieur Delmas (Senior) himself, who kindly let her taste the renowned 1982 vintage out of the barrel, followed by the 1966. That moment changed her life, and sealed her interest in wine and the Bordeaux region itself.  Sharon applied and was accepted to the famous DUAD program (the Diplome Universitaire d’Aptitude a la Degustation des Vins) offered through the Universitié de Bordeaux’s Oenology department and graduated with honors.

Although Sharon was raised in California and lives in the Napa Valley, her love of wine is a shared experience of two viticulture worlds; Napa and Bordeaux.  This connection is the personality of RARECAT Wines.  Combining American sensibility and love of the land with a Bordeaux palate and winemaking education rooted in old world traditions.  The blending of these two worlds has define a RARECAT wine style based on elegance and balance.

RARECAT Wines is built on the philosophy of a Joie de Vivre life.  A joy of everything that connects people at the table over a glass of wine.  Connecting to important things in life, and experiencing joy with the people you love, cherish, and want to meet!  We create special experiences and opportunities through RARECAT programs such as RARECAT Professional,  RARECAT trunk shows and the RARECAT Ambassadors program.  Creating lifelong connections and artful living through wine, wine education, and charitable giving.  That is the RARECAT promise.

NAPA VINTNER LAUNCHES 23 CITY TOUR IN U.S.
Founder of RARECAT Wines offers seminars educating business executives
Napa Valley, California, February 2018 --- Sharon Kazan Harris is a Napa Valley
winemaker and entrepreneur who combines her wine connoisseurship and business
savvy in seminars educating businesswomen. Kazan Harris--- who has educated
thousands of executive women at seminars and tastings over the last seven years--- is taking her seminars on the road this spring.


JIM RICKARDS - OWNER, J. RICKARDS WINERY 

Welcome to J. Rickards Vineyards and Winery. We are a family-run operation of both wine grape farming and wine production, located at the northern end of the Alexander Valley in Sonoma County. Owned and operated by Jim and Eliza Rickards, the Vineyards have been planted over the past 30 years, augmenting the original 1908 Zinfandel vines. The Winery started in 2005, born out of the encouragement of friends who have enjoyed the small lots of hand-crafted wine we have been making since 1991.

We produce several varietals that grow especially well on the diverse blocks throughout our 60 acres. Zinfandel, both from the old vines and new plantings of old clones (see The Ranch) is bold, spicy... Petite Sirah is handled gently to soften its tannic nature, bottled on its own and blended with the Zinfandel, adding its unique character…. Malbec from the lower pond area, a stunning varietal... A blend we call Five Sisters is made from the traditional Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Malbec, all estate grown.

The majority of the grapes we harvest go to other renowned wineries in the area. Our Cabernet Sauvignon to the neighbor, Silver Oak, in their Alexander Valley label; hillside Zinfandel to Passalacqua Winery over the hill; and Petite Sirah to several small producers in the valley. The plan is continue these partnerships and pick selected blocks for our wines. Our first offering was about 150 cases from the 2004 and 2005 vintages, growing to 5000 cases over the next few years.

03/19 DONALD PATZ AND CHRIS HYDE

DONALD PATZ FROM THE SECRET DOOR WINERY - A CULINARY EVENING WITH THE WINEMASTERS

Born in Fargo, North Dakota but lived in both Minnesota and Oregon before coming to California in 1983. He earned a degree in Biology from the University of Oregon. Mr. Patz’s career in wine spans four decades in the wine business at virtually every level from retail through sales and production. He worked for Flora Springs Winery, Girard Winery before dedicating full time to his previous winery business Patz & Hall Winery. Mr. Patz is a notable personality and highly regarded professional within the California wine business. His expertise in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines is unquestioned and although less well-known Mr. Patz also has experience with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Secret Door Winery is his chance to exercise his skills in a familiar but new arena.


CHRIS HYDE - GENERAL MANAGER AT HYDE VINEYARDS & DIRECTOR OF VITICULTURE, HYDE DE VILLAINE

Christopher Hyde has always had a passion for land. After studying Agricultural Business and Viticulture at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Farm Management, Chris worked an internship in sales at Wilson Daniels. From there, Christopher joined the Hyde Vineyards team as viticulturist and helped co-found Larry Hyde and Sons Winery with his father and brother. In 2010, Chris went on to work at Merryvale Vineyards as a viticulturist and cellar worker before assuming the role of General Manager at Hyde Vineyards and Director of Viticulture at Hyde de Villaine Winery in 2012, where he continues to work closely with his father Larry.

In 2015, the latest chapter began, as Chris received his MBA in the second graduating class from Sonoma State University Wine-Business intensive Master’s program and the initiation of construction for the Hyde and Sons Estate Winery in Carneros.

In his free time, Christopher enjoys mountain biking, skiing, wine, and travel.

03/05 DAVID DUNCAN, SILVER OAK CELLARS, LARRY VAN AALST

DAVID DUNCAN - PRESIDENT AND CEO SILVER OAK CELLARS

It All Began With a Handshake
Silver Oak began over a handshake between two friends with a bold vision: focus on one varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon, aged exclusively in American oak and worthy of cellaring for decades to come.

Raymond Twomey Duncan, a Colorado entrepreneur who began investing in California vineyards in the late 1960s, and Justin Meyer, a winemaker and former Christian Brother, began in a Napa Valley dairy barn in 1972, producing only 1,100 cases of their inaugural vintage.

Over the next two decades, Silver Oak grew in popularity. Our Napa Valley and Alexander Valley Cabernets sold quickly upon their release from the winery and became a sought-after staple on restaurant wine lists around the country. After selecting Daniel Baron to succeed him as winemaker in 1994, Justin retired, selling his share of Silver Oak to the Duncan family in 2001.

With David R. Duncan serving as President and CEO and Tim Duncan as Executive Vice President, the Duncan family continues to operate the winery to this day.


LARRY VAN AALST - SONOMA WINE TRENDS

LARRY HOSTS A PROGRAM ON CRN AND IS AN EXPERT ON WINE WHO IS SOUGHT AFTER FOR, TASTING AND MAJOR SOMMELIER EVENTS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA. HE COMMENTS ON THE INDUSTRY, WHATS GOING ON IN THE SOMNOMA AREA AND HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT WINE.

02/26 DAVE PRAMUK, ROBERT BIALE VINEYARDS, ANGELA JACKSON, VISIT NAPA VALLEY

DAVE PRAMUK - CO-FOUNDER, SALES, MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS OF ROBERT BIALE VINEYARDS

A lifelong friend and schoolmate of Bob Biale, Dave is from a family of eight children and was raised in Napa, attending local schools.  At Napa Valley College he played for the Golden West Conference championship tennis team. At CSU Chico, he graduated with a degree in Developmental Psychology, and also studied Journalism and European Studies. An in-depth wine appreciation class and subsequent travels across Europe changed his life. Since 1982, he has worked for several Napa Valley wineries in winery-direct sales, hospitality, public relations, and production: Sterling, Carneros Creek, Clos du Val, Clos Pegase, Kendall Jackson, Cardinale and Lokoya. He has also worked as a wine broker in Napa and Sonoma. Dave has a love for the history of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah and their unique place in American wine. The Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley is Napa’s newest sub appellation and Dave contributes as a board member and marketing advisor to advance education and promotion of the district. As Co-Proprietor of Robert Biale Vineyards he directs the winery’s Sales, Marketing, and Public Relations – writing and traveling and “spreading the gospel” of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah.

FARMING PRACTICES
The Oak Knoll District’s ideal soils, seasons, and conditions allows for farming Zinfandel using old world techniques. The first Zinfandel vines in Napa Valley were planted in what is now called the Oak Knoll District, which lies within the much cooler, breezier southern half of Napa Valley – nearby San Pablo Bay (the northern section of San Francisco Bay). The historic head-trained vines that we specialize in, in particular, require intensive vine by vine hand work to ensure a balanced crop, and uniformly ripened bunches. Annual soil amendments with cover crops of beans and grasses, and organic compost are used regularly each growing season to promote vine health and grape skin thickness.

In a valley-wide effort to protect the Napa River ecosystem and its native fish populations, Robert Biale Vineyards employs farming practices that are designed to conserve soil and river water levels, and is in the process of joining other Napa Valley grape-growers and farmers in completing the new Napa Green Certification and Fish Friendly Farming initiative. Water conservation is a keystone element of both initiatives.


ANGELA JACKSON - DIRECTOR, MEDIA RELATIONS, VISIT NAPA VALLEY - WHAT’S NEW IN THE NAPA VALLEY & UPCOMING EVENTS

ABOUT VISIT NAPA VALLEY 
Visit Napa Valley® is the official tourism marketing organization for the Napa Valley. Primary funding for our activities and programs comes from a Tourism Improvement District (TID) special assessment on lodging. Additional funding is provided through partnerships with visitor-serving businesses throughout Napa County, and through Napa County Special Projects Funding.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW FOR THE FOURTH
ANNUAL YOUNTVILLE LIVE LUXURY EVENT TAKING PLACE IN CALIFORNIA MARCH 15TH TO THE 18TH

Yountville Live To Feature Renowned Chefs Stephanie Izard, Bob Blumer And More; Pourings By Some Of The Most Revered Vintners And Wineries; Headline Performances By X Ambassadors, Foy Vance, NEEDTOBREATHE & More; Events Hosted By Joy Bauer from the Today Show & Eat Travel Rock TV Host Kelly Rizzo

02/12 DAN FREDMAN, WORLD OF PINOT NOIR, GARY PISONI, PISONI VINEYARDS

WORLD OF PINOT NOIR BOARD MEMBER, DAN FREDMAN TALKS ABOUT THE POPULAR PAIRING DINNERS AND HOW TO GET TICKETS

WORLD OF PINOT NOIR
March 2-3, 2018
RITZ-CARLTON BACARA
Santa Barbara, California
The annual World of Pinot Noir event gathers the planet’s foremost Pinot Noir wineries and winemakers, renowned chefs, sommeliers and leading wine scholars in a weekend-long seaside celebration of this delicious and storied wine.

Each year more than 200 Pinot Noir producers from around the world convene on California’s coast to share and discuss their wines. Santa Barbara is blessed with a climate that provides fresh fare year-round; taste how our talented chefs pair their most creative, locally focused dishes with Pinot Noir from around the world.


GARY PISONI – PISONI VINEYARDS

THE FAMILY
Three generations of living on and working the land comprising Pisoni Vineyards has inserted this beloved place into our family’s DNA. Looking out over this land we feel our connection to it running deep and strong, like looking at our children and seeing our own reflections.

Walking, watching, farming and feeling each of the 20 distinctive parcels in 40 acres, we breathe in energy and beauty and breathe out pride and knowing. Each day, season and generation brings a deeper sense of belonging, stewardship and evolving.

Farming is what we do. Gary’s parents, Jane and Eddie Pisoni, first started farming in the Salinas Valley in 1952. They fostered this sense of pride for farming, place and family that has carried through the Pisoni Family ever since.

It was Gary who, in following his passion for wine, introduced the family to growing grapes in the mountains—at a time when everyone thought he was crazy to do so.

The Pisoni family’s goal: grow exceptional grapes to make exceptional wine. Wines made by the Pisoni family are bottled under the Pisoni Estate and Lucia labels.  Gary and his two sons, Mark and Jeff, farm and produce Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah from their three vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands: Pisoni, Garys’ and Soberanes vineyards.  These vineyards and wines represent an extreme commitment to farming and classical winemaking.

ABOUT GARY PISONI
True dedication to Pinot Noir.
Gary Pisoni exudes passion—for adventure, for family, for grape growing, for wine. He combines all of these by pouring his enthusiasm and energy into Pisoni Vineyards. Described as “the new face of American Pinot Noir” and “Burgundian-crazy about his vines,” Gary grows grapes using meticulous viticultural practices. Over the last 30+ years, he has transformed the mountainous property where his parents once grew vegetables, grazed a few horses and head of cattle into one of California’s most renowned vineyards.

02/05 BOB CABRAL, THREE STICKS WINES, ALLEN BALIK, THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION, A CULINARY EVENING WITH THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS

BOB CABRAL - DIRECTOR OF WINEMAKING, THREE STICKS WINES & FOUNDER/WINEMAKER, BOB CABRAL WINES
 

ABOUT THREE STICKS WINES: 
Three Sticks Wines is a boutique, family-owned winery founded by Bill Price (William S. Price III). Founded in 2002, the winery is named for Bill’s surfing nickname, “Billy Three Sticks,” which was assigned to him in his youth as a reference to the three Roman numerals that follow his name. As a long-time fan and collector of wines from the Durell Vineyard, Price purchased  the property from Ed Durell in 1998, and launched Three Sticks a few years later.

In 2015, Bob Cabral, former winemaker for Williams Selyem, and Ryan Prichard, former assistant winemaker for Medlock Ames, joined the Three Sticks Team. Don Van Staaveren, who had been with Three Sticks since 2004, remains as Winemaker Emeritus. Cabral and Prichard will be focusing on the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay production, while Van Staaveren will continue to focus on the Cabernets.

The winery is housed in an industrial area near downtown Sonoma, among a cluster of other artisan wine producers known as the Eighth Street Wineries. In keeping with the winery’s “no crush” policy, every lot of grapes to come in is treated with utmost care and minimal handling. The winemaking team insists on keeping every vineyard block separate from the others from the moment they are picked on through fermentation, barrel aging and final blending.

In 2014, Three Sticks opened a tasting salon in downtown Sonoma: The Adobe (a.k.a. the VallejoCasteñada Adobe, #theadobe). Built circa 1842 and located just off the plaza in downtown Sonoma, the Vallejo-Casteñada Adobe was one of Sonoma’s oldest and longest occupied residences and remains one of the last standing buildings from California’s Mexican Period. It’s transformation into the Three Sticks tasting salon was directed by noted San Francisco designer Ken Fulk.

ABOUT BOB
There is very good reason Bob Cabral’s name is synonymous with great Pinot Noir. With decades of experience in Sonoma County, Bob’s passion, experience and following for his work with the varietal is second to none. From May 1998 thru December 2014 Bob was winemaker & general manager for Williams Selyem Winery in Healdsburg. There, he led the winery into a new era, overseeing an expansion of new vineyard sources and bottlings for the brand, along with the construction of a new state-of the art winery in 2009.

Bob’s interest in wine and farming began in childhood helping his grandfather make wine in a barn. Growing up pruning grapes, irrigating vineyards and harvesting grapes became routine on his family’s 70-acre ranch near Escalon, CA. A fourth generation farmer and grape grower from the great San Joaquin Valley, he took all he learned at the family farm and applied it to his degrees at Fresno State University. While in college, his passion for Pinot Noir became evident as he spent every spare dime, and a good chunk of his student loans, on buying wines from all over the world—mostly Burgundy and Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs.

After graduating in 1984, Bob knew that Sonoma County was where he could best hone his skills and make wines to rival the best in the world. He spent 18 vintages in various winemaking positions—associate winemaker at DeLoach Vineyards, custom crush winemaker at Kunde Family Estate, winemaker at Alderbrook Vineyards and winemaker at Hartford Court Winery—before taking his seminal position at Williams Selyem. Bob’s winemaking philosophy has remained constant throughout his career—to source and farm the best fruit possible, with minimal intervention in the cellar. He was awarded the 2011 Wine Star Award from the Wine Enthusiast as “Winemaker of the Year,” 2 years after being awarded the first perfect 100 point Pinot Noir in North America. He joined Three Sticks in 2015, with fervent enthusiasm.


BARBARA BALIK FROM THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION - A CULINARY EVENING WITH THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS

A CULINARY EVENING WITH THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS  

The California Winemasters is a perennial Wine Spectator Top 10 Charity Wine Auction set for May 19, 2018 at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.  This extraordinary event showcases 50 international chefs and 75 of California’s Finest Wineries.  “Winemasters” has raised more than $30 million in support of the mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

The CF Foundation is a nonprofit donor-supported organization dedicated to attacking cystic fibrosis from every angle.  Its focus is to support the development of new drugs to fight the disease, improve the quality of life for those with CF and ultimately, to find a cure.

The Foundation’s drug development success has been recognized by Harvard Business School and by publications such as Forbes, Discover Magazine and The Wall Street Journal.

Make your reservations NOW for this wine tasting extraordinaire and spectacular hors d’oeuvres dinner!

ABOUT THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world’s leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis. We fund more CF research than any other organization, and nearly every CF drug available today was made possible because of Foundation support. We are a nonprofit donor-supported organization dedicated to attacking cystic fibrosis from every angle. Our focus is to support the development of new drugs to fight the disease, improve the quality of life for those with CF, and ultimately to find a cure.  The Foundation's drug development success has been recognized by Harvard Business School and by publications such as Forbes, Discover magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. Based in Bethesda, Md., the Foundation funds and accredits a national care center network that has been recognized by the National Institutes of Health as a model of care for a chronic disease.

01/29 LARRY VAN AALST, SONOMA HAPPENINGS, WES HAGEN, J. WILKES WINES, CYRIL CHAPPELLET, CHAPPELLET

LARRY VAN AALST – WINE TRENDS AND SONOMA HAPPENINGS

LARRY IS AN EXPERT ON WINE WHO IS SOUGHT AFTER FOR, TASTING AND MAJOR SOMMELIER EVENTS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA. HE COMMENTS ON THE INDUSTRY, WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE SONOMA AREA AND HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT WINE.


WES HAGEN - WINEMAKER, BRAND AMBASSADOR, J. WILKES WINES


J. Wilkes is a brand dedicated to producing wines from the greatest American Viticultural Areas (AVA’s) on the Central Coast of California. Instead of the ‘selfie’ of vineyard designation, we believe the greatest value and expression of a winegrowing area is careful blending of vineyards and harvest dates. Our goal in crafting these wines is to source the highest quality fruit and to age and bottle our wines with a focus on allowing vintage and region to show clearly and deliciously. We invite you to navigate this website as Jeff Wilkes sailed the Pacific—note the cool breeze and the manifest beauty in every moment, in every sip. Our winemaker Wes Hagen is always available to answer your questions.



CYRIL CHAPPELLET - CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, CHAPPELLET 

The Chappellet family’s romance with Pritchard Hill started more than four decades ago when Donn and Molly Chappellet first glimpsed its magnificent vista of forests and wildflower-filled meadows. Inspired by the notion that Bacchus loves the hills, the Chappellets followed the advice of renowned winemaker André Tchelistcheff and settled on Pritchard Hill’s rocky slopes, becoming the first winery to plant vineyards exclusively on high-elevation hillsides. From these Pritchard Hill vineyards, the Chappellets have been crafting extraordinary, age-worthy wines since 1967. Pritchard Hill’s rugged terroir has become legendary for producing wines with great intensity and depth—qualities that define the world's finest Cabernet Sauvignons. As a result, Chappellet wines have consistently received the highest praise from critics, and are sought after by the world's premier collectors. Today, a second generation of the family has joined their parents in embracing the romance of Pritchard Hill. They are passionate about preserving the land and continuing what Donn and Molly began—making extraordinary wines.

01/22 WINE TRENDS WITH JULIE KALICKI, THE SALTNER WINE AND CICCHETTI, IAN BLACKBURN, WINE LA, BEEKEEPER CELLARS

WINE TRENDS WITH JULIE KALICKI - OWNER, THE SALTNER WINE AND CICCHETTI

THE SALTNER WINE AND CICCHETTI
108 E Colorado Blvd, Monrovia, CA
(626) 385-6111

The Saltner is a wine bar and restaurant located in Monrovia, CA. Our Mission is to provide our customers with a relaxed environment where they can explore the world of wine. We offer our collection of wines by flights, by the glass as well as by the bottle. Bottles are also available for sale to enjoy at home. In addition, The Saltner offers Cicchetti, small plates of food to complement the wines for pairings and to enhance the food and wine experience.

Have a birthday or business event coming up? We are available for wine tasting parties and other private events! Give us a call today for booking and details!

Vino Collapso (Happy Hour) ... Tuesday and Wednesday 4pm to 6pm, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 3pm to 6pm and all day Sunday - 20% off all open bottles on 3 and 6 ounce pours!


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

ABOUT WINELA
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.

ABOUT BEEKEEPER CELLARS
Beekeeper Cellars is the vision of best friends and co-winemakers Ian Blackburn and Clay Mauritson. The two collaborated after adventurous individual careers in the wine business, and at last, decided to work together on a project of their own.

Clay, a 7th generation grape grower, and his family found themselves the owners of a significant slice of the Rockpile Appellation, through an amazing set of historical land transactions. The Mauritson family realized the potential and parented the creation of the ROCKPILE AVA. In 1998, Ian and Clay climbed the hill and watched the Madrone Spring Vineyard get planted, while discussing the future of Rockpile and the dream it represented.

In 2008, Clay saw the fruits of his family's labor taking shape and came to Ian with a unique opportunity to source some of the Rockpile fruit. He told Ian in the difficult days of 2008, “now is the time to get in and build the business and have it take shape as the market improves, and to not wait until business is strong as you will have a hard time getting access to the right quality assets.” Ian took heed of Clay’s wise comment and said "When your best friend is Clay Mauritson and he offers Rockpile fruit and to assist with winemaking…... you make Zinfandel.”

In Los Angeles, Ian operates a specialty wine marketing organization known as wineLA and has pioneered wine education for the past 20 years (since 1995) through www.learnaboutwine.com and www.wineLA.com.  Beekeeper Cellars is also involved in Ian’s Masters of Wine Thesis project and provides him the winemaking training he requires to help pass the difficult Masters of Wine exam...an ongoing pursuit.

01/15 EDGAR "PETE" DOWNS, FAMILY WINEMAKERS OF CALIFORNIA

EDGAR "PETE" DOWNS - PRESIDENT, FAMILY WINEMAKERS OF CALIFORNIA

Family Winemakers of California is an “organization that reflects the ‘little guy’s’ point of view.” With nearly 5,400 licensed wineries in California someone needs to be the actual voice for small, family wineries in the fight for more access to markets, protecting individual freedom from government over-regulation, and fostering aspirations to make the best wine. Our beginnings are humble. Family Winemakers was founded in 1990 after the wine market order extension was voted down in a true grassroots campaign. Industry growth and public policy on a myriad of issues begged for input from small producers. One man, one vote is the bedrock principle behind Family Winemakers that guides our views on legislation, regulation, litigation and business practices. We’ve spent 25 years and counting working to loosen up the post-Prohibition restrictions in California law and broaden access to domestic markets. We are affiliated with WineAmerica to establish a channel for input on national issues and generate unity among small producers and growers across the United States. Great wine needs a market. “Free Trade for Small Wineries in U.S. Markets” was a discussion paper generated by the founders that said, “The most important and in fact the only important reason for small wineries under 100 tons to join [FWC] would be to work for the right to market directly to end users thereby by-passing the 3-tier system.”

Direct-to-consumer wine sales by wineries has been one of the main public policy issues embraced by the association. It led to Family Winemakers intense involvement in direct shipping litigation that resulted in the landmark Granholm decision in 2005. From a limited market of 13 reciprocal states, consumer choice has now been expanded to 41 states and the District of Columbia, and counting. Family Winemakers has pursued legislation over the years to create numerous sales channels for small producers that has resulted in wine being sold at certified farmers’ markets, at fairs and festivals, and through order taking at thousands of non-profit wine tastings. And FWC has said no repeatedly to state excise take increases, new fees and laws that would overly hamper business operations.

UPCOMING TASTING: 2018 Pasadena
Family Winemakers will host its annual tasting of family-produced and hard-to-find California wines on Saturday, March 17 2018 at the Pasadena Convention Center. The Saturday tasting is a one day event of award-winning small, family-owned wineries that create wines from many of the state's fabled wine growing regions.  Great Wine -- A Family Tradition!

Imagine the opportunity to taste over 500 wines offered by over 125 wineries.  You'll find upwards of 40 different varietals or blends from 60 of California's famed appellations.  If you can’t get to the wine country let them come to you! Whether you’re adding to your wine list, retail shelves or your private cellar, this is an opportunity to Taste California!

01/08 JAMES ONTIVEROS, NATIVE 9, ALTA MARIA, DAVID W. HEJL, DOMAINE DELLA

FARMER/WINEMAKER/VITICULTURALIST JAMES ONTIVEROS - NATIVE 9 / ALTA MARIA

ALTA MARIA:
Alta Maria is a small, artisan winery focusing on producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the cold and oceanic Santa Maria Valley appellation in Santa Barbara County. Founded by 9th Generation California James Ontiveros, and Winemaker and long-time college friend Paul Wilkins, Alta Maria’s wines are inspired by the old world regions of France and are classic examples of purity, balance and complexity. We strive to make the best wines possible in a very conscientious manner and employ organic and sustainable practices leaving no indelible mark on the people and places around us.

The name “Alta Maria” refers to the upper Santa Maria River, which James’ ancestor, Don Juan Pacifico Ontiveros crossed on Saint Mary’s Day, 1855, as he drove cattle from Southern California to his new home at Rancho Tepusquet – now home to some of the globe’s most renowned vines. The picturesque river flowing through the valley was the force responsible for sustaining ranch life in those early days.

The artwork for Alta Maria Vineyards features hand-hewn iron nails used by homesteaders in Santa Maria before the Industrial Revolution introduced mass-produced, machine-cut nails. Despite its lowly function, each nail is unique from the next according to the conditions in which it was made and the expertise of the craftsman.

NATIVE 9 WINES:
“Native9 is the fulfillment of my own American story two centuries in the making. Tracing my roots back to the first men and women who settled in the Santa Maria Valley, I worked for hourly wages along with my parents to buy a small plot of land our ancestors’ 8,900-acre Mexican land grant: a modest cattle ranch where I planted my 8-acre vineyard and a panoramic view of the land that had once been our own. Planted in 1997 by my own two hands with the help of friends and family while I attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard is now considered one of the finest sites for Pinot Noir in California. As a natural extension of my deeply personal vision for this vineyard,Native9 is made in small lots with a nod to bothOld World sensibilities and New World stylistic freedom with the help of my longtime friend and vetted winemaker, Paul Wilkins. Though I wasn’t born into the wine industry by traditional means, I have vine-growing and farming in my blood. The name Native9 reflects my gratitude to the generations of California farmers and ranchers who came before me.”


DAVID W. HEJL - FOUNDER & WINEMAKER, DOMAINE DELLA

David Hejl, Former General Manager and CEO of Kosta Browne and Founder and Winemaker of DOMAINE DELLA is introducing a luxury Pinot Noir to the market. This wine label honors his family’s mother who died long before her time. DOMAINE DELLA’s mission is to craft intense and adventurous wines partnering with the very best growers to make a wine that inspires and creates special moments with those that matter and timeless memories. Extremely limited production from the finest sourced grapes in the Russian River and Sonoma Coast offered and first released commercially in 2014.

DOMAINE DELLA wines are released in the Spring and Fall over a three week period twice a year to active “list” members. Join the list www.domainedella.com