Wine Trends And Sonoma Happenings, Hitching Post Wines

• Larry Van Aalst – Wine Trends And Sonoma Happenings
• Gray Hartley & Frank Ostini - Winemakers, Hitching Post Wines

Matt Parish, Larry Van Aalst, Lula Cellars of Anderson Valley

• Larry Van Aalst – Wine Trends And Sonoma Happenings
• Famed Winemaker Matt Parish - Lula Cellars of Anderson Valley

Chronic Cellars, Wine Trends And Sonoma Happenings

• Jacob Beckett – Founder/Grower, Chronic Cellars
• Larry Van Aalst – Wine Trends And Sonoma Happenings

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.

10/09 CHRISTOPHER TARANTO, PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE, PASO HARVEST WINE WEEKEND, ELLIOTT DOLIN, DOLIN MALIBU ESTATE VINEYARDS, LARRY VAN AALST, SONOMA FIRE

CHRISTOPHER TARANTO - COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE - PASO HARVEST WINE WEEKEND OCTOBER 20-22, 2017!

Halfway between the two main California metropolises of Los Angeles and San Francisco is Paso Robles Wine Country. Located along California’s famed Central Coast, the Paso Robles winegrape growing region’s climate is perfect for the production of award-winning premium wines. A long growing season of warm days and cool evenings gives rise to vibrantly ripened fruit with dynamic flavor profiles that translate beautifully in your glass of Paso Robles wine.

Traversing the landscape you will find 40,000 vineyard acres, producing more than 40 winegrape varieties – from Spanish to Italian, Bordeaux to Rhône, including the area’s heritage variety zinfandel. The styles of wine are diverse in this very distinct region.

40,000 vineyard acres & 40 winegrape varieties
Along your journey through Paso Robles Wine Country, take time to stroll the historic downtown to shop and dine. Boutique stores, wine country cuisine, and tasting rooms fill the blocks surrounding Paso Robles’ Downtown City Park. A scene right out of a Norman Rockwell painting, Paso Robles’ downtown completes the picture of Paso Robles Wine Country.

Neighboring Paso Robles along the coast are the towns of San Simeon, home to Hearst Castle on the north, and the fishing village of Morro Bay to the south. In between you will find Cambria, Harmony, and Cayucos. All are within a short drive and worthy of your exploration. Much like the marine air influence to the winegrapes, the coast is a perfect complement to your Paso Robles Wine Country experience.

We invite you to discover Paso Robles Wine Country. Use the links above to learn more about Paso Robles’ history, its wineries and vineyards and upcoming events. To find out more about visiting Paso Robles Wine Country, explore the touring and visitor information.

HARVEST WINE WEEKEND | OCTOBER 20-22, 2017!

We Harvest Happiness!
It’s time to be happy! A year’s hard work is rewarded with another great harvest. Come celebrate with us during Harvest Wine Weekend, October 20-22, 2017!

In Paso Robles Wine Country, you’ll discover award-winning wines, exceptional restaurants and breathtaking views all without tension or pretension. Try a taste for yourself with more than 140 weekend activities! Winemaker dinners, ceremonial grape stomps, barrel tastings, food and wine pairings, and live music are just a few of the exciting offerings that await!

Visit www.pasowine.com to search the full weekend of harvest events by day, winery or activity. You’re sure to find something to satisfy whatever your palate desires!

PASOWINE.COM


ELLIOTT DOLIN – PROPRIETOR, DOLIN MALIBU ESTATE VINEYARDS - HARVEST UPDATE/UPCOMING EVENTS

Inspired by a Chardonnay vineyard that Elliott and Lynn Dolin planted behind their Malibu home in 2006, Dolin Estate quickly emerged as one of the leading producers of estate Chardonnay in the Malibu Coast. Today its Malibu production has grown to include a second Chardonnay from Malibu Newton Canyon and two proprietary Malibu Coast red blends.

With the 2012 vintage, Dolin Estate broadened its scope beyond the boundaries of Malibu with a line of Central Coast Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. The lineup includes a range of regional blends and single-vineyard designated bottles from revered sites such as Bien Nacido Vineyard, Solomon Hills Vineyard and John Sebastiano Vineyard.

The Dolin Malibu Coast Estate
The Dolin property sits at 400-ft. elevation just off Point Dume State Beach, where it benefits from a coastal microclimate with cool foggy mornings and large diurnal shifts. The site is laid out at a 45-degree eastward facing angle on the property’s sharply grated, south-oriented slope. The blend of Zuma volcanic soils and sandy loam has proven to be a perfect fit for Chardonnay.

Malibu Coast AVA
In 2011, wanting to offer a greater “sense of place” to the region, Elliott helped spearhead the establishment of the Malibu Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA) alongside other Malibu vintners. The Malibu Coast AVA is 46 miles long and eight miles wide, with the majority situated within the Santa Monica National Recreational Area.

Winemaking:
Respected Central Coast winemaker Kirby Anderson brings decades of experience and takes a mindful approach to winemaking at every stage of production, from harvest to bottling, to make balanced wines with rich fruit, bright acidity and voluptuous texture. He makes monthly visits to Malibu during the growing season to meet with Elliott and monitor the development of the fruit. Elliott in turn frequently travels to the winery and vineyards in the Central Coast to offer direction and feedback on the winemaking.

WWW.DOLINESTATE.COM

LARRY VAN AALST –  SONOMA FIRE UPDATE

LARRY HOSTS A WEEKLY 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.

8/1 LARRY SCHAFFER, TERCERO WINES, THE RHONE RANGERS, LARRY VAN AALST, SONOMA HAPPENINGS

LARRY SCHAFFER FROM TERCERO WINES - THE RHONE RANGERS CALIFORNIA TOUR LOS ANGELES EVENT ON AUGUST 6

Los Angeles Tasting Events 2016
Rhone Rangers California Tour | Los Angeles Event on August 6

The Rhone Rangers ride into Los Angeles on Saturday, August 6, 2016 with over 40 wineries pouring their American-grown Rhone wines at the Skirball Center. The one-day event includes a new winemaker luncheon, seminar and a grand tasting with a new VIP section. It’s the largest tasting of Rhone wines in Los Angeles.

Date                Saturday, August 6
Location         Skirball Cultural Center
                       2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd
                       Los Angeles, CA 90049
                       Complimentary Parking
Time               11 am – Winemaker Seminar - Red/White Rhone Blends
                       12:30 - Trade and Media Tasting
                       12:30 pm  - New Event: Winemaker White/Rosé Luncheon
                       1:30 pm – VIP Grand Tasting
                       2:30 pm – Grand Tasting General Admission  

Saturday, August 6
LA - Saturday Pass – Spend the day with the Rhone Rangers and kick off your Saturday with a seminar: The Past and the Future. The Rhone Rangers will look at Rhone blends, encompassing both wines made in the southern Rhone tradition and newer, more unusual wine blends. Featuring 100% Rhone varieties Patrick Comiskey, Los Angeles based writer for Wine & Spirits and the Los Angeles Times, and the author of a soon-to-be published book on the American Rhone movement, will moderate a panel of winemakers. A flight of red wines and a flight of white wine will be included as the basis of the discussion. Your day continues to the White/Rosé winemaker luncheon to rub elbows with some of your favorite winemakers while tasting a variety of White and Rosé wines and enjoying a buffet-style lunch. After lunch take advantage of VIP status which gives you early entrance to the Grand Tasting of more than 40 Rhone wineries, access to a private lounge with hors 'd oeuvres and special wines. The Seminar begins at 11 am followed by the luncheon at 12:30 pm and VIP Grand Tasting at 1:30 PM.

Saturday Pass - $150
LA - VIP Grand Tasting – VIP status at the Rhone Rangers Los Angeles event secures early entrance to the tasting of more than 40 Rhone wineries. NEW in 2016 is a special lounge area featuring unique wines, appetizers and seating. VIP guests may enter at 1:30 pm.

VIP Tickets - $85
LA - Grand Tasting General Admission – Join the Rhone Rangers as part of their California Tour in Los Angeles. Enjoy wines from more than 40 Rhone Rangers wineries during the Grand Tasting from 2:30 – 5:30 pm.
Grand Tasting  Tickets - $65


ABOUT TERCERO:
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 . . .

TERCEROWINES.COM
RHONERANGERS.ORG



LARRY VAN AALST – SUMMER WINE TRENDS & SONOMA HAPPENINGS

LARRY HOSTS A WEEKLY 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.

05/09 JASON PUGACH, THE 27TH ANNUAL CULINARY EVENING WITH THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS, LARRY VAN AALST, THE SONOMA WINE REPORT

JASON PUGACH -  THE 27TH ANNUAL CULINARY EVENING WITH THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS

ABOUT THE 27TH ANNUAL CULINARY EVENING WITH THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS

Saturday, May 14th, 2016 6PM at Warner Bros., “Midwest Street”

A wine tasting extraordinaire and spectacular hors d’oeuvres dinner benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. One of WINE SPECTATOR’S “TOP TEN U.S. CHARITY WINE AUCTIONS” will be held on the “Midwest Street” backlot at Warner Bros.

The California Winemasters is a perennial Wine Spectator Top 10 Charity Wine Auction set for May 14, 2016 at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.  This extraordinary event showcases 50 international chefs and 75 of California’s Finest Wineries.  “Winemasters” has raised nearly $29 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.  It’s 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’oeuves dinner!

CALIFORNIAWINEMASTERS.ORG


LARRY VAN AALST – HOST OF THE SONOMA WINE REPORT – SEASONS WINE TRENDS AND HAPPENINGS IN SONOMA

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

02/15 CHRIS TARANTO, PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE, BLENDFEST ON THE COAST, LARRY VAN AALST, SONOMA COUNTY

CHRIS TARANTO - COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE – BLENDFEST ON THE COAST

2ND ANNUAL PASO WINE BLENDFEST ON THE COAST: FEBRUARY 19 - 21, 2016

BlendFest is back, this time behind the locked gates of the Hearst Property in Old San Simeon Village!

• 30 Paso Robles wineries!
• 90 unique blends!
• Stunning ocean views!
• Behind the locked gates of Hearst Property!
• Stay & Save $10+!

BLENDFEST GRAND TASTING - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20:
Afternoon Tasting 1 - 3 p.m. |  Sunset Tasting 4 - 6:30 p.m.

90 unique wines from 30 Paso Robles wineries beyond the locked gates of the Hearst property in Old San Simeon Village. The sunset tasting will include a personalized cheese and charcuterie plate from Vivant Fine Cheese.

STAY & SAVE $10+!
Stay in Cambria or San Simeon and SAVE $10+ on each ticket to Saturday's event.
Save $10+ when you stay in Cambria or San Simeon! Before purchasing your BlendFest tickets, book your stay directly with Cambria and San Simeon lodging properties to receive an Access Key that will unlock amazing savings!NO refunds will be given for tickets purchased without the Access Key. Enter your code in the "Have an Access Key?" field on the checkout screen to unlock the hidden tickets. The Access Key must be entered in ALL CAPS. Note: This is not a Promotional Code and will not work if entered in that field.

COME EARLY AND STAY LATE!
Kick off your weekend at a Winemaker Dinner at Robin's Restaurant in Cambria with four Paso Robles winemakers. After tasting blends at Saturday's Grand Tasting, try your hand at blending wine during Sunday's Blending Seminarat Harmony Cellars (sorry, seminar sold out).

It's a full weekend of fun in store! Tickets are limited for each event, so get yours today!

ABOUT THE PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY:
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is a cooperative marketing alliance made up of Paso Robles Wine Country wineries, vineyards and related businesses. The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is a 501c6 nonprofit organization operated under the guidance of a nine-member board of directors.

HISTORY
The Paso Robles American Viticultural Appellation (AVA) is home to more than 200 wineries and 32,000 vineyard acres focusing on premium wine production. The distinct microclimates and diverse soils, combined with warm days and cool nights, make growing conditions ideal for producing more than 40 wine varietals from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, to Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne, to Zinfandel, the area’s heritage wine variety.


WWW.PASOWINE.COM


LARRY VAN AALST – HOST, SONOMA WINE REPORT - TASTING TIPS, SEASONAL WINE TRENDS 

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

01/04 LARRY VAN AALST, SONOMA WINE REPOR, KATRINA FREY, FREY VINEYARDS

LARRY VAN AALST – HOST, SONOMA WINE REPORT: TASTING TIPS, SEASONAL WINE TRENDS 

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


KATRINA FREY - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FREY VINEYARDS       

America’s first organic and Biodynamic winery - Producing award-winning vegan, gluten free wines with no added sulfites since 1980

We are a third-generation family-owned and operated winery located at the pristine headwaters of the Russian River in Redwood Valley, Mendocino County, California. At Frey Vineyards we combine the best of modern and traditional winemaking methods to showcase distinctive varietal flavors. Through minimal manipulation in the cellar, we allow the wines to express the authentic character of our soils and climate. For over three decades we have been vanguards in crafting wine without added sulfites, a synthetic preservative added to most other wines (even wines made with organically grown grapes!) that can cause adverse allergic reactions in some people.

Our organic and Biodynamic farming methods encourage care for the soil, groundwater, and wildlife, promoting rich biodiversity in the vineyard. Ninety percent of our land is held as unspoiled natural habitat with a diverse mix of native plants and animals. As stewards of the land, we emphasize producing organic and Biodynamic wine of the highest quality while caring for planet and palate alike.

FREY VINEYARDS – A HISTORY OF AMERICA'S FIRST ORGANIC WINERY
Paul Sr. and Beba Frey grew up a few blocks apart in the gritty New York City of the 1930's and 40's. Paul relished his summer escapes to the Poconos Mountains, Pennsylvania. And Beba found bliss each summer on a Catskill Mountains dairy farm (see photo above). Each vowed to escape the city permanently. They later met and married in medical school. While their family grew, they longed for a life closer to nature and finally settled down in Northern California in the early 1960's on their ranch in Redwood Valley, Mendocino County. The 12 children grew up instilled with love and respect for the natural environment, and picked up gardening, farming, and agricultural skills, as their parents had dreamed.  Paul Sr. and Beba rounded out their children’s education by schooling them in the sciences, history, literature, classical arts and music, as well as appreciation for world cuisines paired with wine.

In the late 1960's, Paul and Beba and the older kids planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Gray Riesling on the ranch's old pastureland and sold the fruit to nearby wineries. A decade later, brothers Jonathan and Matthew realized the vineyards' potential when a Cabernet Sauvignon grown by Frey's grapes won a gold medal for a Santa Cruz winery. Frey Vineyards was bonded the next year, in 1980, and soon after became the first organic winery in U.S.

The eldest brother Jonathan and his wife Katrina studied organic agriculture under the tutorship of Alan Chadwick, a green-thumb guru of the California 70's. At the winery's inception, Jonathan introduced high integrity organic practices that are still in place today.  Brother Matthew, learned the mechanical and technical skills of the wine business when working at nearby wineries. A final touch to the new winery's credo was that the wine would be made not only from organically grown grapes, but without any added sulfites. In the late 1980's, Paul Frey Jr. returned from the University of California at Santa Cruz to help perfect the techniques for making wine without the synthetic sulfite preservative, and is today our main winemaker. In 1996, Luke Frey spearheaded the conversion of our estate vineyards to biodynamic cultivation, making Frey Vineyards the first producer of certified Demeter Biodynamic wines in North America.

We are pleased that many local wineries and grape growers have become certified organic and biodynamic as well, for the health of our common environment as well as our customers. Today, a third of all organic grapes in California are grown in Mendocino County, and 15 wineries making wines from organically grown grapes are located here – more than any county in the U.S. The trend of organic grape growing is rapidly spreading in Napa and Sonoma Counties, and across the U.S. Frey Vineyards is the largest of the very few wineries to have taken on the challenge of producing a true organic wine, made with no added sulfites – a practice that is now tradition for our family. Today, more than 30 years since the founding of Frey Vineyards, many of the 12 children and spouses work for the family business. As organic food production is reaching new heights in the U.S., we hope the trend never stops, benefiting taste buds, planet, and the future generations.

ABOUT KATRINA FREY:
There aren't many jobs Katrina hasn't worked at Frey Vineyards. She has worn the hat of grape-picker, bottler, saleswoman – you name it! Katrina developed our sales and marketing branch and acts as our office manager. In addition to her work at the winery Katrina is the President of the Board of Demeter USA (our national Biodynamic certification agency). She gives her time generously to organic issues such as non-GMO activism and food safety, as well as Mendocino County's local Phoenix Hospice. NUnder Katrina's community minded guidance Frey Vineyards has generously donated product and funds to local and national environmental and social justice charities and non-profits. As a leader in the organic industry since day one, Katrina has been a featured speaker at Natural Products Expo East, the All Things Organic trade show and the Sustainable Brands conference.

UPCOMING EVENT:  Frey Wines and Crab Bites! - Friday, January 22, 2016 ~ 4:00pm-7:00pm

WWW.FREYWINE.COM

11/16 BOB CABRAL, THREE STICKS WINES, LARRY VAN AALST, THE SONOMA WINE REPORT

BOB CABRAL – DIRECTOR OF WINE MAKING, THREE STICKS WINES – HOLIDAY GIFT PACKAGES

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 1998 to 2014 Bob was winemaker for Williams Selyem. 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 state-of the art winery.

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 the mid-1980s, 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 11 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.” He joined Three Sticks in 2015, with fervent enthusiasm. Bob lives in the Russian River Valley where and is a devoted husband and father to his wife and daughter.

CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH THREE STICKS' GIFTS
We are pleased to offer you a selection of curated gift packages to celebrate the holidays. Reward your co-workers, thank your clients, surprise loved ones and simplify your gift list with Three Sticks wines. From single bottles to large formats, find the perfect complement for every recipient on your list. Each gift set arrives elegantly wrapped with a personalized holiday card from you. Place your order by December 4th to ensure your gift arrives on time!
• Magnum Gifts | Limited Availability
• Single Bottle Gifts | Three Options Available
• Two Bottle Gifts | Give the Gift of Durellhree Bottle Gifts | Pinot or Mixed Sets
• 2008-2013 Durell Vineyard Pinot Noir Vertical Only 3 available!

WWW.THREESTICKSWINES.COM


LARRY VAN AALST – HOST OF THE SONOMA WINE REPORT – FALL WINE TRENDS AND HAPPENINGS IN SONOMA

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

10/19 JEAN-FRANÇOIS PELLET, PEPPER BRIDGE WINERY, AMAVI CELLARS, LARRY VAN AALST, THE SONOMA WINE REPORT

JEAN-FRANÇOIS PELLET, PARTNER / WINEMAKER - PEPPER BRIDGE WINERY / AMAVI CELLARS - PEPPER BRIDGE WINERY NAMED TO WINE & SPIRITS MAGAZINE TOP 100 WINERIES LIST 

San Francisco Tasting on October 20 Showcases  - Five Walla Walla Valley Wineries as Part of Premier Line-up

October 14, 2015 (Walla Walla, WA) – Wine & Spirits magazine honors Pepper Bridge Winery, listing it among the top 100 wineries as part of the publication’s annual list. Critics look for consistency across a range of bottlings and consider wineries that make three or more wines each year to determine the annual list. Pepper Bridge was honored for its 2011 and 2012 vintages.

“At 170 acres, one of Walla Walla’s largest and most important vineyards serves a winery of the same name,” quoted the magazine’s critics. “Pepper Bridge’s intensely structured cabernet-based bottlings excelled in the warm 2012 vintage.”

Pepper Bridge along with four Walla Walla wineries: àMaurice Cellars, L’Ecole No. 41, Reynvaan and Spring Valley Vineyard will be part of a special Top 100 tasting in San Francisco on October 20 at City View at METREON. The entire award list can be viewed at Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting.
 “Receiving this honor from one of the top wine publications in the nation is a great accolade for our winemaking team,” said Jean-François Pellet, winemaker. The two vintages were very different as 2011 was a cool year while 2012 proved to be warm and dry. Both vintages added fruit from Octave, a vineyard plot on the SeVein Ridge parcel partly owned by Pellet. Pellet believes it’s a strong Cabernet site, with a strong wind influence that helps create small berries, dark fruit and lots of structure in the wines.

Pellet has been making wine for Pepper Bridge Winery for 16 years. Born and raised in Switzerland, he is a third-generation wine grower. He’s worked in Switzerland, Germany and the Napa Valley before coming to Walla Walla in 1999. In 2001, Pellet helped launch Amavi Cellars, a sister winery allowing him to expand his winemaking talents into Sémillon, rosé of Cabernet Franc and Syrah, working primarily with the Les Collines vineyard. A partner in both wineries, his passion is crafting wines from the estate vineyards of Pepper Bridge and Amavi Cellars.

ABOUT PEPPER BRIDGE WINERY - Pepper Bridge Winery represents the pioneering spirit of the Walla Walla Valley. Owned and operated by three families, the McKibbens, the Goffs and the Pellets, the winery is a leader in quality winemaking, innovative technology and vineyard development. Pepper Bridge Winery produces Bordeaux-style wines using traditional winemaking techniques, French oak and estate fruit from the Walla Walla Valley. Pepper Bridge wines are collectibles that showcase complexity, structure and balance. Combining old-world philosophy with modern innovation, the winery has become an industry leader. For more information visit www.pepperbridge.com 

ABOUT AMAVI CELLARS - Amavi Cellars signifies love (amor) and life (vita) through our wines, which are 100% estate, 100% Certified Sustainable,  and 100% Walla Walla Valley.  Located in the heart of Walla Walla wine country, our winery & tasting room offer sweeping views of surrounding Pepper Bridge Vineyard as well as the beautiful Blue Mountains. Dedicated stewards of the land, we are committed to making a positive impact both within our estate vineyards and within our community.

ABOUT JEAN-FRANÇOIS PELLET - Born and raised in Switzerland, Winemaker Jean-François Pellet is a third-generation wine grower. Working alongside his father, who has managed the same vineyard for 30 years, Jean-François always knew what he wanted to do with his life: make world-class wine.

Jean-François supplemented his experience by earning degrees in both enology and viticulture. As part of his studies, he interned in Switzerland, Germany and the Napa Valley. After graduating, he managed vineyards and made wine in Switzerland and Spain. Along with making wine in Spain, he was responsible for managing 500 acres of vineyards, designing a new winery and developing a market for the product.

His experience and reputation for meticulous winemaking brought him to the attention of Heitz Cellars in the Napa Valley, where he worked for four years. Pepper Bridge Winery then recruited him, so he moved to the Walla Walla Valley to become that winery's creative force. His success at Pepper Bridge (where he is still the winemaker, as well) allowed him the opportunity to join the Amavi partnership and to apply his winemaking skills to different grape varietals, particularly Syrah and Semillon. In addition to being winemaker, Jean-François plays a key role in the management of the winery's estate vineyards. He is also a founding member and current vice-president of the Walla Walla Valley's sustainable agriculture organization, VINEA.


LARRY VAN AALST – HOST OF THE SONOMA WINE REPORT – WINE TRENDS AND HAPPENINGS IN SONOMA

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

09/14 AMANDA WITTSTROM HIGGINS, ANCIENT PEAKS WINERY, SUNSET SAVOR THE CENTRAL COAST, LARRY VAN AALST, THE SONOMA WINE REPORT

AMANDA WITTSTROM HIGGINS - VP OF OPERATIONS, ANCIENT PEAKS WINERY – SUNSET SAVOR THE CENTRAL COAST WINEMAKER DINNER

OUR STORY - 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.

SAVOR THE CENTRAL COAST WINEMAKER DINNER
Date: Fri, Sep 25, 2015
Time 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Venue: Paso Robles Inn

With its carefully-crafted plates that bring together the fresh ingredients of California’s Central Coast to the beautiful backdrops and landscapes of its grounds, the historic Paso Robles Inn welcomes diners to a four-course wine paired dinner with the award-winning Ancient Peaks winery. Open to only 40 guests, this experience is brought to the table by generations of farmers and purveyors whose produce is featured throughout the menu, creating dishes that are abundantly flavorful and naturally tender. Ancient Peaks estate Margarita Vineyard stands alone as the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles Region tucked beneath the peaks of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Join these proud stewards of their land as they share in their wines, building memories to take home for a lifetime. $125 per person

MORE INFO ON SAVOR THE CENTRAL COAST
All roads lead to SAVOR, September 24 - 27, 2015 during the sixth annual Volvo Presents Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast.

OPENING NIGHT - Volvo presents Sunset SAVOR The Central Coast, California’s premier food, wine, travel and lifestyle event, reveals details surrounding its all-new opening night experience, Strings at Sunset. This highly anticipated taste bud-tempting, gasp-worthy kickoff on Thursday, September 24 transforms the Vina Robles Amphitheatre like you’ve never seen it before.  Join us as the Amphitheatre morphs into a multi-sensory wonderland featuring theatrical performances from award-winning artists String Theory and DJ Violinist Spags, and all-inclusive food and wine tastings throughout the venue.  Over the course of the evening, you’ll have the opportunity to dine with celebrity chefs and culinary personalities from across the state

THE MAIN EVENT - The Main Event invites you to experience an epicurean and adventure playground where you can taste, sip, and indulge. The historic Santa Margarita Ranch hosts this two day extravaganza on September 26 and 27 showcases celebrity and master chefs, Sunset experts, brew masters, as well as local fishermen and artisanal food producers from throughout California.

THERE ARE ALSO ADVENTURE TOURS AND SPECIAL EVENTS & DINNERS THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND. GO TO WWW.SAVORCENTRALCOAST.COM FOR MORE INFO.

WWW.ANCIENTPEAKS.COM
SAVORCENTRALCOAST.COM


LARRY VAN AALST – HOST OF THE SONOMA WINE REPORT TALKS ABOUT THE SEASONS WINE TRENDS

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