Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "wine tasting"

Commercial wine competitions: A behind-the-scenes look

2013-05-23T04:28:19Z

“All Things Wine.” That is what it says on my business card. I sort of like the phraseology. It doesn’t pigeonhole me into anything in particular in the world of wine, which is beneficial for exploratory purposes, but I don’t totally love it. Even though the following phrases describe the different things I do, I don’t do backflips over these either:

Wine Writer - It’s too limiting.
Wine Blogger - It can be too controversial and sometimes garners a lack of respect.
Wine Consultant - Seems too slick.
Wine Educator - Not particularly hip and a little snoozy.
Wine Enthusiast - Not really professional enough.
Wine Pairing Advisor-Party Maven - Sounds too soshy and chicklike.

I guess what is best about “All Things Wine” is that it allows me to pursue numerous interests within the world of wine, especially something that I find to be pretty groovy: wine competition judging.

In grocery stores around Sacramento you’ve likely seen the little gold, silver and bronze medal stickers stuck on random bottles of wine. Maybe you’ve seen a shelf promotion, or you’ve spotted medals and ribbons hanging around certain bottles in your local tasting room. Last year I decided to navigate my way into the origin of all that fanfare: the wine-judging scene. I scored a gig as a guest media judge at the California State Fair; it was a fabulous opportunity to learn about the process and get to know some of the players.

Last week I served as a guest judge at the El Dorado County Fair Commercial Wine Competition. My panel consisted of myself and three seasoned veterans from the judging circuit: one a local winemaker, another a local wine consultant, the other a well-known local wine educator-author-radio personality and former SacBee journalist (hmm, Sacto friends, who could that be?). Judging is a focused, concentrated wine-tasting effort. There is constant note taking and except for the sound of gurgling and spitting, much of the time it is quiet.

Panels were assigned their varietal flights at the beginning of the day; our panel had chardonnay, zinfandel, Italian red blends, Syrah and merlot. The number of wines within each of our flights varied from five to 12; we also had a handful of best-of-show flights at the end of the day that needed to be rated as well. All in all, we tasted over 60 wines.

In competitions like this one, wines are poured in a secluded area and presented blind to each panel; each glass is labeled with its associated bottle ID number. Using a system I refer to in my wine appreciation classes as S-5 (see, swirl, sniff, sip and savor), judges assess each wine on its appearance, aromas, flavors, texture, finish, beneficial features and flaws. They also search for wines with excellent varietal characteristic and finesse. Wines are scored individually, and if there are any outlier scores, re-tasting occurs, subsequent discussions ensue and a final panel award is assigned. This process serves as an effective check against personal palate preference or even a bit of tasting fatigue. As a guest judge, my scores and discussions were respected and considered by the panel, but not technically considered in the final award designation. Far more often than not, there was consistent agreement when it came to assessing the wines in our flights.

Trying to wiggle one’s foot in the door of the wine-judging world is not for the faint of heart. It takes sensory skills, tasting acumen, professionalism, persistence, a bit of self-promotion and a ton of patience. You didn’t hear it here, but I have noticed that the domain of wine judging appears to be a bit of a man’s world. That’s ok with me though because the particular group of gentleman I worked with provided congenial collaboration and gracious mentoring, as well as some pretty good tips on how to avoid being struck by lightning on the golf course.

Wine Competition Judge - Yes, right up my alley!

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Combination wine tasting room and kitchen store coming to Midtown near 20th and J streets

2012-09-19T01:02:40Z

The country’s oldest port-producing vineyard will set up shop in Midtown by the end of the year, combining wine and port tasting with a kitchen store.

Called Ficklin Wilcox, the store is owned by Ficklin Vineyards, which was established in Madera, Calif., in 1946.

A combination kitchen store and tasting room, it’s a new endeavor for the company.

“I felt like it was an original concept,” said Liz Wilcox of Ficklin Wilcox. “I haven’t seen anything quite like it, and my mother-in-law and I have been talking about doing something like this for years.”

Wilcox said she comes from a retail background, spending years working with Williams Sonoma.

The business will sell kitchenware such as cutlery, glassware, dishes, linens and cooks’ tools, and it will sell the full range of Ficklin Vineyards’ wines and ports.

“We’ll have dozens of varieties,” she said, adding that some table wines will be produced specifically for the Sacramento store.

Classes will be offered in an educational space at the rear of the building, which is located on 20th Street between I and J streets. Emphasis will be placed on learning how to pair wines with foods, but classes will also be offered on cooking and other topics.

Local chefs will be brought in to do cooking demonstrations with some of the wines, and Wilcox said there will likely be cooking of some sort every day.

Complimentary wine tasting will be available, and customers will be able to taste several varieties of port, a sweet wine commonly consumed after meals that originated in Porto, Portugal.

Being located in Madera, Ficklin Vineyards benefits from long, hot, dry summers that enable it to grow Portuguese grapes used in red wines.

Madera, however, isn’t prime country for tourists, and it doesn’t have a retail base to draw customers from, so Wilcox suggested the city she spent part of her teens and early 20s in – Sacramento.

“When we thought about looking for a place to put this tasting room, we thought, ‘There’s only one neighborhood in Sacramento that would be ideal for this, and that’s Midtown,’ ” Wilcox said. “I love the mixed-use buildings and the foot traffic seven days a week.”

Ficklin Wilcox will go before the Sacramento Planning Commission in October, and once everything is OK’d, the store will open quickly – Wilcox said she’s shooting for Nov. 1 to be open in time for holiday shoppers.

The store is expected to be open from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Hours may be tweaked depending on customer demand once the store opens.

“We’re really looking forward to being a part of the community,” Wilcox said. “It’s great to be able to have a store in such a vibrant part of Northern California.”

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Urban wine tasting room coming to Sacramento's K Street

2012-08-18T06:45:52Z

Downtown & Vine – an urban wine tasting room – is seeking to bring the best of California wine country to K Street downtown, with a scheduled opening date of mid-October.

Co-owner Gregg Lamer said Friday that he and co-owner Kate Chomko think Sacramento needs a varied selection of wines from Sonoma, Napa, the foothills and other wine regions across the state, and the 1200 K St. location is the perfect fit.

“We’ll have 12 wineries, and we’ll feature three wines from each one,” Lamer said, adding that wine will be poured in 2-ounce tastes, 5-ounce glasses or flights of three 2-ounce tastes.

Of the 12 wineries, 11 will be the backbone of the business, while the 12th will rotate – likely bringing in high-end boutique wineries, Chomko said.

The names of the wineries aren’t being released as yet, pending Alcoholic Beverage Control approval for the space, but Lamer and Chomko said there will be a wine for everyone’s budget.

“We’ll have bottles you can take with you, and we’re expecting to retail those for as little as $15 and up to over $100,” Lamer said.

Chomko added that she wants to have affordable, everyday wine as well as wine that will draw serious collectors.

While not set up as a restaurant, the business will include food options such as smoked salmon hors d'oeuvres, artisanal cheeses and charcuterie plates. Details are still being worked out, but there will be a happy hour-type program with wine and food pairings, as well as wine education.

When it’s done, people entering the 2,350-square-foot space will see a wall of retail wine racks before turning left and seeing a concierge desk – where guidance on trips to wine country will be offered.

Along the left-side wall will be the bar. Wine will be up front, and the food preparation area will be toward the back of the building.

Seating for slightly less than 100 people will be offered both indoors and outdoors, with approximately 30 able to sit on a patio on the pedestrian part of K Street between 12th and 13th streets.

A private room with seating for 14 can be rented, and a more open rear section of the business will hold 30-40 people for standing receptions.

“This is perfect location,” Chomko said. “We’ve got the Convention Center, the theaters, the Capitol – all that is nearby. What’s not to like?”

Valerie Mamone-Werder, business recruitment manager for the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, said Thursday that the business is a good fit for the K Street area downtown.

“This is a really great business,” she said. “They have a long history in the wine industry, and they’re really great operators.”

She added that Chomko and Lamer understand what the city and business community is doing on K Street, which has undergone an overhaul in the past several years, and she said she thinks they will be a good part of K Street’s future.

Chomko said she has been a wine educator in the Napa, and Lamer recently sold two wine businesses he founded in Amador County. They are now moving to Sacramento, which they will be calling home.

“We’re excited to be here,” Chomko said. “Carmel, Monterey, Napa, San Francisco – they all have something like this, but Sacramento doesn’t. Sacramento has small ones, but nothing like this.”

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Third Annual Wine, Cheese & Bread Faire

2012-07-24T06:18:47Z

The Old Sugar Mill hosted the Third Annual Wine, Cheese & Bread Faire on Saturday and Sunday, July 21-22, 2012.

Guests to the event received a thermos tote bag with the Old Sugar Mill logo for keeping purchased items cool. A commemorative wine glass was given to guests 21 and over for sampling the many wines.

The main entrance building housed local wineries that offered free samples, and also offered a larger wine sampling for wine aficionados willing to pay a small extra fee.

Artisan cheese tasting and fresh-baked breads were available at an adjacent building for visitors to enjoy. Guests sampled other regional items such as olive oils, chocolates and other locally made products.

Many of the items available for sampling were perfect pairings for parties, picnics and other similar events. Several people who bought wine, bread and cheese took their purchases and appreciated sharing them outdoors, while enjoying live music from Solsa Entertainment.

To keep guests cool on this hot day, a series of canopy tents were set up, which provided pockets of shade in their courtyard.

A cigar lounge, along with arts and crafts areas, also attracted guests to the outdoors. The historic beauty of the Old Sugar Mill attracts groups that use the facility for various events. Both occupied and abandoned buildings add ambiance to this old site.

Several wineries are housed at the Old Sugar Mill. Heringer Estates, Clarksburg Wine Company, Elevation Ten Winery, R. Merlo Family Vineyards, Todd Taylor Wines, Three Wine Company, Rendez-Vous Winery and Carvalho Family Wines currently occupy the space. These wineries offer wine tasting throughout the year, and an exquisite wine sampling of mostly Clarksburg American Vitcultural Area (AVA) vineyards.

The event was well-attended, and at times lines of people waited for a wine tasting spot to open. The wineries have sitting areas and several patrons enjoyed a bottle of their favorite vintage wine with friends.

Guests were also treated to cheese education seminars, where classes were offered on cheese-making. These classes were offered for a small extra fee. The live-chef demonstrations were quite popular and included chefs from Sacramento restaurants.

I attended a cheese-making class offered by Mulvaney’s at the B&L of Sacramento, in which the chef created a delicious blend of mozzarella cheese and guests were able to enjoy the recently made, and still warm, cheese samplings.

The Old Sugar Mill presentation of the Wine, Cheese & Bread Faire was a lot of fun, and the many samplings available made this a savory experience.

About the only thing missing from the event was a place to lie down and take a nap. The many gourmet food samplings, wine and heat wore down several guests. Event coordinators did include information about discount rates at the Le Rivage Hotel, located about 10 minutes from the Old Sugar Mill.

The Old Sugar Mill offers various events throughout the year, and the wineries on site offer wine tasting from some of the best local vineyards.

The Old Sugar Mill is located in scenic Clarksburg, about 15 minutes from downtown Sacramento. Winery tours, barrel tasting and wine tasting are available daily.

Weddings and special events can also be coordinated with the Old Sugar Mill. Their next public event will be Hot August Whites on Aug. 25-26.

Get ready to wine and dine

2012-05-31T01:20:37Z

More than 30 of Sacramento's top restaurants will participate in this year's culinary week, showcasing three- to four-course dinners with wine pairings for a fraction of the normal price. Work up your appetite for the fourth annual Sacramento Wine and Dine Week, which runs from now until June 10.

Mulvaney’s B&L and Ella Dining Room & Bar are three of the 35 participating restaurants this year, which are located in Midtown, downtown and the greater Sacramento area, and range in price from $35 to $50 per person. Pricing is based on the quality of the foods and wines served. A full list is on the event website.

Educating locals on the restaurant scene while encouraging them to support local businesses is the main purpose of the event, Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesman Mike Testa said.

"We want to remind locals of the culinary scene in Sacramento because it's vibrant, diverse and really, really good," Testa said. "A city’s residents are often their best cheerleaders and ambassadors. We want to make sure that the locals know what treasures we have here."

Unlike common wine and dine weeks, which can be found in most major cities, the wine served during Sacramento Wine and Dine Week stands out as a defining factor.

"Most restaurant weeks don’t have a specific wine component. Ours does because we have a great wine region right here in Sacramento," Testa said. "Our wine region generates a ton of attention based on the quality it produces. If you’re going to celebrate your culinary scene, it makes sense to celebrate the entire scene. For this region, that means food and wine."

Downtown's Michelangelo's Italian Art Restaurant, immerses its diners in the culinary scene with art, wine and traditional Italian dishes.

“We chose locally grown Italian varietals from Amador Foothills Winery and created dishes using local Feeding Crane Farms, organic lettuce and Mary's organic chicken in our traditional family recipes," Managing Partner Jacqueline Barton said.

Michelangelo's will offer a three-course dinner for $36 per person, including the wine pairing. For the first course, diners can expect crostini three ways with pepper, tomato and vegetable tapenades, with goat cheese salad with citrus dressing for the second course; and a choice of chicken cacciatore or house-made raviolis for the third.

"If you ordered each of the three courses individually, it would cost around $38. With the wine, you could spend another $28. The three-course wine pairing menu allow us to specifically create these dishes and provide samples of the wine to accompany them," Barton said.

The Thai Basil restaurant in Midtown will offer a four-course dinner menu and dessert for $27 per person or $39 per person with a four-ounce wine pairing.

Diners can expect a treat as the menu will showcase popular dishes such as the tom yum (Thai hot and sour soup) with new non-menu items such as the Thai crepe pastry with honey and mango.

"We made this menu specifically for this event. We wanted to add something new for people to try, along with some of the classic options," Thai Basil owner Suleka Sun-Lindley said.

The first course includes a vegetable samosa: golden fried curried puffs filled with potatoes, peas and carrots in a mild yellow curry. Diners can choose between tom yum or the tom kha (Thai coconut soup) for the second course.

Grilled Atlantic salmon fillet and crispy breaded organic tofu and whole Asian eggplants are offered as third-course choices, while the fourth course offers a mild yellow curry with chicken or Thai famous rice noodles. For dessert, diners top off with a Thai crepe, a sweet and warm pastry with fresh mango and honey.

Some other participating restaurants are the Firehouse Restaurant, Frank Fat's, Scott's Seafood Grill and Bar, Rudy's Hideaway, Tazzina Bistro and Star Ginger Asian Grill.

The event pricing will be in effect at each participating restaurant every day during dinner hours.
There are no requirements or rules for dining participation.

For a complete list of participating restaurants and menus, visit the website of Sacramento Wine and Dine Week.

Tasting Wine: It’s All About the Glass

2012-02-22T22:18:54Z

Wine aficionados and wine novices alike should be on the alert to next Tuesday’s 2nd Annual Riedel Wine Tasting Seminar, this year held at the gorgeous Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa from 6:30pm-9pm. Event planner Catrina Maria assures no prior knowledge of wine is needed: “Anyone would enjoy this seminar and those who do not love wine already may find they enjoy it more after drinking wine from the correct glass. It opens your eyes to how different the same wine can taste.” Being a wine novice myself, I can’t wait to gain a little insight into how a wine glass affects the flavor of the wine and expand the breadth of my wine knowledge beyond the basics.

The workshop, presented by Sylvie Laly, showcases Riedel’s Vinum XL glasses and teaches you how to pair the correct glass with the correct wine. Special guest, Chris Macias, food and wine writer for the Sacramento Bee, will also be present to share his personal wine knowledge.

Sacramento365.com Managing Editor, Rachael Lankford, who attended the event last year, says “What I was most astonished with was when we tasted the wine in a plastic cup and then compared it to tasting it in a glass. I was blown away! The wine tasted completely different—you couldn’t even taste the wonderful qualities of the wine that the winemaker had so carefully cultivated…it changed my entire wine tasting perspective.”

Tastings will be provided by Sean Minor Wines, a winery out of Napa. Catrina Maria divulges that tastes of the 2010 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc, 2010 Central Coast Chardonnay, 2010 Cerneros Pinot Noir, and newly-released 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet will be poured at the event, plus nine food samplings will be provided. Come thirsty & hungry!

In addition to the wine tastings, food samplings, and the seminar itself, the $75 ticket price also includes a set of 4 Riedel Vinum XL glasses, like the ones you’ll be testing at the event. The 4-set usually costs $123 by itself, so either way you look at it, you’re getting a deal!

This event is presented by the Sacramento Chapter of National Association of Catering Executives with support from Sacramento Magazine, Our Wedding, and Sierra Select Distributors & Standards of Excellence.

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Find more detail on this event along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Alison Kranz is Assisting Editor for Sacramento365.com - the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Apple Hill though the seasons

2011-10-28T03:32:04Z

Apple Hill orchards are flooded with crowds in the Autumn but select destination spots are open all year. Families and friends flock to purchase cider and pumpkins but when the seasons change Apple Hill doesn’t lie dormant. The following are just a few places that keep the doors open to visitors year-around.

1. Boa Vista Orchards , 2952 Carson Road (No. 11 on the map)

Phone : (530) 622-5522

Season : Open all year

Open : Monday - Sunday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wine tasting : Monday - Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Boa Vista Orchards, previously Boa Vista Ranch, was originally a potato farm in the early 1900s. Family-owned for four generations, it has developed into a bustling apple orchard. Boa Vista Orchards is complete with a train for kids, a pumpkin patch, craft tents, wine, sweets and a picnic area for families to sit and enjoy a picnic or lunch from Boa Vista Orchards.

“We do a lot of different things here and offer a variety of items. We are best-known for our apple pies, turnovers and apple wine,” said Brad Visman, manager of Boa Vista Orchards. The pies and bakery items are made from recipes that have been passed down generation to generation, he added.

Boa Vista Orchards is open all year. In the winter, there is an outdoor fireplace that visitors can sit in front of and enjoy the view of the snow-capped mountains surrounding the area.

“We offer something for every season,” Visman said.

What they Offer :

Apples:
Gravenstein, Gingergold, Gala, McIntosh, Mutsu, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Honey Crisp, Red Delicious, Cameo, Braeburn, Red Rome, Winesap, Granny Smith, Newtown Pippin, Fuji, Arkansas Black, Pink Lady.

Pumpkin patch:
There is a wide variety of pumpkins that are all different shapes and sizes.

Cost: Priced according to how much they weigh.
The pumpkin patch is open through Halloween.

Train ride:
The Apple Ridge Express is open on weekends. Kids and adults can ride the train together.

Cost: $3.50

Pond and picnic area:
There is a pond, grass with ducks and geese roaming about and picnic tables available for visitors to sit and enjoy beautiful views of the Sierra Nevadas while having lunch.

Craft tents:
There are arts and crafts tents that sell jewelery, bags, decorations, holiday gifts and more.

Bakery:
Pies: blackberry sour cream apple pie, classic apple pie, Dutch apple pie, Dutch caramel apple pie, sour cream apple pie, unsweetened apple pie, blackberry pie, blueberry pie and cherry pies.

Other sweets: pie dough balls, apple cake, caramel apples, apple brownies, apple cinnamon sauce, apple, blueberry and cherry turnovers, apple fritters, apple dumplings, apple strudel and apple donuts.

Fruits and vegetables:
Cherries, apricots, blueberries, peaches and nectarines, Asian pears, pears, pluots, plums, blackberries, persimmons, chestnuts, pumpkins, watermelons and cantaloupes, and seasonal vegetables. The fall vegetables include winter squash, yams and sweet potatoes.

Other treats:
Barbecue and meat sauces, barbecue apple wood (used for adding flavor to food on the barbecue), chutneys, spreads, jellies, jams, mustard, relishes gift packs and more.

2. Lava Cap Winery , 2221 Fruitridge Road (No. 26 on the map)

Phone : (530) 621-0175

Season : Open all year

Open : Monday - Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and Easter.

The Apple Hill Growers Association includes seven unique wineries. Lava Cap winery is located on top of rolling hills of vineyards that are planted in volcanic soil, caused by ancient lava that has deteriorated over thousands of years. It is named “Lava Cap” after the topography of the site.

The soil is what sets it apart from other wineries in the region, said co-owner Beth Jones.

Lava Cap Winery produces 22,000 cases of wine a year and “has been a family affair all along,” Jones said. “Wines should be a part of your everyday life. It lends you to have a certain reflective time. We produce wine just for that.”

Lava Cap Winery offers a selection of 16 - 18 different wines. Previously a pear farm, the Joneses planted the grapes when they purchased the land in 1981. They grow grapes on their estate in Placerville and also have vines in Amador County, Georgetown and Matagrano.

Lava Cap Winery is known for its petite sirah.

“It is the most decorated in the state. Our petite sirah has won 13 awards,” said Ben Patterson, sommelier at Lava Cap. “People come here for the wine and because it is a great place to have a picnic. We have a deck and tables that both overlook the vineyards.”

What they Offer :

Complimentary tasting:
Lava Cap Winery offers free tasting of five of its wines.

$5 tasting of limited reserve wines:
With purchase of any bottle of wine, the $5 fee for the tasting is waved.

A deli:
There is a deli that sells picnic food such as cheeses, salami, desserts, olives, crackers and breads. It sells complete picnic baskets for $15 or individual items starting under $5.

Picnic area with view:
Lava Cap Winery is welcome to visitors bringing their own food and enjoying a glass of its wine while overlooking the vineyards

Tours of the winery and vineyard:
Tours of the winery and vineyard are available by appointment. To schedule a tour, call (530) 621-0175.

3. Madroña , 2560 High Hill Road (No. 6 on the map)

Phone: (530) 644-5948

Season: Open All Year

Open: Monday - Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Family-owned since 1973, Madroña Vineyards has achieved making it feel like home while still being forward-thinking with it being 100 percent powered by solar energy. Madroña Vineyards grows grapes in Camino as well as Pleasant Valley with a total of 70 acres.

When visitors arrive at Madroña Vineyards, they are greeted by large pine trees, the family’s dogs and cats, picnic benches and incredible views of the vineyards. It is not a surprise to meet two generations of owners working side by side with the winemaker when walking into the tasting room.

“There are picnic tables scattered around so people can enjoy the scenic views. You can look in any direction and find either blackberry fields, vineyards, Christmas tree farms or pear groves. The [rural] land and the warm family environment pair to make you feel like you just arrived home,” said Paul Bush, second-generation owner of Madroña Vineyards.

Producing 25 different wines and 12,000 cases of wine per year, 70 percent of its business is done in the tasting room at the winery.

Madroña VIneyards got its name from the madrone tree that grows in the middle of the vineyards.

“When my father saw that tree, he knew the soil would be good for grapes. No one had ever done grapes at 3,000 feet in California, but the madrone let him know he could. If a madrone could survive, so could grapes,” Bush said.

What they Offer :

Complimentary tasting:
Madroña Vineyards offers free tasting from a selection of 15 wines.

$5 tasting of limited reserve wines:
This includes a $3 coupon off any of the wines.

Picnic area with view:
There are picnic tables scattered around the winery, and visitors often get a glass of wine for $4 and enjoy a picnic at the tables overlooking the vineyards and nearby farms.

Tours of the winery and vineyard:
Tours of the winery and vineyard are available by appointment. To schedule a tour, call (530) 644-5948.

Snack plate:
For $12, visitors can purchase a snack plate that includes olives, cheeses, nuts and crackers.

For a map of Apple Hill Growers Association farms and ranches, visit the website here.

For product and attraction guide to all 50 farms, visit the website here.
For Christmas tree farm information, visit the website here.
For additional information on the Apple Hill Growers Association, visit the website here.

There more than 50 farms to explore. Which Apple Hill spots are your favorite to visit thoughout the year? Please share your suggestions and experiences below.

Writers get words of wisdom on wine

2011-03-25T20:17:01Z

Local writers and budding wine enthusiasts gathered at the Sacramento Press office Thursday evening for a workshop on how to write about wine presented by author and former Sacramento Bee columnist Rick Kushman.

“We generally associate wine knowledge with ‘class’ or as a social status of some kind,” said Kushman as he opened the workshop. “Really, people just want to know what wine to choose for dinner.”

As more than 20 eager writers listened and took notes, Kushman gave the class his “Three Rules of Wine Tasting:”

* Wear dark colors.
* If you love it, you’re right; if you hate it, you’re right.
* Always bring a swimsuit.

“That last one doesn’t have anything to do with wine, but it seems like a good idea,” added Kushman, illustrating his main point of the evening: Don’t take it too seriously.

“Wine isn’t a great mystery, and it isn’t anything to be afraid of,” Kushman said. “Embrace it! Don’t be afraid to be cheery or funny when you write about wine. It doesn’t always have to be stuffy and dry to be good.”

With that, Kushman got to the core of what writing about wine is all about.

“Wine is a confidence game,” Kushman said. “People just want to feel confident about the wine they choose.”

To develop that confidence, they look to wine writers for guidance, and this is where most wine writers start to take the topic to places they don’t really need to go, he said. All too often, wine writers use (and perhaps overuse) industry jargon and insiders’ lingo that only leaves the reader confused.

Attendee Tammi Korbmaker, 51, a writer and Sacramento Press community contributor from West Sacramento, noted this, too. “People in the industry seem to talk down to readers about wine,” she said.

It isn’t necessary to be a wine snob to write well about wine, Kushman told the audience. We need to remember that our job as a wine writer is to help people trust our judgment – something we can’t do if we are condescending or trying to show off our wine aficionado status.

“Don’t be a snob, don’t sneer, don’t talk down to the reader,” Kushman said. “Assume that it’s OK for people to like what they like.”

Which brings up Rule No. 2 of Kushman’s Three Rules of Wine Tasting: “If you like it, you’re right, and if you hate it, you’re right.”

“Just because something is popular doesn’t make it good or bad,” Kushman said. “Your job as a writer is to explain it.”

How does a wine writer do that? First, get out of your reader’s way. “It’s not about you, it’s about the wine,” he said.

Writers may have some past experience with wines or the wine industry, and that’s just fine, but unless it’s relevant to what they’re saying about the wine being discussed – if it doesn’t really add anything to the reader’s experience – leave it out.

Instead, writing about wine is all about describing. Creatively use words to convey taste, feeling, flavor, emotion and myriad other things included in the experience so that others can taste and feel it too.

“Describe it like you would a man getting off a train so someone would recognize him at the station,” Kushman suggested.

That means more than just the label or the brand name or the type of grape. Does it smell of fruit or fields of flowers or butter or chocolate? Does it have a “zing” to it, or is it soft or rich or smooth? Does the taste linger or have a crisp finish?

Use descriptive, evocative words to bring your reader to the same place you are with the wine.

It’s true that food and wine are emotional experiences to a large degree, so the way you describe wine may be very different than the way someone else would describe that same wine. To one person, it may be reminiscent of a summer garden, while to another it evokes sensations of autumn leaves and overcast skies.

There are no wrong answers, Kushman said. “You taste what you taste, and that’s OK.”

As long as you give the reader your honest and consistent evaluation of wine, you’ve done your job.

As the workshop came to a close, one audience member talked about feeling better prepared to write about wine.

“This has really whet my appetite to go out and go through the wine tasting process so I can put it into words for other people,” said Mike Tate, 52.

Tate, an artist from Sacramento, aspires to make his own wine and write about it from an artist’s perspective in a new wine and art blog he’s developing.

“(Kushman) got me thinking about how to write about my passion but keep myself out of it,” Tate said. “It’s a skill to artistically describe flavor.”

Francis House “Feast For The Streets” to Honor Greg Bunker

2011-02-12T02:54:52Z

As Francis House of Sacramento continues to celebrate its 40th Anniversary, this very important institution will honor the memory of Greg Bunker, Executive Director, who passed away December 28, 2010 with their upcoming 20th Annual “Feast for the Streets Food and Wine Gala”, April 27, 2011 at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in downtown Sacramento. Feast for the Streets is the largest fundraiser for Francis House and is highly regarded as one of Sacramento’s premiere food and wine tasting events.

With the sudden passing of Greg Bunker in December, Francis House wants to celebrate his life’s work for the homeless and destitute in a way that he would have wanted. Forrest Reed, Acting Director of Francis House of Sacramento is hoping that this year’s event will exceed any in past years so that the vital direct services this tireless advocate helped build from scratch will continue to keep up with the unprecedented demand.

Francis House provides resource counseling and referrals that assist those experiencing poverty in breaking the cycle. Those in need find emergency assistance with transportation and identification, temporary shelter, employment services, advocacy, and personal attention and caring. Francis House is supported by an interdenominational group of seventeen churches as well as community grants, businesses and individuals.

The goal of Francis House is not to sustain people where they are now, but to help provide the way to lift them towards self-sufficiency. This cornerstone agency in the social service community is more about a hand up then a hand out.

On April 27, forty of Sacramento’s finest restaurants and caterers, along with six exceptional wineries and several other business partners will pull together a feast to remember. The evening beginning at 5:30pm will include gala food and wine tasting, music, silent and live auction, raffle and door prizes and loads of fun.

You can purchase your tickets online (individual, couple) at www.francishouse.info or at Francis House, 1422 C Street. ($50 individual, $100 couple) For more information including Sponsorship Opportunities call 916.443.2646.

"Bring Out the Barrel" : El Dorado Wineries

2011-02-01T02:32:18Z

El Dorado County, our neighbor to the east, is picturesque and varied. The landscape climbs from the valley floor through the foothills and all the way over the Sierra Nevadas to South Lake Tahoe.

Camino, on Highway 50 just east of Placerville, is famous for the Apple Hill fruit growers, a plethora of Christmas tree farms, and one of the most successful wine regions in California.

Each January, the El Dorado Winery Association presents “Bring Out the Barrel,” an opportunity for visitors to taste their new wine before it is bottled, blended or aged.

This year, 26 of the region’s 50-plus wineries opened their cellars to hundreds of guests. Tickets for the two-day event sold out early, and the flow of wine enthusiasts along the winding two-lane roads was steady despite the rain on Sunday.

The wineries range from Coloma in the north to Mt. Aukum, Pleasant Valley, Fair Play and Somerset in the southern part of the county. We heard glowing reports of wines from all of these places, but we were only able to visit a few cellars in Camino and one in Pleasant Valley on our trip.

As I know almost nothing about wine (yes, I’m one of those “…but I know what I like!” people), I was delighted to find that each cellar was staffed by patient and friendly folks who were happy to educate me. They were not only knowledgeable, but also clearly passionate about the wines they make and sell.

Barrel tasting is apparently a sort of gambling adventure. The wine in its young and brash state can whisper a promise or perhaps make a swaggering boast about its future in the bottle, but can it tell the truth? A wine lover has to decide how much to trust the youngster and can invest in wine futures if they dare. Not all wineries sell futures, but many do.

A late-season 2010 Zinfandel is drawn from the barrel at Lava Cap

I found that some of the barrel wines were a little rough – tasty enough, but lacking the smoothness I associate with good wine. Yet when the vintners poured the same varietal or blend from a few seasons past, the relationship was evident. All grown up, that gangly Lava Cap Rocky Dawn Zinfandel was transformed into a sophisticated sip.

Staff educate as they pour (above and below)

Of course, as the designated driver on our excursion, I swallowed not more than a couple of ounces of wine over the course of five wineries and four hours. But by the end, I was able to actually taste those rich fruit or floral tones, to appreciate the finish of a subtle Sangiovese (Jodar) paired with an artisan cheese, and to hear a wine called “impudent” without smirking behind my hand.

Wine and romance: Anthony Elges and Amy Arias traveled from Reno for the event.

While the barrel tastings serve to introduce the new wine to future investors and individuals, the winemakers are also keenly interested in introducing new wine drinkers to their products.

At Lava Cap Winery I met Adam Sonnenberg, an intern from Sacramento State University who is assisting the winery in developing a more robust social media marketing campaign to attract the 21- to 30-year-old demographic to the world of wine. Sonnenberg, seeming barely of drinking age himself, was drawn to the internship opportunity after taking a class in wine tourism.

We followed several fellow tasters as we toured the Carson Road wineries. One trio from Pleasanton had come for the barrel tasting event in 2009, and they were on their second day of exploration. They suggested some favorite wineries and wines, and photographer Kati Garner discovered a fellow fan of Narrow Gate's Chocolate Splash.

Bruce and Clairice Boom left the snow of their Pollock Pines home to take part in the event. They belong to two different wine clubs and were thoroughly enjoying themselves. We chatted over miniature cups of vegetable soup from one of the many local caterers assisting in the event.

“This is such a fun event, and educational too,” Bruce Boom explained. He said he and his wife had several wineries on their “must-visit” list, and they were eager to share their tips for making the most of our day.

On their recommendation, we visited the Madrona winery, and I was delighted to find a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bread, cheese, and a 2009 Chardonnay at Jodar Winery

While most of the participating wineries offered food or cheese pairings with their selections, it was the pumpkin bisque soup from the Illuminaire winery that won my heart, along with the unusual Amador Pinotage I tasted there.

The El Dorado wine region covers more than 2,220 acres, and the 5,200 tons of wine grapes produced in 2009 were valued at $5.9 million by the association. This makes wine one of the county’s most important industries.

As early as 1870, the El Dorado region was the second-largest producer of wine in California. The unique microclimates of hillsides oriented to full sun, partial shade and every other possible combination of soil, sun and water have enabled the cultivation of nearly 50 varieties of grape. The top six varietals (in terms of tons of grapes produced) are Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot, Petite Sirah, and Chardonnay.

The El Dorado Winery Association succeeded in its mission to educate the uninformed and to bring new wine drinkers into the fold. I plan to spend much of the next year learning more about wine, and I will certainly make it a point to attend “Bring Out the Barrel” 2012.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association invites public to eat, drink and be giving

2010-09-30T19:49:19Z

Everyone loves a “win-win” situation. One of those “nobody loses” scenarios is set to play out Saturday when the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association invites the public to taste some grape while supporting a trio of longtime SCNA beneficiaries at the 20th annual Curtis Park Wine Tasting and Silent Auction.

“Of the dozen or so different events we hold each year, it’s our biggest fundraiser,” said SCNA board member Melanie Smith, who is hoping that the annual community festival will bring in big bucks that will help keep the C.K. McClatchy High School cross-country and track and field teams in uniforms and equipment, send Bret Harte Elementary School sixth graders to the Sly Park Environmental Education Center and ensure the Sierra 2 Center is in good repair.

“I was told some 90 percent of the sixth graders are in need and couldn’t afford the $265 cost to attend without some help,” Smith said. “Thanks to fundraisers like this, kids who wouldn’t be able to attend otherwise will be able to go.”

Smith said she’s hoping to break some attendance records at this year’s Cook Realty-sponsored event, set for 4-7 p.m. at the Sierra 2 Center (2791 24th St., Sacramento), thanks to an expanded lineup that includes a second outdoor venue – the “Belgian Beer Garden.”

Coordinated by SCNA board member Rob Archie – owner of Franklin Boulevard’s Pangaea Two Brews Café – the beer garden will offer a host of foreign suds (included with the wine and food sampling covered by the $30-$45 ticket price), as well as classic rock, pop and folk tunes played by the TuTones.

The food sampling (courtesy of more than 24 area food purveyors, including Tuli Bistro, which is bringing a portable pizza oven), wines selected by longtime Taylor’s Market wine coordinator Dick Ebert and the music of harpist Bill Bamian will be the star attractions at the event’s original outdoor venue – the Curtis Hall Pavilion.

“We’ll be featuring somewhere close to 35 to 40 wineries and distributors,” said Smith, a freelance writer/editor who joined the SCNA board in May, shortly after she and husband Gary Weinberg moved back to Sacramento after spending a decade in the Los Angeles area.

“There will also be a lot of wine – and wine-related – raffle and silent-auction items,” Smith said, noting that some of the more than 40 “really interesting” auction items include private chef-prepared dinner parties served in some of the neighborhood’s picturesque residences.

“Another great auction item is the opportunity for someone to create their own ‘flavor of the month’ that Gunther’s ice cream shop will feature at their store,” Smith said.

“This is a fabulous neighborhood and a fabulous organization,” Smith said. “The people here are really committed to their neighborhood and work really hard for it – keeping it artistically rich and architecturally lovely.”

To purchase tickets, or for more information on the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association’s 20th annual Curtis Park Wine Tasting and Silent Auction, call the Sierra 2 Center at (916) 452-3005. Tickets also may be purchased at Taylor’s Market and online at www.sierra2.org.

photographs courtesy of the Sierra Curtis Neighborhood Association

Greek Sacramentans celebrate their heritage

2010-09-06T02:22:02Z

Mayor Kevin Johnson gave full endorsement of the 47th annual Sacramento Greek Festival on Friday, its opening day. In his address to festival-goers, Johnson shared his appreciation of the great music, art and food provided by the Greek community over the course of the weekend’s festivities, which took place at the Sacramento Convention Center.

“It’s all about the gyros for me,” Johnson said. “We’ve got a lot of great Greek restaurants in Sacramento, but what’s neat about this event is that they all come here.”

With more than 10,000 people attending the three-day event, Johnson clearly isn’t the only Sacramentan in support of celebrating all things Greek.

Chefs from some of the best Greek restaurants in Sacramento, including the Greek Village Inn and Cafe Europa, performed cooking demonstrations at the festival. Some chefs even shared recipes and techniques from their own cookbooks.

As visitors shopped at the makeshift market stalls and sampled the overwhelming variety of Greek cuisine, traditional bounisi folk music filled the Convention Center’s cavernous space.

Clarinet player Geoffrey Antipa explained that the word bounisi means “people of the mountains.”

“If you were to go out into the villages, you might hear people sounding just the way we’re playing now,” Antipa said.

His band included a guitar, a santouri (much like a hammered dulcimer) and three vocalists. Their traditional contribution to the event’s live soundtrack was balanced out by the more contemporary Mythos Band, who performed to a livelier crowd in the late afternoon and evening hours.

Hundreds of parishioners from the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church served at different stations throughout the event, including food preparation and service, security, cleanup, setup and take-down, and vending.

The celebratory mood at the festival was expressed by its volunteers just as much as by those visiting.

Helen Psihopaidas has volunteered at the event for the last 46 years, witnessing it outgrow the church’s facilities on Alhambra Boulevard, move to Cal Expo and then eventually overtake the Convention Center.

“It’s grown a lot over the years, and every year they get better and better,” she said.

Her station at the appetizer’s booth had her serving up kalamari and loukanico (Greek sausages with a hint of orange) to the hungry dancers and performers nearby.

Across the way from Psihopaidas, Jimmy Pappas ran the festival’s watering hole. Over the course of the weekend he and his crew went through 220 24-pack cases of “Marathon Beer.”

In addition to the beer, small cups of ouzo (licorice-flavored aperitif), metaxa (brandy) and retsina wine began their circulation from Pappas’ “Taverna,” which was also the source of most “Opa!” proclamations, as it appeared that’s where attendees enlivened their moods enough to shout the Greek phrase for “hurray!”

Pappas said his favorite part of the festival is getting to see people enjoy everything they taste and see, while also getting to experience a little bit of his Greek heritage.

Although many at the festival are not Greek, they find themselves drawn into the culture because of a relationship with someone who is. Alester Thomas is one such example.

Thomas said he had been exposed to great Greek food ever since he started dating his Greek girlfriend, but that didn’t stop him from joining the long line of hungry visitors in the cafeteria-style food court. When asked what he would be choosing from the à la carte menu, Thomas replied, “I have no idea. I’m letting my girlfriend decide.”

To non-Greeks, wandering the festival without a Greek significant other to guide them, a warm hospitality and openness was extended by the event’s parishioners and volunteers.

Father James Retelas explained that this hospitality is an important expression of Greek culture. The culture is one that celebrates filoxenia (love for the guest), Retelas said.

Non-Greeks’ response to the event is “overwhelmingly positive,” said Father Timothy Robinson of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.

Visitors could visit Father Robinson in his chapel — surrounded by religious icons and golden censers — to ask questions about Greek Orthodoxy and history.

Robinson explained that non-Greeks’ curiosity is satisfied by the accessible representation of Greek culture, history, food and religion at the event.

Chairperson Gerri Magers has helped organize the event for the last three years. Magers said this year’s event was especially exciting because of the new features involved.

World-renowned landscape artist Gregory Kondos was on hand to sign posters and talk art, while wine-tasting exhibits offered wine from all different regions across Greece.

“In comparison to past years, it’s got a lot of energy,” Magers said.

Like a batch of loukoumathes (Greek doughnut puffs), the warmth and flavor of Greek culture welcomed Sacramentans in to join the celebration of Hellenic heritage in the area.

Mayor Johnson referred to the rich Greek tradition in Sacramento as a strength of the community.

“It’s one of the best in Sacramento.”

Photos one through six by Brandon Darnell

Photos seven through eleven by Dane Johnson

Greek for the weekend

2010-08-30T23:20:34Z

One big fat Greek festival offers all you need for Hellenistic acculturation. Fortunately for Sacramentans, the Sacramento Convention Center will host the 47th annual Sacramento Greek Festival this weekend to make this possible.

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church’s Mike Dariotis has been involved in the event for 15 years and said his favorite part of the weekend is, first, the food; second, the folk dancing and then of course working together with the church community and fellow parishioners.

In recent years, the event has served around 10,000 people over the course of the three-day festival. So what is it about this event that brings both Greek and non-Greeks out?

The answer is simple: food.

Love’s universal language expresses itself at the festival through the sweet, flaky crunch of warm baklava, melt-in-your-mouth butter cookies (Kourambiedes) and Greek doughnut puffs (Loukoumathes).

When asked which was his favorite food at the event, Dariotis listed five. Past attendees have had a similar problem in deciding on just one.

Hundreds of volunteers from the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church sacrifice hours of time, resources and energy to share their culture with Sacramento. One can better understand the love put into the event by knowing that all food served at the festival is made from scratch by event volunteers.

The festival began when early Greek families in the community decided to share their culture in a celebratory manner with Sacramento.

Like any culture, Greek celebrations offer much more than food. The festival displays the fullness of Greek culture by providing folk dance performances, live music and a marketplace, selling imported goods from Greece.

San Jose-based Mythos Band has performed at the festival in years past, but has been absent for the last five festivals. The band’s co-founder and Bouzouki (Greek guitar) player, Bobby Kalivitis, said he is excited to return to the festival this year.

“If you go to the Greek festival you can get up and dance, be yourself and nobody is going to judge you.” Kalivitis said. “We are a very welcoming people.”

Mythos Band will perform traditional and contemporary Greek songs both Friday and Saturday.

Whether you’re Greek or not, Dariotis said people love the festival’s atmosphere, food, music and Greek culture.

General admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors (55 and older) and free for children under the age of 12. Admission is free between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday.

Funds raised from the event “are used for many different missions our Church serves and philanthropic organizations,” Dariotis said.

The festival is a one-stop shop for ouzo, spanakopita, cooking lessons, wine tasting and a Greek dance party; all the essentials for a very Greek weekend.

Photos courtesy of Mike Dariotis

Wine at the Park

2010-07-31T01:32:18Z

Baseball has long been considered a beer drinker's game. The River Cats and Infuze Marketing are challenging that preconception with a series of wine tastings at Raley Field.

The events, which take place on game days, feature (semi) local wineries and catered appetizers, and part of the proceeds go to local charities.

The second of the aptly named "Wine in the Park" events was held Wednesday afternoon in conjunction with the the River Cats game against the Sky Sox.

An hour and a half before the first pitch, the gates opened for a gaggle of newly wristbanded oenophiles (I believe that "gaggle" is the correct term for a group of wine lovers, but "murder" is also acceptable). We headed en masse to the left-field arcade, where representatives from four local wineries were waiting, bottles in hand.

All of the wineries represented that night are within a 90-minute drive from downtown Sacramento:

Mount Aukum is located, appropriately enough, atop Mount Aukum in southern El Dorado County, 75 minutes from downtown. They were represented by a charming father/daughter duo, the brother and niece, respectively, of head winemaker and French expat Michel Prod'hon. They had five wines to taste, the most memorable being a big jammy, fruity zinfandel. Bonus points for leaving a half bottle of Syrah with me and a few fellow revellers when they were packing up.

Chateau Routon is 15 minutes down the road from Mount Aukum and 80 minutes from downtown. Routon's winemakers are known for their port, which won first prize at the Amador County Fair. I am not much of a port guy myself, but I can say I enjoyed theirs more than most, which is to say not all that much. The wine I really enjoyed was their petite sirah, which was big but not overpowering, with just a bit of tartness. It screamed for medium-rare lamb chops.

Nevada City -- I'll give you one guess where it is located: 70 minutes from downtown. They had two whites and two reds. The whites were blah; the reds were phenomenal. A caveat with regards to my feeling on the whites: one was a chardonnay, which is probably my least favorite varietal. The second was a sauvignon blanc, which is probably my favorite varietal when made in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. I can count on one hand the number of California sauv. blancs I've tried that compare favorably to even the most run-of-the-mill New Zealand offering. The deck was stacked against them.

Their reds, however were both lovely. Their cab Franc had just taken home the "Best Cab Franc of California" award at the California State Fair, and rightfully so. My favorite, though, was their syrah, which had just won "Best Syrah" at the New World International Wine Competition in Southern California.

Pilot Peak is 20 minutes southwest of Nevada City, 80 minutes from downtown Sacramento. This may have been my overall favorite. They were represented by Lynn and Jacque Wilson, who own and operate the winery with another couple. I enjoyed all of their wines, but may have enjoyed their company even more. I "tasted" their "Paramour," a lovely blend of grenache, syrah, petite sirah, and mourvedre, whatever that is, four or five times. It was outstanding. The wine that blew me away was their viognier. Oftentimes, I find viogniers to be cloyingly sweet. When I brought their version up to my nose, I was floored by its big, sweet and fruity aroma. I was sure it was going to be far too sweet for me, but I was dead wrong. It was fruity, certainly, but with a smooth, dry finish. Yumm. It turns out that the nose didn't know.

The appetizers were provided by Ovations Catering. They went two for three, a .667 batting average that, were it baseball, would be a record. They had a great crudite platter, a wonderful selection of fresh-cut veggies and a really light, creamy dipping sauce. There was an outstanding mini grilled fish sandwich on crusty French baguettes. I had two of them and could have happily eaten two more. And by "two" I mean "four to six." They were REALLY good. The third dish was an unfortunate hot dog wrapped in a flour tortilla on a toothpick with enchilada sauce. It tasted OK, but it was messy, and I didn't really get it. I would have enjoyed the hot dog far more if they'd put it on the French bread with a little mustard, onion and relish. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The event, was by all accounts, a big success. It sold out, and the left-field pavilion was packed with folks of all different ilks. If there's one thing that bridges generational gaps, it's wine. If there is another, it's baseball. Combine the two of them, and you can have an event with a 50-year age range where no one feels out of place.

I spent some time hanging out talking Giants baseball with Kyle, who was there celebrating his 22nd birthday, a present from his girlfriend Alecia.

I also struck up a conversation with Bill, intrigued by the "nocular" hanging around his neck. It had once been a pair of binoculars, but it had taken a spill at a 49er game 20 years ago and broken in half. Bill, who I'd put in his late 60s, was a Niners season ticket holder from 1981-1995. He also has been on "Good Day Sacramento," driving his motorized toilet, "The Flusher," around the studio.

As the game started and the tasting wound down, people took their seats in a section reserved for the Wine in the Park attendees. The section was packed at 7:30 and nearly abandoned by the seventh inning.

A group of four hearty, and I'm guessing buzzed, souls were pretty much all that was left to watch the River Cats fall 5-3 to the team from Colorado Springs.

Maybe baseball is more of a beer-drinking sport. But Raley Field is a fine spot for a wine tasting, whether you stick around for the game or not.

The next Wine in the Park takes place Aug. 25 in conjunction with a game against the Fresno Grizzlies.

Join 25 Lodi Vintners at the School Street Wine Stroll

2010-04-16T19:22:01Z

Over 25 Lodi vintners will be pouring their wines this Friday, April 16, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at the 17th annual Lodi School Street Wine Stroll. Wineries will be showcasing their wines in boutiques and shops throughout the historic downtown Lodi. Stroll down School Street and enjoy live music, appetizers, chef demonstrations and of course great wines!

Guests from Sacramento can ride Amtrak roundtrip - save the air ride the train! The train departs Sacramento on Friday at 4:55pm and arrives in Lodi at 5:30pm. The event takes place one block from the train station where guests are given a wine glass and map. Amtrak departs Lodi at either Friday evening at 10:39pm or Saturday morning at 11:34am. Many wine tasting bars and retaurants remain open after the event. Hotels are offering special 'economic recovery' packages for the event. Beginning at $130 per night (double occupancy), package includes two Wine Stroll tickets, one night stay, breakfast and transportation to and from hotel (does not include Amtrak ticket). For details visit the website or call the Lodi Chamber at (209) 367-7840 x 100. Amtrak tickets are $18 roundtrip and information is available at (800) 872-7245.

A portion of the proceeds benefit Lodi Adopt-A-Child.

Disclosure: The author is a volunteer for the Lodi Chamber of Commerce

Paso Robles Wine Country to Pour into Sacramento

2010-04-16T03:55:24Z

Sacramento wine connoisseurs will be able to savor the diversity of Paso Robles' wine country April 19-20 as part of the 2010 Grand Tasting Tour. Winemaker dinners at local restaurants are scheduled April 19. Wine tasting will be held April 20. A preview retail testing is scheduled April 16.

Paso Robles is one of California's premiere wine-producing regions. Twenty-seven wineries and hospitality representatives will feature more than 150 wines during the two-day event. The tour was organized by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.

"I think coming to the capital city is very special," Executive Director Stacie Jacob said in a phone interview. "I think many people come for other business purposes, but now we're coming to say we want to do more business here. It makes natural sense with the food scene in Sacramento."

She added that Paso Robles is close enough to drive to, being four and a half hours away, making Sacramento an important market in California she feels is overshadowed.

Preview retail testings will feature winemakers and representatives of select Paso Robles wineries. Woodland's Nugget Market at 157 Main St. will host a testing from 5-7 p.m. featuring wine from Four Vines Winery. Beyond Napa Wine Market at 2580 Fair Oaks Blvd. will host a testing from 3-7 p.m. featuring wine from J. Lohr Vineyards & Wine.

"(The retail testing) is a nice treat for some of our customers," Dave Cancilla, Beyond Napa Wine Market's manager, said in a phone interview. "It's great for them to meet some people from the wineries. I get a chance to get a winemaker to come here, bring some wine for my customers to taste, possibly create more customers and have some nice wine to show people."

When asked why he felt Sacramento was chosen to be a part of the tour, Cancilla replied:

"Because it's the capital, not only of the state but as the hub of the inland empire. You've got the Bay Area as one of the strong areas for wine, but Sacramento is becoming a cultural hub for people who don't live close to the water. (Our wine culture is) still in its infancy, and there's nothing better than getting in on the ground floor, so become part of the wine culture."

Winemaker dinners will be held at Grange Restaurant and Bar, Lounge On 20, McCormick & Schmick's and Mulvaney's B&L. As many as five Paso Robles wineries will be present at each dinner to showcase pairings of the region's wine with Sacramento cuisine. Times and pricing vary by restaurant.

"It gives people a unique, intimate experience to come, obviously have a great dinner, but also learn about the wines of Paso Robles," Jacob said.

The wine tasting will occur from 6-8 p.m. at the Sacramento Grand Ballroom located at 629 J St. Winemakers and winery representatives will offer tastings while the Sacramento Grand Ballroom provides appetizers.

"What makes (the tour) unique is it's Paso Robles wines," Cancilla said. "It's a roadshow. Things like this happen all the time. But for consumers, who face a shop with thousands of wines, it's kind of daunting sometimes. (Wine) is an experiential thing, so if you want to know wine, the only way to learn more is to become immersed in it. With this tour you can see a bunch of wine, ask questions and be in a fun atmosphere. Wine boils down to being a fun addition to someone's life."

Jacob stated that a positive result of the tour may include the regions becoming more familiar with one another.

"We want Sacramento to come experience our wine country," she said. "It's a nice balance as Sacramento's food scene becomes more and more sophisticated. We really believe Paso Robles wines have a place on the retail lists. We hope to do more business in your market."

Winemakers, representatives and winery staff will be present to speak about their wines and answer questions throughout the tour's events.

"The beauty of this is that 27 producers from one area are coming together to give you a taste of this region," Jacob said. "We're sending the winemakers and representatives, we're not just sending the sales representatives. You're going to be able to talk to a grape grower, a winemaker and other people involved in the process if you're interested."

A portion of ticket proceeds will be donated to the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services.

"We always believe when we come into a market, we want to partner with people who have like-minded causes," she said. "We believe in giving back to the community as we do within our own Paso Robles community. When we look at the times we're in and the needs out there, we just want to do our part."

The tour continues to the San Francisco Bay Area and Mid-Peninsula area April 21-23.

Ticket prices are $45 per person in advance, $55 at the door, cash only. 1-800-549-WINE. Event attendance is limited, so advance purchase is recommended. For more information, visit the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance's website.

Photos courtesy of Stacie Jacob and the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Agnus-Dei Farrant is an intern for The Sacramento Press.

Would you like to win a pair of tickets to this local event? Enter to win by writing a comment below telling us your favorite tasting experience or if there is a vineyard you go to often for tastings.

Matteo's

2010-04-13T19:56:31Z

Mondays. Bah Humbug

One recent Monday, however, was an exception to the perceived worst day of the week. I set aside my Monday blues, grabbed the umbrella and the BFF, and headed for Matteo's, Matt Woolston's eponymous neighborhood joint at the Five Points center in Carmichael. Although the restaurant is usually closed on Mondays, Matteo's will occasionally schedule special events for Mondays, such as the food and wine tasting I attended this particular evening.

As any 'foodie' worth their porcini mushroom will tell you, Matt's been turning out elegant repasts for the last 8 years at the north side's uber-swanky Supper Club. The elegant prix-fixe, multi course 'suppers' have maintained their popularity (what recession?) despite some lean economic times and an unlikely Gourmet Ghetto location

So with one success under his chef's coat, and not content to rest on his gastronomic laurels, Matt saw an opportunity in the Five Points center in Carmichael. Enter Matteo's, a casual, hip pizza outpost on the on other side of the culinary spectrum. Matteo's is pizza, but it's more Paragary than PizzaHut. Padded banquettes, modern lighting and brick fired pizzas are de riguere here, with a cool family vibe that's casual, but not campy; in other words, if you're looking for costume-clad mice or video games with your pizza, you'll have to look elsewhere.

At first glance, the menu reads like your typical pizza place line-up; further inspection leads to some delightful surprise entries, like pulled pork sliders with chipotle-coconut-pineapple cream cheese spread on a sweet roll with slaw ($9.95); an arugula, roasted beet, goat cheese, orange and pistachio salad, with hibiscus-champagne vinaigrette ($5.95 / $8.95); a Bledsoe pork chop with apple ginger chutney, southern greens, maple mashed sweet potatoes($15.95). And of course, there's the uniquely appointed brick fired pizzas, like The Stu (wild mushrooms, prosciutto, caramelized onions, arugula, Fontina, truffle oil, $14), and the Spaniard (romesco sauce, Serrano ham, potato, green olives, and Manchego, $13.50).

The wine list is equally surprising and delightful. At about 150 selections (with two dozen by-the-glass choices), it's extensive, but not unwieldy. With entries from Lodi to South Africa, it has a decidedly international and hand selected feel to it; nope, no carafes of 'house wines' at this pizza place.

There were several tables set up around the restaurant in mixer format for this evening's tasting; the food lined the bar at the back of the restaurant. With glass in-hand, we were off!

My first taste was a light sparkler, 'The Bitch'. Girlie-pink and fruity, it's abrasive nom-de-vino was not indicative of it's delicate and approachable style.

My favorite taste of the evening was the Belle Glos Pinot Noir, "Las Alturas", 2008, from the Santa Lucia highlands, with bright cherry fruit and a lingering finish. One of the nicest surprises of the evening were the wines from James Blake, a local bonded Sacramento winery. All four of his selections that evening were terrific, my favorite being the Buster Red, a 2007 California blend. One of the principals of the winery, James Scheller, was pouring, and was friendly, engaging and definitely having fun with his wine-making journey.

The menu that evening was equally impressive and included a selection of brick oven-fired pizzas, Kobe Beef sliders, (which were an excellent match to Orin Swift's Prisoner blend), an upscale mac and cheese with white truffle oil and asparagus, Port poached pears stuffed with 'stinky bleu', baby red potato skins with caramelized shallot mascarpone, and grilled vegetables with roasted red pepper aioli (I would've been content with just a plate of these by their lonesome).

I'll never look at Monday's the same again....

http://www.pizzamatteo.com

The 22nd Annual WINTER WINE & FOOD FEST is this weekend

2010-01-25T21:58:18Z

Get ready for the 22nd Annual Winter Wine & Food Fest benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation® on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at the Sacramento Convention Center.

This premiere food & wine event will once again showcase over 60 exceptional local restaurants and food purveyors and 60 of the finest wineries and top area microbreweries. The general admission tasting and extensive silent auction begins at 5:00 p.m. and continues until 7:30 p.m. Live music will be provided by the Over The Edge Band.

For an additional cost, the evening continues on with a special VIP Program that also includes an exclusive live wine auction and runs from 7:45 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The event is attended by more than 1,500 of Sacramento’s business leaders and their guests. Proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Sacramento & Northeastern California. Founded in 1983, this charitable nonprofit organizations purpose is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy!

General Admission tickets are $85 advance and $95 at the door. Exclusive VIP tickets which include assigned seating with served wine and speciality appetizers by Henry's Steakhouse at the Red Hawk Casino are $175 per person.

For additional information or to order tickets, please contact the Make-A-Wish office at 916-437-0206 or visit us online at www.makeawish-sacto.org.

Come and enjoy great wine, great food and great company at the Winter Wine and Food Fest and share the power of a wish®!