January 28, 2010 Got an email today that read "You need a romance lesson..." Naturally, I was intrigued, and the attached release was well worth opening because it had to do with Valentine's Day, food and wine...and Pascal Olhats, one of the premier chefs in OC. Here's the lowdown: Chef Olhats has come to the rescue of those who want to prepare a romantic Valentine's dinner yet fear the pressure of perfection. Chef Olhats is offering romance devotees a unique opportunity to make their sweetheart feel extra special with a “Romantic Dinner Workshop” focused on enhancing his special Valentine’s 4-course take-home dinner. The 45-minute workshop will be held on Friday, February 12, 2010 at Épicerie Pascal and includes wine tasting and pairing suggestions, presentation tips and tricks as well as dinner preparation timelines. To complete the recipe for a perfect evening, workshop attendees will also receive chocolates and a single rose when they pick-up their dinner on Valentine’s Day. “You give me 45 minutes, and I will show you how to make your evening special in a way only the French know how to do. It’s all about romance!” says Chef Olhats. Each mouthwatering four-course take-home menu includes a starter for two of: homemade gravlax, salmon remoulade, caviar dill cream, homemade pates, duck sausage, onion marmalade and condiments; choice of entrée; cheese platter and a sweetheart opera cake. For only $55, entrée choices for two include a sautéed beef tenderloin “Chateaubriand,” roasted rack of lamb, vegetable and Pascal’s famous potato gratin. For $65 per person, each has a choice of either baked lobster thermidor or beef tenderloin and half lobster, both served with rice pilaf and vegetable brunoise. Space for Pascal’s Romantic Dinner Workshop is limited and tickets are just $25 per person. To reserve a spot, call (949) 263-9400, ext. 2. Valentine’s 4-course, take-home dinners from Épicerie Pascal (located on And if that's not enough to whet your appetite, Chef Olhats has created another three-course take-home dinner package available from Brasserie Pascal (located in Fashion Island) for two that is as trouble-free as it is delicious. This delectable menu includes an appetizer platter for two complete with homemade pate, charcuterie, salmon remoulade, and smoked salmon. For entrees, chose either filet mignon, grilled salmon steak or seafood provencale. The meal is complete with a fresh strawberry “fraisier” cake with January 17, 2010 WillaKenzie Estate (Willamette Valley): 2007 Estate Cuvee (a classic representation of Willamette Valley Pinots) Domaine Drouhin (Willamette Valley): 2006 (90 pts Wine Spectator) Walter Hansel (Russian River Valley): 2007 (90-92 pts, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate) Roessler (Sonoma Coast): 2006 La Brisa (92 pts Wine Spectator) Goldeneye (Anderson Valley): 2006 (made by Duckhorn/91-92 pts Wine Spectator) Windward (Paso Robles): 2007 Monopole Estate (their best effort in several years) Foley (Santa Rita Hills): 2007 Rancho Santa Rosa (90 pts Wine Enthusiast) Ampelos (Santa Rita Hills/Lompoc): 2006 Lambda (92 pts Wine Spectator) Hitching Post (Santa Barbara County): 2006 Highliner (the Sideways wine) Loring (Santa Rita Hills/Lompoc): 2006 Clos Pepe Vineyard (94 pts Wine Spectator) June 7, 2009 In 1944, Marian and Marino Crinella acquired a 72 acre ranch in Frank and Ramona added Pinot Noir grapes to their property, and now make three distinct wines, including a late harvest dessert wine called Glissando. That has certainly occurred—the 2003 Sauvignon Blanc (the first vintage from the Marino Vineyard) won a silver medal at the 2004 Sonoma County Harvest Festival, while the 2005 vintage garnered a gold medal at the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition. The World of Wine Barrel Tasting Weekend offers ticketed guests the opportunity to visit participating wineries one time each over the two day event for food and wine pairings. Fee includes a souvenir glass. Friday, February 27; from 7:00 to 9:00 PM INSALATA DI SONCINO Thinly sliced grilled marinated duck breast, mache lettuce, fennel, golden raisins, pine nuts and goat cheese; raspberry-balsamic dressing. 2007 Hess Su’skol Chardonnay, Napa Valley Thimble shaped pasta with lamb ragu’ and aged pecorino cheese. 2006 Hess Allomi Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley INVOLTINI DI VITELLO CON SPECK Braised veal rolled with smoked prosciutto, aromatic salt, with field mushrooms and demi-glace, served over soft polenta. 2005 Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder, Napa Valley TORTINO DI MELE CON GELATO AL RUM Apple, walnuts, raisins and pine nuts torte with rum-raisin gelato 2003 Passito di Pantelleria, cantine Colosi, Sicily Guest Speaker: Wine Maker Mr. Dave Guffy For more info visit www.hesscollection.com Note: All the wines will be available for purchase at a reduced price after dinner. Cost: $59.50 per person, taxes and gratuity not included. For reservations call : 949-261-1444 Seating is limited. February 17, 2009 How would you like a taste of what Here's a novel event for those looking for new wine experiences: “Bud Break on the Highlights include ~ Grand Gourmet Dinner in the Special Gold Medal Tasting from the Witness bud break in the vineyard with a viticulture expert Meet and taste with notable Paso Robles winemakers Make your own cuvee to take home Sparkling wine tasting and brunch at Carmody McKnight Winery Wine Country Lunch at Jada Winery Small group size for an intimate, fun and educational experience Visits to ten premiere wineries and vineyards Escorted by an industry leader of over 20 years For a detailed itinerary visit www.reserveevents.com/budbreak Cost: $480 per person, which at first glance might seem a bit expensive, but you do get a lot for your money, and you'll enjoy myriad experiences not normally available to the public. One thing: Hotel is not included. The host hotel is the Marriott Courtyard Paso Robles, which offers special group rates. www.marriott.com/sbppr Group Code BBGBBGA King Room $209 Group Code BBGBBGB Two Queen $219 However, While Marriott is a great hotel group, there are other nearby hotels with competitive rates (for those on a budget who want to save money to spend on wine). The price is $90 per person plus tax and gratuity. Here's the deal I loved last year that's back again this year: From February 9th through February 15th (restaurant closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays) there will be a Valentine’s Lunch Special in the Pinnacle Restaurant. For $50 plus tax for two people, diners will be able to have one shared appetizer or salad for two, a choice of selected individual entrees, and a dessert. Also included is one glass of wine per person. This special will be available in addition to the normal menu. Call Falkner Winery at 951-676-8231 x1 for reservations. Down the road at Thornton Winery, enjoy a romantic dinner for two, a decadent dessert and premium wines at Café Champagne. This Valentines Day dinner offers flexible choices with intimate tables for two from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Guests can order off the regular menu or from the special Valentine’s menu, which offers such items as Sweet Bibb Lettuce Salad ($7.00), Petite Filet Mignon & Grilled Shrimp ($34.00), and Chocolate Raspberry Torte ($9.00). Dinner is by reservation only by calling 951-699-0099. The complete menu can be viewed on line at www.thorntonwine.com. January 24, 2009 Temecula wine country is little more than one hour from OC--no wonder it's my favorite wine country destination. Many of the wineries in Temecula now have upscale restaurants that make it easy to combining tasting with dining. And with Valentine's Day fast approaching, those restaurants are creating romantic dining treats for two. Here's a sample from Thornton Winery: Guests will be treated to a perfectly paired food and wine four-course meal beginning with tray passed hors d’oeuvres featuring PETITE CRAB CAKES - MEYER LEMON AIOLI, PONZU AHI WON TON BITES, CAPRESE BROCHETTES - BASIL VINAIGRETTE and Thornton NV Cuvee Rouge Champagne followed by a second course of SWERT BIB LETUCE, HEARTS OF PALM, CANDIED WALNUTS, TANGERINES, HONEY GINGER DRESSING and Thornton 2007 Viognier. The main entrée includes PETITE FILET MIGNON, GRILLED SHRIMP, LATE HARVEST ZINFANDEL REDUCTION, ROASTED ASPARAGUS SPEARS, MASCARPONE WHIPPED POTATOES and Thornton 2005 Cabernet-Merlot The evening ends with a delicious dessert as colorful and elusive as love itself –CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY TORTE with VANILLA BEAN CREME ANGLAISE paired with Thornton 2006 Late Harvest Zinfandel Dinner is by reservation only by calling 951-699-0099. Tickets are $80.00 per person plus tax and gratuity. The complete menu can be viewed on line at www.thorntonwine.com. January 8, 2009
Ready to place an order? I am! Call Epicerie Pascal at 949-263-9400 or Brasserie Pascal at 949-640-2700, or visit www.pascalnpb.com.
And for those who want Pascal to do the cooking, that can be arranged too--if you act fast and make reservations for Valentine's Day NOW. Check out his amazing Valentine's Day Menu.
And for those unfamiliar with Chef Pascal Olhats:
Now I've done it--I volunteered to help the Pacific Coast Wine Festival gather silent auction items for their event on March 6. So, if you have some wonderful wine that you want to donate for a good cause, or have a great silent auction item (show tickets, exclusive admission to places like Club 33 or Magic Castle, cooking lessons, etc), let me know via email at ocwine@aol.com.
January 10, 2010
Just got a reminder in the mail that the Pacific Coast Wine Festival is coming on March 6. This sensational wine auction and dinner at The Island Hotel in Newport Beach benefits the Pacific Symphony and features an array of amazing wine and food pairings plus live and silent auctions items featuring - what else - wine! Names include Cheval Blanc, Dumol, Harlan, Hundred Acre, Kistler, Rothschild, Petrus, and many more. Details: www.pacificcoastwinefestival.org
January 1, 2010
Happy New Year! New Year's Eve is the one night I don't drink, particularly if I am driving somewhere. I have celebrated New Years Eve at wineries when a taxi provides the ride home, but last night I was at Disneyland and had an amazing time...ok, so I did open a bottle of bubbly when
I got home!
December 20, 2009
It's funny how many people expect to receive wine from me during the holidays--and how right they are! I enjoy giving wine as gifts, particularly because I usually buy wine at a iwnery and have the winemaker or winery owner autograph the bottles for me. Tobin James loves to do this, and friends love it when I give them an autographed bottle of Tobin James wine. These are also great items to use at charity events--I give away signed bottles of Tobin James wines as opportunity drawing prizes at wine tasting fundraisers that I hold.
December 7, 2009
Had an awesome wine tasting fundraiser and concert for 17 year old singer-songwriter Samantha Smith and her new nonprofit organization, Young Singers of Orange County (YSOC). We had nearly 50 people enjoy a dozen different wines and lots of gourmet appetizers, plus a performance from Samantha Smith and her choir. I brought premium wines from Briar Rose in Temecula, Tobin James and Justin Winery in Paso Robles, and several others. Samantha's father brought some French, South American and Italian wines. Wow, what a lot of fun--plus we raised over $1200 for Samantha's charity.
November 28, 2009
Yes, I brought Tobin James ballistic Zin with me to my family's Thanksgiving dinner. Yes, it was a hit (so was the Wilson Creek almond champagne). Fortunately my family is easy to please, but my palate usually demands good juice. that's what puzzles me about most restaurant "wines by the glass" offerings. I seldom find more than one or two wines on the average restaurant menu that are worth ordering--meaning they're not the typical mass-produced wines that distributors sell to restaurants. I'm not a wine snob (although some of my friends think otherwise), I just want something good to drink. I'll even pay a higher price for good wine, which is why such OC restaurants as French 75, Bayside, or The Winery appeal to me. They do have some pretty decent wines on the menu available by the glass. The Winery even offers wine tasting flights. But overall, if I need a good glass of wine, I'll hit a wine bar like Wine Lab Newport, where I also know that if I like a wine I'm drinking, I can buy a bottle to go and relive the pleasure another day.
November 23, 2009
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, everyone wants to know what wine to serve with the traditional feast. Naturally, there are many schools of thought on the subject, but for a perfact pairing, look no further than a fruit forward Zinfandel from California. My personal choice is a Tobin James Ballistic Zin (available at Hi Times and Wine Lab Newport, among others), although any of their Zins (and most Paso zins) will work just fine. Most have a mouthful of fruit along with some spices to give it extra flavor. Zin holds up well not just to turkey, but to almost any side dish you throw at it. Other wines that work well include Pinot Noir (not a light wimpy one, try to find one with lots of body and character), Tempranillo, and other wines that have layers of fruit and spices. Yes, you can serve Chardonney, but make sure it's unoaked. Check out the OC Wine article on Holiday Wines.
November 22, 2009
Five months between blog posts? That's what happens when you start a business (www.ArtsPR.org) and find that your spare time has disappeared, but during that time I have enjoyed some tremendous wines! I'll fill in the past few months on this blog soon, but it's worth revisiting some of the amazing wines and wine events I've experienced.
Last night Frank Crinella of Crinella Winery brought his famous Crinella Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir to a VIP reception after the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra concert. Turns out Frank is a long time LBSO patron, and ofered to provide his wines for the reception. I overheard some great comments on his wines. Thanks Frank!
The night before, I had the honor of taking the amazing actress Stasha Surdyke and her mother to dinner after Stasha's show The Value of Names at Pico Playhouse. The week before, Stasha and I had found this charming Italian restaurant called Piccolo Paradiso in Beverly Hills, and stayed until after midnight enjoying the wonderful and authentic cusine while sharing 2 bottles of wine that I had brought (including a terrific Dunning blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cab Franc). This time we went back with her mother, and again shared two bottles--a very yummy 2007 Turley Zinfandel and a luscious 2005 Tobin James Cabernet Franc. Stasha is what I would call the ultimate foodie (no doubt from her many years spent as a chef--although she changed course several years ago and launched her acting career), and also knows her wines, so naturally I was delighted that she loved the wines. Special thanks to the staff, particularly the manager who stayed until after midnight to make sure we were well taken care of. A thoroughtly delightful evening (as you can see from the photos)!
Tobin James was in town again last month for a series of wine tastings in OC and San Diego, so naturally I had to go to one--how could I pass up a chance to hang out with Toby and raise a glass...or two...or three...of his wines. Amazing Grapes in Rancho Santa Margarita was his final stop in OC, and the place was packed. Luckily, Toby spotted me and made sure I had a table. Actually, I think he wanted to make sure that my friend Laura (who I have turned into a Tobin James fan) who went with me had a table! As always, a fun evening, and I left with 2 cases of Tobn James wine.
Back in August, OC Wine did a private home wine tasting in Newport Beach. The client wanted to do a Pinot Noir tasting for 10 people, gave me a couple of brands he liked, and let me pick the rest. I decided to do a Pinot road trip starting in Oregon and heading south to California's Central Coast. Here were my choices in the order in which we tasted the wines (and yes--it was an incredible tasting!):
Curious about the Crinella wines served at Pascal's wine dinner last Thursday? Here's what I wrote for the Spring 2008 print edition of OC Wine (updated with new award info):
Dr. Frank Crinella is a professor of pediatrics, psychiatry and human behavior at UCI, and has lived in
“Our parents were sticklers for doing things the right way,” notes Frank. “Whether playing a sport, musical instrument or studying, there was no substitute for excellence. We were taught to have patience and to take the time to do things right the first time. We have that same approach to our vineyards and winemaking—to make the best wine possible from the best grapes possible.”
But it's the 2006 vintage that has been garnering Crinella's greatest acclaim: 91 points in Wine Enthusiast Magazine, a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco International Wine competition, and a Gold Medal at the OC County Fair. Glissando was also awarded Gold at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.
The Crinella website offers additional information on the winery, plus an online Crinella Family Cookbook featuring dozens of delicious recipes handed down from Frank’s grandparents.
June 5, 2009:
Still savoring the amazing wine dinner I experienced last night at Traditions by Pascal in Newport Beach, with wine provided by Crinella Winery of Sonoma. Great appetizers (the foie gras shooters were terrific) and French champagne, wonderful meal of Alaskan salmon (paired with Crinella Sauvignon Blanc), Roasted Duck Duo with smoked cabbage (paired with Crinella Pinot Noir) and ending with raw milk cheeses paired with Crinella Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc. Yummmmmm!
June 3, 2009
I hosted a wonderful Wine Lovers event at The Laguna Playhouse tonight. The play they're presenting is "An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boeuf," a comedy about an American expartiate who owns a classy restaurant in Paris that is reserved for his sole enjoyment. I kept with the theme of the play and pitted French wines against American (California) wines. We had 12 wines total, mostly blends (Bordeaux and Rhone). The winner? Tobin James "5" which is a classic Bordeaux blend done the Paso way. I'll post photos later.
May 12, 2009
Toby came to town last weekend, and I survived to tell about it!
Yes, the man himself, Tobin James, was in the OC to pour his wines at several local wine boutiques, including Wine Lab Newport. I am a wine club member at Tobin James, and love to hang out with Toby because wherever he goes, he brings great wines - and a party - with him. This time was no exception. Wine Lab was packed with fans of Toby's luscious, bold wines. The tasting covered seven of Toby's most popular wines. Toby was signing bottles and posters for customers and having a great time. I asked if I could sneak a bottle of Fat Boy into the mix, which we did. It went fast--no surprise. After the tasting, a handful of us (including Toby and the folks from Wine Lab) went next door to Billy's at the Beach for a nightcap or two. Another memorable evening with Tobin James.
May 5, 2009
Disney's California Adventure is holding their annual Food & Wine Festival through June 7, and this year is by far the biggest and best lineup of wine and food events. So far, the highlight for me was not a wine seminar or tasting, but a cooking demo by Iron Chef Cat Cora. Iron Chef is one of my favorite shows, so seeing Cat in person was terrific. She was fun, funny and charming--and I found out she has a new restaurant at South Coast Plaza called CCQ (or Cat Cora bbQue). Meeting her afterwards and having her sign her cookbook for me was a thrill.
April 20, 2009
I love to bring people to wine country to go wine tasting, especially if they've never been before. Such was the case with my intern, Laura Robinson, a recent college grad who had never been to Temecula. She is partial to champagne and white wine, although she's been makng occasional forays into red territory. So, last Sunday we spent a day in Temecula and managed to hit several wineries before both our palates began to fade.
We started at Thornton winery for a flight tasting of four of their sparkling wines, which Laura enjoyed. Next we went to Briar Rose and spent a leisurely hour sampling a dozen premium wines. After lunch, we managed to make it to Stuart Cellars, but after sampling another handful of great wines we decided to head back to OC, with a back seat full of wine. Laura loved Temecula, and plans to bring her boyfriend there soon.
March 29, 2009
The Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival last weekend was, as usual, amazing! The Tobin James party was great, the Zin Event with the Far Out Wineries at Justin was both fun and educational. Overall, I tasted a lot of great wine, and learned more than I expected about growing Zinfandel grapes and making good Zinfandel wine. Check out my photos from the Zin weekend:
March 21, 2009
Had an amazing time in Temecula--went to Keyways, Thornton, Wilson Creek, Stuart Cellars, Doffo, and Briar Rose. More on this later, including photos. Right now I'm in Paso Robles for the annual Zinfandel Festival. Tasted some great Zins yesterday, and had a blast at the Tobin James party last night. Photos to come. Getting ready to head to Justin Winery for a walkaround tasting of 17 wineries and their zins, plus breakout seminars, discussions with winemakers, etc. More posting to come later this weekend.
March 11, 2009
Got plans this weekend? If not, head to Temecula (that's where I'll be) for a real WOW event! WOW stands for World of Wines, which is in essence the barrel tasting event that used to be held in Temecula every January.
Event details: Whether you’re crazy for Cabernets, serious about Syrahs, zoom in on Zins or are stoked about Sparkling, there’s an award winning Temecula wine waiting for you. More than 20 wineries will be pairing their wines with international food.
Cost per person is $89 for the entire weekend, or $69 for Sunday only. For more information, or to register, visit http://www.temeculawines.org/events.html.
February 27, 2009
The Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival is still a few weeks away (March 20-22), but I had an opportunity to do some early sampling of Paso wines at a special Paso Grand Tasting yesterday at the Marconi Auto Museum in Tustin.
Dozens of Paso wineries were on hand for an afternoon industry tasting, followed by an evening tasting for the general public. A few of my favorites were there (L'Aventure, Tablas Creek, Clautiere, Eberle), along with some new ones.
I really liked Cass, particularly their surprisingly smooth Mourvedre (usually a blending wine) and Petite Sirah (or was it the Syrah I liked--hard to remember with so many wines to taste). Clayhouse also had some good juice (the Bordeaux blend was great), as did Thacher Winery. Also had some tremendous Zin from J. Dusi (the J. stands for Janell). For those who don't know, the Dusi Vineyards are infamous for their Zinfandel grapes, which they sell to many other producers in Paso (including Tobin James, whch makes an outrageous Dusi Zinfandel). But the surprise find of the event was Roxo, which makes exclusively port wines. As a port drinker, I can say these were some of the best I've had from California producers. Their ports include a Cab Sauvignon/Cab Franc/Petit Verdot blend, and a Cab Sauvignon/Syrah blend.
For more info on all that Paso Robles wine country has to offer, check out www.pasowine.com
February 23, 2009
Seems like everyone is doing wine dinners these days, but here's one that won't break the bank, or your wallet. Il Fornaio in Irvine has one coming up this Friday, February 27. It's with Hess Winery in Napa, a beautiful facility with one of the best modern art galleries north of San Francisco. Their wines a pretty good too, particularly their reserves, which is what you get for this dinner, which is only $59.50 per person! Check out the menu:
Today I was reminded that the Pacific Symphony’s second annual Pacific Coast Wine Festival is coming up on March 21. That's the same weekend as the annual Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival. How could I be two places at the same time? Well, I'm going to try.
I plan to head to Paso on Friday March 20, sip some sensational Zin, attend the over-the-top Zin Fest Party at Tobin James, stay overnight, and make it back to OC in time for the Wine Auction. Why? Well, not only does it raise money for the Pacific Symphony's music education programs, but I just agreed to donate a home wine tasting for the live auction segment of the Wine Auction.
In case you're infamiliar with the Wine Auction, it's the perfect place to be if you're a wine enthusiast, collector or simply want to help a good cause (I grew up playing violin and know first hand how important it is to have music education programs available to kids).
The Wine Auction - which is limited to 300 attendees - will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2009, at the incredible Island Hotel in
“What could be more fun than music and wine—it’s the perfect combination," says co-chair Mike Kerr. "If it was good enough for the ancient Greeks, it’s good enough for us! And our guests will range from experienced collectors with extensive cellars to newcomers learning more about the world of fabulous wine.”
I'm told that the auction wines are still being collected, but expect to see names such as Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Colgin, Dumol, Dunn, Hundred Acre, Kistler, Lynch Bages, Marcassin, Peter Michael, Togni, Turley,
Tickets for the Wine Auction are $250 per person. For tickets or more information, call Sandra Gee at (714) 876-2363 or visit www.pacificcoastwinefestival.org.
In case you want to see how much fun we had last year, check out these photos:
Shana Bannert of Overture Young Professionals Auction volunteers Shana Bannert & Chris Trela
displays a magnum of L'Aventure "Opus One"
Pacific Symphony Prez John Forsyte, Pacific
Symphony League Prez Lynn Hackman, Ed
Selich (mayor of Newport Beach)
February 16, 2009
and grape growers are doing this spring?
Yes, this is a shameless plug, but I know the folks behind this and they are knowledgable and reputable. This event occurs April 24 – 26, when spring is bursting in
Bud Beak reservations and info: 866-912-0971
February 4, 2009
Still not sure what to do for Valentine's Day? Many Temecula wineries are offering some terrific suggestions:
One of my favorite wineries, Briar Rose, is offering a unique Valentine's Day treat. For $20 per couple for wine club members and $45 per couple non-wine club members, enjoy a wine tasting that includes specialty chocolates, roses, romantic music, and Briar Rose's signature salmon and smoked cream cheese. Call 951-308-1098 for reservations.
I've dined at the Pinnacle restaurant (located at Falkner Winery) several times, including last Valentine's day weekend. That's why I'm glad to see that on February 14th, Falkner Winery is hosting a Romantic Valentine’s Wine Dinner in their Pinnacle Restaurant. The dinner will be a four course meal with individual wine pairings of Falkner’s best wines. The Falkner’s will also include
I was checking my calendar and realized that the annual Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival is coming up March 20 - 22. If you love zinfandel, or want to love zinfandel, or just love to drink wine, this is a weekend you won't want to miss.
More than 100 wineries throughout Paso Robles will be pouring their best zinfandel, and special zinfandel-related events will be held at the Paso fairgrounds and other areas.
I'll be there. My favorite event is at Tobin James, which every year holds its own Zin Fest on Friday and Saturday nights. Tobin James features food from more than a dozen local restaurants, three live bands, a lots of wine, including a variety of amazing zins.
Check out the Weekend Getaway section of this website for details, or go to www.pasowine.com. For details on the Tobin James events, go to www.TobinJames.com.
January 15, 2009
Located in the heart of the Temecula Wine Country, Café Champagne at Thornton Winery promises to set the perfect mood for sweethearts to enjoy the ultimate evening rendezvous. This unique Valentines Day dinner, featuring intimate tables for two, takes place on February 14 2009, 7:00 PM. With three on-site dining locations to choose from (the Champagne Caves, the Vineyard View Room, or the Champagne Lounge), guests will be treated to a special evening with all the elegant and romantic touches possible.
Last year, I attended the Pacific Symphony’s inaugural Wine Festival. Well, I didn’t exactly attend, I agreed to be a volunteer, which means I helped make sure the proper wine lots made it to the auction room, and afterwards to the winner’s vehicles.
This year I plan to be one of the bidders at the 2009 Pacific Symphony wine festival, which this year has a new name to more appropriately describe its ambitious nature: “Pacific Coast Wine Festival, Supporting the Pacific Symphony.”
This year’s festival, which is perfect for wine enthusiasts, collectors and consumers, will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2009, at the Island Hotel in
Co-chaired by Symphony supporters and wine aficionados Valerie Van de Zilver, Mike Kerr and
Limited to just 300 attendees, the evening begins at 5 p.m. with appetizers and grand wine-tasting experiences, plus live music by Symphony musicians and a silent auction. A sumptuous dinner begins at 7 p.m., followed by entertainment and a live auction featuring some of the finest wines and auction lots in the
“This is a must-attend event for anyone who likes wine, music and having fun. Or even two out of three!” says co-chair Mike Kerr. “What could be more fun than music and wine—it’s the perfect combination. If it was good enough for the ancient Greeks, it’s good enough for us! And our guests will range from experienced collectors with extensive cellars to newcomers learning more about the world of fabulous wine.”
While the wines are still being collected, the auction currently includes Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Colgin, Dumol, Dunn, Hundred Acre, Kistler, Lynch Bages, Marcassin, Peter Michael, Togni, Turley,
Tickets for the auction, which are limited in number, are $250 per person. For tickets or more information, call Sandra Gee at (714) 876-2363 or visit www.pacificcoastwinefestival.org.
