Simple Hedonisms

Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

Massive walk around tastings have to evolve. This is a point I have been evangelizing for over a year. Wine sales, more focus, smaller more committed attendees, reasonable pricing – all of these are elements to be considered to draw enthusiastic consumers and buyers in, as opposed to an event of staggering drunks with their glasses waving in your face, like baby birds, five persons deep.

This weekend in Paso Robles, a new idea and venue emerges: The Garagiste Festival

The Garagiste Festival

This weekend is the first annual Paso Garagiste Festival: Celebrating the Artisan Winemaker. The event will be held November 11-12 at the beautiful 724-acre Windfall Farms in the heart of  California’s Central Coast.

“The mission of the Paso Garagiste Festival is to focus on the undiscovered artisan producers who are making some of the most thrilling wine on the planet right now,” said PasoGaragiste.com Co-founder Doug Minnick. “Our event is unique in the industry because it gives a home to the smaller, trail-blazing wine producers who don’t have huge marketing resources, while also introducing wine lovers to winemakers on the cusp of discovery.”

“The Central Coast garagistes are one of the best-kept secrets in the wine world and their excellent wines can be almost impossible to find — unless you know the right people and places to go,” added PasoGaragiste.com Co-founder Stewart McLennan.  “The Paso Garagiste Festival will have forty of them, gathered in one place for the first time ever. The festival is the place for passionate wine consumers to come face-to-face, wine glass-to-bottle, with the undiscovered future rock stars of the wine world.”

Personally I am very excited about this event. Both as a wine writer/blogger, passionate consumer, and now as well as a small Vintner with my Rhone label, Two Shepherds, that launches the end of November. Unfortunately not in time to pour at this event, plus I’d miss all the fun tasting as media.

Last I heard, after a flurry of media, tickets were selling out. (The VIP/Seminars are now sold out.) I’d recommend you grab some if interested. If you are a reader and are attending, do let me know, I will be at the Tasting and 6-9 pm Wine Maker party.

Tickets: http://californiagaragistes.com/buy-tickets/

You can also follow the fun, photos and updates on their Facebook page. 

The Winemakers

Artisan winemakers slated to showcase their wines at the festival include Aaron Wines, Alta Colina, Bodegas M Winery, Brochelle Vineyards, Caliza Winery, Cloak and Dagger Wines, J Dusi Wines, Giornata Wines, Grizzly Republic Winery, Hammersky Vineyards, Indigene Cellars, Jalama Wines, La Filice Winery, Nicora Wines, Per Cazo Cellars, Poalillo Vineyards, Ranchero Cellars, Red Zeppelin Winery, Rendarrio Vineyards, Stanger Vineyards, Symbiosis Wines, Tassajara Cellars, Vin Alegre Winery, and Vines on the Marycrest.

I visit Paso Robles 3-4 times a year and haven’t heard of many of these – what an exciting day of discovery!

The Venue

 Situated in the heart of beautiful Central Coast wine country, Windfall Farms is a spectacular 724-acre horse farm with one of the finest equestrian facilities in the Western United States.  It features stunning brick buildings with glass and copper steeples and is surrounded by vineyards, fenced pastures, green sprawling lawns and panoramic views of the majestic, oak-studded rolling hills of the Central Coast.

Check out a video of this great venue here:

This may be the hot new venue for Paso Robles. The Rhone Rangers Paso Robles chapter will also be hosting their annual seminar an event here. (Another do not miss event.)

What is A ‘Garagistes’

 Garagistes (gar-uh-zhē-stuh) is a term originally used in the Bordeaux region of France to denigrate renegade small-lot wine makers, sometimes working in their “garages” (anything considered not a chateau), who refused to follow the “rules,” and is now a full-fledged movement responsible for making some of the best wine in the world. Click here for more info and proper ‘garagiste’ pronunciation.

 Related Articles

Gathering of Garagistes: Proudly Small-Time Winemakers Show Off Hard-to-Find Stuff at Paso Robles Festival  (Santa Barbara Independant)

Wine Tasting Events Must Evolve – An Example at the Saturday June 11th Vinify Winery Collective Event in Santa Rosa

Monday June 13 – Another Evolution in Wine Events – The Taste of Mendocino

As I wrote earlier this weekend is one of my favorite events: (See “Nov 5 & 6 is the North Sonoma Wine Road “Wine & Food Affair” a Simple Hedonisms Favorite” )

As promised, each year I feature winery offering sales promotions, its a great opportunity to stock up for the holidays, buy local, and support your local artisans. This article is generally one of the higher read blogs of the year, so I am keeping the tradition alive. Print this out and use it as part of your ‘flight plan’ and stock up your cellar.

Russian River Valley

 Balletto Vineyards & Winery

• Wine :08 Estate Russian River Chardonnay
• Retail Price: $18
• Promotion: Sale 10.80 (40% off) ~ Wine Club $9.00 (50% off) 20

Battaglini Estate Winery

•  Wine:  2003 Chardonnay
• Retail Price: $22 per bottle
• Promotion:
• Single Bottle price: $15 per bottle
• Case price:  Buy one case at regular price, get one case for $1

• Wine:  2002 Zinfandel
• Retail Price:  $27 per bottle
• Promotion:
• Single Bottle price:  $19 per bottle
• Case price:  buy one case at regular price, get one case for $1

 Carol Shelton Wines

Wines: 

• 2007 Wild Thing Zin , Cox Vineyard,  Retail $24.00  a bottle
• 2008 Monga Zin, Lopez Vineyard, Retail $21.00  a bottle
• 2009 Coquille Blanc “White Rhone Blend”, Retail $24.00  a bottle
• 2006 Bacchus Laureate Reserve Old Vine Zin, Dry Creek Valley, Retail $52.00  a bottle

Inspiration Vineyards

• Wine: 2008 Chardonnay , 2008 Zindfandel
• Retail Price: $24.00
• Promotion:
• single bottles 25% off (30% Club)
• case 40% off (50% club)

• Wine: 2008 Zindfandel
• Retail Price: $25.00
• Promotion:
• single bottles 25% off (30% Club)
• case 40% off (50% club)

Sheldon

• Wine: 2007 Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay
• Retail Price: $36
• Promotion: 20% Off on four or more.

Russian River Vineyards

• Wine :  2009 Charbono, Guido Venturi Vineyard
• Retail Price:  $34/bottle
• Promotion:
• Single Bottle 10% discount
• Case 25% discount

• Wine:              2009 “No Oak” Chardonnay
• Retail Price:               $22/bottle
• Promotion:                   30% discount

Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards

• Wine:    2007 “The Cutrer” Chardonnay
• Retail Price:   $35.00 per bottle
• Promotion:     6 packs  20% off ($28.00 per bottle)

Moshin Vineyards

Wines:

• 2008 Chardonnay  Russian River Valley,  $28
• 2008 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast :   $40
• 2008 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley    $28
• 2007 Zinfandel, Carreras Vineyard    Dry Creek Valley $38
• 2007 Zinfandel, Bowman Vineyard   $28
• LocoMoshin $28
• Moshin Potion No. 9     $28

Promotion:   Case sales 30% off, mixed OK

Windsor Oaks Vineyards & Winery

•  Wine: 2007 Estate Reserve Chardonnay, Russian River Valley  
•  Retail Price: $35
• Promotion:  
• 3 bottles or more, 15% off (20% Wine Club)
• Case Sales 20% off, 25% wine club

• Wine: 2008 Estate Pinot Noir, Reserve “4 Dijon Clones,”  Russian River Valley
•  Retail Price: $35
• Promotion:
• 3 bottles or more, 15% off (20% Wine Club)
• Case Sales 20% off, 25% wine club

• Wine: Estate Clonal Pinot Noir 6 bottle Wooden Collector’s Box Set (Single Pinot Noir Vineyard Block Clones 777,667, 114, 459, “2 Dijon Clone” and “3 Dijon Clones”)
•  Retail Price: $245 value
• Promotion: $225 box set price ($195, Wine Club)  Only 44 sets available for this special.

Dry Creek Valley/Healdsburg

Amista Vineyards

•  Wine:  2006 Cabernet/Francesca’s Vineyard
•  Retail Price: $42
• Promotion discount:
• Single bottle 10% off
• half cases 20% off
• Case Sales 30% off

Mounts Family Vineyards

• Wine: 08 Estate Grenache, 08 Estate La Loma Zinfandel, 07 Cabernet Sauvignon, 08 Petite Sirah
• Promotion: 10% on 6 bottles or 30% on 12 or more bottles

Alexander Valley

J. Rickards Winery

•  Wine: 2008 Zinfandel, Ancestor Selections Vineyard
• Retail Price: $22.00
• Promotion:
• 1-6 bottles 20% off (30% Club)
• case 30% off (40% club)

The Wine Road Wine & Food Affair is one of my favorite events in the County and of the year. It features over 100 wineries from Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley offering their great wines, paired with some of the very best food to be found, from some of Sonoma Counties best chef’s and caterers.

Oh and pssst, listen close. TICKET SALES END TODAY. No exceptions!

The Cookbook Alone is Worth It

Admission includes this years stunning 308 page cookbook. I love this event so much I have sought out and bought almost all of the years bound copies in existence – and what an evolution over 13 years. Gorgeous full bottle shots, amazing recipes, of course paired with wine.

Each winery has two pages.  On the left is a bottle shot (each one shot just for this cookbook)  and some background on the origin of the recipe. This one from Mounts Family Winery, a personal favorite in Dry Creek, describes Lana Mounts family heritage and tie in to the dish, created by Jude Affronti, of Affronti Restaurant.

What is also amazing to me is how much this book has evolved. An early fan of the Wine Road, in the stint I left the Bay area for brief sojourns in Seattle, Denver, and Baja Mexico, I acquired used copies of previous years on Half.com to keep me company.  Shown here side by side is the 2011 308 page cookbook, compared to the softbound, black & white, 160 page bound version from 2000. (Which is when I had started working for a Petaluma startup known as Calix.)

No Ticket Sales At the Door

Tickets are $70 in advance AND include this $35 cookbook. Even without the cookbook, $35 a day for the best of this regions food and wine is the least expensive, high quality entertainment you’ll find. Try getting a bottle of wine and a good dinner for two for much less than that!

Ticket sales end this Monday Oct 31st. , if they don’t sell out prior. (Which many years they do – so don’t wait!)

There is also a Sunday only option for $50. Are you a foodie more than a wine-o? DD tickets are $30.

Recommendations

1. Make A Plan.

Every year when I write about this event, I have the same primary suggestion plan. (See Don’t Miss! The Wine Road’s 11th Annual Wine & Food Affair. (tips inside))

This event is one to savor and enjoy, not racing around guzzling wine. As of this time, the downloadable guide is not yet available (I will add when it is) but you can go to http://www.wineroad.com/events/wine_and_food_affair/2 , click “Program“  and look at the pairings each winery is offering – this event is as much about choosing the food as it is the wine!

2. Map Your Route Around Traffic Times, Patterns

Some areas and wineries get VERY BUSY. Others that are new, or off the beaten track will be more manageable. Saturday afternoon is typically the busiest, especially in downtown Healdsburg and Dry Creek Valley. Consider saving those for Sunday, or doing first thing in the day. Many Russian River Valley wineries (downloadable map) , because they are more spread out, don’t get quite as heavily traffic.

Seek out some new wineries you haven’t been to before. Also remember not all Wine Road wineries participate, so it’s a good idea to again check the list of participating wineries.

3. Dump or Spit

This concept is as much about being able to properly appreciate the wines, as it is being responsible. After tasting at 2 wineries, if you have swallowed everything poured, you will have consumed enough alcohol to limit your sensory abilities. Essentially you have migrated from wine tasting and appreciation to drinking. And hey, if you have a DD and thats your thing, power to you., but for those of you looking to expand your wine appreciation consider this: Dump a wine in your glass you don’t love, or try the experience of spitting – the standard 16 oz plastic disposable cup is the standard weapon, and some wineries will have these out. Taste like a Pro, and you may get some special pours to boot.

4. Support Your Local Artisans: Take Home Some Wine

Yes you did pay for these tickets – but most of that money supports the event, and perhaps some of the food costs. These wineries, the vast majority of whom are very small family businesses, make money one way: WHEN YOU BUY WINE.

Buy a few less Starbuck’s lattes and/or that grocery store mass produced wine  - if you like a wine you taste, buy a bottle. It will help you appreciate and remember the event, and you show your support for a local business and artisan, as well as have something great to take home.  (ps put a cooler in the car – we often have nice weather for this event, always better to throw it one.)

Come Back Next Wednesday for Wine Sales Incentives Articles

Some of the wineries will offer sales incentives this weekend  on new releases, other inventory for single bottles, case purchases, and more. I will publish a list of special promo’s sorted by region. This has been a popular article in the past as its a great chance to stock up – holidays are coming! Come back next Wednesday for this list AND a special announcement.

Follow the WineRoad on Facebook & Twitter, and “Live Broadcasts” via Twitter Hashtag

The Wine Road Executive Director is one of the best I know in Winery Social Media, and will keep you well informed. Follow the Wine Road on Facebook and on Twitter . To follow Tweets during the event follow Hashtag #WAFA11 or click here.

See you on the Wine Road – Heaven Condensed! (Love that old slogan!)

Related Articles

Don’t Miss! The Wine Road’s 11th Annual Wine & Food Affair. (tips inside)

The North Sonoma Wine Road launches their iPhone App: Review & User Tutorial

This Saturday, October 29th is Topel Winery‘s annual Dogtoberfest fundraiser for the Healdsburg Animal Shelter.

This is a special event for Simple Hedonisms as it marks the Two Year anniversary of our Sonoma Wine Meetup. Our inaugural meetup was held at Topel during Dogtoberfest.

This event is special as it also marks the 2nd year that my beloved Australian Shepherd, Flash, himself a rescue, is featured in the calender.

Please register here on Eventbrite to be eligible for special door prize drawing.

The 2012 Topel Wine Tails Calendar

The event is held honoring the winners of the annual “Shoot Your Pet!” photo contest for the 2012 Topel Wine Tails Calendar, a benefit for the Healdsburg Animal Shelter.

The event features:

• Free readings by Marla, The Pet Psychic (1-4 pm)
• Renderings of your favorite pet(s) by artist Robert Harris (fee applies)
• Human and doggie treats
• Wine for humans, water for dogs!
• Great discounts on selected wines

Noon to 5 pm Saturday, October 29, 2011 Costumes welcome, but not required — after all, it’s almost Halloween!

Door Prizes Drawing for Eventbrite Attendees

Bring a printed copy of your registration ticket, we will be drawing for merchandise prizes and emailing winners the following week.
Bring your canine friend, or if you are a dog lover without one, just come enjoy the fun. (and the wine!)

The Topels, Flash and I will be there to greet you! Come see us and support this great cause.

cheers!

On Sunday, September 18, 2011, Bonny Doon Vineyard celebrated Day of the Doon IX, its annual gathering of the tribes honoring its faithful D.E.W.N. Wine Club members.

As an advocate and brand ambassador, I was pleased to be able to attend, doubly so because the day was to conclude with a special naming ceremony for the new San Juan Batista vineyard.

Reader input: You will notice this blog post is  lighter on verbiage, and more focused on picture content. It’s a format I am borrowing from food bloggers, that allows me to publish faster, and share more – let me know want you think.

Whats Going on in San Juan Bautista?

Several years ago, Randall Grahm made a decision to refocus, after having grown into high volume producer of wine, across multiple labels. The successful Big House and Cardinal Zin labels were sold off, and the funds used to purchase a 280-acre site in San Juan Bautista, combined with a decision to focus solely on the Bonny Doon brand.

The San Juan Bautista project is home to a number of revolutionary agricultural and viticulural experiments, centered on a new substance called “biochar” a form of highly porous charcoal that increases water retention and promotes beneficial microflora and soil fertility, and hybridizing a grape variety from seed, rarely done, and yet to be commercial success.

There is an excellent article in Edible Monterey Bay – I highly encourage you read for more details: “GRAHM’S GAMBLE: A risky quest to make a unique
American wine in San Juan Bautista“

I am a fan and admirer of Randall, and have been fortunate enough to get to know him a bit more these last few years, and even get occasional advice. Recently he took time out of a busy day hauling pears from Mendocino to Santa Cruz, to stop and taste the Rhone whites from my new tiny label about to launch – Two Shepherds.

Randall Grahm is often referred to as the original “Rhone Ranger.”

In honor of his vision, unwavering dedication, and always boldly willing to gamble and go where others have not tread before, the culmination and result of 30 years of contributions to the US Wine industry, that we name Bonny Doon as Winery of the Month.

(edit – the phenomenal, dedicated, Bonny Doon team, equally share and have earned this. )

Day of the Doon 2011 – Photo Journal

The event started with a special ceremony and songs by members of the Ohlone native Americans, who originally inhabited and were caretakers of this area.

Next we had a walking tour and overview of the property.

As a special treat, we then paired sparkling wine with a tomato tasting, and compared tomatoes grown in biochar and dry farmed versus normal.

Next Randall spent some time answering questions about biochar, the vineyard, and other things, while we enjoyed some wine. (Truly a rough day.) As you can see, I was paying rapt attention.

Also for your enjoyment, I captured a bit of video footage – here Randall talks about the challenges of planting grenache from seed.

Next we were treated to a special vertical tasting of magnums of 2001, 2003, and 2005 Cigare Volant (and/or some lovely Sangria.) and some nibbles. (No pictures of food sorry, I need to get better at food porn.)

And then it was time to eat and drink! Dinner that is – as if we hadn’t already been all afternoon.

Randall, true to form, wore his Sunday best. Club members love this iconic winemaker for good reason.

Naming Ceremony

After many great courses of  food and wine, we moved outdoors, under the stars for a special naming ceremony of the San Juan Bautista vineyard.

DEWNies traversed labyrinth builder Lars Howlett’s site-specific creation, lit by candlelight.  Ohlone Chief Sonne Reyna delivered an invocation, inviting the spirits of the land to return to this sacred place.  The 280-acre property  was formally given the name “Popelouchum.”
Pronounced “Pop-loh-shoom,” is the Mutsun language word the Ohlone natives historically used for the site. Its secondary meaning is “paradise,” a quality  evident to all who visited this special day.

In his official press annoucement Randall Grahm said:

“Day of the Doon events have always been perhaps a bit theatrical, but the intent of this year’s celebration was to set aside theatricality for its own sake. Sharing Popelouchum with our dear friends, we proclaimed our unremitting dedication to the discovery of the terroir of this very special place, and to letting the land speak in its own unique voice.”

Indeed. I look forward to next year and following the progress of this great labor of love. Perhaps I can even convince Randall to let me have grenache seedling for my own new grenache vineyard!

Cheers!

Related Articles:

GRAHM’S GAMBLE - A risky quest to make a unique  American wine in San Juan Bautista

Wine of the Week – Bonny Doon Vineyard 2010 Clos de Gilroy – Central Coast Grenache

Wine of the Week – Bonny Doon Vineyard Vin Gris De Cigare, Rosé

‘Shipping Included’ – the Future of Direct to Consumer? An interview with Bonny Doon Vineyard

Terroir: My Spiritual Journey (Part 1) (Randall Grahm blog)

Sheldon Wines, Krutz Family Cellars, and Simple Hedonisms invites you to join us Sunday October 9 from 2-6 pm for an afternoon of Harvest fun & celebration. This busy time of year comes only once a year, and we’d like to thank our patron and fellow wine-o’s for your support.

 New Day, Slight Format Twist

This month’s meetup is a slighly different format – we are putting side by side a Krutz/Sheldon wine club & futures pick up as well as our monthly meetup. Its also a first to do a Sunday.

The Wine club event is scheduled for *loosely* 2-4 and the Meetup 4-6 pm but we encourage club members, patrons, winery staff and everyone to visit any time between 2-6 that works for you. The more the merrier.

You may RSVP here:  http://octobermeetup.eventbrite.com/

No charge for Sheldon or Krutz Wine Club Members and Futures pickups, or  wine industry (proof may be asked for at check in.) The general public is only $10 ($9 in advance) and includes all tastings from both wineries, some nibbles, and door prizes.

Jump on the Santa Rosa Wine Trail

Attendees will also receive a Santa Rosa Wine Trail card with two stamps. (If you came to our meetup at Inspiration you will now have 3!) Fill it up and enter for a case of wine for $1. You also get complimentary tasting at all members, and free corkage if you buy/bring a member winery bottle to Willi’s Wine Bar.

Door prizes (new change)

Because of the altered format this month, door prizes will be drawn at the end of then event, and persons notified, you need not be present to win.

STAY AFTER; Food Truck Party!

The event ends at 6, but the party continues. Buy wines by the glass starting at only $5 and food truck vendor Ultra Crepes will be selling food. They were

a big hit at my recent Grenache Day tasting, selling 70 plates, both savory and sweet. They will be onsite from 330 pm until 7.

If you think you might stay, answer the question during registration so we can plan on tables & chairs.

To: All those domestic producers of Grenache, Grenache Rosé, and Grenache Based Blends

From: William Allen; Editor, Simple Hedonisms, Board Member, Rhone Rangers

September 19th, 2011

RE:  Call to Action for #GrenacheDay

Overview: The Grenache Symposium has declared Sept 23rd as Grenache Day. Details and how to list even can be found here. You can also follow the Grenache Symposium on Facebook. The International Grenache Day Google Map is here  and you may find  a help document on how to post your event here.

Based on postings on the official map, domestic support is light, especially in comparison with recent social media #CabernetDay and #Chardonnay day. Yes I know more wineries produce those varietals, but nonetheless some senior players are absent.

It’s possible many wineries do have plans, but haven’t posted them.  Lets change that, I am happy to help. You can also post it on the Grenache Symposium Facebook page, and ask them for help.  I know it’s a busy time – I myself am amid harvest and launching a tiny Rhone label, Two Shepherds.  Nonetheless, anything you can do helps and shows the love. As vintners, writers, consumers and aficionados its time we gave the world’s second most widely planted varietal its due.

Grenache has become my most beloved of red varietals. Wrest it from the hands of New World and Cabernet vintners who want to oak and over ripen it, and it makes a beautiful, feminine wine – elegant like Pinot Noir (minus the Syrah additions) but with a different complexity, nuance, and spice. This was my epiphany Rhone grape, not Syrah. (Which I love and have many cases of.)

Personally I am holding a walk around tasting for 8 wineries and 80 people. Vintners Quivira, Ridge, Mounts, Sheldon, Wind Gap Wines, El Dorado vintner Baiocchi Wine, and R2 Wine Co. It couldn’t be a worse week for me, but if there is ONE social media wine day I WILL support, its this one, and I challenge every single Rhone Ranger member winery, grower, and Sidekick, and of course anyone else who produces Grenache and Grenache based blends, to celebrate in some way. Yes that includes those who fancy themselves Spanish producers of Garnacha as well!

What is Grenache Day (or #GrenacheDay)

It has become increasingly popular for a Varietal to be picked in advance on a predetermined, and then celebrated over Social Media, as well as live events.

While much of the activity and measurement will be based on Twitter, one need not be on Twitter to celebrate.  As a winery, simply spreading the word, holding a tasting, special sales incentives, special bottles, all are valid participation.

On Twitter we use ‘hashtags’ or words that start with a # symbol – this signifies a sorting mechanism, and allows a user in a Twitter platform like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck to see all posts grouped together that use this hashtag.  You can also see basics by clicking: http://twitter.com/#!/search/%23grenacheday

Why have these become popular? The May 26th #Chardonnay day reached over 4 million people, 29 MILLION impressions, and 12,000 related tweets. That’s just ONE medium, add in Facebook, live interactions, and the impact is impressive.    Grenache deserves some love, lets show it.

What Can I Do?

Anything is better than nothing.

If you are a Winery:

• If nothing else, post a simple 8.5 x11 sign in an acrylic stand up on your counter of tasting room and let everyone know its #grenacheday and make sure you pour one.
• Encourage them to check in on FourSquare, Facebook & Twitter, and enter #GrenacheDay when they do – your brand then joins the mix.
• Offer a special price on single bottles, 3 packs, cases.
• Hold a special Grenache vertical or library wine tasting.
• Contact your local restaurant and encourage a pairing, special wine by the glass, or go youself and do a pouring.
• Make sure you post whatever you decide on the Grenache Day Map  here

Encourage participants to mention #grenacheday and your winery bran on Facebook and Twitter.

My blog has  4500 Twitter followers, and 2500 Facebook Fans. The Rhone Rangers, 1500 & 2000. All of these will be used to share your event if I know about it. Also feel free to post it on either or both walls on Facebook and cc both on Twitter.

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/RhoneRangers  and http://www.facebook.com/SimpleHedonisms

Twitter: @RhoneRangers and @SonomaWilliam

You may email me at SimpleHedonisms @ gmail.com  for help. Please note mid week I am out of pocket during the day judging a wine competition, so response maybe after hours.

Bloggers:

Break open a bottle and share your tasting notes with your followers. If you know Grenache producers whom you have a relationship with have sent you samples before, email them tomorrow to get one by Friday.

(Notice I said trusted relationship. This is not an excuse for the sample ho’s to come out of the woodwork, and I will help wineries validate requests if needed. I do PR for several wineries, and some of the correspondence is shameful. Thats terrrific you have a Snooth login -that doesn’t merit you samples because you are too lazy to create a blog, or your last post was 9 months ago about a Cabernet that wasn’t ‘too sweet’. )

Consumers:

Grab a bottle (or three) and some friends and have a great time. Perhaps compare several producers, foreign and domestic. Wine is about exploration, and fun – make it so.

Thanks for your support and Happy #GrenacheDay!

Sincerely

William Allen

• Simple Hedonisms -  Wine Country Lifestyle & Educational Wine Reviews
• Board Member – The Rhone Rangers
  

Guest post by Ed Thralls of WineTonite and Windsor Vineyards.

Healdsburg is a quaint little town in the northern part of Sonoma County that has really grown in prestige and popularity as a wine country vacation destination.  Located right at the crossroads of Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley it is a great home base for your next trip.  It seems to make sense that if Windsor Vineyards wanted to share their quality wines sourced from vineyards these same great AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) as well as the extreme Sonoma Coast that they have produced in Sonoma since 1959 then a return this great town was imminent.

Event

Celebrate the Grand re-Opening this weekend, September 16-18th (Link to EVENT details), with a weekend of wine, food, music and wine country festivities.  There will be special offers and unique flights all weekend starting on Friday night as well as live music and nibbles Saturday & Sunday from 2-5pm each day.  The delicious bites will be provided by Tim Vallery and Peloton Catering and the music will be provided by two local Healdsburg favorites:

• Saturday, 9/17 2-5PM: Chris Herrod
• Sunday, 9/18 2-5PM: Brandon Hassur

The Tasting Room

At the heart of Healdsburg is “The Plaza,” which is in the shape of a square lined with with trees, grass, benches and a pergola for concerts and surrounded by shops old and new as well as tasting rooms, bars and some of the best local restaurants in wine country.  Imagine waking up and taking the dog for a walk in the early morning fog, while you stop for a cup of coffee at the Flying Goat Coffee shop.  Perhaps, for breakfast, you might be craving the pastry delights from the Downtown Bakery & Creamery including their popular donut muffins or sticky buns.  It just so happens that the bakery is the next door neighbor at 308 Center St. and the location provides a pristine view of the Plaza.

The unobstructed Plaza vista is framed by sliding glass windows that remain open throughout Summer providing an atmosphere that is relaxing and scenic and pairs best  with a glass of wine.  This is a great place to hang before, during and after the summer’s Music on the Plaza every Tuesdays.  This is country living, folks.  Leave your big city dreams at home and become assimilated.  The tasting bar has plenty of room for everyone to enjoy and if you are looking for some privacy, you can reserve the VIP room in the rear for private tastings too.
View Larger Map

Bring your friends and family.  Afterall, that is how wine is best enjoyed.  Cheers!

The  Grenache Symposium has declared Sept 23rd as Grenache Day. The main website still shows the 2010 Sept 24th event, but the press release, and how to map your event, is here. You can also follow them on Facebook here, and their blog here, which also confirms the Sept 23 2011 date. 

Organizations all over the world have already registered their events as you can see on the Google Map. Simple Hedonisms is taking the Sonoma count lead with another greenhouse event, and hope as many of you Rhone Rangers will follow. Personally, its a bad week, as I am locked up for 3 day judging the Sonoma County Harvest Fair competition, and its my birthday week – but hey, what better way to celebrate than recognizing my favorite red varietal.

Calling For Vintners to Participate and Pour, Sept 23 in Santa Rosa  Tasting (And Everywhere)

As a board member of the Rhone Rangers, and  the cat herder leading the new North Coast Rhone Rangers chapter, launching in late September with a new North Coast tasting room map (details soon), I am committed to the cause of domestic Rhone producers, and helping further the cause in the North Coast counties (Sonoma, Napa, Lake, and Mendocino.)

As I did for #chardonnay day and #PinotSmackdown, I will be holding an ABC licensed, walk around tasting.

Feedback both from wineries and attendees has been extremely enthusiastic – its an evolution of the (yawn) walk around tasting getting long in the tooth.

Why? First, a small, focused number of producers. (In the case of #Pinotsmackdown, gone through an elimination round tasting.)

Second, unique attributes for vintner selection, broadening the attendees exposure, no matter how experienced. (Chardonnay with skin contact. A great 50 case Pinot from Humboldt county, as two of many examples.)

Third, the attendees have been serious wine enthusiasts who ask questions, take notes, and taste, learn – not a drunk fest of baby birds with their glasses out.

Event Details For Vintners

Update: registered Vintners so far: Quivira, Ridge, Mounts, Sheldon, Wind Gap Wines, and El Dorado vintner Baiocchi Wines. Room for only two more!

The official Eventbrite registration is up and has already issued 25 of the 80 attendee spots, not too shabby considering it just went up at 8pm last night!

Details here: http://grenacheday.eventbrite.com/

This event is ABC licensed, and sponsored by the YWCA, to whom a portion of donations go to. Your ‘table fee’ is a bottle of wine of each poured, donated to me as the host, and a $20 donation, or a bottle to the YWCA, which they use for future events and fundraisers.

Your table is provided – you should bring a table cloth, dump bucket, 6-8 bottles (to be safe, average pour is 4-6 bottles), and your a certificate of insurance. (Standard new protocol now I am told.) Use of marketing colleteral, email sign ups, wine club and order forms is suggested.  Up to 2 persons from the winery may attend to pour. (And is encourage so can also walk around.)

Wine poured can be grenache, grenache rose’, or a blend where grenache is the leading varietal. You may call my cell at 415 613 5731 or email me at simplehedonisms at gmail.com with questions. We will cap at 8-10 producers.

Whether you pour or not, if you are a grenache producer or a grenache lover – to take the time to celebrate this wonderful variety.

Cheers!

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Wine Tasting Events Must Evolve – An Example at the Saturday June 11th Vinify Winery Collective Event in Santa Rosa