Calistoga Uncorked Wine Tasting at Presidio July 20

Calistoga winemakers and owners from 30 wineries are bringing the Top of Napa Valley down to San Francisco for an opportunity to taste and purchase hard to find Calistoga AVA wines. Most of the wineries that they will be pouring do not have tasting rooms and are not open to the public so this is a chance to discover them at the picturesque Golden Gate Club in the Presidio (135 Fisher Loop, San Francisco, CA) on July 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. To complement their outstanding wines, food pairings with assorted artisan cheeses, charcuterie, seasonal fruit, nuts, olives, crackers and breads will be served.— you won’t want to miss this fun opportunity to learn about and taste these outstanding wines!

Participating wineries include:  2880, Amici Cellars, Baldacci Vineyards, Bennett Lane Winery, Bragg Vineyards, Canard Vineyard, Chateau de Vie, Chateau Montelena, Davis Estates, Fairwinds Estate Winery, Harris Estate Vineyards, Hindsight Vineyards, Huge Bear Wines, Jack Brooks Vineyard, Jericho Canyon Vineyard, Jones Family Vineyards, Kenefick Ranch Vineyards, Knighton Family Vineyards, Laura Michael Wines, Lava Vine/Von Strasser, Next Door Wines, Sebright Cellars, Storybook Mountain Vineyards, Summers Estate Winery, Tamber Bey Vineyards, The Grade Cellars, Tom Eddy Winery, Twomey Cellars, Voros Cellars, Weppler Vineyards

They will also be holding a Silent Auction at the event.

Tickets: $55 in advance ($75 at the door)

Taste our Terroir in Livermore Valley Wine Country July 20-23

The premier food and wine affair for Livermore Valley’s, Taste Our Terroir, is returning to Livermore Valley July 20-23 as the historic region celebrates and educates wine lovers about its unique wines.  Over the four days, Livermore Valley wineries will offer several different events, including the popular food and wine pairing competition, cooking demonstrations, wine tasting seminars and vineyard tours.  All event tickets are on sale now at www.LVwine.org.

Taste Our Terroir 2016 will begin Thursday night, July 20, 6-9pm, with the region’s signature event, the annual “Quest for Pairing Excellence” at Casa Real in Pleasanton.  Wine and food judges participate in a blind tasting and present awards to the winning teams.  Be sure to cast your vote for the People's Choice White and Red pairing awards. 

VIP tickets ($125 until sold out) grant access to the event one hour early. General admission tickets are $95 at www.LVwine.org. This event sells out every year—there will be no tickets available at the door.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, wineries across Livermore Valley will host cooking classes, blending sessions, vineyard tours and other unique experiences highlighting the region’s terroir. Visit the Livermore Valley Winegrowers website for tickets and details on all events.

For information:

• Taste our Terroir Lineup
• Taste our Terroir Tickets

Niles Canyon Railway returns with the Livermore Valley Wine Tasting Specials

Niles Canyon Railway is offering another summer of great wine tasting aboard the popular Livermore Valley Wine Tasting Special.  They will have four runnings of the special during the summer and most will most likely sell out prior to the date of the train so get your tickets early at the Niles Canyon Railway ticket site.  Wine Educator Steve Ferree will demonstrate his passion for Livermore Valley wineries.  Each of the four trains had a collection of five different Livermore Valley wines, usually two whites, two reds and a dessert wine.  Each was paired with a cheese personally selected for that specific wine.

The passengers learn much about the history of the Niles Canyon Railway and the history of wine in Livermore Valley.    The Livermore Valley Wine Tasting Specials are a trip through History.  Each of the cars on the train was historic, refurbished by a loving group of volunteers who spend countless hours restoring them.  The route was part of the original Transcontinental Railroad.  Niles Canyon was the link from the main railroad to the San Francisco Bay since 1869.

History is also found in Livermore Valley.  It is one of California's oldest wine regions; the Livermore Valley played a pivotal role in shaping California's wine industry. Spanish missionaries planted the first wine grapes in the Livermore Valley in the 1760s. In the 1840s, California pioneers looking for outstanding vineyard sites began planting grapes in the region. Robert Livermore planted the first commercial vines in the 1840s. Pioneer winemakers C. H. Wente, James Concannon, and Charles Wetmore recognized the area's winegrowing potential and founded their wineries in the early 1880s.

Livermore Valley captured America's first international gold medal for wine in 1889 at the Paris Exposition, putting California on the world wine map, long before the famous Paris Tasting in 1976 where Napa finally caught up and won an international award. 

For more information:

• Niles Canyon Railway
• Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association

Two Lifestyle wines from Mendocino Wine Company

Mendocino Wine Company is a family owned and operated group of wineries that continue the tradition of making award-winning wines using sustainable wine growing and land use practices.  In recognition of their leadership, the State of California in 2007, 2009 and 2014 awarded the Parducci Wine Cellars with the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), California’s highest environmental honor.

At the Mendocino Wine Company, there is an understanding that wine is loved by many types of consumers with some focused on heritage (such as the Parducci brand), some on organic (such as the Paul Dolan Vineyards) and some just love well-made delicious wines.  The Lifestyle wines from Mendocino Wine Company are crafted for people who simply love well-made delicious wines. 

Two great wines from Mendocino Wine Company in the Lifestyle group are the Zin-Phomaniac Lodi Zinfandel and the Tie-Dye North Coast Red Blend.

The 2015 Zin-Phomaniac is produced using some of the finest 35-80 year-old vines from Lodi.  These vineyards benefit from both the Bay Area cool fog as well as the long and warm growing season of the Central Valley.  The grapes are hand-picked at optimal ripeness and then crushed and fermented with native yeast while undergoing pump overs three times a day.  This wine is a harmonious expression of fruit with flavors and aromas of raspberry, plum, dark cherry and blueberry.  You will enjoy the fine nots of molasses, cedar and vanilla and the long lingering finish.  The price is $14.99.

The 2014 Tie-Dye North Coast Red Wine Blend celebrates the Summer of Love.  It is a blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Grenache.  The 62% Syrah is the backbone of this wine while the Petite Sirah adds in the deep dark red and black fruit.  The Bordeaux varietals provide the smooth mouthfeel and finish.  You will love that intense ruby color and aromas of black currant, dark cherry, boysenberry, raspberry and blueberry.  The price is $14.99