Start
saving the dates for all things wineish that may spark your interest as we move
into the 2015 harvest year.
First up, a trio of announcements from
the Paso Robles Wine Alliance, pasowine.com for more details and ticket info.
Already available are tickets for BlendFest , taking place on February
21st & Zinposium on the weekend of March 20-21. Also, on December 15,
tickets will go on sale for the 33rd version of Paso's Wine Festival, May 14-17.BlendFest is a Saturday only event but offers two separate opportunities, held at the Cavalier Oceanfront Resort in San Simeon. Visitors to the area might want to combine this with a visit to the nearby, and always enjoyable, Hearst Castle. There are twenty five wineries, each offering three blended wines, at both the afternoon ($40) tasting from 1 to 3pm and the Sunset version ($65). The later tasting, from 4 to 6:30pm, includes apps and a band. PRWA has arranged discounted ticket prices when bundled with participating lodging options in Cambria and San Simeon. The package includes a bonus; a Paso Wine bottle holder is also part of the combo.
Zinposium is part of the annual Vintage Paso Zinfandel Weekend and will be held in the Paso Robles Inn's ballroom. Six well known producers of Zin will have a winemakers panel at both seminars. The first will be true varietal 100% Zinfandels. That tasting will be from 5:30 to 7pm on Friday evening. The participating wines come from various vineyards located in some of the 11 new sub AVA areas. As of just a few weeks ago, these designations are legally allowed to mention these terroir based distinctions on the label if at least 75% of the grapes are from that area. On Saturday, Zinfandel blends will be the focus, from 10 to 11:30am. The weekend also includes 120 participating wineries, all doing various festive special events. An online brochure will be available on the pasowine.com site in the not too distant future. The PRWA also has a new app for iPhones (free @ iTunes) to help you navigate the area, including things like the locations of restaurants & lodging. Check it out: PasoWineApp, or see more on the Alliance web site home page.
The Paso Robles chapter of Rhone Rangers (pasorhonerangers.com) will hold their 2015 Experience at Broken Earth Winery on highway 46 E. Tickets for the event are available on line or by calling 800-213-6406. If you have questions, send an email to pasorobles@rhonerangers.org.
Held on Sunday,
February 15, there are two levels of admission. There is a morning seminar
session, moderated by Matt Kettmann, a respected local writer and wine critic.
Several area winemakers will discuss the current state of the Rhone style scene
along the Central Coast. Included in the ticket (220 seats only and $85) is a
lunch with Ranger wines passed among the tables.
The meal will be
prepared by local fave Chef Maegen Loring. The morning session starts at 10:30 and runs
through lunch to 1PM This ticket also admits you to the afternoon tasting,
which along with a silent auction begins at 1:30. Approximately 45 wineries
will offer 150 wines and the tasting only entry is $35. With only 400 tickets
for sale, early purchase is mandatory as last year the full access pass sold
out several weeks prior to the event, leaving a limited number of tasting only
slots.
The World
of Pinot Noir (see prior post) reports that both weekend and single
event passes for the event are selling quickly with limited numbers left. These
are now available to the general public. If you are considering attendance, you
may wish to act soon.
They have announced that Alexandrine Roy of Domaine Marc Roy will
be the featured Burgundy producer at the Friday night cellar dinner. My
friend, from his Sardine Factory days (yes, I do remember the '70s), Fred Dame
MS with the Court of Master Sommeliers will be there Saturday night pouring a
selection of vintage Burgundy wines. Wines being served at these dinners are extensive
and detailed on the worldofpinotnoir.com site. Tickets and more information is
also available there. The event is held March 6-7 at the Bacara Resort &
Spa in Santa Barbara.
