GOING HERE ©

            The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance holds the 34th Wine Fest Weekend, May 19-22. Details and Tickets and full information are available at pasowine.com. The weekend offers a variety of events within the overall structure. Saturday morning has a seminar on characteristics of  Paso Robles and sub-AVAs. Two winemaker dinners are available on Thursday night. There is a Reserve tasting Friday evening and the Grand Tasting in the park Saturday afternoon. Boxed lunches and food trucks are available and a picnic area provided. Wineries are offering various Festival related events and specials for ticket holding Festival Fans. One example of which is Friday night at Derby Wine Estates (.com) tasting room and patio. They will kick off this year's Wine Festival with an exclusive "Salt Lick BBQ" event! 

A Texas Brisket, Ribs and Salt Lick Sausage plate will be prepared for you, by the legendary Pit Master Scott Roberts, all the way from Driftwood Texas. The Derby Smokehouse will be preparing delicious side dishes to compliment this Authentic Texas BBQ!  Join the fun May 20th from 5:30-9:00pm. Pat and Matt of The Guitar Circus will be entertaining the crowd with their dueling guitar act. Tickets are $30 for general public, available on the web site above.

The Chardonnay Symposium (.com for details) will be held the weekend of May 12-14 in various locations in the beach towns near San Luis Obispo and surrounding wine growing sites. As the above mentioned CABs event, this event is also a SOMM Journal magazine involved event with a wide range of tastings, seminars and dining events. Many of the events involve sommeliers from around the country and versions of the varietal from many different Chardonnay centric areas.

June 13th is the date for the first American Albariño Summit. The event will take place at Brecon Estate (.com) in Paso Robles. This unique event features both an Albariño tasting and optional educational seminar. At least twenty Central Coast wineries will be pouring their current offerings at the tasting.  The seminar is from 5 to 6pm and the tasting will be 5:30 to 7:30.

The panel includes Albariño experts talking about the origin and history of the grape, viticulture and a sommelier to enlighten us on food pairings. Seminar tastings include a comparison of  Spanish, Portuguese and California versions of the wine. The main tasting will include live flamenco guitar and food pairings reminiscent of NW Spain. Tickets for both are $50 or tasting only at $35 and purchased via eventbrite.com.

BEEN THERE ©

            The things to do and places to go have come fast and furious in the past few weeks. So much so I haven't had time to catch you up on them.

Let's start with Wi-Vi, The Central Coast Wine Industry Conference & Tradeshow. This event now has five years of ever improving history and increased interest. Started , with a different title, by Becky (First Crush Winery) and Lowell (Precision Ag Consulting) Zelinski, they have handed off the event to Wine Business Magazine . The publisher has been part of Wi-Vi since the early days but now has added it to a series of trade oriented gatherings they offer. However, Becky hosted the direct to consumer seminar sessions, focusing on tasting room and wine club marketing.  The enology and viticulture classes were run by Lowell and offered continuing education credits for those attending.

Attendance has grown to well over 1,000 and trade show booths were getting lots of action as they were easy to visit on either side of the lunch buffet. The timing worked well for those drawn to some focused tastings in the same space. Also a varietal focus seminar & tasting of Cabernet Franc was the latest in the annual session led by Lance Cutler. Locally, The Farm Winery, Daou Vineyards and Calcareous Vineyard presented well received samples. Some party time was also on the agenda and provided plenty of face to face networking.

This has turned into a major event and draws industry people from all the California wine regions. I'm looking forward to another successful event next year.

Next up was the CABs of Distinction tasting and trade event run by SOMM Journal  magazine and the Paso area marketing group that promotes area Cabernet Sauvignon, the Cab Collective.  The second version of the program was a two day exposure for media and sommeliers to the quality of local versions of the varietal and Bordeaux style blends. It included a double blind tasting of Paso wines compared to high end Bordeaux and other well know California growing areas.

The Paso Robles chapter of Rhone Rangers holds monthly tastings of single varietals that are fun social occasions but also include seminars from time to time. The April get together, held at the new Alta Colina location, concentrated on Mourvedre. There is not a lot of tonnage available so varietal bottlings are not common. Most of the juice goes into GSM blends with Grenache and Syrah. The four wines tasted were all grown within a few miles of each other. The consensus of the winemakers is that there is this Westside sweet spot for this difficult to grow and very late ripening grape. Often harvested as late as November.

THE CALENDAR IS RAPIDLY FILLING ©

            My email is being flooded with wine events of interest here on the Central Coast. So, time to make a list and check it twice. The details and ticketing information are varied and often have a complex set of offerings. Rather than try to present that much information, I'll provide the links to the source of the ones you may find of interest.

The next two events on the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (PRWCA) list are Blend Fest, February 19-21 and the March 18-20 Vintage Paso Zinfandel Weekend. The first is held on the coast in the lovely area around Cambria and was  a recent addition to the Alliance line up that proved popular when begun last year. It can also be tied to travel plans including the Hearst Castle and San Simeon. Zin Weekend also offers a travel double header as the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival is held in the same time frame and is offering (link via the event details) a special screening of the sequel to the SOMM movie on opening day after a seminar led by Master Somm Fred Dame. A fellow Central Coaster and former wine director of Monterey's famous Sardine Factory restaurant, he is in part to blame for my entry in SOMM-ism. The weekend has some structured aspects but is free form in terms of planning visits to wineries rather than a large tasting format. Get all the facts and figures at www.pasowine.com and check out the site for suggested itineraries, lodging and dining options and a wealth of useful information on the area.

The Garagistes take their show back to Solvang for the annual Southern Exposure  tasting of small lot wines that are rarely available for tasting or purchase. Held February 13-14, ducats and info are found at their site, www.garagistefestival.com.

In Paso, at Broken Earth winery, on February 14, our local Rhone Rangers will hold a morning seminar followed by lunch (limited seats). Then a grand tasting of the wide variety of wines made from Rhone based grapes. Their site is at www.RhoneRangers.org where details and tickets are available.

Santa Barbara is the venue for a Winter Wine Classic on February 20th (www.californiawinefestival.com) and a Spring Weekend of April 21-24, provided by the area vintners (www.sbvintnersweekend.com). More about wine events in the county can also be found at www.sbcountywines.com. Another major area tasting is the World of Pinot Noir, March 4-5, at the Bacara Resort. This is an international event with Pinots from Burgundy, NZ and all U.S growing areas. A great look at the varietal, combined with educational sessions and some very nice dining events. Full WOPN details can be found, as well as tickets,  at www.worldofpinotnoir.com.

Growing annually as an industry must-do, WiVi Central Coast Conference & Trade Show,  will be held at the Paso Robles Events Center, March 15-16.Though the event is geared to wineries and growers, it has also provided tastings and seminars of interest to people who are oenophiles and might be something you'd enjoy. Check out the program at www.wivicentralcoast.com.

The Paso Robles Cab Collective will bring the SOMMs back to Paso for this year's edition of Cabs of Distinction, April 12-14. This is limited to trade and media but a public tasting is slated for later this year. Their site is www.pasoroblescab.com.

Check my prior post re: Hospice du Rhone  and Food & Wine's Pebble Beach event. There are many marketing sub-set groups that post smaller, winery oriented events. You might want to look at: www.montereywines.org, www.slowine.com and www.santamariawines.com.

DETAILS & TICKET OPTIONS ANNOUNCED FOR HOSPICE du RHONE ©

                The highly anticipated return of Hospice du Rhone to Paso Robles is now in the process of lining up seminar speakers and a few other small details. The event will be held at the Paso Events Center (fair grounds), April 14-16 with the Thursday offerings yet to be set. I'm guessing that there will be some local eateries holding wine & dine events.

Details on the weekend agenda, as well as tickets are now available (www.hospicedurhone.org). The all access pass must be purchased no later than April 7, unavailable at the door. But this is a likely sell out.

The full pass is $995 and includes two seminars daily, breakfast, lunch and tastings on Friday & Saturday, plus a BBQ dinner on Saturday, keeping you busy from 8 AM until after dark. Lots of fun, education and opportunities to taste some great wines from both the Rhone and local sources of the same varietals. Various other ticket options for individual parts of the event are also offered.

Hospice brings back the triumvirate of  major single focus tastings on the Central Coast, along with World of Pinot Noir (info on next year's WOPN event are now on line) and the Chardonnay Symposium. All are wonderful experiences that encompass both local and world wide producers.

You might also want to check you plans for March 31-April 3, when the fanciest wine event in this region (Napa Valley Auction may be even more "pinky up"), the Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival. There's no lack of fun times in our part of the world.

Lastly, I note that there are some new lodging options available when planning to come to Hospice du Rhone. Several hotels have blocked rooms and rates shown under the "home" tab on the website, click on accommodations for more info. One of the major new locations has not yet done so and there are many B&B style operations in the area if that better fits your style.

RHONE RANGERS CELEBRATE ANOTHER SELL OUT ©

            Last February 15 Broken Earth winery was filled to bursting with fans of the nearly two dozen grape varieties found in wines based on those grown in the Rhone Valley of France. So, you might want to check their web site (www.rhonerangers.org) before Christmas if you want to attend in 2016!

This year, the event will be held, at the same location, on Valentine's Day.  Guys, here's your chance to get something for your sweetie other than heart full of chocolate! Tickets have gone on sale with both a full day of seminar and vintners' lunch, followed by a great tasting. There are all inclusive or tasting only tickets, and full details,  at the site above.

GARAGISTE'S #5 WOWS FANS OF ARTISIAN WINE ©

            I know this how? Because my new hero, Erik, told me, "It's awesome, best ever." So, you might well ask, why is he a hero? OK, here's the story. But first, the back story. This event uses stemless  glassware made by Stolzle, which is important to this tale. The taster crowd at the Fest has a tradition of clapping and cheering when someone drops and breaks their glass. This had happened two or three times before Eric gave me his review. As I turned away to let someone into the table I tagged an elbow and dropped my glass to the concrete floor. Dang, I thought! But when the bottom of the glass hit pavement, it just bounced. I made a move to catch it but down it went, then up again and I hadn't quite caught up. The third hit finally did the job and I bowed to the cheering crowd, skulking away find a replacement.

Fast forward to nearly the end of the tasting and I see Erik coming along across the aisle. Suddenly his glass makes a break for freedom. Hits, bounces. And again. And again, at which point Erik snatches it in mid-air. A three hopper and the glass is still intact and back in service. While Erik (whose last name I never got) pulled off a good save, what about that Stolzle? I highly recommend those of you with friends having bad hand/glass coordination get some of these beasts.

If you haven't been exposed to the Garagiste movement or their tastings and programs, put it on your to-do list. And get The Dirt online by signing up at www.californiagaragistes.com for news about the organization.

This year's version started with a winemaker's dinner on Thursday and a meet and greet event Friday evening. Held at Broken Earth Winery, it was a sell out and featured out-of-area wineries in the group. Saturday began with two fully subscribed seminars. The first was on the use of the aroma wheel in helping your appreciation of descriptors used in wine jargon. The second was a three maker panel discussion of current trends in using stems and seeds during the fermentation. Opinions on this have varied over the years and an option that doesn't lend itself to large production wineries. The process adds subtle changes to tannins and structure of the wines. If the technique is of interest, Kaena Wine Co., Paix Sur Terre & Golden Triangle wineries were the wines presented. All are very low production but some delicious samples were tasted.

The main event included nearly five dozen wineries with twenty or so varietals in the mix. Several food vendors also offered product to sample, ranging from olive oil to brownies. I didn't get a head count but think this was the largest crowd ever but a change in tasting table layout made it seem less crowded than last year. And if three to five hours of wine tasting hadn't worn you out, there was the After Party with beer from Paso's "Barrelhouse" micro brewery. Loud and proud AC/DC tribute band High Voltage kicked out the jams so the ladies could dance and the guys sit and watch, just like junior high.  A fun and well done festival, with a great and knowledgeable group of wine lovers in attendance. Can't wait for #6.  

KNOW THY MEDALS ©

            When I received a recent copy of The SOMM Journal it included the results (Gold or higher award) of this year's San Francisco International Wine Competition (www.sfwinecomp.com), I searched for winners from the Central Coast. I like to be aware of how the region fares against other areas of California and in this case the world. But the more I dug into the details the more I scratched my head.

Those of you who make regular visits to tasting rooms have seen bottles on shelves with medals and ribbons displayed. Wine club members are constantly reminded that such and such a bottling was an award winning wine. Or it received a score in this or that prestigious trade publication.

What you may not know is that to get this recognition the winery has to decide which ones have real marketing value. Then fill out often complicated paperwork to submit the wines, which also requires multiple bottles of the wine that need shipped within a time window. All at the expense of the winery. This can easily run into a lot of wine and related expense considering wine judging is coming close to being a spectator sport in terms of games played.

Submission to these events is a risk reward proposition and you have to pick your poison. With that in mind, let me run some facts by you. In the above referenced tasting, Anthony Dias Blue who is the Executive Director of the publication mentioned and a highly respected wine writer for many years, offered the following in his preface to the results.

The number of wines submitted was a record 4,902 offerings from 26 countries and 29 states, judged by 50 palates. Cabernet continued to dominate with 544 tasted, nearly a case per judge. The tasting uses a 100 point scale and uses the typical award of a Double Gold when all those on the panel (of course the judges are broken into smaller tasting groups) rate it the highest in the group being judged.

There were 254 of those awarded along with 538 Gold, 1,742 Silver and 1,568 Bronze. Thus, only 800 (16%) of those submitted didn't medal. This begins to look like those Participation trophies given to a 12 and under soccer team. And devalues the real merit of the awards. But all the consumer sees is that the wine was given this prestigious medal. If only 16% didn't get anything but another 16% received Gold or Double Gold, how good an indicator is the ranking?

Well, one might assume the submissions were all exceptional offerings to a top flight judging. Could happen that most were superior products. So let's look at a couple of examples. And also consider that it is possible that some rare category, say Best Sangiovese Blend, had few wines entered.  The judges all agree that one wine is the best of the lot but score the wine as an 86. Is this really a wine that merits a Double Gold? In this case, because they also award the best of varietal/type, the winner was a home boy, August Ridge 2010 Jovial Reserve, Paso Robles. This is a winery I enjoy and with which I am familiar. So good on them for a tasty and unique offering. I would guess that this category could include some Super Tuscan style entries and be more competitive than I suggested. But that is unclear in the way results are presented.

A couple of others include the Best Syrah + Best in Show Red. Also a Paso Robles wine, sort of, from Jeff Runquist, a 2013 Syrah. Jeff is a very accomplished (28 Gold & 80 Silver medals in 2012) winemaker with a serious resume (see jeffrunquistwines.com) and a winery in Plymouth, Amador County in the Sierra Foothills. He has a unique network of growers and uses those contacts to bring in grapes of 20 varietals and 9 AVA designations. His Syrah and Cabernet connections are from growers he knew from his days making reds in Paso as winemaker for Jerry Lohr. So, yes Paso is the AVA for the label but they take quite a ride for Jeff to use the grapes. Interesting that with all the wineries making Paso grown Syrah in this area, Jeff "crushes" them. Sorry, couldn't resist. Still, kudos to him.

And, to continue to blow the local horn, the Best of Type includes (also Double Gold) Balleyana 2013 Firepeak Chardonnay from Edna Valley, Cass Winery Viognier 2014 Paso Robles, Santa Barbara White Rhone Blend "Marcella's" from Fess Parker 2014. Also an Albarino 2013 from Wedding Oak in Edna Valley, Sangiovese 2013 by Gary Eberle, grapes from Wine-Bush/Hidden Valley in Paso and Best Nebbiolo out of Santa Ynez winery Old Creek Ranch, Estelle Vineyard 2009. The list goes on, check the referenced web site, but 39 top medals (15%) went to Central Coast wines and most were in the $28 to $36 range with several under $20.

One of the strangest categories was sparkling wines. The Best Brut & Best Sparkling was Champagne Collet 2004 Millesime Brut, France $96. But there was a Gold given to a $600 Blanc de Blanc NV from Armand de Brignac, France, which was alphabetically listed just above Barefoot Refresh NV Perfectly Pink, CA at $8. This I find difficult to understand and may indicate a flaw in what it takes, or should, to medal. And most of the really big money wines from cult labels avoid these tastings as they add no cachet but could be a bad miss. So, Know Thy Medals or Caveat Emptor.