2007-10-19
Salute Sebastiani!
Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery’s annual Italian Festival returns to Wine Country Sunday, October 21st. The festival features Tony Gemignani, eight-time World Champion Pizza Acrobat, who will demonstrate the pizza tossing acrobatics that landed him in the Guinness Book of World Records. Tony will also be judging a pizza tossing competition open to the public and will be on hand to present prizes to the winners. Other events include a grape stomping competition, “guess the varietal” and “guess the aroma” contests. Sylvia and John Volpi, of the classic Volpi’s Restaurant in Petaluma, will be performing accordion music throughout the day. Horse and wagon rides through the vineyards are available, as well as rides through town on Sebastiani’s famous trolley. Numerous food vendors will be present, including pizza, pasta, Italian sodas, gelato and a Tuscan barbecue. Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery is located at 389 Fourth Street East in Sonoma. For more information, call
1-800-888-5532 or visit www.sebastiani.com.
Zinfandel Spotlight
On the weekend of October 13th through the 14th, eleven Sonoma Valley wineries pay tribute to the notorious and glorious Zinfandel grape. Participating wineries are Blackstone Winery, Eric Ross Winery, Imagery Estate Winery, Kaz Vineyard & Winery, Kunde Estate Winery & Vineyards, Loxton Cellars, Mayo Family Winery, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, The Wine Room, VJB Vineyards & Cellars, and Wellington Vineyards. Here are few samples of what to expect: Blackstone has two stunning Zinfandels from the Dry Creek Valley and guests will be treated to a special comparison tasting of this appellation. VJB Vineyards & Cellars takes you from grape to glass, where you’ll taste Zinfandel grapes from different appellations and juice from this year’s crush. VJB will also treat guests to barrel samples of the 2006 vintage and a three years vertical tasting of their award-winning Zinfandel. Fantastic Zin deals are available from all participating wineries during this weekend, and many winemakers will be present. Tickets only $20 per person for the weekend. To participate, visit www.heartofsonomavalley.com or call (707) 431-1131. Tickets are available at wineries the days of the event.
Camp Judd
Ever fancy making your own wine or wonder how it’s done? Judd’s Hill, in Napa Valley, is offering Barrel Blending Day Camp on Sunday, October 21st. Campers will create their own perfect blend of red wine using the finest Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Conducted by winemakers Art Finkelstein and Judd Finkelstein, the Camp begins at 10 a.m. with breakfast and proceeds to pulling leaves and punching down the wine, then on to a blending session, followed by a lunch with Pat Burke, the winery’s Director of Hospitality who is also a national barbecue champion (he has been profiled on The Food Network). Pat will also conduct a workshop on barbecue techniques. The day includes a session with Holly Finkelstein, who will explore trends in wine packaging and labeling. Also included is a ukulele performance by Judd Finkelstein (whose Hawaiian band The Maikai Gents performs around the country and released their first CD last year). Campers will leave with a bottle of their own blend (resulting from the blending session). Cost per person is $135 and must be arranged in advance. Wine enthusiasts can also schedule personalized Barrel Blending Day Camps by contacting the winery at www.napamicrocrush.com or (707) 255-2332. FYI: Judd’s Hill was selected as “the” place for custom winemaking in Napa Valley by Food & Wine Magazine.
Celebrating Silver
In the wine consumer’s mind, Peju Province Winery captures the essence of the Wine Country experience. Lushly manicured gardens, magnificent sculptures, soothing pools with fountains and a contemporary classic architectural design anchored by an elegantly curved 50-foot-high stone edifice with a steep copper topping that looks as if it might have withstood a few Provencal sieges around the time the popes held court in Avignon. While the outside speaks of ancient castles, the interior is home to one of the prettiest tasting rooms in Northern California. With so much visual pleasure, you might think that the wines might be relegated to second place. That would be a mistake. Peju wines are nothing less than extraordinary. Need more incentive to test drive this exquisite family-owned boutique winery? How about the celebration of their 25th Anniversary in the Napa Valley? Each month Peju Province is doing something new, including Sunday, October 21st, when the storied winery commemorates the new release of their 2004 Cabernet Franc along with a finger-lickin’ barbecue party. The price is right too, $60 per person ($50 for wine club members). To participate, call (707) 963-3600 or visit www.peju.com. FYI: Adding significantly to your overall Peju experience is legendary Wine Country personality, Alan Arnopole. A self-described “Yodelmesiter,” Alan has been working at Peju for more than a decade and often launches into a pitch-on yodel in between pouring tastes. He also amazes with his uncanny ability to spontaneously compose contemporaneous rap stories and creative songs about Napa Valley, its heritage, and the wines. Possessing a lifetime worth of knowledge on the valley, Alan has been seen on several national and international television programs, including CNN Headline News, The Food Channel, Bay Area Back Roads, Evening Magazine and Japanese National Television. Recently, Alan produced and released an outstanding CD of original music with his band, California Zephyr, aptly titled “Harvest Time: Songs from the Napa Valley.” It’s no amateur effort either. The music and musicians weave a rich tapestry of melody and verse providing the perfect musical soundtrack for traversing Wine Country. Along with the tasty mélange of stylish, soulful songs, Harvest Time includes a deluxe hard bound 24-page booklet, which makes a great souvenir, or gift. You can obtain Alan’s CD at the winery or online at www.napamusic.com.
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