Great Taste Magazine

July 10th, August 7th and September 11th

The French have a term they use to describe the unique characteristics of wine and other regional foods like cheese, meats and poultry. They call it Terroir. Loosely translated, it means “a sense of place” — the unique qualities of a wine or food product directly related to the region of the world where it is made. It’s the soil, the plants and animals that live in the surrounding environment, the climate and the cultural traditions and practices that make the area unique and affect flavor. This class will take you through several unique “terroirs” by comparing wines from Paso Robles to other famous wine-growing regions of the world.

Tuition is $40 per person; club discounts will be applied for CLUB 9 and CLUB 9 Onyx members. Seminar includes a tasting of 8 wines. The program will start at 1:00 p.m. and will last for approximately 60 minutes. Please call 805.239.2233 (press 1 to be directed to the Hospitality Center) to make your reservation.
Niner Wine Estates
2400 Highway 46 West
Paso Robles, CA. 93446
805.239.2233
www.ninerwine.com

Food & Wine magazine presents the first annual Taste of Beverly Hills wine and food event, taking place September 2-5, 2010 (aka 9.02.10). Stay tuned for upcoming event listings, news from participating chefs, and ticket info! Sponsored by Food & Wine magazine, the first annual Taste of Beverly Hills is a four-day epicurean event celebrating the worlds of food, wine, art, and music. Designed to intrigue the palate and engage the senses, Beverly Hills residents—and beyond—are encouraged to come out and experience a wine and food event unlike any other.

The festival will include food and wine tastings from celebrity chefs and renowned restaurants—both local and from around the country—live cooking demonstrations, wine seminars from Napa’s top vintners, live musical performances from award-winning artists, and more.

More information is available at www.thetasteofbeverlyhills.com or by calling 877.434.TOBH (8624). Food and Wine’s Taste of Beverly Hills is also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/FoodandWineTasteofBeverlyHills.

Wine Lovers Tours is offering 2 opportunities this Autumn: the first is ‘The Rhone Valley: Home of Serious Syrah’ October 6-October 14. The focus here is from Lyon to Avignon and besides Chateauneuf-du-Pape there will be visits to rising stars such as Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Tavel as well as the famous towns in the Northern Rhone. The tour will spend 1 night in Lyon and 3 nights in Tain L’Hermitage before traveling to Avignon. For more information, visit www.wineloverstours.com/wine-tour-rhone-france-2010.html

The second is ‘A Week in Provence and the Languedoc’ October 14-October 22. Aix-en-Provence is a superb base to explore the heart of Mayle territory before moving to the Montpellier area, in the heart of the Languedoc. The Languedoc is famous for its garrigue landscape which even permeates the aromas of its wines. Cultural visits in this area will include the medieval town of La Couvertoirade and the Roquefort cheese caves. For more information on this tour, visit www.wineloverstours.com/wine-tour-provence-france-2010.html

Each tour includes gourmet dinners or lunch each day and VIP winery and cultural visits and each costs $3399 with a $100 discount for doing both tours. All participants in either tour will receive a copy of their choice of Peter Mayle’s Provence books.

For more information about the upcoming Autumn 2010 food and wine tours of Provence, visit www.wineloverstours.com

7^th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival

The Largest Wine and Food Festival in Southern California Indulge you senses, please your palate, and tantalize your taste buds this November, at the 7^th Annual San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival.  Join over 9,000 fellow wine and food enthusiasts, along with 170 winemakers, 70 of San Diego’s top chefs, gourmet food producers, authors, media personalities and celebrity chefs during the week-long celebration of all things gourmet.  The five-day festival will feature 15 wine tasting and cooking classes, a WineRave, a Reserve & New Release Tasting, Wine Dinners, an AIWF Big Bottle Auction & Celebrity Chef Luncheon, Tommy Bahama Rum VIP Party and the star-studded Grand Tasting Event.  Don’t miss the action-packed week of festivities sure to please your inner foodie and wine lover! For more information on the San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival, please call 619-342-7337 or visit the Festival website, www.worldofwineevents.com.

Wine Tasting This Week during store hours

“Vino From Italia

“5 for $10

Venica Collio Friulano 2007

This vigorous wine, made from an indigenous varietal, with a careful vinification, develops unique characteristics: the color is straw yellow with greenish reflections, its bouquet is reminiscent of bitter almond, and its flavor delicately fruity. It can age for a few years in the bottle. Serve with poultry, fish, and pasta dishes.

Pieropan Soave Classico Bianco 2003

The 2005 Soave Classico (90% Garganega, 10% Trebbiano) reveals a delicate, minerally personality with sweet fruit and excellent length although it comes across as somewhat lean.

Balbium Terre Di Balbia Calabria Rosso 2006

The 2006 Balbium (Magliocco) is made by the Venica family, who are best known for the wines they produce in their native Friuli. This 2006 Balbium is a sleek, rich wine laced with perfumed red fruit, French oak and flowers. Medium in body, this attractive, mid-weight wine shows excellent length, even if the tannins dry out a touch on the close. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012.

Marchesi De Frescobaldi Nipozzano Riserva Chianti Rufina 2006

Shows sweet blueberry notes, with mineral and lilac. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and vanilla and bright fruit flavors. Clean and racy. Best after 2010.

Dessilani Spanna Colline Novaresi Riserva 2005

There’s some stewed plum and jam on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, with light tannins and a jammy, fruity finish. There’s plenty of fruit. Best after 2009.

WE DO PRIVATE PARTIES, WINE PAIRING DINNERS AND EVENTS!

Call for details: 818/224.5662

Wine tasting in Temecula. Take advantage of the special rates for the month of September.

For more information call: 1.800.801.9463

Sample the nectar from regions near and far, with savory samplings of cheese to match, at this upscale tasting room. $35 per person.
Schedule of upcoming Eno-Versity Sessions:
August 14: Chocolate tasting
August 28: Big Bold California Cabs

For more information or to make reservations contact: 949.240.2000
Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
www.enowinerooms.com

You’ll find excellent prices on tasting wines by the bottle & we’ve made it easy on your wallet to have an extra glass of your favorite wine too. Wine Awareness Thursday Tastings w/ Garrett Carrington of Wine Warehouse. Served w/ Avanti Tasty Bites. $11 per person from 6:30 to 8 PM.

Avanti Cafe
259 E. 17th St
Costa Mesa CA, 92627

You’ll find excellent prices on tasting wines by the bottle & we’ve made it easy on your wallet to have an extra glass of your favorite wine too. Wine Awareness Thursday Tastings w/ Garrett Carrington of Wine Warehouse. Served w/ Avanti Tasty Bites. $11 per person from 6:30 to 8 PM.

Avanti Cafe
259 E. 17th St
Costa Mesa CA, 92627

Kimera Restaurant now offers guests wine samplings from around the world at the newly opened Decanter Wine bar. The $18.00 wine tastings will focus on wines from beautiful Argentina, the largest producer of wine in South America.  The final stop of the June tour will be in charming Portugal.

For more information call: 949-261-1222

 Big Red Bus, Morry’s of Naples and Tracht’s presents Saturday Sippers, with additional wine tastings on the bus. This month’s theme is wines from Sonoma County. Saturday Sippers wine tasting tours every second Saturday of the month.  Guests will board the double-decker Big Red Bus where they’ll breeze through Long Beach between stops at Morry’s of Naples and Tracht’s. This month, guests will enjoy additional wine pours on the bus as they take a relaxing and scenic drive along the harbor and waterfront. Enjoy tastings of hand-selected wines and appetizers at each venue on the open-air tour. Future dates: June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12 & Oct. 10.  Guests will start their tour at Morry’s where they will enjoy a wine and appetizer tasting before boarding the Big Red Bus to continue the tour to Tracht’s plus wine tastings on the bus ride.$42 per person.
Purchase tickets online at:www.ticketderby.com/saturdaysipper

California Wineries will be on hand to share there knowledge and enjoy fabulous hors d’ oeuvres and cheeses paired will three to four varietals. $30 per person.

For more information call: 714.744.4442

 When you enter the Lab, all the wine stored on the wall is red. On the left is our Rhone varietals section (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, etc.) and on the right is the Bordeaux varietals section (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, etc.) I love both of these groups of wines. Each group is often blended to create unique flavor experiences.
Please join us as we continue to allow you to taste wines from across the wine spectrum. More info at: winelabnewport.com

Wine Lab Newport
2901 W. Coast Hwy - Suite 100
Newport Beach 92663
949-515-VINO

An informal wine tasting mixer on the first Wednesday of every month. The first one will take place on May 6th, at 6:30 pm.

For more information visit: www.thewineryrestaurant.net

join us every Tuesday 5 to 6:30 for wine tasting.

visit: news@charliepalmer.com for more info.

 Enjoy Saturday Sippers wine tasting tours with transportation provided along the waterfront. Every second Saturday of the month, guests will board the double-decker Big Red Bus where they’ll breeze through Long Beach between stops at Morry’s of Naples, Tracht’s and a special guest venue. Four samples of hand-selected wines and appetizers at each venue make Saturday Sippers the perfect way to taste Napa Valley in your own backyard.Guests can choose to start the wine tour at either Morry’s or Tracht’s where they will enjoy 4 samples of wines and appetizers, then board the Big Red Bus to continue the tour at two other destinations. Saturday Sippers will begin every second Saturday of the month, starting March 14.  Future dates: April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 12 & Oct. 10. $52 per person.

www.ticketderby.com/saturdaysippers

Tracht’s, Morry’s and Big Red Bus
111 East Ocean Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone for info: 562.499.2533