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Sip & Tell Blog

...Wineries, Tasting Rooms, & More

Back to the Tasting Room                                         ...California wineries are beginning to reopen

6/13/2020

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Just this weekend, Monterey, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz,
El Dorado and Amador County wineries and tasting rooms
flung open their doors to tasters!

Yes, exhale with joy!
Winemakers and their staff are as eager to see you as you are to see them.

After almost four months of sheltering in place, California is starting to open up wineries.

Before you plan your customary day of tasting, here are a few tips on what’s happening in the tasting room scene:

  • Most wineries are asking guests to make reservations for their tasting experience, online or via phone call.
  • They will likely be monitoring capacity limits, so go with an open mind. There may be limitations on the length of your stay, seating, food brought in, or on site. (please check with the winery)
  • If you feel sick, stay home. Just like other public venues, no symptoms are allowed.
  • More and more wineries will be reopening as they are able to accommodate the new changes.
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When you arrive for your tasting appointment:

  • Most wineries are asking that you text/call upon your arrival and wait in your car for your appointment. They’ll let you know when you’re set to come in.
  • Expect reduced interactions: Wineries will offer as many contact-less interactions as they can, while still wanting to make guests feel welcomed.
  • Masks, masks, masks: Go ahead and wear it into the tasting room/winery for everyone’s comfort and safety. The staff will let you know when to go mask-free, depending on the distancing, seating, and when your tasting starts.
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Your favorite wineries are anxious to see their tasting fans again!
Contact them if you have any questions about their current—and evolving—tasting practices.

And bringing a note of thanks, a big air hug, or a treat to your best loved winery is always in style.
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A toast to the new ways of sipping!

Shondra Savadkohi


Gain more from your next tasting with Nose & Palate wine traits...
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Covid-19 & Wine                                                  ...How to find Bay Area wines during            Shelter-in-Place

4/13/2020

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Wine is meant to be shared.

It's the liquid for celebrations, community, and for gathering with friends and family.


I want to acknowledge that all of this has come to a screeching halt.
We all are, to some degree, dealing with Covid-19.
Some are instantly without work. Others are on the front line.
And hopefully, all are making efforts to shelter in place for everyone's health and safety.
It's difficult to be separated from our loved ones and experience this much change at once.


For a piece of bright news, Bay Area wines are, thankfully, still available. At this time, wineries are not allowed to be open to the public for purchases in the tasting room or wine tasting on site.

But winemakers are being creative and resourceful in an effort to keep their businesses--
and to keep sharing their wines with tasters.

If you're still in a place to purchase wine and enjoy it, now is the time.
Here's how:


  • Most wineries and tasting rooms are selling their wines online! (we tasters thank you!)

  • Your health is looked after. Order, purchase, and pay for wine online or by phone.

  • Curb-side pickup lets you collect your wine at the winery while keeping distance (even with the kids in tow)

  • Most wineries now offer free or reduced shipping and some even provide free local delivery.
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  • Many wineries are offering tremendous discounts. Everything from 10% off and up, to case specials.

  • Enjoy winemaker-led in home tastings via online streaming, complete with samples kits of multiple wines. (Mark Hoover of Integrity Wines in Watsonville is offering this.)
 
  • Look for take-out food and wine pairings! Wineries and local restaurants are partnering to offer easy wine & food take out, with convenient curbside pickup.
 
  • Note: if you opt to have your wine shipped to your home address, an adult 21 or older will need to be present and sign for it (your teenager schooling remotely at home can't sign for it.)
 
  • Think of those who have to shelter-in-place alone, and brighten their week with a bottle of Bay Area wine. Or, gift a bottle to a neighbor, a mom, or to your friend who lost their job

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For a list of wineries and their current offerings and shipping, visit the following links.
The specials will likely vary and change as needed.


Wineries of Santa Clara Valley
The site currently lists their winery options for delivery, curbside, shipping, and specials.
Visit Santa Clara Wines.



Monterey County Vintners & Growers
Find wineries in Carmel, Soledad, and Monterey. Contact the winery directly for current offerings.
Visit Monterey County Wines.



Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrower Assoc.
Find a listing of pick-up, delivery, and discount options by winery.

Visit Santa Cruz Mountain Wines.
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Health to you and yours in this time, and a few words of comfort...


God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1

A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord.
'Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you!' Psalms 102:1
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Blessings to you,
Shondra Savadkohi




Travel from the comfort of you home and snag a few ideas from this Home-Tasting of 3 Reds...
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Wine Collage                                                               ...the 2019 Silicon Valley Wine Auction

7/3/2019

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The Annual Silicon Valley Wine Auction offered a collage of wines from the region.
Winemakers from Corralitos to the Peninsula gathered to pour their wines.

The commonality?
All the wines were made with grapes sourced from the Santa Cruz Mountain AVA.
 Enjoy the tour!

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Hosted at: Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga.
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Thank you, Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Growers Assoc., for the invitation to cover the 2019 SVWA!

I volunteered for the Santa Cruz Mountain Winegrowers Association (Link) for almost four years.

During that time, I cut my teeth on SCM varietals.
These local wines became the foundation for my wine palate.
Without meaning to, I often compare and contrast the wines from other regions to my local wines.

Some SCM wines are smooth, some silky, others light, others hearty.
Producing wines that are tannic, to raw, to elegant in palate, the region is a wine playground
within reach of the beach and the nation's tech capital.
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A toast to your collage of wines!
Shondra Savadkohi


Looking for wines in Monterey County? Read on...
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Ser Winery Pop Up Tasting!

6/20/2019

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Sunday, June 23, 1-5pm at Equinox Tasting Room, Santa Cruz

Join Nicole Walsh, owner & winemaker of Ser Winery for a Pop-Up Tasting!

Enjoy Wine Flights and Wines by the Glass


Nicole is a Santa Cruz based artisan winemaker “specializing in varietal, vineyard designated,
old world style wines, produced in a natural way...”

Come relax and savor wines made with a fresh, yet experienced approach!

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For more on Nicole and her wines at Ser Winery, visit: www.serwinery.com/
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Wine & Small Bites                                                    ...Dare to Pair Wine & Food Competition

5/10/2019

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Dare to Pair 2019

Local Culinary, Hospitality, and Wine students offered an event
to rival the Bay Area food and wine scene.


The Cabrillo College students spent almost two months preparing for the Dare To Pair.
Small bites were beautifully plated.
Each dish presented its own flavor elements to pair with the wine students chose.
Food and wine were served under awnings, deep in the dark cellars, in tasting rooms,
and under the gorgeous Santa Cruz sun.


All of the wines were gifted by Surf City Vintners (Link).
A heartfelt “Thank you” to each winery who donated their wines for the D2P and to
the Cabrillo Culinary, Wine, and Hospitality Program throughout the year!
Cheers to you for supporting our local students and the wine and food industry.

A 'thank you' to Chef/Instructor Jeremy and Chef/Instructor Eric from Cabrillo College!
Guests enjoy the pairings and time together. Cathy Bentley, D2P's faithful coordinator!

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#1 Host Winery, Equinox Winery
Team: Hannah S., Kim T., China P., and Elaina G.

Dish: “Provencal Pies.” These upscale artisan pot-pies offered flavors of lemon chicken, with roasted garlic, and a swirled topping of brown butter mashed potatoes.

Wine: 2001 Equinox Sparkling Blanc de Blanc, Santa Cruz Mountains.

Pairing Highlights: Honey, apricot, and yeast notes from the Champagne-method sparkling-wine perfectly accented the buttery-rosemary crust, the earthy carrots and poultry, fresh lemon, and decadent mashed potatoes. As one taster said, “Chicken and bubbles go well together.”

Destination: This dish took me to a farm-to-table dinner set in an apple orchard. Long, narrow farm tables are covered with white linens and jars of field flowers. Complete with hanging lights, and warm evening breezes.
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#2 Sones Winery

Team: Natasha F., Jessie C., Alekzander M-N., and John B.

Dish: Hamachi crudo with fresh citrus, avocado, and leche de tigre sauce.

Wine: The“Hedgehog” is a blend of Torrantes and Sauvignon Blanc, California

Pairing Highlights: The fresh, almost floral white wine set the stage for this clean-flavored dish. The compilation was a soothing orchestration of 9 plating elements. An attractive color palate greeted the eye.

Destination: Appreciate this Californian-Asian inspired pairing in a metropolitan highrise—complete with a view of the city lights and night time stars.
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#3 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard
Team: Joseph R., Fatima D., Thomas G., and Jade B.

Dish: Sopes de Carnitas de Pato con Mole

Wine: 2015 Melange Rouge, Santa Cruz Mountains.

Pairing Highlights: Thick, rich, and full of balanced flavors, the subtle chili and chocolate of the Mole paired well with the earthy duck. The acidity of the pastoral Melange wine rounded out the dish, giving the pairing cohesion.

Destination: This is the dish to savor with friends during a midnight dinner tucked in a Spanish courtyard.
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#4 Quinta Cruz Wines

Team: Conall M., Max G., Ismael A., and Julie P.

Dish: Manchego and Almond Stuffed Squid

Wine: 2016 Sauzao, Santa Cruz Mountains.

Pairing Highlights: Tasters enjoyed pan-seared squid stuffed with Manchego cheese, garlic, tomatoes, and almonds, atop arugula leaves. The browned squid, the subtle crunch of the almonds and notes of creamy cheese played off each other with an affinity.

Destination: Get your style on because this pairing would be perfect for a pop-up dinner at a home. Artists, musicians, writers, and food lovers would wax-on eloquently about this combination.
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#5 Storrs Winery:

Team: Laura R., Alex A., Gabe A., and Damian F.

Dish: Bunuelos de Bacalao with Chili/Lime Aioli

Wine: 2017 Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains

Pairing Highlights: The salinity of the fish fritters, the light but full flavored Chardonnay, and the peppery arugula were an enticing flavor trio. The chili mayo gave this dish a powerful punch.

Destination: This dish took me to a beach side cafe' on the Iberian Coast. The lapping water and salty sea air would add to this pairing.
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#6 Bottle Jack Winery

Team: Sean A., Michael G., Sarah C., and Anita L.

Dish: Durham Ranch Braised Wild Boar with Porcini Polenta and Pickled Fennel

Wine: 2016 Firenze Tuscan Blend, Santa Clara County

Pairing Highlights: The alluring flavors of the wild boar and umami polenta tied the knot with the Firenze. The wine's dark cherry, acidic, earthy, and almost farmyard flavors guaranteed tasters would hold a fork in one hand, and a glass of wine in the other.

Destination: This dish will transport you to a hidden French bistro. The type of place where the locals eat, and tourist hope to get reservations.
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#7 Silver Mountain Vineyards

Team: Susan C., Erin D., Natalie B., and Wednesday H.

Dish: Grilled Ostrich Sausage with Potato Croquette and a Red Wine Gastrique

Wine: 2012 Oscar's Wild Red blend, Santa Cruz Mountains

Pairing Highlights: Simply put, if this team decides to market and sell their sausage, I'll be their first customer. The balanced flavors of herbs, hints of dried cherries, and Manchego cheese give a bit of richness to the lean sausage. Starchy potato and fresh greens round out this dish, while the Merlot in the wine-blend offers soft tannins and dark berry flavors.

Destination: Picture yourself siting on the dining-deck of a snow-capped mountain resort. The blue sky, warm sun, and fresh air will whet your appetite for this arresting dish.

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#8 Bartolo Wines

Team: Konrad S., Fajah J., and Jennifer P.

Dish: Braised Pork Belly with Green Garlic Puree, Cauliflower and Herb Sauteed Fava Beans.

Wine: 2013 Grenache, Santa Clara Valley

Pairing Highlights: This pairing is full of striking contrasts. The rich, smokey flavors of the pork belly. The green, grassy flavors of the garlic. The cruciferous, fresh cauliflower and fava beans. All these tastes met up with the rich, yet smooth, Grenache.

Destination: Tuck into this pairing while at an Eastern European restaurant. From your seat, you can see the chef in the kitchen cooking and braising the pork belly. Outside are views of presidential palaces.
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The 10th Annual D2P Awards....


Favorite Wine: 2001 Equinox Sparkling Blanc de Blanc, Santa Cruz Mountains
Favorite Dish: Wild Boar

People's Choice Awards for the Best Wine & Food Pairing (guest polls)

1st Sones Cellars and Hamachi crudo
2nd Bottle Jack Wines and Wild Boar
3rd Bortollo Wines and Braised Pork Belly


The Judges Awards for the Best Wine & Food Pairing

1st Bottle Jack Wines and Wild Boar
2nd Bortollo Wines and Braised Pork Belly
3rd Sones Cellars and Hamachi crudo
Professional and hospitable, the students' dishes were noteworthy!
As one taster shared, “the Culinary programs of our colleges need our support.”

To donate to the Cabrillo College Culinary, Hospitality and Wine Program,
or to dine at the student-run Pinot Alto Restaurant, visit (Link.)
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Until next year's D2P,
Shondra Savadkohi



For a behind the scences look at D2P and its origins, visit my post....

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