Yountville Summer Events

Meet the Winemaker Reception Come meet Cloudburst’s winemaker, Will Berliner from Margaret River, Australia for a complimentary tasting at Lucy Bar. This event will take place TONIGHT, May 16, from 5 to 6:30 pm. In town for two weeks only, Mr. Berliner will be pouring his Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. With biodynamic practices integrated into both wines, they are quickly becoming all the rage on the New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco food scene. This exclusive engagement will be complimented with savory bites prepared by Lucy’s executive chef, Victor Scargle. Contact Lucy to make your reservations at (707) 204-6030 or www.bardessono.com/restaurant_bar. Spring Wine Dinners at Bouchon Bouchon invites you to experience two exclusive epicurean events this Memorial Day weekend. Join Bouchon under the stars in their beautiful courtyard Thursday, May 23rd as they welcome Samuel Guibert of Mas de Daumas Gassac. Known as the “grand cru” of the Langueduc, Mas de Daumas Gassac features organic wines full of elegance, finesse and structure – the perfect pair for Bouchon’s cuisine! $175 per person plus tax & service. Then on Sunday, May 26th they welcome 13th generation winemaker and Master Distiller, Marko Karakasevic of Charbay Distillery. Marko will be pairing artisanal cocktails with Chef’s special menu while sharing the stories of his family’s craft. $150.00 plus tax & service. Both dinners start at 7:30 pm and seating is limited. For reservations please call (707) 944-8037 Save the Date: RockNapa Concert in July RockNapa 2013 will take place at the historic Charles Krug Winery on July 18th and 19th. The series will offer a festival atmosphere on the winery’s Great Lawn and a VIP Experience in the beautifully restored 100 year old Carriage House, featuring some of Napa Valley’s premium wineries.

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♥Chérie Du Vin

Napa March And April Events – Art and Taste of Yountville

With Spring just around the corner, the itch to get outdoors is growing stronger day by day. It’s easy to imagine how the grapevines must be feeling ’round about now… ready to burst forth and get busy bathing their buds in that sunshine.

Napa offers SO many great attractions the year round, but two of their outstanding events happen in March and April every year.

The first, Taste of Yountville, has been occurring annually for the past 20 years. With more excellent restaurants per capita than just about anywhere else on the planet, tiny Yountville really has something to offer… and boast about.

Better yet, each Taste Ticket costs only a buck ($1) and you can count on participants like Bouchon and Bardessono’s Lucy being ever so present.

Yountville will host the 20th Annual Taste of Yountville weekend celebration March 14-16, 2013 to showcase the town’s finest food, wine and arts. Taste of Yountville will culminate in a town-wide block party on Saturday, March 16, 2013. Admission is free, tasting tickets will be $1 each. In addition to Saturday’s signature block party event, the Taste of Yountville weekend will play host to several special events throughout Yountville.

For more information click hereor call theYountville Chamber of Commerce

More Info Here

Arts In April

Relative newcomer as far as events go… is Arts in April, Napa. Started in 2011, this will be its 3rd year running. Best yet is that the event unfolds over the course of the month… so no matter which weekend in April you get yourselves up to Napa, you will find highlighted art shows and exhibits to accompany those great Napa Valley Wines.

April 1 – 30, 2013
Visit Website

And be sure to check the Special Events Calendar (like for bASH in St. Helena April 13th!!) to help you plan your trip itinerary….

A celebration of the elemental connection between wine and the arts, this month-long program satisfies cultural cravings with an exploration of winery art installations, pop-up exhibitions and tastings. Introduced in April 2011, Arts in April offers special access and packages to enjoy The Napa Valley Collection, making it the perfect time to get a dose of Napa Valley culture with your Cabernet.

More INFO – VisitNapaValley

The NapaLife Insider’s Guide to Napa Valley

More than a guidebook, this newest Napa Valley Travel Book is written by Insider Paul Franson, a Napa resident for coming on 20 years now. What’s great is that he orients his book to the Digital Age. So, gone are the addresses and pet-friendly, smoking/non-smoking icons in minuscule type…

Instead – since you can look up those other things on your SmartPhone, of course – what Franson gives you is honest, down home opinions of the best of what there is to find in Napa.
He’s big on the local favorites, too, so you won’t get just the tourist recommendations or places TouristAdvisors have reviewed and recommended…

In fact, as far as Travel Guides go, Franson seems to have hit this one out of the ballpark. It’s like talking to a friend who has lived in Napa for a couple decades and getting the DL on good eats, good deals, good hikes and bike rides, where the celebs hang out, and even a bit of history as to who owns which winery and for how long and with whom?…

At any rate, you just might be tempted to pitch your tent until harvest time… Now that’s not such a bad idea is it? Too bad that Ag Preserve is so vigilant, eh?!

You can order NapaLife Insider’s Guide to Napa Valley guidebook directly from his website: NapaLife.com

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♥Chérie Du Vin

Paso Robles Grand Tasting Tour

 

Explore more than 150 wines from 40 Paso Robles wineries.
Paso Robles is California’s third largest and fastest growing wine region,
so come taste a new vintage from your favorite winery or discover new ones!

Wineries from Paso Robles will showcase what sets this world class wine region apart.

Cheese and charcuterie will be presented by The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills

and Peacock Cheese Company to complement this Paso Robles wine experience.

This Thursday, February 28, 2013

6 – 8:30 p.m.

The BookBindery

8919 Lindblade Street
Culver City, CA 90232

Join us for this unique night of wine tasting where the winemakers and principals

will be on hand pouring their award-winning and nationally acclaimed wines.

info l pasowine.com

Participating Wineries and Partners:

Adelaida Cellars
Alta Colina Vineyard & Winery
AmByth Estate
Ancient Peaks Winery
Bodegas Paso Robles
Bon Niche Cellars
Caliza Winery
Cass Winery
Chateau Margene
DAOU Vineyards
Eberle Winery
Epoch Estate Wines
Halter Ranch Vineyard
Harmony Cellars
Hunt Cellars
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery

Kenneth Volk Vineyards
L’Aventure Winery
Le Vigne Winery
Lone Madrone
Midnight Cellars
Minassian-Young Vineyards
Nicora
Niner Wine Estates
Opolo Vineyards
Paso Robles Vacation Rentals
Pomar Junction Vineyard & Winery
Proulx
Rangeland Wines
Record Family Wines
Silver Horse Winery
Stanger
Tablas Creek Vineyard
Thacher Winery
The Farm Winery
Treana and Hope Family Wines
Venteux Vineyards
Victor Hugo Winery
Vina Robles
Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards

Join my 12,397 Followers

♥Chérie Du Vin. You will LOVE my wine picks!

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♥Chérie Du Vin

As a Thank You we’re giving you a Holiday Bonus Perk

We’re optimistic that we’ll reach our film production fundraising goal for Wine & Climate Change, but we can’t do it without people like you.  Word-of-mouth and shared links have really helped and we truly appreciate your support.

IndieGoGo.com/WineAndClimateChange

AS A SPECIAL HOLIDAY GIFT, WE’VE ADDED THE BONUS PERK OF A 3-DAY 2-NIGHT VACATION IN CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE.

Yes, that’s right. A Champagne Vacation for two.

 

To Qualify:

1. Click Like on our Wine & Climate Change Facebook Page. You’ll find it here:  http://www.facebook.com/wineandclimatechange

2. Go to IndieGogo.com/WineAndClimateChange and click on Contribute, for a minimum of $20 or higher.  Add in the comments section that you wish to qualify for the chance to win the Champagne Vacation.

It’s that easy. You may contribute more than once to increase your chances.  We will choose One Winner the week of January 16th, 2013. Winner will be chosen randomly.

What YOU Get

A 3-day, 2-night vacation for two to Champagne, France. This includes two nights’ lodging in a luxury residence, a Tour and Tasting at Veuve-Clicquot Champagne Cellars in Reims, France, a visit and lunch to Hautvillers, where the monk, Dom Perignon, first invented champagne.

@LocalFoodWine

*Transportation/airfare is not included. Some meals not included. Must be of legal drinking age to participate in the Tasting at Veuve-Clicquot Cellars. Must be 18 yrs. or older to participate.

Cognac For ♥ Valentine’s Day

by Paige Donner

Cognac for the most important ♥ holiday of the year!? Yes! And not just for your fella, but for your Lady (love) as well. 

Scenes from Cognac

 all photos by and c. Paige Donner 2012 

Click Here for Slideshow Hennessy, Courvoisier, Remy Martin and Paul Giraud (in that order)

Women love things that are smooth, warm, that glide just the right way and yet still have that appropriate touch of femininity. You might think that I’m describing lovely lingerie. But, No! I’m talking about cognac. That’s right!  Cognac can be YOUR dreamy passport to love and pleasure this Valentine’s Day!

Contact Local Food And Wine for custom Wine Travel Itineraries

Wine And Climate Change In The International Herald Tribune

Dear Readers, Wine Lovers and Environmentalists: Please have a look at my recent article which originally appeared in the International Herald Tribune. It is also online at NYTimes.com with full LINK HERE.

by Paige Donner

Contact Local Food And Wine for custom Wine Travel Itineraries

Bordeaux – Left Bank, Right Bank

By Paige Donner

For most of us wine lovers, the word Bordeaux evokes Mecca-like dreams and memories of some of the world’s best and most prestigious wines.

For the Bordelais, there is a pronounced distinction between “Left Bank” and “Right Bank,” each with their own Bordeaux sub-cultures and each laying claim to world-renowned chateaux.  The Left Bank and its famous Medoc region boasts Mouton Rothschild, Margaux and Pichon Comtesse Lalande, while the Right Bank with its idyllic St. Emilion and Pomerol lays claim toPetrus and Cheval Blanc.

As a Californian, I thoroughly understand this West Coast/ East Coast kind of cultural divide. Californians and New Yorkers rarely have much in common except that they both, technically, belong to the United States. But rather than try to explain what the difference between Left Bank and Right Bank Bordeaux is, I captured these two back-to-back events in photos.

Left Bank (Medoc and Haut Medoc) has the Marathon du Medoc;  Right Bank (St. Emilion, Pomerol, Fronsac) has the Jurade Celebrations.

Well, have a look for yourself…  ♥Chérie Du Vin 

Click Here For Slideshow

Click Here For Slideshow

Contact Local Food And Wine for custom Wine Travel Itineraries