ChangeMe  
Grape Stomper
Posts: 108
 | | 07-22-2005 02:40 PM |
| Once again, they will be here in San Francisco on Sunday, August 21. So far, 376 wineries (as of June 13) will be pouring. Family Winemakers Website | | |
|
|
NorCalVinoLover
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2202
| | 07-26-2005 07:03 PM |
| Fantastic event !!!
 | | | |
|
Randy Wigginton
Master of Wine
Posts: 10795
| | 07-27-2005 05:11 PM |
| | wasn't this event insane last year? I seem to remember reading some negative comments about being impossible to get around. | | | |
|
JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 07-27-2005 05:15 PM |
| | Its a zoo. I have not gone in years. People are there to get drunk not taste the wines. | | | |
|
skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5452
| | 07-27-2005 05:42 PM |
| | They sell lots of tickets and by the time they let regular folks in it is a zoo. Even the press portion of the event (which is scheduled for the first hour or two) can get pretty crowded. | | | |
|
Brian Loring
Grape Sorter
Posts: 386
| | 07-27-2005 06:11 PM |
| The event in San Francisco has been split into two days. The old one day format was awful... many wineries ran out of wine before the general public was let in. Since they've gone to 2 days, things have gotten better. Sunday is open to the trade and public, and Monday is trade only.
Sadly, LWC won't be able to be there this year - since we'll be bottling that week. The move from November to August will make it very difficult for us to ever do the SF event  And the LA event time has been moved to March, which also is problematic for me. Oh well... | | | |
|
Dave Tong
Santa Clara, CA
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1335
| | 08-19-2005 09:18 PM |
| I'm thinking of going. However I know way less than half of these wineries.
Which ones would you aim to hit first? I'm thinking:
Paloma
Kosta-Browne
Lewis
ROAR
Ramey | | http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog.
http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley
| |
|
tanglenet
Oakland, California
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3259
| | 08-20-2005 12:42 AM |
| I will also be going with my wife and two friends.
In addition to some of those on your list, I will be hitting:
Fisher
Frank Family
Martinelli
Pahlmeyer
Red Car
Siduri
Surh-Luchtel
Note the following:
Archipel
Atalon
Cambria
Matanzas
Kendal-Jackson
are all owned by Kendal-Jackson or the Jess Jackson Family wine group. These are not exactly a small "family owned " entity unless you think a billionaire is small. | | | TN posted on Cellartracker"
I drink no more than a sponge." François Rabelais | |
|
tanglenet
Oakland, California
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3259
| | 08-22-2005 12:49 AM |
| | What a great event. I was worried about the posts about the crowds and running out of wine. It went very smooth. It also seemed that most people arrived at the 12 o'clock opening. We left around 2:30 and no one was arriving at that point in time. I would definitely recommend. (Just follow the instructions about parking at the school and don't try to part at Fort Mason.) | | | TN posted on Cellartracker"
I drink no more than a sponge." François Rabelais | |
|
Al_ksyrah
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2089
| | 08-22-2005 04:02 AM |
| I agree, it was a great event and the crowds were surprisingly manageable. Other than one area in the middle of the room that always seemed to have a lot of people chatting in the aisle, it was easy to move around, get to the tables, and talk to the winery reps.
-Al | | | |
|
ChangeMe
Grape Stomper
Posts: 131
| | 08-22-2005 06:17 AM |
| Quote:
These are not exactly a small "family owned " entity unless you think a billionaire is small.
Owning a portfolio with Lokoya and Verite is quite impressive, IMO. There are plenty of wealthy individuals that also own their own label. | | | |
|
tanglenet
Oakland, California
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3259
| | 08-22-2005 04:54 PM |
| | You are absolutely right, and it was a stupid post. | | | TN posted on Cellartracker"
I drink no more than a sponge." François Rabelais | |
|
ChangeMe
Grape Stomper
Posts: 131
| | 08-22-2005 11:13 PM |
| No sweat T. Maybe if I ever get to have some dinner with you I'll brink a Lokoya.  | | | |
|
tanglenet
Oakland, California
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3259
| | 08-23-2005 03:38 AM |
| | I keep trying to make it to a Wed night dinner, but I'm afraid I won't make it home if I do. If we do get together I'll bring my 99 Verite La Muse! | | | TN posted on Cellartracker"
I drink no more than a sponge." François Rabelais | |
|
NorCalVinoLover
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2202
| | 08-23-2005 04:52 PM |
| Quote:
Fantastic event !!!
I knew you wouldn't be dissapointed
| | | |
|
JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 08-23-2005 05:15 PM |
| | At the last minute I went to the trade tasting yesterday. Brian was right. The two day format really makes a difference. The trade tasting yesterday while busy was manageable. | | | |
|
winebrat
Sacramento, Ca.
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2326
| | 08-23-2005 06:30 PM |
| | bummed I didn't see you. | | | "Everyday is worthy of a glass of sparkling wine" - Andrea Immer MS | |
|
JonesWineNo1
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 08-23-2005 07:51 PM |
| | I'm sorry we missed each other as well. A good overall tasting but I did not find too many wines that were worthy of a wow. What did you like? | | | |
|
Dave Tong
Santa Clara, CA
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1335
| | 08-24-2005 08:55 PM |
| A friend of mine went and gave me permission to post his brief notes:
Quote:
This event had 370+ wineries pouring what I'm guessing was over 1000 wines. And they were pouring for less than four hours.... and many places ran out before the end.
I'd never seen anything like it... I had my pen and paper ready to take notes, but it was hopeless for this rookie (of such events) to not get caught up in the excitement and scribble anything more meaningful than "Good", "So-So", etc. Not to mention being dragged around by certain others in our group who would (in some cases) literally pull me to the next "interesting" table.
Atalon: Tasty Cab. Nice mix of valley floor (ripe, earthy) fruit and mountain ("bigger" body and darker) fruit. http://www.atalon.com/
Audellsa: '02 Cab is wonderful. Made by Richard Arrowood (of Arrowood Winery). Starting in '03 they made their own wines... so it will be interesting to see how they fare "solo". http://www.audelssa.com/
L'Aventure: delish '03 Optimus (Syrah/Cab blend). They are in the "West Paso Robles" area... right where I want to start my vineyard when my stock hits $100 again :-) Elegant expression of the Paso style. If you like Justin, you'll like this stuff. http://www.aventurewine.com
Mi Sueno: "My Dream". Well, I kinda had a soft spot for these guys as they were originally farmworkers from Mexico... but - their Cab was fantastic (in the big Napa style), and others in my group loved the Syrah (which I didn't get to try). http://www.misuenowinery.com
Nickel and Nickel: They were pouring the Sullenger (bigger) and Dragonfly (more on the elegant side) Cabs. Neither wow'd me... but I think if the two were blended, it could be a winner. I'm a fan of Far Niente (founded by the late Gil Nickel) cabs, so I was hoping to be impressed by their Single Vineyard wines. Good, but not great, stuff. http://www.nickelandnickel.com
Paloma: Famous for their Merlot being Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year last year, I was excited about giving them a try. Well, they were pouring the not-yet released '03... .and now I know why I don't care for barrel tastings. This one was rough, young, and tight. Sort of like... oh, never mind :-) http://www.palomavineyard.com/
St Helena Road Vineyards. Their wines are OK, but what impressed me was their Vacation rental. Forget the $300/night B&B shacks... this is a 3bd/2ba HOUSE on a hill - with room for a 30 person party for the same price.... damn - if I knew about this before, I would have thrown my 40th b-day bash here!! http://www.sthelenaroadvineyards.com/estate.html
Suhr Luchtel. Two nice Cabs and a Cab/Merlot blend. Just plain wonderful. Great nose, just the right balance of fruit and tannins. A little cellaring and these will develop into amazing wines. http://www.surhluchtel.com/
Viader: I love their "main" wine, but they were pouring their second label. Don't bother. http://www.viader.com/
I tried lots of others, but none stood out as being noteworthy... or, at least, I didn't bother taking notes... so I was either drunk, had palate fatigue, was being dragged to another table, or all the above...
| | http://scmwine.blogspot.com - My wine blog.
http://scmwine.wikispaces.com - your guide to the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley
| |
|