L.A. Wineaux

30th Annual Harvest Wine Celebration in the Livermore Valley Wine Country

2011-07-26T16:53:00.000-07:00

Labor Day weekend in the Livermore Valley means it's time for harvesting grapes. This year marks the 30th Annual Harvest Wine Celebration, scheduled for Sunday, September 4 and Monday, September 5. The popular fundraising event is sponsored by the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association. Wine enthusiasts and winery supporters are invited to visit and enjoy some of Livermore Valley's finest wineries.

This year more than 40 wineries will be taking part in the festivities, each offering at least two varietals of wine to sample and enjoy. As always, the fun-filled weekend will feature the music and art of local artists and vendors. Local restaurants will be providing delicious food at various locations along the festival route.

The following wineries will be hosting events at their own wine tasting locations. Need a map? Click on any winery name for additional information about the winery.

Bent Creek Winery
Big White House Winery
Bodegas Aguirre Winery
Cedar Mountain Winery
Charles R Vineyards
Chouinard Vineyards
Concannon Vineyard
Crooked Vine Winery
Cuda Ridge Wines
Darcie Kent Vineyards
Eagle Ridge Vineyard
Eckert Estate Winery
Fenestra Winery
Garre Vineyard and Winery
John Evan Cellars
La Rochelle Winery
Las Positas Vineyards
Longevity Wines
McGrail Vineyards
Mitchell Katz Winery
Nottingham Cellars
Occasio Winery
Retzlaff Estate Wines
Ruby Hill Winery
Stony Ridge Winery
Tamas Estates
The Singing Winemaker
The Steven Kent Winery
Thomas Coyne Winery
Wente Vineyards Estate Winery
White Crane Winery
Wood Family Vineyards

The following wineries will be hosting festivities at Concannon Vineyard, located at 4590 Tesla Road in Livermore:

Auburn James Winery
Page Mill Winery
Rios-Lovell Winery
Rodrigue Molyneaux Winery

The following wineries will be taking part at Wente Vineyards Estate Winery, located at 5565 Tesla Road in Livermore:

el Sol Vineyard
Elliston Vineyards
Les Chenes Estate Vineyards
Little Valley Winery
Murrieta's Well
Westover Winery

Shuttle buses will run on Sunday only. Ticket purchasing information and other details about the Annual Harvest Wine Celebration are available here: 30th Annual Harvest Wine Celebration.

Do you plan to take photos at the Harvest Wine Celebration? Share them here: Livermore Valley Wine Country Flickr Photo Gallery or on our Facebook Fan Page.

Cover Design by Nova Starling

Asante Africa Foundation Presents Dennis Lyamuya at Big White House Winery

2011-02-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

Visiting Tanzanian advisor Dennis Lyamuya has been speaking to audiences in several U.S. cities on behalf of Asante Africa Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to the education of children in remote East African villages. On Saturday, February 26, Dennis will be returning to the San Francisco Bay Area. An informal event will take place at Big White House Winery and John Evan Cellars in Livermore from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Dennis Lyamuya is a Tanzanian Chagga Tribal Elder, and a trusted advisor to Asante Africa Foundation. Dennis grew up on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, and ascended the mountain more than 200 times while earning the position of Mountain Guide and attending university. He now operates Kwetu Tanzania, Eco-Tourism and Safaris, and is a respected expert on environmental protection methods, wildlife management, and the impact of humans on the natural environment.

Big White House Winery is located at 6800 Greenville Road in Livermore. Please contact Asante Africa Foundation CEO and Founder Erna Grasz at (925) 292-0245 if you have any questions about the organization or this special event.

Visit the Squidoo Wine Cellar

2010-11-06T11:50:00.000-07:00

The Squidoo Wine Cellar is a new group for wine-related lenses. We're looking for Squidoo lenses that showcase wineries, vineyards, wines, and wine-related merchandise and gift items. Any lens that has to with the appreciation of wine, or any aspect of winemaking will be welcomed to the group. The Squidoo Wine Cellar links to its companion Facebook community page, aptly called the Wine Cellar on Squidoo.

What's the best part of the Squidoo Wine Cellar? Our custom wine graphics, right out of Squidville! One of Squidoo's most popular artists—Squidville creator Steve Thompson—designed a whole collection of wine-related graphics, such as the "Wine is Simply Da Vine" wine-tasting Squid shown here. Steve's artistic creations are available to all lensmasters, and this series is especially suited to lenses about wine. Check out Steve's wine-related Squidville gallery here: Original SquidArt Wine Graphics for Your Squidoo Lenses.

So what's happening right now in the Squidoo Wine Cellar? There's a fabulous Wine Photo Phight taking place! Vote for your favorite red, white, rose, and Champagne photos. Did you know that Wine Stoppers Make Great Gifts? It's true, and you'll love the ones showcased on this lens. Are you looking for A Great-Tasting White Wine? My friend JaguarJulie recommends the Pieroth Blue 2008 Burg Layer Schlosskapelle. If you've never tried a German Kabinett wine, find out what you've been missing.

Stop by the Squidoo Wine Cellar to see these lenses and more!

The Wine Seeker's Guide to Livermore Valley

2010-08-16T16:52:00.000-07:00

Award winning travel writer and author Thomas Wilmer has more than two million miles under his belt—that's four times around the world! You'd never guess from Thomas Wilmer's website that he was dragged kicking and screaming to the Internet by friends and colleagues. I love this statement from his "contact" page: Thomas C. Wilmer resides in Morro Bay, California, but travels the world extensively. The best way to catch up with him is by e-mail, unless he’s on the high seas or riding a camel or something, in which case he’ll get back to you as soon as he can.

He has a special gift for telling stories about the people and places he visits. In addition to countless magazine and newspaper articles, Thomas Wilmer has written two books about California coast travel: Romancing the Coast: Romantic Getaways Along the California Coast and California Coast Getaways: Classic Resorts and Inns Along the Coast Between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

His latest book highlights one of California's oldest winemaking regions, the Livermore Valley. The Wine Seeker's Guide to Livermore Valley is the first exclusive guide to one of the San Francisco bay area's hidden gems. The book features more than forty wineries, including photographs and interviews with winery owners and winemakers.

The book was released a month ago, in July, and I noticed it on display at the Concannon Vineyard tasting room while I was visiting a few of the Livermore wineries last week.

The Wine Seeker's Guide to Livermore Valley includes directions, operating hours, and contact information for each Livermore Valley winery. There are also recommendations for other activities, such as the Niles Canyon Wine Train, golf, and hiking. If you're planning to visit the Livermore Valley, the guide offers suggestions for area accommodations and restaurants. It's a great gift idea for anyone who shares a passion for the history and beauty of Livermore, California.

Zeller Schwarze Katz: Raising Awareness for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

2010-08-04T20:59:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite Squidoo lensmasters, Frankie Kangas aka Frankster is a self-proclaimed cat woman. In fact, she's a friend to all animals. Her popular lens about Polar Bears hit the coveted #1 spot and sets a high bar for excellence on Squidoo.

Frankie emailed me to share news that one of the causes she supports, FIV Cat Rescue, was just approved as a Squidoo charity. It's great news ... now anyone can write a lens and designate the royalties to support cats who've been diagnosed with FIV.

I've had personal experience raising an FIV-positive cat. My shorthair black cat, Pywacket, was diagnosed with FIV shortly after a coworker and I rescued him from our workplace parking lot more than 8 years ago. We were devastated when the veterinarian gave us the news, but learned that FIV is not always a death sentence. Pywacket lived a relatively normal life among other feline companions. I'm not sure how old he was, but I'm guessing he was at least 11 or 12 when he passed away quietly last fall.

Pywacket was one of several black cats I've cared for over the years. Perhaps because of my love for them, I've amassed a huge collection of "black cat" items, including several bottles of Zeller Schwarze Katz wine, also commonly referred to as Black Cat Wine. The lens I've written in support of FIV Cat Rescue shares the story of this popular German export.

Zeller Schwarze Katz wines are easy to spot—just look for the arched black cat on the wine label. I've purchased several of them for under $10 at the grocery store and Trader Joe's. Two friends also gifted me with Moselland Zeller Schwarze Katz slender, black, cat-shaped bottles. These don't have labels, but they're very striking and collectible.

If you're a Squidoo lensmaster, please consider creating a new lens to support FIV Cat Rescue. You can also switch royalty settings on any existing lens. It only takes a few seconds, and I know Frankie (and her feline friends) will appreciate your support.

UPDATE: The FIV Cat Rescue donation module is up and running. Why not add one to your Squidoo lens?

Livermore Valley Wine Country on LocalWineEvents.com

2010-08-03T13:39:00.000-07:00

The LocalWineEvents.com website went online in 2000 and is now the world's largest calendar of food, wine, beer, and spirits events. Despite the name, LocalWineEvents.com isn't just for wine lovers—it's okay if you're a beer drinker or even a teetotaler.

With thousands of events to choose from, including food festivals, chili cook-offs, home-brew competitions, liquor license seminars, tea ceremonies, and olive oil tastings, there's truly something for everyone at LocalWineEvents.com.

Many wineries in California's Livermore wine country are regular posters at LocalWineEvents.com (where posting an event is easy and free!) A complete rss feed of upcoming wine-related events is available at Livermore Valley Wine Country on LocalWineEvents.com.

What's coming up? On Saturday, August 7, Fenestra Winery will be hosting the Fenestra Fanatic's 20th Anniversary Celebration from 4 to 6pm. There are more than 1,000 Fenestra Fanatics, all of whom are welcome to attend the event at no charge. Regular admission will be $20 (limited to the first 50 respondents). Hearty appetizers and fun activities are planned, along with wine pre-release offers for this event only. The celebration will take place in the picnic grounds, surrounded by acres of estate vineyards. Fenestra Winery is located at 83 Vallecitos Road in Livermore.

On Saturday, August 14 from 6 to 9pm, Cedar Mountain Winery will supply the grill and hot coals. Bring your own grilling food and picnic supplies and settle in for a starry night of barbecue dining and Bluegrass music by the "Forget Me Nots." Wine by the glass or bottle and other beverages will be available for purchase. The fee is just $5 per person. Cedar Mountain Winery is located at 7000 Tesla Road in Livermore.

With more than 50 wineries to choose from, there's a whole lot more happening in the Livermore Valley Wine Country—so keep an eye on the list of local wine events!

Photograph Courtesy of Andrew Glazier, Back Roads Wine

29th Annual Harvest Wine Celebration in the Livermore Valley Wine Country

2010-08-02T17:41:00.000-07:00

Labor Day weekend is right around the corner, and in the Livermore Valley that means it's time for the annual harvest wine festival. This year marks the 29th Annual Harvest Wine Celebration, scheduled for Sunday, September 5 and Monday, September 6.

The popular fundraising event is sponsored by the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association, and offers an opportunity for wine enthusiasts and winery supporters to visit and enjoy a number of Livermore Valley wineries.

This year there will be more than 40 wineries taking part in the festivities. Each participating winery will be offering at least two varietals of their finest wines. In addition, the fun-filled weekend will feature music, art, and food from local artists and vendors.

The following wineries will be hosting events at their own wine tasting locations. Need a map? Click on any winery name for additional information about the winery.

Bent Creek Winery
Big White House Winery
Bodegas Aguirre Winery
Cedar Mountain Winery
Charles R Vineyards
Chouinard Vineyards
Concannon Vineyard
Crooked Vine Winery
Cuda Ridge Wines
Deer Ridge Vineyards
Eagle Ridge Vineyard
Eckert Estate Winery
Fenestra Winery
Garre Winery
John Evan Cellars
La Rochelle Winery
Las Positas Vineyards
Longevity Wines
McGrail Vineyards
Mitchell Katz Winery
Murietta's Well
Ruby Hill Winery
Ryhan Estate Vineyards
Stony Ridge Winery
Tamas Estates
The Singing Winemaker
The Steven Kent Winery
Thomas Coyne Winery
Wente Vineyards Estate Winery
White Crane Winery
Wood Family Vineyards

The following wineries will be hosting festivities at Concannon Vineyard, located at 4590 Tesla Road in Livermore:

Darcie Kent Vineyards
Hidden Creek Wine
Lavish Laines Winery
Page Mill Winery
Rodrigue Molyneaux Winery

The following wineries will be taking part at Wente Vineyards Estate Winery, located at 5565 Tesla Road in Livermore:

el Sol Vineyard
Elliston Vineyards
Les Chenes Estate Vineyards
Little Valley Winery
Nottingham Cellars
Occasio Winery

Complimentary shuttle buses will run on Sunday only. There will be 4 separate bus routes, each stopping at 8 or more wineries. Ticket purchasing information and other details about the Harvest Wine Celebration are available here: 29th Annual Harvest Wine Celebration.

Do you plan to take photos at the Harvest Wine Celebration? Share them here: Livermore Valley Wine Country Flickr Photo Gallery.

Cover Design by Sylvia Thompson

Livermore Valley Wine Country Welcomes Three New Wineries

2010-07-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

Three new wineries have joined the Livermore Valley Wine Country roster ... and just in time for the 29th Annual Harvest Wine Celebration, scheduled for Labor Day weekend, September 5 and 6.

Nottingham Cellars is located at 2245C South Vasco Road in Livermore, right next door to one of my new favorites, Occasio Winery. The location is literally a gateway to the Livermore Valley Wine Country, conveniently located off Interstate 580. Don't be fooled by the stark, light industrial exterior. Both wineries are stylish, hospitable, and serious about crafting fine wines. Nottingham Cellars offers Happy Hour on Fridays from 4 to 6:30 in the wine cellar. Guests are invited to stop by the tasting room and purchase discounted fine wines by the glass. Sports fanatics are welcome too—if there's a ball game on, they'll be showing it!

Las Positas Vineyards is another family owned winery dedicated to the production of fine wines. The 2007 Chardonnay is a multiple medal winner, and pairs well with pear and blue cheese salad, shrimp ragout, and smoky BBQ flavors. The grapes were carefully tended and hand picked from the estate vineyard, located on Kalthoff Common. Las Positas Vineyards wines are available for tasting on weekends from noon to 5pm at 682 Pinnacle Place in Livermore.

Lavish Laines Winery offers wine tasting at The Good Brewer, located at 2960 Pacific Avenue in Livermore. Their 2007 Zinfandel has already sold out. The wine won a gold medal at the 2010 Best of the Bay & Zinfandel Challenge. The 2008 Gerwurztraminer is going fast, so stop by the tasting room soon if you're a fan of this varietal.

All three wineries will be participating in the 29th Annual Harvest Wine Celebration. Las Positas Vineyards will be offering samples of their wines at their Pinnacle Place tasting room. Nottingham Cellars will be at Wente Vineyards Estate Winery, and Lavish Laines Winery will be at Concannon Vineyard. The Annual Harvest Wine Celebration is the primary fundraiser for the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association and offers an opportunity for wine enthusiasts and friends to share the beauty of the Livermore Valley. This year more than 40 Livermore Valley wineries will be sharing their wines and hospitality. The fun-filled weekend will also feature music, art, and food from local artists and vendors.

Photo: Father and son team Jeff and Collin, Nottingham Cellars
(Courtesy Nottingham Cellars on Facebook)

Discover LocalWineEvents.com

2010-05-12T13:53:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that one of my favorite wine-related websites is LocalWineEvents.com. Each of my Livermore Valley Wine Country Squidoo lenses includes an rss feed of local wine events. Since creating the series more than two years ago, I've noticed that more and more Livermore Valley wineries are taking advantage of LocalWineEvents.com to promote wine tastings and other events throughout the year.

For example, here are a couple of events taking place this weekend in the Livermore Valley:

On Sunday, May 16 from 12 to 4 pm The Steven Kent Winery & La Rochelle Winery are hosting their second annual Open House. Guests will receive a commemorative Riedel wine glass and a delicious lunch—Grilled Sausage Sandwich with Merrillie-sauteed Onions, Gourmet BBQ Potato & Bacon Salad, and Apricot-Mango Shortbread. Tom Duarte will be on hand to play Latin Guitar music while eight new wine releases make their debut! Full details are available here.

On Sunday, May 16 from 12 to 4:30 pm Page Mill Winery (pictured top right) will be hosting their popular b.y.o.b. event. Every third Sunday of the month, visitors bring used and clean wine bottles to the winery. The bottles are then filled, corked, and labeled by winery staff. The cost for this delicious and unique table wine is just $8.49 per bottle. Page Mill Winery offers their current topping blend, so the varietal mix changes every month. Find out more about this event here.

LocalWineEvents.com has been around for more than ten years, and is the world's largest calendar of food, wine, beer, and spirits events. Are you curious about wine, food, spirits, or beer events in Australia, Croatia, Denmark, Italy, Macedonia, Tahiti—or anywhere else in the world? LocalWineEvents.com is the world's number one source for information. The website boasts more than 25,000 international Facebook fans!

It's easy (and free!) to submit an event for the LocalWineEvents.com calendar. I've included a banner on each of my Squidoo lenses to make it easy for winery owners and staff to spread the word about their latest winery events.

You can subscribe (also free!) to LocalWineEvents.com's weekly food and drink newsletter, The Juice. Just fill in the blanks to Get The Juice.

Image used under Creative Commons from star5112 (Flickr)

Wine Tasting in Livermore on Easter Sunday

2010-04-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

Are you in the mood for a little Livermore wine tasting this weekend? According to the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association, the following Livermore wineries will be open for Easter:

Bent Creek Winery
Big White House Winery
Cedar Mountain Winery
Deer Ridge Vineyards
el Sol Vineyard
Elliston Vineyards
Garre Winery

On Saturday, April 3 at 12 noon, Cedar Mountain Winery in Livermore will be hosting a "Good Old Fashioned Easter Egg Hunt" among the vineyards. Parents are invited to bring their children ... and their Easter baskets! The hunt begins at noon for toddlers (5 and under) and 12:30 for older kids. If you plan to attend, please call the Easter Bunny at (925) 373-6636 and let him know how many children to expect. The tasting room will be open from noon to 4pm, where wines can be purchased by the glass or bottle.

Garre Winery is planning an Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 4 from 10am to 1:30pm. The cost is $39.99 for adults, $16.99 for children 7 to 13 years of age, and $9.99 for children 6 and under. This includes an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet with a childrens' waffle station and unlimited champagne for adults. The Easter Bunny will also be on hand for a Golden Egg hunt, weather permitting. Reservations are required, so please call (925) 371-8200 to reserve a space (and an Easter basket!)

Wine & Olive Oil Pairing at Ryhan Winery

2010-03-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

Fine olive oils are as distinctive as fine wines, and here's your chance to sample both at Ryhan Winery in Livermore, California. The winery will be hosting a special event at their East Avenue tasting room, pairing several varieties of Olivina Olive Oils with a selection of Ryhan Estate Vineyards wines.

Here's what Ryhan Winery's Marketing Director Ravali Ravulapati had to say about Olivina Olive Oils:

When I was first introduced to Olivina Olive Oils, I was completely blown away by the vast differences between olive oils. Immediately after tasting the different oils, I knew I wanted to get Charles and Olivina into our tasting room to put an event together. This is your chance to come out and try these amazing oils! It's not just any olive oil, it's ... Olivina Olive Oils!

These are just a few of the olive oils that will be available for tasting:

Mission - A full bodied extra virgin olive oil
A robust oil with wheatgrass aroma and a medium finish. Good for drizzling over bruschetta (grilled/toasted bread) or as a dip for baguette and raw vegetables.

Frantoio - A medium-bodied Italian varietal
Green aroma with hints of green tea. Spicy on the palate. In the Italian tradition, good as a finishing touch for soup, stews and hearty bean dishes.

Century Mission - A full bodied extra virgin olive oil from 100+ year old Mission trees
A robust oil with green grass and wheatgrass aromas. Round on palate with spicy finish. Use (finishing) oil as a condiment on grilled meats, chicken and vegetables.

Wine & Olive Oil Pairing
Saturday, March 27, 2010
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Ryhan Winery is located at 5385 East Avenue in Livermore, California. While you're in the area, be sure to visit Cuda Ridge Wines right next door!

Barrel Tasting Weekend in the Livermore Valley Wine Country: March 20 & 21

2010-03-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

Here's your chance to sample Livermore Valley wines right out of the barrel and pre-purchase wine "futures" before they're even bottled! Tickets are $35 and entitle participants to at least one barrel sample at each of the participating wineries:

Bent Creek Winery
Big White House & John Evan Cellars
Bodegas Aguirre Winery
Cedar Mountain Winery
Charles R Vineyards
Chouinard Vineyards
Concannon Vineyard
Crooked Vine Winery & Stony Ridge Winery
Cuda Ridge Wines
Deer Ridge Vineyards
Eagle Ridge Vineyards
Eckert Estate Winery
el Sol Winery
Fenestra Winery
Garre Vineyard & Winery
La Rochelle Winery
Les Chenes Estate Vineyards
McGrail Vineyards & Winery
Mitchell Katz Winery
Murrieta's Well
Nottingham Cellars
Page Mill Winery
Tamas Estates
The Steven Kent Winery
Wente Vineyards
White Crane Winery
Wood Family Vineyards

Tickets will be sold at participating wineries on March 20 and 21, and there are only 3,000 spots available for this popular event. Find out more about Barrel Tasting Weekend at Livermore Valley Wine Country Events. If you take photographs at Barrel Tasting Weekend, remember to add them to the Livermore Valley Wine Country Flickr Photo Gallery!

Barrel Tasting Weekend

Saturday, March 20, 2010 - Sunday, March 21, 2010
12:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Remembering Fess Parker

2010-03-18T21:41:00.000-07:00

Fess Parker, the popular television and film star who played frontiersmen Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, died today of natural causes at age 85. The characters he portrayed inspired generations of Americans who loved the "King of the Wild Frontier." Fess Parker enjoyed a hugely successful acting career in the late 1950s and 1960s. He surprised many when he decided to leave Hollywood in the 1970s and go into business for himself.

When the Parker family purchased 714 acres in the Santa Ynez Valley near Santa Barbara, California, their dreams of creating a successful family business became a reality. They eventually opened The Fess Parker Family Winery and Vineyards, which includes the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn & Spa, Petros Los Olivos Restaurant, a wine shop, a General Store, a busy winery and barrel room, and several hundred acres of vineyards. In addition to award-winning wines, the Fess Parker Winery is known for selling coon skin caps and bottle toppers, inspired by the Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone characters. My parents have visited the winery many times, and once gave me a set of wine glasses featuring the winery's trademark coon skip cap logo!

Visitors to the Fess Parker Winery were accustomed to seeing Fess Parker himself greeting customers and performing routine chores at the busy facility. The family tradition will continue on—Fess Parker's son Eli is both winemaker and President of the company, and daughter Ashley oversees public relations and marketing. Fess Parker married his wife Marcella Belle Rinehart in January 1960. Sadly, his death occurred on her 84th birthday. He will also be missed by countless fans, 11 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson.

The Fess Parker Family Winery and Vineyards is located at 6200 Foxen Canyon Road, in Los Olivos, California.

The Livermore Valley Wineries on Twitter

2010-02-28T21:46:00.000-08:00

The Livermore valley wineries are fast discovering Twitter, the free social networking site that allows users to send 140-character "tweets," or text-only posts. The first Livermore valley winery I encountered on Twitter was Tenuta Vineyards. Recently I discovered several more, including Bent Creek Winery, Cuda Ridge Wines, Deer Ridge Vineyards, Elliston Vineyards, La Rochelle Winery, McGrail Vineyards, Ruby Hill Winery, The Steven Kent Winery, and Wente Vineyards.

So what are these winemakers tweeting about? Elliston Vineyards is still taking reservations for their March 13th Winetaster Dinner. La Rochelle Winery reports that a rainy Friday was made brighter by awesome guests and club members! Ruby Hill Winery tweeted about their exclusive wine club, The Gem Society. Tenuta Vineyards just released a 2006 Chardonnay Port, and they're offering barrel tastings of wine that has been stored in oak for over two years. At The Steven Kent Winery, the cheese of the moment in the barrel room is Beemster XO. Next up is goat cheese. Yes, wine is included in the cheese tasting! At Wente Vineyards, the concierge recommends a daycation at the tasting room.

If you'd like to keep up with these wineries, check out the latest five tweets here: Follow the Livermore Valley Wineries on Twitter. Check back frequently, as I expect more wineries to jump on the bandwagon soon!

Ruby Hill Winery Celebrates 2-Year Anniversary in the Livermore Valley

2010-02-12T18:50:00.000-08:00

Ruby Hill Winery recently celebrated its two-year anniversary with live music and barrel tasting at their popular Livermore Valley location. The winery has a special cordoned lounge area for their wine club members, the Gem Society, who are also eligible for special discounts on wine. Current specials include 2007 Livermore Sauvignon Blanc (Silver Medal), 2006 Monterey Merlot Reserve (Silver Medal), and 2007 Monterey Pinot Noir Reserve.

Ruby Hill's spacious, Mediterranean-style tasting room is probably the largest in the Livermore Valley. Pick up lunch in the deli and relax at a picnic table surrounded by acres of estate vineyards.

Ruby Hill Winery is located at 400 Vineyard Avenue in Pleasanton, California.

Photograph of Ruby Hill Winery Courtesy of Tyler Vu Photography

Fattoria Voltrona in Tuscany, Italy

2010-01-30T16:18:00.000-08:00

My husband and I were married in Siena, Italy and we are now honorary citizens of that medieval town. It was necessary for us to stay in the area for several days to deal with red tape and the wedding itself, so I did some research and discovered Fattoria Voltrona in San Gimignano, Tuscany. The farm sounded perfect! It was close to Florence, where a couple of our friends would be staying and where we needed to do paperwork two days before the wedding. Our small group took a train from Rome to Florence and picked up a rental car for our stay in Tuscany.

San Gimignano was easy to find, but Fattoria Voltrona was another story. Despite a very good map provided on the farm's website, we were lost for at least two hours. It wouldn't have mattered, except for the fact that a huge storm was brewing. Happily, we made it to the main farmhouse just in time. I had been corresponding regularly with Malcolm, whose family owns Fattoria Voltrona, and it was he who greeted us with a smile and (more importantly) a bottle of wine! We sat on that patio for a long time, just soaking in the surrounding beauty of the Tuscan hills and meeting other guests from all over the world. One especially fun couple was on a return visit from Australia, and another family was from Germany. I wasn't at all surprised to learn that Fattoria Voltrona staff speak Italian, English, French, Swedish, German, and Spanish.

Fattoria Voltrona produces organically grown wine and olive oil. While we were guests of the farm there was always a case of wine in the kitchen, right next to an honor box. We would leave the requested 4 Euros and choose a bottle of wine from the case. Currently they're offering two reds -- Chianti Colli Senesi and Sangiovese, as well as one white -- Vernaccia di San Gimignano. Guests of Fattoria Voltrona are invited to sample the farm's red wine and olive oil at dinner, and anyone may arrange a group tasting by contacting the staff. Their top-of-the-line pairing includes three wines accompanied by pickled onions, olives, oil and garlic bruschetta, Tuscan cured meats, Tuscan pecorino cheese, and water. Ciao!

Wine-Related Gifts for the Holiday Season

2009-12-10T18:16:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I'm at a stage in life where I don't need any more tchotchkes. Happily, most of my friends seem to be feeling the same way and we've agreed that the best gifts are consumables (like bottles of wine!) and practical items that can be used every day.

It's always fun to discover new wines at local wineries and present them to friends on special occasions. Wines are easy to wrap... just pop a bottle of wine into a decorated gift bag, add a few sheets of tissue paper, and it's ready to go! Here's a collection of bags: Wine Bottle Gift Bags and Tubes. It's always good to keep a supply on hand for last-minute gifts.

If you want to take it a step further, bottles of wine can be presented in a variety of unique and attractive ways, as shown in Dress Up Your Next Wine Bottle Gift or Party Favor. One of my favorite treatments is wine bottle clothing. Chinese wine fashions are one quick and inexpensive fix, though many other styles are available, including a chef, fisherman slicker, life preserver, and Hawaiian grass skirt. These are easily slipped over the top of any bottle of wine, and they also make great placecards at the holiday dinner table. Beaded wine bottle skirts are also very popular and beautiful. I keep a couple of these on display year round.

Do you have a friend who loves dogs? Here's a one-of-a-kind gift idea: a custom-created "whine" cooler featuring their four-legged best friend. I've also assembled a collection of cutting boards and wine bottle stoppers. Dog Adorned Wine Coolers, Cheese Serving Boards and Wine Bottle Stoppers has a selection of items to please any dog and wine lover on your gift list.

For an elegant wine-related gift on a much grander scale, nothing beats Wine Bottle Totes, Carriers, Duffels, Botas, and Picnic Baskets. You can't have too many of these, as they range from single bottle wine totes to full-sized wicker picnic baskets. I'm constantly updating merchandise throughout the year. Happy shopping!

Altamont in 1969: The Day the Music Died

2009-12-08T11:09:00.000-08:00

Livermore is known worldwide for its wine industry, but the city's history and lore are marred by one of the darkest days in rock-and-roll history. This week marked the 40th anniversary of the infamous Altamont Speedway Free Festival, headlined by the Rolling Stones and immortalized in the film, Gimme Shelter.

The Altamont concert was held 4 months after the Woodstock Music Festival, a peaceful 3-day celebration in Bethel, New York.

In contrast to Woodstock, the 1969 Altamont event was thrown together in a matter of days -- something that could never happen in today's litigious society. The site of the concert was confirmed a mere two days before the event, after deals fell through with two other locations (Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and Infineon Raceway in Sonoma County). Among other things, Altamont lacked medical facilities and staff, an adequate number of latrines, and sufficient parking space. Many concertgoers simply abandoned their cars on the freeway, creating gridlock for miles.

In yet another unfortunate decision, the concert's security force was bartered for with alcohol. Hells Angels protected the area around the stage in exchange for $500 worth of beer. Most of the spoils were consumed on the premises, and ultimately, 50 Hells Angels proved no match for 300,000 energized fans surrounding a 4-foot-high stage.

Bill Graham, the most widely known northern California concert promoter, warned organizers that the Altamont venue would be unsafe, and refused to promote the event. His advice was ignored, and by the end of the concert four people would be dead.

Forty years later, organizers and fans refer to Altamont as a tragedy, many noting that the 1970 rockumentary Gimme Shelter only hinted at the concert's widespread violence and mayhem. The death of one gun-wielding fan who was fatally stabbed by Hell's Angel Alan Passaro was captured on film and included in the documentary. Passaro was acquitted of murder charges, and many credit him for preventing further violence from Meredith Hunter, who was high on methamphetamines at the time. The Rolling Stones continued to play eight more songs after Hunter's death, concluding, ironically, with Street Fighting Man.

Occasio Winery in Livermore, California

2009-12-04T20:00:00.000-08:00

The last time I was in Livermore there was only time to visit one or two wineries. My wine-tasting buddy Carol and I headed over to Concannon (one of our favorites) to see how their winery remodel was coming along. The new tasting area was still in progress, but that didn't stop the crowds. We promised to return soon and headed over to the Valley's newest winery, Occasio. I've driven past this light industrial Vasco Road location hundreds of times, so I already knew Occasio wouldn't be surrounded by lush vineyards. The exterior isn't anything to get excited about... but ah, the inside! Sun-kissed walls and lots of interesting architectural details. (The recessed roof is a recycled satellite dish!)

Occasio Winery had debuted on the Livermore wine circuit during the recent 28th Annual Harvest Wine Celebration, and their tasting room celebrated with a grand opening on August 29. Carol and I were the only customers on this particular afternoon, so the tasting staff gave us a tour of the entire facility, including a peek at the state-of-the-art winery in back. We tasted three wines, and I purchased a bottle of their 2007 Petite Sirah.

If you're in Livermore this weekend, it would be a great time to stop by Occasio Winery. On Saturday, the owner and winemaker will conduct blending seminars at 1:30 and 3:30. The cost is $15 per person, which includes wine and light foods. On Sunday, a professional florist will demonstrate how to craft a beautiful grapevine wreath for the holidays. Two sessions will be held at 12:30 and 2:30 ($35 + tax per person). Guests will also enjoy holiday music presented by the Las Positas Jazz Vocal Choir.

On both days Occasio will offer complimentary tasting of their Gold Medal winning Pinot Gris, accompanied by appetizers from Swirl. If you're into holiday shopping, local artisans will be featuring lots of unique gift items.

Ring in the Holidays at Occasio Winery
Saturday and Sunday, December 5th and 6th, 12-5pm each day!

I'm Dreaming of a Wine Christmas

2009-11-12T20:06:00.000-08:00

Well, I've been seeing a lot of Christmas commercials on television, so I guess it's not too early to discuss holiday decorations. At our house, the annual Christmas tree is decorated with wine-themed ornaments. Our small artificial tree is wired with tiny green and purple lights, and we usually keep it up well after the holidays.

If you're looking for ideas for your holiday tree, Squidoo lensmaster WebSpinstress has a nice collection of home decoration lenses, including one on Elegant Wine & Grapes Christmas Decorating. The lens features an assortment of grape cluster novelty lights and wine-inspired tree ornaments. She also includes lots of tips for making your own ornaments. For example, craft stores always have bunches of grapes that can be incorporated into a holiday tree or wreath, and plain round Christmas tree ornaments can be painted with grapevines and wine bottles.

We usually add a dozen or so new ornaments each year. Our collection includes wine barrels, wine glasses, grapes, corks, and Tuscany food favorites like garlic, cheese, purple onion bulbs, and green artichokes.

Pieroth Blue 2008 Burg Layer Schlosskapelle

2009-10-29T12:12:00.000-07:00

In my three-plus years on Squidoo, I've only encountered one wine review lens, A Great-Tasting White Wine. There are lots of lenses about wine-making and wineries, but this particular one is dedicated to a German wine, Pieroth Blue 2008 Burg Layer Schlosskapelle Kabinett. Veteran lensmaster JaguarJulie has created more than 600 Squidoo lenses, and this one bears her unique stamp -- it's thoughtful, entertaining, informative, and loaded with great photos (even several close-ups of the bottle!)

Speaking of the bottle, one can't help but notice its cobalt blue color. In the Nahe region of Germany, where this wine is produced, soil conditions are the secret behind the color. More than two centuries ago, artisans at the Nahe glassworks crafted bottles locally, and wines produced in the region became associated with the blue-colored bottles. Those familiar with the area's history and traditions believe that wines from the Nahe region are the only ones appropriate for presentation in the blue bottle.

The House of Pieroth is one of the largest German wine enterprises, with a wine-making history going back to 1731. For a crisp, fresh, light, and slightly fruity Kabinett from Germany, try the Pieroth Blue 2008 Burg Layer Schlosskapelle. And be sure to save the bottle!

Wine Maps by MapCo Marketing

2009-10-24T18:44:00.001-07:00

MapCo Marketing has been creating cartography, caricature, and custom maps since 1998. The company recently unveiled their latest custom wine region map which features more than 40 wineries in Lodi, California. The front side of the map includes hand painted "old cartography style" depictions of each winery on a watercolor landscape background. A wine label from each winery accents the border of the map. Key points of interest and a few facts about the history of the region are also woven into the design. On the back of the map contact information for each winery is provided, along with a list of their varietals.

As beautiful as the printed maps are, what sets Mapco Marketing apart from other map companies are their online companion maps. For example, on the Livermore Wine Map, just click on any wine label to find more information about that particular winery -- varietals, winery location, tasting room hours, and phone number. There is also a link to the winery's website.

A friend gave me a copy of the Livermore Wine Map as a gift. It's in my office, and always cheers me up when I'm feeling homesick for the Livermore wineries. I just love the watercolor winery illlustrations, many of them created by San Francisco bay area artist Richard Sigberman. Credit for the overall design goes to MapCo Marketing's owner and founder, Kelli Pearson. Her resume is impressive -- she was the lead artist at MAXIS, where she played a key role in developing SimCity2000, the #1 selling video and computer game.

MapCo Marketing is located in the east San Francisco bay area. Their five-person team has created custom maps for several clients, including realtors, large corporations, school districts, homeowners associations, Welcome Wagons, scout groups, youth clubs, youth sports associations, visitor/tourist centers, and shopping districts. They will make an accurate map of any U.S. city using the same high quality NAVTEQ data used by premium quality map providers such as Rand McNally, Google Maps, and GPS systems.

Michael Chiarello's NapaStyle

2009-10-18T20:31:00.000-07:00

I've been drooling over Michael Chiarello's NapaStyle catalog ever since he started printing it, and am always impressed with his line of unique wine-related items and Tuscan touches for the home. Not the fake Tuscany stuff you see in department stores, but the real things... items you would find in an Italian fattoria.

My latest purchase was a large, ceramic olive oil dispenser. We go through a lot of olive oil at our house, so it helps to keep it handy. This one looks like it's a century old, much like my great-grandmother's creamer (which I still use today).

I especially love Michael Chiarello's furniture designs. Most of his wine barrel tables are a bit on the pricey side (not to mention hard to ship). We wanted the look without the high price tag, so my husband and I purchased 10 retired oak barrels from Thomas Coyne Winery in Livermore and transported them down to southern California in a race car trailer. We've since incorporated several wine barrels into our garden and outdoor entertaining areas, and have even gifted a few to friends.

We are always cooking something at our house, and often find inspiration in Michael's simple and delicious recipes. I've assembed a collection of videos from Michael Chiarello's award-winning food shows, NapaStyle and Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello. Several great recipes are featured, including Whole-Leaf Caesar Salad, Roasted Peppers, Braised Potatoes, Carrot, Fennel & Tangerine Salad, Tomato Steak with Baked Goat Cheese and Herb Salad, French Fries, Chicken Brodo, Sole Veronique, Spaghetti All' Amatriciana, Veal Milanese, Grilled Chicken Sandwich-to-Go, Mama's Salsa Rosa, Grilled Lamb Chops, Marinated Grilled Provolone, and Grilled Italian Sausage. Visit Michael Chiarello's NapaStyle Video Gallery for complete details on all of these recipes.

Rippon Vineyards in New Zealand

2009-10-17T12:56:00.000-07:00

I've never been to New Zealand, so it was a real pleasure to learn about Rippon Vineyards, located on the shores of Lake Wanaka in Central Otego. The area has the distinction of being the world’s most southern viticultural region. Vineyards thrive because of the area's unique microclimate, aided by a large body of water and a small wind-breaker of an island situated near the vines.

Squidoo lensmaster Pukeko shared her family's impromptu outing at Rippon Vineyards, and documented the experience with beautiful photos of the winery, vineyards, and the surrounding lake and mountains. Some of these images are available as posters, T-Shirts, mugs, and other gift items on the artist's Zazzle Gallery.

Since Rippon Vineyards is located in a marginal grape-growing area, the winery has experimented with several varietals, including Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris, Semillon, Chenin Blanc, and Chardonnay. After many years of trial and error, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Sauvignon Blanc proved to be the varieties best suited to the site. There have also been successes with Gamay and Osteiner, which are used for lighter summer wines.

Rippon Vineyards is a little out of the way for most of us, but don't despair! The wines are available in several countries, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Blacksmith Square in Downtown Livermore

2009-10-14T18:13:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up in Livermore, Blacksmith Square housed a nondescript muffler shop near the heart of downtown. Its brick walls were painted white, and the building itself had very few architectural features, unless you count roll-up garage doors. A major renovation commenced in late 2004. The buildings were sandblasted, which unveiled locally made bricks that were installed more than a century before when the compound was designed as a blacksmith shop.

Today Blacksmith Square is a thriving retail and wine tasting center. Current occupants of Blacksmith Square include Big White House Winery, Hidden Creek Wine, John Christopher Cellars, John Evan Cellars, Retzlaff Estate Wines, and Thomas Coyne Winery. New to the lineup is Swirl on the Square, a wine bar and tapas restaurant featuring locally produced wines.

Blacksmith Square is a great place to stop for an afternoon picnic in the courtyard, or for a light snack at Swirl before going to a movie (two Downtown Livermore theaters are within walking distance).