Sommelier Wine Experience

12/07/2022

Stunning…. Headed into dormancy.

Beautiful mix of late season fall colors and story weather this past week!

11/03/2022

Phenomenal wine maker, phenomenal wines!

10/17/2021

Why does this decanter look so much like an anxious Matisse? Well French it’s not. It’s one of Joey Tensely’s new joint efforts with Bien Nacido Vineyards choice fruit. 2019 Optik Syrah, Block No. 11D1. No there was no Tensley co-fermentation with Viognier. Partially whole cluster. No one knows Syrah in SB County better than Joey Tensley.

It was definitely young but I was dyeing to try it after running into Wes Hagen (the rep)at California Fresh Market in SLO where he was stocking their shelves with this beautiful, unctuous Syrah. Loaded with Hermitage earth, and olive tapenade. Ahhhhh, now I see the Franche! Salute Joey and Bien Nacido.

07/20/2021

02/12/2021

In my opinion this is the Holy Grail of new world syrahs! Very reminiscent of Crowz and the great Chave Hermitage. Absolutely stunning.

01/01/2021

The starkness of the valley vineyards in winter.

05/06/2020

Some of the finest Sauvignon Blanc on the planet!

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B_z47ejleQX/?igshid=7js2my3dglf5

04/24/2020

Now why they don’t have one of these in every office building is a mystery. It would certainly beat chatting at the coffee machine. This one is in the lobby of The Piccolo in Paso Robles. C’est chic!

04/24/2020

A beautiful Spring release tasting at the stunning Brave and Maiden faculty in Santa Ynez.

09/07/2019

Gotta try this Grenache. World class!

08/01/2019

There is no more dynamic of a wine-tasting scene in the world than what can be experienced in Santa Barbara County right now.

06/06/2019

Incredible diversity experienced within these Chardonnay bottles from 2010-2014....
Starter wine: 2014 Foley Two Sisters.
Appetizer wines: next 7 wines to the right (all SB County).
Dinner wines: next 8 going to the right (most Sonoma)..
Dessert wine: 2013 Sattlerhof TBA (from Austria).

My personal highlights were the DuMol, Kistler, and a local favorite, Diatom. Blind the DuMol could have passed for Grand Cru Chablis.

A special thanks to the hosts Leslie Thomas and Richard Salzberg for their generosity and gracious hospitality (as always)! Bravo.

05/27/2019

Planting a new Mourvèdre vine. It’s life has just begun on the way to becoming wine.

03/19/2019

I had dinner with Angelo Gaja (father of the siblings in the video)and his lovey wife in the late 80s. Truly world class wines rivaling any first growth, and amazing company as well! If you are interested ask me to tell you the story of the magic that night. One of my “wine experiences of a lifetime”!

Siblings Gaia and Giovanni Gaja of Piedmont's Gaja winery share their first experiences tasting wine, what wine has taught them about life, and who their wine heroes are.

10/14/2018

Premiere screening of SOMM 3 documentary about a recent blind Pinot tasting in New York where a Santa Barbara Pinot (Domaine De La Cote, Bloom’s Field) by Raj Parr tied with an upscale Burgundy for #1. Under the stars at the Solvang Festival Theater, Q&A with Parr & the film’s producer, and an After-Party with wine tastings from SB County wineries... I love these Celebration of Harvest Weekends!
The film’s cast includes Steven Spurrier, the mastermind behind the 1976 “Judgment of Paris”. One of my favorite reads of the same title is authored by George Taber, the only US journalist who attended the famed competition. Cheers!

10/07/2018

Truly a brilliant and evolving winemaker. Really worth a listen.

Meet Matt Trevisan, Winemaker - Proprietor at Linne Calodo winery in Paso Robles. A Renaissance man, literally in the field of wine making. Matt's not afraid...

10/07/2018

Phenomenal Harvest party at Linne Calodo with host Matt Trevisan!

10/02/2018

Yes there is Pinot Nirvana...

10/02/2018

I quick visit to my favorite Paso winery, Linne Calodo for the fall industry release pickup.

09/15/2018

Paix Sur Terre’s beautiful label art is reflected everywhere, in the tasting room and even on their business cards. Gorgeous!

But the real beauty is the stunning example of unique Rhône Varietals like Picpoul Blanc, crisp and refreshing; their viscous tongue explosion Clairette Blanche; the accessible Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault blend “Songs of it’s Own”; and my personal favorite, “The Other One”, a 100% Mourvèdre from Glenrose Vineyard. A real knockout, balanced with a beautiful acid backbone wrapped around a lush fruit core that’s not the huge bomb that some of their competitors display. Great Job Bryan!

09/06/2018

Sommelier Wine Experience and Epicurean Santa Barbara are the headliners for the live auction at Taste of the Town this Friday with their all-day Culinary/Wine Experience with the “Visionaries of SB Wine Country”. Starting with breakfast at Industrial Eats under the direction of Jeff Olson, chef extraordinaire. Followed with a true Farm to Table experience at The Bear and Star farm tour and light-bites lunch in the Wine Room at their beautiful restaurant in Los Olivos for upscale Ranch Cuisine with renowned Chef John Cox, and wines from Grassini. Next: Winery Tour and Tasting with Matt Dees of Jonata for an off-the-scale Cult Winery immersion. Last but definitely not least we roll to Pico (winner of the latest Wine Enthusiast award for “top 100 Wine Country restaurants in America”) in Los Alamos with the genius of Drew Terp for a multi-course dinner with wine paired by Co-Founder and Winemaker Brandon Sparks-Gillis of Dragonette Cellars. Sorry this can’t be topped!

08/17/2018

One more must see for the “Sommelier Experience”.

World Premiere announcement of !

The third film of our series on the wine experience is the most bold yet, and it will world premiere over two very exclusive nights for press and VIPs at the amazing Clos Du Val winery in the Napa Valley 9/20 & 9/21. was a participant in the 1976 judgement of paris with their very first vintage. Clos Du Val Winery will also unveil their incredible new space ! The event will be attended by major cast, crew, and stunning library bottles that tell the history of California wine. Full release on future theaters and high end screenings to come. Press, please DM us or contact for inquiries. Who is ready to go to the movies?!!! 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷

04/20/2018

Tasting spectacular Dragonette wines at Les Marchands with the magnanimous co-founder and winemaker Brandon Sparks-Gillis. Impressive that Brandon has also received the first 2 awards in the prestigious 3-Level Master of Wine program. He is sure to pass his Level 3 exam in June. Bravo!

04/19/2018

Such great wines! Especially from the host Winemaker Dave Potter of Potek and the consummate Matt Dees with his absolutely brilliant offerings from Kimsey.

Thanks to our organizer Leslie Thomas for putting together a fantastic tasting.

03/16/2018

Daou is a truly a quintessential premiere Vineyard and Winery producing some of the region's very best Bordeaux blends. Spending the better part of the afternoon tasting and taking in the expansive mountain top view is a perfect Tour Crescendo!
..... Salute!

07/09/2017

No Wine Tours in Santa Ynez this weekend. The Alamo and Whittier Fires have got the Valley engulfed in smoke and ash. God bless our Firefighters!

05/17/2017

What a great time was had with Leeanne at the L'Adventure tasting room yesterday!
Instant report and truly stunning wines. It broke the bank but was well worth it.
I'm just gonna cut straight to the chase: the Rose was truly a beauty but once we got into a glass of 2014 Optimus I was home. @ $54 this wine was the value of the day. Opulent dense balanced fruit that goes on and on across the palette. Drinking surprisingly well for a youngster but it's still not reached it's stride. This will be going down with truffled duck soon.
The champion that stood in the spot light was my personal favorite L'A blend, Cote à Cote. I tried the 2014 and the spanking new 2015. All I can say is I'm going to have to go back for some 14 as a took 2 of the brilliant new vintage with me. What a year it was. Especially in the skilled hands of winemaker Stephan Assoe. This 60% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre and the balance Syrah was nothing shy of exquisite! Powerful, yet refined with hints of meat, lush fruit and earth. It's just begging for an Argentine grill. Olé!

05/17/2017

Had a brilliant afternoon of tasting at my two favorite wine producers in Paso Robles.
First with my personal favorite Linne Calodo. The lovely and brilliant assistant wine maker Meghan Ball served up some of the best LC I've ever had.
A simply beautiful Rose of Grenache & Mourvèdre, 2016 Pale Flowers. Barely blushed, with plenty of acidic back bone.
Followed by 2016 Contrarian, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, and surprise guest varietal Picpoul Blanc. And it certainly made the blend what it was. Fermented in concrete blocks with angular minerality and light mid-palette spritz. Still it was floral and luscious.
The shining star of the tasting was the 2014 Perfectionist. An appropriately named GSM that was absolutely perfectly balanced whole cluster co-fermentation in concrete blocks. No barrel tannins, and a luscious mouth feel with loads of berries. I couldn't take my nose out of the glass.
A perineal favorite Problem Child, from a classic year 2015. A big boy LC Zin, rounded out by Mourvèdre and a little Syrah. Not shy but no screaming Paso heat in this gem. Dusty and briary but well tamed. Give it a couple years (to 10). And might I suggest NOT sharing with friends. I'd want it all to myself.

Both the Reds went home with me.

More about the fun at L'Aventure in the next post.

05/01/2017

So much good company and 20+ great examples of Zinfandel served at the blind tasting (demolition) hosted by Leslie Thomas and Richard Salzberg @ "Hitchcock Ranch Vineyard". Zinfully good!

05/01/2017

Off for an early morning tour of San Luis Obispo County wine country.

05/01/2017

The poppies are a blaze in the Santa Rita Hills.

04/28/2017

Sonja Larsen -Wine Steward at El Rancho shows off their exclusive stock of Sanan Redmond Bordeaux blends. Always great place to grab a bottle while your in the valley.

03/29/2017

A great "must go" in The Santa Ynez Valley celebrating A slew of artisan wine makers and their Small Lot Wines.

Ride with me as a guide. Reserve now, I only have a few slots left.

01/24/2017

The storm breaks in Andrew Murray Vineyards. Stunning!

11/04/2016

Fall is beautiful in the Santa Ynez Valley.

The grapes may be gone, but the vines are still beautiful to us!

07/07/2016

Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet.

05/19/2016

The barn at Fiddlestix. Beautiful old hills they are...