East Bay Wine Tours (2024)

23/09/2020

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What wine pairs well with grilled lamb chops?

Answer: A Sangiovese !

Urban Legend Cellars makes a wine with 75% Sangiovese grapes that wowed our wine group recently.

They call it Sonci/Sangiovese. because of the 'boom, boom" reaction to your palate. The Sangiovese is a deep ,dark red bursting with blackberries and was was a delicious choice!

We were so delighted that Lauran Michelle prepared these beautiful lamb chops and shared with the group.

Urban Legend Cellars opened it's patio in Alameda for Saturday reservations. I highly encourage you to make a reservation to share a bottle of Sonci/Sangiovese with your family and friends in your bubble 😁

03/09/2020

*~Wine Down Wednesday ~*
(Black Restaurant Week Edition)

What Pairs well with both curried goat and oxtails?

Answer: A Cabernet!

In celebration of Black Restaurant Week We had curried goat on Saturday from COCO BREEZE, a new Caribbean Restaurant in Oakland. In addition to Black Restaurant Week they were also celebrating the Independence of Trinidad and Tobago with steel drums playing on the outside and flags decorating the food. On Sunday we ordered from an old standby, SOUTHERN KITCHEN in Oakland.
Oxtails falling off the bone , black eye peas, collard greens were only enhanced by the smooth Cabernet Sauvignon. This Cabernet wine was light and a smooth red wine fruity in nature and low in tannins from Wachira Safari Wine Club. Chris Wachiera makes her Cabernet with the palate from her Kenyan roots so it is lighter and has much less tannin than the average Cab. and compliments both curried goat and oxtails.
Support East Bay Wineries Visit www.wachierawines.com

26/08/2020

**~~WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY~~**

What pairs well with roasted chicken and arugula?
Answer: A refreshing glass of Riesling of course!

A chilled, refreshing Riesling on a hot day. P.Harrell Wines offers a dry Riesling that was a delicious balance to my earthly flavored chicken and arugula!

This Riesling has been described as "a bouquet of peach blossom and passion fruit on the nose, the wine has a palate full of citrus fruit, minerality, lemon grass and honeydew" and it was all that and more. I knew from reading the description that it would be a wine I would enjoy!

Do you know your palate? Would this dry Riesling appeal to you or would you prefer a Riesling described as a "bowl of fruit in a glass" Email me at [email protected] if you are interested in learning more about your own wine palate.

**Side note: Paula Harrell is a Black winemaker and the owner of P.Harrell Wines. Visit her website at pharrellwines.com to order.

20/08/2020

**~WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY~**
What pairs with Airfryer Ribs?
Answer: Viognier (FR) (“Vee-own-yay”)

Usually when I grill ribs my go-to white wine is a Chardonnay . It's currently too hot to BBQ in the backyard and so I turned to my airfryer.
I had a chilled Viognier in the wine cooler and as I read the description my mouth began to water. Full bodied, perfume of peach, pear and honeydew melon with traces of minerality.
Thanks to Brooklyn West Winery I had the perfect pairing to my Airfryer rib dinner!

Do you know your wine palate? Can you read a description from a menu and know you will like it? Would you like to discover your palate?
Email: [email protected] to learn how to better understand your wine palate. (sneak peak: We've gone Virtual)

13/08/2020

Here is a review by of our 2018 rosé of petite sirah from our estate vineyard in Yorkville Highlands.
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This wine is 100% estate grown petite sirah. Using the Saignée method, the wine was fermented and aged for six months in neutral French oak barrels. It comes in at 13.3% ABV. The wine showed a light ruby color with amber hues. Cherry, raspberry, cranberry, loamy earth, strawberry and oak all arrived on the deceptively complex nose. Cherry, raspberry, cranberry, vanilla, loamy earth, oak and hints of white pepper followed on the palate where the bright, ripe cherries were the star of the show. The wine was light-bodied and exhibited good length and well-balanced acidity. This wine would be an ideal aperitif and it would pair well with a variety of charcuterie or smoked chicken.
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Here is the link to Michael’s blogpost: https://nittanyepicurean.blogspot.com/2020/07/2018-theopolis-vineyards-estate-grown.html
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This wine is available on our website in limited supply.
~
#2018

13/08/2020

*~Wine Down Wednesday ~*

What pairs well with spicy shrimp nachos?

Answer: A refreshing Riesling

My go to drink with Mexican food is usually a Margarita, but when it's wine down Wednesday! 🤣

After I picked up nachos from my neighborhood Mexican Restaurant I realized a semi-dry Riesling should taste good and it did.

Dashe Cellars makes a semi-dry Riesling with spicy fruit flavors that enhanced the spicy nachos.
Rieslings are often a go to wine for Chinese food, but today it also paired well with Mexican food. In addition Rieslings are usually lower in alcohol content and at 13.5% alcohol I could drink it before 5:00p.m.

05/08/2020

*~Wine Down Wednesday~* (Birthday Edition 🥳)

I had a wonderful SIP (shelter in place) Birthday dinner. I began my celebration with a glass of Sparkling Wine from Wachira Wines of course!
I paired the sparkling wine with a French Cassoulet . The Sparkling Wine was bubbly and fruity and a perfect compliment to the Cassoulet.

Now on to the the main attraction: a delectable Sea Bass bathed in a butter sauce prepared by Chef Lamont Perriman which was delivered and paired with a Barbera from Urban Legend Cellars. This was the perfect pairing of a red wine and fish!
Barbera is a medium body red wine with low tannins, bursting with red fruit that balanced the medium Chilean Bass and butter sauce . It was sooo yummy !!!

🥳Happy Birthday Beverly 🎂

22/07/2020

*~Wine Down Wednesday~*

What wine welcomes summer best?
Answer :Rose'

Rose is a very popular wine in the summer. Produced from red grapes with minimal skin contact makes it a very versatile,refreshing wine.

I have been researching and tasting Sangiovese recently and was excited to see that a Rose' of Sangiovese was included in my wine pick up from Brooklyn West Winery.

The Rosé is a savory, medium bodied wine that paired extremely well with my green spicy chicken and yellow rice.

Go online and order a bottle or two for your next summer meal on the patio!

Be on the look out for upcoming online wine pairings 🥂

15/07/2020

*~WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY~*

What is the perfect compliment to paella?
Answer: Sangria of course!

When I was in Barcelona it was always Sangria that paired perfectly with paella!!

As I continue the Air Fryer competion with my family I decided to make seafood paella, and it was delicous!

A red sangria is made best with a light red wine . I used Pinot Noir with lots of fruit and included Triple Sec as a sweetener .

It may be awhile before we get to visit a winery in the East Bay so I'm planning some wine pairing events online.

If interested in joining the new wine pairing community comment below or email: [email protected]

01/07/2020

~*WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY*~

What pairs well with chicken meatballs?

Answer: A nice Rose Hibiscus Wine!

You may also be wondering why did I make them?
Answer: I'm currently competing in a family Airfyer Challenge Cook off and I need to be creative.

These chicken meatballs in the Airfyer were great and were covered with a robust red sauce and served over mushroom stuffed ravioli .

💡 Wine Pairing Tip: When a dish is served with a sauce the wine should pair with the sauce not the meat.

Rose Hibiscus was a perfect accompaniment to this dish. A delicious, earthy red wine made from flowers! Winemaker Aaliya Nitoto makes her wine from flowers, not grapes in West Oakland and sells them at Free Range Flower Winery. This gold medal winner with other wines are available online.

28/05/2020

**WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY**
Ordering Wine for Delivery ?

What should you do when you see Primitivo on the wine menu?

Answer: Order it !!!

Primitivo is perfect if you are having seafood jambalaya, pizza, stuffed mushrooms, or a juicy hamburger! It will pair well as a delicious accompaniment to all.

If you like Zinfandel you will enjoy Primitivo. They are both clones originally from Croatia. Most Primitivo wines are now from Italian grapes and Zinfandel grapes are the pride of CA.

Our Zoom Wine Tasting group shared a Primitivo from Oakland based Prima Materia Vineyard and Winery and we could not say enough things about it. We all loved it ! We love it so much we plan to order more. Prima Materia delivers with orders of four bottles .
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21/05/2020

**~Wine Down Wednesday ~**

What pairs well with air fried catfish?

Answer : A delicious Chardonnay!

My brother, Stanley Farmer, sent me an Airfryer as a gift recently and I got brave enough to cook two whole catfish and they were delicious !!!

Wachira Wines makes a Chardonnay with tropical fruit flavors that enhanced my Southern catfish dinner accompanied with okra, corn and tomatoes.

The fruit flavors of vanilla and butter lingered on my palate and I was transformed to New Orleans Yumm!!

Wachira Wines is local and delivers in Alameda, Oakland, and San Leandro.

Support East Bay Wineries

13/05/2020

*Wine Down Wednesday *

What pairs well with an herbal grilled chicken and grilled vegetables topped with a fresh squeeze of lemon ?

Answer: A crisp, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc.

I had two in my wine cooler so I decided to serve and enjoy both Côte West and Brooklyn West on Mother's Day.

The distinct herbaceous flavors of Sauvignon Blanc complimented the thyme and rosemary on the grilled chicken thighs and the tart of the lemon and vegetables.

Cote West produces and bottles it's wines in Oakland and is open for curbside pickup on Saturday and Sundays from 2:00 to 5:00 during this time of crisis !

Oakland based, Brooklyn West Winery is also open for curbside pickup Thursday- Sunday from 4:00-6:00.

Both wines are without a doubt delicious Sauvignon Blancs so what's the difference?

Try them both and let me know what you think!

Support East Bay Wineries

06/05/2020

***Wine Down Wednesday**
~Quarantine Edition~

How can you participate in wine tastings virtually?

Answer: Zoom Party with Friends

Our Zoom tasting of a Rosenblum 2013 Syrah was Amazing!

I led our virtual tasting through observing and identifying the purple color, smelling aromas of fruit, herbs with a hint of smoke to finally tasting the fruit forward black and red berry dry wine.

Syrah pairs well with grilled meats and medium cheeses. Two members of our Tasting Party shared their delicious charcuterie platters that also paired well with the Syrah. It was so much fun we are planning to taste a different wine in two weeks!!

You can order Rosenblum Cellars Winery & Tasting Room wines online and pick up curb service in Jack London Square.

Support East Bay Wineries

29/04/2020

**Wine Down Wednesday **
~How Merlot Can You Go!? 🍷~

I usually start my pairings with food, but for my book club meeting I needed a Merlot. The protagonist in the book ‘The Woman in the Window’ drank Melot BY THE CASE 😱 so I wanted to relate!

Why Merlot?

Merlot is a a very flexible medium red wine and pairs well with lots of food. I couldn't decide what food to pair so I prepared two dishes to compare. My turkey meat balls in tomato sauce and Merlot were delicious together.

Merlot pairs well with rich sauced dishes.

In addition I braised ox tails in a deep gravy. I too paired them with Merlot and it turned out to be another satisfying pairing !!!

When you are cooking with wine always cook with the wine you are drinking.

What’s next?

Next I want to pair Merlot with something a little spicy like jambalaya. I picked up my red fruit and spice flavored Merlot from Urban Legend Cellars but they also deliver during these challenging times.

Support East Bay Wineries

23/04/2020

**~Wine Down Wednesday ~**

Have you had a chance to experience “Carside Wine Pick Up” ?

I had to go pick up my club allotment from Dashe Cellars Old Vine Zinfandel , ancient vine Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Sirah were delivered to my car by winemaker Michael Dash himself! Yum !!

Right next door is Urban Legend Cellars where I am also a member and I could not resist ordering Barbera, Merlot, Sangiovese, a Grenache Blanc, and a Zin delivered to my car by winemaker Marilee Shaffer herself, Mouthwatering !

🍷🥂🍷🥂

Sad that both wineries were forced out of Oakland due to increased rent prices, but glad they are still in the East Bay in Alameda where they both produce and bottle their wines on site !!!

Don't need to go without great wine because they both offer pick up and delivery options. Great pairings in site !

Support East Bay Wineries :

16/04/2020

**Wine Down Wednesday**

What pairs well with linguine and fresh crab in a mild pesto sauce and a hint of cilantro?
Answer: A rich and smooth Chardonnay.

I picked up some delicious linguine and crab from Eat,Play Events and Catering. Paired the dish with a full bodied Chardonnay delivered by Wachira Wines!

Chris Wachira is a local winemaker.

Pick up and delivery has been made it even better for the wine connoisseur in all of us !! 🥂🍾

Support East Bay Wineries and Caterers !!

09/04/2020

**Wine Down Wednesday**
Lets Celebrate Oakland's Restaurants and Wine Shops!

I recently had a mouthwatering taste for some of Chef Lelani's delicious baked turkey wings and dressing from the recently opened Magnolia Restaurant. It was easy to order and pick up and of course I paired this meal with the Zinfandel from local winemaker Paula Harrell of P.HarrellWines!

Zinfandel is very versatile red wine. It is lighter than bold red wines, but bolder than a Pinot Noir. P. Harrell's Zin is full body with a fruit forward lingering on your tongue that paired perfectly with the soulful and comforting turkey wings and dressing !

Fun Fact: When pairing a wine with a meal note that the wine should be more acidic than the food

What a great mean and a great way to Support the Town!!!

01/04/2020

**Wine Down Wednesday**

What Pairs with Shrimp, Sausage, and Vegetable Soup?
Answer: Sauvignon Blance!

A delicious home made soup with celery, onions, okra, cherry tomatoes, shrimp, sausage, and potatoes scream for a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc!
The distinct herbaceous flavors of a Sauvignon Blanc are a perfect pairing for veggie lovers.
Brooklyn West Winery has one of the best Sauvignon Blancs in Oakland. It has a bright mineral taste with a savory finish that lingers and taste delicious with the veggies, shrimp and sausage in this dish!

Fun Fact: Wine pairs best when the intensity of the food is the same.

Brooklyn West is open from 4:00 to 6:00 everyday for drive by pick ups!! Support East Bay Wineries !!

26/03/2020

**Wine Down While In Quarantine**

Need an Idea of what to cook while in the house?
How about Ribs!!

This is my first oven roasted rib. I always grill my ribs and love the smoky taste that can not be duplicated. This rib was prepared with a little orange flavor and a mustard glaze to the top made it delicious!

What to pair with the oven baked rib?
A Deep Barbera? or a Barbera Rose' ?

Barbera's deep, dark and rich cherry flavors complimented the meat and the tangy glaze. While the Barbera Rose' lighter cherry flavor was a different, but also delicious compliment and reminded us it was spring !!

You decide what pairs best : Ul Cellars Urban Legend's Barbera and Dashe Cellars Rose' of Barbera are both available for pick up at the wineries or delivery !
Check out their websites for details and support our East Bay Wineries !!!
r

12/03/2020

~*WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY *~

What pairs well with eggs for dinner?

Answer: Sauvignon Blanc

This egg dish is straight out of the muffin pan filled with Italian sausage, green pepper, broccoli, green onions topped off by eggs and baked in the oven.

Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, white wine and it's grassy, herbal flavors are a delicious compliment to the veggies in the egg bite.

This Sauvignon Blanc from Cote West winery is grown in mineral rich, volcanic soil and cooler temperatures which help deliver intense aromas and flavors.

Wines from Côte West are produced and bottled in Oakland !

Visit www.ebwtours.com or email
[email protected] to plan your Oakland Wine Tour

04/03/2020

**~Wine Down Wednesday ~**
—Weekend Recap!—

Had a fabulous time wine tasting and meeting Black WInemakers at 9th annual Black Vines Event !

Raymond Smith owner and winemaker at Indigene Cellars in Paso Robles is an Oakland native. Robin McBride from McBride Sisters Wines and taste the delicious Riesling from the California Central Coast. All of the attendees enjoyed a Red bubbly with winemaker, Sherrijon Gaspard of Vina Sympatica Wine in Los Angeles . She specializes in making bubbly, white, red and violet.! .!

A big Congrats to Fern Stroud, Founder of blackvines_ who received a proclamation from the Mayor of Berkeley for her outstanding contributions to Black wine and culture !!

You can have an opportunity to visit and taste his gold medal winning Pinot Noir when East Bay Tours takes its Appellation Tour to Paso Robles!

Email us to find out about our Appellation Tours to Livermore, Lodi and Paso Robles

led by Beverly Jarrett, California Wine Appellation Specialist
[email protected]

27/02/2020

**~WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY~**
'' Black History Month Edition ''

Hanging out with African American Sommelier, Tonya Pitts, at One Market Restaurant in San Francisco. Tonya paired a delicious four course Black History meal with wines from four African American winemakers.

Course 1- Pickled shrimp salad was paired with a Sparkling Rose from Hotspur Perfect beginnings!

Course 2- South X fried ribs with adobe chile glazed pickled okra paired with Muscat Canelli from Longevity winery in Livermore. The subtle sweetness complimented the spicy ribs Yum!!

Course 3- Grilled Trout with pineapple black forbidden rice paired with Petite Sirah from Theopolis Winery in Yorkville, CA. This complex and full body red was a perfect match for the meaty trout.

Course 4- Pineapple Upside Cake with brown sugar ice cream and candied macadamia nuts paired with late harvest Sauvignon Blanc from Bodkin WInery. This semi sweet dessert wine was a delicious bonus to dessert!

Come visit Longevity on our Livermore Trip on March 28, 2020.
Call #510-684-8691 today for more details!

20/02/2020

*~Wine Down Wednesday~*
-Black History Month Edition-

What’s the best Brunch Pairing?

Answer: Shrimp and Grits with a nice glass of Rosè!

Let's do brunch at Oeste!

Oeste Restaurant and Bar is owned by three remarkable women of color including Lea Redmond, Sandra Davis, and Anna Villalobos. The delicious, smoky shrimp and grits are a celebration of Black History month in your mouth!
Matched with a Rosé from wine maker, Paula Harrell, of Black owned P.HarrellWines, I was rocking back and forth with joy!

The dry rose' delighted me as a delicious and balanced match for the smoky shrimp and grits.

Join us for a wine tour to explore the Livermore Appellation on March 28, 2020
Email: [email protected] today!

13/02/2020

**WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY**
~Black History Month Edition~

Last night was a great time!

Hanging out with Chef Nelson German at his restaurant and bar, Alamar Kitchen! We enjoyed the scrumptious shrimp boil with a balanced Chardonnay from the locally Black owned Wachira Wines!

We also shared the melt in your mouth oxtails and tasty black beans complimented with a glass of Zinfandel from locally owned Urban Legend Cellars.

Join us on an appellation wine tour to Livermore in March !!

Book your spot by emailing : [email protected]

05/02/2020

**Wine Down Wednesday**

What wine pairs well with Chicken Adobo?

Is it something fruity? Something bold? Bold like a Riesling? Or an unoaked Pinot Grigio?

Answer: Surprise!! Its a Viognier!

I didn't have a Riesling or Pinot Grigio in house so I tried a Viognier sent to me recently from my friend Barbara Dunleavy-Rutherford who lives on the east coast in Virginia!

A 2017 Viognier produced by Veritas Vineyards and Winery was the perfect compliment. The salty combination of soy sauce, fish sauce and and vinegar were soften by the aromas of peaches and apricots and a delicious and smooth fruit forward taste.

"Sometimes a taste is worth a thousand words"

Valentines day is just around the corner be sure to book your walking wine tour by emailing : [email protected] to learn even more about wine and food pairings in the local Oakland area!

23/01/2020

***WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY***

~Wine Event Recap~

Hanging out at Chop Bar with Chef Lev Delany and the Urban Legend Wine Makers, Steve and Marilee Shaffer for a family style Wine Dinner!

We enjoyed several courses includingToast with Sparkling Leggera and smoked trout stuffed fried olives.
Dungeness crab with meyer lemon avocado dressing paired with a delicious and balanced Grenache Blanc. Herbed gnocchi with smoke dried tomatoes and pork belly paired with a 2016 Barbera.
Smoked beef shank with wild mushrooms and roasted root vegetables paired with a smooth 2015 Syrah.
Chocolate pecan tart , brandy creme fraiche paired with Urban Legend 's dessert wine late Harvest Zin.

15/01/2020

**WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY **

What pairs well with Seafood Gumbo?

Answer : Pinot Noir ! 🍷

Pinot Noir is a light body, fruit forward red wine that enhances the flavor of the shrimp and crab as well as the robust flavors in the soup.

A local Oakland Winery Côte West has the perfect Pinot Noir to compliment this delicious and complex gumbo!

Be sure to email : [email protected] to book your next wine tour today!

09/01/2020

***WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY***

Happy New Year 2020!!!

What pairs well with leg of lamb?

Answer: A full body red wine!

Petite Syrah is not your ordinary "go to" red wine. The luscious flavors of dark blackberry and blueberries were perfect compliments to our medium rare lamb.

We did a delicious blind tasting from Oakland based wineries.

A 2016 Petite Syrah from Brooklyn West Winery,a 2016 Petite Syrah from Rosenblum Cellars Winery & Tasting Room, and a 2017 Zinfandel blended with a Petite Syrah from P.HarrellWines. We loved these East Bay WInes !!

Be sure to book your next Oakland walking tour to taste these wines and more!

Call #510-684-8691 to book your group today!

Friday	13:00 - 17:00
Saturday	13:00 - 17:00
Sunday	13:00 - 17:00

East Bay Wine Tours

23/09/2020

03/09/2020

26/08/2020

20/08/2020

13/08/2020

13/08/2020

05/08/2020

22/07/2020

15/07/2020

01/07/2020

28/05/2020

21/05/2020

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06/05/2020

29/04/2020

23/04/2020

16/04/2020

09/04/2020

01/04/2020

26/03/2020

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27/02/2020

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