Next Twitter Tastings: #NZSAVVY, #AlsaceRocks

Twitter  wine tastings are fast and fun–and you get to taste wine in a community of friends without leaving your own home! You can compare notes, learn from experts, test your palate against other wine influencers, consumers, and bloggers, and also get ideas for food pairings.

Open to everyone, thevillamariasunflower trick is to find out about these tastings in time to get the wine so you can join in! Some of the wines are obscure, and the point of the tasting is an introduction to them. Other times, the wine is a new release.

For this week’s tasting, which takes place from 5-6pm PST Weds June 18, the wine, Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, is easy to find at most grocery stores while next week’s tasting  which features Crémant d’Alsace Bruts will likely need you to go to a specialty wine store.

So what wine do you need to get and how do you take part?

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Happy 40th Anniversary to Caymus Vineyards!

To celebrate their 40th vintage,  Caymus Vineyards has released a 40th Anniversary special edition of their 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and they are organizing a HUGE anniversary party which they hope will be the largest virtual Twitter tasting ever, with wine writers, bloggers, collectors, enthusiasts and consumers across the country to participating. Continue reading

No Joshin’ –there’s a Josh behind these wines

10468204_10152169319010924_8613646936386690334_nIn time for Father’s Day are some notes about three wines from Joseph Carr’s second label, Josh Cellars: 2012 Chardonnay, 2012 Pinot Noir, and the 2012 Legacy, a red blend.

This is no ordinary second label–the name “Josh” comes from his dad, and the wine shows substantial respect for this “legacy.” Joseph Carr created the label in honor of his dad, Josh with varietals to embody his spirit: “Bold and expressive, but unassuming and approachable – it’s funny how these characteristics remind me of someone I knew. It’s a wine I made for family, friends, and a man I called dad.” Continue reading

#VerdejoDay Thursday June 12

verdejoday2014ver021What’s the most popular white wine in Spain?

Chardonnay? NO! Sauvignon Blanc? NO! Reisling? NO! Alabarino? NO!

Verdejo? SI!

According to Rueda.com, VERDEJO is Spain’s favorite white wine and yet it’s  one that most Americans don’t know,  may never have tasted, and don’t know how to pronounce.

And yes, the folks at Rueda are probably a bit prejudiced because Verdejo is the indigenous grape to that region of Spain.

Just in time for summer patio parties, Thursday June 12 is ideal for an introduction to this crisp, food friendly, minerally white wine from Spain because it is the first Verdejo Day.

I pride myself on having a little bit of everything in my cellar but I have to admit this while I have Portugal’s popular vinho verde in the house,  I will have to find a store that has some Verdejo in order to taste, toast and tweet about it.

Or I could attend one of these fun events–and one is even conveniently located about an hour away in LA! Here’s a link to a 40% coupon to attend #VerdejoDay in LA (no that’s not an affiliate link–not making a cent and not even been offered a ticket!)

What do you know Verdejo? What will you be drinking for #VerdejoDay on Thursday?

 

 

 

Mark Your Calendars: Ojai Wine Festival 6/8 and VC Wine Trail Celebration 6/19

734907_10152416989915582_1910459839_nIf you missed out on last weekend’s LA Wine Fest or Ventura County’s fundraiser for Casa Pacifica, no worries, there are plenty more wine festivals as well as concerts, BBQs and many other events to come this June and throughout the summer!

Plan now to attend Sunday’s  28th annual Ojai Wine Festival and mark your calendars for the 7th annual Ventura County Wine Trail Celebration Thursday, June 19 from 5:30-8pm. Better yet, get your tickets now because as I reported here last year, it sells out–and here’s why!

First, coming up this Sunday June 8th from noon-4pm is the 28th Annual Ojai Wine Festival. Located  on the shores of Lake Casitas  Continue reading