Classes Return in 2021!

 

WE'RE BACK!

Back to Basics, that is!

It's the return of Wine 101!

Does wine jargon confuse you? 

Do sommeliers intimidate you? 

Does reading a wine list make you sweat? 

This is the class for you!

Join us at Fossil Wine Bar on August 2nd!

Click HERE for more info and to register for the event!

A new year of wining...in San Simeon...

A bucolic scene at San Simeon
(photo by Rico Mandel)

This past year has been so challenging for everyone. I am pleased and amazed to see how so many of my wine colleagues have pivoted (the latest buzz word) and adapted to the new normal. Many event planners have created online events, virtual tastings, all designed to keep their base engaged. Others, like myself, stepped back a bit, waiting to see how things would develop. I tried not to give in to depression, but there were days that my major accomplishment was getting the bed made. 

Meanwhile, vaccines were being made and distributed! Hope on the horizon! Grownups in the White House! I started feeling a bit better, and after getting my first shot of the Pfizer vaccine, began to feel that I could return to the world. Carefully.

2020, the gift that keeps on giving...

I was really excited about 2020. After a pretty darn good year, I was going to take advantage of the momentum from 2019, increase the number of my wine classes, work more hours at various venues, and travel. Yeah...JD and I were supposed to spend a few weeks in England and France this year, but that was not to be.

What a disaster 2020 has turned out to be. Global pandemic. Global shutdown. Families and friends lost. Businesses closed. So much anger, misinformation, fatigue.

Serving wine in the time of Coronavirus...

As some of you know, JD and I work 3 days a week at a winery tasting room. The wines are very reasonably priced, and our tasting fee has been $12 per person, waived with a wine purchase. Up until this weekend, we would waive tasting fees for everyone in a group if even one person bought one bottle of wine. You might say we have been very generous in this regard. 

We had 2 groups of guests on Saturday; one group of 6, the other of 4. Both were scheduled to arrive at 2 PM. The air temperature was fairly comfortable, and the smoke level was low enough that I wasn't concerned about serving outdoors.

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

It's been a heckuva year for the Goddess of Wine and #FirstAcolyte (#JDBakes) John Dickey, and we couldn't have done it without your support! 

Thanks to all the thirsty students of wine, the good-natured and patient wine bar owners, the wine company reps who consistently find amazing wines no matter what we ask for, and, of course, all the wine makers who create liquid magic for us.

We're looking forward to more wine and food pairings, more geeky wine arcana, and more wine enjoyment!

Happy Holidays to all!
Happy New Year!
See you in 2020!

Wining while "Tasting Blind!"

One of the things I love most about teaching about wine is the 'aha' moment that occurs when students suddenly realize something that had never occurred to them before. Several of those moments happened Wednesday night when I led an intent group of acolytes through a blind tasting.

I brought in 8 wines from all over the world, and provided the group with a tasting grid that included sample descriptors to help them find the appropriate words for what they were smelling and tasting.

I gave them a few hints to start:
All the wines were visibly red.
All the wines were between 2 and 5 years old.
And the most important clue of all: There were multiple instances of the same grape varietal.

Tasting Blind...with the Goddess of Wine!

We sure had some fun tasting those "little-known" wines from Spain and Portugal, but now we're going to put your palate to the test!

Have you always wanted to taste wine like the pros? Here's your chance!

Join the Goddess of Wine, Denise Lowe, for an evening of "blind" wine tasting to test your senses of sight, smell, and taste! We'll taste through several wines as you learn tips and tricks to WOW your friends!

Light munchies will be provided by #JDBakes.

Must be 21 years or more to attend.

Limited seating, so reservations are required. 
$35 per person

Wednesday, October 17th, 2018, at the Morro Bay Wine Seller
601 Embarcadero #5, Morro Bay, CA 93442

Click HERE to purchase your tickets!

Oh, and don't worry...we won't actually blindfold you!

Cheers!

Wine Tasting Returns to Cheers at All Corked Up!

Raise Your Glass:

Wine Tasting Returns to Cheers @ All Corked Up

SANTA CLARITA August 28, 2013 – Taste a selection of international and domestic wines as you support the return of wine tasting to Cheers @ All Corked Up, the only fully-stocked wine bar and restaurant located in the Santa Clarita Valley’s east side and just 10 minutes from the center of town. 

Al Robles and Terri Rivera, the owners of Cheers @ All Corked Up, the venue that supported both Pour Into Haiti and Pour Into Sandy wine tasting events, would like to invite local and non-local, wine beginners and aficionados, back for their first private wine tasting event.

According to Al Robles, the following wineries and distributors are confirmed so far for this event: Cantara Cellars, Gagnon Cellars, Golden Star Vineyards, Reyes Winery, Southern Wine & Spirits, Trinitas Cellars and Wine Warehouse.

“We’re very excited to be offering this event to the Santa Clarita Valley,” said Al Robles.

The event will be held on Sunday afternoon, September 15, from 3 PM to 5:30 PM.  Wine paired appetizers are included, and unlimited tasting, for a $20 per person fee.  Additionally, wines that you taste and enjoy can be purchased; some at a special rate.

Contact Cheers @ All Corked Up at 661-259-2000 to guarantee your spot.  The address is 26340 Diamond Place Suite 100, Santa Clarita, CA 91350 and is located between Soledad Canyon Road and Golden Valley Road just off of Centre Pointe Parkway.  Landmarks include the Santa Clarita Sports Complex on one side and  the WalMart SuperCenter.  www.cheersatallcorkedup.com

Photo courtesy Eve Bushman - which may explain why it's sideways.