Ridge Vineyard Spring Release
with live
Twitter tasting notes
Tuesday, Apr. 6th,
6pm
One of our favorite tastings each
year centers around the new Ridge wines.
It’s like judging a swimsuit competition. We’re just happy to be invited. Well, this year, the folks at Ridge have offered to host a Spring
Release party
here at Solano Cellars where we’ll taste a range of their new Sonoma county
Zinfandels and Syrahs, with a few treats from Monte Bello (maybe even….) in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
As an added bonus, we’re saving 10 free spots for people who want to live-tweet
the event for those who can’t make it.
Contact us on Twitter @solanocellars to get details on this
offer. We’ll include a selection
of good local cheeses to complement the great local vino.
$20/person, limited to 25 people.
Tablas Creek Vertical Tasting
Thursday, April 15th, 6pm
Tablas Creek Vineyard has been the pride of California
Rhône Rangers since its inception in the late ‘80s, bringing vine cuttings from
Châteauneuf du Pape to the rocky soils of Paso Robles and producing world-class reds
and whites from the earthy, rich Rhône grapes, such as Grenache, Mourvèdre,
and Roussanne.
Join us for a special vertical tasting of 6 vintages of their flagship white wine “Esprit
de Beaucastel”
as well as the 2007 Red, to which Robert Parker bestowed 95-97 points. “The 2007s are unquestionably
their finest wines to date” quoth Parker, so come and judge for yourself and see
why these wines have become such collectibles and critical darlings.
$25/person – limited
seating, so RSVP ASAP
Spanish Wine Class
Tuesday, April 20th –
6pm
Can you tell a Rioja from a
Ribera del Duero? Does Garnacha from Navarra taste like Garnacha from
Priorat? And how the heck do you pronounce Rias
Baixas anyway?
All these questions and more will
be answered at our Spanish Wine Class hosted by the dashing, sartorially skilled James
Cardinell of Vinos
Unico Imports. Affordable, delicious, and
food-friendly,
Spanish wines have exploded in popularity, so we’ll explore all the diversity
Spain has to offer, from bone-dry Albariño to bold, full-bodied Tempranillo.
$25/person
or FREE with purchase of the
Spanish Wine Class-In-A-Case
$199+tax
The Spanish Wine-Class-In-A-Case is 12 wines that cover all the major
appellations of Spain and include background information on the wines and
regions. These same wines will be featured
in the class on April 20th.
Buy the case and then taste them and learn more for free!
Neyers Spring Releases
Saturday, April 24th,
3-5 pm
Napa’s Neyers Winery boasts a list of vineyard sources that
can seem utterly unfair to unconnected winemakers.
With top sites for Chardonnay, Syrah, Zinfandel and Bordeaux varieties,
we’re always impressed by these wines. We’ll taste a selection of great single
vineyard wines with light appetizers.
$15 per person. Seating
limited to 22 people.
Taste the Case
Sunday, April 25th,
2-4 pm
Come taste all 12 wines in our April Sampler Case and see
for yourself the bounty that awaits our Club Members each and every month. This
month’s club is especially good. In fact, it’s the best case ever. Fee waived
with an inevitable purchase of the monthly case.
$12 per person, club
members taste free
Greg’s Group Therapy:
Mendocino vs. Santa Cruz
Battle for Hippie Wine Supremacy
Tuesday, April 27th,
6:30 pm
The
East Bay’s least pretentious Tuesday Night Tasting Group is back, and this time
we’re staying stateside & focusing on two California regions better known
for another cash crop. The cool
climate regions of Mendocino and Santa Cruz go head-to-head in a tie-dyed
tasting of
hippie-friendly Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon,
& Syrah.
So bring
your juggling sticks and hacky sacks (but please leave your Grateful Dead bootlegs at home),
as we explore the states most rustic wines and independent producers. We’ll have a selection of regional
cheeses to complement the vino.wines.
$25/person
* seating limited to 22
people! So RSVP now.
Le Duo Dynamique:
French Regional
Cheese & Wine Class
Saturday, May 8th 2-4 pm
Feeling
revived and fromagical after returning from a wine and cheese-themed trip to
France, Solano Cellars wine bar manager, "It's Not You, it's Brie"
blog author, and San Francisco Cheese School instructor Kirstin Jackson will
teach a class covering the regional specialties of the nation that makes
more cheese than America serves Big Macs.
After
sitting through an hour long slide-slow detailing Kirstin's trip to the Eiffel
tower, students will be guided through a tasting of eight cheeses that
demonstrate France's cheese excellence and dairy range.
The cheeses will be paired to regional wines that love them. Eight cheeses,
five wines, and a slide show? Sign up soon! The class is limited to 22 students
and will fill up fast.
22 class spots available. $38/person
Reservations highly
recommended
Wine 101
Spring Session
Three Wednesday nights in May
at 6:30pm
Be transformed from wine-weak to
wine-geek and never drink mindlessly again! Our instructors create a fun
atmosphere, focusing on the fundamentals of wine appreciation while debunking
snobbish misconceptions and marketing myths to bring the adventure of wine to
normal people. An excellent introduction to the diverse and rewarding world of
small-production wine.
Class 1: WTF is Wine, Anyway?
(Weds, May 5th )
The Tasting Ritual/The Mechanics
of Appreciation –) – Scents and Flavors, - Acid, Tannin, Oak, Etc – What and Why?
Class 2: Regional Wine Styles
to Know and Why (Weds,
May 12th )
Old to New World Wine – The
Foundation of Global Wine Styles – Italy, France Spain & Beyond
Class 3: Advanced Techniques
(Weds,
May 19th )
Blind Tasting– Food and Wine
Pairing - Adventurous Drinking -– Navigating the Wine List
Classes are $50/each and $140 for
all three. Call
510.525.9463 to reserve and make payment. www.solanocellars.com -
mail@solanocellars.com
