Tag Archives: Siduri

Festival Pick: World of Pinot Noir

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World of Pinot Noir is coming to the Ritz-Carlton Bacara Santa Barbara March 5-7, courtesy photo.

One of my all-time favorite wine festivals is coming to the Central Coast next week. The 20th Annual World of Pinot Noir (March 5-7) brings together an impressive lineup of producers from the most exceptional and unique regions in the world with Pinot Noir enthusiasts for a weekend of celebration and education at the beautiful Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort & Spa.

The event kicks off on Thursday with the unique opportunity to visit the legendary Clos Pepe Estate Vineyard and learn firsthand about the history of winemaking — particularly Pinot Noir — on California’s Central Coast. This celebrated spot, now owned by WALT Wines, is not usually open for visitors, so don’t miss out on the exclusive kickoff for the 20th anniversary of World of Pinot Noir. I went to a media exclusive version of this event back in 2017 and trust me, you don’t want to miss it!

The tasting tour, coined as Mile Marker 60 referencing WALT’s 1,000 Miles of Pinot concept, includes a vineyard tour, moderated panel conversation alongside a vertical tasting, and a backyard BBQ with live music. Guests will embark on a guided shuttle from the The Ritz-Carlton Bacara to the Clos Pepe Estate Vineyard in on Route 246 in Lompoc.

Clos Pepe Estate, photo courtesy World of Pinot Noir.

Clos Pepe Estate, photo courtesy World of Pinot Noir.

Other events on Thursday:

—Exploring the Elegance of Alto Adige Pinot Noir – Seminar & Luncheon

Take a deep dive into Italy’s preeminent Pinot Noir region, Alto Adige. Led by Tim Gaiser, Master Sommelier, the seminar and luncheon will explore the region’s rise as a Pinot Noir powerhouse, forecast its exciting future and delve into the wines of its top producers.

— Opening Night Party

Kick off the 20th Anniversary of World of Pinot Noir with a wine-filled feast and fête featuring Pinot Noir wines from all over the world poured by America’s leading sommeliers. This year, the main bar is hosted by the Carneros Wine Alliance and will feature a special selection of wines from the famed region. You’ll meet and talk with winemakers, indulge in tasty bites prepared by The Ritz-Carlton Bacara’s Executive Chef, Umit Kaygusuz, and dance the night away with DJ Malik. Click here for a peek at delicious menu.

World of Pinot Noir is coming to the Ritz-Carlton Bacara Santa Barbara March 5-7, courtesy photo.

Events on Friday, March 6:

— What’s Altitude Got To Do With It? – Seminar & Luncheon

Michael Schachner, Spanish and South American Editor at Wine Enthusiast, leads a winemaker panel discussion and tasting that explores the wines, the effect of elevation (or lack thereof), and the exciting future of these regions.

— Siduri: 25 Years of Cruising the Pacific Coastline – Seminar

Siduri winemaker Adam Lee facilitates a celebratory retrospective tasting. Explore the wines, along with Siduri’s partners in the vineyard, a handful of growers from this famously sunny yet cool stretch of coastline, who will share  stories about growing and making Pinot Noir together for the last 25 years.

—Friday Grand Tasting

Here’s your opportunity to do a true vertical tasting. The room is conveniently organized by region as you taste through more than 100 Pinot Noir producers from around the world gathered in the Ritz Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara’s Grand Ballroom.

World of Pinot Noir is coming to the Ritz-Carlton Bacara Santa Barbara March 5-7, courtesy photo.

—The Bollinger Experience – Seminar

This seminar (for passport holders only) explores Bollinger Champagne’s age-old winemaking artistry, the role of Pinot Noir in its bubbles

– The World of Pinot Noir’s 20th Anniversary Founders Dinner

The festival founders in attendance include, Brian Talley of Talley Vineyards, Dick and Jenny Doré of Foxes Vineyards & Winery, Anne Moses and James Hall of Patz & Hall Winery, David Adelsheim of Adelsheim Vineyard, and Steve and Paula Dooley of Stephen Ross Wine Cellars. The wine will flow and the stories will unfold as guests enjoy a five-course menu prepared by Ritz-Carlton Bacara’s Executive Chef Umit Kaygusuz.

—The World Tour of Pinot Noir Pairings Dinner

Spotlighting the preeminent wines and cuisines from some of the most storied Pinot Noir frontier regions on the planet, including Italy’s Alto Adige, Argentina and Chile.

— Celebrating Bouchard & Champagne Henriot Dinner

The World of Pinot Noir has the honor of presenting Maisons & Domaines Henriot’s two most storied brands – Bouchard Père & Fils, one of Burgundy’s oldest estates, and the famed Champagne Henriot.

World of Pinot Noir is coming to the Ritz-Carlton Bacara Santa Barbara March 5-7, courtesy photo.

Events on Saturday, March 7:

– The Grand and Premier Crus of Burgundy – Seminar & Luncheon

This Burgundy seminar spotlights the region’s marquee designations: Grand and Premier Crus.

– Rosé Lawn Party – Presented by United Airlines

Always one of my favorite spotlight events at World of Pinot Noir, this “drink pink” event is held on the lush seaside lawn of Angel Oak, where you can’t beat the ocean view — especially while sipping  more than 50 of the best Pinot Noir Rosés available.

Rose Lawn Party at World of Pinot Noir, courtesy photo.

– Exploring the Neighborhoods of the Russian River Valley – Seminar

This winemaker panel discussion and tasting will explore “The Neighborhoods” of Sonoma’s famous Russian River Valley, home to some of the most sought-after Pinot Noir in the world.

– Saturday Grand Tasting

Here’s your opportunity to do a true vertical tasting. The room is conveniently organized by region as you taste through more than 120 Pinot Noir producers from around the world gathered in the Ritz Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara’s Grand Ballroom.

– Vintage Burgundy Dinner

Jay James, Master Sommelier and Chairman of SommFoundation, presents vintage Burgundy wines from their extensive cellar in this one-of-a-kind, six-course gourmand experience.

– The 20th Anniversary Soirée Dinner

Don your cocktail attire for an evening of epicurean delights, wine and dancing as you mingle amongst the legends of Pinot Noir and meet the rising stars. This special dinner features a walk-around mixer of the World of Pinot Noir winemakers, sommeliers, wine world celebrities and a gourmet menu prepared by Ritz-Carlton Bacara’s Executive Chef, Umit Kaygusuz. For a peek at the menu, click here.

– Bollinger: Le Grand Dinner

This special dinner is open exclusively to Weekend Passport guests to explore the pairing power of one of Champagne’s historic houses, Bollinger.

For more information on all of the outstanding World of Pinot Noir events taking place March 5-7, visit worldofpinotnoir.com. Hope to see you there!

Cocktail Corner: The Wondrous World of Pinot Noir

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Courtesy World of Pinot Noir.

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! by Leslie Dinaberg 

“Discover. Indulge. Celebrate.” is the tagline for the World of Pinot Noir, and I can’t think of better advice when it comes to imbibing at this favorite annual event. Held Mar. 2-3 at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, this festival gathers the world’s most highly regarded Pinot Noir wineries and winemakers, renowned chefs, sommeliers and leading wine scholars for two days of in-depth tasting seminars and excursions, Grand Tastings, a Burgundy seminar and tasting and gourmet, locally-influenced lunches and dinners.

As I’ve said in the past, I get to go to a LOT of wine festivals and this is definitely one of my favorites. Here’s an overview of this year’s schedule:

WEEKEND PASS – $1150
Includes an invitation to the Opening Night Celebration March 1; admission to the Friday and Saturday Tasting Seminars & Luncheons; VIP Admission to the Friday and Saturday Grand Tastings; and Pinot Noir Pairing Dinners on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Courtesy World of Pinot Noir.

THURSDAY

THURSDAY OPENING NIGHT PARTY – $110
Thursday, March 1 at 7 p.m. Kickoff the World of Pinot Noir with a wine-filled feast and fête, presented by The SOMM Journal. Meet participating winemakers, America’s leading sommeliers and preview the weekend while sampling wines, indulging in tasty bites prepared by The Ritz-Carlton Bacara’s Executive Chef, Umit Kaygusuz. It’s time to get this weekend-long Pinot party started.

FRIDAY

FRIDAY SINGLE-DAY PASS – $480
Includes admission to the Exploring the Oregon-Burgundy Connection Tasting Seminar & Luncheon, VIP Admission to the Friday Grand Tasting and a Friday evening Pinot Noir Pairing Dinner.

SEMINAR & LUNCHEON: Exploring the Oregon-Burgundy Connection – $265
Joshua Greene, Editor of Wine & Spirits Magazine will lead a winemaker panel discussion and tasting that explores Oregon’s deep and growing ties to Burgundy, and the how this is influencing the current and future state of this exciting New World region. The wineries include Maison Joseph Drouhin, Domaine Drouhin Oregon, Domaine du Louis-Michel Liger-Belair, Chapter 24 Vineyards, Domaine des Comtes Lafon and Lingua Franca. The seminar includes a three-course Pinot Noir-paired lunch prepared by the Ritz-Carlton Bacara culinary team, with wine service by World of Pinot Noir Sommeliers.Friday, March 2, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

FRIDAY LUNCHEON NO. 1: Celebrating the New Petaluma Gap AVA – $75
This three-course luncheon will showcase the award-winning wine made from grapes grown in the newly-minted Petaluma Gap AVA. Located in southern Sonoma and northern Marin counties, the cool-climate, windswept Petaluma Gap AVA boasts 4,000 acres of vineyards, of which, 75 percent are planted with Pinot Noir. Friday, March 2, 11:30 a.m.

CENTRAL COAST SEMINAR: Discover the Cool Climate Terroirs of the Central Coast – $65
Wine Enthusiast magazine’s contributing editor, and Central Coast expert, Matt Kettmann, will explore Pinot Noirs from the top cool-climate terroirs of the vast Central Coast. Along with a panel of acclaimed winemakers, Kettmann will guide the tasting of nine award-winning wines he scored 92 points or above. The wineries include Adelaida, Big Basin, Black Kite, Dierberg, Ken Brown Wines, Laetitia, Stephen Ross Wines and Talbott. Friday, March 2, 1 p.m.

FRIDAY VIP GRAND TASTINGS – $135
This exclusive VIP ticket provides you with early entry to the Ritz-Carlton Bacara’s Grand Ballroom, where you’ll be able to meet winemakers, be the first to bid on silent auction items, and taste through hundreds of Pinot Noir producers from around the world. Several other exclusive VIP experiences will be announced soon. Friday, March 2, 2:30-6 p.m.

FRIDAY GRAND TASTING – $85
Taste through more than 150 Pinot Noir producers from around the world gathered in the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara’s Grand Ballroom, bid on silent auction items and “taste the place” while you nibble on fresh, local and seasonal wine country appetizers from the Ritz-Carlton Bacara culinary team. Friday, March 2, 3:30-6 p.m.

FRIDAY DINNER NO. 1: The Art of Japanese Cuisine and Freeman Winery Pinot Noir, with Guest Chef Ken Tominaga – $275
Chef Ken Tominaga, founder of PABU in San Francisco and Boston, and Hana Japanese Restaurant in Sonoma, crafts a multi-course umami-fueled feast designed to pair perfectly with the award-winning Pinot Noirs from Freeman Winery. This intimate, one-of-kind dinner experience is limited. Friday, March 2, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY DINNER NO. 2: The Bounties of the Santa Maria Valley: A Celebratory Farm-to-Fork Dinner – Presented by the Santa Maria Valley – $125
The Santa Maria AVA is home to some of America’s highest regarded Pinot Noir vineyards and producers. But this renowned sub-region of Santa Barbara is just as famous for its hearty and robust eponymously-named style of steak made from locally raised beef. Enjoy an elevated take on Santa Maria barbecue prepared by Ritz-Carlton Bacara Executive Chef, Umit Kaygusuz all paired with wines from the region’s most famous wineries. Friday, March 2, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY DINNER NO. 3: 101 Years of Single-Vineyard Pinot Noir Along the Historic Highway 101 – $165
A collection of winemaking expertise gathers for this epic dinner featuring winemakers Greg Brewer of Brewer-Clifton, Adam Lee of Siduri, Wells Guthrie of Copain and Jonathan Nagy of Byron. Join us for an evening of food, laughter, and of course, fabulous Pinot Noir, as these trailblazing winemakers share their stories of their collective 101 years of crafting some of California’s most expressive Pinot Noirs along the Golden State’s historic coastal corridor. Friday, March 2, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

SATURDAY SINGLE-DAY PASS – $525
Includes admission to the Tasting Through The Best of Burgundy Tasting Seminar & Luncheon, VIP Admission to the Saturday Grand Tasting and a Saturday evening Pinot Noir Pairing Dinner. (Dinner upgrades will be available after purchase.)

SATURDAY BURGUNDY SEMINAR & LUNCHEON: Tasting Through The Best of Burgundy – $265
Founder of the San Francisco Wine School and Master Sommelier David Glancy–along with a panel of Burgundy experts and winemakers–will lead a fun and educational tasting of some of the most notable producers and most acclaimed vintages from France’s famed Pinot Noir region, and will discuss the varying classification systems of Burgundy’s sub-regions, their history, trends and the changing roles of growers and negociants. This seminar will feature multiple vintages of premier cru wines from Domaine Faively, Domaine Henri Gouge and Domaine Chanson. The seminar includes a three-course Pinot Noir-paired lunch prepared by the Ritz-Carlton Bacara culinary team, with wine service by World of Pinot Noir Sommeliers. Saturday, March 3, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

SATURDAY LUNCHEON NO. 1:
Rosé Lawn Party Atop the Bluff presented by United Airlines – $80
Held on the seaside bluff of the Angel Oak veranda, this daytime lawn party will feature over 35 of the best Pinot Noir Rosés on planet, a gourmet buffet lunch crafted by the Angel Oak Chef du Cuisine, and the unobstructed and downright jaw-dropping views of the Pacific Ocean. Saturday, March 3, 11 a.m.

SATURDAY SEMINAR NO. 1:
Attack Of The Clones Seminar – $65
In this fun and educational winemaker-led seminar, you’ll learn–and taste–the difference between many key Pinot Noir grape clones. Panelists include: Greg Morthole – Davis Bynum, Heidi Bridenhagen – MacRostie Winery & Vineyards, Ben Papapietro – Papapietro Perry Winery, Amy Thorn – Thorn Hill Vineyards and Ben Cane – Westwood Estate Winery. Saturday, March 3, 1 p.m.

SATURDAY VIP GRAND TASTINGS – $150
This exclusive VIP ticket provides you with early entry to the Ritz-Carlton Bacara’s Grand Ballroom, where you’ll be able to meet winemakers, be the first to bid on silent auction items, and taste through hundreds of Pinot Noir producers from around the world. Several other exclusive VIP experiences will be announced soon. Saturday, March 3, 2:30–6 p.m.

SATURDAY GRAND TASTING – $100
Taste through more than 100 Pinot Noir producers from around the world gathered in the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara’s Grand Ballroom, bid on silent auction items and “taste the place” while you nibble on fresh, local and seasonal wine country appetizers from the Ritz-Carlton Bacara culinary team. Saturday, March 3, 3:30–6 p.m.

SATURDAY DINNER NO. 1: Celebrating the Women of Pinot Noir – $150
This feast will showcase 12 wineries: Bouchaine Vineyards, Chenoweth Wines, La Crema, Lumen Wines, Meiomi, Merry Edwards Winery, Rideau Vineyards, Seagrape Wine Co & Buttonwood, St. Francis Winery, Stolo Family Vineyards, Trombetta Family Wines & Furthermore Wines, Wrath Wines and their trailblazing winemakers. Held in the downstairs Director’s Lounge and outside terrace, this multi-course feast will feature a gourmet whole-roasted pig crafted by Ritz-Carlton Bacara Executive Chef, Umit Kaygusuz. Saturday, March 3, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY DINNER NO. 2: Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Feast – $165
This five-course dinner will shine a spotlight on Oregon’s most famous region, the Willamette Valley, home to arguably some of the most food-friendly Pinot Noirs in the world. Emceed by Joshua Greene, the editor of Wine & Spirits Magazine, and Master of Wine Bree Boskov of the Oregon Wine Board, the evening will feature a long list of award-winning wines and their winemakers. Saturday, March 3, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY DINNER NO. 3:
 Vintage Burgundy Dinner with the Guild of Sommeliers – $450
The World of Pinot Noir is thrilled to present an extraordinary wine dinner hosted by the Guild of Sommeliers. Jay James, Master Sommelier, will present vintage Burgundy wines from the Guild’s extensive cellar in this six-course gourmand experience. This intimate, one-of-kind dinner experience is limited. Saturday, March 3, 7 p.m.

Hope to see some of you there! Click here for more cocktail corner columns.

When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on February 16, 2018.