{"id":9601,"date":"2019-01-25T18:55:01","date_gmt":"2019-01-26T02:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=9601"},"modified":"2019-01-25T14:55:38","modified_gmt":"2019-01-25T22:55:38","slug":"cocktail-corner-garagiste-wine-festival-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=9601","title":{"rendered":"Cocktail Corner: Garagiste Wine Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Garagiste

Garagiste Festival 2017, courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! by\u00a0Leslie Dinaberg<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Recently named “America’s Best Wine Festival” by USA Today<\/em>, the Garagiste Wine Festival<\/a> returns to Solvang February 8\u00a0\u2013 10.\u00a0“Garagistes” (pronounced garage-east) is a term originally used in the Bordeaux region of France to denigrate renegade small-lot wine makers, sometimes working in their “garages” (anything considered not a chateau), who refused to follow the \u201crules,\u201d and is now a full-fledged movement responsible for making some of the best wine in the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Showcasing the wines of some of California\u2019s best small production winemakers, the seventh anniversary festival has a number of different components, including the popular “\u2018Original Garagiste” seminar, featuring Central Coast winemaking legend Ken Brown<\/a> of Ken Brown Wines<\/a> interviewed by Garagiste Festival Co-founder and KRUSH radio host, Stewart McLennan<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are proud to lead off our main event with a one-on-one discussion and tasting with Ken Brown\u2014a true original \u2018garagiste\u2019 many years before micro-production winemaking became a movement,\u2019 says McLennan.\u00a0 \u201cKen was one of the first to recognize the cool climate potential of this region back in the 70s and to craft delicious wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay right here in Santa Barbara. We are looking forward to an informative and inspiring conversation as we taste some of his delicious wines.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Brown’s winery, Ken Brown Wines, focuses on very small lots of Pinot Noir from the finest vineyards of Sta. Rita Hills. R<\/span>ecognized as one of Santa Barbara County’s pioneering winemakers and innovators, he was the founding winemaker\u00a0at Zaca Mesa Winery<\/a> and spent 20 years at Byron Winery<\/a> as well.\u00a0<\/span>Not only was Ken Brown among the first vintners to realize the tremendous promise for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Santa Barbara County, he was also the first winemaker to introduce the Syrah grape, as well as Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, to the region. The “Original Garagiste” seminar runs from 11 a.m. \u2013 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 9 and\u00a0<\/span>will focus on how he helped shape the Santa Barbara wine scene and why he ultimately returned to small-lot winemaking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Winemaker

Winemaker Ken Brown leads off the 2019 Garagiste Festival with a one-on-one discussion and tasting. Photo by Rocco Ceselin, courtesy Garagiste Festival.<\/p><\/div>\n

Dubbed a \u201ctasting nirvana,\u201d “strange and wondrous” and \u201cone not to miss\u201d by the Los Angeles Times<\/em>, the Garagiste Festival is renowned for its renegade spirit, passionate winemakers, handcrafted wines and rules-breaking, anti-snobby ethos. The wines are poured directly by their makers, and it’s definitely one of the most fun\u2014and accessible\u2014festivals to talk to winemakers about their passion projects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In many cases the winemakers are employed by larger wineries but showcase their own, lovingly crafted, small batch concoctions at the Garagiste Festival. For example,\u00a0Marisa Matela Beverly<\/a> is Owner\/Winemaker of Bevela Wines<\/a> (which will be showcased at the festival), but has also been\u00a0working with Au Bon Climat<\/a>, Qupe<\/a> and Verdad<\/a> wineries since 2008.<\/p>\n

“Under these two pioneers of Santa Barbara county wine, I try to soak up as much knowledge as I can,” says Beverly. “Over the years, this has helped fine tune my palate and path in winemaking. I am allowed all the freedom I want when it comes to the production of my wines. This helps keep Bevela Wines unique and very boutique.\u00a0 The best example of influence and yet freedom is my barrel aging regime.\u00a0 I saw and tasted what extended aging can do for certain Italian varieties, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to use this technique.\u00a0 It is not the most cost effective\u2014and takes a lot of floor space\u2014but the end results are undeniable, it is worth it!”<\/p>\n

Guests can taste those end results on Friday, February 8 at the popular\u00a0“No Repeats, Rare & Reserve,” tasting, where attendees can get up close and personal with the winemakers as they share limited Club Only, Library\u00a0and Pre-Release bottles and Barrel samples, and enjoy a BBQ buffet from local favorite Neighbor Tim’s BBQ<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Bevela is pouring\u00a0a library selection of the Matela Teroldego (the 2010 vintage) as well as the current release (the 2012 vintage).\u00a0 “We also have a special selection of 2014 Presqu’ile Syrah, only bottled in magnum and only available to our allocation list.\u00a0 This wine is our silent auction item on Saturday,” says Beverly, who will be pouring her\u00a0 <\/span>2017 “Fractured Emergence” Chardonnay, 2012 “Matela” Teroldego, 2015 “Old Fashioned Superstition” Syrah, and 2015 “Unforeseen Alchemy” Red Blend at the Grand Tasting Event on Saturday, February 9.<\/p>\n

The Grand Tasting runs from 2-5 p.m. showcasing over 40 winemakers pouring 150+ wines and 20+ unique varieties.\u00a0<\/span>Among the winemakers scheduled to pour are:\u00a0<\/span>Ascension Cellars, Bevela Wines, Blatty, Bodega de Edgar, Bolshoi Family Wines, Byron, Camlow Cellars, Cholame Vineyard, Cloak & Dagger Wines, Copia Vineyards, Cordon Wines, Corner Cellars, Cutruzzola Vineyards, D.Volk Wines, Dascomb Cellars, DeWit Vineyard, Dracaena Wines, Elwood Wines, Ferguson Family Winery, Golden Triangle, Greyscale Wines, Hoi Polloi Winery, Kaleidos Winery, Kimsey Vineyards<\/a>, Kings Carey<\/a>, Lepiane Wines, Luna Hart, Maiden Stoen, Marin’s Vineyard, MCV, Metrick Wines, Montagne Russe, Montemar Winery, Nexo, Pelletiere Estate, RF Fine Wines, Ryan Cochrane Wines, Seagrape, Sycamore Ranch, Temperance Cellars, Tercero Wines, Thomas William Fermentation Company, Torch Cellars, Volatus, and Westerly Wines<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All tickets include unlimited tastes, complimentary cheese and charcuterie and a souvenir Stolzle crystal wine glass\u2014plus a Silent Auction full of enticing wine packages which benefits The Garagiste Scholarship at Cal Poly<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Dana

Dana Volk of D.Volk Wines is pouring at the Garagiste Festival, and offering special discounts to festival attendees at her nearby Solvang tasting room. Photo by Bottle Branding, courtesy D.Volk Wines.<\/p><\/div>\n

Dana Volk<\/a>, Owner\/Winemaker of D.Volk Wines<\/a>, will be pouring on Friday (her 2016 John Sebastiano Vineyard Syrah, which is usually only available to wine club members) and Saturday. She says, “I have poured wine at many festivals in my 25 years in this business and this is by far my favorite one to show my wine at! The attendees are genuinely interested in getting to know you personally and to learn about the wines and winemaking.”<\/p>\n

On Saturday she’ll be pouring and offering special discounts on D.Volk Wines’\u00a02017 Curtis Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Ynez Valley;\u00a02017 Grenache Blanc, Dorigo Family Vineyards, Ballard Canyon;\u00a02017 Ros\u00e9, Camp 4 Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley;\u00a02015 Pinot Noir, Duvarita Vineyard, Santa Barbara County; and 2016 Hampton Family Vineyard Syrah, Santa Ynez Valley.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a special place in our hearts for Solvang, and for the amazing small production winemakers who pour at this venue. Solvang, and the beautiful Veteran\u2019s Memorial Hall, lend such a charming and intimate setting for attendees to chat and taste with the winemakers and owners who will be pouring their hard-to-find wines. We love the diversity of the wines poured here, with multiple micro-climates, grape varieties and innovative blends represented.\u201d\u00a0says Garagiste Festival cofounder Doug Minnick<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With the exception of the Passport Day tastings, which take place at individual wineries and tasting rooms, all festival weekend events take place at Solvang Veterans’ Memorial Hall<\/a>, 1745 Mission Dr., Solvang.<\/p>\n

Tickets are very limited, so if you want to go, you should act now. To purchase tickets, click here<\/a>. Hope to see some of you there.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Cheers! Click\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for more Cocktail Corner columns.<\/p>\n

\"Leslie<\/p>\n

When she\u2019s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes<\/i>\u00a0mag<\/i>azine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie believes variety is the spice of life. Send your suggestions to Leslie@sbseasons.com.<\/i><\/p>\n

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons<\/em><\/a> on January 25, 2019.<\/p>\n

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