Wine Events: Week of September 24

My most sincere apologies for getting this weekly update out a little later than usual, but I’ve been a bit distracted as of late.  First, as I’m sure y’all are aware, there’s a little thing called harvest gong on in California and Burgundy right now, and even though I’m not directly involved this year (sigh), I can’t seem to tear myself away from reading every single update and article I can find on the topic.  I tried to get my fix by sneaking up to Healdsburg a few weeks ago to help out with a little grape treading and to grill up some lunch for some hungry harvest workers.  But I still find myself jones-ing for more info and more involvement on the harvest front. Second, as a political junkie and former staffer on two presidential campaigns (both involving incumbents), I’m currently obsessed with the current horse race.  In short, two of my life’s passions have kicked into high gear at the same time, and as a result, I’m suffering from some serious ADD.

I’m hoping that attending some of these events will help calm my nerves.

Wine Events: Week of September 17

No time for an intro– am crashing on getting this presentation together for the Delectable / Beaujolais thingy tomorrow night. But here’s what you’re really looking for — this week’s wine events!

Wine Events: Week of June 17

Last year, as many of you may remember, Martin Carel completed a film on minimal intervention / natural wine producers in California.  Wine from Here features some great interviews with some folks who are making some very compelling domestic wines, including:  Ted Lemon (Littorai); Josh Jensen (Calera); Steve Edmunds (Edmunds St. John); Hank Beckmeyer (La Clarine Farm), and Kevin Kelley (The NPA / Salinia).

The movie is now available on DVD, and you can purchase it here.  [BTW, in case you were wondering, I'm not making a dime off of this film.  I just thought it would be of interest to many of you who follow this blog.]

But enough about watching wine on the big screen — it’s time to start drinking!

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Wed., June 20: Island Wines Dinner @ Piccino (Portrero Hill)

Piccino
1001 Minnesota St.
San Francisco, CA

8:15pm – $80 (not including tax and gratuity)

One of my favorite, go-to restaurants in the city is hosting a wine dinner to get you in the summer spirit.  Piccino’s “island wines” dinner will feature juice from Sicily and Sardinia.  Call the restaurant for reservations.

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Thurs., June 21:  Jose Pastor Tasting @ Arlequin (Hayes Valley)

Arlequin Wine Merchants
384 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA

6:00pm – 8:00pm – $20

Bay Area importer Jose Pastor has become one of the most lauded importers of small-production, terroir-driven Spanish wines.  This from Eric Asimov:  ”[Mr. Pastor] is a passionate proponent of distinctive regional styles and traditional methods, who avoids wines that have been subjected to the blurring influence of internationalization…Mr. Pastor…has an impressive portfolio from all over Spain.”

2010 Txakolina Bengoetxe Getariako, Catalonia

2009 Listan Blanco Vina Zanata La Palma, Canary Islands

2010 Dona Blanco & Godello Brezo Bierzo

2010 Mencia ’Joven’ Guimaro Ribeira Sacra

2010 Listan Negro ’7 Fuentes’ Suertes del Marques Tenerife, Canary Islands

2010 Vijariego Tinto ’Vendimia Seleccionada’ Tierras de Aponte Canary Islands

2010 Garnacha Mendall Finca Espartal Terra Alta, Catalonia

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Thurs., June 21:  Riesling Class w/ FPWM (Embarcadero)

Port Commission Hearing Room
2nd Floor of the Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA

6:30pm – 8:30pm – $65 (tix here)

Master Sommelier Peter Granoff from the Ferry Building Wine Merchants leads a class that digs deep on one of my favorite varieties:  Riesling.  And perfect timing, as the Summer of Riesling 2012 has now begun!

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Sat., June 23:  Burgundy Tasting at Arlequin (Hayes Valley)

Arlequin Wine Merchants
384 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA

2:00pm – 5:00pm – $25

More Burg this Saturday at Arlequin:  Roulot and Girardin.

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Sat., June 23:  Donkey & Goat Summer Solstice Party (East Bay)

Donkey and Goat Winery
1340 5th Street
Berkeley, CA

1:00pm – 4:00pm – Free (but please RSVP)

Tracey and Jared are rolling out the red carpet to unveil some new summer wines:  2011 Improbable Chardonnay, 2011 Grenache Blanc and 2011 Grenache Noir.  Taste these wines for free, take in some live music, and have the chance to buy some pizza from Pizza Politana.

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 Sun., June 24:  APS Imports Dinner @ DigWineSF (Portrero Hill) 

Dig Wine SF
1005 Minnesota Street
San Francisco, CA

Time TBD ($40) (reserve ahead of time by emailing wayne@digwinesf.com)

Part of Dig’s continuing series of importer tasting, featuring wines from Alsace, Burgundy, and Bordeaux.

2010 Chardonnay Saint-Veran Burgundy, Maison Trenel – Certified Ecocert
2010 Pinot Noir “La Chappelle Notre Dame,” Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine, Burgundy
2010 Riesling “Bollenberg” Vineyard, Domaine Dirler-Cade, Alsace
2010 Pinot Gris “Schimberg” Vineyard, Domaine Dirler-Cade, Alsace
2006 Cabernet-Merlot Graves Rouge, Chateau du Seuil, Bordeaux
2009 Brut Cremant d’Alsace, Domaine Dirler-Cade
2010 Cerons (Sauternes) Bordeaux, Chateau du Seuil

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Mon., June 25:  Kermit Lynch Beaujolais Dinner at Range (Mission) 

Range Restaurant
842 Valencia
San Francisco, CA

6:00 pm – $90

Cru Beaujolais — specifically the Lapierre Morgon and Foillard Cote du Py — have been the gateway drug for many a wine lover.  And Kermit Lynch has been the Beaujolais kingpin ever since he started bringing in the notorious “Gang of Four” producers to the U.S..  Foillard, Lapierre, Breton, and Thevenet wines will be front-and-center at a dinner on Monday night at Range.

Here are the wines being poured:

2010 Morgon ‘Cote du Py’ • Jean Foillard
2010 Morgon • Marcel Lapierre
2010 Morgon ‘Vielles Vignes’ • Guy Breton
2010 Régnié • Charly Thevenet

Wine Events: Week of June 10

Some food for thought on one of the themes I’ve touched on in recent blog posts:  wine descriptors.  Yesterday, I stumbled upon this piece by New York Times writer Eric Asimov talking about Lebanon’s Chateau Musar.

[W]ine is more than a collection of aromas and flavors. …[W]hat’s in a glass is more than the methodology of the winemaker and the equipment used.

[...]

Great wine is emotional, not merely rational, and romance — taking risks — is an essential feature.

Amen, Mr. Asimov.  This is probably the most concise way of summarizing why I generally shy away from doing formal wine reviews on this site.

And on that note, let’s get to this week’s SF wine events.

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Thurs., June 14:  The NPA / Salinia Tasting @ Arlequin (Hayes Valley)

Arlequin Wine Merchants
384 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA

6:00pm – 8:00pm – $20

I’ve always enjoyed wines from Kevin Kelley’s Salinia and NPA labels (as well as the  wine he made while at Lioco).  Try a flight of his wines delivered milkman style in Klean Kanteens, some library Salinia wines, as well as some new single barrel wines.  Here’s the full line-up:

2011 Petillant ‘Taken Rustic’ Sonoma County
2009 Sauvignon Blanc ‘Robina’ Russian River Valley
2010 White Blend ‘Saffron Haze’ Russian River Valley
2009 Pinot Gris ‘Chalk Hill’ Russian River Valley
2009 Chardonnay ‘In The Box’ Sonoma Coast
2006 Chardonnay ‘Heintz Ranch’ Sonoma Coast
2006 Pinot Noir ‘W.E. Bottoms’ Sonoma Coast
2010 Red Blend ‘Sunhawk Farms’ Mendocino County
2007 Syrah ‘Heintz’ Russian River Valley

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Sat., June 16:  Burgundy Tasting at Arlequin (Hayes Valley)

Arlequin Wine Merchants
384 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA

2:00pm – 5:00pm – $25

Arlequin has declared that Summer Saturdays will be drenched in Burgundy.  Last week was Puzelat and Piuze.  This week, it’s Roumier and Niellon.

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Sat., June 16:  Pinot Days (Fort Mason)

2:00pm – 5:00pm – $50 (tickets here)

Fort Mason will be home to a ton of pinot producers at the annual Pinot Days tasting.  For a discount, please go to the Vinography Pinot Days article.  

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 Tues., June 19: Loire Valley Tasting @ SF Wine Center (SoMa) 

SF Wine Center
757 Bryant Street
San Francisco, CA

6:30pm – 8:00pm – $60 (reserve ahead of time)

Christie Duffault leads this week’s class at SF Wine Center, featuring wines from one of my favorite regions — the Loire.  I was reminded how much I love these wines when I read this great article on a recent tasting.  Reminded me how much of a sense of community and creativity I was able to absorb in my short time there last September.

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Tues., June 19:  Sommelier Challenge: David Lynch vs. Shelley Lindgren (SoMa) 

RN74
301 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA

7:30 pm – $155 for four courses, six wines, the Antinori reception, and a free SJ subscription.

Antinori has been hosting a series called Sommelier CHallenge, pitting somm against each other in a steel cage match that combines the best of muay thai, sumo wrestling, and cornhole.  Oh, wait.  Sorry, I was mistaken.  You’ll have to settle for watching St. Vincent’s David Lynch and A16/SPQR’s Shelley Lindgren pair wines with a four-course meal at RN74 (six wines total).  Plus, there’s a pre-dinner reception featuring Antinori wines.  Email jpark@minagroup.net for reservations.