The Firestone Vineyard was chosen the winner of the 1996 Deinhard Trophy, a prestigious award given each year to honor the best "New World" riesling! Firestone got the award for its 1995 riesling.In this competition, rieslings are grouped by price-category and then subgrouped by sweetness level within the categories. Firestone's entry won the gold medal-best of price class in the under $7 category, and then went on to best all of the other entries to win the trophy.
The Deinhard family, by the way, owns some of the finest vineyards in Germany, including a significant portion of the Bernkasteler Doktor Vineyard.
Gainey's July-August concert lineup will include Juice Newton, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Stanley Clarke and Charlie Musselwhite. Call the winery for dates and prices. 688-0558.
Once again, staff members of area restaurants are invited to participate in the Vintners' Association's third annual Wine Server Seminar Series, an eight session educational program on wine, with an emphasis on the wines grown and produced in Santa Barbara County. The sessions are free-of-charge.
Identical morning and afternoon sessions are planned. The seminars take place at Fess Parker's Red Lion Resort and registration is limited. Those who attend at least six of the eight sessions and complete an internship or independent project will be awarded certificates and pins. The series is coordinated by Laila Rashid of Santa Barbara Winery and Joe Bogorad of Zaca Mesa. For more information call the Vintners' Association at 688-0881.
EVENTS:
THURSDAY, APRIL 18:
- Saturday, April 13, 2-5 p.m., the Wine Cask stages its second Santa Barbara wine futures bash at the University Club. $15 per person. Call 966-9463 for more information.
- Tickets are still available for the Sunday Vintners' Festival set for April 21 from 1-4 p.m. at the Firestone Meadow. Tickets are $60 each and payment must accompany orders; no gate sales. 688-0881. A NUMBER OF WINEMAKER DINNERS ARE SCHEDULED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE VINTNERS' FESTIVAL:
FRIDAY, APRIL 19:
- 6:30 p.m., the Stonehouse Restaurant at the San Ysidro Ranch hosts a dinner with Babcock, Brander and Gainey. $75. 969-4100. 6:30 p.m., Citronelle hosts a dinner with Cambria Winery and winemaker Dave Guffy. $75. 963-0111.
- 7 p.m., the Los Olivos Wine & Spirits Emporium hosts a mini food & wine festival with Chimère, Jaffurs, Moro Vino, Macmillan & Santa Barbara Winery with food from Arnoldi's Cafe in Santa Barbara, Javy's Cafe in Buellton and Nardo's Restaurant in Guadalupe. Sorbets and ice creams from Solvang's Tivoli Ice Cream. Check out the menu at www.sbwines.com. $38. 688-4409.
SATURDAY, APRIL 20:
- 7:30 p.m., Cold Spring Tavern presents "Syrah, wild game and cigars" with the county's best syrah producers, Cambria, Fess Parker, Jaffurs, Qupé, Zaca Mesa and Andrew Murray. $60. 967-0066. 7 p.m., the Ballard Store offers a winemaker dinner with John Kerr, winemaker at Carey Cellars. J. Kerr wines will also be presented. $65. 688-5319.
- 5:30 p.m., Cottonwood Canyon presents a Santa Maria-style barbecue catered by Phoenix Foods and tunes played by Big Daddy's Blues Band. $35. 549-9463.
- 7 p.m., the Los Olivos Wine & Spirits Emporium hosts a winemaker dinner with Kathy Joseph of Fiddlehead Cellars and Lane Tanner with the meal catered by the Casmalia Hitching Post. Check out the menu at www.sbwines.com. Part of the proceeds benefit Kermit McKenzie Junior High School in Guadalupe. $60. 688-4409.
- 6:30 p.m., Foxen holds a dinner at the winery catered by Chef Rick, with music by blues artist Rob Rio. $80. 937-4251. 6:30 p.m., the Seaventure in Pismo Beach presents a dinner with McKeon-Phillips Winery. $50. 489-5519.
- 6:30 p.m., The Alisal Guest Ranch hosts a dinner with Sanford Winery. $80. 688-6411.
- 7:45 p.m., the Los Olivos Cafe hosts a dinner with Santa Ynez Winery. $55. 688-8381.
- 5-8 p.m., the Santa Ynez Wine Trail presents a barrel tasting, dinner and live music at The Gainey Vineyard. $20. 1-800-824-8584.
SUNDAY, APRIL 21:
- 6 p.m., Andrew Murray presents a dinner at the winery catered by chefs and brothers Jeff and Matt Nichols (or Ocean Avenue Seafood and Spago respectively). $75. 686-9604.
- 4-7 p.m., Beckmen Vineyards offers a pre-dinner featuring Italian-style hors d'oeuvres, catered by Judy Beckmen. Live music. $15. 688-8664. 6:30 p.m., Remington's at the Los Olivos Grand Hotel hosts a Buttonwood Farm dinner. $60. 688-3032.
- 6 p.m., Cottonwood Canyon presents a "winemaker dinner in the caves," catered by Phoenix Catering with music by Bubba Ramey. $65. 549-9463. 6 p.m., Fess Parker Winery offers an elegant candlelight dinner at the winery, catered by the Wine Cask. Semi-formal. $80. 688-1545. 6:30 p.m., Mattei's Tavern and chef Scott Douglass present a winemaker dinner with Alison Green Doran and members of the Firestone family. $60. 688-4820.
- 7 p.m., Gainey presents a dinner at the vineyard catered by chef Michael Albright from the Gardens of Avila Restaurant at Sycamore Mineral Springs. $75. 688-0558.
- 5-7:30 p.m., McKeon-Phillips offers a picnic catered by chef Michael John Phillips, in the Daly Vineyard near Los Olivos. $32. 489-5519. 6 p.m., Rancho Sisquoc presents a luau as the ranch goes Hawaiian. Black tie prohibited; island wear appropriate. $30. 934-4332. 6:30 p.m., Sanford Winery holds a dinner at The Alisal. $80. 688-6411. 6:30 p.m., Santa Barbara Winery holds a dinner in its barrel room catered by the Wine Cask. $70. 963-3633.
- 7 p.m., Sunstone presents a candlelight dinner with a menu prepared by the Wine Cask. $30. 1-800-313-9463.
- 6:30 p.m., Zaca Mesa presents its 5th annual "Dixie Chicken Barbecue and Barn Dance" with music by the Call Me Bwanna band. $40. 688-9339, ext. 308.
RAVE:
- 11 a.m., Byron presents its annual brunch with the winemaking staff, catered by chef Kirsten Pedersen. $55. 937-7288. 11 a.m., Carey Cellars and John Kerr present a brunch at the winery, catered by Julianna Middleton. $25. 688-8554. noon-3 p.m., Sunstone presents "jazz and jambalaya." $15. 1-800-313-9463.
Everything Foxen does is magic! The winery has a new syrah, the true Rhone varietal, not to be confused with petite sirah (also known as duriff). It's vineyard designated. The vintage is 1994. Bill Wathen made 90 cases. It was aged for 16 months in 50 percent new French oak barrels, and 50 percent two year old barrels. It's unfined and unfiltered. It's unctuous--in the league of Qupé's Bien Nacido reserve syrahs and Cambria's Tepusquet Vineyard syrah. A wine you can definitely lay down for a while. Had it recently with one of Steve Hoegerman's gourmet pizzas topped with his own fresh cured olives. $25 a bottle and worth every penny! Bon appétit!
Bob Senn writes The Independent's monthly wine column, "Grapevine," and owns the Los Olivos Wine & Spirits Emporium.
