Sneak peeking at Paso Garagiste...

Photo by Xochitl Maiman

Made a last minute decision to hit the road to visit The Cellar in Santa Clarita last Thursday (10/13). Why? Because there was a special ‘sneak peek’ at a few wineries who will be participating in the upcoming Paso Garagiste festival on November 12th.

As I’m a big fan of Paso wines, and will be heading to the event next month, I thought I’d get a head start. I hadn’t been there in quite a while, so it was nice to catch up with owner DiMaggio Washington and his talented crew. The event was perfect – small enough to give me a chance to really visit with the winemakers (or their reps), and large enough to taste a bunch of wines!

And the winners of the "Harvest Passport" Giveaway are...

www.vcwines.com

Congratulations to Sherry Lynn, Cheryl Antonelli Dellepiane and Paula Higdon - they are each receiving one pair of "Harvest Passport" tickets for November! They get to wine their way through 6 artisan wineries in Ventura County! 

Thanks to all who participated. I hope you all will go ahead and purchase tickets and enjoy the fruits of these wonderful wineries' labors.


Cheers to all!

Special Ticket Giveaway - Wine your way thru Ventura County!

OK, all you wineaux out there! Here's the giveaway: The Goddess has 3 pairs of "Harvest Passport" tickets that will let the recipients wine their way thru Ventura County during the month of November!!

The 5th, 10th and 15th person to message me thru Facebook will receive one pair of tickets each!! This is a $70 value. The winners will pick up the tickets at one of six Ventura County Winery Association participating wineries!

Check out my blog http://goddessofvino.blogspot.com/2011/10/wining-in-ventura-county-all-november.html for details!

Wining in Ventura County - all November long!

“Harvest Passport” Entices Ventura County Wine Lovers to Celebrate the Season

The Ventura County Winery Association 

is holding a passport tasting event 

throughout November, inviting guests to enjoy a 

five-wine tasting flight at each of six local wineries

www.vcwines.com

VENTURA, CA; (September 20, 2011) – This November, the six urban wineries that comprise the Ventura County Winery Association are inviting locals and visitors to celebrate the season’s bountiful wine grape harvest with a month-long “Harvest Passport” event. Conveniently located just one hour’s drive from Los Angeles, Ventura County’s “urban wine trail” is an ideal weekend getaway or day-trip for out-of-towners.

For just $35, guests can receive a tasting flight of five wines at each of the six member wineries. Passport holders will also receive 10% off wine purchases on the day of their visit. In addition, Passport holders will be entered into a drawing to win one of two prize packages, each consisting of a two-night stay at Marriott Courtyard Camarillo and a Ventura County Winery Association Gift Package, comprised of one bottle from each of the six wineries. The Harvest Passport is valid through the entire month of November, so guests are welcome to visit each winery at their leisure, while taking in Ventura County’s breathtaking ocean views and lush scenery.

Cooking for Love...rocked!

Just a quick note as I am too tired to think clearly at the moment...

I was proud to be the Event Sommelier for Cooking for Love, a spectacular event to benefit Break the Cycle. All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you to all the wineries who participated!

It was an extraordinary evening, and I am honored to say that I have been asked to return next year in the same capacity. 

Hang in Paso with the Goddess in November...

November 12th - It's the Paso Garagiste Festival! The Goddess and various friends will be there. Will you?

Here's the scoop:

Artisan Wine Trend Gains Momentum at Paso Garagiste Festival

Forty Emerging Winemakers Sign On to Pour at November Event; Cal Poly Wine and Viticulture Program to Benefit; Limited Tickets Available 

Paso Robles, Ca – September 14, 2011  – Paso Garagiste today announced that forty of California’s most cutting-edge artisan ‘garagiste’* winemakers are now set to pour at the first annual Paso Garagiste Festival: Celebrating the Artisan Winemaker to be held November 11 – 12 at Paso Robles’ Windfall Farms. A limited number of tickets for the festival, which will raise funds for the Cal Poly Wine and Viticulture Program, are now on sale to the public at pasogaragiste.com.

Much Wining to take place...

Want a chance to meeting the Goddess and JD?

October 9th - Cooking for Love - a huge charity event to benefit Break the Cycle! I'm the Event Sommelier and have assembled almost a dozen wineries to go with the tasty offerings from all of the great restaurants in Los Angeles! Come and taste Shai Cellars, Martian Vineyards, Patel Winery, Chamisal, Roadhouse Winery, The Naked Grape, Bedford Winery, Collier Falls, plus great silent auction items donated by Tablas Creek, Dark Star Cellars and Brian Benson! It'll be great!
Here's more info:

Cooking for Love - Savor the Season
Sunday, October 9, 2011
5:30 PM VIP early admission, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM General Admission
Global Cuisine by Gary Arabia at The Lot Studios
1041 N. Formosa Ave - West Hollywood, CA
Now in its seventh year, Break the Cycle's Cooking for Love has become one of the most talked about and well-attended events in town. In fact, BizBash Magazine regularly names us one of the top ten food and wine events in Southern California.