Preview: LAWineFest/June 8-9, Featuring Hundreds of Wines, Celeb Chefs, Food Trucks, Tasting Seminars and More!

Before you confirm any other plans in the Los Angeles area for the weekend of June 8-9, be sure to investigate the 8th Annual 2013 LAWineFest, to be held at Hollywood's Historic Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038.

At the Festival,  you will discover celebrity chef demos, tasting classes, optional VIP access and some of Los Angeles' hottest food trucks.

All of this is in addition, of course, to the hundreds of award winning wines being offered from 13 countries, craft brews and artisan cocktails.

The LAWineFest hours are Saturday, June 8, from 2-6pm, and Sunday, June 9, from 12-5pm. Tickets are available here (http://lawinefest2013.eventbrite.com/).

All proceeds from the event benefit the Food Forward charity, whose mission is to bring together volunteers and neighbors to share in the harvesting and recovery of locally grown produce from private homes, public spaces and farmers markets. All of this produce is then distributed at no cost to agencies serving our community's most vulnerable.

The festival itself is L.A.’s largest and longest-running wine-tasting event, with the goal of making wine fun and accessible for Angelenos while supporting local charitable organizations.

LAWineFest Seminars

Saturday, June 8 - 2:45pm: Discovering Spain’s Rioja; $15 | 3:45pm: Artisinal Cheese & Wine Pairing Adventures with Barrie Lynn, The Cheese Impresario; $35 (a sell-out every year) | 4:45pm: Walking in Their Shoes: a panel discussion with California winemakers and winery owners, $15

Sunday, June 9 - 1pm: Wine & Cheese - A Good Combo? Hosted by Terry & Wally August of Fancifull Fine Food & Baskets, $35 | 2pm: Discovering Spain’s Rioja, $15 | 3pm: Artisanal Cheese & Wine Pairing Adventures, $35 (a sell-out every year)

Celebrity Chefs: Eric Greenspan of The Foundry on Melrose and Chang Sivilay of the Mandarin Hotel West Hollywood and Asia de Cuba will be presenting interactive cooking demos on the Wolf Range, one of the event’s premiere sponsors.

Stella Artois Beer Garden presented by 2013 event sponsor Stella Artois, will offer several brew varieties on tap for all guests to enjoy.

Food Trucks & Restaurants include Lobsta Truck, Heirloom, Tainamite, Green Truck, Slammin’ Sliders, Hot’s Kitchen, The Surfer Taco, Sweet Arleen’s Cupcake & Bread Puddings. Plates start at $2; not included in event ticket price.

VIP Tickets are available on Saturday, June 8 only; $30 upgrade includes early admission at 1pm, access to the VIP Garden featuring exclusive tastings and a VIP gift bag. Guests can purchase VIP tickets here: http://lawinefest2013.eventbrite.com/.

K&L Wines in Hollywood and Mel & Rose in West Hollywood will be on-site to take orders and make wines available for in-store pickup or home delivery.

WHAT:
8th Annual LAWineFest

WHEN:
Saturday, June 8, 2-6 p.m. and Sunday, June 9, 12-5 p.m.

WHERE:
Hollywood’s Historic Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Ave. LA, CA 90038

TICKETS:
$85/single; $150/couple; $20 designated driver
Visit www.LAWineFest.com for special advanced pricing and to purchase tickets

PARKING:
Street parking (metered on Saturday) and paid parking available at Paramount Studios lots on Bronson and Van Ness.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit www.LAWineFest.com.

Preview: 27th Annual Ojai Wine Festival, Sunday, June 9, 2013

By way of background, opening thoughts: 

Ojai, California, known for its long-lived cultural and agricultural heritage, has also been quietly building a strong wine reputation.  Here's an event that will give you in one afternoon an opportunity to experience the best of both the wine and food expertise from the Ojai region.  Spirit of Wine will post reviews of the sampled wines following the event.

Particulars:


The twenty-seventh annual Ojai Wine Festival will take place Sunday, June 9, 2013 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm on the scenic shores of Lake Casitas. From its humble beginnings in 1987 the event has grown into a leading regional event attracting nearly 5000 people from throughout the Central Coast and Southern California. The annual event is a major fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Ojai West Foundation; a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps fund many humanitarian and community projects, including the environmentalscience based educational Lake Casitas Boat Tours for public schools.

“You can’t beat the combination of fantastic wine, beer, food, live music, dancing and fun in such a beautiful shady setting on the shores of Lake Casitas,” boasted Robert Long, President of the Rotary Club of Ojai-West.

Select from ten of Ojai’s best restaurants to buy a delicious meal. Guests may dine and drink wine on tables throughout the site or picnic on a grassy knoll overlooking the stage and Lake Casitas.

Not a wine lover? Beer lovers can enjoy tasting a great selection of over 20 domestic and import beers. Purchase a V.I.P. ticket for the exclusive V.I.P. Lounge to enjoy early 11:30 am entry, fine wines by the glass or three craft Belgian beers by the glass sponsored by Anheuser-Busch: Stella Artois, Hoegaarden or Leffe with free hors d’oeuvresserved by Sakura Ojai Japanese Restaurant and La Piu Bella Tavola Italian Catering & Cabot Cheese in a lovely shaded setting by the lakefront. VIP patrons can sample a glass of wine from Silver Wines, Bianchi Winery, Law Estate Wines, Huge Bear Wines or Barefoot Wine & Bubbly. Full ticket price information is available at the festival’s website - http://www.ojaiwinefestival.com.

“Last year had over 60 wineries who poured over 250 diverse wines,” states Wine Festival Executive Director, Angela May. “Our selection of wineries is looking impressive for this year. Tickets are limited and we advise buying tickets online now.  Photos, maps, and information from last year’s event can be found at the Festival’s website.”

Visitors can look forward to listening, dancing, and singing along to the music of Beatles tribute band, Sgt. Pepper, plus Captain Cardiac and the Coronaries, a 1950’s – 1960’s rock and roll show band. The festival will also feature an assortment of arts and crafts vendors selling their wares. Small children can play in the park’s play area and free boat rides on Lake Casitas will again be available to all attendees. More than 100 volunteers guarantee a well run and safe festival.

Calendar Details:

27th Annual Ojai Wine Festival

Wine & beer tasting, food, craft vendors, silent auction and entertainment by the lakeside.
June 9, 2013 at Lake Casitas Recreational Area Event Site
12 to 4 PM

Tickets online at www.ojaiwinefestival.com or starting in April at Ojai’s Attitude
Adjustment Shoppe or Reid’s Appliances of Ventura and Santa Barbara

Advance tickets receive deep discounts and there are a limited number of VIP and General
Admission available.

Review: **** $$ Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, WA, 2010 = BEST VALUE

Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon.

By way of background, opening thoughts:  I do like Columbia Valley, Washington, cabernet sauvignons.  I really enjoyed the 2009 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon, to which I awarded four stars and gave a "best value designation" in my review last year here.  Now we're a year later (a year wiser too?) and let's give a try to the 2010 vintage.

Original tasting and review : This is Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, WA, 2010, finished at 14.5% alcohol.

In the glass: Deep bloody burgundy red.

On the nose: Poured at room temperature and swirled vigorously, shows soft, rich, deeply veined red and black fruit with sweet cinnamon.  From the aroma, seems like this will be hefty, sweet and layered.

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact lush, toned, slightly cedar-laced black fruit, with ample supporting tannin structure.  Finish is both bright and deep, bold and slowly-finishing.

In summary: Overall, rates four stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, and seems to becoming a perennial best value at approximately three years from vintage date.

Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon.

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  If you are a winery, distributor or marketing agent and you would like to see your (or your client's) wine featured at Spirit of Wine, here are two options: 1) Wait, pray and hope - we may find you someday; 2) Submit a wine for review.  No charge.  Particulars are here.   If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.

Review: *** $ Chateau St Jean Cabernet Sauvignon, California, 2010 = BEST VALUE

Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Chateau St Jean Cabernet Sauvignon.

Original tasting and review : This is Chateau St Jean Cabernet Sauvignon, California, 2010, finished at 13.8% alcohol.

In the glass: Deep magenta.

On the nose: Poured at room temperature and swirled vigorously, shows some oak overlaying a generic purple nose.  From the aroma, seems like this will be simple but pleasant.

On the palate: The primary elements on the palate are in fact showing cinnamon and pepper on top of the simpler fruit base.  This creates texture and some depth, unexpected at this price point.  Tannins bring a sweet fruit around for a longer-haul than anticipated.

In summary: Overall, rates three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale, and is a clear best value.

After a couple of days in a partially-filled, vacuum-sealed bottle: nose and palate remain very consisten.


Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Chateau St Jean Cabernet Sauvignon.

(c) Copyright 2011 Spirit of Wine, all rights reserved.  If you are a winery, distributor or marketing agent and you would like to see your (or your client's) wine featured at Spirit of Wine, here are two options: 1) Wait, pray and hope - we may find you someday; 2) Submit a wine for review.  No charge.  Particulars are here.   If you are reading this full posting on any site other than Spirit of Wine, chances are it is a copyright violation.