Mac's Wine Events in SF Area

Dear Wine-y Friends:

This is your August 2009 EVENTS LIST for the San Francisco Bay Area, with emphasis on the East Bay.

WHERE I'LL BE ON SATURDAY AUG 8!

-->EAST BAY URBAN WINE EXPERIENCE - FOURTH ANNUAL<-- Saturday August 8 - 2 to 5pm Location: Jack London Square--at "The Meadow"near the Ferry Terminal. Yes, you can come over from lunch in SF by ferry! Complimentary limousine SHUTTLE service will be offered to and from the Lake Merritt BART station, courtesy of Angelica Limousines. Just look for their limo. OR you can walk, actually, it's only a few blocks. Cost: $45. Buy in advance, because it's $60 at the door! (Designated drivers are only $15, pay in cash at the door) Buy tickets at http://www.eastbayvintners.com/events.html#uwx4 NOTES: -I've been to every one of these events and they are FUN. Wines are great!
-14 Wineries, all East Bay! And they are great! See link above for list.
-Plus food at every booth.
-You get a Reidel glass too.
-If you want to meet up, just give me a call on my cell, 415-609-5846, when you arrive.

PARTICIPATING WINERIES! -->(TELL THEM YOU WERE SENT BY 'MAC' FROM THE 'MAC'S WINE EVENTS IN SF AREA' BLOG!)

1. Adams Point (fruit wines--strange and wonderful!)
2. *Andrew Lane
3. Aubin Cellars - French Colombard, two Pinots, Syrah
4. *Dashe Cellars -- dense!
5. Eno Wines
6. *Irish Monkey - yum!
7. *JC Cellars - really, *really* dense!
8. *Periscope Cellars
9. Prospect 772
10.*R & B Cellars -- damned good stuff at affordable prices
11.*Rock Wall Wine Co (Rosenblum's daughter's winery - new! Oh, do try their Zin! And their Sauv Blanc-Chard blend. And more.)
12.*Rosenblum Cellars -- Papa Ken!
13.Tayerle Wines
14.*Two Mile
15.Urban Legend (new)
16.*Urbano Cellars - Rose Syrah, Petit Verdot, Zin
(*Wineries I know best & recommend enthusiastically.)

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****MORE WINE EVENTS COMING UP in AUGUST for those who love wine and related activities follow.

I'VE GOT GOOD NEWS -- AND I'VE GOT BAD NEWS!

The good news: There are LOTS of wine events coming up in August, and as the autumn progresses!

The bad news: There are SO MANY it's really hard to get to them all! And you want to!

So let's give you some choices that will show you what I mean.

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Image of Blacksmith Cellars via Snooth

Blacksmith Cellars Open House Event.
Thurs Aug 20, 6-8pm
World Ground Cafe, 308 Jackson St, Oakland - $5 only

Founder and winemaker Matt Smith will serve up Blacksmith's unusual and amazing selections: New white wine releases Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Torrontes, and Late Harvest Malvasia Bianca, as well as the official East Bay release of the Furlong Vineyard Grenache/Syrah. "Our Torrontes recently made the San Francisco Chronicles list of Best Whites under $15 and the Grenache/Syrah has been selling fast and we are down to about 15 cases so this is probably the only chance you will have to taste this amazing wine."

Try the Chenin Blanc, I'm told it's gorgeous. I would kill to go to this, but I have a conflict, darn it. Go on my behalf and tell me later how wonderful it was so I can kick myself.

"As always we will have a number of tasty food pairings designed to highlight the wines and a section for children’s activities... RSVP’s are always helpful (to mattsmith@blacksmithcellars.com) but not required."

Mention "Mac's Wine Events" blog -- help me build good will with local winemakers.

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Spring Mountain Vineyards Night at AT&T Park
Tuesday Aug 11.
At the other extreme, pricewise, this interesting twist of an event: At the Legends Club luxury suite, start at 5:30 tasting the winery's new release 2005 Elivette (don't know, sorry), and other SMV wines, plus an elaborate buffet dinner. Enjoy the game indoors (glass windows) or outside to the deck with panoramic views of the Park. A few tickets left, at $195 - yes, I know, but I couldn't resist dreaming, could I?

If this is for you, call "Ted" at 707-967-4190. And tell 'em The Bawdy sent you.

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Sulphur Creek (Hayward) "Flight to Freedom!"
Relax under the stars at Hayward's Nature Center, drink wine, beer, coffee, eat food, listen to music from Hugh & The Hefners (?), and witness the release of some young owls raised by the Creek's wildlife rehab program! (Must be 21 to attend.) Beverages provided by Buffalo Bill's Brew Pub, Owl Ridge Wines, Thomas Coyne Winery, and Westover Vineyards!

Saturday Aug 29, 6:30 to 9pm. Sulphur Creek, 1801 D St, Hayward 94541. $70 a ticket, of which $45 is tax-deductible. (This is a fundraiser.) Doesn't this sound charming? The A Team and us'll be going; we're suckers for animals.

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Raphael Knapp, a French wine importer in the San Francisco area, hosts fine-wine-dining events in San Francisco, at spectacularly good restaurants. I've been to a couple and NOT been disappointed. Upcoming is a wine dinner at La Folie restaurant on Monday, Aug 17, reception and hors d'oeuvres at 6:30, dinner at 7. Bordeaux Blanc, Vouvray, Pomerol, Cote du Ventoux Rose -- oh yeah. Oh, the food: Amuse Bouche, Sweet Corn soup, Heirloom Tomato & Beet Salad, Day Boat Scallop, roasted Hawaiian butterfish, duck greast, roasted rack of lamb, summer berries, a bittersweet chocolate and passionfruit Bombe. Ahhh! And of course petit fours.

$95. Contact the restaurant, which is at 2316 Polk, SF (Russian Hill), at 415-776-5577 or email Lafoliep@aol.com. Or email raphaelknapp@hotmail.com for more details. Mention Mac!

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And if you like the idea of urban wineries - well, guess who is belatedly catching on? San Francisco!

Seems all that emptying warehouse space is giving affordable opptys for winemakers there. So they are imitating Oakland by holding their own SF Urban Wineries Tasting -- Sunday, Aug 9, 1 to 4:30pm, at Del Monte Square at The Cannery in San Francisco -- $15 in advance (https://www.localwineevents.com/tickets/i_want/260425/sf-urban-wineries-tasting), $20 at the door.

It sez here: "Taste dozens of wines from San Francisco Urban Wineries and meet winemakers from boutique San Francisco wineries... at San Francisco's Sunday Summer Wine Tasting series in Del Monte Square next to The Cannery. Learn about the highly rated wines produced right here in San Francisco, the diverse wine growing regions where the grapes come from, and meet winemakers and taste through over a dozen wines from Urban Wineries in a casual outdoor setting in San Francisco. Taste over 20 wines from the following boutique California wineries:
AP Vin. August West, Blue Cellars, Harrington Winery, Morningwood, Lionheart Wines, Sandler Wines, Sol Rouge, TI Wines, and VIE.

Doesn't that sound interesting?

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Downtown Pleasanton's "First Wednesdays" Street Party - 6 to 9, on Main St., with beers and Livermore wines, live music, vendors selling stuff, even a Pooch Parade (!).

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Time again for St. Mary's College "Summer Wine Festival," Sun Aug 16, 2-5 PM -- at St. Mary's, Moraga, CA 94575, ph. 925-631-4200.

"Support student scholarships while sipping wines from 25 local wineries in the Soda Center at Saint Mary's College. The event will also feature a silent auction, cheeses, chocolates, and a few breweries as well." Costs $30.

I go every year and enjoy it!

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$1 Wine Tasting w/ Dee Vine Wines @ Franklin Square
August 13, 2009 (Thu) 5-7 PM
Franklin Square Restaurant & Wine Bar, 2212 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612, ph. 510-251-0100

This week we'll be featuring the wines of Aubin Cellars.

(Looks like Aubin is making the rounds -- not just the Urban Wineries event, above, but also this one later in the month, and another one (below)! Here's the bio of this ambitious local winemaker. -- Mac):

Aubin Cellars was founded by Jérôme Aubin in 2001 with the intent to craft limited quantities of single varietal wines from the Pacific Northern cooler climate vineyards in Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma Mountain, Central Coast, Willamette Valley and Columbia Valley. www.aubincellars.com

Franklin Square Restaurant & Wine Bar hosts '$1 Wine Tasting' every Thursday from 5pm to 7pm. All wines are available at special retail prices, to be enjoyed at home or at the restaurant (with no corkage).

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* The Vine at Bridges--Aubin Cellars Wine Tasting
August 27, 2009 (Thu), 6-8 PM
480 Hartz Avenue, Danville, CA 94526
ph. 925-820-7210 thevineatbridges.com

(Well, here they are again! - mac)

"Jerome Aubin, has been working in the wine industry in France and the United States for the last 12 years importing French oak barrels from Rousseau of Burgundy, St Martin of Bordeaux, Allary of Cognac, A&K of Missouri, and Balazs of Hungary. In 2008, Jerome started to import and distribute wine concrete tanks from Nomblot of Burgundy. His ongoing career in the barrel business enables him to visit yearly over 300 wineries in California, Oregon, Washington, New York States in the United States and British Columbia, Ontario provinces in Canada. From these numerous barrel tastings, he acquired a taste for different styles of wines, expressing in each a unique quality. He sought to benefit from this fruitful interaction with winemakers and the visits to various wine producting regions to inspire his own style and select the best possible grapes."

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Image of Two Mile Wines via Snooth

* Food Pairings that Rock with La Sommelierre @ Two Mile Wines
"WINES FROM SOMEWHERE" -- A Class to Discover each of our unique California wine regions
August 18, 2009 (Sat), 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Two Mile Wines, 2816 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702, ph. 510.868.8713

"Two Mile wines with perfect pairings: Learn the fundamentals of food and wine pairing and what works for you. Taste three delicious Two Mile Wines and three gourmet food pairings to go with them. Discover why the perfect match elevates both the food AND the wine.

"Class size is limited to 20 people. Take home your favorite class wines at a discount. Sign-up for three or more classes and take an additional 10% off each class.

"These classes are so popular they are selling out fast. Don’t miss your opportunity to enjoy these educational and entertaining wine classes by Maria Terry, La Sommelierre, created especially for Two Mile Wines.

"Reserve your space today! Check out our website www.twomilewines.com for more information Two Mile-- The best wines and most unique wine education classes in the East Bay!"

Future classes include:
9/15/09 - DRINK BLIND: Learn how Master Sommeliers determine blind wines

Hey, I'd like to know that!

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Bluegrass Music and BBQ at Cedar Mountain Winery, 7000 Tesla Rd, Livermore, CA 94550
ph. 925 373-6636
August 8, 2009 (Sat), 5-10PM

"Come join us under the trees for Live Bluegrass Music by the 'Forget me Nots' and a 'Bring Your Own Meat' BBQ. Cedar Mountain Winery will supply baked beans, green salad, the grill & coals to cook on. Wine by the glass/bottle, water, and soda will be available for purchase. $10. Call Tasting Room for details and to reserve your spot now. (925) 373-6636 Don't forget your plates and utensils. Make sure to wear your dancing shoes! (No outside alcohol please.)

Yeah, but Cedar Mountain really does make some tasty wines, I can vouch! -- mac

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Wine & Cheese Special 2009 on the Niles Canyon Railroad!
Every Sunday from Aug 9 to Sept 6!
2:30 PM - 5:30 PM Cost $37.50.
LOCATION: Sunol, 6 Kilkare Road, Sunol, CA 94586 (sorta near Fremont)
ph. 408-835-7119 http://www.ncry.org/wine_ch_09.htm

"Enjoy a gustatory Tour de Train. These relaxing two-hour trips through Niles Canyon will present over 30 different selections from six local wineries throughout the event.

"These special trains will explore the secrets of wine tasting and food and wine pairing. A typical selection will include two whites and three reds with the foods that highlight their unique characteristics. Different wines are featured every week, along with carefully selected cheeses, breads or chocolates to compliment each offering.

"The Wine Tasting Special is a program of the Pacific Locomotive Association demonstrating fine railroad service. The wineries of Livermore are highlighted by the wines chosen for this event. This is a fund raiser for the PLA with the goal that our guests experience and appreciate fine railroad service while learning more of Livermore Area wines.

"Guests are served while seated during the trip. The cars used are historic railroad cars and have very limited handicapped access. The aisles are not suitable for wheel chairs.

"NCRy commemorative wine glasses, and buffet plates are provided for the guests to take home.

"Dress is summer casual. The railroad car seating is a mixture of enclosed and open cars and the weather promises to be warm. Bottled water is provided all guests while onboard.

"Boarding at 3pm, departure at 3:30pm and return at 5:30pm are the scheduled times. Guests are encouraged to make area dinner reservations after 6:30pm. Restaurants in Sunol, Niles and Pleasanton are within 15 minutes driving time of the station."

Sample Wine Menu’s from previous seasons:
Grand Cuvee Sparking wine with double crème brie
Chardonnay with green apple and sharp cheddar
Merlot with middle aged Peccorino Toscano
Cabernet Franc with cows milk gorgonzola
Tempranillo with bruschetta and mozzarella
Riesling with Cotswold cheese
Sauvignon Blanc with Pink Lady Apple and Tillamook sharp cheddar
Syrah with smoked Gouda
Zinfandel with Parmesano Reggiano
Cabernet Sauvignon with Camembert

"We select wines from the Livermore Valley region exclusively. Each week will typically include two whites and three reds."

Yum. We gotta try one of these!

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Grey Wolf Wine Maker Dinner at Blackhawk Grille, August 20 (Thu), 7-9:30PM
Black Hawk Grille, 3540 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville, CA 94506
ph. 925.736.4295

"Meet Joe Barton from Grey Wolf Cellars, one of the Best Artisan wine producers in Paso Robles and taste his fine hand-crafted limited production wines paired with cuisine specially prepared by Executive Chef Ryan Jackson at the Blackhawk Grille. You don't want to miss this pairing menu, for only $65 pp! Advanced reservations required. Book early to save your spot."

You should see the menu! Oy! Visit www.blackhawkgrille.com/ to reserve, and to get more info.

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Little Valley Winery Grand Opening, Aug 15 (Sat), 5-8PM
739 Main Street, Suite J, Pleasanton, Ca 94566
ph. 925-862-9006 http://www.littlevalleywinery-lavender.com/

Never heard of 'em. All the more reason to go check them out! -- mac
(Yes, tell 'em Mac sent you!)

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IS THIS *ALL*?

NO IT IS NOT!

You have NO IDEA how many events there are in August -- heck, we missed a couple dozen just by not publishing this newsletter until August 4th!!

*FOR MORE LOCAL WINE EVENTS -- GO TO Local Wine Events.com!

For East-Bay events, go to http://www.localwineevents.com/Oakland-East-Bay-Wine/

OR GO TO http://www.localwineevents.com/Livermore-Valley-Wine/ for the same for the Livermore Valley.

You can also sign up for biweekly email alerts for these or other regions you choose. including San Francisco -- and oh yeah! Every state in the U.S.A. that makes wines -- and that's all of them! -- or that hosts winetastings -- and that's all of them too!

What you still have to read about in the Local Wine Events calendar that I haven't even covered:
-August First Friday at Ridge in Healdsburg (showing their Lytton Springs), and their Summer Wine Series too.
-Chumeia Vineyard wine ice cream social in Paso Robles
-Hornblower Yachts Wine & Art Cruise
-Music Night at the Artisan Wine Lounge in Walnut Creek
-Wine & Spirit Education Trust Intermediate Course Level Two Part One, in San Francisco, where you taste 17-25 wines a day for two days. Woosh!
-A cooking class/Winery Tour and Tasting at Crushpad in San Francisco.
--Meet Winemaker Rudy von Strasser in Mountain View (their cabs - oh my!)

and that just takes me up to August 15!

I told ja, I told ja! TOO MUCH WONDERFULNESS!

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AND WE CLOSE, MY PARISHIONERS, with a verse from our friend Allison Wright, please turn to page 39 in your hymnals:

"I just read an article on the dangers of heavy drinking....

"Scared the shit out of me.

"So that's it!

"After today --no more reading!"
--

Hope to see you all at an upcoming event, Bawdy and otherwise!

Love,

Mac Daddy