The First Annual (???) Grenache-a-Rama is in the books!
(Click here to see photos from Greg and Kelly)
From my totally impartial standpoint, I'd say it was a huge success!
Getting the wine glasses ready...
Getting the yard ready...
Getting the table ready...
Getting the bocce court ready...
OK, here we go!
Sonja Madgevski and Matt Brady, guests of honor
Matt Brady in the middle of Linda, Jan, Lorri, Jackie and Kelly. Matt is the winemaker for Jaffurs Wine Cellars in Santa Barbara. He also makes small amounts of wine under his own label, Vino Sapien Wine Co., specializing in Grenache.
Sonja, shown here with my lovely wife Lorri, is the owner, operator and winemaker of Casa Dumetz Wines of Buellton, with a tasting room in Los Alamos.
Greg, Rodger and Ray!
Greg is a part time wine pourer at the Sorrento Valley tasting room of Forgotten Barrel Wines, and Rodger is the owner! Ray is the owner of Fall Brewing Co. with production facilities and tasting room in North Park, San Diego.
John, Jan, Lorri, Jack, Matt and Jackie.
Linda, Jan, Lorri, Sally, Mitzi and Bruce
Warming up for the tasting
Still warming up!
OK, any minute now...
Every wine Matt has produced under his Vino Sapien label.
Matt and his wines, a 2006 and 2009 through 2013 Grenache, along with a 2014 Grenache/Syrah blend and a 2009 Pinot Noir.
In addition to Sonja's six Grenaches, she brought a couple of her specialty wines including this sparkler!
Sonja's six 2014 Grenache wines included five single vineyard wines, all from Santa Barbara County, as well as a blend of all five single vineyard wines.
Sonja patiently explained the subtle differences in each of her wines and how each one reflects the farming, the micro-climate, the soil and the vines from which they came.
OK, these are my photos from my iPhone. I slacked off as the afternoon progressed, so if anyone has any good photos they'd like me to add to this page, please email them to me. Thanks!
Thanks to Matt and Sonja (and all our guests) for making the Grenache-a-Rama an informative and fun afternoon!
Oh, thanks, to everyone for bringing food and snacks. Thanks to Rodger for sharing some fine Forgotten Barrel wine and to Ray for bring growlers from his Fall Brewing Company!
Some additional photos from Kelly and Greg:
Lorri, Kelly, Sonja and Matt
Ray pouring some Fall Brewing Co beer!
Rodger and Ray
Sonja opening a bottle of, I would guess, Grenache!
Just getting started
Pouring a taste for Jackie and Ray
"...and the vines were this high"
Jackie and Ray
Matt getting into it
Who is that old dude on the right?
Jan and John brought a great Cheese plate!
Thanks for the photos, G&K!