From the Gioia Wines Website:
My wines proudly bear the name of Gioia. It is pronounced: Joy-AhhGioia is the Italian word for joy. It is in honor of my son Tyler.With the generous assistance of a Santa Barbara County, award winning Master wine-Maker: Jim Porter of William James Cellars, I personally blended all 4 of my wines.The grapes were harvested from the finest vineyards to be found in this naturally blessed wine making region.
Ocean air flows across this land, deep into the hills and canyons, allowing temperatures to climb at mid-day, becoming chilly over night. The balance of warm sunlight and fog cooled air, creates subtle, yet fully flavored grapes for fine wines.My fondest wish is for all of you to welcome, accept and celebrate what life has to offer.We’re all in this world together. I sincerely hope you will share Gioia and make it an enjoyable addition to your life, no matter where your journey takes you.
LUMU
Teri Love
When: Sun Jan 31, 2010 3pm to 5pm
Where: Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro, 516 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA
Description:
Local winemakers present wines accompanied with cheese and bread.
Guests can purchase wine.. if you stay for dinner, no corkage.
$15.00 per person
Published on
January 28, 2010 in
1.
Yes, last Saturday night we had a party for 16 at the Bistro (10 adults and 6 youngsters ages 9-12). We had a great time, the whole family together enjoying delicious food and wine.
It was easy and fun. Our long table was tucked between the rich blue and red walls with racks of wine bottles, intitimate without being forgotten. We had 4 different appetizers while socializing, sipping on glasses wine and waiting for everyone to arrive.
A place for our birthday cake and cupcakes on a side table After munching on baskets of bread at the table the 5 boys were set up with placemates and crayons and a coloring contest was on! The table was set with a special celebration menu.
I brought place cards for the table also, so everyone took their place. The boys were still coloring, but took their places, had rootbeers all around and probably more bread.
The staff was attentive and thorough, we finally had to ask that the rootbeers to not be filled again! Those boys were having too much fun, while the adults were able to laugh and talk through dinner. Eventually the napkins became scarves and then masks for the boys, it was very cute and they were entertained.
Finally we got the cake out, the candles were blown out and decaf was served. It was so much fun and the Bistro made it so easy (considering it took my sister and I all day just to make the cake and cupcakes)! We always enjoy our meals at the Bistro but having our dinner party at the Bistro so everyone could enjoy the evening and celebrate was perfect.
I can’t wait to do it again… Who’s birthday is next? Or Grilled Cheese Thursday anyone? Oh and the coloring contest results, they were all winners! How smart was that!
Lise Anne
Passport to the World of Wine
Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro
Petite Sirah Wed Feb 3 6pm
25.00 includes tastings and food pairings
05 Foppiano Reserve Petite Sirah Russian River California
05 Santa Barbara Winery Petite Sirah Santa Barbara County California
06 Aaron Vineyards Petite Sirah Paso Robles California
06 Loma Linda Vineyards Petite Sirah Paso Robles California
Mystery Wine TBA
This grape has had a rather muddled history ever since it was first cultivated in California circa 1890 shortly after being either propagated or identified as a seperate varitety in France in the 1880 s.
It is not Syrah, and there is nothing petite about it in terms of grape size or flavor. Many older Petite Sirah vineyards in California are actually field blends containing as many as five grape variteies (including Petite Sirah and Syrah). DNA fingerprinting has also shown what we know as Peitite Sirah could actually be the ancient Rhone variety Peloursin.
Or, as the most popular theory goes, this grape is actually Durif, a cross of Peloursin and Syrah created in France in the 1880s. Whatever the reason, the name Petite Sirah has stuck and the wine became an early favorite in California as the rich, massive wines it produces were a natural favorite when paired with old rancho cuisine featuring grilled meats and vegetables.
The big flavors, black pepper spice and rustic tannins are also a terrific match with hearty stews. Winemaker Bruce McGuire blended the adjoining Thompson Vineyard and Tres Burro Vineyard in Alisos Canyon, a site he feels is well suited for grapes to make big, rich wines.
March 3 Merlot
Published on
January 22, 2010 in
Events.
Sunday with the Vintner – Municipal Winemakers
From the Municipal Winemakers website:
The Municipal Winemakers grew up in the old-vine wine region of Rancho Cucamonga. After finishing undergrad at U.C. Santa Barbara (including months abroad in Spain and a year at University of Western Australia), they completed postgraduate education in Oenology and Viticulture at Curtin University in Margaret River, Western Australia – where the surf is much better than Davis or Fresno.
They have worked at a number of world class wineries in two hemispheres and three countries, both in large-scale commercial operations and small ultra-premium settings. They have a passion for Rhone varietal wines and have worked with some of the best fruit in the world. Notches on the belt include Henschke Cellars in Australia’s Barossa Valley, Chateau de Montfaucon across the Rhone River from Chateauneuf du Pape, Fess Parker Winery in Santa Barbara County, and a role overseeing outsource winemaking for Foster’s in Victoria, Australia, working on wines for brands like Penfolds, Rosemount, Lindemans, Seppelts, Coldstream Hills, and many others. Other experiences include those in Santa Cruz at Byington Winery and a graveyard shift vintage in Margaret River, Australia at Palandri wines while they were studying.
The Municipal Winemakers are passionate about quality winemaking and have traveled extensively to learn about techniques and terroir. They aspire to craft wines of purity, balance, intensity and expression of place.
Ok, so there is actually only one guy right now…
It’s me. Dave Potter.
When: Sun Jan 24, 2010 3pm to 5pm
Where: Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro, 516 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA
Description:
Local winemakers present wines accompanied with cheese and bread.
Guests can purchase wine.. if you stay for dinner, no corkage.
$15.00
This afternoon we will be starting a new wine tasting series at the Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro. These events are important to us in bringing the local wine and food community together as well as educating our guests about wines from around the world. These Sunday series differ from our Passport to the World of Wine tastings because they focus on local winemakers and highlight a single winery, not a selection of five wines from around the world.
Today Dragonette Cellars will be pouring in our dining area from 3-5pm.
From their website:
History
Brothers John and Steve Dragonette and close friend Brandon Sparks-Gillis formed Dragonette Cellars in order to pursue a mutual, long held dream to make wine in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. However, before embarking on this journey, we did our homework; seeking out and obtaining a wealth of knowledge of wine tasting, wine sales and winemaking at the feet of some of the finest retailers and winemakers in the world. Then, having established that this winery was exactly the project to which we could devote our working lives, we moved our families (a combined three spouses, three children, three dogs, and a cat) to the Valley, so we could be close to the land and its bounty. 2005 was our first commercial vintage, and we have been expanding since.
We are 100% hands-on in our venture. We have no employees, and each of us contributes our time, effort and hard physical labor to the end product, our wines. In fact, we would not have it any other way, for we all feel that a day working with our wines or the vines is the best kind of day. We are passionate and committed to crafting the finest possible wines from this very special Valley, one of the handful of great appellations in the world.
Dragonette Cellars is located in the Sta. Rita Hills
Sunday with the Vintner
Sunday, January 17
3-5pm
15.00 includes wine tasting and a selection of artisan cheeses
Published on
January 14, 2010 in
1.
New at Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro!
Sunday with the Vintner
These tastings will be held every Sunday from 3pm – 5pm at the restaurant. Local winemakers will present their wines accompanied by cheese and breads.
15.00
Jan 17 Dragonette
Jan 24 Municipal Winemakers
Jan 31 Gioia Wines
Feb 7 Kenneth Volk
Feb 14 TBA
Feb 21 TBA
Feb 28 J Wilkes
Guests are able to purchase wine, and if you stay for dinner, no corkage fee.
Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro 516 State Street 805-962-1455 www.pierrelafond.com
Food Pairings for tonight’s Passport to the World of Wine, Bordeaux
Wednesday, January 6
6-8pm
04 Chateau Le Pape Pessac-Leognan Bordeaux France
Roasted Mushroom & Tallegio Flatbread
06 ONXY Cab Sauvignon Darling South Africa
Smoked Trout “Rangoons” with Oyster Sauce
03 Chelsea Vineyards Cab Sauvignon Sonoma California
Duck Rillette on Crostini with Orange Gastrique
06 Bell Claret Napa Valley California
Duck Rillette on Crostini with Orange Gastrique
06 Santa Barbara Winery Cab Sauvignon Grassini Vineyard Santa Ynez California
Lobster Mousseline on Golden Beet Chip with Lime Parsley Sauce
Hope to see you there!
25.00 per person
Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro
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