Wine Stars

Wine Stories and News for the Young at Heart

Which Do You Prefer? Dry Creek Valley AVA or Alexander Valley AVA

SSU Wine Sense Board and Guests (Contributed by Erica Schreckenghaust) - Which do you prefer - Dry Creek or Alexander Valley? This was the question on the minds of the more than 40 students who attended the SSU Wine Sense tasting last Thursday. In the end it was impossible to choose a favorite, because they were both excellent! But everyone learned much about these two distinctive and different AVAs located in Northern Sonoma County. Dry Creek Valley Wine Association Location in Northern Sonoma County on the West side of 101, the Dry Creek Valley Wine Association was created [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T21:57:04-08:00April 1, 2015|

How I Fell In Love with Wine: Romance and Hoppy Beer

Chris Driving Through the Vineyards (Contributed by Christopher Harrison) - Look at how happy that guy looks! That picture was taken on my 1 year Dating Anniversary to the woman that 7 months ago became my wife. I planned a romantic getaway in the heart of the California Wine Country and she never had a clue it was coming. At this point in my life I was much more a lover of beer. I had just started working for Pyramid Breweries and had become a full on Hop-Head. I wanted the biggest, baddest, hoppiest beers possible and I [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T21:57:25-08:00March 30, 2015|

How I Fell In Love with Wine: Family and the Beauty of Sonoma County

Matt Helping With Harvest (Contributed by Matt Medeiros) - I fell in love with wine when I was a teenager because we owned a family vineyard. Growing up around grapes, a vineyard located in the Russian River Valley AVA, with high quality Pinot Noir grapes was a great privilege. I got to see a lot of the work, time, and effort that goes into growing quality grapes for a well-known highly praised wine family. My dad basically managed the vineyard, and oversaw all vineyard operations, which gave a very intimate hands on opportunity to see what goes on. [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T21:57:44-08:00March 26, 2015|

Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir and Sbragia Cabernet Sauvignon Tie as Top Favorites in Classic Red Tasting

Sbragia Wines With Cheese Platter What is a classic red wine grape? It is a variety that has proved it can produce consistently high quality over a long period of time in more than one region of the world. Therefore, though there are more than 120 commercially produced wine grapes, there are only 4 classic red grapes. In California, however, we add Zinfandel as well, because it is one of our most beloved State grapes: Pinot Noir – famous in Burgundy, Oregon, Sonoma, New Zealand and many other regions of the world Merlot– famous in Bordeaux, Italy, Washington, [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-05T13:45:59-08:00March 9, 2015|

Sparkling Wine, Port & Chocolate Truffle Tasting with Mumm and Sonoma Portworks

SSU Wine Sense Club Tasting (Contributed by Erica Schreckenghaust) - Bring on the sparkle, chocolate, and the heady taste of port please! This was the siren’s call of a recent SSU Wine Sense Club meeting, where students were introduced to Olivia Najjar from Mumm Napa and Bill Reading from Sonoma Portworks! About Mumm Napa Most people recognize that Mumm Champagne was started in France, but Mumm has also been in Napa Valley for many years. The founding president and wine maker, Guy Devaux, worked with an architect in 1986 to create the Domaine Mumm facility in Rutherford. Three [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T21:59:01-08:00March 3, 2015|

Chateau Montelena Sauvignon Blanc Voted Favorite in SSU Tasting of Classic White Grapes

Chateau Montelena in Napa valley What is a classic white wine grape? It is a variety that has proved it can produce consistently high quality over a long period of time in more than one region of the world. Therefore, though there are more than 120 commercially produced wine grapes, only 5 are considered to be classic white wine grapes: Chardonnay – famous in Burgundy, Sonoma and many other regions of the world Sauvignon Blanc – famous in the Loire, Bordeaux, New Zealand and many other region Riesling – famous in Germany, Austria and Australia Chenin Blanc – [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:00:21-08:00February 26, 2015|

A Great Wine Cocktail for Valentine’s Day – The Torrontes Tango

Torrontes Tango Wine Cocktail Here is a fun wine cocktail that is perfect for Valentine's Day. Enjoy it with that romantic someone or with a group of friends. I learned about this drink when I visited Argentina last March. It is made with watermelon and white wine - preferably Torrontes. In Argentina it is primarily served during their summer months when watermelon is ripe (November – February in the Southern Hemisphere). Fortunately we can find watermelon in many US supermarkets at this time of the year as well. I've modified the recipe with a few new ingredients, and [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:00:48-08:00February 11, 2015|

Matanzas Creek and VJB Cellars Kick Off Spring 2015 Tasting at SSU Winesense Club

Lavender Field at Mantanzas Creek Winery (Contributed by Erica Schreckenghaust) The Wine Sense Club members kicked off the spring semester with two special tastings with Judy and Bradford from Matanzas Creek Winery and Micah, Mike and Ryan from VJB Vineyards & Cellars. About Matanzas Creek Winery Matanzas Creek was founded in 1977, and was the first winery located in the Bennett Valley AVA. Bennett Valley is a very unique area as it is surrounded three beautiful mountains, Sonoma, Bennett and Taylor, creating a perfect pocket for fog and cool air that rolls in from the Pacific Ocean. The estate [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:01:08-08:00February 6, 2015|

SSU Winesense Board Confirms Spring 2015 Tasting Schedule

SSU Winesense Board at Annual Planning Dinner The wine tasting schedule for SSU’s Winesense Club has just been confirmed for Spring 2015 and the line-up of wineries is mouthwatering. Jan. 29 – The Magical Wines of Matanzas Creek Feb. 12 – Valentine’s Day Tasting with Sonoma Port Works & Mumm Napa March 12 – Big Reds with Styker April 9 – Innovative Wines with Delicato April 23 – Pinot Envy with Gary Farrell Meetings start at 7pm and are held in the Bennett Valley Room in the new Student Union Building. The Membership fee is $30 for the [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:01:34-08:00January 30, 2015|

Holiday Wines with Freemark Abbey

SSU Winesense Board for Holiday Wine Tasting with Freemark Abbey Contributed by Erica Schreckenghaust - For our final meeting of the semester we had the pleasure of welcoming Kate Hansen from Freemark Abbey. She was kind enough to share 6 fabulous wines to help us celebrate the holiday season and forget final exam stress for a couple of hours. Unique History of Freemark Abbey Freemark Abbey has a history of standing out from the rest, as it was the first winery built by a woman in the United States in 1886, by Josephine Tychson. The unique name was [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:24:25-08:00December 23, 2014|

Ian Cauble, MS Returns to SSU with Brandon Carneiro to Share SommSelect

SommSelect Founders, Brandon, Tyler, and Ian Cauble, MS Contributed by Erica Schreckenghaust - The WineSense Club had the honor of welcoming back the dynamic duo behind SommSelect; Ian Cauble and Brandon Carneiro. They first met in 1999 at Sonoma State University and were part of the students who created the WineSense Club in 2000. Ian studied Business and Spanish, while Brandon studied Economics. Years late they reconnected in Las Vegas where Brandon was a fine wine salesman and Ian was attempting to become a Master Sommelier, which is depicted in the documentary, SOMM. Brandon and Ian decided to [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:24:46-08:00December 21, 2014|

SSU Winesense Salutes Duckhorn Vineyards and Larson Family Wineries

Contributed by Erica Schreckenghaust – Forty lucky SSU students were treated to exceptional wines by Duckhorn Vineyards and Larson Family wineries this month. Organized as part of the WineSense Club educational tasting seminars, the students were excited to learn about the history of these two family wineries, both established in the 1970’s. Duckhorn Vineyards, Napa Valley Duckhorn was founded by Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976 and has become one of the premier producers of Bordeaux varietal wines. Duckhorn is known for pioneering Merlot as a premium varietal, as well as their acclaimed Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. They strive [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:25:10-08:00November 13, 2014|

Dewey Markham Guides SSU Millennials in a Bordeaux Wine Tasting

Dewey Markum with Bordeaux Wines Contributed by Erica Schreckenghaust - This past Thursday, the Wine Sense club had the honor of being lead through a wine tasting of many famous Bordeaux wines by author and wine scholar, Dewey Markham. Dewey is a man of many passions and exemplifies the idea of chasing your dreams, as his dreams have led him in ventures all over the world. Dewey Markham’s Wine Journey Dewey was born and raised in New York, and later attended New York University. He discovered a love for cooking and enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America. [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:25:31-08:00October 22, 2014|

SSU Students Agree that Gloria Ferrer 2006 Royal Cuvee is Fit for Royalty

Contributed by Erica Schreckenghaust - The SSU WineSense Club was honored to have Gloria Ferrer Winery host the tasting this past week. A total of 47 students came to taste seven of their fantastic wines. Ryan, hospitality rep for the winery, described the history of the estate and the winemaking process. We began with four sparkling wines including the Sonoma Brut, Blanc de Noir, Royal Cuvee and Extra Brut. The favorite sparkling wine of the night was the 2006 Royal Cuvee, which is a blend of 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Chardonnay, from the Carneros region. It received 93 points in [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:25:55-08:00October 6, 2014|

Tasting Wine History – Chateau Montelena and Seghesio Featured at SSU WineSense Club

Contributed by Erica Schreckenghaust - There was a great sense of excitement for our second Wine Sense Club meeting of the year, featuring Seghesio Family Vineyards and Chateau Montelena Winery. Fifty-two Millennial SSU students attended, and some had to be turned away because the room was at capacity for this taste of wine history. Seghesio Family Winery Seghesio, established in 1895, in the Alexander Valley, is considered to be one of the historic wineries of Sonoma County. Hospitality manager, Beau, offered a variety of wines including a 2011 Sangiovese, 2012 Barbera and three different Zinfandels. The students voted on their [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-02-01T22:27:38-08:00September 15, 2014|

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