Wineries!

Register here for the Rhone Shootout!

The best of the best will be featured at the Grand Tasting at Romancing the Rhones!

Submit your wines NOW to be part of the Rhone Shootout!

We’ll be Romancing the Rhones in San Francisco on July 14th.
Wineries must submit their wines to the Rhone Shootout to participate on July 14th.

Join us!

Romancing the Rhones Grand Tasting
The Old Mint
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Special Sponsor: The Rhone Rangers

                                                 
GOLD BAR TICKETS:
BARREL TASTING IN THE VAULT AT THE OLD MINT, LUNCH WITH THE WINEMAKERS IN THE COURTYARD,
PLUS THE WALK AROUND TASTING, BLIND TASTING, AND AWARDS CEREMONY
SATURDAY, JULY 14,  11:30 AM – 4:30 PM
The Gold Bar tickets includes a barrel tasting in the vault with 25 award winning wineries, an informal picnic-style lunch outdoors in the courtyard with the winemakers from 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM who will share their wines while you dine; PLUS all of the rights of General Admission including entry to the consumer walk-around tasting from 1:30 - 4:30 PM; participation in the Rhone Shootout Blind Tasting, pit your palate against the expert panel and cast your vote for your favorites;  and entry to the Rhone Shootout Award Ceremony. Win a unique 3-Liter or 1.5-Liter bottle at the raffle; a portion of the proceeds will benefit One Brick. This event ends at 4:30 PM.      $75.
TICKETS GO ON SALE MAY 15TH

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS: 
WALK AROUND TASTING, BLIND TASTING, AND AWARDS CEREMONY
SATURDAY, JULY 14, 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
The General Admission Ticket provides entry to the Rhone Shootout Grand Tasting, a consumer walk-around tasting of over 150 award winning Rhone wines poured by more than 40 wineries; participation in the Rhone Shootout Blind Tasting, pit your palate against the expert panel and cast your vote for your favorites;  and entry to the Rhone Shootout Award Ceremony. Food trucks will provide tasty treats for purchase to complement the wines. Win a unique 3-Liter or 1.5-Liter bottle at the raffle; a portion of the proceeds will benefit One Brick. This event ends at 4:30 PM.     $45.
TICKETS GO ON SALE MAY 15TH

Bastille Day is the perfect day to break out and enjoy the power and finesse of some fabulous Rhone wines.

Join us on Saturday, July 14th as we showcase the top selections from this year’s Rhone Shootout competition. Amazing Rhone producers will showcase their winning selections for 400 wine loving consumers and invited media and trade at The Old Mint, a National Historic Landmark located in downtown San Francisco.

The Rhone Shootout’s top entries will also be featured in a blind tasting format open to consumers who will pit their palates against the judges and vote for their top picks. Winners will be announced and awards will be presented.

A special tasting of barrel samples from 25 award winning wineries will take place from 11:30 to 12:30. Tasting the barrel samples gives you a peek at how the wine will taste when it is fully aged. Many of the wineries who participate in the Rhone Shootout are very small. This may be your only chance to taste these wines BEFORE the press discovers them and they are gone! A limited number of VIP and trade tickets will be made available for this special segment. TICKETS GO ON SALE MAY 15TH

We will have some very unique 3-Liter and 1.5-Liter bottles to raffle off.

The amazing wines, great food, rockin’ music, and this historic San Francisco setting combine to create a truly unique wine event that will be remembered by all! Don’t miss it!

We’ll be Romancing the Rhones in San Francisco on July 14th.

Bastille Day is the perfect day to break out and enjoy the power and finesse of some fabulous Rhone wines.

Join us!

Romancing the Rhones Grand Tasting
The Old Mint
Saturday, July 14, 2012
VIP Barrel Tasting (In the Vault): 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Grand Tasting & Award Ceremony: 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM


Join us on Saturday, July 14th as we showcase the top selections from this year’s Rhone Shootout competition. Amazing Rhone producers will showcase their winning selections for 400 wine loving consumers at The Old Mint, a National Historic Landmark located in downtown San Francisco.




Grand Tasting & Award Ceremony Tasting 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM – $45 per person   Buy now
VIP Ticket Includes the Barrel Tasting & Lunch - 11:30 PM – 4:30 PM – $75 per person   Buy now 

The Rhone Shootout’s top entries will also be featured in a blind tasting format open to consumers who will pit their palates against the judges and vote for their top picks. Winners will be announced and awards will be presented.

A special tasting of barrel samples from 25 award winning wineries will take place from 11:30 to 12:30. Tasting the barrel samples gives you a peek at how the wine will taste when it is fully aged. Many of the wineries who participate in the Rhone Shootout are very small. This may be your only chance to taste these wines BEFORE the press discovers them and they are gone! A limited number of VIP and trade tickets will be made available for this special segment. Buy now

Renowned Sonoma County BBQ Chef, Jack Balistreri, will be offering up pairings straight from the grill along with other food selections that will show off the great food compatibility of Rhone varietals.

We will have some very unique 3-Liter and 1.5-Liter bottles to raffle off.

The amazing wines, great food, rockin’ music, and the magnificent San Francisco Bay setting will combine to create a truly unique wine event that will be remembered by all! Don’t miss it!

Complete Results of the 10th Annual Pinot Noir Shootout and Summit here

Pinot Noir, the most exciting, confounding, and challenging wine there is has been the focus of the Pinot Noir Shootout and Summit for 10 years. We never tire of tasting these wines, enjoying old friends and discovering new ones.

In this, the 10th Annual Pinot Noir Shootout, the Affairs of the Vine professional judging panel tasted 460 Pinot Noirs from all over the globe. Many of the wines we taste continue to delight and fascinate us. Every year we find outstanding examples of Pinot Noir from wineries that we know and we’re often pleasantly surprised by wines submitted from producers new to us.

The Pinot Noir Shootout is the most comprehensive and focused tasting of Pinot Noir in the U.S. The judging panel, an incredibly diverse panel of 47 wine professionals, tasted 460 wines over a three-month period. Just 32 wines are tasted by the experts per day, allowing the judges to be completely immersed, focused and fair to the wines. Palate fatigue is not a factor in our tastings. The wines are tasted completely blind without reference to appellation, vintage or price. Each wine submitted to the Pinot Noir Shootout was tasted a minimum of twice. The top rated wines were then tasted by our panel of experts at the Pinot Noir Shootout Finals on December 10, 2011. Again, each judge was responsible for tasting, scoring, and analyzing only 32 wines.

Detailed notes accompany the scores of each judge. Gender counts…scores and comments are recorded separately and posted on the Affairs of the Vine website.

The Pinot Noir Shootout is the only wine competition in which the judges’ conclusions are put to the test by a large unbiased group of wine lovers. 42 of the top-rated wines were featured at The 10th Annual Pinot Noir Summit on February 25, 2012 at the Hilton San Francisco.

At the Summit, over 350 adventurous Pinot Noir lovers, seeking true splendor in the glass, experienced and evaluated the 42 luscious Pinot Noirs in a blind tasting at the Pinot Noir Summit. The 42 wines represented some of the best wines from this year’s Pinot Noir Shootout.

In a distinctly different format and atmosphere from other wine-tasting events, the attendees blind tasted the wines and pitted their palates against the expert judging panel. The wines were divided into 2 groups of 21 wines each (the White Group and the Purple Group). The wines were wrapped individually and identified by a random color. The male and female votes were tallied separately.

The beautiful  wine glasses we used were provided by Debbie Douglas Designs. She selected the 24 ounce Prestige Reserve Burgundy glass.  The shape of the glass enhanced the aromas and flavors of the fabulous wines.

After tasting the wines blind, the Wine Lovers at The Pinot Summit were given 5 chips (red for the women and blue for the men) to cast their votes for their favorite wines. They could vote for as many as 5 wines or as few as one, indicating their passion for each wine by the number of chips they dropped in the “ballot box.”

The Pinot Noir lovers spoke out loud and clear at the 10th Annual Pinot Noir Summit. In an unmistakable statement of preference, they embraced wines of elegance and varietal authenticity rather than burly Syrah-like Pinots, the muscular Pinot Noirs made popular by a few influential reviewers and their publications.

The Pinot Noir delegates agreed with the panel…the wines tasted were fantastic! The Summit delegates however, did not rank the wines in the same order.

Here are the results as announced by Master of Ceremonies, Spencer Christian of KGO/ABC on Saturday night, February 25th.

Female Wine Lovers

3rd Place ~ Purple ~ Grey Stack 2009 The Fisherman Four Brothers Pinot Noir, Bennett Valley

2nd Place ~ Turquoise ~ Dunstan Wines 2009 Estate Durell Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

1st Place ~ Dark Green ~ Sharp Cellars 2009 Keenan’s Cove Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Female Judges

3rd Place ~ Green ~ Kenneth Volk Vineyards 2008 Enz Vineyard Pinot Noir, Lime Kiln Valley

2nd Place ~ Pumpkin ~ RN Estate 2009 Estate Kruse Vineyard Pinot Noir, Paso Robles

1st Place ~ Magenta ~ Gloria Ferrer 2008 Pinot Noir, Carneros

Male Wine Lovers

3rd Place ~ Hot Pink ~ Coghlan Vineyard 2009 Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills

2nd Place ~ Gray ~ Stephen’s Cellar 2008 Estate Pinot Noir, York Mountain

1st Place ~ Brown ~ Barbed Oak Vineyard 2009 Zara’s Block Pinot Noir, Bennett Valley

Male Judges

3rd Place ~ Pink ~ Angeline 2010 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

2nd Place ~ Aqua Marine ~ Davis Family 2009 Soul Patch Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

1st Place ~ Blue ~ Alysian 2008 Allen-Rochioli Blocks Rochioli Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

The Male Wine Lovers did not select the same as the Male Judging panel. The Female Wine Lovers and Female Judges did not select the same wines either. What does that prove? Who’s right? Who wins? Everybody!

10th Annual Pinot Summit Results:

Men at the 10th Annual Pinot Noir Summit:

Male Wine Lovers: First Place

Brown Barbed Oak Vineyard 2009 Zara’s Block Pinot Noir, Bennett Valley, $29

Male Wine Lovers: Second Place

Gray Stephen’s Cellar 2008 Estate Pinot Noir, York Mountain, $38

Male Wine Lovers: Third Place

Hot Pink Coghlan Vineyard 2009 Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, $47

Women at the 10th Annual Pinot Noir Summit:

Female Wine Lovers: First Place

Dark Green Sharp Cellars 2009 Keenan’s Cove Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, $48

Female Wine Lovers: Second Place

Turquoise Dunstan Wines 2009 Estate Durell Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, $50.00

Female Wine Lovers: Third Place

Purple Purple Grey Stack 2009 The Fisherman Four Brothers Pinot Noir, Bennett Vally, $39

Shootout Panel Results:

Male Judges: First Place

Blue ~ Alysian 2008 Allen-Rochioli Blocks Rochioli Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, $65

Male Judges: Second Place

Aqua Marine ~ Davis Family 2009 Soul Patch Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, $42

Male Judges: Third Place

Pink Angeline 2010 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, $16

Female Judges: First Place

Magenta Gloria Ferrer 2008 Pinot Noir, Carneros, $22

Female Judges: Second Place

Pumpkin ~ RN Estate 2009 Estate Kruse Vineyard Pinot Noir, Paso Robles, $48

Women Judges: Third Place

Green ~ Kenneth Volk Vineyards 2008 Enz Vineyard Pinot Noir, Lime Kiln Valley, $60

Blanc de Noirs and Brut Roses
10th Annual Pinot Noir Shootout Winners

Domaine Carneros 2008 Brut Rose, Carneros, $36.00
Female: A delicate salmon color with lively fruit and floral notes, Very balanced between the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir side of this wine. 93
Male: A very well made wine showing the grace of apparent longer tirage and highlighted by a spiced strawberry with citrus flavors. 91

Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noirs, California, $22.00
Female: Its pale salmon color shows the character of the Pinot Noir and my guess is, this also has Pinot Meunier. Well developed strawberry flavors with a crisp yet broad finish. 90
Male: Lovely aromas of red fruit and light lees showcase this wines depth of fruit flavors. Very alive on the palate with a nice balance of fruit and acidity. 91

Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir Rose, North Coast, $30.00
Female: A distinctive rich salmon color with spiced strawberry flavors and a bright, crisp finish that shows off nicely the depth of fruit. 93
Male: Longer aging is apparent in the color which shows the well developed red fruit and a lovely ripe strawberry character. 90

Freixenet Elyssia Brut Pinot Noir, Cava, Spain, $18.00
2480 cases produced
Female: Rich strawberry and light cherry aromas arise from the glass with focused red fruit and spiced cherry flavors. Think grilled seafood and strawberry shortcake for dessert. 92
Male: Riper strawberry notes with lemon peel on the nose are followed by a solid red fruit core which balances nicely with just enough zesty acidity on the finish. 90

Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs, Carneros, $20.00
Female: An inviting nose of fresh strawberry and cherry lead you to a lovely balance of richly layered red fruit with some lighter citrus notes. A long and lively finish that brings you back for more! 92
Male: An elegant combination of fruit and yeasty lees combine with strawberry and brioche flavors with a touch of orange peel. Finishes with crisp acidity and lingering fruit flavors. 91

Gloria Ferrer 2007 Brut Rose, Carneros, $42.00
2470 cases produced
Female: Beautifully styled sparkling that offers complex red fruit with a touch of Meyer lemon. The palate has a richly formed fruit forward creamy texture with a lovely mineral character on the crisp finish. 93
Male: Aromatics of baked bread, strawberry jam and a hint of truffle lead you to flavors of strawberry and medium red fruit. There are distinct citrus notes all leading to the well tailored finish that lingers but is very precise with its freshness and balance. 93

Gosset Grand Reserve Brut Rose Champagne, Champagne, $75.00
Female: A beautiful rose that combines all the attributes of a wonderful sparkling wine. The aromatics of spiced cherry and hazelnut lead to a rich palate that shows toasty notes, red raspberry and light black cherry. The finish is elegant finish. 94
Male: Rich aromatics of spiced cherry and raspberry. This wine has a gracious texture loaded with complex fruit and spice on the palate and is carried effortlessly through the precise finish. 94

Gruet Rose Brut, Lower Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico, $13.75
Female: Lovely aromatics of yeast and toast with a hint of spiced cherry. The elegant palate features riper strawberry framed by a hint of citrus. 92
Male: The inviting aromatics tell me this was crafted and aged over an extended period. The palate is broad showing strawberry and cherry. The finish is crisp and dry. Nice! 91

Laetitia 2009 Brut De Noirs, Arroyo Grande Valley, $28.00
230 cases produced
Female: Light cherry with citrus aromas lead to a great palate of spiced strawberry with back notes of apple and peach. Very well balanced with a richness on the palate from the lees development. The lively acidity in the finish is perfect. 92
Male: Straw colored with a light salmon hue. Aromas of dried fruit comprised of cherry and apricot with some lovely toasted honeysuckle. Very well proportioned with its crisp finish. 92

Louis Roederer 2006 Brut Rose Champagne, Champagne, $70.00
Female: A beautiful wine that touches all of your senses. Hazelnut and fresh black cherry aromas lead to complex and elegant flavors of red fruit, citrus and a touch of baking spice. The finish is very crisp and memorable. Beautiful! 95
Male: What style and grace! Spiced cherry and apricot aromas are embraced by classic fresh baked bread. “Wow!” Great texture showing complex lighter red fruit and hints of baking spice flavors. Perfectly balanced with a precise finish. 95

Mumm Napa Brut Rose, Napa Valley, $24.00
Female: A lovely and well crafted wine that captures the essence of Pinot Noir. Aromas of light raspberry and Bing cherry lead to richer flavors of ripe strawberry with subtle spice notes. The finish is bright and crisp. 91
Male: This is all about the Pinot Noir side of the equation in both aromas and flavors. Strawberry with lighter black cherry flavors are framed by a nicely balanced finish. 91

Roederer Estate Brut Rose, Anderson Valley, $30.00
Female: Light cherry and hazelnut aromas lead to a palate that displays lighter red fruit and apple through the crisp and lively finish. This wine nicely shows the Pinot Noir side of the process and has well placed notes of the Chardonnay side. 92
Male: Light rose in color with a nice floral character to the nose. Strawberry with lighter vanilla notes on the palate. Nicely structured with a lovely, crisp finish. 92

Scharffenberger Brut Rose, California, $24.00
Female: A lovely pale salmon color with strawberry and lighter cherry notes on the nose. The flavors replicate the fruit character of the aromatics. Bright and refreshing with a firm crispness on the finish. 91
Male: Spiced cherry aromatics lead to a nice palate of light strawberry and a mineral driven crispness through the finish. 89

Schramsberg 2008 Blanc de Noirs, North Coast, $38.00
12,750 cases produced
Female: A beautifully crafted sparkling wine with a true sense of style. The lighter cherry and spiced strawberry tones in the nose lead to a complex range of flavors of cherry and fresh apple surrounded by a fine yeasty component all in a creamy framework. “Love this!” 94
Male: Well crafted! Aromas of cherry are surrounded by hints of apple and ripe pear. The palate is packed with delicious fruit and a lees component. The finish is bright and crisp. 94

Sea Fog 2007 Blanc de Noirs, Sonoma Coast, $32.00
Female: A very fine bead delivers up aromas of strawberry and Meyer lemon. The palate is sleek and defined with layers of red fruit comprised of fresh strawberry and a spiced honey touch to the Bing cherry flavors. Lovely acidity and a very long finish. Delicious! 94
Male: A lively nose of fresh strawberry and green apple. Red fruit flavors are surrounded by a generous creamy texture. Well balanced with bright acidity that should allow this to age for years. 92

Segura Viudas Aria Brut Pinot Noir, Cava, Spain, $12.00
850 cases produced
Female: Aromatics of fresh strawberry and cherry with a touch of citrus. Beautiful color. Raspberry flavors combine with a hint of toast and vanilla. Finishes clean with citrus notes. Very nice! 90
Male: A deep rose color with a slight orange tint. Rhubarb and cherry aromas lead to a palate framed by red fruit and slightly sweet cranberry. A well balanced long finish. 90

Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery 2001 Blanc de Noirs, Southeastern New England, $30.00
245 cases produced
Female: A very interesting wine showing slightly oxidized characteristics that translate into a honeyed and caramelized nutty character. The toast character on the palate combines with some lighter cherry and strawberry notes. Finishes bright and fresh. 90
Male: A rich almost golden hue to the color translates instantly to the advanced development found in the nose. Aromas of caramel and toast combine with lighter red fruit and ripe apple. The bright finish that lingers pleasantly. 90

The wines worthy of note are reviewed here. Each wine is awarded a numerical scores by the male and female panels and are recommended from the heart with the additional reference of hearts designating the following:

Key:

= Love at First Sip

= An Affair to Remember

= Will Provide Fond Memories

Complete scores and comments by gender here

The Pinot Noir Summit, one of the best Pinot Noir events in the world,returns to the Bay Area for its 10th year on February 25, 2012.

On Saturday, February 25, 2012 Pinot Noir lovers will gather for the remarkable
10th Pinot Noir Summit hosted by Affairs of the Vine at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District.

Be among a select group of wine lovers wowed by the ultimate Pinot Noir experience. Tickets for the 10th Pinot Noir Summit are on sale now.

Only 350 tickets are sold for this event.
Hurry! We’re almost sold out.

Pinot Noir can be mysterious and somewhat intimidating. This event creates fun, excitement, and allows people to trust their own palates.

What’s it like to be a Pinot Noir judge?

Monique Soltani of Wine Oh TV reports from the 9th Pinot Noir Summit.

If you love Pinot Noir or just want to know what all the fuss is about, you must attend this interactive, educational and fun event.

The Pinot Noir Summit attracts wine lovers from the consumer, media and trade segments. Attendees have the opportunity to pit their palates against the expert judging panel at the Pinot Noir Showdown, attend a Pinot Noir Workshop, enjoy wines made from Pinot Noir at the Sparkling Wine Reception, and attend the Grand Awards Tasting & Ceremony.

Pinot Noir Summit Agenda
Pinot Noir Showdown ~ A Blind Tasting
1:30-4:00 PM ~ A distinctly different format and atmosphere from other wine-tasting events, attendees blind taste and judge 40 of the top wines. Male and female votes are tallied separately and announced at the Grand Awards Ceremony.

Pinot Noir Workshops
4:00-5:00 PM
“Sleek, Silky and Seductive – Pinot Noir”
Moderator: Ellen Landis, Sommelier & Wine Director, Landis Shores Oceanfront Inn
Join us for this enlightening workshop to swirl, sniff and savor Pinot Noir crafted by producers from a variety of viticultural areas, who will showcase their unique style. Taste Pinot Noir from appellations including Sonoma Coast, Willamette Valley, Russian River Valley and Carneros, and embrace their geographic distinction. No matter how much you know about wine, there is always more to learn!
Panelists: John Drady, Sonoma Coast Vineyards; Dave Grooters, Carlton Cellars (Willamette Valley); Deanna McArdle-Eames, Willamette Valley Vineyards; Ted Elliott, TR Elliott Vineyards (Russian River Valley); and Michael Richmond, Bouchaine Vineyards (Carneros).

“What Makes a Great Vintage”
Moderator: Sid Sall, Wine Director, Great Chefs & Wineries of the North Bay
Is it just the weather conditions?
Is it the viticultural practices?
Is it great winemaking?
This workshop will address these questions and more to five people who know. Winemakers and a vineyard manager will share their insights on how this challenging grape varietal always surprises them.
Panelists: Dan Sullivan, Rosehall Run Vineyards (Prince Edward County, Ontario); Lino Bozzano, Laetitia Vineyard & Winery (Central Coast); Greg Freeman, Winemaker, Hahn Winery (Santa Lucia Highlands); Ken Foster, Winemaker, Mahoney Vineyards (Carneros); Tim Borges, Winemaker/Owner, Portalupi Wine.

“A Taste of Place: Exploring the Santa Lucia Highlands and The Sonoma Coast AVAs”
Moderator: Laura Ness, Wine Judge and Wine Writer
What makes ocean-influenced Pinot growing regions unique? Do you want to learn more about two of California’s most intriguing, maritime-ruled AVAs? Explore the taste of terroir with some of the salty winemakers who are crafting some of today’s most expressive Pinots.
Panelists: Dave Coventry, Coventry Wines; Greg Gauthier,G. Gauthier Cellars; Steve McIntyre McIntrye Vineyards; and
Chris Towt, Dunstan Wines.

“Looking at Pinot Noir Sideways ~ A Conversation with Rex Pickett”
Rex Pickett, Author of Sideways, Vertical and the SIDEWAYS play
in a Conversation With
Alana Gentry, Girl With a Glass

Wineries: Dave Archinal, Leucadia Red and Michael Brughelli, Kenneth Volk Vineyards will be sharing their wines.

Sideways novelist Rex Pickett will make a rare public appearance at the 10th Annual Pinot Noir Summit on February 25, 2012 at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District.

Santa Monica-based Pickett will reveal the truth and fiction between his life and Miles the protagonist in Sideways and chat about his two newest projects: the release of his own Merlot “Apostate” and the premiere of Sideways, The Play. Pickett will be interviewed on stage by writer and wine blogger Alana Gentry a.k.a. Girl with a Glass.
After Pickett stars at the San Francisco event, the winning wines from the Pinot Noir Summit will play a leading role at the12-week run of Sideways, The Play premiering at Santa Monica’s Ruskin Group Theatre in April. Sideways fans will receive complimentary Pinot Noir during the show and intermission.

Oyster & Sparkling Wine Reception
5:15-6:00 PM – In celebration of the 10th year of the Pinot Noir Summit, sparkling wines will be paired with oysters from Marin County’s Drakes Bay Oyster Companyin a casual reception after the blind tasting. An international selection of cheeses and other tasty tidbits will also be served.

Grand Awards Tasting & Ceremony
6:00 -8:30 PM- The Bay Area’s favorite meteorologist and celebrated wine aficionado, Spencer Christian of KGO/ABC will be the Master of Ceremonies at the Grand Awards Tasting & Ceremony. Top Pinot Noir winemakers will showcase their wines with a pinot-friendly selection of light hors d’oeuvre with Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company and Walnut Creek’s Recente Italiano adding other local flavors.

Attending wine enthusiasts will pick the winners for the Summit and the new Sideways play. No information will be revealed about the wines until the Grand Awards Tasting & Ceremony at 8:00 p.m. Attendees will also cast votes to select five of the wines that will be invited to pour at Sideways, The Play. Avid wine collector, Spencer Christian, of KGO/ABC, will unveil the wines that received the most votes from the professional and amateur tasters.

Saturday, February 25, 2012
The 10^th Annual Pinot Noir Summit
Hilton San Francisco Financial District

All Day Ticket (Recommended) $130 per person – Full Day: 1:30-8:30 PM (includes The Final Showdown…A Blind Tasting, Pinot Noir Workshop, Sparkling Wine Reception, Pinot Noir Shootout Grand Awards Tasting & Ceremony)

Grand Awards Tasting Only $85 per person
10th Pinot Noir Shootout Grand Awards Tasting & Ceremony at The 10th Annual Pinot Noir Summit
6:00-8:30 PM

Hurry! We’re almost sold out!

Attendance is limited. Only 350 tickets will be sold to wine lovers who are passionate about Pinot Noir.

The Pinot Noir Summit is produced by Chief Wine Evangelist, Barbara Drady and Affairs of the Vine, the Sonoma-based company dedicated to converting people to wine.

Winners will be announced at The Pinot Noir Summit at 8:00 p.m. on February 25, 2012.

Supple and sexy, Pinot Noir is luxuriously exquisite and elegant. Pinot Noir is arguably the ultimate food pairing wine. The celebrated red wines of the French district of Burgundy are produced from Pinot Noir.

The popularity of Pinot Noir can be attributed to three things: its intoxicating complexity and depth; its remarkable versatility with food; and a movie that emerged out of nowhere known as SIDEWAYS that exploded onto screens and captured the hearts and minds of wine lovers and aspiring wine lovers.

Crafting great Pinot Noir is by no means an easy task for even the most accomplished winemaker. No single varietal is more temperamental or difficult to guide through the challenge of winemaking. The process can easily go off course, or sideways, and in an attempt to fix the problem, the remedy often compounds the issue further. Many experienced winemakers have turned prematurely gray due to the unique challenges posed by this finicky grape.

Pinot Noir lovers are seldom at a loss for words to describe this alluring wine. Flavors and aromas run the full spectrum and can include black cherry, raspberry, cranberry, fresh strawberry, Bing cherry, and blueberry. Often found in the aromatics of fine offerings are rose petal, cinnamon, vanilla, anise, black pepper, lavender, mushroom, forest floor, and an array of assorted spices.

The aromas and flavors are only the beginning…the mouth feel of good Pinot Noir is often rich and silky if not outright velvety.

Don’t expect dark inky colors like you find in Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel. Pinot Noir color can range from a light red almost rose to a deep garnet. The flavors are as uniquely distinct as are the aromas. Pinot Noir at its best is sexy; elegant, smooth and velvety on the tongue…”satin sheets in a bottle.”

Pinot Noir uniquely reflects the characteristics of its growing climate, soils, and surroundings like no other varietal. It is difficult to describe all the flavors and styles as there are more than 1000 different Pinot Noir clones that produce a wide variety of styles from jammy, “in your face” wines, to delicately complex wines with all possible combinations in between.

When drinking Pinot Noir, look to its elegance. Savor the bouquet as its aromas are the window to soul of this wine. The balance and complex layering of flavors will envelop your senses. Let its sexiness entice you while it caresses your palate!

It may be the day after Valentine’s Day but Pinot Noir is good 365 days a year.

Begin an Affair with these great wines at The 10th Annual Pinot Noir Summit!

The 10th Pinot Noir Shootout judging panel reviewed and analyzed over 460 Pinot Noirs. more than any previous year by over 100.

The competition this year was very rigorous. The Pinot Noirs we received were fantastic. The bar for the competition was set high with so many excellent wines. The judges took a firm stand. They elected to award gold and silver medals to the top wines but awarded no bronze medals. If the wine didn’t rate a precious metal award, there was no medal at all.

What’s it like to be a Pinot Noir judge?

Monique Soltani of Wine Oh TV reports from the 9th Pinot Noir Summit.

The judging panel did confer 28 Honorable Mentions in addition to the Gold and Silver awards.

Wines that did not receive recognition by the judges will not be listed on this website. It is our firm belief that negative reviews are not what you are seeking.

So many amazing wines.

If you LOVE Pinot Noir, experience these terrific wines at the 10th Pinot Noir Summit.

 The Challenges

There were two major challenges in the Bay Area this past weekend. The Niners vs The Giants at Candlestick and The Cabernet Shootout Challenge at The Winery SF on Treasure Island.

You’re undoubtedly familiar with the NFC Championship game.

The Cabernet Shootout Challenge had a better outcome if you’re a Bay Area fan.

Both were incredibly exciting. 49ers fans are both saddened and proud. Sad that the season has come to an end but very proud of the brilliant season orchestrated by rookie head coach, Jim Harbaugh.

In the NFC Championship, there could only be one winner. Not so at The Cabernet Shootout Challenge.

The Cabernet Shootout has numerous winners and you can pick your favorites to enjoy again and again.

The Cabernet Shootout Challenge, attended by 335 Cabernet enthusiasts – consumers, press and trade, was a remarkable event hosted by the Bay Area Wine Society in partnership with Affairs of the Vine at The Winery SF on Treasure Island on Saturday, January 21^st. One Brick was amazing in making the entire event run smoothly.

Winemakers, proprietors, and winery personnel shared their outstanding Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet Francs, and Cabernet Blends. Other wines produced by the wineries were also available to taste at their stations. A fantastic array of tasty hors d’oeuvre were served. My personal favorites were the incredible pates from Les Trois Petits Cochons.

Cabernet Sauvignon, the king of red wines, is grown in nearly every wine producing region in the world. The Cabernet Shootout judging panel consisting of 25 men and 16 women had the pleasure of tasting 287 Cabernets from 56 different appellations. Read their comments and scores.                 Men      Women

Make sure to check out the judging panels “Bang for Your Buck Wines” too, wines selling for under $20 that received 85 points or more. There’s a bunch of them!

An extraordinary array of palates gathered to assess some of the top rated wines from the Cabernet Shootout. “This distinctly different format,” noted Tom Merle, President of the Bay Area Wine Society, “provided a unique opportunity for people who buy the wine to challenge the tastes of the wine experts.”  

The Cabernet Challenge consisted of just 32 of winning wines from The Cabernet Shootout. These wines were randomly divided into two flights of 16 wines each (Life Is A Cabernet and Celestial Cabernets). The Cabernet Shootout Challenge attendees were asked to focus on one just of the flights. The wines were divided randomly, wrapped in aluminum foil,  and identified with color stickers.

192 of the wine lovers participated in the Cabernet Shootout and  cast their votes using chips that were gender specific.

Instructions to the Cabernet Shootout Challenge Wine Lovers Judging Panel
Professional wine tasters consider the following: Clarity/Appearance, Color, Aroma/Bouquet, Acidity, Sweetness, Body/Texture, Taste/Flavor, Bitterness, Astringency, Finish, Overall Quality.

All that really matters is what you like. 

The wine lovers made notes and then cast their votes by putting chips in the ballot boxes of their favorite wines. The chips were gender specific.

Life Is A Cabernet (Red Ballot Boxes) – The Consumer Judging panel of this flight consisted of 53 women and 46 men, a total of 99 judges.

BEIGE             Martin Ray Winery 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Mountain

BRONZE          Christopher Creek 2007 Finlays Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek

BURGUNDY               Serene Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

DARK BLUE   Lucas & Lewellen 2008 COTE DEL SOL Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Barbara County

DUSTY ROSE         JuneRay Wines 2008 Ashlow Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

GREEN                     Castello di Amorosa ll Barone 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

GUNMETAL         En Garde 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain District Napa Valley

HOT PINK             Bonneau 2007 Hyde Cabernet Sauvignon, Los Carneros

KHAKI        Bogle 2007 Reserve Old River Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Clarksburg

LILAC                  Hahn Winery 2009 Meritage, Central Coast

LIGHT YELLOW       Sol Rouge 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lake County

MAGENTA   Perrucci Family Vineyard 2006 Special Res Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mtns

PUMPKIN             Indigene Cellars 2007 Philanthropist Cabernet Blend, Central Coast       

PURPLE   Field Stone 2007 Staten Family Res, Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

RED                    Stella Monsi 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain

 
Celestial Cabernets (White Ballot Boxes) – The Consumer Judging panel of this flight consisted of 50 women and 43 men, a total of 93 judges.

AQUA MARINE              Firefly Night 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

BLACK                 CYRUS 2007 Estate Cabernet Blend, Alexander Valley

BRICK            Dusinberre 2004 Boodeaux Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

DARK RED          For Giving 2008 Godspeed Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt. Veeder

DEEP PURPLE         Roy J Maier ‘07 Saint Helena Road Vyds Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County

GOLD                Penman Springs Vineyard 2007 Penman Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles

GRAY       Ty Caton Vineyards 2009 Estate Caton Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley

LIGHT BLUE       VGS 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

LIME GREEN    Boete 2006 Cheval Rouge Saunders Vineyard Cabernet Blend, Carmel Valley

ORANGE           Smith & Hook 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast

ORCHID          Prestwood Cellars 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa

PINK                       Bellarina 2008 Meritage Cabernet Blend, Knights Valley

TAN              VJB Vineyards & Cellars 2008 Reserve Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley

TURQUOISE     Meadowcroft Wines 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt Veeder, Napa Valley

WHITE        Blue Rock 2009 Baby Blue ~ Blue Rock Vineyard Cabernet Blend, Alexander Valley

YELLOW McGrail Vineyards 2008 Reserve McGrail Vyds Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley

Our panel is very fortunate indeed to have the opportunity to taste these wonderful wines and we are very cognizant of the fact that our conclusions matter and have impact, so we take our responsibility very seriously.

Affairs of the Vine’s Shootouts are the only competition in which the judges’ conclusions are put to the test by an unbiased panel of wine lovers.

The comments on the wines at The Cabernet Shootout Challenge were amazing and the discussions engaging but in the end each person voted their own palate. All of the wines were winners, all receiving many, many votes.

The Cabernet Shootout Challenge attendees agreed with the panel…the wines tasted were fantastic!

And now…the findings!

Two wines tied for 1^st place by the Male Cabernet Shootout Judging Panel/ (we were fortunate enough to have them both available in the blind tasting.)

CYRUS 2007 Estate Cabernet Blend, Alexander Valley, $60.00

AND

En Garde 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon< Diamond Mountain District – Napa Valley, $88.00

Four wines tied for 1^st place by the Female Cabernet Shootout Judging Panel. We were lucky enough to have three of the four available to taste in the Cabernet Shootout Challenge. Miner Family is sold out of the 2007 The Oracle.

For Giving 2008 Godspeed Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt. Veeder, $90.00

AND

Miner Family Winery 2007 The Oracle Cabernet Blend, Napa Valley, $90.00

AND

Serene Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, $54.00

AND

VGS 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, $75.00

Life Is A Cabernet flight

Male Cabernet Lovers

1st Place              CYRUS 2007 Estate Cabernet Blend, Alexander Valley, $60.00

Very heavily favored also were:

Roy J Maier 2007 Saint Helena Road Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, $60.00

Boete 2006 Cheval Rouge Saunders Vineyard Cabernet Blend, Carmel Valley, $30.00

McGrail 2008 Reserve McGrail Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley, $36.00

Female Cabernet Lovers

1^st Place                McGrail 2008 Reserve McGrail Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley, $36.00

Other favorites:

Blue Rock 2009 Baby Blue ~ Blue Rock Vineyard Cabernet Blend. Alexander Valley, $25.00

Prestwood Cellars 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, $79.00

Ty Caton Vineyards 2009 Estate Caton Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley, $44.00

 Celestial Cabernets flight

Male & Female Cabernet Lovers agreed. (Wow! Is that unusual or what?)

1st Place for both Male & Female            
Indigene Cellars 2007 Philanthropist Cabernet Blend, Central Coast, $21.00

 Other Male Cabernet Favorites:

Bonneau 2007 Hyde Cabernet Sauvignon, Los Carneros, $60.00

Lucas & Lewellen 2008 COTE DEL SOL Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Barbara County, $32.00

Other Female Cabernet Lovers Favorites:

Bonneau 2007 Hyde Cabernet Sauvignon, Los Carneros, $60.00

Castello di Amorosa 2008 Il Barone Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, $88.00

En Garde 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain District – Napa Valley, $88.00

Field Stone Winery 2007 Staten Family Reserve, Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, $40.00

Lucas & Lewellen 2008 COTE DEL SOL Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Barbara County, $32.00

Perrucci Family Vineyard 2006 Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains, $75.00

Look for these wines at your local fine wine retailer or online. Share them with friends and those you love. They are all well worth seeking out and tasting.

Taste and enjoy them all if you’re fortunate enough to have the opportunity. Keep buying your old favorites but try new ones too. When you find a style you like, try other wines that are similar. Do you like this wine as much? See if you can determine the similarities in the wines you like best. Is it appellation? Winemaking style? Winemaker?

If you have difficulty finding them at your local retailer, feel free to email Affairs of the Vine. We will be happy to put you in touch with someone at the winery who can help you acquire the wines that entice you.

So what do these wines have in common? Everyone one of these wines is outstanding!

Our Mantra…Trust Your Own Palate

Read reviews but remember it’s your palate that counts. Try to find a wine critic who commends wines that you like. Don’t feel that you have to like the wines that wine critics praise. Don’t be intimidated! If a movie reviewer gives 5 stars to a film, do you feel that you’re unsophisticated if you don’t like it too? Wine is no different. Personal preference is what counts. So drink and enjoy what you like. At Affairs of the Vine we say, “If you like the way it looks and you like the way it smells and you like the way it tastes…its good wine. So use our recommendations as a guide but you are the authority of what provides “Love at First Sip” for you.

Be among a select group of wine lovers wowed by the ultimate Pinot Noir experience. Tickets for the 10th Pinot Noir Summit are on sale now.

On Saturday, February 25, 2012 Pinot Noir lovers will gather for the remarkable

10th Pinot Noir Summit hosted by Affairs of the Vine at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District.

The Pinot Noir Summit attracts wine lovers from the consumer, media and trade segments. Attendees have the opportunity to pit their palates against the expert judging panel at the Pinot Noir Showdown, attend a Pinot Noir Workshop, enjoy wines made from Pinot Noir at the Sparkling Wine Reception, and attend the Grand Awards Tasting & Ceremony.

Pinot Noir Summit Agenda

1:30-4:00 PM ~ A distinctly different format and atmosphere from other wine-tasting events, attendees blind taste and judge 40 of the top wines. Male and female votes are tallied separately and announced at the Grand Awards Ceremony.

Pinot Noir Workshops

Ellen Landis, Moderator ~ “Sleek, Silky and Seductive – Pinot Noir”

Sid Sall, Moderator ~ “What Makes a Great Vintage”

Sparkling Wine Tasting

5:30-6:00 PM – Wines That Dance on Your Tongue ~ Sparkling Wine Reception includes an international selection of cheeses and other tasty tidbits.

Grand Awards Tasting & Ceremony

6:00 -8:30 PM – The Bay Area’s favorite meteorologist and celebrated wine aficionado, Spencer Christian of KGO/ABC will emcee the Grand Awards Tasting & Ceremony. Top Pinot Noir winemakers will showcase their wines with a pinot-friendly selection of light hors d’oeuvre. The winners will be unveiled and final results will be announced by wine lover, Christian at 8:00 PM.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

The 10^th Pinot Noir Summit

Hilton San Francisco Financial District

All Day Ticket $130 per person – Full Day: 1:30-8:30 PM (includes The Final Showdown…A Blind Tasting, Pinot Noir Workshop, Sparkling Wine Reception, Pinot Noir Shootout Grand Awards Tasting & Ceremony)

*Purchase your ticket before February 1 and save $30

Grand Awards Tasting Only $85 per person*

10th Pinot Noir Shootout Grand Awards Tasting & Awards Ceremony

6:00-8:30 PM

*Tickets go on sale February 1st

Walk home–Take the elevator to your room…stay at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District …request The Pinot Noir Summit Special Room Rate for the evening.

The Pinot Noir Summit is produced by Chief Wine Evangelist, Barbara Drady and Affairs of the Vine, the Sonoma-based company dedicated to converting people to wine.

Attendance is limited. Only 350 tickets will be sold to wine lovers who are passionate about Pinot Noir. 

 Winners will be announced at The Pinot Noir Summit at 8:00 p.m. on February 25, 2012. 

We had so many incredible wines entered in The Cabernet Shootout this year, it was absolutely a fantastic experience to taste through the 287 wines with the Affairs of the Vine Cabernet Shootout Judging Panel.

Details or cut right to the chase…Cabernet Shootout results:

• Total number of wines entered = 287
• Cabernet Sauvignons = 231
• Caberent Francs = 17 + 1 Cabernet Franc Rose
• Cabernet Blends (and/or Meritage) = 39
• 56 appellations represented
• 41 judges: a diverse range of wine industry professionals from varying disciplines including restaurant and retail trade, winemakers, wine writers, wine educators, and consultants.
• 25 Male Judges
• 16 Female Judges

Cabernet Shootout Overview and Rules

• Each wine is tasted a minimum of 2 times by 2 different panels consisting of a smaller group of our 41 judges.
• Each judge tastes just 32 wines per day.
• 64 wines moved to the final round.
• The judges at the final round were asked to taste and evaluate 32 of the wines in the finals.
• Each judge is required to evaluate the wines using a 100-point scoring system and provide tasting notes of each wine tasted that support the score given to the wine.
• Male and female scores and tasting notes are tallied separately. Comments by gender are posted here.
• Scores and comments by the female judges click here
• Scores and comments by the male judges click here
• For fantastic values, check out the Bang for Your Buck wines
• Female Judges…Bank for Your Buck Wines
• Male Judges…Bank for Your Buck Wines 

The findings of our panel will be challenged by wine loving consumers and trade on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at The Winery SF on Treasure Island. The event will be co-hosted by the Bay Area Wine Society, The Winery SF, and Affairs of the Vine.

Click here to see the results as they unfold…

If you do not see your wine posted as yet, keep checking back. All entries should be completed by Sunday. (We had some website issues this week and we are still inputing descriptors for all of our submissions. That’s almost 600 entries counting male and female observations.)

This year’s Cabernet Shootout panel of judges tasted 287 unique wines from 56 different appellations. Our findings will be challenged in the Bay Area on January 21, 2012 by the Bay Area Wine Society

Each wine was tasted a minimum of two times by two different panels consisting of our 41 judges before we selected the wines that moved on to the final round.

Our panel (16 women and 25 men) is comprised of a diverse range of wine industry professionals from varying disciplines including restaurant and retail trade, winemakers, wine writers, wine educators, and consultants.

We’re in the process of detailing our favorites with scores and comments by gender so that you can compare and contrast the wines as seen by our male and female panelists. As is the custom, the female judges scores and comments will be listed first, followed by the men’s assessment of the wines.