Wine Down with Two November Events

Yes, it's official - season is here. Traffic, horns and more events than we can cram into our already-busy schedules. After the summer doldrums, we're sure you'll agree, it's all good!

Our WinewomenPSP Summerland wine dinner on Sunday, November 21 at Bellatrix Restaurant at the Classic Club promises to be another memorable event at that gorgeous venue. Bellatrix did such a great job for us last time, we heard you wanted to go back for more. Done! See the full list of wines from this Santa Barbara boutique winery and Chef's gorgeous menu here and make your reservations with Kathleen today by calling 760.799.7076. Come out in support of education and local scholarships for students attending Cal State San Bernardino's Palm Desert campus.

Kathleen and Kajon Media are bringing a fall version of the Coachella Wine Festival to Miramonte Resort and Spa this Thanksgiving weekend, too. Be done with that turkey and make your way to Miramonte for some real eating and libations at your choice of three events:

Saturday, Nov. 27: Summerland Winemaker Dinner with Etienne Terlinden; 6:30-9 PM on the romantic, outdoor Piazza Terrace ($85 by advance reservations only)

Saturday, Nov. 27: Just Desserts Soiree with boutique wines and desserts; 7-9 PM at the outdoor Mediterranean Lawn ($30 by advance purchase; $40 at the door)

Sunday, Nov. 28: Tulip Hill Winery Winemaker Lunch with Kristi Brown; 11 AM- 2 PM at the outdoor Piazza Terrace ($45 by advance reservations only)

Multi-event passes or tickets to individual events are available online on the Coachella Wine Festival website - click here.

It's heatin' up - see you there!

Coachella Wine Festival Pix

With help from other vendors, we caught a few sips and snapped a few pix at the Grand Tasting last weekend at Coachella Wine Festival. Next time, we'll plan for more help so we can have as much fun as these happy people did. Thanks to all for making it such a great time!
Winemaker Greg Jenkins and his Fleming-Jenkins wines were a huge hit - thanks Greg and Peggy for your classy presence and great juice.

Josie Genaro of Sisters Cupcakes by Design works her magic.
Brian Ricci and Renaissance Esmeralda's CAVA/Sirocco staff season up organic beet ravioli stuffed with mozzarella, spinach and ricotta, dusted with aged Parmigiano-Reggiano. Deliziosi!
Johnny Meza (center) with Todd Ashley and Mike Dooley are top-notch music machines who filled the air with their great sound.
Banker Bill doesn't miss a trick - having fun at the Fest!

See you April 30th for our Rodney Strong wine dinner at Bellatrix in support of the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women campaign. Catch all the details here!

Sunday Grand Tasting at Coachella Wine Festival

Sunday chores are almost done so we can beeline over to Miramonte Resort for Coachella Wine Festival's Grand Tasting today from 1 to 5 PM. Chef Robert Nyerick told us Friday night's celebrity wine dinner with Peggy Fleming Jenkins and hubby Greg was so perfect in every way, he wouldn't have changed a thing. It was all harmony, between their Fleming Jenkins wines, Chef's spot-on food, the peaceful setting in Miramonte's herb garden, weather and yes, even moonlight added its magic. We also heard raves for the confections and wines served that night at the Dessert Soirée.

We spotted the lovely Olympian gold medalist at the shopping bazaar as tasters took a break to check out the debut of local artist Diane Kline, lovelies by Custom Vintage Wine Cellars, fashions by Andrea Paris, art from Howard's Backdoor Gallery and Frame Shop, jewels in a variety of tastes and price ranges and more.

The shaded outdoor tasting area featured a boatload of wines and lip-smacking culinary treats – one look at the lineup on the festival Web site and you know there's good eats to be had. Worker-bees got hungry just listening to festival-lovers rave about the short ribs and pulled pork, not to mention the lighter fare, so perfect on a sunny afternoon.

We found this berry and spice-rich Shiraz from Victoria, Australia at the Cooralook booth. Made from grapes grown in red soil not far from Melbourne, Heathcote's Shiraz shows fine tannins and rich texture laced with ripe plum and blackberry flavors around a lick of licorice.

Better wrap up those chores so we can get going – it's not too early to be thinking about wine, is it?

Member Tasting at Wine Vault

Thanks to Wine Vault for inviting WinewomenPSP members to a wine tasting for their clients and friends last Friday night. Besides rolling out an assortment of great wines from California and around the world, they also kept hunger pangs at bay with roasted veggies, cheeses, snacks and juicy tri-tip hot off the grill by New Leaf Catering. Nice!

Make it your business to know this state-of-the-art wine storage facility in north Palm Desert, across the way from Sun City. With nearly six months of heat coming up, you might want to check out what they offer – at affordable rates for wine enthusiasts. They're not just for connoisseurs, country clubs and restaurants. You too can afford to store your private wine stash at Wine Vault under temperature and humidity-controlled conditions that will keep your bottled babies at their best. WVOTD also provides security monitoring, online inventory management software and a backup generator in case of power failures. In other words, they've got you – and your wines – covered.

Southern Wine and Spirits not only brought out an arsenal of wine but also spiced up the tasting with tips for food-wine pairings. A few faves from the crowd, all available for order at knock-down prices: New Zealand's Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough), Rodney Strong "Chalk Hill" Chardonnay (Sonoma), Antinori "Villa Red" Sangiovese-Cabernet-Merlot blend (Tuscany), Paul Dolan Cabernet Sauvignon made from organically grown grapes (Mendocino) and a host of popular picks from Columbia Crest, Chateau Ste. Michelle and more New and Old World producers.

Cachet Fiore's table arrangements added touches of color while savory crisps by Love At First Bite kept tasting palates refreshed.

You can find out about Wine Vault's summer specials, freebies, pick-up services and their restaurant partner program that waives corkage fees for WVOTD members at some of the valley's best dining spots by calling Jack, Ralph and their team at 760.345.3000 or online at wvotd.com

Overheard from a group of ladies who'd never been to this type of wine tasting as they busily filled out ticket orders for the April 9-11 Coachella Wine Festival: "This is so much fun, we've got to go all three days!" We'll drink to that.

Coachella Wine Festival April 9 – 11

Get ready to pour it on at the first Coachella Wine Festival the weekend of April 9 through 11 on the grounds of the Miramonte Resort and Spa.

The three-day event kicks off Friday evening, April 9 with your choice of a celebrity winemakers' dinner or a sweet-tooth soirée.

Join Olympic legend Peggy Fleming with husband and winemaking partner Greg Jenkins for their winemaker dinner starting at 6:30 PM. Peggy and Greg will describe their unique wine journey as you taste their high-scoring Fleming Jenkins wines. Savor Chef Robert Nyerick's farm-to-table cuisine during this intimate outdoor dinner served amidst Miramonte's citrus and herb garden. How special is that? Seated limited to 40 guests – see ticketing info below.

Also on Friday, you might choose instead to reserve a spot for the Just Desserts Soirée that takes place from 7 to 9 PM on Miramonte's Mediterranean lawn. Enjoy delicacies and treats from the valley's lauded pastry chefs and fine restaurants that will be served with sparkling and still wines paired to perfection as you enjoy the sweet sounds of live jazz under the stars.

Sleep tight so you can dive into the weekend's Grand Tasting and events Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM. More than 20 wineries will be represented, including hand-crafted gems from Truchard, Roessler, Ahnfeldt, Vina Robles, B Cellars, Laird Family Estate, Fleming Jenkins and many more from boutique Old and New World producers. Check the Web site as more wineries sign on to this not-to-be-missed event. Get to know the winemakers and visit with some of the valley's top chefs as you savor their inventive dishes on Miramonte's picturesque grounds framed by the majestic Santa Rosa Mountains.

All the while, you'll be enthralled and entertained by fine art, boutique shopping and live music. Enjoy a tasteful, tranquil weekend of gustatory delights with other wine and food enthusiasts in a postcard-like setting energized by spring's vibes, creativity galore and the pleasures of the vine.

Event producers Kajon Media will donate a portion of proceeds to Habitat for Humanity of the Coachella Valley, the local affiliate of the international organization that provides safe, affordable housing for families in need.

Tickets for individual events and day passes are on sale now. Reserve early to ensure admission, best-pricing and access to limited-seating events such as Friday's celebrity winemaker dinner, limited to 40 guests.

Information and tickets available online at www.coachellawinefestival.com or by calling 1.760.799.7076. See you at the festival!