November 2008 San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival

Wine Tasting in Southern California & Beyond; Your Guide to Celebrating and Exploring So Cal's unique wineries, wine bars, restaurants and more. A one-of-its-kind compilation of Southern California wineries and information for enjoying wine tasting. It’s great for anyone visiting or living in the area. Read the book for full coverage of wineries, wine focused restaurants, wine bars and more in and around San Diego, Temecula, Laguna Beach, Antelope Valley, Oxnard/Ventura, Rancho Cucamonga and Los Angeles. In addition to winery coverage, the book has a resource guide of wine grape varieties, chapters on tasting wine and serving wine, pairing wine with food, starting a wine tasting group and more. "Wine Tasting in San Diego & Beyond (earlier edition) not only covers a wide spectrum of local information, but also gives the reader a helpful wine education. Ms. Roberts has obviously done a lot of research for such a comprehensive book about the San Diego (and beyond) wine scene." Eric V. Orange, EVO, Founder, www.LocalWineEvents.com

Bob Pepi comes from a long line of Californians, like his famous father Robert Pepi, who founded the family’s Napa Valley winery before it was sold to Jess Jackson more than a decade ago. Then there’s the Italian influence of his mother, a gentle octogenarian with striking features and a welcoming demeanor, who comes from Lucca, a small village in Tuscany. These two cultural influences in Pepi’s life, the Californian-Italian ties, have always been a strong part of who he is, and of the wines that he has made. Like a modern-day Midas, over the past few decades, Pepi has had a finger in more successful wine projects than you could imagine in Sonoma, Napa and even Argentina. In fact, his own project is named Eponymous, because he is not legally allowed to label a wine with his family name.

Joe’s wine career began in 1979 as a sommelier in Chicago’s top restaurant cellars including Charlie Trotter’s. He has worked for wine wholesalers, retailers, and a prominent Napa winery. Joe is the “JUST” the second American to achieve the coveted title “Best Sommelier in the World in French Wines and Spirits” awarded in Paris in 1997. In 1998 Joe was named Bon Appetit Wine & Sprits Professional of the Year. He is a leading wine educator, writer, and consultant, and he conducts wine seminars across the US, UK, Japan, and Australia. Joe is the Chairman of the selective US Court of Master Sommeliers (which has only admitted 140 people worldwide since inception!). The Court of Master Sommeliers encourages improved standards of beverage knowledge and service amongst professionals and others seeking to improve their knowledge and enjoyment of wines. The Court's charter is to further wine education worldwide. Joe is a frequent panelist at top wine events nationwide including Aspen, New York, New Orleans, Chicago, Disney Properties, and Pebble Beach. He is a member of numerous professional tasting panels including the Beverage Testing Institute, United Airlines and the Grand Jury Européen.

The San Diego W Hotel's sandy beach lounge was where guests, chefs, winemakers, and purveyors of fine spirits gathered for an evening of music, fun, sipping, and food. Taste of Wine's Frank Mangio, and World of Wine Events promoters Michelle Metter and Ken Loyst shmoozed with some of the big names in the fine food and drink industry. The event kicked-off a week-long lineup of wine and food related events held in San Diego. The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival (held November 12-16) is an international showcase of the world's premier wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities. Produced by World of Wine Events, the festival benefits the American Institute of Wine & Food culinary arts scholarship program. Now in its fifth year, the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival has quickly grown into a world-class wine and culinary extravaganza. The five-day festival features wine tasting seminars, cooking classes by James Beard award-winning chefs, and an elegant Reserve Tasting & Silent Auction. The festival culminates on Saturday, November 15 at the star-studded Grand Event and Fine Wine/Lifestyle Auction. Held on the magnificent San Diego Bay, the festival's Grand Tasting event is flanked by a backdrop of sail boats and sandy shores which perfectly set the event's tone. As of launch time of ths segment, some tickets for Saturday's event were still available. Check your chances for getting in to theis world-known wine and food event by going to http://www.WorldOfWineEvents.com

Frank visited 3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro in Encinitas, and chatted with wine buyer, Mark Plummer. The 3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro is truly a unique concept whose time has come. Frank came by with his tape recorder to see what the buzz is about.

The San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival is an international showcase of the world's premier wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities, and gourmet foods. Held in November, the event benefits the American Institute of Wine & Food culinary arts scholarship program. Over 700 wines, 60 of San Diego’s top fine dining restaurants and 30 gourmet food companies and exhibitors will participate in the 2008 Festival. Now in its fifth year, the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival has quickly grown into a world-class wine and culinary extravaganza. The five-day festival features wine tasting seminars, cooking classes by award- winning chefs, and an elegant Reserve Tasting at one of San Diego's finest hotels. The festival culminates on Saturday at the star-studded Grand Tasting Event and Fine Wine/Lifestyle Auction complete with dueling chef demonstration stages, celebrity cookbook signing tents, entertainment tent, and more. For more information visit www.worldofwineevents.com.

The wines of Jean-Luc Colombo typically reflect an exuberance of fruit and depth of expession. Concentrated and precisely crafted, they resonate with authentic varietal character and thus entice the wine lover's palate. Jean-Luc-Columbo wine comes from the assembling of old vines from various vineyard sites of the Cornas appellation. After a classical vinification with destemming, the wine is aged in oak for 18 months. Les Mejeans is a fine expression of the terroir and appellation of Cornas, while it may be cellared for some years or enjoyed younger while still on its fruit.

Located in the heart of Temecula Valley Wine Country, Palumbo Family Vineyards and Winery is committed to small lot, handcrafted wines from varieties that are grown on the property. The 13 acre, 2500 case per year family run winery has often been described as “boutique” but favors the term “Artisinal” to describe the involvement and passion that goes into the daily operations. Nicholas Palumbo, passionate Viticulturist and budding Enologist, believes in producing only what he grows himself. “I believe there is only two basic ingredients in making fine wines, the fruit itself and the barrels it ages in”. With one foot in modern techniques and the other foot firmly planted in tradition, the wines produced posses a depth and elegance that is becoming harder to find in California wines. Along with his wife Cindy and their four children, Reed, Ryan, Sophia and Dominick, the Palumbo’s believe that the vineyards come first. The 13 acres are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Sangiovese varietals. A new block of Viognier and Syrah was planted on neighboring properties to round out the line of wines available. Specializing in full-bodied reds, the estate-grown and produced offerings include both single variety bottlings as well as a few special blends, like the very popular Meritage called “Tre Fratelli”. Other blends like the 2005 Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon help round out the wine list and showcase the versatility and depth of quality that the Palumbo wines are known for.

Over 700 million bottles of Bordeaux wine are produced every year, ranging from large quantities of everyday table wine, to some of the most expensive and prestigious wines in the world. Most Bordeaux wine is red, but sweet white wines have also contributed to the region's reputation, and dry white, rosé and sparkling wines (Crémant de Bordeaux) are also produced. Bordeaux wine is made in 9,000 wineries usually called châteaux from the grapes of 13,000 grape growers. There are 57 appellations of Bordeaux wine.