FEATURED EVENT
6th Annual Wine and Mushroom Festival
Discover the beautiful Mendocino Wine Country at the 6th Annual Wine and Mushroom Festival. This mushroom lover's extravaganza features winemaker dinners, guided forays in redwood forests, wine and barrel tastings, cooking demos, Craft & Bounty Fair, Botanical Garden walks, music, 'shroom symposium on paper making, dyeing, medicinal uses, cultivating, and identification. Win a weekend getaway to the Mendocino Coast or other great prizes with a Mushroom Fest Winery Tasting Room Passport that is stamped each time you visit a tasting room in the three Mendocino wine making regions. The more stamps you collect, the better your chance of winning. Call (866) 466.3636 for more information regarding schedule of events and ticket prices or email Passports@goMendo.com.
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Think Pink: Inman Family Wines
 Drink a glass of Rosé and make a contribution to breast cancer research.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and winemaker Kathleen Inman, owner of Inman Family Wines has decided to donate 15% of all online wine sales in October to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Kathleen is best known for her Russian River Valley Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir produced from her organically farmed Olivet Grange Vineyard, but in 2004 she made a limited release dry Rosé aptly named "Endless Crush" to celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary which coincided with harvest. All three wines are made to accompany good food and conversation; visit the Inman Family Wines website to order wine and be sure to check out the recipes that pair perfectly with these exceptional wines.
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Wine Basics® Class and Harvest Tours at Goosecross Cellars
 To enhance your visit to wine country this harvest season, stop by the small, family-owned and operated Goosecross Cellars in Yountville. Open since 1985, Goosecross is known for their intimate and friendly tasting room and excellent wines which are sold exclusively at the winery.
On Saturdays in October at 11 a.m., join their FREE Wine Basics Class conducted right in the vineyard. This fun and informative course on wine tasting and sensory exploration covers everything from tasting techniques, to serving hints, to industry jargon in plain English. On Fridays at 10am and Saturdays at 2:30 p.m., join their Harvest Tour. Goosecross takes you through their vineyard, the crush pad and barrel room to teach visitors about the magic of harvest.
Goosecross Tasting Room also offers tasting and sales from 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily. Click here to download a free tasting pass. Click here for information about these events: Reservations are required.
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An Exclusive Invitation from Fetzer Vineyards
 Fetzer Vineyards is dedicated to natural winemaking to enhance your personal wine drinking experience. The beauty of this Mendocino home inspires the natural approach to winegrowing. You'll find it in every glass of the exclusive limited release wines crafted for the Fetzer Reserve Wine Club.
These are the wines the winemakers make for themselves. Special wines from select lots, including vineyard designates and unique varietals such as Petite Sirah, and Malbec, as well as exciting blends like Syrah~Grenache. For $45 every other month, you will receive two bottles of exclusive and limited release Fetzer Wines. Your membership also includes invitations to exclusive member-only events and discounts on all wine orders. For more details about the Fetzer Reserve Wine Club and how to become a member, click here or email joel_clark@b-f.com.
*Currently Fetzer only ships wine to the following states: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia. Call (800) 846.8637 for details.
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WINE
TASTING ITINERARY
Santa Barbara, CA
Wine Tours Taken Sideways
When folks in Buellton, CA heard about a little-known author
writing a novel about their town, they were a bit under whelmed.
Rex Pickett, who penned Sideways, would often visit Santa Barbara’s
nearby wine country, chatting with locals and telling them he
was writing a book about the wine country. But it wasn’t until
movie scouts came to town that the owner of the now-famous Hitching
Post 2, Frank Ostini, really knew something big was about to
happen. Really big.
Though the wineries in Santa Ynez, Santa Maria, Los Olivos,
Buellton and Lompoc have been quietly gaining influence for the
last 20 years or so, it wasn’t until Hollywood came to town that
this noteworthy Pinot Noir and Chardonnay-growing region got
major national exposure.
The film’s main characters, Miles and Jack, spend a week tasting
wine, eating, golfing and having some rather complicated romantic
interludes that inevitably involve more eating and drinking—especially
of the region’s emerging Pinot Noirs.
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EDITOR'S
PICK
Single and Fabulous
Santa Barbara is filled with fabulous places
to visit, things to do, wines to drink and foods to eat. The
locals are very verbal on their favorites and many establishments
receive "Best
of" votes year after year.
One place that consistently places at the top of the region's annual awards
is Santa Barbara's family-style Italian restaurant, Palazzio. Palazzio has
taken top spot in Best Service, Best Waiter, Best Caesar Salad, Best Italian
Restaurant, and Best Restaurant to See and be Seen. Check out the ceiling,
it is a replication of the Sistine Chapel’s famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo.
They were also voted by USA Today as one of the top 10 restaurants in the
country that caters to single diners — those eating by themselves, not necessarily
those without partners. Palazzio, 1026 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 564.1985.
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WINE
COUNTRY DINING
Dining Out in Santa Barbara Wine Country
Brother’s Restaurant at Matteis
Tavern: A former stage-coach stop, this historic tavern was recently
renovated by sibling restaurateurs who have made it one of the
most sought-after dining experiences in Santa Barbara Wine Country.
The menu changes constantly, according to the season and the chef’s
whims, but is firmly grounded in classic American cuisine, including
steak, veal chops, ribs, and hearty cornbreads. However, all are
done with a contemporary flair with surprising infusions of Asian
and French cuisine, imaginative sauces and elegant presentations. Reservations
recommended. 2350 Railway Ave., Los Olivos, CA (805) 688.4820
The Taproom at Firestone Walker Brewing Company: Casual pub grub,
with lots of hearty steaks and ribs, as well as pizzas, salad and
more. The Taproom is located in the brewery, which makes a variety
of local beers—most of which you can sample while you eat. 620 McMurray
Road, Buellton, CA (805) 686.1557
Alisal Guest Ranch: Though you have to be a guest to
dine at the Alisal, weekend cowgirls and recreational ranch-hands
are served hearty American fare with a European accent after a hard
day of riding the range. Dinner entrees include fish, rabbit, risotto,
steaks and a specialty of the house, veal schnitzel. 105 Alisal Road,
Solvang, (805) 688.6411. The ranch’s chef also serves the general
public at the River Grill at the River Course Golf Club, 150 Alisal
Rd., Solvang (805) 688.7784.
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WINE
COUNTRY SURVEY
Tell Us What You Think
Your opinion matters! WineCountry.com
is in the process of re-designing the website. In order to
make changes that best reflect the needs of you, our user,
we need feedback. Click the link below and take this short survey
that asks questions like, “How often do you drink wine” and
“How often have you visited a wine country outside of California”
All answers will be taken very seriously and remain confidential.
Thanks for being part of the WineCountry.com team.
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WINE COUNTRY RECIPE
THE CHOCOLATE SCREAM DESSERT
aka FLOURLESS
CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CARAMEL SAUCE
Los Olivos Cafe is a popular upscale eatery that
features many local wines and regional dishes. Menu items include
chicken, sandwiches and pizzas for lunch and Mediterranean-influenced
entrees like chicken parmigiana, pasta and salmon for dinner.
Don’t miss the chocolate scream dessert, a flourless chocolate
cake and caramel sauce, also featured in this newsletter for your
baking delight.
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WINECOUNTRY.COM
DRAWING
Enter
and Win!*
Spa & Wine Tasting Package
Enter to win 2 gift certificates ($150 value) to Osmosis
- The Enzyme Bath Spa. Osmosis is a Japanese
style retreat nestled among beautiful bonsai and bamboo gardens. An
aura of peace will envelop every detail of your stay. Make
sure your vacation plans include a trip to the quaint town
of Healdsburg filled with stylish shops and boutiques, galleries,
restaurants and wine tasting rooms such as Kendall Jackson.
Included in this package are 2 reserve wine tasting certificates!
You can enter to win by answering the following question from
this Newsletter: "What place makes a pizza that has smashed
heirloom tomatoes, maple and tamari glazed Nojojui Farms Delicata
squash, Heavenly Slope corn, and smoked whole milk mozzarella?”
Click
here to enter this drawing!** The Winner of
this Drawing will be announced on The
Winner's Page after October 31, 2005.
So what are you waiting for…Sonoma wine country awaits your
arrival!
*some restrictions apply
** No purchase necessary. Must be at least 21 years old to enter. Only one
entry per person permitted. Winner will be selected October 31, 2005 by random
drawing from the correct entries. Winner will be notified by email. Employees
of Freerun Technologies are ineligible. Void where prohibited by law.
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