Learn About Wine Blog

FREE WINE TASTING OPPORTUNITY

Something new and different… Something FREE!

Three ways to make this Thursday’s STARS of Santa Barbara a FREE Tasting!

1. The Automatic Winner

Buy a ticket at Full Fair VIP ticket at $159 – and get a second ticket free

Click Here to Purchase VIP Ticket (Only good on this link)

Your name will be on a VIP list at the door.

You will be a VIP guest and allowed in at 6:45 for an inside tasting with Ian Blackburn….

And get to taste Sea Smoke before the doors open (must be on time to capture this amenity)

Or

Join our membership and get this as a free gift

Click here to join membership

Check out the incredible number of benefits you get this month!

All members get upgraded to VIP as well.

2. The Lucky Winner

Review LearnAboutWine on Trip Advisor or Yelp – all reviews get entered into a random drawing to receive four free tickets!

RULES

• Once you write your review
• Grab the link and email it to us.
• Email info@learnaboutwine.com
• Include your name & phone number for us to confirm you.
• One lucky winner will be selected randomly
• This is not a writing contest
• This is not a race
• All reviews of any quality and score will be entered.
• Review must remain on line for a minimum 1 year to qualify
• It only takes a moment to set up a review account on either service.
• You can enter twice by reviewing on each website.
• Limit one entry per website per person.
• All reviews must be submitted by Noon on Wed, Jan 25th
• No phone calls please

3. The Old Fashioned Bribe!

Send us a creative email telling us what you would be willing to trade, barter, or pay for a ticket or two…. We can be bribed if the offer is good – you will be accepted.  We will publish these … so keep them clean!

• Creativity counts
• Not all Bribes are accepted
• ONLY equitable bribes will be accepted – deemed equitable by Ian Blackburn
• Business owners are encouraged to use assets, services, or talents in trade.
• Skilled laborers, artists, designers – welcome
• Submit the detail information about your bribe via the link: CLICK HERE
• Include your offer, your contact information, and we will respond after Wednesday at 12 noon.
• Wait for confirmation email or contact – to know that your bribe was acceptable.
• No phone calls please.

Exciting announcement! This is a first wine offer from Wine Cloud.

Wine Cloud (with LearnAboutWine) has launched a unique on-line wine shopping store.  Wine Cloud will offer the top wines to buy right now along with educational resources and stories behind every bottle.

About Wine Cloud:

—

Now we are proud to announce our first wine offer featuring Kathryn Kennedy Small Lot Cabernet Santa Cruz Mountains 2007 Vintage.

The Story Behind our selection of Kathyrn Kennedy Small Lot Cabernet:

In 1997, I had just started working in Sales for Kenwood Vineyards. For years, I had heard of the grand tasting wine event at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Beach.. but t was much more expensive than my modest salary could afford.  However, my position at Kenwood allowed me to work the event – my ticket to the event was secured.  Upon setting up my presentation table (one of 50 different wineries in the room), I set out to meet the others and made a few new connections… I was letter “K” for Kenwood…. my neighbor was a small artisan cabernet producer I had never heard of – Kathryn Kennedy, a producer from Santa Cruz Mountains.

I was a proud Kenwood representative – and everyone that worked at Kenwood knew that Mike Lee our winemaker was part artist, part genius and part miracle worker… the wines were great, available, and reasonably priced.  It was amazing to watch people come up to my well know brand and taste the wines and ignore the artist next to me, sad but was a reality in the wine business – those that are known – are trusted…. those that are not, are not.  I literally started talking to Marty Mathias the winemaker (he was the salesperson and the winemaker – tells you a great deal about the size of the winery) and exploring this phenomena – as a new rep, I was surprised… Marty was use to it.

I tasted Marty’s wine lineup of Cabernets – I was dumbfounded… why isn’t everyone in the room swamping to taste these jewels!   Instead they were ignoring them and visiting the wines they loved and trusted.  There was a line at Silver Oak, The BV table was packed, Marty stood there calmly and occasionally received a brave and experienced taster to come to the table. Slowly but surely, the buzz in the room built… did you try wine from Kathryn Kennedy?   Slowly but surely, those filling their glasses with Silver Oak were finally listening to the tastemakers in the room, and sought to gain the same experience they ignored 30 minutes earlier.

This was a revolution to me.  This is how you build a brand – this is what the wine industry needs.  A platform for both famous brands and the new stars to be found.  There were already an elite set of tastings for the well paid, but what about those on the rise… it planted a seed in my mind that would eventually craft the type of events we hosted at LearnAboutWine.com

Flash forward 15 years… 2011 – Marty Mathias and Kathryn Kennedy are still a small brand, privately owned, highly respected, but small… small enough to still be ignored somewhat – Marty is still the winemaker and the lead salesperson which also tells you a great deal about the wine.  He is no longer unknown, the wine spectator and other publications have all visited him and praised his hands on approach – he just chooses to remain small and make wines that speak of his philosophy and to maintain the “micro managed” style.

In November – I tasted this wine and it hit me!  ”I think this is a fitting place to start Wine Cloud” – we secured a modest allocation and our journey begins.

Wine Cloud will celebrate the small brands, top artisan producer, and new discoveries… wines that have a need for someone else to tell the story.  We are not just treasure hunters selling 100-point wines, we are story tellers helping you avoid the pitfalls of “group think”.  Trust Me” does apply.

As a new wine retailer – I want to establish trust – I will tell you why you should by the wine and hopefully you will be compelled to buy the wine from me.  ”Trust Me” comes with a big responsibility to sell you something special – unique – qualified.  This will be a great deal of work… tasting to find treasure is something I enjoy… and letting you know what I find is even more fun for me.  Value is obviously in the eye of the beholder – but if you value wines that are true, of place, and made with passion and not made like a commodity – “trust us” to take you on a journey.

One word of caution – I’m not trying to change your mind and tell you what you like is wrong – large wineries can make great wine – but I am hoping to open your eyes to see other options.  I’m also not going to tell you that my selections will be better than you favorite wine – that would not be wise either – but following us will improve your wine knowledge and improve the wine industry at the same time.

Finally – unlike others – we are not trying to sell wine that failed in the market and blowing out prices that wineries cannot really afford to support. I do promise that our prices will be very competitive and we also will have low cost shipping and waive the shipping fee on a 12-bottle purchase (assorted 12 bottles are fine).  (All wines must ship within 7 days).

Reasons to purchase:

• Ready to drink but should improve for 5+ years
• Cabernet that is pure, balanced, and special
• Similar in style to well aged Ridge Montebello
• More “Right Bank” in style than Napa
• Great vintage – 2007, Santa Cruz Mountains
• Price/Value – I expected it to cost double
• Small producer that deserves your awareness
• My rating – 94 Points for Quality/Value/Finesse
• Tasting Value – $75
• Our Price – $39

Quote from the Kathryn Kennedy Website:

Everyone agrees 2007 was really special. The weather in the Santa Cruz Mountains that year was ideal for growing Cabernet. This wine was fermented in open top tanks with hand punch down. It was then aged in a combination of American and French oak barrels for 21 months; only 876 cases were produced.

Who should buy this wine?

This is a classic California Cabernet lover’s wine.  Pure, long aging, balanced, terrific from start to finish.  I also recommend this for Bordeaux enthusiasts – fine tannins, great restraint, style and finesse.

Who should not buy this?

If you like a more modern ultra rip wine with major extraction and power – maybe this isn’t the one you want.

We value your business and give you more than just wine for your purchase:

To hear our story to tell – AS SEEN ABOUT

The tasting video – CLICK HERE

The Winery Website – CLICK HERE

Winery Tech Sheet – PDF – CLICK HERE

Map of Region – CLICK HERE

About the Grape – Cabernet – CLICK HERE

Winemaker – Marty Mathis

876 cases were produced from small vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains

Supply: Only 48 bottles available  - First come first serve.

Shipping: CLICK HERE to learn about free shipping

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most celebrated and important grape varieties, in terms of total plantings and total dollars.

Rivaled only by Merlot as the most planted dark-skinned grapes and gaining ground on Grenache as one of the most planted varietals on earth.

Cabernet serves as a dominate blending varietal backing up a majority of the Medoc/Haut Medoc’s productions and the elite wines or Napa Valley, Chile, and Argentina.

Cabernet is the king of red wine varietal offerings with strong retail, wine by the glass, high volume productions as well as artisan productions with even the highest of price tags.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a relative newcomer onto the world scene of fine red wine production; it did not make its way into the wines of Médoc and Graves until the late-18^th century.   Today, the late-ripening Cabernet is now the dominant varietal on the left bank of Bordeaux and is creeping into the right back as well.

Planted all over Europe, it is the blending varietal with Sangiovese in Italy’s Super Tuscans and stretches from Spain to lesser-known winegrowing regions like Georgia, Russia and Lebanon. In North America, Cabernet Sauvignon has found its niche as a pure varietal in almost every region in California as well as Washington.   In South America, it is seeing a meteoric rise in Chile and Argentina and to a lesser extent Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Peru and Bolivia.

Cabernet Sauvignon’s origin was under much speculation until 1997 when DNA profiling proved that it was the result of a cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc; thought to have been a happy accident in one of the many vineyards planted with a mixture of vines.

The distinctive small berries and their high ratio of pip to pulp are the major factors behind Cabernet’s tannic power and structure while the thickness of its dark skins account for the depth of color, ability for long maceration and worthiness of long-term aging.

Cabernet’s most remarkable quality is its signature cassis and blackcurrant fruit, eucalyptus/mint/menthol and green pepper/vegetal like aromas and its sturdy tannin structure.

Cabernet Sauvignon has an ability to convey individual vintage and individual vineyard characteristics and to showcase winemaking and aging techniques and most importantly find a wide audience of eager enthusiasts.

AKA:  Bouchet, Sauvignon Rouge, and Vidure

STARS of CABERNET November 16th at The Peninsula Beverly Hills

Trade Hours 2pm-5pm

Consumer Hours 7pm-9:30pm

Ian Blackburn, CEO of LearnAboutWine.com hosted a rare and gorgeous wine event at the Peninsula Beverly Hills collaborating with top Cabernet Sauvignon producers in California.

More than 200 wine buyers and sommeliers attended the trade portion of the event and for the night event 150 tickets were sold out!

Followings are the 2011 STARS of Cabernet Wine List:

Anderson’s Conn Valley Winery

Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Bernardus Winery

Marinus Estate Carmel Valley 2007

Swan Block Blend Estate Carmel Valley 2004

Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir SLH 2009

Cain Vineyard & Winery

Five, Spring Mtn District, Napa Valley 2007

Concept-The Benchland, Napa Valley 2007

Cuvee, Napa Valley NV”

Cliff Lede Vineyards

Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2010

Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 2008

Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry 2008

Coup De Foudre

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2009

Cuvee blend Napa Valley 2009

Darms Lane

Bon Passe Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Linda’s Hillside Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Bon Passe Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

David Arthur Vineyards

3 Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Napa Valley 2009

Elevation 1147 Estate Napa Valley 2009

Dominari

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2006

Merlot Napa Valley 2007

Zinfandel Napa Valley 2007

Rose Napa Valley 2010

Duckhorn Wine Company

Decoy Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Monitor Ledge Vineyard 2008

Duckhorn Vineyards Howell Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Farella Vineyard

Estate Bottled Napa Valley La Luce”" Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Estate Bottled Napa Valley “”Coombsville Divide”" Merlot 2007

Estate Bottled Napa Valley “”West Face”" Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

“Alta”" Estate Bottled Napa Valley”" 2007

Frank Family Vineyards

Napa Cabernet

Rutherford Reserve Cabernet

Gentleman Farmer

Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Red Wine 2009

Grassini Family Vineyards

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Grgich Hills Estate

Fume Blanc Napa Valley 2009

Chardonnay Napa Valley 2008

Zinfandel Napa Valley 2007

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2007

Heitz Wine Cellars

Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2010

Chardonnay Napa Valley 2008

Cabernet Napa Valley 2006

Cabernet Oakville Martha’s Vineyard 2006

IDEOLOGY CELLARS

Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll District 2008

Jaffe Estate

Metamorphosis Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena 2007

Transformation Proprietary blend of Cabernet & Merlot St Helena 2008

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2008

Insignia Napa Valley 2006

Insignia Napa Valley 2008

JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery

ISOSCELES (Cabernet, Merlot, Cab Franc) Paso Robles 2008

Cabernet Sauvignon (Cabernet) Paso Robles 2009

SAVANT (Syrah, Cabernet) Paso Robles 2009

Kathryn Kennedy Winery

ESTATE CABERNET Santa Cruz Mountains (Vintage TBD)

ESTATE CABERNET Santa Cruz Mountains (Vintage TBD #2)

LATERAL – 2008 Napa Valley Red Wine

Kelleher Family Vineyard

Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2010

Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville/Brix 2006

Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville/Brix 2007

Knights Bridge Winery

Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley/Estate 2008

Pont de Chevalier Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley/Estate 2008

Pont de Chevalier Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley/To Kalon Vineyard 2008

Lail Vineyards

Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2010

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2008

J. Daniel Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2008

Lancaster Estate

Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2007

Roth Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2008

Mauritson Wines

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

LOAM 2008

LOAM Suther 2008

LOAM Positas 2008

LOAM Clough 2008

Moone Tsai Vineyards

Cor Leonis Cabernet Sauvignon  Napa Valley 2008

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2008

Howell Mountain Merlot  Napa Valley 2008

Chardonnay Napa Valley 2008

Patland Estate Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyards 2007

Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyards 2008

Syrah Stagecoach Vineyards 2007

PEJU

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2007

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Napa Valley 2007

Porter Family Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville 2005

Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville 2006

Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville 2007

Red Blend Coombsville 2008

Rocca Family Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon Yountville Napa Valley/Grigsby Vineyard 2008

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa VAlley/ Collinetta Vineyard 2007

Round Pond Estate

Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 2008

Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford 2010

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2009

Rudius Wines

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Panek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena 2009

Signorello Estate

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2007

Padrone 2007

Seta 2009

Silverado Vineyards

Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Solo Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District Napa Valley 2007

Sylk Cellars

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Carlyn & Barton Vineyard 2007

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Carlyn & Barton Vineyard 2008

Satin Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2009

Tierra Roja

Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley 2008

Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley 2003

Va Piano Vineyards

Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2007

Syrah Columbia Valley 2008

Merlot Walla Walla Va Piano Estate 2008

Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Va Piano Estate 2008

Venge Vineyards

Bone Ash Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga Estate 2009

Silencieux Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2009

ZD Wines

Chardonnay California 2010

Pinot Noir Carneros 2009

Founder’s Reserve Pinot Noir Carneros 2009

Cabernet Napa Valley 2009

Reserve Cabernet, Napa Valley, 2008

PRESS Recap:

Topix local news

To read the full article: CLICK HERE

Examiner.com

To read the full article: CLICK HERE

Calon-Ségur Vertical Dinner: from 1961 to 2008 vintages

October 20, 2011 6:30 pm at Charlie Palmer in South Coast Plaza

We will be tasting 13 wines of Bordeaux 3rd Growth “Calon-Segur”, from vintage 1961.

FOR TICKETS & INFO: CLICK HERE
—PRESS—

Calon-Ségur Vertical Dinner as seen on Greer’s OC: CLICK HERE to see the article online