Learn About Wine Blog

LearnAboutWine will present two preview showings of Sideways “The Play”
- Tasting from 730pm
- Ruskin Group Theatre in Santa Monica!
- Curtain at 8pm sharp.

Act Fast:  All 50 seats in this theatre will sell out.

2 Dates: A LearnAboutWine exclusive preview
- These are the first public performances
- Price Includes Wine Tasting – this is a drink along
- Exclusive Q&A after the show with Rex Pickett

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE MAY 10 TICKETS

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE MAY 11 TICKETS – Almost SOLD OUT

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE JUNE 7 TICKETS

About Rex Pickett’s Sideways The Play

Sideways The Play, adapted by Rex Pickett from his own novel, is the story of two friends – Miles and Jack – and their journey across the Santa Ynez wine country, on one last blowout trip before Jack gets married. Miles and Jack must face their uncertain futures, just as soon as they figure out how to survive their chaotic present.

Previously adapted as a major motion picture, Sideways garnered numerous nominations and awards, including an Academy Award win, two Golden Globe Awards, four NY Film Critics Circle Awards, a SAG Award, six IFP Independent Spirit Awards, and is one of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures Top Ten Films of 2004.

REX PICKETT (Playwright) is the author of the novel Sideways and its sequel Vertical. He has written and directed two feature films — California Without End, From Hollywood to Deadwood, and numerous screenplays. In 2000 the film of his short script, My Mother Dreams the Satan’s Disciples in New York (directed by Barbara Schock), won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short. In 2004, the Alexander Payne-directed movie Sideways, based upon Rex’s novel, was released to worldwide critical acclaim, winning over 350 awards from various critics and awards organizations, including 5 New York Film Critics Circle awards, 5 L.A. Film Critics awards, 6 Indie Spirit Awards, 2 Golden Globes, and the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. It is enshrined with a plaque on the wall of the Writers Guild of America Theater as one of the 101 Greatest Screenplays in the history of motion pictures. Rex is currently writing a pilot for HBO and a script for Barbara Schock called On Tour with Max. “I hate the dispiriting nature of development – i.e. screenwriting, but the stage is a fresh vehicle for audiences to experience the original story. This team at the Ruskin were so passionate about theater, so certain that ‘Sideways’ based on my novel — not the film — would lend itself to the stage, that this time the development

process became truly rewarding.”

AMELIA MULKEY (Director) is a director in theater and film. She cut her teeth in filmmaking by working as a producing director’s assistant for several television shows including Saving Grace, Army Wives, and Lie to Me. Since then, Amelia has produced and directed several short films including Unicorn Girl, which screened at several festivals last year. She graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Art History and Theatre from Loyola Marymount University. Amelia hassince worked on several stage productions at San Francisco’s New Conservatory Theatre, and has been tapped numerous times to direct CAFÉ PLAYS, the popular Ruskin Group Theatre event which sells out monthly.

When the Speak of Rita, Bash, The Laramie Project, Denty Crisis, and Lend Me a Tenor. Most recently, Amelia directed a critically acclaimed production of Arthur Miller’s A Memory of Two Monday’s at Ruskin Group Theatre, which received a Backstage West Critic’s Choice, an Ovation Recommendation, and 6 nominations including “Best Director” from The LA Stage Alliance.

RUSKIN GROUP THEATRE has been making an impact on the Los Angeles theatre scene with an eclectic mix of thought provoking plays, garnering numerous “recommendations” from local critics. Ruskin’s Fostering program sponsors foster kids in theatre & film classes that produce several original shows each year. The CAFÉ PLAYS, created by RGT are produced monthly and are the culmination of writers, actors, and directors who meet at 9am, where they are given a theme. They then write, produce, and perform a show by 7pm the same day. When celebrating their 8th anniversary, RGT supporters Ed Asner, Dylan McDermott, Chris Mulkey, Olivia d’Abo, and other industry celebrities joined to produce the Best of Café Plays (both shows sold out within hours). Anthony Hopkins and Anthony Franciosa were some of the first teachers at Ruskin School of Theatre.

JOHN RUSKIN (Artistic Director) helmed the critically acclaimed production of Strange Snow at RGT. His years of experience include studies at the Yale School of Drama, British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England, and the University of Colorado in Boulder. In New York, Ruskin joined the acting faculty of the Neighborhood Playhouse at the request of Sanford Meisner (who he then apprenticed with) before moving to Los Angeles where he founded his own school of acting and a professional theatre company. The company provides outreach programs to people in need with their “Healing Through the Arts” project.

MICHAEL MYERS (Producer/Managing Director) has produced more than 65 projects since 2002. He recently directed the world premiere of Digging Up Dad and the critically acclaimed production of Faithful at RGT. Mike is a co-creator of the Ruskin Group Theatre’s well attended CAFÉ PLAYS, the monthly offering of one-acts that are done in 10 ½ hours from conception to staging. He serves as vice-chair of the Santa Monica Arts Commission.

MIKE REILLY (Producer/Production Manager) has a long history as a director/ producer at the Ruskin. Directorial credits include The Lonesome West, Cowboy Mouth, Lobby Hero, and Brilliant Traces. Mike has over 20 years of experience as a producer, director and teacher, and he has been an integral part of the Ruskin Group Theatre’s producing team. Recently, he co-produced the Ruskin hit shows Faithful, and the world premiere of Jesse Boy.

JASON MATTHEWS (Producer) is currently the inaugural Writer-in-Residence at the Ruskin Group Theatre. His debut full-length comedy Four Night Stand was produced in Spring 2010. Jason’s work has been produced more than 50 times nationwide, in playwriting festivals and readings, and exclusive one-act productions. An aspiring wine enthusiast, Jason met Rex at a Pinot Tasting, where they first hatched the crazy idea of adapting Sideways for the stage.

OUR ENSEMBLE INCLUDES:

JONATHAN BRAY (Jack) has appeared with Frank Langella in The Father and with Nathan Lane and Sarah Jessica Parker for benefit performance of Once In A Lifetime. Most recently he appeared as The Narrator in Craig Wright’s The Pavilion and as Valene in The Lonesome West. TV credits include episodes of ABC’s Man Up and Showtime’s new comedy House of Lies. Jonathan stars in The Walkaround, a mockumentary about auto shows, set to premiere at the Indie Spirit Film Festival in 2012.

JOHN COLELLA (Miles) is a 2012 Indie Soap Award Winner – Best Actor in a Comedy for his Web Series, Vampire Mob. Film credits include: Hotel Noir, Girl Walks Into a Bar (1st Major Motion Picture made exclusively with and for YouTube), The Chicago 8, and The Swear Police (LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival winner). He has also been seen on Criminal Minds, Desperate Housewives, CSI: NY, American Dreams, Will & Grace, The West Wing, and NYPD Blue. Theatre credits include: Cyrano in Cyrano de Bergerac, Italian American Reconciliation, Faithful, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), and Lobby Hero.

JULIA McILVAINE (Maya) last appeared at the Ruskin in A Memory of Two Mondays, and was seen as Duenna in their production of Cyrano. In New York, Julia appeared in Henry VIII at the Public Theatre’s NYSF, Pride’s Crossing at Lincoln Center, and Marsha Norman’s Trudy Blue at the Manhattan Theatre Company. For CBS, ABC and Fox, she has appeared in four television pilots, and movies for Hallmark Hall of Fame. Julia is a graduate of the USC School of Theatre.

CLOE KROMWELL (Terra) was seen as Roxanne in Cyrano and in the role of Teresa in John Patrick Shanley’s Italian American Reconciliation, both produced at the Ruskin. Her film credits include the shorts Goodbye, Nice to Meet You, Dadlands, and the feature film Moustache.

HAMILTON MATTHEWS (Brad-The Boar Hunter) was last seen at in Arthur Miller’s A Memory of Two Mondays. He is an accomplished singer and studied vocal performance at the Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. He recently finished work in a production of Dark Side of the Moon with the Next Stage Theatre.

WHAT: SIDEWAYS

Written by:  Rex Pickett
Produced by: John Ruskin, Michael Myers, Mike Reilly, Jason Matthews
Directed by: Amelia Mulkey
Presented by: Ruskin Group Theatre

Rosenthal Private Estate Tour, Tasting & Picnic

August 25, 2012
Rosenthal Private Estate
29000 Newton Canyon Road Malibu, California 90265
$49 Advanced / Two for 480

11:00am – 1:00pm click here to register
2:00pm – 4:00pm click here to register

Private Tour + Tasting + Picnic Lunch “all-inclusive”

Our annual tasting at the Private Estate of George Rosenthal, Owner, Rosenthal Malibu Estate.

This is one of the premier producers in the region and the Estate is something to behold.

This is our 9th Annual visit and a highlight of the year… tickets go fast so make sure you put this on your calendar!

* No children allowed, all attendees must be 21 or over.

** Members – receive a 10% discount for all tickets purchased (click here to become a member)

Straight out of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,”  four miles from the coast, 1,400-feet up, just above the coastal fog, in the AVA Malibu Newton Canyon… come amazing wines from George Rosenthals Estate.   Vineyard Owner, Movie Studio Pioneer, Hotel Mogal, Real Estate Tycoon, and successful enterpriser…George first planted his 250 acre estate in 1987.

The 25 acres of hillside vines are planted in this unique micro climates, where cool breezes filter into Newton Canyon in the evening, tempering warm, sunny days and producing world class fruits and long aging wines of merit.

* The Event is Rain or Shine.  Dress appropriate for the weather and we recommend no high heal shoes so you can walk the hilly Estate.

** Do not arrive more than 10 minutes early – this is a private estate and security will open gate 10 minutes before start time.  This event is scheduled for 2 hours, and all participants must depart before 1:15.  To purchase tickets for the 2pm session – click here.

***Picnic lunch consists of simple salad of fresh local greens and toppings, a healthy sandwich made on bay cities award winning bread, and a cookie.

Important Note:

Please do not attempt to use www.MapQuest.com or Google Maps for directions.

It will get you lost in the hills of Malibu! Please refer to the driving directions below.

Rosenthal-The Malibu Estate

29000 Newton Canyon Road

Malibu, California 90265

310.457.4573 – Main House (only if you get lost)

310.451.7600 – to contact event planners

—-

Driving Direction:

Please do not attempt to use www.MapQuest.com for directions.

It will get you lost in the hills of Malibu!

FROM SANTA MONICA, BEVERLY HILLS & WEST LA

Go NORTH on PCH through Malibu, past Pepperdine and Paradise Cove.

Turn right on Kanan Dume Road (there is a signal and large sign)

Go on Kanan Dume Road for 4.5 miles until you pass through the first tunnel.

The entrance is 100 yards past the tunnel on your right hand side.

There are large wooden gates to indicate the entrance (see picture below).

There is no sign at the gate. Across the street is the sign “Newton Canyon, Private Road”

FROM VENTURA

Take the 101 South Freeway to Kanan Road.

Turn right on Kanan Road

Go up the mountain through two tunnels

Cross Mulholland Highway.

Kanan Road becomes Kanan Dume Road at this point

The Estate is 100 yards BEFORE the third tunnel (2 miles past Mulholland).

There is no sign at the gate. The entrance to The Estate will be on your left hand side, indicated by a driveway

with large wooden gates.

FROM EAST – CENTRAL LA

Take the 101 north Freeway to Kanan Road.

Turn left on Kanan Road.

Follow the directions above after going through 2 tunnels.

Note: ONCE AT THE GATE , SECURITY GUARDS WILL GUIDE YOU TO THE TASTING

ROOM:

After entering through the gate, proceed down the driveway, bearing to the left at the “Y” in the road. Drive (1/8

mile) to our tasting room (the old stables). Turn right into the driveway, then right into the riding rink. Park against

the fence.

(GATE will look like this in the photo below)

UTB featured STARS of Napa, Paso and Baja 2012 on the News Program on their air on April 7th.

Click here to see LAW mentioning in the news

UTB Home page: http://utbhollywood.com/en/

ABOUT COMPANY
United Television Broadcasting Systems
UTB (United Television Broadcasting Systems, Inc.) is the first Japanese-language TV station based in the United States. The station first began in Los Angeles in 1971.
UTB aims to share the current trend to the people here in the United States while also providing necessary information such as news and current events to the people of the Japanese community. The company has continued on for decades following these two goals, and has recently become recognized as a major media source in the Japanese community.

UTB’s programming airs on Ch. 18 KSCI-TV. The station covers the 16 million population of Southern California, and UTB is watched by over 3 million people, including Japanese, Japanese Americans, other Asian nationalities, and Americans. Also, UTB uses its showbiz environment to its fullest, creating a wide variety of TV shows and commercials that really represent the Californian lifestyle. In addition, UTB often works as media and production coordinators for companies from Japan.

Company: United Television Broadcasting Systems,Inc.
Address: 6779 Hawthorn Ave., Hollywood, CA 90028,USA
First air date: September 19, 1971

Activities: Japanese-language programming in Southern California
Production of shows, TV commercials, etc
Executive director : Toshiyasu Hayakawa

EASTER SUNDAY SERVICE
A free event
A special invite for our friends to come taste the Beekeeper 2009 and the new 2010 Pre-Release!
A free gathering.

When: Sunday 4-6pm
Where: Downtown LA
530 Molino Street, Loft 218 90013
Why: Celebrate the day!

Click here to see detail

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