Tastings
Sunday Tastings, 2-5p
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“I've discovered many little gems from wineries near and far with Savvy Cellar's Sunday tastings.”
Lance Henderson, Redwood City, CA
Tastings Descriptions
ABC (Anything But Cabernet) Reds
We have nothing against Cabernet Sauvignon. But there are so many other great red varietals to explore and experience - Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Malbec, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and Syrah - to name a few. Sample some great "ABC" reds. Blind Wine Tasting
One of our most popular events! Test your palette and deductive reasoning skills with a flight of six (6) great wines. We give you the names of the wines and you try to figure out which is which. Name all six to be entered into a drawing to win three (3) bottles of wine of your choice for just $.01. A great way to dive into some new wines (and possibly win three wines for $.01).California Wines
California wines are well known for their high quality, reliability and diversity. There are nearly 100 grape varieties grown in close to 100 distinct wine growing viticultural areas. Sample five (5) 90-point wines from different California regions!"Call me a Cab"
Cabernet Sauvignon is a cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. Its thick skin results in wines that can be high in tannin. It tends to lack mid-palate richness and so is often blended with lower tannin, but "fleshy" tasting grapes, particularly Merlot, Shiraz / Syrah and Cabernet Franc. Come taste five 90-point Cabs and Cab Blends.Chocolate & Port - Special Tasting
Hosted by Marni Rubin, CSW and Wine Educator
Experience the amazing interplay of some of the world’s most luxurious taste sensations . . . . Chocolate and Port. Explore chocolates from around the world, and pair them with several types of fortified wine, including Port & Madeira. Get some great ideas for what to serve or bring to your holiday parties. $25/tasting fee (50% for wine club members).
Pre-register Now (click here)!
Desserts Wines
From Riesling to Sauternes, Ruby & Tawny Port, Madeira to Icewine, dessert wines can be the perfect way to finish a meal. Often they are dessert unto themselves (without food). Exercise your sweet tooth at this yummy Sunday tasting."Fill in the Blanc"
Blanc is the French word for white. This tasting features white grapes that have the name Blanc in them. We'll sample Pinot Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Sauv Blanc, and Fume Blanc - all of which are white varieties with very different flavor profiles."Forgive me for I have Zinned"
Zinfandel, in parts of Europe known as Primitivo, is used to produce a popular California wine, known for its intense fruitiness, lush texture, and high alcohol content. Zin is surprisingly versatile - spicy and fruity; light-bodied and delicate; or full-bodied and dry. Sample five (5) great zins.French Wine Regions
The production of wine in France has its origins in the 6th century BC. France now produces the most wine by volume in the world. Take a quick tasting tour of five (5) French Wines from some of the most prominent regions including Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Champagne, Loire Valley and The Rhône.German Rieslings
Riesling is Germany’s leading grape variety, known for its balance between fruit and mineral flavors. Three common characteristics of German Riesling are that they are rarely blended with other varietals and rarely exposed to commercial yeast or to oak flavor. Riesling wines from Germany cover a vast array of tastes from sweet to off-dry "halbtrocken" to dry "trocken".In Love with Pinot Noir!
Pinot Noir is grown around the world, but is originally associated with the Burgundy region of France. It is widely considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world, but is a difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine. Robert Parker has described Pinot Noir: "When it's great, Pinot Noir produces the most complex, hedonistic, and remarkably thrilling red wine in the world . . . ."Light Bodied Reds
From Gamay to Cabernet Franc and Blaufrankish to Pinot Noir, light bodied reds are a wine-lovers paradise. Delicate and full of flavor, with acidity and length, these wines are food loving favorites for the connoisseur and beginning taster alike. Come try five 90-point selections.Malbec: The King of Argentina (2/21/10)
Malbec has been long known as one of the six (6) grape varietals used in Bordeaux, France. However, it has found more recent fame in Argentina, producing a dark inky wine with robust yet softer tannins than its French ancestors. We will sample five 90-point versions of Malbec.Oregon & Washington Wines
Oregon & Washington lie at a similar latitude as France. Oregon's wine industry was established in the 1960's to produce Pinot Noir. Other cool climate grapes do well here: Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Blanc. Washington has grown to be the #2 wine producing state in the country. Washington's wine regions enjoy vast amounts of sun and a wider range of grape varieties: Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah."Que Syrah, Shiraz" (11/1/09)
Did you know . . . Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape? That it should not be confused with Petite Sirah? Thought to have originated from city of Shiraz in Persia (Iran), genetic testing points to a cross between two obscure French vines. Ditch the trivia and taste five (5) great Syrahs (or was that Shiraz?) with us at Savvy Cellar.
Red Blends
Are blends the next revolution in fine wine? Come taste for yourself. “There is a subtle, mysterious quality about blends. They tend to be much more complex and interesting when assembled properly, and, they provide the most complete wine experience whether enjoyed on their own or with food.” Sample five (5) intriguing 90-point blends from all around the world.Rhône Imposters
Rhône Valley in France is famous for making blends based on Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. Increasingly, other wine producing regions of the world are creatively blending these varietals into wines we call "The Rhone Imposters." Sample five (5) great 90-pointRhône- style wines.
Rhône Valley Wines
Did you know the Rhône wine region is first divided into north and south? The north produces syrah based reds and pure viognier whites. The south produces Châteauneuf-du-Pape and other blends from several varieties. This is a fascinating wine area with plenty of history: the first cultivated vines were likely planted in 600 BC. Sample five (5) terrific Rhône wines.
Savvy Sommelier Picks
It's your server's choice today at Savvy Cellar. Try the five (5) wines our Sommelier likes best!South Africa - The World's Oldest New World Wine Region
South African wine has been produced since 1659. Production is concentrated in the south-west of the country, with major vineyard and production centers at Paarl, Stellenbosch and Worcester. Sample some unique South African wines, including Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Syrah and others.Spanish Wines
Spain is Europe's home of high quality, value wines. Come sample not only Rioja (Tempranillo) but also some delightful Albarinho and red blends. Sparkling Wine - Poor Man's Champagne!
Sample five (5) sparkling wines that aren't from Champagne France and learn how to get all the bang you want from bubbles without breaking your bank! Countries like the US, Spain and Italy have wonderful look-a-likes that will surprise and delight you.Super Bowl Wines
Fumble the beer and score with wine! Come get some creative and fun wine recommendations to wow the guests of your Super Bowl party. Did you know Zinfandel pairs well with baby back ribs? Syrah complements nachos? And Sparkling wine is a great match for chips? Final score: Wine 21, Beer 7.
Tempranillo - A Grape on the Rise
Tempranillo is a thick-skinned black grape used to make full-bodied red wines. Tempranillo wines can be consumed young, but are considered at their best when aged a few years, especially in oak barrels. It is known by many other names (hundreds in fact), usually after the region in which it has been grown. Sample our Tempranillo line-up of five (5) wines."Viva Italia"
Etruscans and Greek settlers produced wine in Italy long before the Romans started developing their own vineyards in the second century BC. Two thousand years later, Italy remains one of the world's foremost producers, responsible for approximately one-fifth of world wine production. Italian wines tend to be acidic, dry, light-to-medium bodied, and subdued in flavor and aroma. Sample "Rossos" Sangiovese (Chianti) and Super Tuscan Cab blends; and "Biancos" such as Trebbiano, Gargenega and Pinot Grigio. White Wine Varietals
Tired of the cold weather and the same old red wines? Celebrate daylight savings and the first taste of long summer days. Prime your summer palate with our white wines only wine tasting. We'll try some interesting varietals and well as a few good ol' stand-by's.Wines for Fall
It's that time again to try the best wines of the season. With spicy, rich whites and "warm-you-up" reds, our wines for fall will be the best wines selections for your fall parties and meals without the huge price tags. Wines for Thanksgiving
Just in time for Thanksgiving, stop by our Sunday tasting to sample Savvy's suggestions for great wines that pair well with your harvest feast. Wines of Europe
Want to expand your wine horizons? Break out of the same old California Cab or Chardonnay and try some wines from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Germany. Taste five (5) great 90-point European wines.
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