Saratoga Stroll this Saturday May 21st

Saturday, May 21, from 3pm til 6pm.

Don your best bonnet and come out to enjoy the incomparable charm of Saratoga Village on a spectacular spring day!

Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the unique shops and restaurants of downtown Saratoga, while sipping wines from 18 local wineries, many of whom may be new to you: Big Basin Vineyards, Dancing Creek, Jazz Cellars, House Family Winery, Generosa, King’s Mountain Vineyard, Loma Prieta Winery, MJA Vineyards, Naumann Vineyards, SKOV, Stefania, and Villa del Monte. Bid on unique magnums and wine lots from Cinnabar Winery, Burrell School, Cooper-Garrod, Guglielmo, Mountain Winery, Savanah-Chanelle, Stefania, and Poetic Cellars.

Feast your eyes on art, jewelry and painting demonstrations. Groove to live music by The ONES, Rodrigo Teague and Asher Stern. Indulge in gourmet food by Tabitha and T3, including outrageous jams and sinfully rich chocolates. Treat yourself to a flirty new hat from Black Cat Hat. Dress up any outfit with a colorful corsage from Floral Fantasia. Score some new eyeshades or a roomful of new window shades.

Linger afterwards and dine at one of our world-class restaurants, many of which will offer special dining incentives, including 10% off, exclusively for Stroll patrons that evening.

Tickets will sell out quickly! $35 in advance, $40 day of (if available)

http://www.saratogachamber.org/spring_wine_walk.htm

Winemaker Dinner at Twist in Campbell

Join FOW and Stefania Wine for dinner at Twist!

When: Sunday May 22nd, 6pm
Where: Twist Bistro, 245 E. Campbell Ave, Campbell

Starters: Twist Salad or Onion Soup or Eggs Poached in pinot noir

Main Choices: Tri-tip or Catch of the Day or Chef Dominiques Vegetarian plate

Sweets: Chocolate Mousse or Espresso ice cream or Cheese platter

Paul and Stefania will pour wine from the current release and spend as much or as little time as you like talking about anything and everything.

Members: $60/per person
NonMembers: $70/per person

Cost is all inclusive (food/wine/tax/gratuity)

Checks and menu choices need to be posted no later than Saturday, May 14th

email to cherylmarkman@hotmail.com for the payment mailing address

www.stefaniawine.com

Tasting Notes on Older Wines.

Last night we opened two wine from the 2006 vintage.

2006 Syrah Eaglepoint Ranch. - This is in a really good drinking window right now. The tannins are soft and lots of secondary flavors coming through with the plum and berry fruit. Originally I put a shorter drinking window on this and I think now to 2013 is prime for this wine.

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Uvas Creek Vineyard - The was also really good last night, with round tannins, lots of berry and cherry fruit and a long finish. Worth trying at 5 years old and rounding out really well. There's a nice spice on he finish.

I'm going to open a 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Uvas Creek soon. The 05 and 06 both went through rough patches from age 3 1/2 to 4 when they seemed disjointed without a long decant. The 07 has been the same for a few months now and I want to check if it's coming out of that.

Bottles and Bins Recipes p. 108

I recently acquired a book titled Bottles and Bins Recipes, published by C. Mondavi & Sons: 1965

As I was perusing the titles and the recipes and casually thumbing through it, I came across this poem by Miriam Allen deFord on page 108.

Young Dionysus ranged the earth
To teach the sons of man
A magic of surprising worth --
And vineyards thus began

Now, drainers of the grape-born cup,
Remember him, your guide,
And toast him as you gaily sup
At this glad Christmastide.

And as the old year sinks to rest,
Praise him in draughts of wine
Who gave to all mankind his best --
The secret of the vine!

To a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

Cheers, SR

FOW Annual Holiday Party

Ring in the holiday season with FOW at:

The Blue Pheasant Restaurant
2210 Stevens Creek Blvd
Cupertino, CA 95014

Thursday night, December 9th

Appetizers at 6:30
Dinner at 7:30
Games and Dancing 'til 11:00 p.m.

Live Music by The Lyratones!

$55 per person, all inclusive (food, wine, music, prizes)

Send your checks, payable to FOW, no later than 12/1 to:
Paul Skov
PO Box 895
Los Altos, CA 94023-0895

Indicate your choice of entree:
Chicken (with mushrooms and artichoke hearts)
Salmon (topped with dill sauce)
Prime Rib (au jus and fresh horseradish)
Pasta Primavera (fresh veggies over linguine)

Dressy Holiday Attire

Oktoberfest Quiz and Answers

1. How many liters of beer are consumed during Oktoberfest season?
A. 1 million
B. 10 million
C. 7 million
D. 5 million

2. The original Oktoberfest celebrated?
A. The marriage of Prince Ludwig & Princess Therese
B. The coronation of Prince Ludwig
C. The marriage of King Helmut & Princess Elizabeth
D. The success of the fall harvest

3. What event caused an interruption in the annual Oktoberfest celebration?
A. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand
B. The Napoleonic wars
C. The Great European Plague
D. The country wide famine

4. Why is Oktoberfest celebrated in September?

5. Most beer served at Oktoberfest is called_______________?

6. In what month was beer usually brewed and why?

7. What is the average attendance of Oktoberfest each year?

8. The following breweries are represented at Oktoberfest except for: (one)
Augustiner
Hacker-Pscharr
Hobrau
Lowenbrau
Heineken
Paulander
Spaten-Franzislaner

9. Where is Oktoberfest held?
A. Berlin
B. Bavaria
C. Hamburg
D. Munich

10. How long does it take to brew an Oktoberfest beer?









ANSWERS:

1. C

2. A

3. B

4. Better weather

5. Marzen

6. It was brewed in March, cellared in the summer and ready to drink in September.

7. 6 million people; 85% from Germany

8. Heineken

9. D

10. 6 months, March-September

UpComing Event At Arcadia!

Do NOT miss the November event if at all possible, it's going to be one of 2010's highlights (based solely on my personal experience at Arcadia, and I've met Matt, a great winemaker).

Fernwood Cellars and Arcadia Restaurant at the Marriott San Jose

Join us for a luncheon featuring Fernwood Cellars owner and winemaker, Matt Oetinger.

When: 12:00 – 2:00 p.m., Sunday, November 14, 2010
Where: Arcadia, at the Marriott
100 W San Carlos Street, San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 278-4555

Menu:

First Course:
Arcadia Salad with Fuji Apples, Candied Walnuts, Blue Cheese
Paired with 2008 Estate Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
-or-
Ahi Tuna Poppers with Wasabi Caviar, Ponzu Vinaigrette
Paired with 2008 Santa Clara Valley Riesling

Entrée Course:
Phyllo Dusted Sole with Herb Brandade and Sauce Dijon
Paired with 2008 Estate Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
-or-
Beef Short Ribs with Horseradish Whipped Potatoes
Paired with 2007 Mirepoix

Dessert Course:
Banana Tart with House Made Caramel and Rum Raisin Ice Cream
Chocolate Molten Cake with Salty Caramel Ice Cream and Hazelnut Praline
Coffee or Tea

Cost: Members: $50.00 per person – all inclusive
Non-members: $55.00 per person – all inclusive

RSVP: Please call for payment deadline and mailing address

Cheryl Markman
(408) 578-8315

Note: This date is firm. If the number of confirmed reservations is too low, the event will be
cancelled on November 5 in order to avoid being charged the minimum guaranteed amount.

Cheers! Stefania