By Rick Riozza
When it comes to savoring a delicious Pinot Noir, the only thing that comes to mind at this particular time of the (new) year is the annual “Passion 4 Pinot” Palm Springs Pinot Noir Festival that will be held from January 30th to February 2nd for the Grand Tasting, Dinner, Brunch, and Seminar Events.
Fortunately for you wine enthusiasts who have had these dates on your calendar since last year’s festivities, you’ve already booked your place at the palace of the perfect Pinot. This column, of course, as it has in the past four years, simply alerts those of you that need to grab at the last chance to attend Pinot heaven! All of the events sold-out last year, so go to palmspringspinotfest.com immediately to get any available tickets for:
Grand Tasting & Early Entrance, Saturday 1-5 pm
Winemaker Dinners— Domaine Della Wines-Friday Jan 31st; Martinelli-Jan 31st.
Sangiacomo Family-Thurs Jan 30th
Sunday Brunch— Santa Lucia Highlands AVA
Wine Seminars— “From Carneros to West Coast Sonoma Pinot Noir”; and, Champagne Tasting Master Class with Special Club Champagne & Petrossian Caviar, Friday afternoon
As one can tell, this is the Wine Event, par excellence, of the year in our valley, and, when it comes to Pinot Noir, nothing in our state can match it!
I remember writing, “that if you were to catch a gifted poet quietly jotting down some lines on paper, I’m thinking that the glass of wine sitting by them would probably be a Pinot Noir. There’s an allure to that wine that can take you to the windmills of you mind. The wafts of its enticing perfumed aromas are like the Sirens sweetly singing—you’re drawn, with no desire to relent.
“Your reserved love affair is quickly kindled as you sip and swirl an incredible mélange of mouth-satisfying far-flung flavors that include dark chocolate, strawberries, cranberries; coffee, cola; flowers, roses, violets; earth, truffles, cinnamon, and smoke & spices.
“You may be a Cab fan—as I am, and I consider myself a die-hard Bordeaux lover. I consume more Malbec than most, and, as you readers can attest, I can go on incessantly with all my favorite red Italian varietals. But when I have that relaxing moment where I’m experiencing the wonders of that silky Pinot Noir beautifully portrayed with finesse in bouquet and savor essences just described above—well, how disloyal can one wine lover be.”
The fun and informative website for this festival says, “The 5th Annual Palm Springs Pinot Noir Festival, “A Passion 4 Pinot” is the premier event on the international wine calendar. Hosted in one of the world’s most dramatic and awe-inspiring hotels, the event takes place at the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort and Spa. The ambiance is set for an extraordinary experience as you feel the rhythm of relaxing live music, while savoring tasty bites adding an extra layer of excitement to your Pinot Noir adventure.
“During this Celebration of Pinot Noir, you will discover just what it is that makes Pinot Noir so unique. This is a unique opportunity to engage and mingle with 80 of the top winery owners and winemakers and other leading wine personalities and enthusiasts from all over California.
“Along with other Pinot aficionados you’ll share tastings that will profile the uncompromising characteristics and unforgettable characters, highlight the different winemaking practices and philosophies that produce wines of such distinction and enable you to relax and unwind.
“The ultimate goal of “A Passion 4 Pinot” is educating wine lovers about the virtues of the world class California produced Pinot and the artists and the process of craft behind it. This event is a celebration of everything Pinot Noir and its brilliant and talented winemakers, the vineyards, the grapes, and the often-bewitching process of urging the noble pinot grape into great wine.
I’ve just spoken to the event’s wine promoter, David Fraschetti, and he told me this 5th go-around is the largest—stretching from Thursday January 30th with the Sangiacomo Family Wine Dinner to be held at Wally’s Desert Turtle; to Sunday Brunch, February 2nd with the growers and winemakers from the Santa Lucia Highlands, the jewel of California’s Central Coast, featuring ten wineries such as Bernadus, Morgan, and Rombauer
And there will be over 80 world-class wineries participating and pouring—amazingly, Fraschetti had to turn away many premium wineries who wished to be a part of festivities. Go to palmspringspinotfest.com for the winery list.
This year, the wine-tasting seminars, held on Friday afternoon, will include: Sonoma County Winegrowers: From Carneros to West Sonoma Coast: A Tour of Sonoma County Pinot Noir, this seminar offers a unique opportunity to taste and compare exceptional Pinot Noirs from Carneros, Russian River Valley, West Sonoma Coast, and beyond. Discover the nuanced flavors and characteristics that each region imparts, and gain insights into the artistry behind Sonoma County’s world-class Pinot Noirs.
The second wine-tasting seminar is a Champagne Tasting Master Class: The best way to start a Friday afternoon in the Desert! Caviar Expert Christopher Klapp will share tastes of exclusive and rare caviar from the world-famous Petrossian label. Expertly paired with Special Club Champagne.
Special Club is the Highest Classification of “Grower Champagne.” Small independent grower producers are making the most exciting and sought after wines in Champagne Region today. These special Cuvees may only be made in outstanding years.
The four special Pinot Noir Champagnes will be:
- Hervieux-Dumez ‘Les Grains Noirs’
- Fresnet-Juillet ‘Cuvee Vincent’
- 2015 Sanchez-Le Guedard Special Club
- Le Guedard Rose
Talking about extending a Happy New Year’s bubbly celebration! See you at the Fest!
Cheers!
