Sacramento Home WineMakers

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MEETING CALENDAR, NOTES, OTHER INFORMATION see below

Unless otherwise noted meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month starting at 7:00 PM at the Turn Verein Hall located at 3349 J Street, Sacramento. The SHW meets upstairs. Remember to bring your wine glasses and wine for tasting!

June 17, 2009 Bordeaux Style Wine Evaluation

Alison Crowe:
You may know her as the mysterious “Wine Wizard” of Winemaker Magazine fame – but on June 17th we’re going to know her as the person evaluating our Bordeaux blends and varietals! Alison’s cover was blown in 2007 when she published a collection of her advice to home winemakers in her new book, “The Winemakers Answer Book.” Alison, who consults for seven Napa Valley wineries and is working on an MBA at UC Davis, will take time out of her busy schedule to tell YOU about YOUR wine.

Bring two 750ml bottles of your 2007 or 2008 Bordeaux blends or varietals (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot or Petit Verdot). Don’t forget to bring your own glasses. Ms. Crowe will not be selling any books at our evaluation, but if you would like her to autograph your existing copy, please show up at 6:30 and she’ll be glad to accommodate you.

The meeting is upstairs at the Turn Verein, 3349 J Street in Sacramento. Hospitality starts at 6:30 PM.

May 20, 2009 - Red Wine Evaluation

Our program on Wednesday, May 20, is the annual Red Wine Evaluation (non- Bordeaux). A last minute change to the Program brings back Jon Alfonso, owner/winemaker for Rail Bridge Cellars. Jon's education in geology, hands on experience in France, and knowledge of winemaking combine to provide a wealth of expertise to offer SHW members. Many members see this session as an invaluable tool for assessing their new reds. If you would like to have your new red wine evaluated: Bring TWO 750 ml bottles of 2008 or 2007 vintage wine to taste and for analysis. Try to bottle ahead so sulfites used in racking are not still present. Do not bring the 2008 club project wine-- that wine will be evaluated on August 19th Wine must be made from at least 75% varietals other than those grown in Bordeaux Region. Please bring at least two (3 is even better) wine glasses for the tasting, if possible, to allow ample time for pouring and set up. Don't miss this opportunity to have Jon evaluate your red wines and provide his knowledgeable opinion! Remember, only SHW members who are current on 2009 dues can have their wines evaluated. The membership form is included in this newsletter if you haven? already, send in your check or bring it to the meeting.

We apologize for any confusion due to the last minute replacement of Darrell Corti as the presenter. We hope to utilize Darrell's expertise later in the year.

April 15, 2009 - White Wine Evaluation

Our program on Wednesday, April 15th is the annual White Wine Evaluation, conducted this year by Lance Campbell, winemaker at Mount Aukum Winery. Lance and his cousins came to El Dorado County from Texas in 2001 and found just the land they needed to produce fine wines. They planted in 2002, and had their first harvest in 2006. In 2007, that harvest was doubled. Now Lance is collecting more Gold Medals than Michael Phelps. Don? miss this opportunity to have Lance evaluate your white wines, any vintage will be fine and he has promised to bring some of his along for us to enjoy! Note: This is not an evaluation of our Project White wine, Pinot Grigio, which will be evaluated on August 19th.

February 18, 2009 - Wine Competitions & Judging

G.M. Pooch Pucilowski is a dynamic and exciting speaker, whose enthusiasm for wine is balanced by his 30+ years of teaching and educating both consumers and members of the trade. A Certified Wine Educator, prolific writer and highly sought-after speaker, Pooch brings his infectious enthusiasm and dedication to educating others about the myths and misconceptions people have about wine and the industry. Join us for a great evening of wine and fun with Pooch. The meeting is upstairs at the Turn Verein, 3349 J Street in Sacramento. Hospitality starts at 6:30p.m.

January 21, 2009 Program Club Open Talk and Tuscany? Wines and Wineries

SHW? first program of 2009 is a two-part meeting. From 7 7:45 PM, the SHW board will start the evening with an open forum for the purpose of connecting with Club members. This is an opportunity for the board to share the Club? direction and future plans, and to receive feedback from the membership. It? your club bring your thoughts to share. Starting at 7:45 PM, the evening? guest speaker, Todd Bolton, owner of Tuscan Trails, takes you to the picturesque vineyard-sculpted Tuscany region of Italy. Tuscany is known for quality olive oils, pecorrino cheese as well as its famous wines. Todd? presentation will cover the region? wineries, including Montepulciano, Chianti and Bolgheri, and discuss both popular and lesserknown Tuscan varietals.

December 17, 2008 Holiday Party

Hope you all were able to RSVP in time to attend the annual holiday party! This year's event is being catered by the American River College Culinary Arts School. A delicious menu has been planned with appetizers at 6 PM and dinner starting at 7 PM. Please remember to bring a bottle or two of wine to share. The evening? festivities will include raffles and a silent auction, with music being provided by Counterintelligence.

SHW Tour of Amador County Wineries Saturday, October 18, 2008

Join us in the Fall for a tour of some of Amador County's best wineries! At 10:00 we will gather at Oakstone Winery where we will taste their Slug Gulch Red. At 11:00 we will go to Mt. Aukum Winery, then have lunch, and taste again at 2:00 at Dobra Zemja. At 3:00 we will end our tour at Chevalier Winery where we will sample their French-style Bordeaux. Cost: $30.00. For those of you who wish to take a minibus, please meet at the Light Rail Station at Power Inn Road and Folsom Boulevard at 9:00 AM. For details or questions, please call Carl Sweet at 916-481-6122.

Some past meeting summaries:

Winemaking 101A and 101B - Saturday, August 2, 2008

Back by popular demand, SHW will be offering Winemaking 101 again this summer. Geared toward the new winemaker, the morning session will cover the basics - grape sourcing, winemaking equipment, chemicals, yeast and nutrients, taking the wannabe enologist through the beginning winemaking steps.

After lunch, we?ll discuss racking, aging, more chemistry, oak additives, possible fixes to problems, filtering and bottling. The afternoon is for both new and novice winemakers. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

Linda and J. Page have again generously offered their winery and home in Elverta as the training site. We anticipate each session to last 2-3 hours and participants are welcome to attend one or both sessions. There is no charge for either session; there is a small charge (under $10) for lunch.

Seats are limited so to secure your place, please contact Gin Yang-Staehlin at ginyangstaehlin@yahoo.com or (916) 217-0294.
Non-SHW members are welcome.

April 16, 2008 Program

It's that time of year again! Red wine evaluations! Oh, wait -- this year we split it in half! Twice the fun! Bordeaux wines first! On April 16 we will host Mike Ramsey, Laboratory Manager of UCD Enology Department, and Chik Brennerman, Cellarmaster of UCD Enology Department, as they swirl, sniff, and sip their way through our interpretations of the Bordeaux region varietals. So grab your Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots, Cabernet Francs, Malbecs, and Petite Verdots, and any combination of them, and come to the meeting! We split the red wine evaluations because there was so much participation that our evaluators were having trouble focusing ... Imagine that! So if you put 5% Syrah in your Bordeaux Blend, bring it. But, if the Syrah is predominant in the nose, save it for next month when Darrell Corti will sample all other reds. Bring your glasses and we'll see you there! REMINDER--only active members can have their wines evaluated.

April 12, 2008 - Measuring SO2 Using Aeration-Oxidation Method Workshop with Winemaker Jason Fernandez

Measuring SO2 Using Aeration-Oxidation Method Workshop with Winemaker Jason Fernandez SO2 in your wines ? having the right amount is so necessary yet so difficult. Total SO2, free SO2. When testing reds, does the Ripper/titration method leave you a bit unsure WHEN you?ve reached the end point? You?re not alone. The other common way for measuring SO2, with a more accurate end point, is the aeration-oxidation method. Jason Fernandez, co-owner and winemaker of Revolution Wines has graciously offered to demonstrate this industry standard that he and other wine professionals use. The necessary lab tools to perform the aeration-oxidation method is more costly than the alternative method, but think: no more crossed fingers hoping that you?ve added enough SO2 to protect your wines. Join us for Jason?s one-hour workshop on Saturday, April 12, starting at 3 PM, at his winery at 2116 P Street (21st and P) in midtown Sacramento. While we?re there, we?ll have the opportunity to taste Revolution?s wines (thanks, Jason!). This winery is believed to be the first winery to operate within Sacramento city limits since Prohibition. Check out Revolution Wines website for more information: www.revolution-wines.com. If you haven?t already, please R.S.V.P. for this workshop so that we can inform our host of the body count and plan the snacks. Call Gin at 916 217-0294 or email her at ginyangstaehlin@yahoo.com. And, while you?re in the midtown area that afternoon, April 12 just happens to be the second Saturday of the month, which means that many midtown art galleries and businesses will be open into the evening for the Second Saturday Art Walk (2nd-sat.com). After visiting Revolution Wines, grab a light dinner (some art galleries offer munchies and wine), and then stroll the streets enjoying music, art, and all that the midtown grid has to offer (midtowngrid.com).

Winemakers' Harvest Dinner, Sunday, November 4, 2007

Back by popular demand, this year's SHW Winemakers Harvest Dinner is to be held at Aeoli's Bodega Española, for the third (3rd) time! Aeoli's is the wonderful Spanish (not Mexican) Restaurant in downtown Sacramento. Weather permitting; this will again be a pleasant afternoon/early evening in the back patio of the restaurant, located at 18th and L Streets (1800 L), in Sacramento on Sunday, November 4, 2007 @ 4:00 PM. The menu is fantastic! And the space is limited, so please send in your reservation as soon as possible to guarantee your space (and to allow the chef to do his magic). There is NO (zip, zero) corkage fee, so bring your bottles of prior years vintage to enjoy and share with other home winemakers. The cost is only 37.00 per person for the wonderfully varied menu above, plus unlimited wines of all types, great friends, conversation and relaxation! The crush will be over, it will definitely be time to celebrate! Again, space is limited so return the reservation form ASAP. You must reserve by Monday, October 29, 2007. Call JUDY at (916) 319-0591 if you have questions.

November 14, 2007 Program Preview 2007

The November 14 SHW Club meeting is designed to electrify your senses. First, arrive on a timely basis since this meeting is also the Club's annual meeting when Club officers are elected for the following year. It's important to be there because, who knows, you might be elected to something if you aren't there (just kidding- or not!). Following the annual elections, we'll have the honor of tasting Club members' wines that placed first in 2007 wine competitions. This includes golds, double-golds, best of class and best of shows. So, if you struck gold this year, please bring in 2 bottles of your esteemed wine for tasting. Then, you'll be treated to a pairing adventure in Chilean wines and foods. Christian Ruz, a newer club member is a total foodie and will be sharing "his" Chile with us: the wine history, the geography, the climate, the different grapes, the wine styles, the culture. We'll taste Chilean wines and sample a few Chilean dishes prepared by Christian. Come with a partially filled tummy so that you'll have room to enjoy some tantalizing tastes. Please note that the November 14 meeting is on the 2nd Wednesday of November. We'll meet upstairs in the Turn Verein, starting at 7PM.

May Club Meeting May 16, 2007 NOTE 6:30 PM Start: Red Club Wine Evaluation

May 16, 2007 Program Preview - New Red Wines Tasting and Evaluation May's program will be the annual tasting and evaluation of members' 2006 red wines. Many members see this session as an invaluable tool in assessing their new reds. Confirmed panel evaluators include: Mike Ramsey, Teaching Lab Manager, UC Davis, Department of Enology and Viticulture; Michael Williams, wine educator and judge; and Rico Marisi, wine merchant. All three evaluators will offer analysis from different viewpoints: technical-chemistry, wine competition, and sensory. If you'd like to have your new red wine evaluated bring TWO 750 ml bottles of no more than ONE wine to taste and for analysis.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday the May 16 and it will start at 7:00 pm, sharp, at the Turn Verein Hall located at 3349 J Street. The SHW meets upstairs. Remember to bring your wine glasses for tasting!

April Club Meeting April 18, 2007: White and Rose Club Wine Evaluation

April's meeting continues the tradition of tasting and evaluating Club members' white and rosé wines made in 2006. This is a great opportunity to receive feed-back on the fruits of your labor before it's too late to address issues, if there are any. This year's guest evaluators are Mike Ramsey, Teaching Lab Manager, UC Davis, Department of Enology and Viticulture, and Peter Marks, wine production and marketing manager for his Six Hands Winery in Walnut Grove. If you'd like to have your new whites and rosés evaluated: Bring TWO 750 ml bottles of no more than TWO different white and rosé wines to sample.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday the 18th and it will start at 7:00 pm, sharp, at the Turn Verein Hall located at 3349 J Street. The SHW meets upstairs. Remember to bring your wine glasses for tasting!

March Club Meeting March 21, 2007: "Smelly Things in Wine"

One of our favorite technical speakers, Sigrid Gertsen-Briand will be back at the Club's March meeting to help us recognize the compounds that can impact the quality of your wines. Sigrid, is part of Lallemand Yeasts technical support team in North America. At this interactive session, you'll learn about the masks in wine: what makes a wine clean and what makes a wine complex. Mark the date! Ad this is time to bring that off-odor wine to find out what to do about it before it goes ove the top!

The meeting will be held on Wednesday the 21st and it will start at 7:00 pm, sharp, at the Turn Verein Hall located at 3349 J Street. The SHW meets upstairs. Remember to bring your wine glasses for tasting!

February 21, 2007 Club Meeting: "Changing Course Off the Beaten Path"
Randall Grahm, president for life, of Bonny Doon Vineyard

Join the club for a special evening with the Original Rhone Deranger, the unpredictable and engaging Randall Grahm, president for life, of Bonny Doon Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Randall's winemaking philosophy makes simple sense: take chances, playing, always having fun.

So how does Randall Grahm do this? When he switched to Stevlin screw caps closures (no corks here!), he held funerals for the death of the cork nationwide. The vineyards near his winery focus on lesser-known Mediterranean varietals (no chardonnay or merlot here!) because the climate is more suitable. The winery is known for their "on the edge" labels - both in artwork and play on words - resulting in a State of Ohio ban of Ralph Steadman's Cardinal Zin label (no fun in there!)

Come spend an evening with Bonny Doon's owner and winemaker; he'll share with you his passions for biodynamic farming, reconnecting with the earth, the winery's recent business plan change, and creating wines from grapes you may not have heard of. Randall will bring some of his wines for us to taste and he wants to taste yours, so please bring a few

January 17, 2007 Club Meeting: Acidity: The Impact on Your Wine

Mike Ramsey, teaching laboratory manager in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis, is back with more wine chemistry. At this month's Club meeting, Mike will be sharing with us the importance of acid in wine. He will be discussing many issues.

types of acids found in wine
total acidity vs. fixed acidity
relationship between acidity and pH
acid additions at harvest
deacidification by biological and chemical methods
acid effect on spoilage and on wine
SO2 impact; and
analysis and sensory effects of juice and wine acids.

Don't miss this informative meeting and learn the importance of acid and its impact on your wines.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday the 17th and it will start at 7:00 pm, sharp, at the Turn Verein Hall located at 3349 J Street. The SHW meets upstairs. Remember to bring your wine glasses for tasting!

November 15, 2006 Club Meeting: Annual Meeting and The 2006 Gold Harvest

If you can't make it to any other SHW meeting during the year, make it to this one. The November 15th Club meeting is also the Club's Annual Meeting, where the Club's officers for the next year are elected and, when present, other club issues are decided. A quorum is required to elect each year's officers.

After the Club business, we'll be tasting and mingling with the gold. The highlights of this special meeting will be the tasting of members wines that took top wine competition awards in 2006, and a guest presentation by the winning duo of Rex Johnston and Barbara Bentley. Club members receiving top awards at any 2006 wine competition, including the SHW Jubilee, are invited to bring their award winning wines (1-2 bottles) to the November club meeting for tasting and discussion. This is your opportunity to show off the fruits of your labor, so bring in your golds and tell us how you did it. And Rex Johnston and Barbara will be there to tell you how they did it. This year, the couple took one or more "best of shows" in every wine and label competition they entered, for a total of 28, including SHW's June Jubilee. Rex plans to bring his award-winning 2005 Gewurztraminer for tasting and Barbara will show off her creative talents by displaying and talking about her spectacular wine labels.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday the 15th and it will start at 7:00 pm, sharp, at the Turn Verein Hall located at 3349 J Street. The SHW meets upstairs. Remember to bring your wine glasses for tasting!

Mateo Munoz pointed us toward an in-depth article on Robert Parker published on the Atlantic Magazine web site.

The El Dorado Home Wine Makers site contains information about the club, their meetings, winemaking information and a number of interesting links. Check it out!

The Sacramento Home Winemakers Club proudly managed the California State Fair Home Winemaking and Label Competitions for over 25 years until 2004. In 2006, the Lodi Amateur Vintners Association (L.A.V.A.) began managing the State Fair competition. Past results of the State Fair competition are published on the LAVA website at Lodiamateurvintners.org.

The annual Sacramento Home Winemakers Jubilee is the Club's current local judged event for home wine and labels. Refer to the SHW Jubilee link SHW Jubilee for information on entering wines and labes to the SHW competition.

Top of Page

Some wine tasting on the horizon: It appears to be heating up! Please e-mail the SHW Webmaster if you have any announcements.

Elaine Smith from the SHW conducts educational wine tastings. Please e-mail Elaine at elaine@winesavyconsulting.com for upcoming events.
Amadorwine.com - Check this site for upcoming events involving Amador/foothill wineries.
Zinfandel.com - Check this site for upcoming ZAP sponsored events
Rhonerangers.com - Check this site for upcoming Rhoneranger sponsored events
Wine Business Magazine Calendar of Events - A good list of events occurring not only in California but also around the USA. In the left hand frame, click on 'Calendar' under the 'OTHER' heading.