A picture is worth a thousand words, right? So the picture above might tell you that I am a bit of an oenophile (a wine aficionado or in simple terms a wine luvah!) and more importantly, it reveals how I felt last Friday when The California Wine Club took me and four of my favorite bloggers on a VIP wine tasting tour of the Santa Barbara Wine Country. The purpose of this trip was to give us an insiders glimpse of the region, show us the beautiful wines produced in this local area and to spread the word about The CA Wine Club’s wonderful Father’s Day Promotions.
Needless to say it was a beyond spectacular day and CA Wine Club pulled out all the stops and treated us like VIP’s! The day began with a limousine pick-up to ensure that we experienced the day in style and safety
Then we were whisked away to the headquarters of The California Wine Club in Camarillo
We were warmly greeted by our illustrious host and all around great guy Jon Boring (aka @boringwineguy), Director of Social Media Marketing for CWC
Jon gave us a brief tour of CWC headquarters and a peak behind the scenes of where all their wine is stored and shipped
And he also reminded me about what sets the CWC apart from other monthly clubs–They only feature handcrafted award-winning wines from real working, artisan wineries (I LOVE THAT!!) And here’s a quick glimpse of the 4 fabulous wine of the month clubs that they offer:
- Premier Club – Their most popular club! Each shipment includes 2 bottles of award-winning wine and an up-close and personal look at the family behind the wines plus tasting notes, recipes & more
- Signature Series – For collectors and connoisseurs! Each shipment includes 2-4 bottles of exquisite, highly rated wine and detailed tasting notes with winemaker comments
- International Selections – From small “mom & pop” wineries around the world. Each shipment includes 2 bottles of outstanding wine hand-selected from the world’s finest boutique wineries with a newsletter highlighting the families behind the wines, the country of origin, recipes, travel tips, fun historical facts & more
- Aged Cabernet Series – Napa’s most prestigious Cabernets aged 8 – 12 years. Each shipment includes 2 bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon aged 8 to 12 years, detailed tasting notes and 3-Day Air delivery
After the tour Jon gave us each a thoughtful goodie bag that included a bottle of our favorite type of wine (I got a GSM Rhone Style blend) and other wine related goodies. Then we were off in our comfy limo to visit three wineries that are exactly the same type of small mom and pop wineries that CWC features in their clubs.
Our first stop of the day was Gainey Vineyard, where we were greeted by Dan Gainey, a third generation Gainey and the head of the family-owned vineyards
He was such a nice guy and it was such a treat to have an up close and personal tour, history and tasting with such an industry icon. I loved being out in the vines with my blogging sistas
Kadi Prescott, Me, Beth Avant, Candice Kahn and Kim Tracy Prince
And what was even more of a treat was sitting in the Gainey VIP tasting room, eating gourmet cheeses and tasting the most divine Limited Selection Gainey Wines poured by Dan himself (I swooned over the Gainey 2009 Limited Selection Pinot Noir)
And our last stop inside the winery before heading outside for our yummy picnic was in the Gainey Bottle Room. OMG! This room was spectacular
Our next stop on our wine tour was at Fess Parker’s Winery & Vineyard (Fess is the actor who played Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone in the 50’s & 60’s.) We tasted a nice variety of wines here but I became rather smitten with Fess’s faux coonskin hat
And coonskin bottle topper, so cute, right?!
Our last winery of the day was Star Lane & Dierberg Estate Winery – WOW! The setting of this winery is utterly spectacular, especially as the late afternoon approaches and you bask in the off shore breeze
We tasted their gorgeous wines (I fell in love with the 2007 Star Lane Estate Blend (can you say berries & cream with a bit of spice? Yum!) sitting outside while nibbling on yummy morsels of cheese and taking these fabulous shots (the lighting was just perfect!) of our bloggin’ posse
Beth aka @hipmamab rockin’ her Fedora
The gorgeous @kadiprescott
My favorite red head Candice aka @FashOrganized
@kimtracyprince known to me as Princey
Our last and final stop of the night was the uber modern Avant Tapas and Wine for dinner, imbibing more wine, a winery tour and barrel tastings. Avant has a very impressive wine vending/dispensing machine where you insert a card and select tastes or full pours from over 30+ wines
After we sampled from this impressive vending machine, we were greeted by proprietor Jose Padilla and taken on an insiders tour of Avant’s wine making operation. Avant rents their tanks and barrels to smaller growers and private labels wine for them as well as making their own branded wines. The girls got a kick out of being in this steel barreled jungle
And I especially enjoyed being treated to coveted and exclusive Avant Wine barrel tastings, I personally loved that! I even tested my wine acumen by blindly tasting barrel samples and guessing the varietals, and the girls were rather impressed with my wine knowledge and savvy. Now it was time for a hearty meal to absorb all the alcohol from the day and we indulged in a plethora of full flavored tapas like ‘yuppie crack’ and tasty flatbreads.
It was a marvelous day filled with beautiful wines, great friends, insights, imbibing and indelible memories. A heart felt thank you goes out to CWC for showing us such a fantastic time and treating us like royalty! Checkout this FAB video that my home girl Candice expertly edited to recap our wonderful Uncorked Day:
Now on to Father’s Day Gift Giving, a NOT TO BE MISSED twitter party and my FAB Giveaway:
- Wine For Father’s Day: Wine makes a great gift! Especially wine from the artisanal wineries of SoCal. Now through Father’s Day visit The California Wine Club site and send a 3-month wine of the month gift subscription and get the 4th month for FREE OR Try out CWC for yourself and get 4 bottles for the price of 2 bottles in your first shipment with no obligation to stay. Use the promo code TRIP12
- Come to the #uncorked Twitter Party: Join me, Beth, Kadi, Candice and Kim at our Twitter party this coming Monday, June 11th from 6 PM to 7 PM PST/9 PM to 10 PM EST to talk about wine and Father’s Day gift giving. You must RSVP in advance HERE to be eligible to win fabulous prizes like wine and a 3 month membership to CWC
- Make sure to follow your #uncorked hostesses:
- Beth – @HipMamaB
- Candice – @fashorganized
- Kadi – @kadiprescott
- Kim – @kimtracyprince
- Me – @romyraves
- And @cawineclub & @Boringwineguy
And now for the moment you all have been waiting for a FABULOUS Father’s Day Giveaway!! I am giving away ONE 3 Month Wine Subscription from California Wine Club (2 bottles of wine each month) valued at over $150 and ONE Bottle of Cloud’s Rest 2007 Pinot Noir valued at $100. Two lucky winners will be chosen one week from today at midnight on 6/16–Just in time to surprise that special man for Father’s Day!
Here are the Contest Details:
–How to Enter: All that you need to do to enter this FREE giveaway is use the Rafflecopter Widget Below, enter your name and email or sign in through Facebook, then click “DO IT” to do each task that you choose to and once you have completed the task click the “ENTER” button to confirm your DONE entry. Make sure to enter your name and email for each selection, so your entries will be counted.
–Options for Entering: There are (4) one-time only entries and all of them are mandatory and (3) choices for daily entries
–Prizes: ONE 3 Month Wine of the Month Subscription from CWC (2 bottles of wine each month) valued at over $150 and ONE Bottle of Cloud’s Rest 2007 Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast valued at $100
–Contest Dates: 6/8/12 to 6/16/12 at 12:01 am EST
CHEERS!
Disclosure: California Wine Club took me on this fabulous VIP wine tasting trip filled with beautiful wine and food. I am being compensated for this campaign with wine and payment, but I am truly an oenophile and love sharing my wine discoveries and musings with you!
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I discovered your weblog web site on google and check just a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just extra up your RSS feed to my MSN Information Reader. Searching for ahead to reading more from you later on!…
Good heavens, thank you very much for posting this! It is gonna help when I research Cabernet at the store! Super Outstanding!
Cheers ladies!
Samantha
sugarsweet7202@yahoo(dot)com
I would share this with my boyfriend. He means a lot to me (obviously) because he cares and supports me no matter what.
meredith
mermont84 at yahoo.com
My father – because he has had a rough few years and while he doesn’t say it, he deserves a reward – and we always communicate better with wine.
6/15 Jessica Anderson jessicabanks1721@yahoo.com
I would give it to my husband because he is a wonderful person and father and he also works hard all day long so I think he deserves something to help him relax and unwind.
jessicabanks1721@yahoo.com
tjkstuff at gmail.com
thanks
lynn
🙂
6/15 Laura Jacobson landfjacobson@charter.net
Great giveaway!
Danielle S
royalegacy at gmail dot com
6/15
Cathy
pbprojecthope at yahoo dot com
entry for 6/15/2012
Laura
lajohnson555 at yahoo dot com
daily entry 6-15
Tammy Owens/Botzon
jammy1958@yahoo.com
I would give it to my husband, who is about to become a father 🙂
Lauren
lauren.uda(at)gmail(dot)com
Daily Entry 6/15
Jesselyn Andersyn (jesstinger)
jessterlyn(at)aol(dot)com
this is amazinng!
Romy: Ya’ll look like you had the most FAB time. How fun!
I would love this for my hubby. He works like crazy as a small business owner and would love this. Thanks!
I would share it with my husband who is a wonderful father to our two sons
Cynthia.Richardson@azbar.org
Jammie
sweepmorey at gmail dot com
Tim S
gohanxavier@yahoo.com
Tim S
gohanxavier@yahoo.com
Vicki
Mizvickik at gmail dot com
Tammy O
jammy1958@yahoo.com
i would give this to my dad! he’s awesome
Cathy pbprojecthope at yahoo dotcom
AS my father and brother have both passed on, I would gift this to myself, but save some of the bottles for dear male friends and their wives when they visit ..in honor of fathers Day! Though they are not my father or brother, they are important men in my life and I would like to honor them also with this gift!
Cathy B*****y pbprojecthope at yahoodotcom
palmbreezeliving.blogspot.com @projecthope7 twitter
I would give this to my father. I owe him my life! He deserves the best.
My boyfriend would receive this. He is a huge wine connoisseur, and would really enjoy it with all of the hardships he’s been having lately.
Daily 6/14
Amy Z
amyzak11 (at) gmail (dot) com
lynn
tjkstuff at gmail.com
!!!!!
Daily Entry 6/14
Jesselyn Andersyn
Jessterlyn(at)aol(dot)com
Daily Entry~
Deb K
deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com
Laura L.
lajohnson555 at yahoo dot com
daily entry 6-14
i would actually give it to my mom who loves wine because ..well..lets be honest…most moms also play the role of father at times in most families!
madamerkf at aol dot com
wendy
madamerkf at aol dot com
I would gift the wine club sub to my Mom. She deserves nice things and I like to help her out when I can, but mostly its her helping me out – like babysitting my son 3 days per week for the last 2 years because she wants to and because it helps my wife and I out immensely!
6/14
Laura Jacobson
landfjacobson @ charter.net
6/14 Danielle
royalegacy at gmail dot com
Erin E
busymom369 at gmail dot com
I would give this awesome prize to my hubby (so I can enjoy it too). He deserves it because he is the best father in the world! Thank you for the lovely giveaway!
Erin E
busymom369 at gmail dot com
ky.nicholson@yahoo.com / kelly
If I am fortunate enough to win – I would definitely give this to my Honey/Hubby (and yes – I do know that I would benefit too by proxy… but only in small long savored sips for now.)
But the point is – HE loves wine (and knows a lot about it) and he works so hard just to make ends meet and to hold on to his/OUR health insurance at this crucial time (I have breast cancer.) It’s been ages since he or we have done anything truly special and extravagant (even decadent…) for HIM.
I would be so thrilled, delighted and genuinely grateful to win this for him – and us. Thank you so much for this very generous and thoughtful giveaway.
Jesselyn
jessterlyn(at)aol(dot)com
Shaunda
Shaunda.Eppes at gmail dot com
This would be for my dad because he has always been my rock and has given me everything I could ever ask for and I would like to give to him for a change.
Rachel
rache81(at)hotmail(dot)com
I would give this to my husband because he is an amazing dad to our 8-month-old and my 9 year old from a previous marriage.
Amanda Starr disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com 🙂
lynn
tjkstuff at gmail.com
🙂
I would give it to my dad! He loves wine and always wanted to travel after he retired and visit some vineyards….but due to family issues, he has not been able to. I KNOW he would love this so much~
Laura Jacobson
landfjacobson @ charter.net
I would give this to my dad. The older I get the more I realize what an amazing, amazing father he has always been. I am very lucky. We can never afford things that are as nice as what I WANT to get him to show appreciation and love, so this would be unreal.
And don’t worry-my husband is a great father also, but I already got him Mets tickets. 😉
Colleen
kelsonc23 at yahoo dot com
My husband and I! He is the best person in the world to me. It was our anniversary yesterday and now it’s almost Father’s Day! We have some celebrating to do!
Laura
lajohnson555@yahoo.com
daily entry 6-13
If I win, I would give this to my husband. He just became a father last month, and I am so grateful for all his help raising our beautiful son!
Tammy
jammy1958@yahoo.com
I’d share the giveaway with my husband who I have shared the past 9 years of my life with.
Danielle
royalegacy at gmail dot com
Allyson
masugr at yahoo dot com
I would give this to my husband because he is an amazing father to our four kids and deserves a nice glass of wine
daily first name/email comment – 06/13/2012
lisa
dukier44 atlive(dot)com
Cristen C.
lilmisscris10@aol.com
My husband would receive the 3 months supply (so i can have some, hehe). He is a hard working man and a loving father to our 1 year old.
For my hubs but he would have to share 🙂
Tarman120 at verizon dot net
I would share this with my peeps, who are all very special to me because good quality people in a world of lemons.
My dad has passed away so I would drink a toast to him!
My husband, and after I have this baby, myself! 🙂
Danielle S
royalegacy at gmail dot com
Claire D.
cv.dossin@gmail.com
tjkstuff@gmail.com
I would give this to my parents for fathers day, they’re obsessed with wine! plus that way i can share it too 🙂
Deborah
tnshadylady at gmail.com
This would be the perfect gift for my best friend Mary Ann. She’s the wine connoisseur in our group and she’s always bringing a bottle of something new she’s discovered. This would be a nice way to pay her back. Plus I know she’d share with the rest of us. 🙂
daily first name/email comment – 06/12/2012
My husband would love this! He’s a hard worker and an amazing person, he really deserves it.
My husband – because he supports and loves unconditionally, especially through my cancer battle! He deserves a wine break!
Lagean – ubrewme@yahoo.com
Thank you! Nice to meet you!
This would be for my Sweetheart. He and I have been together for 7 years (Aug. 21) and he loves his wine! He’s been a fabulous man to me. He loves me so much and looks after me. He’s helped me through a lot of health issues, including my neurological disorder that doctors can’t seem to diagnose. Lord knows, its been a journey. But, he takes it all in stride and stands by me, no matter what.
ubrewme@yahoo.com
For my hubby so he could share with me!
My son is the wine conneiseur (how you spell it?) probably not
lisa – dukier44 atlive (dot) com
mechele j
mmjohnson555(at)gmail(dot)com
This would be for my foodie and wine conniseur hubby because he deserves it!
No box for name & e-mail…..Penny, grammypenny@frontier.com
Deb K
deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com
Daily Entry
I’d love to win this giveaway and share the prize with my boyfriend of 9 years. I’d love to age the $100 botte of wine until our 10 year anniversary and celebrate by enjoying it together as we have shared and celebrated so many things together.
christine
christinejessamine at hotmail dot com
i would love this for my husband, he loves wine, it would be a wonderful surprise for him!
Tammy
jammy1958@yahoo.com
i would give it to my mother ,she would love it . shes done so much for me .
I’d share it with my friends. She was my college roommate & we do crafts together. Her husband dug my car out when it got stuck in the snow & ice this winter! They’re moving away due to changes in job, so this would be a great send-off for them.
Thanks for the giveaway!
It would be mine, all mine mwhaha Nah I’d share win my darling husband and would be awesome since not only Father’s Day coming up but the following weekend is our 12 year wedding anniversary 🙂 Thanks for the chance
My partner, my friend for 26+ years.
I would tell my husband that it is for him for Father’s Day, but I know I would be enjoying it myself, too!
Deb K
deb55106{at}gmail{dot}com
My honey would get this as he is always do special little things for me
Daily Entry
Erica
erica.c.desimone {at} gmail.com
No box showing in chrome for name and email so here you go!
Tammy – jammy1958@yahoo.com
Name and email in the above box!
This subscription would go to my husband! He is important to me because he is always willing to go the extra mile at home and work.
No box to enter first name and email so I will enter it here.
Tammy
jammy1958@yahoo.com
MDH 🙂
I would tell my husband that it is for him for Father’s Day, but I know I would be enjoying it myself, too!
royalegacy at gmail
What a wonderful giveaway. It looks like you girls had a fantastic time! I want to come next time, lol! I lost my dad when I was a teenager, but I’d love to plan something like this for me and my mom.
I also have a Father’s Day Giveaway going on, so enter to win a great bundle of gifts!
xoxo,
Natalie
Paints & Pans