13th October 4pm $30 / $20 wine club members

Natural vs. SUPER-Natural Tasting with Indie Wineries TICKETS

We will explore what the undefined term 'natural wine' means and also differentiate (by discussion and tasting) between wines that are made naturally but are classic in palate and those that are more wild! Not quite sure what we mean by natural, see this in depth article by Maureen O'Connor.

... natural wine. That is, wine made from organically grown grapes fermented in their own naturally occurring yeasts. During fermentation, a whole ecosystem of yeasts and bacteria grow, die, interact, and expel by-products, including alcohol. Commercial winemakers use chemicals and machines to manipulate that ecosystem; organic winemakers do the same with organic grapes. Natural wine is even purer — or dirtier, if you’re being literal about terroir. “Nothing added and nothing removed” is the mantra: no industrial yeasts, no additives, no synthetic processes. In natural wine, the resulting imperfections are not really imperfections; they are the goal.

27th October 4pm $30 / $20 wine club members

Stolpman Tasting TICKETS

Started back in the early 90s, Stolpman immediately put humanitarianism and organic, dry farmed un-manipulated at the top of their mantra list. Located just north of Santa Barbara in what is now the newest and coldest AVA in California, Ballard Canyon is a pure gem. Cold oceanic winds whip through the vines en route to the great Mojave Desert vacuum. The vines are exclusively dry farmed and sit on a mix of poor rocky soil often on quite steep slopes. Spontaneous native yeast ferments and nearly no new oak barrels help to create pure, honest very old world wines. We'll taste both whites and reds. Tasting includes a bite to pair.

10th November 4pm $30 / $20 wine club members

We welcome Bethany Ford of Illahe Vineyards in the Willamette Valley! A family run farm and winery using a team of Percheron horses to plow the land. We will taste through the estate wines including Viognier and Gruner Veltliner as well as a trio of their Pinot Noir's including the famed 1899 Pinot which is made without any machinery or electricity. Tasting includes a bite to pair. Read more here.