“Most California locals already know the deep quality of wine & food coming from places like Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, and the Santa Ynez Valley. We want to introduce people outside of California to this region,” said founder William Fernandez.
Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) September 10, 2013
The first annual Central Coast Wine & Food tour will kick off a road trip to introduce world-class Californian producers from Santa Barbara County to discerning wine and food enthusiasts in Phoenix, Houston, New Orleans, Miami and Key West, Florida.
Wine collectors, media, distributors, restaurateurs, merchants, clubs and other invited guests will have exclusive opportunities to sample award-winning wine and food, and to meet renowned winemakers in person or via Google Hangouts.
“Most California locals already know the deep quality of wine & food coming from places like Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, and the Santa Ynez Valley. We want to introduce people outside of California to this region,” said founder William Fernandez. “This area has the perfect mix of natural beauty and cultivated luxury. It’s like Napa was 40-50 years ago with lush rolling hills and an accessible host of rock star winemakers.”
Most consumers think of American “wine country” as simply Napa or Sonoma - valleys just a short drive north of San Francisco - but influential people in the wine industry are looking southward from the bay area all the way to Santa Barbara, just a short drive north of Los Angeles. The Central Coast region produces 100,000 acres of vines that rival the quality of Napa. Many of the world’s best winemakers have chosen these Mediterranean climates to create subtle, complex styles that resemble old world French favorites like Burgundy, the Rhone, and the Loire Valley.
Robert Parker, influential wine reviewer and founder of The Wine Advocate, has been quoted saying that “no viticultural region in America has shown as much progress in quality and potential for greatness as the Santa Barbara region.”
Heralded widely in the wine world for its Chardonnays, most consumers might know the Santa Barbara region as the setting of the 2004 film Sideways and the subsequent evolution of American wine popularity from Merlot to Pinot Noir.
The winemakers on tour range from established veterans like Steve Clifton and Morgan Clendenen - known as the “Queen of Viognier,” to up-and-coming cult heroes like Wes Hagen and garagiste winemaker Ryan Roark. The tour will focus on creating opportunities for attendees to meet face-to-face for tastings to hear the stories behind the vines.
Winners of the Central Coast Wine & Food photography contest will have their photos printed on gallery quality canvas and shown at special events. Attendees and Facebook fans can enter into a drawing to win a trip for two to the luxurious Santa Ynez Valley. The tour has also partnered with a new wine app called Drync that allows users to find, save, and order their favorite wines to be delivered to their doorstep.
An intrepid photographer and entrepreneur, Fernandez criss-crossed the United States for 3 years in a Winnebago, searching for the best slice of the country to put down roots before returning to the Santa Ynez valley.
“After seeing most of America, people always ask me about my favorite place,” said Fernandez. “The rolling hills at sunset, outstanding wine, farm fresh food; all with a friendly, small town feel…California's Central Coast is a little bit of heaven.”
Links
● Central Coast Wine & Food on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CentralCoastCA
● Central Coast Wine & Food on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Central_CoastCA
● Central Coast Wine & Food on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/CentralCoastCalifornia
● Central Coast Wine & Food Sweepstakes: http://www.CentralCoastCA.com
● Drync App: http://www.Drync.com
Tour Dates
● Phoenix, Arizona: September 2013
● Houston, Texas: October 2013
● New Orleans, Louisiana: November 2013
● Miami, Florida: December 2013
● Key West, Florida: January 2014
Personalities Available for Interview or Comment
● Steve Clifton, 20 year winemaking veteran, owner of Palmina Wines, co-owner of Brewer-Clifton Wines, consultant and mentor winemaker
● Morgan Clendenen, commonly known as the “Queen of Viognier,” winemaker at Cold Heaven Cellars
● Wes Hagen, YouTube personality, vineyard manager and winemaker at Clos Pepe Vineyard & Estate Wines
● Mikael Sigouin, known for his grenache served at the White House, winemaker for Beckmen Vineyards and owner of Kaena Wines
● Laura Booras, General Manager at Riverbench Vineyard and Winery
● Norm Yost, co-owner and winemaker at Flying Goat Cellars
● Ryan Deovlet, winemaker for Refugio Ranch
● Ryan Roark, one-man maven garagiste winemaker at Roark Wine Company
● Anna and David deLaski, producers of Solminer wines from their 4 acre home vineyard
● Clark Staub, owner & chef at Full of Life Flatbread
About Central Coast Wine & Food Pop-Up Tasting Tour
Founded by intrepid traveler and photographer William Fernandez in 2013, this national tour brings pop-up wine tastings, food sampling and art exhibits directly from the Central Coast of California. The concept debuted in September 2013 with events in Phoenix, Houston, New Orleans and Miami, wrapping up at the Key West Food & Wine Festival in January 2014. More information at CentralCoastCA.com.
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