Family Winemakers
Festival Pavilion - Fort Mason Center
August 22-23, 2010
San Francisco, CA

This is the most comprehensive tasting of California wines in the world - the largest number of wineries; an enormous range of varietals; wine growing appellations from all over the state. This is a Family Winemakers tasting, which means hat many of the wineries are small (under 5000 cases), have limited marketing outreach, and will be represented by family members. Over 60 wineries in this year's tasting will be pouring with us for the first time, giving you a taste of the new kids on the block. You can sample new releases from your classic favorites and from wineries just selling their first vintages. Check out varietals you've never heard of (Vermentino? Lagrein?) or your best-loved Cabs and Chardonnays. This well-respected tasting is a once-a-year opportunity to tour and taste California's wine country under one (very large) roof.

For more information:
http://www.familywinemakers.org

92 Points - Wine Spectator
2007 Stemmler Russian River Nugent Vineyard Pinot Noir

Wonderfully supple and very elegant and harmonious, with ripe, wild strawberry, raspberry and cherry flavors that are fresh and bright, with details of smoke, licorice, fresh herb and brewed tea notes. Drink now through 2016. 1,100 cases made.

CLICK HER TO PURCHASE

2007 Stemmler Pinots hit home with Wine Enthusiast

94 POINTS - Carneros Ferguson Block Pinot Noir
A powerful and dramatic Pinot Noir. The first thing you notice is the depth. The range of flavors goes on and on, ranging from cherries, oranges and cola through mocha to more classic notes of forest floor, mushrooms and peppery spices. Bone dry, with ultra-fine tannins, it's a gorgeous wine now, and should age gracefully for 6-8 years. --S.H.

93 POINTS - Russian River Nugent Vineyard Pinot Noir
Very fine and complex. This deeply flavored Pinot Noir is powerful, but it's also elegantly silky, which is the magic combination. Shows perfectly ripe cherry and raspberry fruit, with gorgeous overtones of oak and spices.Beautiful now, and will age well through 2014 or so. --S.H.

90 POINTS - Carneros Estate Grown Pinot Noir
A very nice Pinot Noir shows the classic elegance associated with this producer. It's one to drink now. Dry and silky, it offers rich, complex flavors of cherries, cola, spices and sandalwood. Feels really classy all the way through. --S.H.