Wine Tasting

As we enter what we hope will be a season of celebration, we willbe tasting a collection of sparkling wines from around the world.These wines will come from Italy, Spain, California, and theChampagne region of France.The cost will be our usual $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Members get a preferential right to sign up for this tasting through Monday November 24th. After that it will be opened to non-members. We do allow up to four non-members sign up during the membe

Thursday July 18th, 2024 - 7:30PM - Southern Rhone Tasting Our next tasting will be 7:30PM on Monday July 18th and will feature red wines from the Rhone Valley. The Rhone Valley in Southern France is a long valley and really two distinct sub-regions. The Northern Rhone is in a narrow valley with very steep walls and only one red grape: Syrah, and just a few white grapes (Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne). ​ The Southern Rhone Valley is much wider, has a more Provencal clima

Our next tasting will be 7:30PM on Thursday March 2nd. The plan is to identify six red wine varietals. Unlike our usual tasting format where we taste the wines and the reveal them, we will hand out the tasting list at the start of the event and everyone will try to match the numbered bottles to the six wines listed in the tasting notes. As usual, there will be no test at the end. The cost for this tasting will be $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Members get a preferen

Monday April 10th, 2023 - 7:30PM - Zinfandel Tasting Our next tasting will be at 7:30PM on Monday April 10th. The theme will be Zinfandel, a wine that is grown primarily in California though it is also grown in Italy (under the name Primitivo), South Africa, Australia, and Croatia (under the name Crljenak Ka�telanski). Unless we can find some Zinfandel from these other countries, we plan to highlight wines from different regions of California and with a variety of ages. The c

A second version of the popular June 2023 wine tasting featuring white wines of France.

Our next tasting will be at 7:30PM on Monday October 10th. The theme will be Cabernet Franc, a varietal that we have only previously featured once, nine years ago. Cabernet Franc is typically found as a major component of Bordeaux wines. It is one of the top three grapes in Bordeaux reds (together with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon), and interestingly enough is a mother grape to both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It is also grown in the Loire region of France, Italy, Hunga

Our next tasting will be at 7:30PM on Tuesday December 6th and following our December tradition we will be tasting a collection of sparkling wines from around the world. Some of these wines will come from California and the Champagne region of France. We hope that you will be able to join our merry group as get warmed up to celebrate the New Year. ​ Members get a preferential right to sign up for this tasting through Monday November 21st. After that it will be opened to non

Our next tasting will be at 7:30PM on Tuesday May 3rd. The tasting will feature the wines of Famille Brunier most widely known for their Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe ``La Crau'' Châteauneuf-du-Pape. One of the world's classic wine blends from the Rhône Valley of France, Châteaunuf-du-Pape is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre (aka Mataró), colloquially known as a "GSM". We will be tasting the full range of the Famille Brunier's production ranging from the current relea

Our next tasting will be 7:30PM on Monday August 8th. As it has been nearly eight years since our last Sauvignon Blanc tasting, we feel that we are past due to have another one. Originally from the Bordeaux and Loire regions of France, Sauvignon Blanc is grown all over the world in a plethora of different styles varying from assertively grassy to flinty to sweet. It's the primary grape of White Bordeaux, Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, and New Zealand, and is even blended blended in

Thursday, July 7th - 7:30PM - Husch Pinot Noir Quarter-Century Vertical Tasting Our next tasting will feature a 27-year vertical of Husch Pinot Noirs (1994 Reserve, 1999 Apple Hill Vineyard, 2005 Reserve, 2010 Reserve, 2015 Knoll, and the current 2020 Estate release). This collection gives you an opportunity to see how Pinot Noir from one of Anderson Valley's well-known producers ages over a quarter of a century. Advanced signup is required. If interested, please sign up by

Tuesday November 15th, 2022 - 7:30PM - Red Bordeaux Blend Tasting The November theme will be Bordeaux-blend wines. Primarily based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, other common contributors to Bordeaux include Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. This blend is classically paired with bold red meat. The high tannins and acids in these grapes also make them prime candidates for long term aging. Although named for the region in France, this classic blend is produced al

Thursday, February 6th - 7:30PM - Port and Chocolate Tasting Redux ​Our next tasting will be 7:30PM on Thursday February 6th. We will be tasting ports from around the world which will include vintage Porto from Portugal. As in years past we will include some well aged ports. We will also have a selection of chocolate to complement the port. The cost is $35 for members and $40 for non-members. Members get a preferential right to sign up for this tasting but we do allow up to f

Monday October 14th, 2024 - 7:30PM - Merlot Tasting As Eric and Kirk will be travelling during nearly all of September, the next tasting will be held at 7:30PM on Monday October 14th. The tasting will be six of the detested Merlot wines (according to the movie Sideways), sadly not including a 1961 Chateau Cheval Blanc, or even a 1962 Patrus (although we could bring in an empty bottle). But they will try to work in a St. Emilion or Pomerol. The cost will be the usual $30 for

Thursday August 22nd, 2024 - 7:30PM - Rosé Tasting Our next tasting will be 7:30PM on Thursday August 22nd. We will be tasting six Rosé wines. Rosé is not just a beverage, it's a lifestyle modifier. A glass of Rosé puts one in the mindset of enjoying the activity of that time and place. It doesn't demand intense inspection or consideration, whether it be cooking or porch sitting, Rosé is happy to be your companion as you pursue whatever occupation life allows. Come for the ex

The plan is to identify six white wine varietals. Unlike our usual tasting format where we taste the wines and then reveal them, we will hand out the tasting list at the start of the event. Everyone so inclined can try to match the numbered bottles to the six wines listed in the tasting notes. We will include some (hopefully) obvious wines like a California Chardonnay and a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, but also some more unusual wines to keep it interesting. This tasting is a

The tasting will include a broad range of Pinot Noir. We plan to include wines from multiple regions, including a French Burgundy and Pinot's from Oregon, Australia, Brazil (!!), and oh yes, California. Unfortunately some of these wines are more expensive than average, so the cost will be $35 for Hillside Club members and $40 for non-members. ​ Members get a preferential right to sign up but we do allow up to four non-members sign up during the member signup period. Advanced

Our next tasting will be 7:30PM on Monday, April 8th. The plan is to identify six red wine varietals. Unlike our usual tasting format where we taste the wines and then reveal them, we will hand out the tasting list at the start of the event and everyone will try to match the numbered bottles to the six wines listed in thetasting notes. As usual, there will be no test at the end.The cost will be our usual $30 for members and $35 for non-members. ​ Members get a preferential

Our next tasting will be 7:30PM on Thursday January 11th. We will be tasting ports from around the world which will include vintage Porto from Portugal. As in years past we will include some well aged ports. We will also have a selection of chocolate to complement the port. The cost is $35 for members and $40 for non-members. Members get a preferential right to sign up for this tasting through Thursday December 13th. After that it will be opened to non-members. We do allow up

Thursday December 7th, 2023 - 7:30PM - Tasting of Sparkling Wines Our next tasting will be at 7:30PM on Thursday December 7th. Following our December tradition we will be tasting a collection of sparkling wines from around the world. Some of these wines will come from California and the Champagne region of France. We hope that you will be able to join our merry group as get warmed up to celebrate the New Year. The cost will be $30 for members and $35 for non-members.Member

Thursday November 9th, 2022 - 7:30PM - GSM Wine Tasting As our October GSM wine tasting sold out in less than a day, we have decided to run it again at 7:30PM on Thursday November 9th. The twist is that we will repeat only one wine from October so will be adding five new wines in November. The tasting features "GSM" (Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre) wines, one of the world's classic wine blends which is the basis of the Côte du Rhône (France). Grenache probably originated from Arag