Painting while drinking wine: both fun activities, and I’m pretty good at one of them. It seems that I’m not alone, though, because a franchise called Pinot’s Palette is successfully launching locations across the country. A new location is about to open, right in the middle of Livermore wine country!

Naming a winery can be challenging. Many of the “good names” are already taken. Winery names can be inspired by family names, pets, local history or local points of interest. Sometimes the answer is easier, though, like when your winery is literally located on Leisure Street.

The coming of summer heralds many good things. Not the least of these good things is the latest crop of summer wine club parties! One of the best of the crop this summer was the club release party at Darcie Kent Vineyards.

The year is full of milestone events: New Year’s Eve, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the Livermore Valley, there is an additional annual event that signals that the summer wine season is in full swing. Called Taste Our Terroir, area winemakers and chefs come together to celebrate everything that makes the Livermore Valley special. We can’t wait!

Let’s be honest! Wine clubs are primarily judged by the quality of their wine release parties. Sure, the discounts and tasting amenities are fine, but what separates the best from the rest is the party. Different wineries approach this challenge different ways, but it is the best way to understand each winery’s approach to making their best fans happy. Eagle Ridge Vineyard builds their release parties around quality: quality wine, quality food and quality fun!

Art and wine naturally pair well. There is certainly art in the creation of wine, and more than a bit of wine in the creation of most art. So it only seems appropriate that wineries offer the opportunity to create art WHILE enjoying some fine wine. One such opportunity is just around the corner!

Wine club release parties are the best part of club membership! A party full of happy, wine-loving club members, exciting new wine releases, and typically some special treats to highlight the wine. The recent Ruby Hill Winery release event covered all the bases, with a dash of wedding party on the side!

“Second verse, same as the first!” In the case of Pat Paulsen Vineyards, the second verse is, if anything, better than the original. A new generation, a new location, but the focus on premium, innovative wines hasn’t skipped a beat.

Valentine’s Day means showing your special someone how much you care. For some, that means flowers, or candy, or maybe a cute stuffed animal. Recently for us, Valentine’s Day means a funny card, a nice homemade dinner, and the highlight of the day: a wine club release party at Darcie Kent Vineyards.

The Livermore wine scene recently welcomed a newcomer to the area, but a newcomer in name only. We had a chance to visit the newest tasting room to the area: Lone Dove Wines. New wines, new label, but a winemaker far from new to us.