Before hearing what it actually was, I had already decided that a Summer Fizz Fest was something that I liked... a lot.
Now that I know what it is, it turns out I was right, and if you keep reading you’ll know what it is too, and I’m pretty sure you’ll also like it a lot.
Fizz Fest is an excuse to celebrate, concocted by people who love sipping wine out among the vineyards. It happens on Sunday, June 25, 2017, in Temecula Valley Wine Country.
What’s being celebrated? I’ll get there, but first let me tell you what the celebration entails: a full-day romp through Temecula Valley, sampling bubbly libations at eight different wineries, and nibbling chef-selected pairings at each. For years, in-the-know Southern Cal wine tasters have participated in Temecula Wine Country’s two major annual events: Harvest Celebration in November, and the Barrel Tasting event in January. These smorgasbords of nosh and vino are addictive to Foodies and Winos alike, and most who try them become repeat offenders. I certainly did… I never miss either event.
But Summer was lacking. From January to November is a long time to wait. Too long.
Summer Fizz Fest fixes that, and fills the ten-month void with an event that offers an ironic twist: a celebration of the wine most commonly used to begin a celebration of something else. A toast to the sparkling delight that fills our glasses when we toast. Will there be non-sparkling wine to sample? Sure, champagne’s less gregarious cousin will be making an appearance, in both white and red attire. But the star of the day will be effervescent, cork-popping, ship-launching, party-in-a-bottle sparkling wines..
Oh, and the event also celebrates a birthday. Grapeline turns 15 years old in June. Started in Temecula in 2002, Grapeline now serves more than 25,000 wine tasters a year in its Temecula birthplace as well as in Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, Sonoma and Napa. So founders John and Kim Kelliher could put a plaque on the wall, and serve employees some cake and punch. But that’s not how they roll.
When you're the founders of California’s go-to wine tour company, the way you roll is with hors d’oeuvres in one hand, and a flute of bubbly in the other. That’s what they’ll be doing on June 25th, and I’ll be right there with them. And, if you want, you can join in too. All are welcome, whether or not they have a reason to celebrate. Isn’t a full day of toasting in Temecula reason enough?
~ Kay Syrah
Wine Country Guru Gal
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