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Ask a Wine-Know: CSUB Party in the Park
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Posted by Anncierley Mon Apr 23, 2007 14:13:37 PDT
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In my last column I answered a question regarding visiting wineries and tasting rooms. We discussed how to go about it and what to expect when you get there. I suggested that this was a particularly great way to learn a lot about wine in a short period of time.

Today our subject is going to be wine tasting events ––  what they are, what purpose they serve, what they cost, where to go and what to do when you get there. More learning in an even shorter period of time.

This is an especially good subject for this issue because coming up this month is the biggest event of Bakersfield's wine world, the 11th Annual CSUB Party in the Park, held out in Alumni Park on the Cal State campus late Friday afternoon, May 11, at 5:30 p.m.

Over 60 wineries will be pouring at least one of their wines to nearly 800 people. This is an excellent opportunity to partake of a particularly good way to learn a lot about wine without even leaving town! And having a lot of fun to boot!

Large tasting events like this are put on for fun and education by organizations like the Bakersfield Wine Society, which has been holding this May wine festival for nearly 30 years here in town. Several years ago they joined forces with the CSUB Alumni Association to host an event that has now become one of the biggest and best in the Central Valley.

Another purpose for these events is to raise money for worthy causes, in this case the Alumni Scholarship Fund. Lots of the wine is donated, as is most of the time of pourers and other workers, so a lot of money is raised for good causes from your entrance fee, which is $35 in advance, $45 at the door.

Many wineries are eager to attend. Their purpose is to introduce their wines and create new customers of course, but many are truly philanthropic or genuinely interested in supporting their hosts. Bakersfield does have many friends among wineries, especially those of the Central Coast who know you visit them often.

Your purpose in attending is to have fun and drink wine, sure, but part of the fun is to learn. There are many wineries you have never heard of before, some varietals of wine you have never sampled (Mourvedre anyone?), most of the particular wines offered will be new to you (you loved the '04 Baileyana Chardonnay but you haven't tasted the just released '05), etc.

Here is your chance to have a little taste of a lot of somethings before you are standing in the store trying to decide what to buy this weekend for dinner. Learn what kind of wine you like.

O.K., enough of this exhorting you to attend these kinds of events –– what can you expect once you get there?

First, get reservations in advance. Most of these things sell out. Decide who the designated driver is going to be (there's usually coffee or something else for them). Check your name off at the door and the attendants will give you a glass, usually a commemorative one for you to take with you when you leave. You will notice that there are many, many people behind rows and rows of tables with bottles of wine in front of them. Hopefully there are signs above their heads or somewhere on the table indicating which winery they represent.

Case the joint! Are they in alphabetical order or willy-nilly? This will come in handy later when you are trying to tell a buddy you encountered about the great Pinot Grigio you just tasted.

If the pourers are experienced, you just need to stand in front of whichever one catches your eye ( wine, not the girl or guy!) and hold out your glass. A small amount will be poured, just enough for you to get a good idea of that wine. If one swallow is all you want, pour out the rest. This is not a lesson in how much you can drink! There should be dump buckets on the tables, and if you are outside as is the case at Cal State, use the grass if all else fails.

Most pourers will know something about the wine. Here's your chance to ask  questions such as "Where are the vineyards that this wine comes from?" A lot of these people will either be the wine makers themselves or employees of the winery. What's the point of that question you ask? You can find out the difference between the wines from various areas in the state, and thus learn which areas, or appellations we call them, you prefer. You found out today that a Pinot Noir you really liked came from the Russian River above San Francisco. Now you can look for other Russian River labels on different Pinots in the wine shop tomorrow.

Walk around. Be choosy, you can't do them all. I usually try about 20. There will be food. Partake. Sit down and make notes on wines you really liked! And hunt for wineries with local roots. You know I have written about some, and I have more columns yet to come on others.

All you Merlot lovers, hunt for Bell Hill winery. This is a local owners' winery that has just released its first vintage, and you can only order it from the owner, Julia Maxwell, who will be pouring it there. That is, if you like it as much as I did for $20. I was really amazed at what a good effort this was for a first wine!

Look for another local owner at the Rutherford Ranch table. I ordered some of their wine for the wine list at Stars' Restaurant here in town. The Marko Zaninovich family has a very interesting operation up Highway 99 just North of town that I will write more about later.

Say hello to Bob Shore at Arroyo Robles' table. I know there has to be several of his offerings that you will like ! See if Paul Hoover's Still Waters Winery from Paso Robles too is there. He has an amazing array of wines that I will discuss another time also.

If you've never been to this type of an event, you'll have familiar faces here as well as a beautiful venue at CSUB.  This is the kick-off night for the marvelous Jazz Festival, so if you hang around for several hours, you'll be serenaded by great sounds!

Call the Alumni office at 654-3211 for information and reservations. They accept credit cards. See you at Party In The Park!

Wine questions? E-mail Ann at: acierley@etcrier

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