Grenache on the Rise

    SAN FRANCISCO, CA, October 19, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Look for Grenache on the red carpet when the Rhone Rangers bring 50 California vintners to Hollywood's backyard. Dozens of Grenache-based wines will be featured at the 8th annual Celebration of American Rhone Wines, November 6th and 7th in Los Angeles. These red, white, and rose wines will be among the standouts of more than 200 wines to be offered at a walk-around tasting on Saturday afternoon, November 7th at The Reef in downtown LA.

Grenache on the Rise, an educational seminar and tasting also on November 7th, will be moderated by Patrick Comiskey, senior editor at Wine & Spirits Magazine. Ten distinctly different Grenache-based wines will illustrate the diversity and beauty of the Grenache family, with panelists comprised of winemakers, winegrowers and winery principals from throughout the Golden State.

"Despite being grown here more or less continuously for over 150 years, Grenache's range of flavors, its regional expression, and its level of profundity are still a long way from being realized," commented Comiskey about Grenache and the upcoming seminar. He continued, "It may have more potential than any other Rhone variety currently grown in the U.S., so it's time to have a look at the state of the grape."

Additional weekend events include winemaker dinners and in-store tastings on Friday, November 6th. Redbird, in downtown Los Angeles and Parkway Grill in Pasadena, will host Rhone wine-pairing dinners. K&L Wines in Hollywood and Whole Foods Market in Venice will host Rhone Ranger wineries in their tasting bars. More information can be found below and at www.rhonerangers.org.

Celebration of American Rhone Wines
Individual Event Details

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6TH

Retail In-Store Tastings:

K&L Wines, 1400 Vine Street, Hollywood, 5:30 - 7 PM, featuring the wines of Quivira, Qupe and Vina Robles. For more information, call the store at (323) 464-9463.
Whole Foods, 225 Lincoln Boulevard, Venice, 5-8 PM, featuring the wines of Bonny Doon Vineyard and Michael-David Winery. For more information, call the Wine Department at (310) 566-9480.

Winemaker Dinners:

Parkway Grill, 6:30 PM, 510 S Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena, featuring the wines of kukkula, Pomar Junction and Ridge Vineyards. Limited to 24 Guests. Call the restaurant to make a reservation, (626) 795-1001.

Redbird, 7 PM, 114 E Second Street, Los Angeles, featuring the wines of Eberle, Kita and Tablas Creek. Limited to 30 Guests. Call the restaurant to make a reservation, (213) 788-1191.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH

Educational Seminar and Tasting
Grenache on the Rise,10:30 AM, The Atelier Room at The Reef, 1939 S Broadway, downtown Los Angeles. Moderated by Patrick Comiskey, featuring the wines of Andrew Murray Vineyards, Bernat, Kenneth Volk Vineyards, Lightning Wines, Mounts Family Winery, Petrichor, Tablas Creek, Tercero Wines, Terre Rouge and Vines on the Marycrest. Tickets, $40, can be purchased online at www.rhonerangers.org.

Walk-Around Tasting
Featuring wines from 50 wineries, VIP hours are 2-6 PM and General Admission is 3-6 PM. The Living Room at The Reef, 1939 S Broadway, downtown Los Angeles. Food will be available for purchase from Street Kitchen LA. A silent auction, featuring wine and wine-country travel packages, will benefit the Rhone Rangers Scholarship Fund. Tickets, $50 - $75, can be purchased online at www.rhonerangers.org.

The Rhone Rangers are a group of roughly 150 wineries dedicated to making wines from the 22 grape varieties originally made famous in France's Rhone Valley. These varieties range from the better-known Syrah and Viognier to the up-and-coming Mourvedre, Grenache and Roussanne, to obscure (but delicious) grapes like Counoise and Picpoul.

The Rhone Rangers started from a small gathering of American vintners who began meeting informally in the 1980s. As their numbers expanded, the group organized under the name "Rhone Rangers." The Rhone Rangers is a non-profit organization focused on promoting the enjoyment of Rhone varietal wines produced in the United States. These grapes include the 22 traditional varieties approved by the French government for the Cotes du Rhone, as well as Durif (Petite Sirah). In order for a winery to join the Rhone Rangers, they must produce at least one wine that contains 75% of any single approved varietal (or combination of these varietals.)

# # #