The 2017 annual Guildsomm Holiday Party was hosted at June’s All Day and again sponsored by the wonderful Napa Valley Vintners. Winemakers and reps from Napa highlighted their wines while the sommelier community gathered to wrap up the holiday season in style. June and her staff hosted a swanky and super fun event with a fantastic buffet spread of shellfish, kebabs, lamb vindaloo served with sumac yogurt, and chickpea masala. Passed appetizers and gorgeous little desserts kept all happy and well fed. The DJs kept the party going with booty shakin’ tunes.
The crowd gravitated towards two of the stations in particular, the Napa Valley Wines Under $50 and the The Ageability of Napa Valley. As I prefer whites, the Under $50 table produced some favorites for me with the whites being a well-balanced 2015 Grenache Blanc from Priest Ranch and a 2015 Galerie Naissance Sauvignon Blanc. The reds that stood out were the 2013 Rombauer Vineyards Merlot and the 2013 Silverado Vineyards Mt. George Merlot.
Last year’s event tucked the aged wines into a tiny corner room at Jeffrey’s and once you got in, you weren’t getting out any time soon, which was not a bad thing seeing as how you were surrounded by Cabernets from the nineties and a few from the eighties per my recollection. This year at June’s, Napa only took us back to 1996, but we had more space to work with in tasting these gems. Again, these were mostly Cabernets, but a 2004 Stony Hill Vineyard Chardonnay and a 2010 Stony Hill Vineyard Riesling started us off in fine style. The Riesling of course, was my favorite as I am enamored by Riesling in general and especially those with some age on them. This one had a beautiful nose of candied Meyer Lemon peel and the palate continued with the lemon and added crisp green apple. The acidity was well- preserved seven years on. The 2001 Corison Winery Cabernet Sauvignon topped off my tasting of the aged wines and it was lovely. Softened tannins and ripe red and black fruits were set off by a silky mouthfeel and a nice long finish.
Aside from the wines, we had great company with sommeliers and industry folks from near and far. Scott Ota even came up from San Antonio with girlfriend Lindsey and reported that High Street Wine Company is doing well in the Pearl Brewery.
Add the VW photo booth and it was a party to remember. Put it on the calendar for next year!
