Virtual Wine Cruise Webinar-Monday, March 18th

Please join our Virtual Event to learn about the Breathless Wines-SawyerSomm AmaWaterways Unparalleled River Cruise Experience, for details about our upcoming hosted Vineyards of the Rhine and Moselle Wine Cruise on July 23, 2025. (Use Promo Code: SawyerSomm)

HOWLING About “Werewolf Serenade”!

The crew is wrapping the final sound mix of Werewolf Serenade this week in beautiful Burbank! It has been quite a journey, and everyone has done a remarkable job.

I wonder how werewolves celebrate?

This week a crowdfunding campaign was launched to raise $3,000 to round-out the post-production budget. Among other perks, contributors can obtain seats to the private Cast, Crew, and Patron Screening (date TBD), where you, and your +1s, can join us to celebrate our brilliant project.

Please donate HERE! See you at the Screening. . .

Screenshot 2024-02-24 at 3.22.05 PM
Screenshot 2024-02-27 at 8.27.52 AM
Screenshot 2024-02-24 at 4.00.48 PM

SIFF Wine Competion – Enter NOW!

CALLING ALL WINERIES!!! We are excited to announce the SIFF Wine Competition is coming up quickly! We would like to invite you to submit your wines for only $25! Just select from the 14 categories listed below, which you would like to enter. Then provide 2 bottles of wine for each category you are entering and include a spec sheet with the level of residual sugar information.

  • Best Sparkling Wine
  • Best Chardonnay
  • Best Aromatic White Wine
  • Best Sauvignon Blanc
  • Best Other White Varietals & Blends
  • Best Pink Wine (still)
  • Best Pinot Noir
  • Best Merlot
  • Best Red Wine Blend
  • Best Zinfandel
  • Best Rhone Varieties
  • Best Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Best Dessert Wine
  • Best Port Wine

Sign up to participate HERE! Then deliver the wine to the SIFF office, at 103 E Napa Street, Ste. B, Sonoma, CA (above Maya Restaurant) before February 26, 2024: Judging will be organized and executed by sommelier Christopher Sawyer, and a panel of wine experts, on February 29, 2024.

Please let me or Chay (chay@sonomafilmfest.org) know if you have any questions!

A European River Wine Cruise ~ Summer 2025

Join Breathless Wines and Sawyer Somm for Vineyards of the Rhine and Moselle, next summer, July 23-30, 2025! Now is the time to book your cabin with special discounts, use the Promo Code: SawyerSomm before March 31st.

Featuring 7-Nights, starting off in Amsterdam, traveling through special German wine regions, along the scenic Rhine & Moselle Rivers, abundant with castles, to the final charming destination Luxembourg.

cruise8
cruise7
cruise-map
cruise3

Robert Biale Vineyards Features Fine Zin On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

The perfect #Zinning combination, THE VARIETAL SHOW talks to winemaker David Natali, of Robert Biale Vineyards: Focus in on Zinfandel, the official state grape of California, and its origins in Napa Valley. From this traditional farming region, we discuss old vines averaging 50 years old and celebrate the revered vineyards. Taste the history with us: 2022 Black Chicken, Napa Valley; 2022 Dickerson Vineyard, St Helena, Napa Valley; 2022 Morisoli Vineyard, Rutherford, Napa Valley

Join us for more #Zinning moments at ZAP in SF Jan 25-27!


LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST! Email me about featuring your winery on #THEVARIETALSHOW

20240112_111036
20240112_111010

THE VARIETAL SHOW Stops By Stoller Family Estate

The epic Oregon road trip continues for THE VARIETAL SHOW, with a visit to Stoller Family Estate: Introducing my good friends, Winemaker Melissa Burr and Vineyard Manager, Jason Tosch. We discuss the amazing Willamette Valley, which just finished celebrating 40 years as an AVA. Digging deep into soil and clones, we taste three amazing samples of their work: 2021 Stoller Reserve Chardonnay, 2019 Legacy Nancy’s Pinot Noir & 2020 History Colombia Valley Red Blend.

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST! Email me about featuring your winery on #THEVARIETALSHOW

20231214_163027
20231214_163103

AFWC’s “One Thousand Bottles” -January 14th!

Join me and the judging team of American Fine Wine Competition in Miami at the 17th Annual AFWC “ONE THOUSAND BOTTLES” event – to taste over 700 exceptional wines from small, boutique, family-run wineries across the US, including California, Ohio, Washington, New York, Colorado, Michigan, Virginia, and Oregon, while enjoying incredible food from local restaurants!

  • Meet award-winning winemakers pouring their wines
  • Win fabulous wine baskets at the raffle
  • Bid on exclusive private wine tasting experiences
  • Get 1000 Bottles TICKETS while they last!


Sunday, January 14th, from 6:30-9:00 PM FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management,
3000 NE 151st Street, North Miami, FL 33181

All proceeds benefit the Joel Feigenheimer Endowment Fund, supporting scholarships in the hospitality industry and End Childhood Hunger.

Special thanks to our incredible partners: Smart Source Marketing, Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at FIU, Two Men & a Truck, Advanced Roofing, VENU Magazine, City & Shore Magazine, South Florida Business Journal, FPL, Coravin, RC Music Group, Chef & Sommelier, Rod Coleman, Esq. & Associates, Preiser Key, Cheney Brothers, Restaurant Placement Group, A Flair For Fudge, The CrepeMaker, Island Fusion, Fogo de Chao Miami Beach, Royal India, and Cristina’s Family Bakery.

Holiday Wishes From Elk Cove Vineyards On THE VARIETAL SHOW

HO HO Hope Santa Somm filled your stockings with good wines! THE VARIETAL SHOW discusses the wine wonders of Oregon’s Willamette Valley with Adam Campbell of Elk Cove Vineyards, including the French connection, clones, estate vineyards & IPNC. Join us to taste the 2022 Estate Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley; 2021 Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley; and 2021 Pinot Noir, Five Mountains, Laurelwood District.

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST! Email me about featuring your winery on #THEVARIETALSHOW

20231218_101526
20231214_125114

Padigan Winery Hosts THE VARIETAL SHOW

On a holiday road trip, THE VARIETAL SHOW rolled into the drive at Padigan Wines! Sitting down with former sommelier, and current winemaker, Kiley Evans, in the Rogue Valley. We discuss the unique qualities of Southern Oregon, including soil, climate, elevation and a wine growing history going back to 1852.

Taste along with some classics: 2020 Estate Reserve Viognier, 2021 Syrah & 2020 Estate Reserve Tempranillo.

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST! Email me about featuring your winery on #THEVARIETALSHOW

Ridge, Shauna & Zin On THE VARIETAL SHOW!

THE VARIETAL SHOW visits star winemaker Shauna Rosenblum of Ridge Vineyards, on the Lytton Springs Road property in Healdsburg. During this year of Dry Creek Valley appellation’s 40th Anniversary, we celebrate the joys of Zinfandel, and the unique soil, weather, microclimates, old vines of different regions for growing the grapes; tasting their 2021 Zins from Geyserville, Lytton Springs & Paso Robles. Looking forward to the great ZAP event in January so mark your calendars!

LIKE, SHARE & FOLLOW my You Tube channel, for notification about upcoming episodes, most Tuesdays @11am PST! Email me about featuring your winery on #THEVARIETALSHOW

20231130_131902
20231130_131851