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Winter Release Tasting with the Winemaker

Come and join us for one of our Winter Release with the Winemaker tastings! These intimate events take you through a tasting of our newly released wines guided by our winemaker, Coby Parker-Garcia. This fun and interactive experience has been a favorite amongst the staff and we are now giving you the opportunity!

 

tasting, claiborne, claiborne & churchill

 

What?

The tasting will begin by exploring the newly released wines as you analyze the characteristics you pick up on and discuss why those characteristics are showing through. Our Winemaker Coby will educate Club Members on the growing season for these grapes, the production process of the wine, and food pairings in addition to sampling cheeses that have been perfectly paired with artisan cheeses from Fromagerie Sophie.

 

Who?

This is an event for wine lovers and novices alike. We want to have an intimate experience allowing a small group to hear the decisions that went into making the wine, what characteristics are coming out in the wine, and what these wines pair well with. With only 18 guests per seating, you will have the chance to interact with the winemaker himself and ask him your questions! Though it is only available for members of our wine club, it is not too late to join!

 

Tasting, Claiborne, Claiborne & Churchill

When & Where?

These 6 tastings are going to take place in our cellar at the winery. Check out the time most convenient for you!

Tuesday, February 7 – 3pm

Tuesday, February 7 – 6pm

Thursday, February 9 – 3pm

Thursday, February 9 – 6pm

Friday, February 10 – 3pm

Friday, February 10 – 6pm

How?

Buy your $10 ticket on our website here! Tickets are limited to two per Club Membership.

Not a member? Learn more here and sign up to be a member here!


Dinner On The Deck with Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir, Claiborne & Churchill, Dinner on the Deck

Last week the staff at Claiborne & Churchill came together for a fun evening. Clay & Fredericka hosted a Dinner on the Deck at their home. This evening under the stars was filled with some great wine, great food, and great company. We all enjoyed the opportunity to spend time together outside the winery. This event was dedicated to one of our favorite varietals, Pinot Noir.

Coby, our winemaker, led a tasting challenge.  Similar to a party example in our last blog post, we had to match the bottle of wine to the wine region provided. The regions to pick from were: Oregon, Santa Barbara, New Zealand, Burgundy, Sonoma, and San Luis. We had a great time and were truly stumped at some of the pairings.

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2014 Marlborough Pinot Noir

Winery: TWR – Te Whare Ra

Region: New Zealand

This wine is a mix of two different vineyards in New Zealand. Harvest was in March of 2014 after what they call a “textbook summer.” It spends 11 months in French oak with 796 cases produced.

2012 Chorey-lés-Beaune

Winery: Tollot-Beaut

Region: Burgundy

The winery produced two cuvees that will be merged to form a blend the January before it is bottled.

2014 Pinot Noir

Winery: El Lugar

Region: Santa Barbara

The fruit for this wine is from Santa Maria and uses two clones: Pommard & Martini. It was harvested in August of 2014 and it spent 11 months in French oak barrels. It was bottled nearly a year later and 164 cases were made.

2012 Russian River Pinot Noir

Winery: Alysian

Region: Sonoma

This wine was made of six different clones from five different vineyards, which are all Russian River vineyards. Then, it spent fourteen months in barrel with about 30% of that being new French oak.

2013 Select Pinot Noir

Winery: Brick House

Region: Oregon

This ‘Select’ wine includes fruit from all of this winery’s Pinot Noir clones and blocks. After spending 15 months in neutral French oak, this wine was bottled in February 2015. They produced 535 cases of this barrel select wine.

2014 Classic Estate Pinot Noir

Winery: Claiborne & Churchill

Region: San Luis Obispo

The Estate Twin Creeks fruit included three clones: #113, 2A, and Martini from the Edna Valley. After harvesting September and early October 2014, it aged for 10 months in 35% New French Oak. This 29 barrel blend then was bottled in August 2015 making 787 cases.


All of the staff had a great time trying to match up these delicious Pinots with the region they originated from. After this tough test, we enjoyed a number of other great Pinots with dinner. Pinot Noir has had a home at Claiborne & Churchill for decades and we loved getting to see how other regions are utilizing this amazing grape.


Roll Out the Barrels

roll out the barrels, claiborne & churchill

Join us for this fun weekend celebrating the great wines of SLO Wine Country. The 26th Annual Roll Out the Barrels celebration brings winemakers, locals, and visitors together that have one thing in common: the love for wine. Don’t miss out on this weekend full of great wine, great food, and great company!


SLO Wine Country Roll Out the Barrels Events:

Barrels in the Plaza

Mission Plaza, Downtown San Luis Obispo

Thursday, June 23rd – 4:30-7:30pm

4:30 VIP Early Entry, $100 – 5:30 General Admission, $80 – At the door, $90

The weekend starts out in the heart of downtown San Luis. Fifty wineries and restaurants are coming together to share with the attendees. This night filled with food and wine pairings will be accompanied by live music from the Damon Castillo Band. There is no better way to kick start the Roll Out the Barrels Weekend than this!

Taste the Coast Collaborative Winemaker Dinner

Claiborne & Churchill Winery

Friday, June 24th – 5:30 Wine Reception & 6:30 Dinner

Tickets $160 per person

This year Claiborne & Churchill is hosting the Roll Out the Barrels Special Event! We are excited to have the Taste of the Coast Collaborative Winemaker Dinner at our winery also featuring Peloton Cellars, Stephen Ross, Tolosa, and Verdad. These wines will be paired with a five course prepared by Brian Collins, chef & owner of local favorite Ember Restaurant. 


Claiborne & Churchill Roll Out the Barrels Events:

Aromatic White Wine Challenge

Saturday, June 25th – 11am-3pm

$15 per person – $10 for Club Members – Waived with $50 purchase

A Claiborne & Churchill staff favorite! Join a C&C team member in our tasting/barrel room to test your palate with a fun and challenging blind tasting of aromatic white wine! Each guest is given a flight of five wines to compare and contrast the aromatics, color, mouthfeel, taste and finally determine which varietal is in each glass. Guest who get all five varietals correct win a free Claiborne & Churchill logo hat!

Aromatic White Wine Tasting & Oyster Reception

Saturday, June 25th – 10:30am – 12:30pm

$50 per person – $40 for Club Members

Join C&C Winemaker, Coby Parker-Garcia, on our crush pad overlooking our Estate Vineyard for an educational blind tasting of our signature aromatic white wines. From wine to glass, Coby will walk you through the key attributes of the five highlighted varietals. Following the seminar, guests will enjoy a reception with fresh oysters in our garden with bistro seating and a picturesque view of the surrounding Edna Valley.

Pinot & Paella: The Past, Present and Future of the Twin Creeks Pinot Noir

Saturday, June 25th – 5-7pm

$65 per person – $55 for Club Members

Calling all Pinot lovers! Join us for a five year vertical tasting experience featuring library and current vintages plus a barrel sample of the 2015 vintage of our Twin Creeks Pinot Noir. Winemaker Coby Parker-Garcia will discuss the growing conditions, different clones and the winemaking practices of these limited bottlings. Enjoy a Paella and Pinot reception in our garden with bistro seating and live music by Chris Beland. Don’t miss the opportunity to taste and purchase these wines including futures of the 205 vintage that’s still in barrel!


The 2016 Roll Out the Barrels Weekend is sure to be a hit! SLO locals can use the promo code “GOLOCAL” to save $20! Not only is it a great time for locals but also visitors to the Central Coast! They are offering 20% off your Roll Out the Barrels ticket when you book your stay in SLO! Check out more information about it here and we’ll see you at Roll Out the Barrels 2016. Cheers!


Staff Wine Tasting Excursion: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay & Dry Rose

On April 28, the Claiborne & Churchill gang ventured down to our Santa Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley neighbors for some team building, wine tasting, sightseeing.  We sampled some of the region’s finest Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Dry Rose. Thank you to Hilliard Bruce, Melville, Foley, Presqu’ile and Breakaway Tours for making our day such a success!