Just in time for International Syrah Day (February 16), a Sierra Foothills vineyard can exult in their accomplishment producing Syrah that's been highly rated. Here's what we heard directly from Scott Pruett, Vineyard Owner and Winemaker: On Valentine's Day, Pruett Vineyards in Auburn, CA., received the heartening news that Wine Spectator had just rated their Pruett Estate Syrah and Pruett Reserve Syrah a very impressive 91 points each! "This is so exciting, and just huge for us on a personal level as well as a community level," exclaims Scott Pruett, Vineyard Owner and Winemaker. He continues, "This is the first wine from the estate that we have had rated. To score 91 points is both h

2012 marks the tenth anniversary of our region’s premier culinary competition the Sacramento Chef Challenge, and organizers are inviting local restaurants, wineries, breweries and specialty shops to showcase their fare at the June 23rd event. The Sacramento Chef Challenge is a culinary extravaganza featuring two live cooking competitions, lavish food, wine and beer sampling, live music, raffle prizes and more. The event is expected to draw a crowd of over 1000 guests in celebration of INALLIANCE, a local nonprofit that has provided support to people with developmental disabilities for 60 years. “Our vendors draw a huge crowd each year by providing a variety of samples to our guests,” say

Sacramento’s wine industry received a boost last month with the approval of an ordinance that promotes agricultural tourism, a move local wineries said they are excited to see. The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in December to adopt new zoning code amendments that will potentially foster growth of Sacramento’s wine industry. The changes will take effect in just a few days. Among other things, the ordinance provides the grape growers of a certain size the right to produce and bottle their own wine; gives wineries the ability to open small tasting rooms in agricultural zones; and eliminates the requirement for conditional use permits for private events, with restr

Family and friends followed the smoke and scent of carnitas cooking on the grill up and down a windy dirt path, sharing their love of wine on the normally private lands of Berryessa Gap for the Sixth Annual Springtime in the Vineyards event on Saturday. Despite the gray skies and even a light sprinkle, about 250 visitors, some with lawn chairs and blankets in tow, made the trek to enjoy three newly released wines: 2010 sauvignon blanc, 2010 Sunset Rose of Primitivo and 2008 petit sirah. The wines were paired with live bluegrass music by Doc Holler and a self-catered and, thus, essentially home-cooked meal, which included carnitas, corn salad, shrimp and strawberry-pineapple fruit skewers,

The fourth annual A Toast to Music food and wine benefit helped raise money for the Camellia Symphony Orchestra at the Old Sugar Mill Saturday night. The event was sponsored by Carvalho Family Winery. Camellia Symphony Orchestra executive director Roberta McClellan said the money raised at the event will help fund the orchestra’s 2011-2012 season, although they won’t know the total amount raised at the event until Thursday or Friday. “(It will help pay for) brochures, production, purchasing music, rental space and concerts over the summer,” McClellan said. The orchestra provides free family concerts over the summer, and McClellan said the money will also help pay for all of the expenses

Valentine’s Day has traditionally been celebrated with a simple dinner for two. Couples exchange cards professing their appreciation for one another, gift the usual candy and jewelery and call it a day. As Valentine’s Day draws closer, many people are looking to celebrate that special day in a more memorable way. Sacramento has a number of exciting events and specials to choose from on Valentine’s Day and the weekend prior. While many make reservations at their favorite restaurants, why not book a Valentine’s Day Lovers’ Cruise, provided by Hornblower Cruises, for a change? “Sacramento’s Cupid’s Valentine’s Weekend Brunch Cruise,” on Sunday, is a two-hour cruise departing from the L-S

It was hot and steamy. The weather, that is. With the temperature soaring above 100 degrees on Wednesday, I headed over to Raley Field in West Sacramento to attend Infuze Marketing’s Wine in the Park event. Sponsored by Classic Party Rentals, Wine in the Park features a wine tasting from participating family-owned wineries an hour and a half before the Sacramento River Cats game taking place that night. Attendees were able to try some unique wines, watch the ball game and support a great cause. A portion of the proceeds from Wednesday’s event will benefit a local nonprofit, Stanford Home for Children. Stanford Home for Children’s mission is “Strengthening children and families: to drea

It’s time to work up those appetites for Sacramento Wine & Dine week. Beginning on Friday and running until July 11, the 10-day event features three- to four-course gourmet meals and wine from Sacramento’s best restaurants for a discounted price. Produced by the Sacramento Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and sponsored by the California Restaurant Association's Sacramento Chapter, OpenTable.com and Fox 40, the celebration of good food and good wine allows diners a culinary experience for a portion of the normal price. A total of 39 restaurants from downtown and Midtown Sacramento, Woodland, Granite Bay, Davis, Folsom and El Dorado Hills are participating this year. During the event, dinner

Sacramento wine connoisseurs will be able to savor the diversity of Paso Robles' wine country April 19-20 as part of the 2010 Grand Tasting Tour. Winemaker dinners at local restaurants are scheduled April 19. Wine tasting will be held April 20. A preview retail testing is scheduled April 16. Paso Robles is one of California's premiere wine-producing regions. Twenty-seven wineries and hospitality representatives will feature more than 150 wines during the two-day event. The tour was organized by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. "I think coming to the capital city is very special," Executive Director Stacie Jacob said in a phone interview. "I think many people come for other business

 Spirits we brought with us, resident ghosts, and more. An interesting investigation was held by GOLD RUSH GHOSTS INTERNATIONAL PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIONS for the television show INVESTIGATING THE UNKNOWN on December 27th, 2009. We had been invited by the staff of the McCormack Williamson Winery to come and see what was going on, as strange things seemed to be happening in the building that they could not pin-point. As the Celebrities Psychic, I had been on a recent television investigation at this winery this last Halloween with KMAX GOOD DAY SACRAMENTO Channel 31. At that time I found the building to be rather interesting and exploratory in the true ghost/spirit sense. And so we jumped at