Wine Fellowship
Enjoy wine? Join our activity group!
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Mike Sorensen
SIR128 Oenophile
SIR128 Wine Fellowship was created for socialization, a bit of education, and enjoying good wine. Over the past 8+ years, we have survived COVID with Zoom calls, enjoyed wines from all over the world, experienced new varietals and blends, traveled to wineries in Livermore, Lodi, and Paso Robles, tasted older wines from our member’s cellars, participated in blind wine tastings, been entertained by wine makers, and learned about wine storage and complementing food. We are comprised of novices, who are learning about wine, to experts, some of whom are part of the wine industry as owners and workers in tasting rooms and/or help with the harvest and bottling and/or make wine at home.
Every month we have several activities focused on wine, socialization, and maybe education. At the end of each month, SIR members who have selected Wine Fellowship as an interest will get an email with the activities for the following month, sometimes when we are on our game you will get a quarter’s set of activities. We are a pay-as-you-go organization; e.g., our corkage fee charged by Bridges. When there is a space or bottle limitation, we will put the activity on the SIR128 website under RSVP/Sign-ups. Some activities include significant others and friends, which will be designated for that specific activity.
We are bargain hunters and there are many retailers with fine wine selections and specials, i.e. Costco, Trader Joes, Total Wine, BevMo, Safeway, Whole Foods, Grocery Outlet, and local wineries in the Livermore Valley. When members find those deals and send me the details, I in turn will send the info to all who are on the Wine Fellowship mail distribution list.
We have our own wine rating scale:
Monday rated wines – pour it down the sink
Tuesday rated wines – maybe cook with it or make vinegar
Wednesday rated wines – it is drinkable, but you may not want to share it with friends
Thursday rated wines – a nice wine you would share with friends,
Friday rated wines – a very nice wine you would share at a dinner party
Saturday rated wines – an exceptional wine for a special occasion.
(On Sunday, we enjoy what we have open.)
Now some of our members have sub-divided each day into parts; i.e. morning, afternoon, or night….it is a show of differentiation and a bit of humor.
All SIRs are invited to join any of the activities. I ask you, a glass of wine, old and new friends talking about the possibility of aliens from another galaxy, or a remarkable vacation spot (near a winery), or a wine deal….what could be better?
If you have any questions, please contact Mike Sorensen, (925) 570-5035 or use this link: Contact Us
Upcoming Sessions & Events...
Each month we will have activities that incorporate wine. Current information will be mailed to those who have selected Wine Fellowship as an Activity Group of interest. Put the activities on your calendar so you don't miss them.
The Wine Group is always looking for those SIRs who have an interest in sharing a good glass or two of the “nectar of the grapes.” If interested in registering for any of our upcoming events, please go to the RSVP page on the SIR128 website.
The following events are currently scheduled for this summer:
August 5 – Lunch in the Park, a white wine day more than likely.
Location: Hap Magee Park, 1025 La Gonda Way, Danville
Time: 11:21 a.m. – We are often surprised when it comes to the weather….dress
accordingly
Menu: Bring a lunch of your choice. (Warning, yellow jackets like protein, so plan your meal to minimize those pesky flying pain-sharing insects. Unfortunately, Danville does not put up enough traps.) How about a white wine, as it will more than likely be warm. Mike Brooks has this one figured out. A stiff, walled plastic bag, filled with ice, and a nice bottle of wine….what more can you ask for?
August 12 - Annual BBQ in Osage Park
Time: 3:12 p.m. – It is typically warm; dress accordingly.
Menu: BBQ Chicken, BBQ Ribs – Here are the best pairings depending on your preference and sauce:
- For Zinfandel (Bold & Jammy): This is the classic BBQ red. Its ripe berry flavors and spicy peppery finish complement the sweet and tangy notes of classic tomato or molasses-based BBQ sauces.
- For Syrah/Shiraz (Smoky & Peppery): A great option for ribs. Syrah’s dark fruit notes, meaty undertones, and natural peppery spice stand up beautifully to heavily smoked meats and savory dry rubs.
- For Dry Rosé or Pinot Noir (Light & Versatile): Ideal for BBQ chicken or white-meat ribs. Their bright acidity refreshes the palate between sweet or savory bites, and they won't clash with lighter vinegar- or mustard-based sauces.
- For Off-Dry Riesling (Crisp & Sweet): If your BBQ has a spicy, fiery kick, an off-dry Riesling provides the perfect contrast. The slight sweetness and high acidity cool the heat of spicy glazes.
August 19 – Inventory Reduction Program, Barry is our host for wine
Cost: $30/person, limit 14 SIRs members. Sign up on the SIR website, under Activities/RSVP-Signups. Scroll down to August 19, Inventory Reduction Program.
Time: 1:45 p.m.
Location: Weather dependent, Mike Sorensen will send an email out a couple of days prior to the event to those who have signed up with the location.
Other: Bring two wine glasses. Cheese and crackers will be supplied.
November 11 – This is Veterans Day, which needs an event, and a Livermore Valley Vintners Collective tasting event is just the thing. This organization is the brain trust of Colin Proudfoot and me. Al Turner joined us as we weaved through the challenges to agree on a final blend. Our first release, the six original wineries won a medal in the S.F. Chronicle Wine Competition. Then COVID hit, we went into hibernation. We will be pouring 2023. We are working on an event that starts with wine tasting then dine out someplace after the event. Yes, significant others are invited. We are still working on the details.
Past Sessions & Events...
Jan 26 2018
Yes, there is an Australia Day and our group celebrated the generations of rehabilitation that have taken place Down Under by tasting some of the finest wines in the world. Australian native and member of our esteemed group, SIR John Yeates, smuggled some very fine wines for our tasting. These wines for the most part are not available in the US. As the pictures reflect, the group had an awesome time and passed the final quiz with an A+.
Can you pick John out in this 1st photo?
Yes that is Vegemite - Yummy!
Mar 24, 2018
Focus Area: Iberian Peninsula
RSVP: upon RSVP will send calendar invite with address
The theme of the month is the Iberian Peninsula (for those of you who flunked geography) includes Andorra, Portugal (includes the islands of the Azores and Madeira), Spain (includes the Canaries of the Atlantic and Balearics in the Med), and yes, the British Crown of Gibraltar....
So you ask, what am I looking for when I go looking for a wine from that region - if anyone can find a wine from Andorra or Gibraltar - it doesn't matter what it is, should be interesting.....yes I did digress, so back to the point at hand, wines from the known wine making regions:
Portugal
In looking at Portugal's wine regions, it's helpful to split the country in two, by drawing a line about a third of the way down. This separates the northern regions of the Douro, Dão and Bairrada, and the central and southern regions of the Alentejo, Ribatejo and Estremadura. The wines of today have matured significantly from the days of Mateus and Lancers.
Varietals
There a number of wine makers, 240+, in Portugal. Typically, Portugal is best known for their fortified wines - Ports and Madeiras . You will find a number of white wines from coastal and island vineyards. As you move north you will find many of the varietals you would find in foothills of the Sacramento Valley.....Have fun
Spain
Somehow, Spain seems to fly under the radar compared to its next door neighbor, France. Spain is actually the third largest wine producer in the world and has the most land dedicated to vineyards–over two million acres or stated differently, Spain has the biggest vineyard surface in the world (this came from the internet, so it has to be true). Spanish wines range from great values to highly prestigious wines, such as Alvaro Palacios’ L’Ermita and Vega Silicia’s Unico. There are 7 distinct climates further broken down over 60 different regional micro climates producing everything from light and zesty Albariño to inky black Monastrell. The significance is the 200+ grape varieties grown in Spain allowing this country to produce some truly remarkable wines.
Varietals
Some 8,500 winemakers are located in Spain....so finding a wine from Spain should not be difficult.
Rules:
1) Each bottle needs to be under $20
2) Cost will be $5 at the door (covers cheese, crackers, etc.)
3) If you are bringing a Port or Sherry - bring one you have never tried before - and please let me know so I can figure out what to pair with it.
4) Bring your own wine glass......
5) Before we serve your wine, we would like a story about the wine.....can be anything, like when you were in college, there was this blond....., or this wine was recommended by doctor xyz to cure....., or something you found out about the winery etc.....nothing formal, just for fun
6) No Portuguese or Spanish varietals from the US....that would be cheating.
RSVP to Mike Sorensen
or call 925 570 5035
Apr 21, 2018
Total Wines Visit
Focus Area: Wines from North and South of the Border
RSVP: upon RSVP I will send calendar invite with address
The theme of the month is Mexico, Canada, and maybe one other. We will be enjoying wines at Total Wines in Pleasant Hill, same parking lot as Best Buy. Originally we were going to taste wines from the other 47 states, but the manager of Total Wines said he had sweet wines from New York region, some bubbly from New Mexico, and anything else he brings into the store sits on the shelf forever, then he has to discount to move it…..so best laid plans are not going to work for that venue.
So, further discussions we explored Mexico as a unique region that many of you probably would have said – Mexico makes wines, you must be kidding….Sang Lee said he had several very nice wines from Mexico. Then he added, I have some really nice Ice Wines from Canada. We have not finalized the complete tasting venue so I will be updating this in the coming weeks. Significant others are always invited.
Rules:
1. Have Fun
2. We may actually learn something here
3. No more rules.
Cost will be $20.00/person (maybe a little more, working on the final wine list), plus $5.00/person for cheese, crackers, etc.
We need to commit at least 14, they can accommodate 30+/-
RSVP to Mike Sorensen
msorensen.us@gmail.com or call 925 570 5035
Contact Mike if you want to get in on this activity. Contact Us