Events - California Wines

Welcome. This website lists all of the tastings, seminars and other events of the California Wine Institute across Europe. We are the trade organization of California wineries. Register here for our upcoming activities or enjoy looking back at our past events over a glass of wine. Cheers.

Upcoming Events

19. - 20. Nov 2023

Meininger Finest 100 / Sommelier Summit

Saalbau, Bahnhofstraße 1, 67434 Neustadt an der Weinstraße

10:30 pm - 5:00 pm

12. - 14. Feb 2024

Vinexpo Paris 2024

1 Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris, France

9:00 am - 7:00 pm

California Guest Region at VDP Rheingau Tasting

65346 Eltville am Rhein

10:00 am - 6:00 pm

7. - 9. Mar 2024

EUREKA! @ Bolig Mad Design – Denmark

BELLA CENTER CPH, Center Blvd. 5, 2300 København

11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Past Events

1. May - 30. Jun 2023

California Wine Weeks 2023

1. Dec 2022 - 30. Jun 2023

CALIFORNIALIVE

California Wine Tasting & Seminar – Tel Aviv

1:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Californisk Vinfestival – Denmark

Nordlund Vingård Byvej 55, 2650 Hvidovre

11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Sunshine & Smiles

About California Wines

Did you know that California is the 4th largest wine producer in the world. We have such a diversity of wine styles to offer, from crisp whites to full bodied reds and everything in between. Our natural wonder and constant sunshine makes it easy to smile and it shows in our wines. We are so excited to share our wines with you at our events across Europe. Feel free to register for any of the upcoming activities near you. See you soon!

More about California Wines

Get in touch

Questions or comments, send us an email

europe@discovercaliforniawines.com

@californiawineseurope

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Savoring Sunday afternoons with a duo of Sonoma's

Savoring Sunday afternoons with a duo of Sonoma's finest…🍷 Found in the cool-climate, wind-swept Los Carneros hills, @schugwinery has been producing award-winning Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay for over 40 years, following the path of its founder and the visionary winemaker Walter Schug.

Winemakers’s Notes from Schug:

🥂 "Carneros Chardonnay is rich in tropical and stone fruit flavors and a light minerality, leading to a refreshing and mouthwatering finish. Well-balanced acidity gives it a crisp, clean finish, making it an excellent wine with food. Try it with cream soups, rich seafood, fowl, veal, and pasta dishes."

🍷 “This classic Carneros region Pinot Noir has elegant flavors of strawberry and cranberry, followed by a juicy and complex mouthfeel and a long, flavorful finish. This wine pairs nicely with lamb, duck, and grilled seafood and will improve with additional cellaring for 2 to 5 years."

Discover Schug wines in Europe:

🇨🇭 @coop.ch
🇩🇪 @vinello_wine, Weinbaule and Vinomi
🇸🇪 @systembolaget
🇳🇱 @degoudenton

📷 @sonomavalleywine

Our trio of #WeekendWines comes from the legendary

Our trio of #WeekendWines comes from the legendary @inglenook estate in Rutherford AVA 🏰 the classic Cabernet capital of Napa Valley. One of the first Bordeaux-style wineries in the USA, this picturesque property is also known for its connection to the Oscar-winning film director, Francis Ford Coppola.

Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon (left) is a complex, yet approachable expression of this king of red wine grapes. Its secret lies in the small additions of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Malbec to the blend, resulting in an overall smooth texture and velvety tannins.

Blancaneaux (middle) is the winery's signature white Rhône blend of Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne, aged in stainless steel as well as French oak. Rich yet refreshing, it boasts expressive tropical fruit and honeysuckle notes.

Last but not least, Rubicon (right) is Inglenook’s 'grand vin'. Referencing the famous river crossed by Julius Caesar, its name and nature is still a testament to a well-judged risk that paid off. An elegant blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from the estate vineyard blocks with the highest potential.

Available in Europe:

🇪🇺 @californianwines_eu
🇩🇪 @bacchusvinothek
🇳🇱 @best_of_wines
🇨🇭@sonidovino

📷 @inglenook1879

And that’s a wrap for @prowein_tradefair 2023! 🍾 Earlier this week, wines from the Golden State shone brightly at the world’s biggest international wine and spirits fair, which took place over 3 action-packed days in Düsseldorf.

The California Wines stand featured a whopping total of 71 booths, representing 250 wine estates and featuring 1,400 wines. One of the undisputed stars of the show was the self-guided, self-pour ""Explore Sustainable California"" zone, which attracted over 1,200 guests during the fair. A selection of top #CaliforniaWines was also served at Sommelier-Apéro 2023, a leading sommelier network event organised by the German Sommelier Union (@sommelierunion).

""The California Wines booth was once again one of the must-visits at the show,” said Paul Molleman, European Director at the California Wine Institute. “We struck a nerve with visitors with our Explore Sustainable California exhibit. Sustainable viticulture was the main topic of this trade show and we were able to present our commitment to this within the exhibition.”

#SustainableWine #WineTasting #ProWein

"California is the golden state, not only because

"California is the golden state, not only because of its past in the gold industry, but because it offers ‘golden’ opportunities in wine,” says wine educator, Sybille Troubleyn DipWSET.

“Wine estates today are going for their own identity, creating wines that reflect their region, climate, personality, and not a copy-paste of what the other world-famous wine regions have to offer."

One of our #CapstoneCalifornia educators, Sybille is the managing director and wine coach at @winewisebenelux. This leading wine education centre in the Benelux offers Levels 1 and 2 of our new learning programme. At every level, Sybille helps students navigate California’s diverse array of regions and wine styles.

"California is more than just Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. As a Pinot Noir fanatic, I was very surprised by the Californian Pinot Noir wines from the cooler AVAs. It is not widely known in our parts that California also makes top Pinot Noir. But even lesser-known grape varieties in AVAs like Lodi, for example, offer a range of novelties worth discovering."

Find out more about Capstone California, open to all, at the link in bio.

📷 @winewisebenelux

Calling Europe’s top restaurants and wine bars!

Calling Europe’s top restaurants and wine bars! 🍽 🇪🇺 #CaliforniaWineWeeks is returning for its third edition in May and June 2023. Hospitality venues across Europe are invited to sign up and be part of this one-of-a-kind campaign for foodies and wine lovers.

Participating venues will showcase a special selection of at least 2 California wines on their wine lists, by the bottle and by the glass. Throughout the offer period (for at least two weeks during spring 2023), they will enjoy promotional support, benefit from an extensive social media campaign, and have their establishment listed on the California Wine Institute’s website.

Be sure to sign up early! ⏳ Numbers of participating restaurants will be limited. Register at the link in bio.

📷 @barabicu • #CaliforniaWines #WineAndDine #WineTrade

"The Scheid legacy is deeply rooted in the vineyar

"The Scheid legacy is deeply rooted in the vineyards.” • For 50 years, @scheid_vineyards has been a proudly family-run business, from its early years as a local grapegrower, to the internationally renowned wine producer it is today.

Founded by Al Scheid in 1972, it began by selling 100% of its grapes to other wineries, but soon shifted its focus to creating high-quality wines with a distinct Monterey flavour. Al was one of the first to recognise the potential of its cool coastal terroir, which results in a longer ripening season that fosters unique fruit flavors with refreshing acidity.

The Scheid family’s 3,000 acres of certified sustainable vineyards stretch along a 70-mile spread of the Salinas Valley in the Monterey AVA. Here, Scheid works with a whopping total of 39 grape varieties – from delicate, vibrant Pinot Noir to expressive, fruit-forward Viognier.

Discover Scheid Vineyards wines in Europe:

🇩🇪 @perbaccowein @vinello_wine
🇵🇱 @wina_pl
🇩🇰 @supervin.dk
🇸🇪 @winemarket.se

📷 @scheid_vineyards

On this International Women's Day, we celebrate th

On this International Women's Day, we celebrate the passion and dedication of the women behind #CaliforniaWines. On the steep, rugged slopes of Sonoma Coast, Jasmine Hirsch recently took the helm at @hirschvineyards, where this revered Pinot powerhouse has been crafting site-specific wines since the 1980s.

Jasmine, a second-generation vintner but a first-time winemaker, grew up among the vineyards established by her father, David Hirsch. After starting in sales and marketing in 2008, then moving up to general manager, she took on the mantle of winemaker in 2019.

Today, she continues the family tradition of interpreting the challenging terroir of Fort Ross Seaview AVA – a cool stretch of California heavily shaped by the nearby Pacific. A true reflection of this oceanic energy is Hirsch Rosé of Pinot Noir: a savoury, nutty rosé Jasmine has launched in her new role.

Find Hirsch Vineyards wines in Europe:

🇮🇹 @xtrawine
🇩🇪 @weinhalle
🇮🇪@thecorkscrewwinemerchants.

📷 @hirschvineyards

"California has so many varied microclimates and s

"California has so many varied microclimates and soils and, as they are not bound by traditions in the same way that some European regions are, they can really make a huge variety of styles.”

Master of Wine @heidi.iren is one of our #CapstoneCalifornia educators, who offers this first-of-its-kind learning programme around the world. Heidi teaches Levels 1, 2 and 3 to experts and enthusiasts alike at the @kulinariskakademi in Norway, with the Level 4 coming soon.

Each level includes a tasting of a number of benchmark wines from different corners of California, from expressive Lodi Zinfandels to nuanced Sonoma Pinots.
We asked Heidi whether she has a personal favourite…

"I really love Chenin Blanc and there are some excellent examples from California. Also Syrah with excellent varietal nuances and elegance."

Find out more about Capstone California, open to all, at the link in bio.

📷 @kulinariskakademi

Nestled high above the hills of the Adelaida Distr

Nestled high above the hills of the Adelaida District in Paso Robles, Daou Mountain is a true "jewel of ecological elements". With elevations reaching over 670 metres, the @daouvineyards estate is one of the highest in the county. Shielded from the coastal fog and away from the heat of east Paso Robles, the grapes here ripen slowly and evenly.

Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties thrive on the estate's calcareous-clay soils, famously found in Saint-Émilion, too. With warm days and cool nights, Daou vineyards enjoy the ideal climate for producing beautifully balanced fruit year after year.

Aside from its natural advantages, the human touch is the crucial element of the Daou Mountain's terroir. Daniel Daou and his team tend to every vine on the Mountain by hand – carefully pruning at key times, and selecting only the best cluster come harvest.

Find @daouvineyards wines in the EU 🇪🇺 at @californianwines.eu, @winecom.de, @best_of_wines and other select retailers.

📷 @deannaalarcon • @theserbamerican

"West Coast, because you and I know it's the best

"West Coast, because you and I know it's the best coast.” • Master of Wine @konstantinbaum_mw recently hosted a #CaliforniaWines tasting for over 50 @mastersofwine students in Neustadt, Germany.

Konstantin’s all-star lineup featured some of the Golden State’s most iconic producers, and highly sought-after wines, including…

• Elegant Chardonnays from @stagsleapwinecellars, @rameywinecellars and @aubonclimat.
• Full of finesse Pinot Noirs by @chaninwine, @threestickswines and @hahnwines.
• Prized Cabernet Sauvignons from @louismmartiniwinery, @blackstallionwinery and @dominusestatewinery.
• Spicy Zinfandels from gnarly old vines by @predatorwines, @louismmartiniwinery and @birichino_official.

📷 @konstantinbaum_mw

Starting the week with a sublime Sauvignon Blanc f

Starting the week with a sublime Sauvignon Blanc from @duckhornwine 🥂 One of Napa Valley’s classic estates, Duckhorn has been crafting a unique style of Sauvignon Blanc since 1982, and it has become a benchmark for the French variety in North America.

This second most-planted white vinifera grape in California has long felt at home in the Golden State. Labelled as "Sauterne" in post-Prohibition times, then vinified in oak as "Fumé Blanc" in the 1960s, it is now made in a wide variety of styles, from lean and mineral to rich and opulent.

@duckhornvineyards Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from the estate's premier sites in California’s North Coast. Blended with Sémillon for extra depth and complexity, it is aged both in stainless steel and French oak. A silky, fresh and mouth-filling wine, with notes of lemon verbena, tropical and citrus fruit – it is sure to brighten up a cold winter day.

📷 @duckhornwine

Competition now closed.

SPRING WINE GIVEAWAY! 🌞🍷We’re celebrating the arrival of spring with a California Wine Giveaway…

We’re giving away 6 BOTTLES of California’s finest to one lucky winner. Here’s how to enter…

1. Like this post
2. Follow @CaliforniaWinesEurope
3. Tag 2 friends to share your wine stash with!

Open to entrants from the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, France, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. Must be 18+ to enter. This giveaway is exclusive to @CaliforniaWinesEurope. If you receive messages about this competition from another source, do not engage. Read the full T&Cs at our link in bio.

Competition closes on 5 March 2023. ⏳ Winner will be contacted via DM by @CaliforniaWinesEurope.

Keep the winter blues at bay with cool-climate Cal

Keep the winter blues at bay with cool-climate Californian Chardonnay 🥂🌧 For @dumolwinery in Russian River Valley "each bottling is built in the vineyard". Every wine is the result of careful study of its estate and grower-partner vineyards, shaped by coastal breezes and Sonoma's signature sea fog.

These growing conditions translate into a mineral-infused acidity in the 2019 Chloe Chardonnay, overlaid with intense aromas of nectarine, apricot, mint leaf, chamomile, and a richer mouthfeel. Its weightier texture derives from clay-dominant soils in the central Russian River Valley district where this wine hails from.

Find DuMol wines in Europe at 🇳🇱 @best_of_wines and 🇪🇺 @californianwines.eu.

📷 @kelderpraat • #CaliforniaWines #CoolClimateWine #Chardonnay

Congratulations to the ‘Best Sommelier of the Wo

Congratulations to the ‘Best Sommelier of the World 2023’: @raimonds.tomsons, representing Latvia at @asibestsomm! 🏆🍾 California Wines was a proud partner of the contest, which gathered 68 of the finest sommeliers from across the globe in Paris for a multi-day event.

We would also like to raise a glass for the talented runners-up: @vonjensen from Denmark and @reeze_the_sommbie from Hong Kong, who came second and third respectively. 🥂

💎 One of the testing tasks in the finals featured California wine icon, Opus One, which the finalists had to identify from a series of images featuring the storied estate in Oakville, Napa Valley.

📷 @asisomms_

"Bye-bye, blockbuster" • Star sommelier @gerhard

"Bye-bye, blockbuster" • Star sommelier @gerhardretter looks beyond the richer, riper styles of #CaliforniaWines that once defined the winemaking style of the Golden State.

In his article for @derfeinschmecker.magazin, he explores the current wine trends in Napa and Sonoma. The spotlight is on producers crafting livelier, fresher wine styles in cooler corners of the staggeringly diverse wine region that is the size of Germany and Croatia combined.

"Anyone who still thinks of jam when they think of Californian wines, should quickly rethink. The new cult wineries focus on freshness, finesse, elegance – defying the great the great challenges of our time."

Gerhard's cool-climate California selection features four bottles, full of energy and tension, from cult wine estates like @littorai, @chmontelena, @occidentalwines and @promontorywine.

Read the full article in the February issue of the magazine, on sale now. 🗞

📷 @chmontelena @gerhardretter

One of California’s most prized assets, Pinot No

One of California’s most prized assets, Pinot Noir shines bright in diverse terroirs across the Golden State. Author of ‘The Wine Bible’ @karenmacneilco recently hosted a masterclass on California Pinot Noir as part of the #CapstoneCalifornia educator trip for our global partners.

Danish wine writer and educator @renelangdahl reported: "The grape is doing exceptionally well: number three on the state’s total hectare list, and with distinctive heart and soul in every style.”

Among the world-class California Pinots in the lineup were entries from @donumestate, @flowerswinery, @hirschvineyards, @calerawine, @dumolwinery, @melville_winery – to name a few.

About Capstone California | Developed by top wine professionals, this unparalleled and accessible programme offers four tiers of education, from novice to expert on all things California wine.

Denmark-based wine enthusiasts can check out @vinakademiet for upcoming Capstone California courses in Silkeborg and Copenhagen.

📷 @renelangdahl

Get cheesy this weekend with this irresistible pai

Get cheesy this weekend with this irresistible pairing, created by a winemaker! 🥂 @jlohrwines winemaker Kristen Barnhisel has devised an easy yet exquisite match for the estate’s trio of Chardonnays from Monterey County: Brie on the BBQ.

Its creamy texture and a smoky touch from the grill go hand in hand with the vibrant acidity, ripe stone fruit and mineral flavours of the Arroyo Vista, October Night and Riverstone Chardonnay wines from J. Lohr.

All three hail from the Arroyo Seco AVA in Monterey Bay, where well-drained rocky soils and high winds create ideal conditions for the cool-climate, leaner style of Chardonnay.

Head to the link in bio for the full recipe of brie on the bbq by @jlohr.

J Lohr Chardonnay wines are available in Europe 🇪🇺 at @8wines.

🎬 @jlohrwines

Prized wines made where prize-winning horses once

Prized wines made where prize-winning horses once galloped 🐎 @blackstallionwinery was founded on the site of a major equestrian centre in Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll District. One of Napa's coolest AVAs, it sits right at the mouth of the valley. Daily cool breezes from San Pablo Bay help the grapes here ripen slowly, maintaining their freshness and aromatic lift.

Oak Knoll District has the ideal terroir for the bordelais red varieties that Black Stallion is renowned for. Its Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon also includes hand-harvested prime fruit from other vineyards across Napa Valley. Winemaker Ralf Holdenried is a strong believer in "site-specific winemaking”, checking on vine growth and grape development all year long.

The result? 🍷 ”A richly layered and softly approachable expression of the variety. Blackberry, plum and caramel are wrapped in a viscous, velvety texture that lasts through an impressive finish." – @virginieboone for @wineenthusiast

Available in Europe:
🇳🇱 @wijny.nl
🇭🇺 @selection_hu
🇨🇭 @coop.ch
🇩🇪 @stillwine.de

📷 @tuomasmw @nelsonboschman

Welcome the weekend with a glass of California spa

Welcome the weekend with a glass of California sparkling 🍾 Some of the finest Golden State bubbles come from the cool climes of Anderson Valley, home to @roedererestate, a West Coast outpost of the iconic Champagne house @louisroederer_, established in 1982.

Here, a stone's throw from the Pacific in Mendocino County, rolling vineyard hills meet pygmy and redwood forests. Cool evening temperatures, plenty of fog and clay-gravel soils create an ideal terroir for the Roederer's sustainably-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Fun fact 🥂 One of Roederer Estate's award-winning cuvées, Brut Rosé, was recently served at a White House dinner, held to celebrate French president Emmanuel Macron’s US visit.

Discover Roederer Estate wines at @vinello_wine.

📷 @7x7bayarea

High above Sonoma Valley is one of California's wi

High above Sonoma Valley is one of California's wine treasures, the Monte Rosso Vineyard. Its iron-rich, red volcanic soils and the steep, rugged terrain form red wines of purity and precision, such as the @louismmartiniwinery ‘Gnarly Vines’ Zinfandel.

These majestic, centenary Zinfandel vines thrive in the Monte Rosso microclimate of sun-filled days and cooler marine-influenced nights. Exuberant aromas black cherry, blackberry and herbs are complemented by rich notes of char and smoke from the 15-months of ageing in French and American oak.

"There's history preserved in those vines. I feel like when you're drinking wine from those vines, you're drinking history. You're tasting people's farming practices that allowed these vines to live for over 100 years.” – Brenae Royal, Monte Rosso Winery Relations & Vineyard Ops Manager

📷 @_cabrenae