The next Grapevine Tasting is on, as originally scheduled, for November 12, 2025, at 7pm at the Berkeley City Club. Choosing the wine to be tasted was a bit of a challenge, simply because November 12 is tantalizingly close to the annual release date of France’s Beaujolais Noveau. After careful consideration, though, California Cabernet Sauvignon is the selected wine.
It is time to support our state’s home wine industry. As you know, wildfires have damaged parts of some Napa and Sonoma wineries and in some cases, wineries have lost a year’s entire crop of grapes. If it isn’t from a fire itself, the smoke from the fires at this time of harvest often gives the grapes and any subsequent wine made from those grapes, “smoke taint”. Depending on the severity of the smoke taint, wine is often not commercially marketable, and a year’s vintage is lost. Also, wine demand is down, due to all reports, people are drinking less alcohol related beverages. For at least the second year in a row, grapes, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, are being left on the vine, not to be harvested, due to the reduced demand by wineries for quality grapes.
This is not good news for a favorite home industry, so we need to show our support! The only bright side is that there are bargains to be had in many California wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the time to search the supermarkets, grocery outlets and Trader Joe’s for wines that are great quality for very reasonable prices. Our local wineries are often selling wines at discounted prices to generate cash. So, find a California Cabernet Sauvignon to your liking and bring it to the next tasting of the Grapevine on November 12.
As a reminder, these tastings follow a familiar format. Each person (not each couple) will bring a bottle of the featured wine to the tasting. Wine glasses, tableware, bread, cheese, and wine tasting sheets will be provided by the Club in exchange for a fee of $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Attendees will be seated at tables of five to six people. You are welcome to specify if you wish to sit with friends. Often those requests can be accommodated
Please remember to bring a bottle of California Cabernet Sauvignon for each person in your party!
Thank you.
