When it comes to wine, it still amazes us how many wineries we have here in California, and the endless amount of wine events that take place! Early last year, while doing an Instagram post for International Syrah Day, we learned that a fairly local winery (Reyes) was having a Syrah tasting to commemorate. We contacted them about the details, and

This next spotlight is on an annual event- the Sierra Pelona Vintners Association Wine Festival.

Garlic Oil- YES! And now they come in half bottles, which is amazing and dangerous.

I know, it sounds like I’m on their payroll, but I SWEAR I’m not. Hmmm…. wonder if they offer their employees discounts?

Some honorary mentions go to the Chavez Vineyards, and Two Papas Wines (especially their Entourage label). Also, Ballestas Ranch, who ironically sources from Chavez Vineyards. Some good grapes coming out of that vineyard! Gourmet Blends had a booth there, too, and I went a little crazy at it. I just love their olive oils & vinegars!! We first discovered them at the LA Wine Fest last year, and have now come across them at a few other wine events. My new obsession is their

Welcome to our FEATURED SPOTLIGHT. Every month or so, we will be spotlighting at least one person, place, or thing. It could be a winemaker; it might be a tasting room or wine bar; it may be a particular wine; or it might even be a new wine gadget or accessory, that piqued our interest.

Vina Sympatica Sparkling Wines had some great bubbles, along with a super bubbly host, Sherrijon! She was so charismatic, and her energy was contagious. AND, she had a bubble machine!

Sorry, I digress…

FEATURED SPOTLIGHT

Not only is she the founder and CEO, but she’s also the winemaker. I purchased a three pack of her Sparkling White, which was promptly shipped to me the following Tuesday.

Now that’s customer service! You can find out more about her and her Bubbles here.

It was a beautiful and warm day as we drove about 40 minutes to the Reyes Winery, which is where the festival takes place every year. As with most wine festivals, we’ve come to learn that wineries come from all over town to show and pour their wines. These wines are available for purchase, although due to certain government restrictions, you are not able to take the wine with you. Because of that, shipping is usually discounted that day based on the purchase.

unfortunately, we had a schedule conflict so we weren't going to be able to attend. Beth was the person that we spoke to at the winery, and during our conversation she mentioned that there were over 50 wineries up in the Santa Clarita Valley. How could we not know about this?  We had no idea that so many were so close by! Beth then told us about another upcoming event that they were hosting, and had us send her our contact info so that she could send us all of the info.

A month or so later, we received an email with all of the 411 and we knew it was time to investigate! So, here we were with a perfect way to get acquainted with our not-so-far-away wine neighbors at the 6th Annual Sierra Pelona Vintners Association Wine Festival. We were excited!

has to offer, as just about everything is handmade and local.

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Along with the wine, the festival had a few other beverage options including beer, cider, and spirits; they even a local coffee place and some soft drinks available for those seeking non-alcohol alternatives. There were several food stands, including some of the BEST corn tamales I’ve ever had; clothing & jewelry stands; a live auction; and live music. Fun! Pretty much all of the festival booths showcase what the area has to offer, as just about everything is handmade and local.


But a little more about the wine- I mean, that is WHY we were there after all! There were a little over 30 boutique wineries representing, and what a treat to taste with the winemakers! Quite a few vendors stood out to us, starting with the host of the afternoon, Reyes Winery. We made a point to visit their table, and we were quite impressed! Their Muscat was a little on the sweet side for me, but the Chardonnay and the reds were very good! We really enjoyed their Robby’s Blend, which is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet, and Merlot. We happened to notice that the neighboring table just so

On a much more serious note, I’d like to take a moment to talk about the live auctions, because they were for such a great cause and are run by some very passionate people. The auctions were for the Zonta Club of the Santa Clarita Valley, an organization that focuses on improving the lives of women, young and old, students, single mothers...women who need a little, or a lot, of help. They try to assist in a wide array of ways for the female community. For example, they have a “Red Dress” display to promote the end of domestic abuse. The seven red dresses represent seven local women who lost their lives to domestic abuse. Their goal is for there never to be an eighth dress. Their passion and dedication was so moving. We were happy to purchase some raffle tickets to show our support. You can find out more about Zonta International and what they do here.


It was quite a day in Santa Clarita for Wine Problems! We met some new vintners, tasted some great wine, made some new friends, and learned a lot about a community that's just a hop, skip, and a jump away from our neighborhood. We are very thankful to Reyes Winery for the invitation, and honored to have partaken in such a great event.


Reyes Winery will once again be the host for the 8th Annual Sierra Pelona Valley Wine Festival, which will be taking place on Saturday April 4, 2020 from 12pm-4pm.

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happened to be offering chocolate truffles, so we paired those with the blend. Score!

Along with the wine, the festival had a few other beverage options including beer, cider, and spirits; they even had a local coffee place, and soft drinks available for those seeking non-alcohol alternatives. There were several food stands, including some of the BEST corn tamales I’ve ever had; clothing and jewelry stands; a live auction; and live music. Fun! Pretty much all of the festival booths showcase what the area