Reservations are being accepted at select times each day from 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Kenwood, CA (September 16, 2021) — Fall Release Weekend is happening at Muscardini Cellars Saturday, October 2nd – Sunday October 3rd from 12:00-5:00pm. The release weekend will feature a flight of new limited production wines each paired with fresh and seasonally selected pizzas made onsite by baker Mike Zakowski of The Bejkr.
Muscardini Cellars has partnered with local baker Mike Zakowski of The Bejkr to create a tasting menu of pizzas made with fresh and local ingredients to accompany Muscardini Cellars’ new Italian style releases during the weekend event. The menu features a classic margherita pizza paired with Sangiovese, a seasonal market vegetable pizza paired with Cabernet Sauvignon, and a fingerling potato and caramelized onion pizza paired with one of their signature blends, the “Rancho Salina” red blend sourced with outstanding fruit from the Moon Mountain District of Sonoma Valley. The complete list of wines and food pairings is listed below.
Mike Zakowski is a graduate of the Culinary Arts program from Kendall College in Chicago, Illinois. When he owned Kraftsmen Baking in Houston, Texas, he was named Best Baker in Houston and won the Best Bread award for his pain biologique during the bakery’s first year of operation. Mike is a member of the Bread Bakers Guild Team USA and was also selected to compete in the 2014 Masters de la Boulangerie representing the USA as 1 of 6 competitors. An event featuring Mike Zakowski’s freshly made pizzas is one that shouldn’t be missed.
During the fall release weekend, event guests will be able to enjoy their tasting flight on the Muscardini Cellars’ patio with live music from local Sonoma artists Don Trotta and Dann Walters. The Don Trotta Duo will play each day of the event from 2:00-5:00pm.
Guests in attendance will also be poured a “sneak peek” taste of the newest release, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve from Cassata Vineyards. This is an exclusive offering and after this weekend will not be available in the tasting room until its official release in 2022.
The Fall Release weekend tasting flight and food pairing is $35 for general public and $15 for wine club members. Reservations are required. You can make your reservation online at MuscardiniCellars.com, by calling (707) 933-9305, or emailing info@muscardinicellars.com
Fall Release Food & Wine Pairing Menu
- 2019 ROSATO DI SANGIOVESE, Santo Giordano Vineyards, Sonoma Valley
Welcome Wine
Our Rosato di Sangiovese highlights our star varietal’s natural bright acidity and signature tart cherry, tropical and wild floral notes. Sourced from Santo Giordano Vineyards in Sonoma Valley, this Rosato expresses a bouquet of lime zest, blood orange, honeydew, sour cherry, white peach, sweet tart and citrus rind. Enjoy with herbed goat cheese, a Spanish Manchego, caprese salad or smoked salmon.
- 2018 SANGIOVESE, Santo Giordano Vineyards, Sonoma Valley
Paired with Classic Margarita Pizza
The bright acidity of this Sangiovese clone sings with the tangy acid of the tomato in this Classic Margarita Pizza. The basil and earthiness of the chili powder matures the fruit and pulls more savory notes out while the toma cheese helps to bring balance to the acidity.
- 2018 BARBERA, Pauli Ranch Vineyards, Redwood Valley
Elegant, earthy, and complex, this wine is crafted with world-class grapes from Pauli Ranch Vineyards. This new vintage excites the senses with lofty aromas of red and black fruits, garnished with notes of fresh lavender and crushed violets, raw tobacco, leather, forest floor, and layers of spice. A fabulous food-friendly wine that becomes more enchanting from start to finish.
- 2017 CABERNET SAUVIGNON, Cassata Vineyard, Sonoma Valley
Paired with Seasonal Market Vegetable Pizza
This exciting yet to be released Cabernet pairs beautifully with the Seasonal Market Vegetable Pizza. Cabernets from Cassata are always more approachable and herbaceous due to clones and the herbs that grow wild on the property. Showing sufficient acidity not always typical for Cabernet, this structure allows it to stand up to both vegetable-based and meat-based dishes perfectly.
- 2018 RANCHO SALINA, Moon Mountain District
Paired with Fingerling Potato & Caramelized Onion Pizza
The boldly decadent blend of Cabernet and Merlot from the iconic Moon Mountain District pairs perfectly with the sharpness and boldness of the asiago cheese as matches the heartiness of the potato on this Fingerling Potato & Caramelized Onion Pizza. The subtle sweetness of the caramelized onions and chili powder nod to the sweeter baking spices in this wine.
About Muscardini Cellars
Proprietor Michael Muscardini has been a maverick winemaker in Sonoma Valley for 15 years producing just 5,000 cases a year of mostly classic Italian reds as well as robust blends and Cabernet Sauvignon. He is one of the winemakers that has been leading the way in the revival of Sangiovese and Barbera wines in Sonoma since 2005. Michael’s deep community ties and warm relationships with local growers enables him to source some of the best fruit for his wines from some of the most unique vineyards in the county and beyond. The Kenwood tasting room is located at 9380 Sonoma Highway and can be reached by calling (707) 933-9305.
