This article is here in Spanish.
The Gabilan Chapter Seneca The 68th Annual Wine and Food Tasting, California’s oldest wine tasting event, was held at Swank Farms on August 24. A fundraiser for the Seneca Family of Agencies, 33 wine, beer and beverage producers and 20 restaurants and food vendors showed their support for the organization by showcasing some of the best food and wine from San Benito County.
“Today is going great,” said Kris Waller, a member of the Gabilan Chapter Seneca Auxiliary, which organized the event. “The tents are more spread out, we have some new vendors, and everyone here is looking forward to having a great time.”
Waller gave an initial estimate of over $100,000, including $44,000 from the eight-item live auction. Two barrels of Calera wine proved to be the highlight of the auction: a 2022 Mt. Harlan Mills Vineyard Pinot Noir sold for $17,000 and a 2022 Calera Mt. Harlan Chardonnay for $8,000. The barrels represented the entire production of these two wines for this year and had a total value of $50,000.
Other prizes included use of the Swank Barn venue for up to 200 guests, eight tickets to a University of Alabama football game in 2025, tickets for eight people to the Yogi Bear Family Fun Park in Lodi, a vacation to Lake Nacimiento, two Emerald Fold e-bikes, and three hours of SimShot simulation shooting training.
This year, for the first time, attendees were able to purchase VIP tickets that gave them early entry and access to a private tent, but the two-and-a-half hour event also featured plenty of food and wine for all.
Vendors included longtime participants like Mike and Allison Scapoli of Round Table Pizza, who brought garlic chicken, pepperoni, Maui Zowie and three other pizzas, as well as some who were participating in the fundraiser for the first time, like Anthony Copriviza of Pelayo Cider.
Some of the highlights:
Fortuno Winery— This winery in Gilroy has several wines to choose from, including Mirabella, named after the founder’s wife, Marie. The blend changes every year, and the current vintage is made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, and Sangiovese. It’s a smooth wine that tickles your palate with boysenberries and has a silky-smooth finish. In other incarnations, this was one of my mother’s favorites.
Smoke Point BBQ/Blair Winery— Smoke Point has always been a favorite. It served chicken wings with a spicy hot sauce and gave away $5 worth of “BBQ Bucks” in the restaurant. The wings and sauce paired beautifully with the wine that Jeffrey Blair of Blair Winery poured at the next table. The 2018 Estate Pinot Noir, made from three Pinot clones, was particularly good, with balanced tannins, lovely fruitiness and a dry finish.
Damm Family Vineyards/Pinnacle Beer—Brewer Ralph Chavez poured his own Backyard Blonde Ale and DAMM Good Hazy, along with a selection of wines from Damm Family Vineyards. “Both beers stay true to their style,” said Chavez, “the Blonde is drinkable, fresh and light and the Hazy is also light with lots of tropical notes.” I liked the Hazy—it was bright, refreshing and very well made. I also tried the 2021 Damm Malbec, which was very smooth and fruit-intensive.
Grillin & Chillin Alehouse—Brewer Frank Sanchez and owner Chuck Frowein poured alehouse favorites Good Time Charley and 831 Beer, and a new-to-me beer, Puck Off and Chill Amber Ale, which was medium-bodied and full of citrus and pine notes. Frowien also handed out mugs of his tender pulled pork served on a bed of white mac and cheese, garnished with sliced jalapenos. “This event is a great way to visit with our longtime customers,” Froewein said, “meet new customers and give back to the community.”
Running tap— One of my favorite spots of the day. This restaurant served two simple, very well-executed dishes: prosciutto skewers with mozzarella and a watermelon, mint and feta salad. I especially liked the cold watermelon cubes mixed with grated mint, a great combination that made for a fun homemade mocktail.
Wild Eye Winery—This winery in San Juan Bautista served three wines that won medals in the Orange County Fair competition. I tried the 2021 Pinot Noir, which had soft oak and fresh fruit notes with an appealing shine on the finish. “We’ve been coming to this event since the beginning of time,” said owner and winemaker Mike Bernsen. “Seneca is a great local charity that we’ve supported for years.”
Crave Wine Co./Bernardus –With the help of Robert Galvin, Maura Cooper and Mike Kohne poured a wide variety of wines, including Belle Glos Pinot Noir, Hess Cabernet Sauvignon, Ackerman Cremant de Loire, Bernardus Sauvignon Blanc and Bernardus Rose, as well as some that are exclusive to Crave in California. The Pinot was all white pepper, plums, dried cherries and bright acidity, just a delight to drink.
Farmhouse Cafe—Owner Becky Herbert said it was great to see such a big turnout and that it was a great way to connect with the community for a good cause. She brought gazpacho, stuffed mushrooms and a delicious Greek salad with colorful grilled vegetables and orzo.
Attendee Brenda Weatherly said she really enjoyed the wines from Wild Eye Winery and the event itself.
“Swank Farms is a great venue,” she said, “and it’s nice to see people I haven’t seen in a long time and reconnect. And the food and wine were great and all for a wonderful cause.”
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BenitoLink thanks our insurers, Hollister Super and Windmill Marketfor helping to expand the Eat, Drink, Savor series and bring our readers the stories that matter to them. Hollister Super (two stores in Hollister) and Windmill Market (in San Juan Bautista) support coverage of the inspired and creative people behind San Benito County’s many delicious foods and drinks. All editorial decisions are made by BenitoLink.
