Events
It’s time to "Shoot Your Dog!" for the Third Annual Topel Wine Tails Calendar
We’re looking for photogenic pups for our annual Topel Wine Tails Calendar — a benefit for the Healdsburg Animal Shelter.
Grab your digital camera and send us your best shots!
- Wine and seasonal/holiday themes preferred
- High resolution required (minimum 300 dpi)
- Pictures featuring Topel bottles or logowear get extra points!
Send by August 31, 2010 to donnis@topelwines.com
- Along with an email address
- Your name and contact information
- Your dog’s name
- Your dog’s birthday
- And some fun information about your pooch!
Download the Topel Wine Tails Calendar postcard here. (820kb PDF)
“Wine, Cheese & All That Jazz” at Topel
Live Jazz & Bossa Nova on April 24, 2010
Lively jazz and bossa nova tunes will reverberate throughout the trendy Topel Tasting Room when the guitar and double bass duo of Jim Adams and Gary Digman perform live on April 24th.
Adams, who is a native of Dallas, and Digman, who was born in Dubuque, IA, are popular musicians with a wide following in Wine Country. Adams has been performing at wineries in both Napa and Sonoma for more than 20 years and Digman has been a member of the music faculty at Santa Rosa Junior College for 30 years.
The concert, which runs from 5 to 7 p.m., is free of charge but regular wine tasting fees ($5 for four tastes) will apply. Topel will also sell wine by the glass for $5, and will provide complimentary cheese and other appetizers.
“It’s a perfect opportunity for those attending Dry Creek Passport Weekend to drop by, enjoy the music and wind down from their busy day before heading off to dinner,” said Donnis Topel, co-owner of Topel Winery and manager of the tasting room.
Topel Tasting Room, located just steps off Healdsburg Plaza at 125 Matheson Street, is hosting the concert in support of the12th Annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival, which will feature a wide variety of performances June 4 – 13. For more information, go online to www.healdsburgjazzfestival.org.
“Love and Meritage” on Valentine’s Day at Topel Winery
Wine Blending Party
"Everyone is looking for a special or unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day,” said Donnis Topel, co-proprietor of Topel Winery and manager of the boutique winery’s tasting room in Healdsburg. “There’s really nothing nicer than joining hands and hearts to create a custom blended wine. It’s fun, and it’s romantic!"
If you’re looking for a unique way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with someone special, Topel Tasting Room has just the ticket — a wine blending party that shows you how the winemaker practices his craft, and provides you with your own exclusive bottle of wine, perfect to share with your Valentine.
Cost for the class is $75 per person or $100 per couple and includes one bottle of specially blended wine, plus appetizers. Reservations are required in advance, as space is strictly limited to 12-18 participants and last year’s inaugural event sold out long before Valentine’s Day. Those wishing to purchase a case of their custom blend can do so for an additional charge of $415 — or roughly $35 per bottle.
Winemaker Mark Topel & Ziggy, The Wine Gal to Host
Topel winemaker Mark Topel and Ziggy Eschliman (Ziggy, The Wine Gal on KRSH Radio) will conduct the second annual “Love and Meritage” — a wine blending seminar at the Topel Tasting Room at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 14th. The tasting room is located just steps off Healdsburg Plaza at 125 Matheson Street.
Mark and Ziggy will lead participants through the nuances of blending, long considered to be the highest form of the winemaker’s art. They’ll discuss characteristics of the different varietals and the impact of each on the final Cuveé. Each participant (or couple) will then create their own bottle of blended wine, with the opportunity of having an additional case of wine custom blended to their particular specifications.
For reservations, call Donnis Topel at 707-433-4116 or email donnis@topelwines.com.
Join Topel at Yosemite for the Vintners’ Holidays!
It’s a dream come true! We’re thrilled that Topel Winery will be part of the esteemed Yosemite Vintners’ Holidays program at the Ahwahnee Hotel this year.
Now in its 28th year, this acclaimed series allows consumers to experience great wine in an unparalleled setting — Yosemite’s beautiful and historic Ahwahnee, one of the most distinctive resort hotels in North America.
Mark and Donnis will be featured in the final panel, which will be December 2-3. Other presenters include principals from Estancia, Bonny Doon and Ravenswood. Panel moderator is Peter Marks, Master of Wine and vice president of education at Icon Estates.
The series draws serious wine enthusiasts to taste the latest work of acclaimed California vintners – often featuring rare and limited release samples – while learning more about the genius behind the grapes. Long before fine wine was affordable and grape-growing regions were taking root across the country, the Vintners’ Holidays series was turning consumers into connoisseurs.
Space is limited, so make your reservations now. Call (801) 559-4949 or go online to www.yosemitepark.com/vintners. We hope to see you there!
Topel Tasting Room Hosts Holiday
Wine & Food Pairing Seminars
Chef Tim Vallery and Cheesemonger Doralice Handal will share their culinary expertise with holiday party hosts and hostesses in two special seminars at Topel Winery Tasting Room in December.
December 6th - "Compositions" Wine & Appetizer Pairings
Vallery, who owns the critically acclaimed Peloton Catering, will conduct a class called “Compositions,” pairing festive holiday appetizers with specific varietal wines. Recipes for the tasty treats are included. The seminar is Sunday, December 6, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
December 13th - "Say Cheese" Wine & Cheese Pairings
Back by popular demand, Handal, owner of The Cheese Shop in Healdsburg, will repeat her “Say Cheese” class from last year, offering tips on how to successfully pair various types of cheese with different wines. The class is Sunday, December 13, from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Cost for each seminar is $25 per person and advance reservations are recommended. To sign up, call 707-433-4116 or email donnis@topelwines.com.
“Wine is alive. And each vintage is like a new child. Similar to its siblings, yet expressing its own unique personality, which we gently craft to allow its fullest evolution.”
—Mark Topel
