Saturday, May 19
It’s Q2, time to see what’s new and relevant on the Cabernet front. A fresh crop of 2008’s and some 2009’s should roll in in time for this show. We’ll flesh it out with a blend or two, maybe a Merlot or other Cabernet friendly varietal and preserve the option to add a few things from Washington State and possibly elsewhere if it meets our fancy. Check it out. $29.00

Thursday, May 24
In the quest for fresh and new ideas for tastings we sometimes have to think out of the box. Sometimes those new ideas never come to fruition. We hope this won’t be one of those instances because there are numerous wines throughout our store that are made from lesser known and in some cases virtually unheard of grapes.  Fret not, we aren’t going to focus solely on Vranac, Mansois or Poulsard(Dorky enough for you?) and being a Master Somm will not be a prerequisite for getting in to this tasting but we will present an assortment of wines that you probably won’t find at most stores. Like the title implies, Nerello from Sicily, Tannat from France, Mencia from Galicia and other possibly more obscure varietals from abroad will be the basis for this show. This is “The Outer Limits” Winex style and we’ll be frank; there’s a good chance this tasting won’t happen unless people sign up ahead of time. Hint. Cost is $18.00.

Saturday, May 26
The Winex staff is exposed to many different wines from month to month. Whether trying new labels that roll in or conducting ‘product research’ after one of our tastings or taking a bottle or two home, everyone in the crew has his or her own favorites. Since Memorial Day weekend, from an attendance standpoint, can be haphazard at best, why not give everyone that works here a pick of up to thirty dollars and see what happens. Worst case scenario, if no one shows we’re stuck with a bunch of wine that one or some if not all of us likes. Come in and support your local wine geek. $19.00.

Saturday, June 02
Like it or not, Grenache is one of the world’s most important grapes. Besides being the backbone of Châteauneuf du Pape and the southern Rhône in general, it is widely planted throughout the Languedoc, Roussillon, Spain, Australia, California, Washington State and places as far flung as Croatia, Lebanon & Sardinia. At the first annual Grenache Symposium held last June in Crestet, a little village in the south of France, high up in the Dentelles Montmirail near Séguret and Gigondas, there were 270 representatives from 22 countries in attendance. You get the point. A Winex first, this will be an in depth look at Grenache with significant Old and New World representation. We are hoping this subject will become at least an annual part of our tasting repertoire so come in and try the various incarnations of one of our favorite grapes. Cost is $24.00.

Thursday, June 07
If it’s the first Thursday of the month, it must be ‘Features’ time. Features Presentation, or the presentation of newsletter highlights in liquid form, is your best opportunity to taste along with our reviews. The lineup is always varied, the values are always the key. Cost is $10.00.

Saturday, June 09
The official start of Summer is June 20, which means it is time to get your pink game in order.  The whole level of sophistication with respect to rose wines has changed a lot since we really got into the genre nearly a decade ago, on both sides of the table.  We would estimate that we see three times as many roses as we did, say, ten years ago.  There is a greater selection from more places than ever, and pink wine has gone from something one didn’t talk about to something ‘hip’.  But all pinks are not created equal and we have slogged through a sea of the stuff to put together a lineup of the most varied and well made examples we could find. Here’s a chance to get your pink on and your summer house (not to mention those fall Santa Anas) in order. Were going to put out 18-20 selections from all over. $12.00.

Friday, June 15
That’s what time it is.  Tis the season when some chilly brew can really hit the spot.  We’re going to try and hone in on your warm weather needs with this assortment of suds, focusing on selections from small brewers and/or boutique purveyors accompanied by salty nibbles. Cost is $8

Saturday, June 16
A perennial Winex favorite. Like the name implies, we scour the stacks and shelves for wines that have been awarded at least 90 points, preferably more, by Wine Spectator, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Burghound, International Wine Cellar (Tanzer) and James Suckling.  Agree or disagree, taste and learn, this is a great opportunity to see a bevy of things judged by experts to be worthy of praise within their various categories and then further filtered by our own rather picky buying team (we don’t buy things just because they got scores). That’s about as risk free as a tasting can get and you’ll see 18-20 wines for less than it would cost you to buy a couple of glasses in some fancy ‘wine bar’.  Cost is $19.

Saturday, June 23
In what was the arguably first Santa Barbara Vintners’ Festival a guy that had recently opened a progressive wine store in Orange tasted first releases from brand new wineries in this budding viticultural region that left pioneer winery Zaca Mesa to start their own projects.  Three decades later Wine Exchange, Au Bon Climat Winery and Qupe Winery are still around.  The facility in which these two trailblazing wineries operated in Santa Maria, affectionately known as “the shed,” has created a lot of history not only with their own wines but other labels that were more or less born there.  Where are they now? Come see for yourself.  $19.00

Saturday, June 30
This is a broad category to tackle in one event but we think you are up to the challenge.  This category offers so many options yet is largely overlooked when people consider their wine options.  Our pitch is simple.  These are some of the most versatile and interesting wine options out there and are equally at home with a variety of Asian cuisines like Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Indian as they are with traditional wiener schnitzel or wursts.  These wines should be in everyone’s repertoire.  If you are a fan, come on down and see the latest lineup.  If you don’t know about them, the best way to learn is by tasting and asking questions. Cost is $19.