2013 BORRA VINEYARDS CALENDAR OF WINE EVENTS
Everything revolves around wine here at Borra. If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to come on out and visit our family winery, just check out our wine events for 2013! And if you can’t make any of these dates, we always look forward to seeing you in our tasting room, open Friday through Monday from noon to 5pm, or by appointment!
Coming in June, the first Friday in fair weather months we present our very popular Fusion Fridays – our version of very happy hours to get to know our wines and launch your weekend with complimentary appetizers from a variety of our favorite local restaurants.
See you soon!
(Click here for directions to Borra Vineyards)
2ND ANNUAL LADIES NIGHT!
Friday, May 10, 2013 – 6:30 – 9 p.m. at Borra Vineyards
Featuring light appetizers with entertainment by John Ochoa
$10 admission includes appetizers, souvenir wine glass and tasting
Leave the men with their cigars and join us as we try on our latest wine creations from the vineyards. And if that’s not enough, we’ll tempt you ladies with our great selection of unique retail giftware (or “keepware” as the case may be!), but only a couple of times a year can you see all the latest acquisitions before everyone else…
With a theme of “Girls Just Wanna Have Wine!” check out our entire exciting brand spanking NEW arrivals of freshly-bottled wines, plus Spring jewelry and gifts! You’ll have a glass in the hand, contemporary music by John Ochoa in your ear, and a really great time with all the Borra girls. And did we mention that if you buy 3 bottles or more of wine, that $10 will go toward your purchase! Let’s get this party started!
(Click here to see the postcard.)
9TH ANNUAL ZINFEST WINE FESTIVAL
Saturday, May 18, 2013 – 12 – 5 p.m. at Lodi Lake
Featuring 50+ wineries, great restaurants and live music
$45/$55 (at the gate) admission
Our La Dolce Vita members can call us at 209-368-2446 for $35 advance tickets!
Gather your friends and visit us at our booth during Lodi’s 9th annual extravaganza of wonderful food, music, education and fun. Come to the “Blending Tent”, where you will be guided through the fine points of the art of blending to craft great wines.
Celebrity chefs and wine experts will be conducting demonstrations at the ZinFest Cooking School. And at 3pm, Tracey Berkner, sommelier/proprietor of Restaurant Taste, will be demonstrating “Lodi’s Best & Most Beautiful Blends” including our Heritage and Intuition!
You’ll find us in booth #9, which will be on your lefthand side just after you pass the main entrance where you get your wristbands.
Visit www.zinfest.com or call 209-365-0621.
7TH ANNUAL OYSTER SUNDAY
Sunday, May 19, 2013 – 12 noon to 4 pm at Borra Vineyards
Featuring Steve Borra on the Fusion Q with live entertainment by Tapestry
$12 admission includes one glass of wine and souvenir wine glass
The day after Lodi’s now-famous ZinFest, all our local wineries throw open their doors to welcome all you wine lovers. We observe a tradition of Oyster Sunday. Does wine pair with oysters? Find out for yourself, as you devour mouthwatering BBQ’d Oysters grilled hot by Steve Borra and his Oyster Shuckers and served with all the fixin’s, while sipping on your favorite Borra wines and listening to the sounds of beautiful music. Last year’s oysters were barely enough, and it was overheard recently that Steve plans on hauling around 1,000 from market this year! Plus, there’ll be Italian Sausage for the oyster-squeamish amongst you.
(Click here to see the postcard.)
FIRST FUSION FRIDAY
Friday, June 7, 2013 – 5 to 7:30 pm at Borra Vineyards
Featuring appetizers hosted by Alpine Victor 4-H with entertainment by Ms. Lizzie and her Cadillac Kings
$12 admission includes appetizers, one glass of wine and souvenir wine glass
We’ll be turning over the winery to the next generation as we are served what looks to be some pretty pleasing samples of country cookery, sure to stand up to our big wines. But don’t forget your groovin’ dance shows, because Ms. Lizzie will get you movin’ with legendary jump blues-rockabilly with traces of jazz.
(Click here to see the postcard.)
THE 2013 BARBERA FESTIVAL
Saturday, June 8, 2013, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cooper Ranch, Shenandoah Valley, CA
Featuring just about all the California Barbera you can imagine
$40 admission in advance at BarberaFestival.com/$50 at the gate admission SOLD OUT! Borra fans saved $5 by entering discount code JX52BV202
This is the place to be if you like Barbera! In addition to our ever-popular Old Vine Barbera, there will be over 80 other California wineries pouring their best Barbera, alongside 7 top area restaurants and chefs dishing out gourmet foods (twice as much this year!). This all takes place up in the Sierra Foothills at Cooper Ranch with live music, local artists and vendors. You may even get a taste of a few bottles of this elegant red straight from its Italian birthplace. There will be no better opportunity to truly learn about this grape! Last year’s inaugural event sold out in advance to a crowd of over 1,500, and this year’s event has already sold out, so hope you already visited BarberaFestival.com for tickets and all the details.
FUSION FRIDAY
Friday, July 12, 2013, 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Borra Vineyards
Featuring appetizers hosted by Yasoo Yani Restaurant & Catering with entertainment by Frankie B Smooth Jazz with special guests John & Jessica Ochoa
$12 admission includes appetizers, one glass of wine and souvenir wine glass
Moussaka. Gyros. Sound Greek to you? You’re right! Mediterranean neighbors of our Italian Piedmontese forefathers will be allowing you to pretend that you are on the island of Santorini, drinking wine from huge goblets. We have a feeling our Fusion is a much better pairing than the wine of the ancients.
(Click here to see the postcard.)
FUSION FRIDAY
Friday, August 2, 2013, 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Borra Vineyards
Featuring appetizers hosted by De Vinci’s Delicatessen & Catering with entertainment by Separators
$12 admission includes appetizers, one glass of wine and souvenir wine glass
We’ll pay homage to our Italian roots with a fine selection of traditional dishes and breads, cooked up to make even Steve’s momma proud. There’ll probably be a run on Barbera. So get ready for a hot summer night at the winery.
(Click here to see the postcard.)
FINAL FUSION FRIDAY
Friday, September 6, 2013, 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Borra Vineyards
Featuring appetizers hosted by Waterloo, CA Restaurant & Catering with entertainment by Haywired Band
$12 admission includes appetizers, one glass of wine and souvenir wine glass
One can never have enough BBQ, especially in Lodi! Waterloo’s secret ingredient is Bette’s World Famous Black Barbeque Sauce, which makes a most excellent slather for chicken or steaks. We aren’t telling you which of our wines goes best with these mouth-watering grilled meats, you’ll have to find out for yourself! Oh, and there’s nothing actually haywired about our band, except perhaps some straw stuck on their boots. They’ll treat you to acoustic “Americana” at its best: bluegrass, folk, swing, cowboy, or blues, with finely honed heartfelt harmonies.
(Click here to see the postcard.)
LA DOLCE VITA SAMPLER CLUB PICKUP PARTY
August 24, 2013 – 12 noon to 4 pm at Borra Vineyards
Featuring wine, appetizers and our winemakers
No charge for club members
Our quarterly meet-up of our most loyal Borra wine aficionados with our winemakers Steve Borra and Markus Niggli makes for a very special afternoon. This summer’s selections feature exciting new pre-releases of our 2012 Members Reserve Chardonnay (only available to members), 2011 47.5 Degree Red Wine, and our ever-popular 2011 Old Vine Zinfandel. Attendees are often treated to extra-special selected discounts of up to 40% off as well as complementary appetizers whipped up by our staff, who happen to be great cooks. If you aren’t a club member, this is a great time to join us! (For details, click here.)
PAST EVENTS
THE 2012 CALIFORNIA WINE FESTIVAL – ORANGE COUNTY
Saturday, April 21, 2012, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Doheny State Beach, Dana Point, CA
Featuring amazing wines, appetizers and live music
$69 admission in advance at CaliforniaWineFestival.com/$80 at the gate admission (plus $15 parking)
Hit the grassy, palm-lined Doheny State Beach to indulge in this heady, springtime ‘right of pleasure’ and join the afternoon-long celebration: unlimited tasting of fine wine & foods, plus sun, sea and music provided by popular Caribbean band “Upstream.” Sip hundreds of vintage California wines, sample dozens of hot and cold gourmet appetizers, artisan breads and cheeses, fresh cut fruits, and for a change of taste, sample local and regional craft brews too. A number of wineries from our Lodi wine region will be featured. Ticket price includes an 18 ounce keepsake wine glass. Visit www.CaliforniaWineFestival.com for tickets and more information.
27TH ANNUAL STOCKTON SUNRISE ROTARY WINE TASTING
Friday, June 1, 2012, 5 to 8 p.m. at Micke Grove Park
Some of our old Borra friends will be pouring our best alongside over 20 restaurants and wineries to help raise funds for this worthwhile cause. Plus, there’ll be a silent auction and live jazz all evening under the beautiful trees of Micke Grove. You won’t want to miss it! Call 209-931-4009 for admission price and much more info.
INTUITION WORLD-WIDE RELEASE PARTY
Saturday, July 28, 2012, 12 noon to 4pm at Borra Vineyards
Featuring our new Intuition wine with perfect pairing appetizers
No charge and tasting fee will be waived
Spicy linguica sausages destroying your Napa Cabernet? What’s Thai food doing to your favorite Chard? Our intuition tells us you’ll be bowled over by our new antidote to these hot summer days. Borra’s got Intuition – a new wine that breaks rules and boldly turns the pre-conceived notion about Lodi on its head. We’ve blended together rare German whites – some of which are grown in Lodi and no other place in California – and came up with what we think is the most refreshing, fine-food-loving wine we’ve ever produced.
You need to come on out and be the first to try this wine already being described by noted wine writer, Randy Caparoso as, “soft, silky waves upon tropical shores. Very sleek, contemporary, and as refreshing as a dry white wine can be.”
(To read about Intuition, click here.)
LOCA ROAD TRIP
September 1-October 6, 2012
Pack your bags, fill up the tank and upload your favorite tunes, because it’s time for a Lodi Road Trip! In celebration of California Wine Month, we and most other Lodi vintners invite you to participate in our LoCA Road Trip, September 1 – October 6, 2012. You’ll have the opportunity to purchase a LoCA Road Trip Passport – an all-access pass to exclusive events and discounts from us and over 45 participating Lodi wineries. Passport holders will enjoy engaging in unique activities described within the Passport, such as vineyard hayrides, bicycle tours, and port blending as well as complimentary tastings and wine and merchandise discounts from participating wineries. Passports are $15 (only $10 for La Dolce Vita Club Members) and are available at our tasting room, on LodiRoadTrip.com, or give us a call at 209-368-2446.
Here are the events we’re hosting as part of Lodi’s LoCA Road Trip:
FALL HAYRIDE & VINEYARD TOUR
September 15 & 16, 2012, hourly from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm at Borra Vineyards
$25 per adult, $10 for children under 12
Visit the vines the old-fashioned way… in a comfortable wagon drawn by two magnificent draft horses. Roll leisurely through the Borra Vineyards while you learn about the “other side of winemaking” from our grower’s perspective. This 45-minute excursion through the different vineyard sections includes stops to taste grapes at their best. With the grapes being a mere 2-3 weeks from being picked, you will have a chance to taste for yourself and get to know the different varietals. Markus Niggli, our winemaker, will be on site to answer all your questions while you are tasting grapes. RSVP necessary to 209-986-3096.
THE ULTIMATE WINE TASTING
September 22, 2012, 3 pm to 5:30 pm at Borra Vineyards
$35 admission
Come and join us for tasting wine the way you have never experienced before. Learn how to trust your instinct and own taste instead of reading about wine or following wine scores. In a playful way you will learn how each wine has its own taste and how each wine speaks for itself without using words. The best “wine taster” will take home a case of wine. Only 16 seats are available! RSVP necessary to Markus@BorraVineyards.com or 209-810-8659.
MEN’S NIGHT OUT
September 28, 2012, 6 pm to 9 pm at Borra Vineyards
No admission charge and wine sold by the glass
Sorry ladies, this one is for the men only! We are bringing out the big BBQ for the evening. Bring your own meat and a cigar for after dinner. Wine by the glass will be sold for $6 (white) and $7 (red). Sit around a fire pit, share your stories, and make new friends.
LA DOLCE VITA SAMPLER CLUB PICKUP PARTY
November 17, 2012 – 12 noon to 4 pm at Borra Vineyards
Featuring wine, appetizers and our winemakers
No charge for club members
Our quarterly meet-up of our most loyal Borra wine aficionados with our winemakers Steve Borra and Markus Niggli makes for a very special afternoon. This fall’s selections feature exciting new 2010 pre-releases of our new Heritage Field Blend, Red Fusion, and our 2010 Members Reserve Intenso – only available to members. Attendees are often treated to extra-special selected discounts of up to 40% off as well as complementary appetizers. If you aren’t a club member, this is a great time to join us! (For details, click here.)
HERITAGE WORLD-WIDE RELEASE PARTY
Saturday, December 1, 2012, 12 noon to 4 p.m. and
Sunday, December 2, 2012, 12 noon to 4 p.m. at Borra Vineyards
Featuring our new Heritage wine with appetizers
No charge and tasting fee will be waived
We found a way to take the romance of generations of old fashioned non-technical Borra family winegrowing and bottle it. This new label for our true field blend – from vines as old as a century – is called, naturally, “Heritage.” This Saturday and Sunday you’ll get to taste for the first time what all the fuss is about. The normal $5 tasting fee will be waived both days, plus you’ll be able to pick up a bottle at the release discount price of $20.99 – that’s 16% off the regular $25 price – good through Sunday. Noted wine writer, Randy Caparoso got a sneak taste and wrote, “It is unequivocally, deliciously and deliriously fantastic – a red wine for the ages – luscious flavors barely contained by zesty yet viscous textured, medium-full bodied sensations, flowing like proverbial rivers of Babylon.” (To read about Heritage, click here.)
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
Friday, December 7, 2012, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Borra Vineyards
Featuring our wines, gifts to purchase, and tasty treats
No charge and wine will be available by the glass
Attention ladies and gentlemen! Bring your favorite guy or gal out to kick off the Holiday Season at Borra Vineyards. Santa’s Elves have been quite busy stocking the Borra giftshop with fabulous Christmas gift items, jewelry, and, of course, delectable wine you’re sure to love! Enjoy some tasty treats as well.
MEMBERS-ONLY BONANZA PARTY
Friday, January 25, 2013, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Borra Vineyards
Featuring amazing discounts and appetizers
No charge for club members
To show appreciation for our fantastic La Dolce Vita club members, we like to throw this big annual Thank You bash, when we literally let our members drink our profits with incredible prices too good to print. We’ll have complementary locally baked bread, Italian dry salami and cheeses that make excellent pairings with our wines, plus we’ll be selling raffle tickets for a chance to win a big 3-Liter bottle of 2010 Heritage that was hand decorated by some of our club members. Members can bring a friend or two to take advantage of member discounts. There’s no need for members to RSVP, just come on over! And if you aren’t a club member, this is a great time to join us! (For details, click here.)
FUSION WORLD-WIDE RELEASE PARTY
Saturday, January 26, 2013, 12 noon to 4 p.m. at Borra Vineyards
Featuring our newest Fusion wine and barrel tasting
No charge and tasting fee will be waived
Our 2008 Fusion was featured as a winner in the Wall Street Journal. Our 2009 won Double-Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Come get a first sip of our latest 2010 Fusion at our official release party and see what all the fuss is about. We’ll waive the usual $5.00 tasting fee, plus we’ll let you get a sneak taste of our 2011 Fusion right out of the barrel. Meet winemaker Markus Niggli and purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win a big and rare 3-Liter bottle of 2009 Fusion.
WINE & CHOCOLATE WEEKEND
Saturday-Sunday, February 9-10, 2013, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Borra Vineyards & throughout Lodi
Featuring wine and food
$45/$55 (at the door) admission
Enjoy a weekend of Wine & Chocolate during our 16th annual Wine & Chocolate Extravaganza! Travel from winery to winery throughout the Lodi Appellation tasting world-class wines and savoring delectable chocolate in all its imaginative forms. Here at Borra, we plan on driving you NUTS. You will be sampling a combination of NUTS in fine Chocolates from around the world… AND have you ever tasted our own Chocolate Sauce/NUT Shot? Don’t forget our award winning wines will match perfectly – it’s all here to try! Come out and let us drive you NUTS! Tickets are $45 in advance or $55 at the door. Price includes a souvenir wine glass, special BRIX wine-pairing chocolates, wine tasting, and map to all participating wineries. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center (209) 365-0621.
www.lodiwineandchocolate.com
LA DOLCE VITA SAMPLER CLUB PICKUP PARTY
February 23, 2013 – 12 noon to 4 pm at Borra Vineyards
Featuring wine, appetizers and our winemakers
No charge for club members
Our quarterly meet-up of our most loyal Borra wine aficionados with our winemakers Steve Borra and Markus Niggli makes for a very special afternoon. Check back later for this winter’s selections, which may feature our small production Members Reserve wines – only available to members. Attendees are often treated to extra-special selected discounts of up to 40% off as well as complementary appetizers. If you aren’t a club member, this is a great time to join us! (For details, click here.)
LODI SPRING WINE SHOW
Friday, March 22, 2013 – 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. &
Saturday, March 23, 2013 – 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Ole Mettler Grape Pavilion at the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds
Featuring 40+ wineries, tasty treats and much more
$30/$35 (at the door) admission
Borra La Dolce Vita Sampler Club members save $5 by entering discount code 2013BV
If you really like to party, then the Lodi Spring Wine Show is right down your alley. We’ll be there for two nights, pouring alongside many of your favorite tasting room personalities from around Lodi, many dressed up in fun themeware, all to fill your commemorative glass with Lodi’s best. Along with tasty treats from some of our area’s finest food purveyors, you’ll sample gourmet olive oils, view cooking demonstrations, pair a hot cigar with sweet Port-style wines (if you’re so inclined), and even learn how to make wine. Get your tickets on-line at www.GrapeFestival.com.
LA DOLCE VITA SAMPLER CLUB PICKUP PARTY
May 4, 2013 – 12 noon to 4 pm at Borra Vineyards
Featuring wine, appetizers and our winemakers
No charge for club members
Our quarterly meet-up of our most loyal Borra wine aficionados with our winemakers Steve Borra and Markus Niggli makes for a very special afternoon. This spring’s selections feature exciting new pre-releases of our 2012 White Fusion, 2011 “2:30 a.m.” Merlot, and our 2012 Members Reserve Rosé – only available to members. Attendees are often treated to extra-special selected discounts of up to 40% off as well as complementary appetizers. If you aren’t a club member, this is a great time to join us! (For details, click here.)
