When Friday the 13th Was A Lucky Day!
Last evening on Friday November 13th if you attended the Collector’s Pour at Sloan Baseball Field, you indeed would be considered lucky! Here folks enjoyed some 85+ exceptional wines from Napa Valley and Sonoma County. These were not your grocery store wines, but limited-production wines not found even at many boutique wine shops. Besides all the exquisite wines, live jazz band playing music, food trucks featuring Italian inspired bites and conversations with the owners/winemakers from each of the wineries. Even a couple of boutique craft/gift shops were present. Joseph Lopez and Lisa Nunes created a spectacular event coordinating some of the best wineries to showcase their wines in Mesa, Arizona.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The event featuring at least 24 wineries, each pouring between two to five of their favorite wines under the stadium bleachers out of any pending rain. As a new resident of Mesa, a bonus was viewing Sloan Park stadium. What a great location to view Spring Training and even better to enjoy the treats of this evening.
Perhaps the highlight of the evening was the ability to converse with the owners or winemakers detailing their vineyards, philosophy of winemaking and unique process to produce excellent wines. Additionally, were the discussions amongst other guests at each station. We enjoyed over twenty personal conversations discussing the wines being poured and the Arizona wine culture. Those conversations led to inviting a few folks joining our humble Wine Club and discussing both the International Cabernet Franc Competition and Gourmet Food and Cabernet Franc Dinner. A shameless plug for the dinner: https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2026/11/14/the-gourmet-food-and-cabernet-franc-wine-pairing-at-air-museum-in-mesa-arizona/
All the conversations were memorable but three were very interesting including one with Bremer Family Winery with General Manager Tom Trzesniewski. Discussions center around their remarkable Chardonnay, Claret, Cabernet Sauvignon and blend. I had visited them many years ago and Tom reiterated it was time for another visit my next trip to Napa.
Another long and detailed discussion ensued with Mondavi Sisters Collection of wines. While knowing the Mondavi Family history and tradition of Napa Valley, it was a delight meeting one of the faces of this group, Alycia Mondavi. The Sisters: Angelina (Winemaker and Co-Proprietress), Alycia (CEO and Brand Manager), Riana (West Coast Ambassador), and Giovanna (East Coast Ambassador and Sales)
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Neal Family Vineyards, with Mark Neal pouring several wines and additionally he brought out a special wine from The One & Only Collection, their Cabernet Franc. Mark, while the winemaker, firstly considers himself as the Farmer of their Howell Mountain Estate and Rutherford properties.
Wines sampled this evening were Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and a few others. Especially wonderful beyond Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon were the number of Pinot Noirs from Petaluma Gap, Russian River Sonoma County and Santa Lucia Highlands. Other great conversations with Miner Family Winery, Cliff Family Winery, Stressed Vines, Bravante Vineyards, Boyer Family Winery, Implicit Cellars and a few others.
While the impending rain and temperature drop may have diminished the size of the crowd slightly, everyone attending enjoyed the time and wines immensely. For this inaugural event, it can only be summed up as successful and surpassing expectations.
I can’t wait for their next event!!
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
https://californiawinesandwineries.com