Wine Pairings
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PROGRAM:
Ludwig van BEETHOVEN Two Bagatelles, arr, for two violins by Osvaldo GOLIJOV
BEETHOVEN String Quartet Op. 18 #3
Akshaya TUCKER Breathing Sunlight
Gabriela Lena FRANK Leyendas
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WINES:
2019 Estate Rose of Pinot Noir
2017 Sauvignon Blanc
2014 Nuages Pinot Noir
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PAIRING NOTES:
The through line of our August 8th program at J. Christopher is the warmth of our sun… whose golden beams take us on a path from the the bright youthful cheer of Beethoven Op.18 #3, though the quiet repose of Tucker’s Breathing Sunlight, and on through equatorial heat of Gabriela Lena Frank’s Leyendas, inspired by her mother’s native Peru. We found that each of these three wines brought out something different in the music.
The generous texture, yet delicate fruit and herbal flavors of the J.Christopher 2019 Estate Rose are a great match for the peaceful beauty of the Tucker. Then, their 2017 Sauvignon Blanc’s exuberant grapefruit and stone fruits pair perfectly with the sunny smile of the Beethoven quartet… while maintaining an acidity and minerality that fit neatly with the work’s very classical structure. Finally, Gabriela Lena Frank’s Leyendas is so full of color and Andean flair that it needed a match that had some spice and body to hold up to it. J. Christopher’s library release of their 2014 Nuages Pinot Noir does that deliciously!
Saturday, August 8, 5:30pm (PT)
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PROGRAM:
Jessie MONTGOMERY Duo for Violin and Cello
BEETHOVEN String Quartet Op. 74 “The Harp”
Kenji BUNCH Four Flashbacks for Violin and Cello
MONTGOMERY Breakaway
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WINES:
2017 Vireton Pinot Gris
2017 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir
PAIRING NOTES:
At its heart, our week 2 program at Archery Summit is all about motion and color. But what to accompany? I fell for their 2017 Vireton Pinot Gris because of the way the its tropical fruits and citrus tartness sparkle and reflect like Kenji Bunch’s Four Flashbacks and Jessie Montgomery’s Breakaway. And what can one say about their 2017 Pinot Noir from Shea Vineyard? This one shows soulful, constantly evolving layers of light and dark, much like both Beethoven Op.74 and Montgomery’s Duo for Violin and Cello.
Open either bottle for a fabulous musical evening… or sip both selections side by side through the performance to bring out every nuance. I promise you’ll enhance the deep contrasts that all three composers are so skillful at expressing. If you have leftovers, you’ll finish the bottles tomorrow.
- Leo Eguchi
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Saturday, August 15, 5:30pm (PT)
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PROGRAM:
Isabella LEONARDA Sonata #12 for Violin and Cello
Daniel Bernard ROUMAIN String Quartet No. 5 (PARKS)
ROUMAIN Hip Hop Etudes and Studies
BEETHOVEN String Quartet Op. 135
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WINES:
2017 Bluebird Sparkling wine
2018 Pinot Blanc/Pinot Gris
2018 Hyland Vineyard Pinot Noir
PAIRING NOTES:
Isabella Leonarda was a composer of fierce talent, nearly erased from the repertoire… Rosa Parks (the subject of Daniel Bernard Roumain’s String Quartet #5), had made up her mind not to move. It seems only fitting to bring this program to the winery that Susan Sokol Blosser built.
This collection of music (like the women mentioned above) is bold, yes… but also so much more. Leonarda’s Sonata #12 exudes freedom and exotic freshness, while Daniel Bernard Roumain’s Hip Hop Etudes and Studies are a perfect combination of fun and thoughtful… which all fit so well with the energy and spirit of Sokol Blosser’s 2017 Bluebird Sparkling wine. Then there is Roumain’s Parks - an expression of courage and humanity through textures and color. I found this to be reflected in the assertive but multilayered citrus and mineral characters of their 2018 Pinot Blanc/Pinot Gris blend. Lastly, Beethoven’s final quartet Op.135, expresses the beauty, despair and hope of an artist wrestling with fate. The layers of the Sokol Blosser 2018 Hyland Vineyard Pinot Noir’s bright red fruits playing against the darker earth flavors, felt like they had the appropriate depth to stand up to these profound questions.
- Leo Eguchi
Saturday, August 22, 5:30pm (PT)
Please Note: a 25% discount code from Sokol Blosser will be emailed w/ticket purchase)