Sierra Starr’s winemaker hosts a local wine professionals roundtable

LIKE A LITERARY ROUNDTABLE, a new generation of wine professionals in our region have been meeting regularly to taste wine and share their experiences.

Each month, Sierra Starr winemaker and sommelier Jackson Starr hosts a gathering at the winery’s tasting room in downtown Grass Valley.

The group includes Dawn Empson, chef and head of the new wine program at Tess’ Kitchen Store; Vanessa Wich, a wine seller for Mountain Peoples Wine Distributing; general manager Carissa Cook of Friar Tuck’s, winemaker Michael Zollo of Coufos Cellars; and winemaker Riki Pollock of Katoa Cellars, among others.

The group blind taste tests wines and tries to identify the wines and their origin. Monthly themes might include “Cabernet blends from anywhere,” “all Syrah but nothing from California” or “wine from islands,” such as New Zealand or Sicily. “We’re creating a local community of wine professionals,” says Jackson.

(Photo: Jackson Starr and Vanessa Wich)