Surf City Wine University: Make Your Own Wine (a hands-on exercise in blending)

The Summer 2012 'semester' of Surf City Wine University starts May 27 with 'Make Your Own Wine - a hands-on exercise in blending', with Katie Fox of Vino Tabi Winery.

Make your own wine! This will be an exciting hands-on session where you will taste all five classic Bordeaux varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec – then blend them as you choose to make your own special wine. Taste as you go to perfect your wine to your unique palate. Create your own special blend! Then take a sample bottle of your wine to enjoy at home. 

The class is $40; $35 for wine club members of any of the Surf City Vintners group of wineries. Sign up for all five classes and receive a tasting card to all 13 Surf City wineries valued at $60. Register at any of the Surf City tasting rooms, or call 408-353-2278; email info@silvermtn.com. For more information about Surf City University and registration: www.surfcityvintners.com.

For more information about Vino Tabi Winery:www.vino-tabi-wine.com

Surf City University gives wine lovers the opportunity to learn more about wine from a group of master vintners who combined have more than 150 years of winemaking experience. The winemakers of the Surf City Vintners wineries share their passion and knowledge in an informal and fun environment in their own wineries and tasting rooms.  Get your degree in 'sip-ology'!

 The Summer 2012 'semester' also includes:

- June 24: Santa Cruz Mts. Pinot Noirs, with Nick Guerrero, Vine Hill Winery
- July 15: Chardonnay Styles, with Steve Storrs, Storrs Winery
- August 12: Terroir, with Joe Miller,Rexford Winery
- Sept. 9: The Perfect Wine & Cheese Pairing, with Sue Slater, Cabrillo College Culinary Arts program (at Silver Mountain's Surf City tasting room)

The Surf City Vintners group of 13 boutique wineries and tasting rooms offers a vibrant urban wine tasting experience. The individual wineries are in close proximity on the Westside of Santa Cruz on Ingalls Street, Swift Street, and the Old Sash Mill, most in renovated warehouse spaces. The area has become a hip example of urban renewal. The wineries showcase the wines of a group of leading winemakers of the Santa Cruz Mountains, and are small, family-owned and operated local businesses. Visitors often meet and talk directly with the winemakers. The Surf City Vintners wineries include:  Bonny Doon Vineyard; Copious Winery; Equinox Champagne Cellar; MJA Vineyards; Odonata Wines; Rexford Winery; Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard (including Quinta Cruz); Silver Mountain; Sones Cellars; Storrs Winery and Vineyards; Trout Gulch Vineyards; Vine Hill Winery, Vino Tabi. For more information, see the group website at www.surfcityvintners.com.