Author: Dane Kuta

Registration is open for Summer 2020 classes at MiraCosta. Look for two (2) wine tasting class options on page 11.

The Wine Ninja, this time two Ninjas, struck Del Mar again this past weekend. With this final test of the Wine Ninja concept, all the kinks have been worked out. The next Wine Ninja event will be a summertime virtual class at MiraCosta College. Do you want the Wine Ninja to visit your home? Then sign up for the class! Details coming soon.

Photos courtesy of Ellie Kardaras. Instagram: @eyes_of_eleni

The Wine Ninja struck a select few in the Del Mar and Solana Beach area on Sunday night. Where will the Wine Ninja strike next?

A few seconds of the virtual tasting. Password = KutaSomm.

Photos courtesy of Ellie Kardaras. Need a fantastic professional photographer? Instagram: @eyes_of_eleni.

Four wines were served at this virtual wine tasting (see photos). Opinions varied as to the favorite wine, but all wines received first place votes. My personal favorite was the 2015 Beringer Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Beringer is an iconic Napa producer and one of the oldest wineries in Napa, founded by Frederick and Jacob Beringer in 1875. Their tagline is “California’s Oldest Continually Operating Winery.” Krug is older, but had a hiatus during Prohibition. Beringer survived (and operated continuously) by making sacrificial wine for religious purposes during the Prohibition years. Someone pulled out an issue of Wine Spectator magazine, which rated this wine at 90 points. If you can find it, try the 2015 Beringer Napa Valley Cabernet.

Special thanks to Bree and Megan for being tonight’s Wine Ninjas.

Video password = KutaSomm

The first trial of virtual wine tasting was a success! I tasted with three Somms (only two shown in photo) while practicing social distancing. We all had the same wine, tasted at the same time, and shared our thoughts in a virtual meeting. What fun!

Due to the pandemic, MiraCosta has postponed the final session of Italian Wine, Art, and Culture. The final class will be held at a date and time to be determined. The wines are safely stored in the temperature-controlled KutaSomm wine cellar. Looking forward to getting back to teaching very soon. I hope all of my students remain safe during these trying times.

Congratulations to Steve and Joe who successfully completed the rigorous course and examination to become Level 1 Introductory Sommeliers in the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas. You really earned that pin. I was there to celebrate literally hours after the results came in. Congratulations! Are you going for Level 2 next?

Carruth Cellars in Solana Beach this weekend was alive with tasters at the annual Barrel Tasting Party. We made sure to get our pours from Megan, one of Carruth’s best wine stewards. Thank you Megan for the generous pours. We all split a case of Carruth futures. Can’t wait for that to arrive.

The books for the upcoming wine appreciation class Vive la France are here! Looking forward to a great class on French wine. Vive la France!

Ellie, a professional photographer, celebrated her birthday in Del Mar with friends, food, and wine. Photos courtesy of Ellie. For more information contact Instagram: @eyes_of_eleni.