california beyond Napa and Sonoma | august 19 & 22
California’s wine story is a fascinating mix of natural resources, blessed location and pioneers. Facing natural challenges of fire, fog, phylloxera and earthquakes, it’s a wonder the Golden State’s wine industry has come so far, so fast. Yet, California has become the backbone of American wine. Its 600,000 acres of wine grapes produce more than 80% of the country’s bottles.
Without question, Napa Valley and Sonoma County are the state's iconic wine regions. But California's story goes far beyond those two places, with regions, traditions and innovations that aren’t as familiar.
In fact, the true character if California wine is its diversity. Those lesser-known regions are fundamental to the state’s unique wine identity and vital to its potential and success. This month, the Holly Hill Wine Guild explores those uncommon corners of California.
Please join us for CALIFORNIA BEYOND NAPA AND SONOMA. The dates are Tuesday, August 19 and Friday, August 22.
From the rugged, forested terrain of the North Coast to the cool-climate wind gaps of Santa Barbara to the sultry Mediterranean temperatures of Paso Robles, California wine beyond Napa Valley and Sonoma County offer a great mix of wines. We’ll explore six this month:
A Burgundian-style Chardonnay from Sideways country
A bright, cool-climate Anderson Valley Pinot Noir made by alums from California’s first cult Pinot producer
A Livermore Valley Cabernet Sauvignon made by one the state’s pioneering wine families
An old-vine Zinfandel from Lodi, the state’s workhorse wine region
A Rhone-varietal blend from the winery that put Paso Robles on the wine map
A full-throttle Pinot Noir from the most acclaimed vineyard in Monterey
Holly Hill Wine Guild tastings take place in the Pavilion Bar at historic Fasig-Tipton, home to North America’s oldest Thoroughbred auction company. Tastings begin at 7 pm and last one hour. The cost is $40 for members and $45 for nonmembers. When registering, please select the date you want to attend and indicate your status as a HHWG member or non-member.
We also offer an optional $27 dinner buffet served at 6:15 pm.
2025 schedule of Monthly tastings
Holly Hill Wine Guild tastings take place in the Pavilion Bar at Fasig-Tipton. Each month we have two seatings, usually one on a Tuesday and the other on Friday. They begin at 7 pm and last an hour. We also offer optional buffets that start at 6:15 pm. Here is the 2025 program schedule.
Tuscan Wine Roads Less Traveled | January 17& 21
When Tuscany’s most celebrated wines are mentioned, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano spring to mind. But lurking behind these iconic wines lie hidden gems that showcase the breadth and richness of the region’s wine industry. We’ll explore lesser known but equally compelling wines representing a variety of grapes and styles.
Grenache: The World’s Most Versatile Grape | February 18 & 21
Known as Garnacha in Spain and Cannonau in Italy, Grenache offers winemakers a gigantic range of options. Its versatility is breathtaking (and mouthwatering): rosé from Provence, Spanish rosado, stand-alone or blended in Rioja, the “G” in GSM, with Carignane in Priorat, backbone of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, jammy in Barossa Valley, even fortified in Banyuls. We’ll explore as much of it as we can!
Sipping with Gods: Greek Wine from Antiquity to Today | March 18 & 21
A thousand years before the Roman Empire spread vineyards and wine culture throughout Europe, the Greeks had traded wine throughout the ancient world. Homer, Plato and Aristotle all sang wines praises, believing it a gift from the god Dionysus, son of Zeus. We’ll explore Greece’s diverse wine regions, distinctive varietals and the modern revival of Greek winemaking heritage.
Ancient Rivals: Bordeaux and Burgundy | April 1 & 4
Despite (or perhaps because of) the intriguing differences between Bordeaux and Burgundy, the two powerhouse French wine regions have inspired and served as benchmarks for winemakers around the world. We’ll explore how that divergence in histories, winemaking philosophies, climates, grape varietals and even bottle shapes influence the regions’ acclaimed red and white wines.
Old World vs. New World Sauvignon Blanc | May 6 & 9
Sauvignon Blanc is a wine of place, yet easily identified for its crisp, refreshing acidity. For decades, its undisputed benchmarks have been Old World regions of Sancerre, Bordeaux and Alto Adige. But competition has emerged in places far flung as New Zealand, South America and California. We’ll compare varying contexts and choices that produce this “clash” of acclaimed Sauvignon Blanc.
Portugal Uncorked | June 3 & 6
From ancient origins to its modern renaissance, Portugal embodies a rich wine history and a promising future. Sporting a wide array of grape varieties – 250 indigenous! – its recent revitalization is driven by innovation, investment and a new generation of winemakers. We’ll explore the robust Portuguese reds of the Douro region, the effervescence of Vinho Verde and fortified richness of Port.
Red Wines from the Alps: Barolo and Beyond | July 15 & 18
Spanning France, Switzerland, Italy Slovenia and Austria, the Alps are not only one of the world’s most iconic mountain ranges, but also provide a rich and diverse terroir for producing wines, including reds. Alpine reds are known for complexity and depth, reflecting their high-altitude setting. We’ll explore wines from the well-known to those deserving greater attention and appreciation.
California Beyond Napa and Sonoma | August 19 & 22
California’s wine industry is synonymous with its iconic regions, Napa Valley and Sonoma County, and their world-class Cabernet, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. However, the Golden State’s fine wine story is much broader, featuring unique terroirs, innovative winemakers and variety of styles. We’ll explore attention-worthy wines from the Central Coast, Sierra Foothills, SoCal and the North Coast.
Six Families that Revolutionized the Winemaking World | September 16 & 19
Behind the finest bottles of wine lie stories of families whose passion and innovation elevated winemaking to new heights. Often considered Wine Royalty, these families have not only revolutionized the industry, but also defined identities of important regions. We’ll explore the legacies of six pioneering wine families from France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Australia and the United States.
German Wines: Hidden Gem of the Old World | October 28 & 29
Well into the twentieth century, Germany, along with France, was one of two dominant wine producing nations. Featuring steep vineyards and a cool northern climate, it’s winemakers today craft wines that exhibit vivid, pure expressions of fruit. German Riesling – most are dry or a bit off-dry – has become the darling of sommeliers and wine lovers. We’ll explore Germany’s white and red (pinot noir!) wines.
Vino di Sicilia: Wines as Dramatic as Mt. Etna | November 18 & 21
As Italy’s largest region, the island of Sicily enjoys a unique and ancient wine culture influenced by the many nations that conquered it over the millennia. That rich history, along with the fertile black volcanic soil of Mt. Etna, now produces delicious, fascinating wines. We’ll explore Sicily’s reinvented wine industry, unique grape varietals, bold spicy red wines and racy vibrant whites.
Grand Finale | December 16 & 19
We’ll conclude our 2025 program with a tasting of the year’s top wines as curated by Wine Guild director Steve Mancuso.
The Holly Hill Wine Guild was founded in 2008 and is directed by Steve Mancuso.
The Holly Hill Inn wine list features owner Chris Michel’s thoughtfully chosen selections and has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year since 2002. Chris is dedicated to finding the best and most interesting wines possible to pair with our seasonal cuisine, and our wine list features stalwarts and upstarts from the Old World and New!