Huge turnout makes Malibu Wine Classic a smashing success.
By Kim Devore / Staff Writer
Hundreds of wine lovers hit Westward Beach for the 3rd Annual Malibu Wine Classic on Saturday. Founders Michael Barnes and John Selman turned a seaside parking lot into a tented ocean-view tasting room and hosted a full house at both the afternoon and evening sessions.
The event was a big draw for locals and out-of-towners alike.
Local Jane Seymour looked angelic sipping Central Coast Chardonnay at sundown against a dramatic sky filled with cotton candy-colored clouds. Emilio Estevez elbowed his way through the crowd as did actor Stanley Tucci and artist Brent Livingston Strong. The Sheriff’s Department was out in force to monitor the festivities, while the new Malibu Loop shuttle service made sure that wine-imbibing revelers had a safe trip home.
To keep the crowd operating on a full stomach, local eateries were serving up a storm. Sam Savoia of Lino was putting together platters of tasty Asian lettuce cups and stuffed baby bell peppers. There was flash grilled ahi from Duke’s, tangy mustard chicken from Allegria and soft, triple cream Brie from the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills.
In addition to local wineries like Malibu Vineyards and Rosenthal, the event featured dozens of sought-after boutique outfits like L’Aventure and Saxum. Selman was running around like a madman keeping the event running smoothly and pointing out killer pours in the process.
“That’s murderers row right there,” he said, gesturing toward Lone Madrone and Tablas Creek, which were showcasing their very best blends.
Grape groupies did the Sideways shimmy over to Arcadian where they raved about the Sleepy Hollow Pinot, then cruised over to Calcareous for a taste of the York Mountain Cab.
There were wineries from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo and every vintner had a story to tell. Sara Brucker hails from a family of court-appointed winemakers, which dates back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. These days, you’ll find the Herzog clan in Oxnard where they churn out high-end kosher creations. Aeronautical engineering student-turned-grape grower Matt Trevisan was pouring six different wines from his Linne Colado line. His secret?
“I’m all about blends,” he declared. “It’s much easier to make wines from grapes that were meant to grow in the region than from grapes that were not meant to grow there.”
Malibu’s Jim Palmer, meantime, describes his move into winemaking as “a totally romantic vision.”
Palmer debuted his 2003 syrah at last year’s wine classic. Since then, his bottles have created a big buzz and can be found on wine lists at some of the city’s top eateries. “My biggest accomplishment,” he says, “was not giving up.”
At the end of the day, 1,500 wine fans got a taste of the Malibu. They raised their glasses as well as money to benefit Childhelp USA.
The classic got off to a good start and just like a glass of 2004 Picpoul Blanc, Selman loved the finish.
“We really wanted people to have fun, to know that something like this can happen in Malibu and maintain a high level of quality at the same time. I think we did that.”