Cabernet Shootout Challenge: Pit your Palate Against the Wine Pros January 21, 2012

The Bay Area Wine Society, in partnership with Affairs of the Vine, invites Cabernet enthusiasts to judge the top-rated wines from the 2011 Affairs of the Vine Cabernet Shootout and compare their findings to those of a panel of distinguished wine industry professionals on Saturday, January 21, 2012.

For many vinophiles, January is associated with a major tasting of Zinfandels. Now Cabernet fans can also indulge their passion at the beginning of the year in one of the most dramatic settings in the Bay Area -The Winery SF on Treasure Island. And enjoy the experience without the crowd crush of the mega tastings since only 250 tickets will be sold.

The event includes:

* A Consumers Choice blind tasting of Cabernets
* Winemaker panels discussing the unique characteristics of different Cabernet growing areas
* A walk-around tasting to discuss releases with the vintners who submitted wines for judging.
* A raffle of Gold Medal winning Cabernets from the Cabernet Shootout

From noon to 1:30, concurrent panel sessions with winemakers will explore how this noble varietal is influenced by the terroir of different grape growing areas.

Starting at 1:30 p.m., the finalists from the professionally judged Cabernet Shootout, which include artisan Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet Francs, and Cabernet blends, can now be evaluated in a blind tasting by wine consumers participating in the Cabernet Shootout Challenge.

"This distinctly different format," noted Tom Merle, President of the Bay Area Wine Society, "provides a unique opportunity for people who buy the wine to challenge the tastes of the wine experts."

Afterwards, a walk around tasting, including Cabernet friendly light hors d'oeuvres, will allow attendees to meet the participating vintners and taste their current releases.

The nonprofit One Brick will also be raffling off bottles of Cabernet donated by the participating wineries.

Official Website: http://bayareawinesociety.org