Nov 12 – Rodney Strong Wines
This will be FUN! It’s all about Rodney Strong Vineyards with two good friends; Chris O’Gorman, Director of Communications and Justin Seidenfeld, Senior VP of Winemaker.
Chris O’Gorman and I go way back, we have judged at several wine competitions together and I have visited him at the many other wineries where his made an impact. He has really made a difference at Rodney Strong and continues to lead in every aspect of media relations, public relations and communications. Chris and I will be talking all about the history and success of Rodney Strong Vineyards, the other labels that are part of the portfolio, the legacy Mr. Strong left behind and what the future holds for this dynamic premium winery in Sonoma.
Justin Seidenfeld serves as Winemaker for Rodney Strong Vineyards, the iconic Sonoma County Winery that was founded in 1959 by namesake Rod Strong. Justin’s winemaking career began in Sebastopol, California, where he was an intern at Iron Horse winery in 2005. He quickly rose from cellar hand to taking on winemaking responsibilities which led to a position in 2006 at the venerable Robert Mondavi Winery in the Napa Valley.
As a harvest enologist at Mondavi, Seidenfeld walked some of California’s premiere vineyards and gained a comprehensive understanding of quality land and viticulture. Continuing on to become an enologist, he took that experience into winemaking and supervised the winemaking of Estancia, Clos du Bois, Simi, and others within the Constellation portfolio. Additional responsibilities included overseeing small lot Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir winemaking. Justin graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2006 with a B.S. in Viticulture & Enology.
It will be great FUN talking about the vineyards and wines of Rodney Strong. The portfolio covers most every range and exceptional growing regions where grapes are sourced.
We’ll also be given you info about the American Institute of Wine & Food, Wichita Chapter’s Holiday Dinner where you will have the opportunity to meet Chris and Justin as our guest hosts for the Rodney Strong dinner celebration December 2nd. The event is at the recently opened Hilton Garden Inn at 401 E Douglas Ave, Wichita. Details posted soon at www.aiwfwichita.org
Good Life Guy’s Wines of the week:
The 2019 Rodney Strong Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon
This Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon is rich with dark cherry, plum and baking spices. The delicious fruit is accompanied by black pepper notes, crushed violet and cassis. The palate has medium tannins, lingering spicy oak flavors with a velvety lush finish. Enjoy this Cabernet Sauvignon now with a grilled steak, rack of lamb or grilled winter vegetables. 100% Cabernet aged 16 months in French and American oak (20% new). ABV14.5%
Also have a couple of surprise wines too! 🙂
In this debut collection, Lauren shares favorite dishes that can be easily prepared for entertaining, which allows you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your guests and family. Some of the recipes are made from scratch, while others make creative use of store-bought convenience foods and pre-made products that help save time. Lauren is also passionate about making sure the surroundings of the occasion are as beautiful as the meal is delicious. She provides suggestions for flowers, linens, and surfaces that won’t add stress or break the bank. And to complete your planning, suggested menus for occasions such as an intimate date night or a meet the neighbors gathering are sprinkled throughout the book to help plan out themed meals, along with tips on how to set the scene for the occasion. 
