Eat, Drink, Savor: 68th Annual Wine & Food Tasting draws over 50 vendors

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The Gabilan Chapter Seneca 68th Annual Wine & Food Tasting, California’s oldest wine-tasting event, was held on August 24 at Swank Farms. A fundraiser for the Seneca Family of Agencies, 33 wine, beer and beverage makers and 20 restaurants and food vendors showed their support of the organization by sharing some of the best food and wine from San Benito County.

“Things are going great today,” said Kris Waller, a BenitoLink trustee and member of the Gabilan Chapter Seneca Auxiliary, which put on the event. “The tents are more spread out, we have some new vendors and everyone here looks forward to having a great time.”

Waller offered an initial estimate of over $100,000 raised, including $44,000 from the eight-item live auction. Two barrels of Calera Wine proved to be the auction’s highlight: a 2022 Mt. Harlan Mills Vineyard Pinot Noir sold for $17,000 and a 2022 Calera Mt. Harlan Chardonnay for $8,000. The barrels represented the entire output of those two wines for that year and had a combined value of $50,000.

Other action items included the use of the Swank Barn event venue for up to 200 guests, eight tickets to a 2025 University of Alabama Football Game, tickets for eight to the Yogi Bear Family Fun Park in Lodi, a vacation on Lake Nacimiento, two Emerald Fold E-Bikes and three hours of SimShot Simulation Firearm Training.

For the first time this year, attendees could purchase VIP tickets that allowed for early entry and access to a private tent. But the two-and-a-half-hour event offered plenty of food and wine for everyone.

Vendors included long-time participants like Mike and Allison Scapoli from Round Table Pizza, who brought chicken and garlic, pepperoni, Maui Zowie and three other pizzas and some new to the fundraiser, like Anthony Copriviza from Pelayo Cider. 

A few of the highlights:

Fortuno Winery—This Gilroy winery poured several wines, including their Mirabella, named after the founder’s wife, Marie. The blend changes yearly and the current vintage is made with cabernet sauvignon, carignan and Sangiovese.  It’s a soft wine that tickles your palette with boysenberries and has a silky smooth finish. In other incarnations, this was one of my mom’s favorites.

The Smoke Point BBQ/Blair Winery—Always a favorite, Smoke Point served chicken wings with a tangy, spicy sauce and handed out “BBQ Bucks” worth $5 off at the restaurant. The wings and sauce went exceptionally well with the wine that Jeffrey Blair, from Blair Winery, poured at the next table. The 2018 Estate Pinot Noir, made with three pinot clones, was particularly nice, with balanced tannins, a gorgeous fruitiness and a dry finish.

Damm Family Vineyards/Pinnacle Beer—Brewer Ralph Chavez was pouring his own Backyard Blonde Ale and DAMM Good Hazy, along with a selection of Damm Family Vineyards wines. “Both beers are true to their form,” Chavez said, “The blonde is easy-drinking, crisp and light and the hazy is also light with lots of tropical notes.” I liked the hazy—it was bright, refreshing and very nicely done.  I also tried the 2021 Damm Malbec, which was very smooth and fruit-intense.

Grillin & Chillin Alehouse—Brewer Frank Sanchez and owner Chuck Frowein poured Alehouse favorites Good Time Charley and 831 Beer and one new to me, Puck Off and Chill Amber Ale, which was medium-bodied and full of citrus and notes of pine. Frowien was also handing out cups filled with his tender pulled pork served on a bed of white mac and cheese, topped with sliced jalapenos. “This event is a great way to visit with our long-time customers,” Froewein said, “to meet some new customers and to give back to the community.” 

Running Rooster—One of my favorite spots of the day, this restaurant served two simple things made very well: prosciutto skewers with mozzarella cheese and a watermelon, mint and feta salad. I particularly enjoyed the cold cubed watermelon mixed with shredded spearmint, a great combination that rose to the level of a fun craft mocktail. 

Wild Eye Winery—This San Juan Bautista winery served three wines that won medals at the Orange County Fair competition. I tried the 2021 Pinot Noir, which had soft oak and fresh fruit notes with an appealing brightness in the finish. “We’ve been coming to this event since the dawn of time,” said owner and winemaker Mike Bernsen. “Seneca is a great local charity we have supported for years.” 

Crave Wine Co./Bernardus—With help from Robert Galvin, Maura Cooper and Mike Kohne poured a wide variety of wines, including Belle Glos Pinot Noir, Hess Cabernet Sauvignon, Ackerman Cremant de Loire, Bernardus Sauvignon Blanc and Bernardus Rose along with a few available in California exclusively through Crave. The pinot was all white pepper, plums, dried cherries and bright acid, just a joy to drink.

Farmhouse Cafe—Owner Becky Herbert said it was great to see such a large turnout and that it was a fun way to socialize with the community for a good cause. She brought gazpacho, stuffed mushrooms and a delicious Greek salad with multi-colored grilled vegetables and orzo.

Margot’s Ice Cream—Margot Takersley has been a fixture at this event for years, highlighting the best of her shop in San Juan Bautista. A truly great vanilla bean ice cream is not always easy to find, and I love the one she gets from Lappert’s. She also had another Lappert’s flavor which, due to allergies, I could not have: the Kauai Pie, made with Kona Coffee Ice Cream, Hawaiian Macadamia Nuts, shredded and lightly toasted coconut, and rich dark chocolate fudge.

Bliss Blendz—Owner Kristina Hastings brought gluten-free mochi waffles topped with wild blueberry preserves and whipped cream. I had not seen these before in her shop but I will be absolutely be back for more. Hastings pretended not to notice as I ate about five samples—they were irresistible and packed with flavor. These are absolutely a must-try next time you are in San Juan.

Harvest Time Roadhouse—The tri-tip sliders that owner Adam Jones brought last year were one of the big hits of the day. This year, he brought “Cowboy Sliders,” small burgers made “the best beef you ever had in your life,” according to Jones, topped with cheese, special sauce, pickles and jalapenos. They must have gone over just as well as the tri-tip because every time I passed by, he was cooking up another batch and all the samples were gone!

Attendee Brenda Weatherly said that she had really enjoyed the Wild Eye Winery wines and the event itself.

“Swank Farms is a great venue,” she said, “ and it is nice running into people I have not seen in a while and reconnecting.  And all of the food and wine has been great and it is all for a wonderful cause.”

Recommendations for future Eat, Drink, Savor articles can be emailed to roberteliason@benitolink.com.    —

BenitoLink thanks our underwriters, Hollister Super and Windmill Market, for helping to expand the Eat, Drink, Savor series and give our readers the stories that interest them. Hollister Super (two stores in Hollister) and Windmill Market (in San Juan Bautista) support reporting on the inspired and creative people behind the many delicious food and drink products made in San Benito County. All editorial decisions are made by BenitoLink.