Wine art Archives - Wine Country Getaways

The Fine Art of Wine

October 1, 2020 by Janelle Becerra

We recently became aware of the wine art by artist Cecilia Anastos. Please take a minute to read her Press Release and discover her art work. You would receive a discount on purchases made through Wine Country Getaways, and you’d be supporting service dogs for adults and children with disabilities. Thank You!

The Fine Art of Wine:

Every year in October, we celebrate wine culture in the Northern Hemisphere. Wine-making is an art and, in celebration of that art, artist Cecilia Anastos presents her collection of wine bottle paintings along with a special offer to members of Wine Country Getaways.

The full wine bottle paintings collection is available at https://www.ceciliaanastos.com/wine-bottle-collection.html

You will receive a 20% discount with coupon WCG2020. Ms. Anastos donates 10% of profit to the nonprofit True Blue Service Dogs, Inc. When you support the arts, you also support service dogs for adults and children with disabilities.

Ms. Anastos expresses her art with acrylic paintings and oil pastels on gallery wrapped canvas or acid free paper. She adds her Italian sense of humor to her artwork – some of the bottles are labeled with the names of The Untouchable men from the Prohibition era, others have the ethanol formula on the label. In 2016, Giorgio Castellani from the Castellani Family Estates in Pontedera, Italy, received a commissioned painting from the artist. The painting was a representation of Bacchus and it was made with Castellani wine.

“If Bacchus ever had a color he could claim for his own, it should surely be the shade of tannin on drunken lips, of John Keat’s ‘purple-stained mouth’, or perhaps even of Homer’s dangerously wine-dark sea.”
― Victoria Finlay

Ms. Anastos’ wine bottle collection of paintings is contemporary, figurative and Bohemian style. Most of the paintings in the wine bottle collection are ready to hang, and she offers free shipping in the US.

When asked to select two of her favorite works, she pointed to the Untouchables series, and the Flip Flop Brut.

At the end of the movie titled “The Untouchables,” only Elliott Ness and George Stone remained standing. The painting titled “Untouchables – Wallace and Malone Have Fallen” (2016) represents that.

In her Flip Flop Brut (2016), the label has the ethanol formula and she wanted to express the dichotomy of the elegance usually accompanied by a champagne bottle with the casual attire rendered by the flip flops.

Passion for creating unique paintings drives her inspiration. She is a self-taught artist. She learned long ago to trust the teacher within and to go to her inner world to fetch ideas for paintings.

You can subscribe to the artist’s monthly newsletter at www.ceciliaanastos.com. Follow the artist on Instagram @ceciliaanastosart; Twitter @AnastosCecilia and LinkedIn @ceciliaanastosart. She can be reached at [email protected].

Artevino – Maple Creek Winery

January 30, 2020 by Joe Becerra

artevino winery in Yorkville Highlands — Yorkville Highlands AVA

Art and Vino at Maple Creek Winery

Once in a while, a wine traveler will feel the need for something different in a winery. A visit to Artevino – Maple Creek Winery is one of those wine experiences that will linger.

Artevino winery is off the beaten path in the Yorkville Highlands AVA. Yorkville Highlands is in southern Mendocino County and just outside the border of the Alexander Valley AVA. Take Highway 128 in Cloverdale to the west. You can take Highway 128 all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Artevino Maple Creek is 30 minutes from the Cloverdale turn off. You will love this rustic little winery.

Artist Tom Rodrigues decides to make wine

Tom Rodriguez at Maple Creek — Tom Rodrigues tends to the tasting room at Maple Creek

It all began for Tom Rodrigues in 2001. An artist by trade in Marin County Tom decides to move from a busy lifestyle to a more quiet life in Mendocino County. He buys the old Maple Creek winery and begins to learn how to make wine with the help of a consulting winemaker. With his skills as an artist, he adds his art work as a refreshing touch to the wines and the winery.

Our first visit to Artevino was in 2008. We recently visited again. It was quite an enjoyable trip, with Tom Rodrigues working in the tasting room. Tom feels his best wines are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. His vineyards are in a cool climate area of the Yorkville Highlands. There is one wine at Artevino that you are unlikely to find in any other wine travels. It is Symphony. Symphony is a California grape that is a cross between a Muscat and Grenache Gris. The Symphony vineyards were on the property when Tom took over. The Artevino Symphony matches perfectly with spicy foods. Bringing home a bottle or two of Symphony leads to great conversation with friends.

Symphony grape vine at Maple Creek Winery — Symphony grapevine at Artevino

The tasting room has many of Tom’s artworks, and they are a pleasure to browse. Besides the paintings, the tasting room is friendly and welcoming. A sign on the door reads, “Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends!” If you plan to visit, the tasting room is open daily 11am to 5 pm. Travelers can combine a visit to Artevino with other wineries in the Yorkville Highlands, or wineries in the Anderson Valley just 20 minutes away.

Check our map below to view a list of wineries along the famous Highway 128. Many folks head to the romantic town of Mendocino on the Coast. Stopping at one or two wineries along the way always adds enjoyment to a visit to Mendocino.

Additional Mendocino Information

Yorkville and Anderson Valley Wine Map

Paso Robles Art and Wine Tour in September

August 29, 2015 by Joe Becerra

Erin Hanson Art & Wine tour in Paso Robles

15 Paso Robles wineries to participate in the Erin Hanson Art & Wine Tour 2015

Something quite different will take place in the Paso Robles wine country in September. Fifteen Paso Robles wineries will participate in the Erin Hanson Art & Wine Tour 2015. These select Paso Robles wineries will feature the oil paintings of impressionist artist Erin Hanson. Erin has spent the past five years exploring the Central Coast and Paso Robles wine country. Her paintings of wine country are stunning, with brilliant colors and brush strokes that present a vibrant and passionate view of the wine country. Those who visit these wineries will not only be able to view the paintings, but also be able to enter their names to win an original piece of art by Erin Hanson as well as this beautiful California Wine Country Book. For those who do not wish to drive from winery to winery, visitors can take the Art Hop. The Hop On, Hop Off Wine Tour is offering a special excursion to select wineries on the west and east sides of Paso Robles wine country. Additional information.

A chance to win this book

Erin Hanson’s California Wine Country

This is a beautiful coffee table book. The landscapes just seem to pop out from each page. This is the type of book to be enjoyed with a glass of your favorite wine. The book and the wine will enhance your experience. I have an extra copy of “California Wine Country: Impression in Oil” by Erin Hanson that was sent to me by the publisher. I am offering readers of this article a chance to win this book. Here is all you have to do. Sign up for our email subscription list (we do not share your email). The sign-up email form is at the bottom left of this Web page. Secondly, write one or two sentences about Paso Robles wine country. Those who are already on our email list also qualify by entering a comment. We will run this one-book giveaway contest until the end of the day on September 3. The winner will be chosen by a random drawing and be announced the following day.

Napa Valley Bits & Pieces of News – Wine Train Debacle

August 26, 2015 by Joe Becerra

To ride or not ride the train in Napa

Is Wine Tasting in the Napa Valley a Whites only activity?

The recent Wine Train debacle where a women’s book club of 10 Black women and one white woman were kicked off the wine train brought something clearly to my attention. We visit many tasting rooms in the Napa Valley and Sonoma, as frequently as any wine country travelers. The wine train incident made me realize that wine tasting in the Napa Valley and elsewhere in California is largely a White activity. Rarely in a Napa Valley or Sonoma tasting room does one see people of color enjoying a wine tasting flight. The only people of color I see in a tasting room are Latinos who work in the cellar or in the vineyards. We occasionally see Japanese visitors, but they are usually with a large tour group from Japan. I realize there are a few Latino and African American vintners in the Napa Valley, but why are there so few who come to the wine country to wine and dine? Are we intimidated or just not interested? We’d appreciate some feedback on this question.

The works of Ben Nixon at Mumm Napa Art Gallery

New art exhibit at Mumm Napa

The very cool Mumm Napa art gallery has a new exhibit opening this Saturday, August 29, called “Timeless California & The Sierras: Photographs by Ben Nixon.” Ben Nixon creates landscapes using a 19th century, wet-plate collodion process. As you can see from the above photo, the images are very different and striking. A Mumm Napa Sparkling Gallery Opening Reception with Ben Nixon is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, and is open to the public. Details: “Join us and Ben Nixon for an evening of sparkling wine, stunning art, and the opportunity to learn about Ben’s unique photography style, all while sipping Mumm Napa sparkling wines. August 29, 6:30-8pm. No fee to attend, RSVP Required. RSVP at 800.686.6272.”

Harvest activities

The harvest of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc is nearing completion, with the red grapes of Cabernet Sauvignon at the forefront nearing harvest. So far it looks like yields are down but, according to many in the vineyards, the quality is high. Cabernet Sauvignon will be harvested very shortly. Vintners who like a lighter style will harvest their Cab grapes within a week or so. Those who like a more robust Cabernet style of wine will harvest in two to three weeks.

Cairdean Vineyards introduces “Whites in Flight”

Cairdean Vineyards is offering a taste of five unique white wines inspired by the wines from around the globe. These are Gewurztraminer, Picpoul Blanc, Riesling, Rousanne and Fume Blanc. It is very interesting that a Napa Valley winery would undertake the production of a 100% Roussane and the obscure Picpoul Blanc grape. I tasted all these wines; they are delicious and a welcomed change-of- pace from the usual fare of Chardonnay. At the winery, one can purchase these wines for $125 in a six-pack with a bonus bottle of the Cairdean Estate Rosé. Tasting this flight is $25 at the winery’s elegant tasting room.

Hall Winery in St. Helena

July 25, 2015 by Joe Becerra

The beautiful tasting room at Hall winery in St. Helena

Last Wednesday we had the chance to tour and taste at Hall winery in St. Helena. Our previous visit to Hall was in November 2006. What dramatic changes since our last visit! In 2013, the Hall winery opened a new winery facility and hospitality center. The owners are Kathyrn Hall and Craig Hall, both successful in business, and Kathyrn once the United States Ambassador to Austria. In short, this dynamic duo have turned the winery they established in 2003 into a very popular tourist center and a state-of-the-art winery, churning out 125,000 cases a year. The winery is LEED certified and their estate vineyards are organically farmed. There are many attractions at the winery, and most evident is the Hall Family art collection and how it is displayed around the entire winery. Along Highway 29, one cannot miss the silver rabbit as it appears to be jumping out of the vineyards. In the Hall winery reception area, entry wine tasters are welcomed by a huge, brilliant quilted medallion. Just about everywhere you turn in the winery, you will find unusual works of art. This includes the barrel room, fermenting area, restrooms, hallways, and outdoor areas.

On the Hall estate is one of the several so-called Ghost Wineries that are found throughout the Napa Valley. This one is the Bergfeld Winery built in 1885. The Bergfeld structure has been completely restored by the Halls and is used for special events at the winery. It’s a beautiful structure and surely, in the after-midnight hours, one or two ghosts are likely to roam the old winery.

Upstairs is where the tasting room is located. The tasting room is very open and spacious. There is also a large deck where visitors can taste wine. The tasting room offers some very pretty views of the Hall Estate, including a great view of the Mayacamus Mountains to the west. There are many different taste and tour options for visitors beyond just a regular tasting of wines. A complete list of these options can be found on the Hall Winery Website. Hall makes many different wines; the server at our tasting mentioned “40 or so.” Only five of these wines are distributed, so the majority of the Hall wines are available only at the winery or to wine club members. Hall is open daily from 10am to 5:30pm and is located at 401 St. Helena Highway So. (Highway 29 just south of the town of St. Helena). Get there early in the day on weekends. It is a very popular spot among wine country travelers.

Hall Winery Slide Show

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Other wineries in the area and travel information

Wine Country Art by Elizabeth Bollwitt

July 16, 2015 by Janelle Becerra

We thought Elizabeth’s paintings were so beautiful and interesting that we asked her to write a guest blog. What initially caught our attention were her wine-related works. Be sure to check out her website for these and other paintings. We hope to see more of them in wine country art galleries. www.artbybollwitt.com

Hello, my name is Elizabeth Bollwitt. I am a self-taught artist who paints with a very organized brush stroke giving my work a flowing almost liquid effect. The viewer can then step back and abstract from the work a bit and yet the scene is intact. The paintings are completely done with colored dots. Some know this as pointillism, which is considered a science of sorts that deals with the theory of color and exact placement of that color. Respectfully, when compared to this science . . . I just blob it on there.

By layering the primary and secondary colored dots, the scenes make for some of the most vibrant colors visible to the human eye. Loving the challenge of making something out of nothing is what makes hours seem like minutes. I like to hustle to the chair, sit down and do the work. Inspiration, I would never get anything done if I had to wait for or romance Inspiration first. When someone says, you know what, I think that how about this, have you ever tried, when will you… I write it all down and diligently work through a long list of words and ideas that I have compiled. That is the footprint for all my artwork.

I was raised and currently reside in eastern Iowa near the Mississippi River. I have a BA in computer graphics with a background in publishing and marketing. My life centers around my kids, family, business, and painting. I also enjoy carving, photography, canoeing, tennis, target practicing, traveling and taking the Harley out for a ride.

The painting shown above is PROST (German for Cheers). The painting PROST can be viewed at V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena, CA., a family-owned winery established in 1885. The two paintings below are Sunset Flower and Shutters. To view, more please visit www.artbybollwitt.com.

Wine Bottle Art

June 29, 2014 by Janelle Becerra

Diane Selmi – Wine Bottle Art

If you’re looking for a special gift for one of your wine lover friends, an original wine bottle art painting by Diane Selmi might just be the perfect choice.

Diane started painting unique wine bottles 10 years ago when she retired after a long career as a travel agent. She saw a picture of bottles in a magazine and was taken by the explosion of colors and reflection. She had just added a small studio to her house and was starting to paint other subjects, when she put everything aside and began composing wine bottles. She enthusiastically experimented with shapes, placement, light and color.

Each label is chosen very carefully and is a painting in itself. Diane began giving her paintings as gifts, and as they were seen by others, she started to get requests for commissions. The idea of personalizing the labels came to her very early on. Diane has included the names of family members, pets, boats, favorite places, as well as favorite wine bottles in the compositions.

It’s hard to believe that Diane has had no formal training in painting, but she says she recognizes a future painting when she sees a subject that has the light and color she loves. She has sold many of her paintings and has made notecards to sell or give as gifts.

Diane paints with acrylic and has painted on canvasses 24X24 to 48X60. The paintings are unframed and prices range from $500 to $2500. She does not currently have a website but can be reached on Facebook or by emailing: [email protected]