[October 15] The Night We Escaped To France

Last night’s French White Varietals blind tasting felt less like a wine event and more like a gathering among old friends — even for those meeting for the first time. The evening began outdoors, where Raaj, our gracious host, greeted everyone with food that perfectly matched the cool Carmel evening. The fire crackled, glasses clinked, and laughter started flowing before the first wine was even poured.

When it was finally time to begin the tasting, we moved indoors to Raaj’s stunning formal dining room — the kind of space that makes you whisper wow under your breath. Surrounded by incredible art and decor, two teams faced off in a battle of palate and intuition.

The lineup was nothing short of spectacular:

  • Chardonnay — Côte de Beaune
  • Gewürztraminer — Alsace
  • Muscat à Petits Grains — Alsace
  • Marsanne–Roussanne Blend — Rhône
  • Sémillon — Bordeaux (Sauternes / Barsac)
  • Melon de Bourgogne — Loire (Muscadet)
  • Riesling — Alsace

And hidden among them? Not one, but two 100-point wines.

What began as friendly competition quickly turned into full-on detective work — swirling, sniffing, debating, second-guessing. One team leaned on logic, the other on instinct. In the end, one team got just a bit luckier than the other, but everyone walked away humbled and grinning.


After the reveal, no one was in a hurry to leave. A new game of "Does it Pape?" was invented where we tried to guess which Chateauneuf-du-Pape was the Kirkland Signature (Costco brand) vs. the actual traditional wine maker. Fun fact, Kirkland Signature was in fact the crowd favorite. Lastly, Raaj graciously shared a few special bottles from his cellar to close out the night. And as the last sips were savored, and conversation stretched late into the night, everyone was excited for the next event in the series, Southern Hemisphere Wines. 

Nights like this remind us why I love what we do — great wines, great company, and the shared thrill of being just a little bit wrong. Thanks for joining and I hope to see you next time.

Cheers, 

Alex Morales