Last night’s Southern Hemisphere wine tasting at Tehama was one of those rare evenings where the energy, the food, the wines, and the people all came together perfectly. Tucked away in the private back dining room — cozy, intimate, and ideal for a spirited blind tasting — our group settled in with high expectations and even higher curiosity.
Before the wines made their appearance, the food set the tone. The chicken sliders were outrageous — the kind of thing people immediately take a second of — and the pizza followed with just as much enthusiasm. Between bites, the room already felt alive, buzzing with anticipation for the lineup ahead.
Wyatt, our host, welcomed everyone with warmth and made sure we were taken care of. And then the real fun began: two teams, six mystery wines, and the collective effort of swirling, sniffing, debating, laughing, overthinking, and trusting instincts.
🍇 The Lineup (Varietals Only!)
Malbec 🇦🇷 Mendoza
Carmenere 🇨🇱 Central Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon 🇦🇺 Coonawarra & Margaret River
Torrontés 🇦🇷 Salta
Chenin Blanc 🇿🇦 Stellenbosch & Swartland
Pinotage 🇿🇦
These weren’t everyday wines. For most of the group, several were first-time experiences. The diversity was incredible — floral Torrontés, smoky Pinotage, electric Chenin Blanc, inky Cabernet from Australia. And woven through it all was that classic blind tasting rollercoaster of confidence, confusion, triumph, and regret.
And then came the big shocker:
The Malbec was the hidden 100-point wine.
Reactions ranged from stunned silence to immediate re-tasting to how did we miss that?!
The battle between the two teams was close, but ultimately my team pulled off 4 correct — thanks in part to an unexpected bit of expertise: Wyatt, of all people, turned out to have a surprising amount of experience with Carmenere, helping us land a correct guess the other team didn’t see coming. A clutch moment and a great story we’ll be laughing about for a while.
After the reveal, the night didn’t slow down. A bonus bottle appeared — a bright, fun Chilean Pinot Noir — and conversations stretched on. Nights like this have a way of pulling people together.
All in all, it was a memorable evening — one filled with discovery, great food, surprising victories, and the shared joy of experiencing wines that don’t often get the spotlight.
Now, the countdown begins for December’s event: Old World vs. New World – White Wine Edition (Round 2).
If last night was any indication… you won’t want to miss it.
