UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Wine Studio in Upper Lake will feature the release of R Vineyards 2012 Vineyard Select Cabernet Franc on Saturday, Jan. 17, from 2 to 5 p.m.
 
The Best of Class Gold medal-winning 2013 R Vineyards Viognier (vee-ohn-yay) will also be available along with a special sampling preview of the soon to be released R Vineyards 2013 Old Vine Zinfandel.
 
Cost for the wine sampler with paired appetizer bites is $10 per person.
 
“I am pleased with the Cabernet Franc,” winemaker David Rosenthal. “I have always been a fan of this varietal. It offers more flesh and sweetness of fruit than Cabernet Sauvignon.”
 
Longtime grape growers in Middletown, the Rosenthal family started a line of fine wines in 2014 under the brand name R Vineyards.
 
In 1997 they planted Cabernet Franc primarily to be sold as a grape blending component for Bordeaux-style wines.

As the vines matured, the Rosenthal’s realized the “stand alone” potential of the Cabernet Franc.
 
“Cabernet Franc has a distinct fruit forward style that is quite pleasing to the palate,” said Rosenthal. “Wines and Vines magazine listed Cabernet Franc as one of the best-selling varietals. They say this grape varietal had the fastest sales growth rate of any major wine type in 2014.”
 
The newly released Cabernet Franc and the 2013 Viognier are from the Rosenthal’s vineyard. Both wines are 100-percent Lake County fruit grown in the Jafa soils on the flanks of the Mayacamas Mountains in Middletown.
 
The 2012 Cabernet Franc is big and expansive yet remarkably graceful. The wine opens with a bouquet of black currants, plum and subtle spices. The tannins are firm and nicely structured delivering chocolate mocha, cassis and plum flavors with cedar notes and a vanilla bean finish.
 
The 2013 Viognier is the R Vineyards signature white wine and it is simply exquisite. The jasmine, honeysuckle and mango aromas lead to enjoyable mouth flavors and a creamy finish with a spicy note and a hint of vanilla. The wine is dry.
 
The soon to be released R Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel is from the Hoodoo Creek Vineyard block of the adjoining Rosenthal property. Its vines were planted in 1937.
 
To date, the Old Vine Zinfandel grapes have been bottled and released under the Medusa and Chef Tyler Florence wine labels.

The finished wine has received a 91 from the Wine Spectator and a 90 from Wine Enthusiasts. The Rosenthal’s will officially release the R Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel in the spring of 2015.
 
During Rosenthal’s 30-plus years in winemaking, he has collaborated with a number of North Coast winemakers and consultants including Andre Tchelistcheff.

Today, Rosenthal handles the winemaking for Yokayo Wine Co. in Ukiah and manages the vineyards in Middletown along with his family. They have been growing winegrapes in Lake County since the early 1970’s.
 
R Vineyards wines are currently available at Lake County Wine Studio, 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake.
 
For more information about R Vineyards wine tasting or Lake County Wine Studio contact Susan Feiler at 707-275-8030 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Law Library Board of Trustees will hold a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 15.

The group will meet at noon at the the library, located at 175 Third St. in Lakeport, across from the courthouse.

Agenda items include the financial report for the period Nov. 30 through Dec. 31; reappointment of trustees Shanda Harry and Dennis Fordham; the law librarian's log for December and January, which includes patron logs and vendor usage.

The board is next set to meet on Thursday, Feb. 20.

The library board includes President Mike Ewing, Secretary Dennis Fordham, Judge Andrew Blum, Judge Michael Lunas, Deputy County Counsel Shanda Harry and attorney Mary Heare Amodio.

For more information, contact the law librarian at 707-263-2205.

Visit the library online at www.lakecountyca.gov/law .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Sons of Norway Vikings of Lake Lodge No. 6-166 will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the lodge's founding on Saturday, Jan. 17.

The group will gather at 1:30 p.m. at Galilee Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 8860 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville.

There will be a potluck of Norwegian foods lovingly prepared by members.

At 2 p.m. the lodge will install its officers for 2015, led by by Zone 1 Director Tove Lise Miller.

The group will enjoy a look back at its 10-year history of fun, family and fraternalism.

For more information, contact Kirby Aasen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 707-279-8699.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Saturday, Jan. 10, the Clear Lake Cardinals hosted their third annual Michael Kroppmann Invitational Wrestling Tournament. 

With a handful of wrestlers unable to participate, the Cardinals were still able to take the fifth place team trophy, along with the outstanding heavyweight award for Clear Lake’s 220-pound wrestler Julian Lewis.

Lewis went 3-0, all by pin, to take first in his class.

Tyler Buchholz, 160 pounds, and Issac Lewis, 152 pounds, each brought home silver medals.

Emily Psalmonds pinned her way to gold in the 103-113 pound girls division, while Mariela Soto (3-1) took bronze.

Also wrestling in the tournament for Clear Lake was Jacob Caldwell, 145 pounds; and Caleb Blyleven, 113 pounds.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The field trip hosted by the Redbud Audubon Society on Saturday, Jan. 17, will be to the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge and the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge in the Sacramento Valley.

Carpooling is available. Participants leave Lower Lake at 8 a.m.

Please meet on the east end of the Main Street to park in a place that won’t interfere with merchants in town. They are usually parked on the right.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to view a wide variety of migrating wildfowl with expert Audubon birders.

This is always a fun day and the public is invited to participate.

Dress in layers; bring a lunch and water to enjoy at the Sacramento NWR after a morning of birding.

This is a wonderful trip even if it is a chilly day as most of the birding is done from your car.

For more information and to make reservations, contact Pat Harmon at 707-263-4977.

Information about the Redbud Audubon Society also is available at www.redbudaudubon.org .

 
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Lake County mindfulness teacher and author JoAnn Saccato will present a free two-hour workshop based on her upcoming eight-week course, Compassion-based Mindfulness for Stress Reduction, Personal Clarity and Emotional Freedom.

The workshop will be held at Harbin Hot Springs, 18424 Harbin Springs Road, Middletown, on Sunday, Jan. 18, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Temple.

The event is free, though attendees must be registered as a Harbin guest.
 
The free workshop is fashioned after Saccato's courses, which begin Tuesday, Jan. 13, in Lower Lake and Thursday, Jan. 15, in Lakeport.

The courses focus on engaging the participants with a new or renewed self-dialogue of discovery through journaling; guided mindfulness exercises that deepen awareness of present moment experience; and learning how to set meaningful intentions that are aligned with personal values.

Saccato also will provide information on the stress reducing benefits of a mindfulness practice.
 
Mindfulness is a body-based practice that invites one to pay kind, nonjudgmental attention to direct experience through the senses, thoughts and emotions.

Studies indicate that mindfulness can help reduce stress and stress-related illnesses; increase focus and attention; decrease incidences of, and relapses with, depression; help reduce anxiety; and aid in sleep and digestive disorders.
 
“Besides reducing stress, all three of these activities work together to help participants gain deeper clarity, a new vitality, and freedom in their lives,” said Saccato.

Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and be ready for gentle movement exercises.
 
Saccato is author of “Companioning the Sacred Journey: A Guide to Creating a Compassionate Container for Your Spiritual Practice.”

For more information on Saccato and Compassion-based Mindfulness for Stress Reduction, Personal Clarity and Emotional Freedom courses, visit www.companioningthesacredjourney.com or call 707-350-1719.

For more information on visiting Harbin Hot Springs, visit www.harbin.org .