Taste N Trip: A Taste Of Camarillo 2015

A Taste Of Camarillo Wine Auction Gala and Festival were both a good time again this year!

The Live Wine Auction at the Gala was hosted by Tom & Sandy of Live 805, who else?

This year the theme was Celebrating Our Troops and the atmosphere and entertainment were a throwback to earlier times with Bob Hope impersonator Lynn "Win" Roberts and musical acts that covered Frank Sinatra songs and other vintage tunes.

Lynn performed a quick preview of his act on Saturday at the Gala and then he got into his Bob Hope/USO mode on the main stage on Sunday. "Do you still believe in free speech?"

Jon Stanger's Jazz Trio entertained before and during dinner on Saturday at the Gala. The trio includes Jon Stanger on saxophone, Kevin O’Neal on piano and Donnell Lambert on upright bass. They played some classic tunes plus some very nice contemporary jazz during dinner.

Danny DeLurgio's band was on stage during the festival and I watched them perform the Cole Porter classic "I've Got You Under My Skin." It was written in 1936, popularized by Frank Sinatra beginning in 1946, and it was even a Top 10 Hit for the Four Season in 1966.

I enjoyed tasting wine, food and beer in the VIP "O Club" area, the Enlisted Men's Club brew tent, and on the Camarillo Ranch grounds with the Vietnam-era Huey helicopter pouring Fireman's Brew.

Many of the winemakers, brewers and chefs were available to talk with anyone and everyone about their passion. I especially enjoyed talking with winemakers Mike Brown (Cantara Cellars), Rob Wagner (Magnavino Cellars), Angela Soleno (Turiya Wines), Erick Allen (Ascension Cellars), Mike Giovinazzo (Sunland Vintage Winery), Vito Panaro (Panaro Brothers Winery), Lee Williams (Golden Star Vineyards) and Doug Timewell (Toucan Wines).

The craft brews, wines and food I managed to sample were all very good. I only wish that I could have tried them all!

BEER
Anacapa Brewing Company
Coachella Valley Brewing
Enegren Brewing Company
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Island Brewing Co.
Karl Strauss Brewing Co.
Mammoth Brewing Company
Mendocino Brewing Co.
Poseidon Brewing Co.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Surf Brewery
The Lab Brewing Co. @ The Twisted Oak Tavern
Westlake Brewing Co.

WINE
Aldabella Winery
Alma Sol Winery
Ascension Cellars
August Ridge Vineyards
Barr Estate Winery
Bedford Winery
Brecon Estate
Cantara Cellars
Frank Family Vineyards
Fratelli Perata
Golden Star Vineyards
Herzog Wine Cellars
Sculpterra Winery & Sculpture Garden
Sextant Wines
Sunland Vintage Winery
The Sanger Family of Wines - Consilience
Tobin James Cellars
Toucan Wines
Turiya Wines

FOOD
Aloha Steakhouse
Conejo Valley Catering
Old Town Café
Ottavio’s Italian Restaurant
Safire – An American Bistro
The Twisted Oak Tavern
Verona Trattoria

SILENT AUCTION & BOUTIQUES

The Silent Auction at the Festival had entertainment items, like tickets to San Francisco's Pier 39, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Magic Castle. Additionally, there were restaurant gift certificates, jewelry and gardening accessories.