I had the honor of being a part of this awesome dinner at the Hitching Post in Buellton, California for the Wine Bloggers Conference. We all decided to take a break from the festivities to enjoy a somewhat impromptu Winemaker Dinner with our new found friend, Kyle, winemaker of Press Gang Cellars.

While I am not a surfer, the minute you meet Kyle, you want to go surfing with a guy like this. He has the swagger and laid back attitude of a person who embodies the world of surfing…and now winemaking. His style of winemaking is practiced, passionate, and deliberate, which I would imagine is how he surfs.

He only produces 300 cases of his mostly Rhone varietal wines, which is tiny, yet perfect for someone who is working as an assistant winemaker to one of the most respected wineries in Paso Robles. I personally fell in love with his 2013 Press Gang Cellars Savanna Rhea Grenache Rose, which retails at $20. I only wish I had a glass right now to celebrate this sunny Labor Day Weekend in Portland! For more information on this great winemaker and his wines, visit http://www.pressgangcellars.com/ .

Special thanks to my dear friend and #WBC14 buddy, Jeff, the Drunken Cyclist, for this great write up, as he captures the moments we all shared with Kyle perfectly. Enjoy and Happy Labor Day!