Upper Lake wood carver David Lewis' sculpture of a rabbit.
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio (LCWS) is hosting a wine tasting event featuring the wines of Shannon Ridge & Vigilance Wineries, and double artist billing with woodcarvings by David Lewis and graphic design arts by Timothy O’Meara from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 1, and Saturday, April 2, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Musical guest offering up classic rock, blues and folk music during the reception evenings will be Chris Forshay on his acoustic guitar.
It was the mid-1990s when Clay and Margarita Shannon visited a magnificent high elevation mountain site in Lake County and were captivated by both the beauty and the type of soils they found.
Today, the Shannon vineyards hug the mountain rims along the southeast edge of High Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA).
Perched at approximately 2,200 feet on steep slopes, the vineyards benefit from cooling winds off of Clear Lake during long summer days.
In 2002, Shannon began making wine and the awards and accolades soon followed.
The Vigilance Winery & Vineyards property (named for the watchful Maremma sheep dogs that stand guard over the flocks of sheep) is located in the Red Hills AVA abutting Anderson State Park and Anderson Wildlife Preserve.
Both vineyards are farmed sustainably, relying on a natural land management approach that encourages wildlife activity and involves farm animals, such as the sheep that reside in the vineyards to eat the weeds.
The $10 wine sampler with paired appetizers designed by Shannon Michelle, will include a pairing featuring Shannon Ranch locally raised, hormone-free grass-fed lamb.
The wines to be sampled are Shannon Ridge 2009 “Ranch Collection” Sauvignon Blanc, Vigilance 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, Shannon Ridge 2008 Roussanne and Vigilance 2008 Cimarron.
David Price Lewis was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. As a young man, Lewis worked in the home construction industry in San Fernando Valley.
In the early 1960s he and his family moved to Sutton, West Virginia and while there, he became interested in wildflower and nature photography.
Lewis’ appreciation for nature and craftsmanship skills blended together and he began to carve and chisel local large rocks to decorate his property. He found that he enjoyed the process and upon his return to California to join the family business that his son was operating in Upper Lake, he began carving wood using local woods and wood that friends brought him from their travels.
A fish by Upper Lake wood carver David Lewis.
Over the years he has given many of his creations to friends and family as gifts. What you will see in the collection displayed at the Wine Studio is a very small representation of the carvings he has amassed and displays in his home.
Timothy O’Meara was born and raised in Upper Lake. He studied graphic design and visual arts at California State University, Chico, before graduating in May 2010.
He works with a wide variety of media to create various forms of digital art. O’Meara’s passion lies with design for printed media, such as packaging, advertising and branding, and continues to expand upon his unique style.
On display in the exhibition one might see photography, photo surrealism and manipulation, digital portraiture, branding , packaging and design for advertisements. The viewer can expect a blending of traditional and non-traditional technique and of course, to be inspired.
Lake County Wine Studio is located on the corner of First and Main Streets in historic Upper Lake, across from the famous Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon & Café.
For more information, call Susan Feiler at 707-275-8030 or 707-293-8752.
