Blackburn + Sweetzer Has Moved

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— Text and photos by Christina von Messling

Celebrating the art of craftsmanship and local produce, artisan producers Valerie Confections and Patz & Hall Winery collaborated with Heath Ceramics and invited guests to a cheerful evening of wine and food tasting in Heath Ceramics Store on Beverly Boulevard.

“We created Chardonnay-Apple-Vanilla Bean Jam as well as a Black Mission Fig-Pinot Noir Jam exclusively for Patz and Hall using their wines,” Stan of Valerie Confections explained. Both were divine (combined with either prosciutto, paté or camembert on crostini), as were the Pinot Noir Truffles, another exclusive creation of the confectionist. Four of Patz & Hall’s single vineyard wines (two Chardonnays and two Pinot Noirs) were poured, the favorite of the evening being the 2007 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay.

The chocolates, the vino, the ceramics…

My favorite was the 2007 Jenkins Ranch Pinot Noir (it went wonderfully with the truffles that were being offered and I couldn’t resist re-tasting several times), it was intensely flavorful and perfect for a cozy California-winter evening. Heath’s store is a treat in and of itself, the minimalist merchandise generously displayed in all the different colors, and the four gift bags that combined items of all three companies (for $50, $100, $200, or $500) were definitely a great temptation.