SOBE 2026 is SOBE 25…

One of the best food and wine events is just around the corner, SOBE 2026, which is its extra special 25^th anniversary as well. After attending several times, have found the events just keep getting better every year. No doubt two of the best events will be held back to back at the Edon Roc Hotel on the Sat Feb 21: the Favia tasting hosted by Favia’s winemaker Andy Erickson at 3 pm. Followed by Stag’s Leap’s Wine Cellar’s COO Juan Muñoz-Oca hosting a tasting of Stag’s Leap cabs.

Famed Napa winemaker Andy Erickson is taking tasters on a journey through Napa Valley through the lens of Favia, the renowned winery he founded with his wife—viticulturist Annie Favia—in 2003. Taste multiple vintages and sub-appellations, culminating with the first time tasting their newest wine blend, the 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Check out Andy’s NSI quiz after the excellent wines below:

What was last night’s dinner? Home made soup with the ingredients coming from our garden, paired with a nice Pinot Noir that I made myself.

What’s your favorite music? I like all types, but my fav is mid-century jazz, like John Coltrane, Miles Davis. But my fav rock is Led Zep.

What’s your favorite drink? It all leads back to wine. I mean, what’s there not to enjoy, so many varietals, countries, terroirs, winemakers, it is endlessly fascinating.

What’s your favorite Napa restaurant? TORC, downtown Napa, fantastic husband and wife team deliver amazing farm to table food every time. We like to eat at home a lot, but when we do go out, we go to TORC.

What do you like about living and working in Napa the most? Two words: the community. Everything connects from the wineries to the restaurants to the farmers and produce people. Such a sense of helping each other, if one does well we all do as well.

What makes a great winery? It has to be an expression of its place. You got to work with what’s the best for your wines, it’s why Napa is known worldwide for its cabs.

Any wine, restaurant, or trip on your bucket list? Have already done it in a way. My wife and I had a great time, tripping all over northern Italy, sampling these incredible Barolos and Barbarescos. Go back there in an instant.

Any brush with celebrity? We do host famous people now and then, and while I don’t get star-struck, I absolutely love meeting people at the top of their game, whether they are musicians, actors, athletes or business people. It’s amazing to have had an opportunity to have conversations with some the people we have met through the winery. But better to keep the names on the down low.

Final thoughts? Really excited about attending my first SOBE. Love Miami, great town to have some fun, so really looking forward to hosting our tasting and meeting a whole bunch of new people. See you there at the Edon Roc!