UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a wine release party and artist show reception with Andy and Shannon Pestoni of Jelly Jar Wines and artist, Bonnie Sears on Friday, Feb. 3, from 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 4, from 4 to 7 p.m.
 
The $15 ($12.50/per person for studio club members) wine sampler and appetizers by Chic Le Chef will showcase Jelly Jar 2013 Hearsay White Blend (Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat) paired with herb goat cheese with fresh thyme and toasted almond crostini, 2016 Sauvignon Blanc with a salad of house smoked salmon, grapefruit, avocado and cucumber on won ton chip, 2016 Rosé with a roast chicken slider, and the 2014 Old Vine Zinfandel with five spice beef skewers with roasted butternut squash, ginger and garlic purée.

Andy Pestoni is a fourth generation winemaker whose great-grandfather, Albino Pestoni, came from Italy with his family and settled in St. Helena in the late 1890s. Making wine was part of their heritage.

Backyard vineyards were planted and family members were enlisted to harvest and crush grapes. They crafted food-friendly wines to enjoy around the family table – most often out of jelly jars.

Pestoni worked harvests at Beaulieu Vineyard while attending college and then went on to work in the cellar at Ferrari-Carrano in Sonoma County for several years.

When his father and uncle bought a winery in the town of Rutherford they asked Pestoni to join them to launch their new family winery. Pestoni became the winemaker at Rutherford Grove Winery & Vineyards in 1996.

In 2005, Pestoni and his wife Shannon founded Jelly Jar Wines, a family endeavor marking a return to early California winemaking and their family heritage, and together they handle every aspect of production from start to finish.

Jelly Jar Wines are made with Lake County wine grapes from single vineyard sites Pestoni has personally chosen for their unique character, which he crafts into food-friendly wines to be enjoyed with family and friends.

Artist Bonnie Sears returns to the Wine Studio with a showing of her photography.  A California native raised in Santa Rosa, Sears has lived in Lake County for 30-plus years and loves photographing the beautiful landscape.

When she is not at work at Beckstoffer Vineyards or volunteering as a member and officer of organizations such as the Lake County Winegrape Commission and California Women for Agriculture, she is often out and about enjoying Lake County at its finest.

Sears first began snapping photos with a point-shoot-click camera in the early 70s. It was her mom that saw the potential and purchased Sears her first SLR camera.

In 2010 she explored new ideas and information on photography at workshops hosted by Warren Photography in Lakeport, and then armed with a new camera, she has been finding beautiful scenes, flora, fauna and capturing special moments in time.

Lake County Wine Studio is a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County.

Artist's shows are held on a monthly basis with art and wine receptions held the first Friday and subsequent Saturday of each month.
 
The gallery is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake. It is open Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m., and Friday from 1 to 8 p.m.

The Sears art show will be on display for the full month of February.

For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030 or 707-293-8752.