UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a wine tasting event featuring wines from Langtry Estate & Vineyards with winemaker Eric Stine and assistant tasting room manager José Vásquez, and artist’s reception with paintings by Nichol Robinson Friday, June 1, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, June 2, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Musical guest during the Friday evening reception will be acoustic guitarist Travis Rinker and during the Saturday evening reception will be the popular duo Majide!

Langtry Estate’s rich history dates back to 1888 when British actress Lillie Langtry purchased 4,190 acres in pristine Lake County.  

Mrs. Langtry pioneered a long tradition of winemaking in today’s Guenoc Valley by making the finest claret of that era.  

After Mrs. Langtry sold the Estate in 1906, winemaking did not return to the Guenoc Valley until the early 1980s.  

Langtry Estate and Vineyards is located in the picturesque Guenoc Valley. With more than 21,349 acres (approximately the size of the city of San Francisco), Langtry’s borders extend to southern Lake County and into the northern Napa Valley.  

In addition to its breathtaking natural beauty, the estate is unique for becoming the first winery in the United States to have its own appellation with the approval of the Guenoc Valley AVA in 1981.    

While Langtry has enjoyed significant critical success, the winery has emerged as one of the top producers of two of the hottest varietal wines on the market today, Petite Sirah and Sauvignon Blanc.  

Each year, Langtry ranks among the top medal winning wineries at professional wine competitions, and the winery’s Petite Sirah has won more gold medals and show awards than any other Petite Sirah in the world.  

Tasting room assistant manager José Vásquez will be representing the winery during the Friday evening reception. Winemaker Eric Stine will join us for the Saturday evening reception.

Our June artist, Nichol Robinson, painted her first work of art on her bedroom wall at the age of 5; the rendering of a three-headed rhinoceros was not well received at the time. However, not one to be discouraged by the scouring and repainting of the bedroom wall, princesses, goblins and fairies often found their way to her private three-dimensional canvas.

Robinson’s predilection for decorating three-dimensional spaces led to a degree in three-dimensional design from CSU Northridge and a job with an interior design firm located in West Los Angeles. She later returned to school and became a nurse practitioner and physician assistant with a specialized training in surgery.  

Near the end of her medical career, Robinson picked up a brush and began to study botanical illustration under the tutelage of the talented Lisa Pompelli at the Huntington Library in San Marino.

Robinson’s efforts at the Huntington found one of her paintings selected for presentation in the Boone Gallery at the Huntington, in the show “A Passion for Orchids” in 2006.

Upon retirement, she moved to Lake County where she became involved with the Lake County Arts Council and Serendipity Gallery in Lucerne, and has sold works at the Main Street Gallery in Lakeport and to private collectors.  

Her art has been displayed at Fieldstone Winery in Healdsburg and one of her abstract paintings became a wine label for a special edition Muscat wine at the Perry Creek Winery, where her work has also been displayed.  

Robinson uses a variety of materials in her works including oil, watercolor, acrylic and mixed media with very different results – a progression toward full realization of her artistic potential. Each new piece is a new adventure in self-discovery, always with an element of surprise.  

The $12.50 ($10 per person for studio club members) wine sampler with paired appetizers will feature 2011 Guenoc Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 Langtry Chardonnay, 2010 Guenoc Cabernet Sauvignon and 2007 Langtry Petite Sirah.  

There is no charge to those who wish to view the artwork and meet the artist without partaking of the food and wine.  Reservations are not required.

Lake County Wine Studio is both 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 Street in Upper Lake. It is open Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Robinson art show will be on display for the full month of June.  

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