'It was my Uncle who discovered that alcohol was a food well in advance of modern medical thought.' P.G. Wodehouse KBE

‘It was my Uncle who discovered that alcohol was a food well in advance of modern medical thought.’ P.G. Wodehouse KBE

Wodehouse’s quote may well resonate with Rajat Parr, whose career may have taken a predominantly culinary route had it not been for his Uncle who introduced him to fine wine.

Born in Calcutta in India, Parr’s first love was food. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the Welcome Group Graduate School of Hotel Administration & the Culinary Institute of America, before undertaking a course in wine.

Once he graduated, Parr sent his CV to over 60 establishments; however, his formal training in the kitchen did little to help him to become a sommelier, and he began his career as a food runner at San Francisco’s Rubicon. Assisting the sommeliers whenever he could, one day the Wine Director asked if Rajat owned a suit. He took the hint and wore it the following day, and from there he grew to become Larry Stone MS’s right hand man…

In 2011, Parr launched Sandhi, a partnership with Sashi Moorman, to produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from select vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills. In 2013, he released wines from his new estate vineyard, Domaine de la Côte, located on the westernmost edge of the Sta. Rita Hills.

We are very excited to welcome Rajat Parr to the Club to guide Members through his wines, delving deeper into his journey to become one of America’s most respected sommeliers and winemakers.

We will taste:

2012 Sandhi Chardonnay ‘Sanford & Benedict’
2013 Sandhi Chardonnay ‘Sanford & Benedict’
2014 Sandhi Chardonnay ‘Sanford & Benedict’

2010 Sandhi Chardonnay ‘Bentrock’
2011 Sandhi Chardonnay ‘Bentrock’
2013 Sandhi Chardonnay ‘Bentrock’
2014 Sandhi Chardonnay ‘Bentrock’

2011 Domaine de la Cote Pinot Noir ‘Bloom’s Field’ 2011(en magnum)
2012 Domaine de la Cote Pinot Noir ‘Bloom’s Field’
2013 Domaine de la Cote Pinot Noir ‘Bloom’s Field’
2014 Domaine de la Cote Pinot Noir ‘Bloom’s Field’

2012 Domaine de la Cote Pinot Noir ‘La Cote’ (en magnum)
2013 Domaine de la Cote Pinot Noir ‘La Cote’
2014 Domaine de la Cote Pinot Noir ‘La Cote’