LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a wine tasting event featuring wine releases from Kaz Winery, and artist reception with works by artist Marcie Ann Long on Friday, June 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, June 4, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Winemaker Richard "Kaz" Kasmier will be at the Studio both evenings to meet with guests. Musical guest Friday evening will be Majide!.

The $15 ($12/pp for Studio club members) wine sampler with paired appetizers by Fresh and Bangin' Eatery, will feature Kazza Roja Red with a frisée salad with charred apple and strawberry vinaigrette, 2014 Bullseye Petite Sirah with skewered portabello mushroom, jalapeño and Fresno chili with goat cheese créme sauce, 2012 Mainliner Lenoir with a butter lettuce wrap with lamb and carrot habanero sauce, and the Portworks White Port with brie custard in sesame seed rimmed waffle cone sprinkled with bittersweet chocolate and Macadamia nuts.
 
Richard Kasmier was an advertising photographer in his past life. After eight years of award-winning amateur winemaking, he made the leap to commercial winemaking.

Kaz Winery began as a small family owned boutique operation in Kenwood, Sonoma Valley. Kaz and his wife Sandi, daughter Kristin, son Ryan, and daughter-in-law Emily handled all of the facets of the business.

Still a small, family owned winery today, they specialize in organic wines, complex reds, bold blends, rare varietals and port-style wines. They relocated their production and tasting room in 2015 to the Wild West Winery in Big Valley. They are now sourcing all of their fruit from Lake County's vineyards, and their wines are all low, or no sulfite added wines.

A longtime resident of Lake County, in fact 26 years as of Memorial Day weekend, Marcie Long is showing her expressive and colorful flower paintings at the Lake County Wine Studio for the month of June.
 
Painting in her mother's English garden, bursting with life and color, has been an inspiration for many years. Most of the flower paintings are enlarged blossoms allowing the viewer to see all the way into the details of a flower. Two of Long's favorite painters, Vincent Van Gogh and Georgia O'Keefe have also provided inspiration with their paintings of flowers.
 
Long is known for her plein air paintings, especially those of the Rodman Slough area and vineyards all around the county. Her exhibit will be on display through June 29.
 
Lake County Wine Studio is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake and for the months of June through August is open daily from 1 to 7 p.m., and Friday from 1 to 8 p.m.

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