LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a wine release party and artist show reception with Kendall Fults of Fults Family Vineyards and artist Sharon Fenton on Friday, July 6, from 5 to 8 p.m., and Sunday, July 8, from 4 to 7 p.m.

The Wine Studio will be participating in the Red, White & Blues event at Brassfield Estate Winery on Saturday, July 7.

The $15 ($12.50/per person for studio club members) wine sampler featuring appetizers by Cache Creek Catering, will showcase Fults Family 2016 Chardonnay paired with a chicken, apple and toasted almond salad in lettuce cups, 2017 Rosé with fresh strawberries, chêvre cream and fresh basil, 2016 Syrah with mushroom risotto balls with bacon and herb crumble, and the 2016 Wildfire Red Blend with pulled pork mini tacos with cherry Cola BBQ sauce.

Lying on the banks of Clayton Creek not far from Lower Lake, Fults Family Vineyards was founded in 2001 on the site of a 150-year-old ranch and former stagecoach stop.

What started out as a hobby producing small amounts of wine for and with family and friends grew into a passion for producing great wine.

By 2006, the family decided to turn grape growing and winemaking into a real business, and they opened their tasting room (open on weekends) in 2014.

The vineyards are planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Grenache, Sangiovese, Petite Verdot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah.

The artist for June is Sharon Fenton. Introduced to art by a paint by numbers kit at the age of 12, Fenton was "hooked" and painted her first original piece using the leftover paints from that kit. A California girl and former Cardinal, she graduated from Clear Lake High School in Lakeport and moved to the Ukiah area in 1970. Her formal art studies commenced at Mendocino College in their watercolor class and since then she has not put her brushes down.

Refusing to box herself into any particular style, Fenton states, “Every subject is my favorite. I believe there is no limit to the exciting combination of techniques and colors. I experience each painting as an adventure, and sometimes an unintentional stroke or touch becomes the painting.”

A member of the Lake County Arts Council, Mendocino County Art Association and Ukiah Valley Artists Co-op, Fenton’s works have won numerous awards at the Lake County, Mendocino County and Redwood Empire Fairs.

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. The gallery is located at 9505 Main Street in Upper Lake. It is open Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 7 PM, Friday from 1 to 8 PM, and by appointment on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The Fenton art show will be on display for the full month of July. For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030 or 707-293-8752.