Wine studio to host wine release party, artist’s reception Aug. 2 and 3

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“Red Deer Stag” by Linda Becker.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The August wine release party and artist's show reception at the Lake County Wine Studio will be held on Friday, Aug. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 3, from 4 to 7 p.m. with Todd Seaver of Vie Winery and artist Linda Becker.

The $15 ($12.50 per person for studio club members) wine sampler featuring appetizers by Chef Jonathan Hork of Lakeport Catering, will showcase Vie 2017 Sauvignon Blanc paired with a baked brie crostini with stone fruit salsa, 2015 Roussanne with savory-sweet apple and onion fritter with rosemary and sage aioli, 2015 L'Imaginaire Grenache with a duck spring roll and spicy plum sauce, and the 2015 Wynonna's Vineyard Syrah with chocolate crème brûlée with bing cherries.

Artist Linda Becker, born Linda Bayhi in New Orleans, Louisiana of French and Hispanic heritage, moved to Southern California in the late 1950s where she grew up and started a family. Becker raised four sons and has lived in Lake County since 1990.

She has always had a passion for life, people, children and animals. She was shy in school, but when it came to her art classes she felt right at home and knew her calling. She devoted her life to her children who always came first, and once grown, she finally found time for herself.

With her passion for art rekindled, Becker decided to attend college taking computer and several art classes consisting of drawing and painting, learning perspective, composition and the balance of color. She also received instruction from local established artists for many years. Her paintings consist of still life, portraits and wildlife. She started out using pencil, charcoal and ink, then ventured into oils and pastels. She gives great attention to detail and strives for photo realism.

Becker has been a member of the Lake County Arts Council for more than 20 years and has shown her work in the Main Street Gallery in Lakeport several times. She also participates in many art groups and competitions, mainly online.

Recently, she placed fourth in the American Art Awards which consists of a jury of 25 American art galleries. She also received a Special Merit Award in the All Women Art Exhibition through the Art, Space and Time Online Art Gallery. For several years she was a member of the American Academy of Women Artist being featured in Southwest Art Magazine.

“The Lookout” by Linda Becker.

Becker's show will be on display at the Wine Studio Aug. 1 to 31.

Joining them at the receptions will be Vie Winery head winemaker, Todd Seaver. Vie makes high quality, limited production Rhone varietal based wines from many of the finest vineyards in California.

At the receptions and featured for the month of August will be Vie's Lake County vineyard sourced releases. Seaver's overall focus is on delivering a wine that is delicious to drink alone but also a great accompaniment to a meal.

In 1998 he began making wine at home in New England, getting grapes shipped across the country from Lodi. In just a few years he maxed out his home winemaking operation in terms of capacity and the quality he was able to achieve, and he set his sights on relocating to California where he could expand his winemaking potential.

Seaver arrived to the Bay Area in 2004 and immediately took advantage of his new residence, contracting for grapes before he had even found a place to live, and started utilizing Crushpad's custom crush facilities.

It was there that he met Bryan Kane, consulting winemaker who shared a common passion and winemaking philosophy, and who invited him to become part of Vie Winery. Seaver has been a part of VIE's journey from a year after its start in the Mission in 2004, to its move to Treasure Island and expansion into its own tasting room in 2012.

Along with this journey, Seaver gained valuable experience while making wine at Copain Custom Crush where he was able to work alongside many great winemakers from the likes of DuMOL, Donum, Roessler Cellars, and Copain, of course. Later, he moved to Nicholson Ranch where several great wines were made including the famed Schrader Cellars.

Vie comes from the Old French word meaning "to invite" or "to give occasion for." In French today, it is simply translated "Life." The winery's slogan is Enjoy Vie! Enjoy Life!

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 p.m., Friday from 1 to 8 p.m., and by appointment on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The Becker art show will be on display for the full month of August.

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

“Eye See You” by Linda Becker.