Oh, aren’t we so lucky to live in an area where an hour’s drive can have you setting foot in a fine winery? There are several directions to go, but in mid-January we headed to Sonoma County to check out the Russian River Wine Road Association’s Winter Wineland event.
By Dianne Boate & Robert Meyer
Published: February, 2007
One-hundred five wineries put their best foot forward by providing excellent wines, gourmet food, blazing fires, attractive merchandise and a certain manner that says right away how very glad they are to see you.
While wines of the area’s three appellations - Alexander Valley, Dry Creek, Russian River Valley - were the main focus, we found the greater emphasis to be on wine and food pairing. And, since there was an all-day frost on the ground in some places outside, the hot dishes were especially appreciated. We had lunch all day long!
Some wineries changed their dishes; others, such as Taft Street Winery, said they would be in big trouble if their white bean Chili Blanco was not there, hot and waiting.
Balletto-Dutton/Goldfield poured highly regarded Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and paired them with roast loin of pork, BBQ’d tri-tip with horseradish sauce and a barley minestrone, all very generously served.
Dutton Estate Winery offered steaming corn chowder with corn bread and a chocolate fountain to dip dried apricots and pretzels. They featured a three-year Syrah vertical that began with 2002, which was perfect with the food.
There was more than wine for us in the Russian River wine country.
We stayed at Madrona Manor, a regal 125 year-old house filled with beautiful objects and art work and gleaming crystal. It’s the place to stay if you want to feel like kings and queens.
At the Alderbrook Vineyards tasting room, Dianne marveled over the beautiful selection of gifts available at very reasonable prices. Best buy: a dozen plastic grape embossed picnic wine goblets.
Then there were birds: Raven, Crow, Blue Jay, Turkey Vulture, Robin, Tufted Titmouse, American Egret (Dianne stalked one for a photograph) ... It seems the birds are thriving in the wine country environment as much as the grapevines do, and to some winemakers, the welfare of all nature is as important as making wine.
Some of the participating wineries at the Russian River Wine Road events are very small and go through about 30 bottles in two days; and some are very large, pouring out six cases. We learned that there should be 24 tastes in a bottle, something to remember for your next blind tasting party. www.wineroad.com
Robert Meyer
is a consultant to the wine and spirits industry. Dianne Boate writes, photographs and paints. First day of the weekend, Robert tried the wines, Dianne drank water. Second day, Robert drank the wines, Dianne drank water — until she discovered fine shopping everywhere in Healdsburg.