Lunch in the Russian River Valley Update

If you want to spend your entire day tasting in the Russian River Valley, there are few options for lunch without heading to the towns of Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, or Sebastopol. However, in the heart of the Russian River Valley sits the small town of Graton. Here you can lunch at Willow Wood Market or Underwood Bar and Bistro.

The similarly named restaurants have the same owners but the food and ambience are different.  Willow Wood, which is my favorite, serves a variety of salads, hot sandwiches, and polentas.  At one time, the restaurant was a small part of a larger market, but today the restaurant and carry-out bar occupy the entire space.  You can also dine outside in the small garden behind the restaurant.  Willow Wood is open for lunch from 11:30 - 5:00, Monday - Saturday.  Brunch is served on Sunday from 11:00 - 3:00.

Under Wood is larger with bar in the front.  The lunch menu consists of tapas and small plates.  Lunch is served between 11:30 and 2:30, Tuesday - Sunday.  A similar menu is offered at the bar from 2:30 - 5:00.

If you are a Pinot Noir or Chardonnay fan, you'll definitely want to spend some time in the Russian River Valley.  Stop in Graton for lunch and you won't be disappointed.  If you would like to include a private tour of the Russian River Valley, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com. 

Something Different in the Dry Creek Valley

The Dry Creek Valley in Northern Sonoma County is best known for Zinfandel and many wineries produce at least one wine from this grape.  However, one winery -- Michel Schlumberger -- has gone down a different path.  The winery built its reputation on Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.  No Zinfandel was to be found.  Today the winery has expanded its offerings to include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Syrah, and Pinot Blanc.  But still no Zinfandel.

If you're heading to the Dry Creek Valley and want to taste some Bordeaux style wines in pleasant surroundings be sure to head to Michel-Schlumberger but make an appointment first.  The winery offers tours and tastings daily at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.  For $15/person, you'll get to walk through their lovely vineyards, gardens, and winery.  You'll see how their wines are made and then will be able to taste their current releases either in the winery's gourmet kitchen, living room, or courtyard.  Other touring and tasting options are available so check out the winery's website for options.

Better yet, take a private tour of the Dry Creek Valley that includes a visit to Michel-Sclumberger.  For more information contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or at Rick@BlueHeronTours.com. 

Criteria for Tasting Room Reviews

I've been commenting on tasting rooms for over 4 years now and thought I should provide a little background on how I come to talk about a particular winery or tasting room.

First, I only comment on tasting rooms or wineries that I have personally visited.  Half of the wineries in Napa and Sonoma are not open to the public.  Of those that welcome visitors either by advance appointment or by dropping in,  I have visited about 125 of Sonoma's 270 wineries and tasting rooms and 145 of Napa's 335 wineries and tasting rooms.  The vast majority of those I have yet to get to require an appointment to visit.

Second, I operate under the assumption that the wine is good at nearly all of the tasting rooms in Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties.  Not every winery has wine that is going to be to your or my taste but the wines are generally good.  There are many people far more qualified than me who review wines.  Besides visiting wine country to taste wine is more about the experience than the quality of the wine.

Third, I generally only post positive reviews.  I want to give my readers information on wineries and tasting rooms to seek out.  Most tasting rooms are neither good nor bad; they're much like every other tasting room.  However some tasting rooms are special and are worth visiting.  Many factors contribute to a positive review including friendly tasting room staff, unique architecture, good value, an opportunity to meet the owner and/or winemaker, pretty scenery, an unusual tasting experience, and/or an interesting tour.  On the rare occasion when I say something negative about a winery or tasting room, it's because I think the visitor is not getting a quality experience.

Fourth, I do not get compensated for my reviews.  Many guests on my tours ask if the wineries give me anything to thank me for bringing visitors to their tasting rooms.  At the end of the year, a couple wineries may give me a bottle or two, but that's it.  I've never received anything for a positive review other than an e-mail thanking me.

I hope this background is helpful.  Let me know what you think.

Sit Down, Relax, and Enjoy Some Wine

When you drop in to taste at a winery, you usually stand up at the counter.  Wineries do this to help with turnover and for space considerations.  It's rare to find a winery, that doesn't require an an appointment, where you can sit down and relax with your wine.  But there are some!

In Napa, the three French-owned sparkling wine producers all have tables where you can sit with your wine.  My favorite is Domaine Carneros, which has servers who take your order and then bring your wines, cheese, and/or caviar to you. The view of the rolling vineyards from Domaine Carneros' terrace is beautiful.  Mumm Napa Valley is also very nice.  It too has servers and a lovely view from the patio.  However, Mumm does not offer any food.  Domaine Chandon is my least favorite of the three While it has tables in its tasting room and offers some food, it does not have servers.  When you want to get your next glass of wine, you must get up and return to the tasting bar.  Plus the view from the patio is not as nice as the views at Domaine Carneros or Mumm Napa Valley.

Frog's Leap in Rutherford offers a tasting of four wines, accompanied by some cheese, nuts, and dried fruit on the terrace overlooking its organic gardens and vineyards.  This is one of the more pleasant spots to sit and taste wine.

Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville has a large table in the To Kalon Room, where you can sit while you taste Mondavi's reserve wines.  On a cold day, it's nice to taste your wine by the fireplace.

In the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, Lynmar Winery has tables in the tasting room, on the patio, and next to the garden.  You order at the counter, but the friendly staff will bring your Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and/or Syrah to your table.

There may be other wineries where you can sit down while you enjoy your wine, but either I am forgetting them or have not yet visited the tasting rooms.  If you know of any, please comment below.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour that includes some of these wineries, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com

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New Sonoma County IPhone Application

Yesterday, the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau released an application (app.) for the IPhone to help visitors to the county.  As soon as I found out this morning, I immediately downloaded it.  The coolest feature is the wine section where you can search the wineries by varietal (type of grape).  So next time you are in Kenwood in search of a Barbera, you can use the app. to find out which wineries produce one, their distances from your current location, and how to drive to each one.  For me this is the best feature in the app.

The app. also lets you find lodging, sorted by "Hotel/Motel/Lodge,"  "Inn/Bed & Breakfast," "RV/Camping,", and "Vacation Rentals."  This too is a helpful feature but the listing is not complete for the county.  I assume this is because some businesses choose not to be a member of the Bureau.

Other features include Breweries, spas, restaurants, museums, events, nightlife, and spas.  These you can sort alphabetically or by distance from your current location.  A great improvement for the next release would be to be able to sort the restaurants by cuisine.  To find the app., visit the IPhone Applications Store and select iVisit Sonoma County.

All in all, this is a great app. for wine lovers.  The tourism folks in Sonoma County really do a terrific job, whether they work for the Tourism Bureau, the Wine Road Northern Sonoma County, or the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau.  Their neighbors to the east could learn something!

If you want to take a private tour of Sonoma County wine country, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Gold Medals and 95 Points

Guests on my tours frequently ask me, "What's the best winery?" Sometimes, they'll ask, "What's the best wine?"  The answers are that there is no best winery or best wine.  Everyone has different interests and tastes in wine.  I've tasted some extremely well rated -- and very expensive -- Cabernet Sauvignons and not enjoyed them.  I am just not a Cab guy.  There are many good wines that I do enjoy, and life is too short to drink wine one doesn't like.

So what's this mean for the wine magazine ratings and all of the gold medals you see boasted about in the tasting rooms.  These ratings and medals can serve as a guide, but the bottom line is that the only palate that matters is yours.  Plus some ratings and medals are more significant than others.  One winemaker allegedly said that if a winemaker can't win a gold medal, he/she shouldn't be in the business.  After all, a gold medal from the Podunk Mall Wine Expo doesn't carry much weight in the wine world.  Some of the medals that are more prestigious are from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the Orange and Los Angeles County Fairs, the California State Fair, and the Sonoma Harvest Fair (for Sonoma County wines).  However, keep in mind that medals at wine competitions are not awarded like they are at the Olympics.  More than one wine can win a gold, silver, or bronze medal.  Judges award medals to wines that meet certain quality levels.  A double gold -- where all of the tasters think the wine is gold medal worthy -- is something to crow about.  A best of class award (best wine of a particular type and/or at at particular price point) is even better.  And winning the sweepstakes (best red, white, pink, sparkling, or dessert wine) is better yet.

Winemakers love and hate the influence of the wine magazines and critics.  Many folks criticize the 100 point scale, saying that it's impossible to discern a difference between a 94 and 95 point wine.  Nevertheless, good reviews in Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast and by Robert Parker are likely to spark sales.

So when you head out to wine country, decide whether you want to seek out the wines have been well reviewed or awarded or want to find some unexpected surprises.  You might find the latter more rewarding.  If you want some help picking wineries to visit on a private winetasting tour, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com. 

Special Events in Wine Country

Nary a week goes by without individual wineries or groups of wineries having special events to entice folks to visit.  It's hard to keep track of all of the festivals, special tastings, and food pairings being offered.  Some of the more fun events are offered by the associations that represent wineries in particular regions.

The Wine Road Northern Sonoma County represents the wineries in the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys of Sonoma County.  Its website has a good listing of events in this part of wine country.  The Wine Road offers three major events each year, Winter Wineland (1/16 & 17), Barrel Tasting (3/6, 7, 13, & 14), and A Wine and Food Affair (11/6 & 7).  In addition, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley offers Passport to Dry Creek Valley on April 24 and 25.  Russian River Valley Winegrowers has its annual Grape to Glass on August 20 - 22.  Finally, the Alexander Valley Winegrowers has an annual Taste of the Alexander Valley, usually during the first weekend in June.  (2010 dates have yet to be announced.)

The Anderson Valley Winegrowers has two annual events.  The first is the International Alsace Varietals Festival on February 20 and 21.  Later in the year, they celebrate Pinot Noir at the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival from May 14 to 16.

The Lodi Wine and Visitor Center sponsors a Wine and Chocolate Weekend on February 13 and 14 and celebrates Zinfandel at the ZinFest from May 14 to 16.

The 20th annual Savor Sonoma Valley is being held on March 20 and 21 by the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance.  The Alliance also sponsors Passport to Sonoma Valley on May 15 and 16, 2010.

Hospitality de Los Carneros offers two events each year:  April in Carneros on April 17 and 18 and Holidays in Carneros on November 20 and 21.

The wineries along the Silverado Trail in the Napa Valley have their own association, the Silverado Trail Wineries Association, which sponsors an annual Silver Pass Weekend.  The 2010 date has yet to be announced.

This is just a small sample of wine-related events in Northern California.  Monterey wineries sponsor events, as do those in Paso Robles and the Sierra Foothills.  It's tough to keep track of all the fun things to do in wine country.  The best resource I have found is Local Wine Events.  Visit the website for listings of wine events throughout the country.  You can also subscribe to the free, weekly newsletter of events in the regions of your choice.

If you would like to have a private tour of wine country during one of these events, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Winetasting on New Year's Day

If you wake up on New Year's Day still wanting some wine, you can visit wine country to do a little tasting.  Most wineries are closed on New Year's Day but enough are open that you can still do a day of tasting.  Before heading up you might want to contact a few of your favorites to see if they are open.  Otherwise, just head down Route 29 or the Silverado Trail in Napa or Route 12 in the Sonoma Valley and see what's open.  I know that Nicholson Ranch in Sonoma Valley, Domaine Carneros in the Napa side of Carneros, and Elizabeth Spencer, V. Sattui, and Castello di Amorosa in Napa Valley are open.  However, I'm sure there are more.

You won't be able to take a wine country tour on New Year's Day with Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel as we are closed for the day.  However, we are open for tours on January 2.  For more information or to book a tour, please phone (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail Rick@BlueHeronTours.com. 

Coffee in Wine Country

Sometimes a cup of coffee hits the spot in wine country. Fortunately, there are a few options for getting a good cup of Joe or an espresso drink.

In the Napa Valley, you can visit the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company at 948 Main St. in Napa or 1400 Oak Ave. in St. Helena. Good coffee is also available from the Calistoga Roastery at 1426 Lincoln Ave. in Calistoga. Two gourmet groceries also serve good coffee: Dean & DeLuca at 600 S. St. Helena Hwy. (Hwy 29 just south of St. Helena) and Oakville Grocery (corner of Hwy 29 and Oakville Cross in Oakville). Lastly, the Yountville Coffee Caboose opened a few months ago and serves a good cup of hot java and all the regular espresso drinks from the caboose just south of the V 1870 shopping center (6523 Washington St.)

In Sonoma County, Flying Goat Coffee serves excellent coffee from three locations: 324 & 419 Center St. in Healdsburg and 10 Fourth St. in Santa Rosa. The Santa Rosa location is in historic Railroad Square and has the best pastry selection.

In Graton, which is in the heart of the Russian River Valley, you can get coffee to go at Willow Wood Market.

In the town of Sonoma, Barking Dog Roasters is located just off the plaza at 201 West Napa St. Sunflower Caffe on the west side of the plaza (421 1st St. West) also serves good coffee and espresso drinks. If you're further up the Sonoma Valley, you can get coffee to go at the Glen Ellen Village Market, in the center of town at 13751 Arnold Dr.

When you take a private wine country tour with Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel, you can stop for coffee at any time. For more information, phone (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or send an e-mail message by clicking here.

Blue Heron Custom Tours Featured on "Wine Time with Tracy"

Check my friend Tracy Logan-Immordino's blog, "Wine Time with Tracy," to learn about our recent tour of the Alexander Valley with concierges from some of San Francisco's best hotels. Look at the December 1 posting entitled "Holidays Along Wine Road." (I'm the guy with the beard on the far left of the photo. Tracy's to my right in the red jacket.)

The Wine Road Northern Sonoma County is an association of wineries and inns in and near the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys. It publishes the best wine country map in Northern California. If you like small, family-run wineries that produce great wine, then you'll want to visit the Wine Road. If you like friendly inns, bed and breakfasts, and hotels, then stay at one of their members. For more information visit www.wineroad.com.

Better yet, take a private tour of the Wine Road that is customized to your tastes and interests and wine. For more information contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or at Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Best Sonoma County Restaurants - 2009/2010

The new "Zagat 2010 Bay Area Restaurants" and "The Michelin Guide San Francisco, Bay Area, and Wine Country Restaurants 2010" were recently released. Here's an update on the critics' favorite restaurants in the Sonoma County.

The only restaurant Michelin awarded three stars was The French Laundry in the Napa Valley. Michelin awarded two stars to four Bay Area restaurants with Cyrus in Healdsburg being the only Sonoma County recipient. Thirty-four restaurants received one star. The Sonoma County recipients are Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant in Forestville, Madrona Manor in Healdsburg, and Sante in Sonoma city.

Only 1 of the 25 most popular Bay Area restaurants according to Zagat is in Sonoma County: Cyrus. Not one other restaurant in Sonoma County made Zagat's most popular list.

The top rated restaurants for food in Sonoma County according to Zagat are Cyrus (29 points), Applewood Inn and Restaurant in Guerneville (27 points), and Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant (26 points).

"The San Francisco Chronicle's" top rating is four stars, which were awarded to one Sonoma County restaurant: Cyrus. Three Sonoma County restaurants received 3.5 stars: Madrona Manor, Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant, and Dry Creek Kitchen (Healsburg). Eight restaurants are the recipients of three stars.

Lunchtime on my tours in Sonoma County usually finds my guests in either Healdsburg or the town of Sonoma. My favorite lunch spot in Healdsburg is Willi's Seafood, which features small plates of the freshest seafood. In Sonoma city, I recommend The Girl and the Fig for French influenced California food and Della Santina's for Italian cuisine. If you would like to take a private tour in Sonoma County that includes a meal at one of these great restaurants, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

Wine Clubs

When visiting wineries, many of my guests are invited to join the winery's wine club. Few tasters have heard of such clubs prior to their first time winetasting. Most winery's have wine clubs as they provide the winery with a steady source of customers. Small wineries, in particular, are dependent on successful wine clubs in order to stay in business.

The clubs vary slightly but usually do not require a fee to join. Most clubs send their members one case (12 bottles) of wine per year. Some wineries ship two bottles six times per year, others three bottles four times per year, still others four bottle three times a year, and many send six bottles twice a year. Some clubs let you pick the wines you want; others send you a mix of wines selected by the winery. Most wineries include wines in their club shipments that are not available to the general public. Most clubs give you a discount on the wine. The savings on the wine may cover the cost of shipping. If you join the club, most wineries will give you an immediate discount on purchases while you are visiting the winery and will waive your tasting fees. In return you agree to receive a minimum of one or two shipments. After receiving the minimum, you can usually cancel at any time. Most clubs offer discounts on all wine purchases. Many wine clubs have special parties and events for members.

I am a member of three wine clubs and think they are good deal in certain circumstances. The first issue to consider is whether you like the winemaker's style and the variety of wines produced by the winery. If the winery produces six different types of wine and you only like the Cab, the wine club is probably not for you.

Another issue is whether your drinking will keep up with the wine you receive. Be careful about joining too many clubs. If you end up with too much wine that cannot be stored properly, you could end up with a lot of spoiled wine.

Be sure you have your wine sent to an address where someone 21 or over will be physically present to sign for the wine. FedEx and UPS will not just leave the wine on your porch or give you a note to sign. The shippers are required to hand the wine to someone who is of legal age. The best bet is to ship the wine to your business, provided you trust your receptionist not to drink the wine.

I think receiving six bottles twice a year is far better than receiving two bottles six time per year. The fewer shipments, the more you save on shipping. Also, make sure the club does not ship during your hot weather months. You don't want your wine cooking in the shipper's truck as it travels through Arizona in the summer. Most wineries do not ship to club members in the summer but a few do. If you are scheduled to receive a shipment when it's still hot, ask the winery to hold the wine until cooler weather arrives. Most are glad to do so.

A few wineries push their clubs pretty hard. Most use a soft sell. Some don't mention their club unless asked. When you visit a winery, you are under no obligation to join the club or to buy any wine. Only join the club if you will enjoy getting the regular shipments of wine. If you do join the club, have fun. It's fun to get good wine that you won't find in your local wine shop.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours at (866) 326-4237 or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

2009 Harvest is Underway

We're now approaching the end of the 2nd week of harvesting in Sonoma and Napa Counties. The first winery to harvest appears to have been Gloria Ferrer, which picked some grapes in the Sonoma Valley on August 10.

The principal grapes being picked now are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for sparkling wine, a little Pinot Noir for still wine, and Sauvignon Blanc. Harvest seems to be running about a week behind last year. While weather is unpredictable, harvest is likely to run through the end of October. Usually Cabernet is the last grape to be picked.

Harvest is a fun time to visit wine country as good smells abound, sweet grapes can be sampled, and the wineries are abuzz with activity. As a result, September and October see many tourists in wine country especially on Saturdays -- the busiest day of the week. If you must winetaste on a Saturday, visit wineries that require advance appointments as they tend to be less crowded.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour and avoid some of the crowds, contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or at Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

One Stop for Cheese, Chocolate, Olive Oil, and Wine

Jack London Village in Glen Ellen provides one stop for tasting artisan cheese, chocolate, olive oil, and wine.

Raymond & Co. Cheesemongers provides a unique opportunity to taste cheeses from around the world. Recently, guests sat down with owner John Raymond for an hour-long tasting of an array of delicious cheeses paired with a local wine. Shorter tastings are also available and, of course, you can just stop in to buy some cheese.

Figone's of California Olive Oil and Press always has a large array of olive oils and balsamic vinegars available for tasting. By prior appointment, you can tour the olive mill to learn how olive oil is made.

Wine Country Chocolates offers tastes of at least two ganaches used in their delicious truffles as well as samples of chocolate with varying percentages of cacao.

Finally, if you need some wine to ensure you taste all of the major food groups, you have two options. Jack London Vineyard has a small tasting counter inside of Figone's and Eric Ross Winery is directly across the street. I've not sampled Jack London Vineyard's wines but have enjoyed Eric Ross' Pinot Noir and Carignane.

If you would like to take a private Sonoma Valley tour that includes a stop at Jack London Village, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or Rick@BlueHeronTours.com. I'd be happy to make appointments for you to taste cheese at Raymond & Co. and/or to tour Figone's mill.

Northern California: An Explorer's Guide

This new guidebook, written by San Francisco resident, Michele Bigley, was just released on June 1. It's a great resource for travel in San Francisco, the Bay Area, and all of Northern California - from Big Sur to the Oregon border.

Here's what Michele had to say about Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel, "A wealth of knowledge, Rick takes folks on customized tours of the Bay Area, Wine Country, Central Coast, Mendocino, and even the Sierra Foothills. You tell him what you want and he'll create the ideal trip. He knows more about wine and food than most."

Many thanks to Michelle for the nice review. If you're planning a trip to San Francisco, you can pick up "Northern California: An Explorer's Guide" at most good bookstores.

If you'd like to take a tour with a guide who "knows more about wine and food than most," please phone me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me at Rick@BlueHeronTours.com.

More Than Wine In Sonoma Wine Country

I haven't had a chance to post recently. However, the May edition of "Rick's Tips" is about Sonoma County's wine country. To see the newsletter, click here.

If you would like to subscribe to "Rick's Tips," please follow the link in the newsletter. If you would like to take a private, custom tour of Sonoma's wine country, please call Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Wineries with Gardens

Yesterday, a guest inquired about visiting wineries with beautiful gardens. I hadn't really thought about this but, after a little thought, my top three recommendations were Matanzas Creek, Ferrari Carano, and Kendall Jackson's Wine Center; all in Sonoma County.

Matanzas Creek lies east of the city of Santa Rosa in Bennett Valley. The winery is surrounded by a spectacular lavender garden. If you visit in June, when the flowers are usually at their peak, you will see hillsides covered in purple flowers surrounded by native grasses and olive trees. Matanzas Creek is located a fair distance from other wineries, so you have to make it a destination. If you enjoy beautiful lavender, you will not be disappointed. The winery is open for tasting daily from 10:00 to 4:30. Tours are available by prior appointment at 10:30 and 2:30 from Monday through Friday and at 10:30 on Saturday.

Ferrari Carano is located at the northern end of Dry Creek Valley. Formal French/Italian gardens surround Villa Fiore, the winery's visitor center. When you arrive at the winery, you can stroll along the paths and bridges among the more than 2,000 species of plants in this very sculptured garden. The garden includes over 10,000 tulips and daffodils. If you phone (707) 433-5349 in the late winter/early spring, you can find out if the flowers are at their peak. Ferrari Carano is open daily from 10:00 to 5:00 for tasting. Tours are offered by prior appointment at 10:00 from Monday through Saturday. Appointments may also be made for private tastings for groups of six or fewer from Monday through Saturday.

Kendall Jackson's Wine Center is located in Fulton, between Santa Rosa and Healdsburg. The tasting room is surrounded by culinary and sensory gardens. The sensory gardens are divided into sections containing flavors found in the various wines produced by Kendall Jackson. The Red Wine Sensory Garden has sections devoted to Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Cabernet, and other red varietals. The White Wine Sensory Garden includes sections featuring Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and other wines. The Culinary Gardens include a variety of vegetables and hers. Complimentary tours of the gardens are offered daily at 11:00, 1:00, and 3:00, weather permitting. There's not much to see during the winter months, so try to visit between March and October. The tasting room is open daily from 10:00 to 5:00.

Other wineries have pretty gardens, but these three are at the top of my list. If you would like to take a private wine country tour that includes visits to these wineries, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Casual Lunch in the Russian River Valley

Graton is a small town in the heart of the Russian River Valley. Its business district is one block long but houses two nice, casual restaurants for lunch: Willow Wood Market and Underwood Bar and Bistro. The similar names are no coincidence; the restaurants have the same owner.

Both are good, but I prefer Willow Wood. I like both the atmosphere and food a little better at Willow Wood. I also like the option of dining outside. Willow Wood's lunch menu features a number of excellent salads, sandwiches, and dishes featuring polenta. My favorites are the smoked trout salad and roast pork tenderloin sandwich. On Sundays, Willow Wood also serves brunch, with a menu that includes many egg dishes. Willowwood Market serves lunch from Monday to Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. On Sundays, brunch is served from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Underwood's menu is a little more substantial than Willow Wood's. The lunch menu includes a selection of oysters, salads, sandwiches, fish and pasta selections, and other hearty dishes. Underwood is open for lunch from Wednesday to Sunday from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

Nearby wineries include Lynmar, Iron Horse, and Dutton Estate Sebastopol Vineyards.

If you would like to take a private tour of the Russian River Valley that includes lunch at Willow Wood Mark or Underwood Bar and Bistro, please contact Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel by calling (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or by clicking here.

Bocce, Fresh-Baked Bread, Olive Oil, and Even Some Wine

Preston of Dry Creek is a family-run, organic farm and winery in the Dry Creek Valley region of Sonoma County. Lou and Susan Preston bought their first land in the Dry Creek Valley in 1973. At that time, there were more prunes on the land than grapes. They produced their first wine in 1975 - Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Since then the winery has grown and downsized. Today the winery focuses on Rhone varietals such as Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignane, Cinsault, Viognier, and Rousanne, as well as Zinfandel.

Preston is a fun, casual place to visit. For five dollars, you can taste four wines from the menu. Some freshly baked bread is usually for sale, so bring some cheese and other food and stay for a picnic. The tasting room also sells olive oil, olives, and organic produce from the garden.

Want to have a little fun after you taste Preston's wine and enjoy your picnic lunch? Try your hand at a game of bocce - the Italian bowling game.

Preston is at the northern end of the Dry Creek Valley at 9282 Dry Creek Road. The tasting room is open daily from 11:00 - 4:30 p.m. If you would like to take a private tour of the Dry Creek Valley that includes a stop at Preston, please phone me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Bubbly in Sonoma County

The Russian River Valley is the place for sparkling wine in Sonoma County. This wine region produces world class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, two of the three grapes used in Champagne. (The other is Pinot Meunier.)

The three principal producers of sparkling wine in the Russian River Valley are Iron Horse Vineyards, J Vineyards and Winery, and Korbel. All three are well worth visiting.

Iron Horse has a simple, outdoor tasting area atop a hill covered with vineyards. Tasting bubbly on a sunny day while gazing out over the rolling hills of vineyards is an only-in-California experience. Don't expect any fancy dump buckets here. Just throw whatever you don't want to drink onto the grass. The winery offers flights of still or sparkling wines at various prices from 10:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Tours are offered by prior appointments on weekdays. Iron Horse can get crowded on weekends, so try to visit on a weekday when you will get more personal attention.

J Winery provides a nice contrast to Iron Horse. The tasting is much more upscale looking. A flight of four still and sparkling wines is offered daily. In addition, J recently started a tasting of their small-production wines in their main tasting room. For a special experience, visit the Bubble Room on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. With a prior appointment, you can taste J's white, red, and/or sparkling wine paired with delicious foods.

Korbel is the westernmost tasting room in the Russian River Valley. It's not near other wineries, so make sure you want to invest the driving time to get to Korbel. When you arrive, you'll find beautiful brick buildings, a nice cafe with indoor and outside dining, a large gift shop, and more types of sparkling wine than any other producer in Sonoma or Napa County. Korbel also offers regularly scheduled tours.

Carneros, which lies in both Napa and Sonoma Counties, also produces excellent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Gloria Ferrer, the American outpost of the Catalan cava house - Freixenet, produces high quality bubbly in the Sonoma side of Carneros. The tasting is pretty simple at Gloria Ferrer. Walk up to the counter, order a glass of bubbly, and take it to a table in the tasting room or on the terrace overlooking the vineyards. Gloria Ferrer offers tours, but call first to make sure they will be offered on the day you plan to visit.

If you would like to take a private tour of Sonoma County's sparkling wine producers, please feel free to call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Dining at a Winery

Most visitors to wine country are surprised to learn that it is nearly impossible to dine at a winery. To protect the agricultural nature of Sonoma and Napa Counties, the areas outside of the towns and cities are zoned agricultural. As a result, restaurants are prohibited in the agricultural parts of the counties.

Some wineries do wine and cheese pairings. V.Sattui, in the Napa Valley, has a delicatessen where you can pick up food to take to the winery's picnic area. However, in Napa County, only one winery has a full restaurant.

Domaine Chandon has had a restaurant since its visitor center opened in 1977. Its restaurant was allowed to continue when the zoning restrictions where enacted. Etoile serves upscale California/French cuisine in a refined dining room. On a nice day, enjoy the garden view while lunching on their terrace. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from Thursday - Monday, except in November in December when it is open from Thursday - Sunday and in January when the restaurant is closed.

Only two wineries have restaurant permits in Sonoma County. Francis Ford Coppola bought the old Chateau Souverain winery a few years ago. Along with the winery came a restaurant permit. The winery is now Rosso and Bianco, where Coppola produces his mid-priced wines. When Coppola took over ownership, he started serving very good Italian food in the winery's restaurant. Unfortunately, the restaurant, still unnamed, is closed for remodeling. Hopefully, when the restaurant reopens, the food still will be good and diners will once again be able to enjoy a meal on the terrace overlooking the vineyards.

In the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, the old Topolos winery had a restaurant. The winery, along with the restaurant, closed a few years ago. The property was sold and is now called Russian River Vineyards. The tasting room is open, but the restaurant has not yet reopened.

Many wineries have permits for private events. If you are coming to wine country with a large group, you can arrange a private meal at many wineries, some of which have spectacular settings.

If you want recommendations for wineries to host your private meal or wish to take a private tour of wine country, please feel free to call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Cozy Winery in the Russian River Valley

It was cold outside. When my group walked into the tasting room at C. Donatiello Winery they immediately gravitated to the leather chairs in front of the fire place. They would have been content to just stare at the fire, but Pinot Noir and Chardonnay awaited them.

C. Donatiello is a lovely new winery on Westside Road, southwest of Healdsburg, in the Russian River Valley. The winery focuses on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the grapes that made the Russian River Valley famous. Not only can you taste an array of wines in the cozy tasting room, but you can also stroll through the surrounding organic aroma gardens. Plants in the garden represent the flavors and aromas associated with Pinot and Chardonnay.

During the summer, C. Donatiello hosts a number of events, including concerts by well-known musicians. You can here the likes of Booker T. Jones while picnicking on the terrace next to the aroma garden. Space is extremely limited, so check the winery's website for a list of upcoming events.

The tasting room is open daily from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

If you would like to take a private tour of the Russian River that includes a visit to C. Donatiello, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Winetasting During the Holidays

Many tasting rooms operate on different schedules during the weeks of Christmas and New Year's. If you are planning on doing some winetasting in Northern California during the holidays, you might want to call your favorite wineries in advance to make sure their tasting rooms will be open. If that's too much work, here's some general guidance.

Most wineries will open and close at their regular times each day from December 21 through January 3, except on December 24, 25, and 31 and on January 1. A few of the small wineries will close for a few days during this period.

Most wineries will close early on Christmas Eve and a few will be closed entirely. After 2:00 p.m., there are very few tasting rooms open on December 24. Wineries also may decide to close earlier than planned if business is slow.

All tasting rooms are closed on Christmas Day.

Most wineries will close early on New Year's Eve; although some will stay open until their regular closing times. After 2:00 p.m., definitely call prior to visiting a tasting room to see if it is open.

Only a handful of wineries are open on New Year's Day. I know that Nicholson Ranch near Carneros and V. Sattui in Napa are open, but I am sure there are a few more. Phone ahead of your visit to confirm if the tasting room will be open.

If you would like to take a private wine country during the holidays or in 2009, please feel free to phone me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here. Blue Heron will be closed on both Christmas and New Year's Day.

2 for 1 in the Russian River Valley

One tasting room, two wineries. That's what you'll find when you visit Balletto Winery and Dutton-Goldfield Winery.

John Balletto has been farming for over 30 years; first vegetables and now grapes. In 2001, the family began making Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from grapes they grew. Since then, they have expanded their vineyards to approximately 400 acres and added Zinfandel, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and Syrah to their portfolio of wines. The family continues to sell most of their grapes to some of the area's top wineries.

Dutton-Goldfield Winery makes wine at Balletto Winery and pours their wines in the same tasting room. The winery was founded in 1998 by Steve Dutton and Dan Goldfield. Steve and his family manage over 1,000 acres of vineyard. Dan's passion is Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which he first made at La Crema and then at Hartford Court, before moving on to Dutton-Goldfield.

When you visit the Balletto and Dutton-Goldfield Tasting Room, you will be able to sample current releases from both of these small producers. Friendly staff will guide you through one or both winery's wines. The tasting room is located at 5700 Occidental Road, just west of Santa Rosa and is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

If you would like to take a private tour of the Russian River Valley that includes a visit to the Balletto and Dutton-Goldfield Tasting Room, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Wineries with Caves

I frequently get asked to visit wineries that have caves. Most wineries do not have caves as they do not have access to hills in which to drill caves. When wineries do have hills, they often chose to excavate caves so they can store their wine in perfect climatic conditions with minimal expense for power. Fifty-eight degrees is the perfect temperature for storing wine. With a cave, the winery does not need to spend money on heating and air conditioning. In addition, wine should be aged in a humid environment to minimize evaporation. Caves, being naturally humid, save on power for humidification.

Below is a partial list of wineries with caves that can be visited:

Napa Valley

Del Dotto - Compare barrel samples while visiting their cave.
Hall-Rutherford - Taste wine under a chandelier in the shape of a vine's roots.
Jarvis - See beautiful crystals and a restroom with twinkling stars.
Palmaz - Enter a 180 foot tall cave while being guided by a family member.
Rombauer - Tour the cave and enjoy a picnic lunch on their beautiful grounds.
Rutherford Hill - Take a public tour that includes a visit to the winery's cave.
Schramsberg - Visit caves dug by Chinese laborers in the 19th century.

Sonoma Valley

Moon Mountain - Visit one of the few natural caves used for aging wine.
Nicholson Ranch - Walk through their no-frills cave on a private tour.

Dry Creek Valley

Bella - Enjoy beautiful views from the hillside and then taste in the cave.

This list is by no means complete. It includes caves I've personally visited or have been recommended to me. If you would like to take a private wine country tour that includes a tour of one of these winery's caves, please call me at (866) 326-42377 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Indoor and Outdoor Tasting at Lynmar

If you enjoy Pinot Noir and/or Chardonnay, I recommend visiting Lynmar Estate in the Russian River Valley. The winery had a tasting room in Graton for a number of years, but moved into a stunning new home on the estate a few years ago.

When you approach the tasting room, note the creek that seems to magically disappear. You'll then enter a modern salon with high ceilings and a tasting bar at the far end. You are welcome to stand at the bar while you taste, but outdoor, seated tastings are offered on nice days. Two tastings are available: an Estate Tasting for $10/person and a Reserve Tasting for $25/person. Both include tastes of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. On Thursdays - Sundays, with 48 hours advance notice, you can have food pairings with your wine. Sipping wine while gazing at the Quail Hill Vineyard on a sunny day is a pleasant way to spend an hour.

Lynmar is also a great venue for special events and private luncheons. I've tasted chef Sandra Simile's work a couple of times and enjoyed her meals immensely.

Lynmar is open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. If you would like to take a private tour of the Russian River Valley that includes a stop at Lynmar, please phone me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

A Family Affair in the Dry Creek Valley

Last week, I visited Mounts Family Winery for the first time. The Mounts family has been growing grapes in the Dry Creek Valley for over 50 years. They also farmed prunes when the valley was better known for fruit than wine. In 2007, the Mounts family decided to open its own winery.

Mounts Family Winery is a little off the beaten track, up Wine Creek Road on a hillside overlooking the Dry Creek Valley. It's best to make an appointment before you visit; although, the family is usually there on weekends. When you arrive you'll be rewarded with a beautiful view overlooking the family's hillside vineyards. One of the family members will greet you and invite you to taste their current release wines in the bare bones tasting room -- a picnic table outside of the wine cellar.

Mounts Family makes Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Syrah, and Viognier. You'll be able to taste as many wines as are available while gazing out over the hills and valley. Feel free to ask questions about the winery and the history of the Dry Creek Valley.

If you would like to take a private tour of the Dry Creek Valley that includes a visit to Mounts Family Winery, please phone me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Old Vine Zin in the Alexander Valley

Sausal Vineyard in the Alexander Valley is a Zinfandel lovers' paradise. They make four different Zins: Cellar Cats, a non-vintage estate Zin named after the winery's two cats; Family Zinfandel, which is made from estate vines averaging 50 years in age; Private Reserve Zinfandel, another estate wine but made from vines over 90 years old; and, finally, Century Vines Zinfandel, made from vines planted on the estate in 1877.

Labeling a wine as "old vines" does not mean anything legally, but all of Sausal's Zins, except for the Cellar Cats , meet anyone's definition of old vine. If you have never tasted old vine Zin, I highly recommend doing so, regardless of whether you taste some at a visit to Sausal or by purchasing a bottle at your local wine shop.

Sausal's tasting room is small and the staff friendly. There's no guarantee that all of the Zins will be available when you visit. However, in addition to tasting some of the Zins, you are likely to be able to taste one or two of Sausal's other reds, which include a Cabernet, Sangiovese, and two blends.

If you are a fan of wine from old vines and would like to taste some on a private, wine country tour, please contact me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or by clicking here. Nearby Stryker and White Oak both have old vine Zin and Field Stone has old vine Petite Sirah.

Wine Country with Kids

Touring wine country is not much fun for children. After all, watching one's parents drink is not a great spectator sport. A great compromise is to devote part of the day to a child-friendly activity and the balance to visiting wine country.

Blue Heron has long offered a tour called Red Trees and Red Wine, which combines a visit to Muir Woods with a tour of the town of Sonoma and the Carneros wine region. During this full-day tour, we start with a visit to Muir Woods, home to the coastal redwoods - the tallest trees in the world. Afterward, we head up to the Carneros wine region for an afternoon of winetasting. The charming town of Sonoma, with its Mexican-era plaza and old mission, is a great place to stop for lunch. A visit to Mission San Francisco de Solano, the last of the 21 missions built in California, can be included.

Another fun day for families is to start with a tour of the Jelly Belly Factory to learn how these delicious candies are made. Then its off to Carneros or the southern Napa Valley for lunch and an afternoon of winetasting. This tour allows every family member to come home with treats they will enjoy.

If you would like to take one of these tours, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds"

Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" is considered a classic horror film. If you are not familiar with the plot, the story is about birds attacking the residents of the small, oceanside town of Bodega Bay.

Since the film's opening in 1963, visitors have flocked (pun intended) to Bodega Bay to see the sights Hitchcock used in the movie. What many do not realize is that Hitchcock's fictionalized Bodega Bay consisted of buildings in both Bodega Bay and the nearby town of Bodega. Hitchcock also built temporary sets in Bodega Bay and filmed many scenes on a soundstage.

Today, not much remains from the filming of "The Birds." The Tides Restaurant was featured in the movie; however, the restaurant burned in 1968 and today's Tides bears little resemblance to the one shown in the movie. The restaurant's walls has photos from the making of the movie and its gift shop sells "Birds" souvenirs.

In nearby Bodega, the Casino restaurant, the Potter School, and St. Teresa de Avila's Church were shown in the film and still remain. The Potter School, named Bodega Bay School in "The Birds" and now a residence, is home to a gift shop featuring movie souvenirs. It is open on weekends when the weather is nice and on some weekdays.

Bodega and Bodega Bay are about 1 3/4 hours north of San Francisco on the Sonoma County coast. If you are winetasting in the Russian River Valley, it's an easy drive to the coast. If you would like to take a tour that includes a visit to Bodega and Bodega Bay, please feel free to call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Corks or Screwcaps - Part II

In July 2006, I wrote about the ongoing debate over the best closure for bottles of wine. Today most Australian, New Zealand, and Austrian white wines are sealed with screwcaps. In California, corks still predominate but screwcaps are gaining wider acceptance daily.

I just finished reading one of the more comprehensive discussions of this issue: "To Cork or Not to Cork; Tradition, Romance, Science, and the Battle for the Wine Bottle" by George M. Taber. This book is an easy read by the former reporter for "Time" magazine and author of "The Judgment of Paris," another good read.

Taber covers the debate from all angles and delves into the history of wine closures. To the average wine drinker this may sound a bit too geeky; however, I recommend the book to anyone who enjoys reading about wine and is trying to better understand what all this fuss is about.

Zin and Syrah in the Russian River Valley

This past weekend I had a chance to take guests to one of my favorite little wineries -- Limerick Lane. This small, family-run winery features Zinfandel (red, not pink) and Syrah. Currently they produce four Zins, a Syrah, and their signature 1023 - a blend of Zin and Syrah. (1023 is the winery's address.) All of the wines come from the winery's vineyards, making Limerick Lane an estate winery.

But what makes Limerick Lane special is the laid back feeling and knowing that this is a real winery supporting local families; not just one of dozens of wineries in a big corporation's portfolio. Because the winery is small, they frequently sell out of wine. Thus, you are unlikely to be able to taste all of their wines during your visit. For example, 1023 is released in December and is usually sold out by early March.

This past weekend, my guests were able to taste Limerick Lane's Late Harvest Furmint. I had never heard of this grape and learned that it is a Hungarian varietal. Limerick Lane may be the only winery in the U.S. producing wine from Furmint. In addition to the Late Harvest Furmint, the winery produces a dry Furmint, but is currently sold out of this wine.

Limerick Lane's tasting room is located at 1023 Limerick Lane and is open daily from 10:00 - 5:00.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour that includes a visit to Limerick Lane, please call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Italian Varietals in Sonoma Valley

Some wineries have their tasting rooms located away from the actual winery. Wineries do this because their facilities are too far away from the usual tourist routes; the county will not issue a permit for a tasting room at the actual winery; or they lease, rather than own, production facilities.

VJB Vineyards and Cellars has a tasting room on Sonoma Highway (Hwy. 12) in Kenwood that is open to the public daily. They also offer sit-down tastings at their estate, which is just off Sonoma Highway, a couple of miles north of the tasting room.I had a chance to stop by the tasting room on a quiet day recently and found the staff to be friendly and knowledgeable.

VJB produces wine from both traditional Italian and French varietals. I enjoyed their Barbera during my visit. They also produce Prosecco, an Italian-style sparkling wine, and Tocai Friulano, a white wine. Their Italian-style red wines include Montepulciano, Sangiovese, Anglianico, and Primitivo. Their French varietals include Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Syrah. Finally, they produce a Zinfandel (red, not pink).

VJB is a good stop on any visit to the Sonoma Valley. You'll get to taste wines that are not commonly available in an enjoyable environment. If you would like to take a private Sonoma tour that includes a stop at VJB, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Friendly French Cafe in Occidental

Last February I wrote about the small town of Occidental in the Russian River Valley and the Inn at Occidental. At that time, I did not have the opportunity to dine at the well-regarded Bistro des Copains. So on a recent overnight in Bodega Bay, I decided to drive the 30 minutes to check out this restaurant.

It was a typical winter's night in Occidental. The rain was pouring and the winds were blowing. When we entered the cozy restaurant, we were warmly greeted by owner, Michel Augsburger. We had many tables to chose from as not many folks were venturing out on this wet, chilly Monday night. We selected a window seat and decided on a red wine to help ward off the cold. While we were in California's wine country, Michel helped us select a French red to accompany the Provencal cuisine.

The bistro offers a very reasonably priced three-course tasting menu that changes daily. Since cassoulet - one of my favorites - was featured, my choice was easy. My wife opted for a salad and a thin-crust pizza. The food was good and the service casual and friendly. I definitely recommend dining at Bistro des Copains if you find yourself in West Sonoma.

I'd be happy to help you plan a vacation that includes a visit to the Russian River Valley or the Sonoma Coast. Just call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Beautiful Hilltop Winery in Sonoma Valley

Moon Mountain Vineyard is easily overlooked when winetasting in the Sonoma Valley. It requires an appointment to visit and is a couple of miles up Moon Mountain Drive, on the Sonoma side of Mount Veeder between the towns of Sonoma and Glen Ellen.

The drive up Moon Mountain Drive takes you through beautiful vineyards with fantastic views of the mountains and valley floor. Along the way, you will pass one of Sonoma County's most famous vineyards, Monte Rosso, which was founded by the Napa winery, Louis Martini. When you arrive at Moon Mountain Vineyard, you'll climb the steps to the tasting room, where you will have beautiful views of the surrounding hillside vineyards.

Moon Mountain grows all five of the classic Bordeaux varietals; Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot, and Malbec; as well as Syrah. The vineyards are certified organic; although, the wine is not as sulfites are added.

Tours and tastings are available from Tuesday through Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and sometimes at 10:30 a.m. A tour lasts about 90 minutes and includes a visit to the winery's natural caves. There is a nominal $10 fee for the tour and tasting that is credited towards any purchase.

Moon Mountain is a welcome retreat from the traffic and crowds along Route 12 in the Sonoma Valley. If you would like to take a private wine country tour of Sonoma Valley that includes a stop at Moon Mountain Vineyards, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Zin and Gewürzt in the Russian River Valley

Twice I have had the opportunity to take folks to Harvest Moon Estate and Winery in the Russian River Valley. This small tasting room features friendly staff and good wine.

Harvest Moon is owned by Bob and Ginny Pitts. On my recent, visit their son and Harvest Moon's winemaker, Randy Pitts, stopped by the tasting room, talked about his philosophy of making wine, and poured my guests some of his limited production Pinot Noir.

As you approach the tasting room, you are likely to be greeted by the Pitts' friendly dog. You'll then see the small production facilities off to your right. Harvest Moon only makes around 2,000 cases of wine so they don't need a lot of equipment.

Harvest Moon produces three different Zinfandels, a still and sparkling Gewürztraminer, a Late Harvest Zin, Pinot, and Cab. Not all of the wines are available for tasting, but you should be able to taste some Zin and Gewürzt when you stop by. When we visited, the winery was pouring its 2007 Early Harvest Gewürztraminer, the first wine I've seen from this year's harvest. My guests also tasted a barrel sample of Harvest Moon's Late Harvest Zinfandel.

If you would like to take a private tour of the Russian River Valley that includes a visit to Harvest Moon, feel free to call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

The Tasting Room Experience - Part II

A couple of weeks ago I commented on how an unfriendly staff person can ruin the tasting room experience. This past week I saw this issue again, but this time the result was a much improved tasting experience.

Last week, some guests wanted to visit Hartford Family Winery in the Russian River Valley. I had avoided taking guests to this winery because of two bad experiences I had around the time Blue Heron first opened. On both occasions I was served by the same man and both times found him to be an unbearable snob. As a result, I never took folks to taste at Hartford.

Over the past few months, one of the staff at De Loach Vineyards encouraged me to give Hartford another try. So, when my guests requested a visit to Hartford, I was pleased to have the opportunity to see if new staff would improve the tasting experience. I am happy to say that the tasting experience was excellent. The staff member who served us was friendly and knowledgeable about Hartford's single-vineyard Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Plus the visitor center is located in a pretty building surrounded by lovely vineyards. I will definitely add Hartford to my list of tasting rooms to visit.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour that includes visits to Hartford Family Winery and/or De Loach Vineyards, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Taking a Winery Tour

If you have never taken a tour of a winery, I recommend doing so when you visit wine country. Most of the tours focus on the winemaking process; although, a few focus on other areas such as biodynamic farming and the history of the winery. Once you have done one tour, you are probably set for life unless you are really into making wine. After all, one can only see so many stainless steel fermentation tanks and oak barrels.

Many wineries do not offer tours. Still more offer tours only by appointment. If you arrive in the Napa or Sonoma Valleys or Carneros without having scheduled a tour, here are a few options for you:

Sonoma Valley:

Benziger offers one of the more unique wine country tours. You can visit their biodynamic vineyards in a tractor-pulled tram and then walk through their production facilities. The schedule varies, but tours are usually offered hourly if not more frequently. The tour lasts about one hour and includes tasting some of their wines.

Sebastiani's Historical Tour covers the history of Sebastiani as well as the winemaking process. Tours are usually offered at 11:00, 1:00, and 3:00; however, they may be cancelled due to special events so call before you arrive to make sure the tour is being offered. The tour lasts 40 minutes.

Carneros:

Artesa provides free tours of their production facilities at 11:00 and 2:00. There is no charge for the 45 minute tour.

Napa Valley:

Mondavi offers hourly tours that include tastes of some of their current releases. The tour is advertised as 75 minutes in length but frequently takes longer. During the summer and fall, more frequent tours may be offered. Children are allowed only on the noon tour.

Rutherford Hill's tours include a visit to their caves and tastings of some of their current releases. Tours are offered at 11:30, 1:30, and 3:30. During the busy summer and fall seasons, arrive early to make sure you get a ticket.

Mumm Napa has free hourly tours of their production facilities and photography gallery. You can just show up at the winery a few minutes before the start of the tour.

Beringer offers an array of tours. Some tours require advance reservations. For other tours, you just buy a ticket when you arrive at the winery. Most focus on some aspect of the history of Beringer, the oldest continuously operated winery in the Napa Valley.

Other wineries offer quality tours. If you have taken one, post a comment. If you would like to take a private wine country tour that includes a winery tour, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

The Tasting Room Experience

Just because a winery produces good wine does not mean you will have a good time in their tasting room. Schug Carneros Estate Winery has been producing excellent Pinot Noir and other wines since 1980. However, I seldom take guests into the tasting room because of the attitude of one of their regular staffers. He never engages visitors and can be quite off putting.

Yesterday, I was showing Pinot lovers around Carneros and decided to take a chance and visit Schug. What a difference! The three staff were friendly and the one serving my guests was very funny and attentive. This quality customer service coupled with the good wine made for an enjoyable experience for my guests.

I learned that the staff member lacking customer service skills does not work on Sundays and Mondays, so I'll put Schug back on my list of wineries to visit but just on the two days he's not there.

This one person I am criticizing is not the only tasting room staff member who does not have adequate customer service skills. I was recently at Chateau Montelena where a friendly staffer took good care of my guests. However, her colleague left a lot to be desired. I was the only visitor in the tasting room when others walked in the front door. The sole staff member in the room was doing some paperwork and never looked up to great the people after they walked in. If I was in their group, I would have walked out the door after standing around for a few minutes with no one even saying, "Hello," to them.

Wineries need to remember that many visitors have never been to a tasting room. They may be a little intimidated or not know how tastings are conducted. A warm greeting will go a long way to making their visit a pleasant one.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour where you will meet friendly tasting room staff, please call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Pinot and Zin in the Russian River Valley

While the Russian River Valley is best known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, there are some excellent Zinfandels produced in the eastern end of the Valley. If you enjoy Pinot Noir and/or Zinfandel, I highly recommend visiting DeLoach Vineyards.

DeLoach started making wine over 30 years ago. Some of its wines receive fairly wide distribution, but a trip to the winery will enable you to taste some small lot Pinot, Zin and Chardonnay. DeLoach offers two tastings. The Russian River Valley Appellation includes 5 tastes for $5 and the OFS and Vineyard-Designate Tasting costs $10 for 5 tastes. I recommend the latter tasting as it enables you to taste some of DeLoach's smaller production wines. The friendly and knowledgeable tasting room staff usually are not sticklers for the five-taste limit. One tasting fee is refunded for each bottle purchased.

If you plan ahead of time, you can schedule a tour of the winery and learn more about their move to biodynamic farming. Eric, the tasting room manager, will likely lead your tour. His wit and knowledge will ensure that you have an enjoyable hour.

If you would like to take a private, wine country tour that includes a visit to DeLoach Vineyards, please call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Tasting in Wine Caves

One of the prettiest tasting rooms in all of wine country is at Bella Vineyards. Located at the far northern end of the Dry Creek Valley, Bella is about 1 hour and 45 minutes from San Francisco. It's a long drive, but you will be rewarded with a pleasant tasting experience in Bella's wine caves.

Caves provide an excellent place to produce and age wine as the temperature is a constant 58 - 61 degrees and the humidity is about 55%. By using caves wineries can save on their electricity bills. They do not need to pay for heating, cooling, or humidifying their storage areas. With over 5,000 feet of caves, Bella has plenty of room to store their tasty Zinfandel, Syrah, and Late Harvest Zinfandel.

The staff at Bella are friendly and $5 gets you a taste of their current releases. If you want to picnic, Bella has a few tables on the lawn in front of the caves.

You can take a private, wine country tour that includes a visit to Bella Vineyards and other Dry Creek Valley wineries. For more information, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Private Tastings for Pinot Lovers

Two excellent producers of Pinot Noir in the Russian River Valley offer private tastings for visitors. Merry Edwards, a small but very well regarded producer of Pinot, offers "Taste with Ron." Twenty years ago Ron worked with Merry Edwards as cellar master at Merry Vintners Winery. Today, Ron offers private tastings in the company's offices in Windsor. You will not get to see the winery, but you will spend an hour with Ron as he walks you through some of Merry Edwards' current releases. Ron conducts tastings from Tuesday through Sunday at 9:30, 11:00, 1:00, 2:30 and 4:00. You can make an appointment with Ron by calling (888) 388-9050, ext. 31. When you book a tasting, Ron will send you a map to the hard-to-find tasting room. There is no charge for the tasting.

Another long-time producer of excellent Pinot Noir is Gary Farrell Winery. While Farrell recently left the winery, you will still taste wines produced under his supervision if you visit in the near future. You are welcome to just stop by the tasting room to taste Farrell's current releases. However, you can have a more intimate experience with their private tasting. You will get a tour of the winery and enjoy some cheese while you taste. To book a private tour, call (707) 473-2900. The winery is located at 10701 Westside Road, outside of Healdsburg.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour focusing on Pinot Noir that includes visits to Merry Edwards and/or Gary Farrell, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Sandwiches and Salads on Sonoma Plaza

If you are winetasting in Carneros or Sonoma Valley and just want a quick sandwich or salad for lunch, the Sunflower Caffe on Sonoma Plaza is the place to go. (The sign on the restaurant says, "Caffe," but all the internet listings say, "Cafe.") Using the freshest of ingredients, this pleasant bistro prepares a variety of light meals. On summer weekends, the Sunflower also offers sandwiches with freshly barbecued meats.

After placing your order at the counter, you will be given your drink and a number. Find a table and then wait for your meal to be brought to you. You can lunch inside on a rainy day, but on warm days you will want to sit out back in their sunny garden or at one of the tables in front facing the plaza.

The cafe is also a good spot to stop for coffee, espresso, and/or pastry.

Sunflower Caffe is located on the west side of Sonoma Plaza at 421 First Street West.

If you would like to take a private wine country tour in Sonoma County that includes lunch at the Sunflower Caffe, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Santa Rosa Garagista

I've used the term garagista in previous posts to describe small wineries that operate in facilities that are slightly larger than a garage. Siduri and Novy Family Wines of Santa Rosa can be called a large garagista as their wines are produced in a pretty good sized warehouse.

Siduri is a small Pinot Noir producer that sources grapes from throughout California and from Oregon. Tucked away in an office park not far from the airport in Santa Rosa, Siduri produces some of the most highly regarded Pinot in the state. The same warehouse facility is used to produce Novy Family Wines. Novy makes wine from Rhone and other varietals.

Siduri is owned by Adam and Dianna Lee. Novy Family is a partnership of Adam, Dianna, and other members of Dianna's family.

A visit to the Siduri/Novy Family warehouse lasts about an hour. You'll sample wines from both wineries, tour the warehouse, and learn a bit about the challenges of being a small producer. If you are willing to forgo the agricultural setting of many tasting rooms and take yourself to an industrial park, you will not be disappointed. The wine is good and the tasting experience is entertaining and informative.

If you would like to include a visit to Siduri/Novy Family on a private tour of the Russian River Valley, I would be pleased to make the arrangements for you. Feel free to call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.