Simple Hedonisms

Posts Tagged ‘macmurray ranch’

I can’t believe it’s already here again, Sonoma County’s biggest, brightest, best display of its wine and culinary treasures. This is a special event for me; it raised the bar in what a large scale event can achieve in quality, but it’s especially dear to me heart as it was the inaugural Blog Post for Simple Hedonisms, Sept 5th, 2009.

It’s been heartwarming to talk to people who think I have lived in Sonoma County for years and that Simple Hedonisms has been around for ever; but I have only been here full time since July 2009, and Simple Hedonisms is about to be One year old! (More on a Anniversary celebration later.)

What IS Sonoma Wine Country Weekend?

I’ll pretend you are new here. Many associate WCW with the stupendous Taste of Sonoma showcase, set in the gorgeous MacMurray Ranch. The location is a treat of itself, as its only open a few select times a year. But its three full days of events that include:

Saturday, Sept. 4th, Taste of Sonoma

Over 150 wineries pour thousands of wines, paired with 60+ local chefs divine creations. Taste of Sonoma is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for wine lovers and foodies alike. The layout is extremely well done and organized, with separate tents for each of the Sonoma AVAs (regions) – a great way to taste an AVA side by side.

This year I am looking forward to also attending a Sonoma’s Sommelier Stars Wine Tour, and a Taste with Wine Spectator Seminar. (Seminars are full, but some of the Sommelier tastings are still open, and only $20.)

Named one of the 10 Best Wine and Food Events in the United States by Celebrated Living magazine, Taste of Sonoma is an coveted ticket; get one before they sell out.

Other Features:

• The Gloria Ferrer Bubble Lounge: What a great way to kick off the event! Right as you enter, join Gloria Ferrer in the Bubble Lounge! This was one of my faves last year, and I returned a few times. The Bubble Lounge showcases Gloria Ferrer sparkling wines with fanatastic food pairings.

• Steel Chef Competition and Cooking Demonstrations: Watch Sonoma County’s best chefs face off for a fast paced, and educational competition for the coveted title of Sonoma County’s Chef of Steel.  Throughout the day Sonoma’s top chefs share the tricks of the trade. Learn new recipes, techniques and innovative cooking methods.  Sonoma radio celeb Ziggy the Wine Gal is the MC.

• The Crushpad – Experience the Sonoma County Harvest: Throughout the day guests can  join local Sonoma winemakers and growers to taste, touch, listen and learn about the grapes grown in Sonoma’s  vineyards. Featuring tastings of freshly picked winegrapes, a demonstration of basket pressing, and a sample of a finished bottle from the highlighted vineyard, Crushpad is a unique opportunity to engage with the Sonoma Wine community, from grape to glass.

Tickets are still available online, and at the door, although with people flying in from all over the country, ticket sales do stop if maximum capacity is reached. Note: Visa Signature Card holders (like an airline Visa) get a special discount and VIP treatment, details here.

Sunday Sept 5th – Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction

Sonoma County’s  culinary scene takes center stage at the 18th Annual Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction at Cline Cellars. An all-star line up of Sonoma County chefs will showcase fresh seasonal ingredients from local farms and food purveyors in a sumptuous menu to pair with Sonoma County’s diverse array of world class wines.

The auction is renowned for its themes and skits, performed by the Who’s Who of the Wine Industry.  This years theme is  “Endless Sonoma”; with a backdrop of beach, surf and summer, combined  with wine, food, fun and frivolity. Catch the wine wave dude!

Festivities kick off at 11 a.m.  Hang out in the Long Board Lounge before the Live Auction kicks it old school at 1 p.m.  Each table is hosted by a Winemaker or Grower, your choice, based on availability at ticket purchase. A team of Sonoma County’s most renowned chefs will prepare a multi-course meal.

After churning and burning your way through a most awesome auction, cross step into the Cigar Aficionado Cigar Lounge, or, drop in to the Long Board Lounge where you’ll catch a party wave of cocktails in flavors to please every palate.  This is the first time for Simple Hedonisms to attend this much heralded event, stay tuned for live coverage!

Friday and Saturday Wine Maker Lunches and Dinners

How does one fill in your Sonoma County experience in between these two events? Well with spectacular lunches and dinners with winemakers at their winery of course! Peruse through this tempting list of Friday lunches and Friday and Saturday dinners. Many are sold out, but there is still a great selection of seats throughout the county.

Great Food and Wine Bennies from Visa Signature

If you have a Visa Signature card don’t make the mistake I did for years and not use its benefits, especially if you live in the Bay Area or wine country. Free or discounted wine tasting and bottle discounts all over Sonoma County. Offers change regularly; writing this I was pleased to discover that card holders get a complimentary dessert at Charlie Palmer restaurants, like Dry Creek Kitchen, here in Healdsburg. Check out all current Food and Wine perks here. There are also special discounts for Entertainment events, shopping and more. The discount and VIP treatment to Taste of Sonoma more than makes mine worth it, the rest is icing on the cake!

I will be broadcasting and uploading live through the weekend on Facebook and Twitter; however its officially a ‘consumer’ day and playtime for me, even Simple Hedonisms has to sometimes stop and smell the…wine. If you see me tasting, playing, chatting, do say hi, I love to meet readers! Whatever you do have a fun, safe, Labor Day Weekend with your friends and family – cheers!

Saturday, September 5, 2009
MacMurray Ranch, Healdsburg

The 30th Annual Showcase Taste of Sonoma was a culinary, hedonistic heaven, and one of the best organized food/wine events I have ever attended. (and I have attended a LOT.) This event is part of series of Sonoma County activities hosted all weekend.

To start, it’s hosted at the beautiful MacMurray Ranch a venue only open for special events. Hidden from the road, nestled amongst hills, is an amazing valley with gorgeous views. It’s a picture perfect post card-like vista of Sonoma County.

It’s amazing how an event with 2,400 attendees, 120 wineries, and 60 chefs can feel so unhurried and un-crowded. Huge kudos to the organizers for their execution.

I loved the layout. Food and wine was organized into four main tents, one for each of the primary Sonoma regions: Dry Creek, Russian River , Sonoma Valley, and Alexander Valley. Since I live in the area and explore here often, I was more inclined to focus on Sonoma Valley , since it’s an area I get to less. Of course I went through all four tents. Repeatedly. Started with whites….made the rounds, paired with food. Next, Pinots. Rinse repeat. Then on to bigger reds, and I focused on less common varietals.

If you are a Signature Visa cardholder (like my United Visa) not only was the event discounted $50, you were also treated like royalty with a special area and gift. This event was a bargain at $95. (anyone who lives/visits Sonoma should have one for the winery bennies – click the link for details.)

Gloria Ferrer Bubble Lounge: REALLY nice setup area, right at the entry, complete with comfy chairs. What better way to start with bubbles and food pairings?! Gloria Ferrer was a class act as always, with three different bubble offers and food pairings. Pizza Politana had an INCREDIBLE thin crust fig pizza that was to die for, and paired well with their Royal Cuvee. Gloria Ferrer’s new Va Da Vi cuvee has been a smash hit for them. Production is currently ramping up, and is also just now hitting some retail venues. Its Cuvee Club pickup month, so looking forward to another visit soon!

There were also a number of seminars, chef contests, and other interesting activities if you could break away from eating and imbibing.

To keep up with Social Networking, there were ten laptops for patrons to update Facebook, Twitter, Snooth, and also to upload pics. For the technically challenged, friendly assistance was on hand. This turned out to be a godsend for any AT&T user, as there was almost no signal anywhere, and my iPhone was demoted to picture taking.

I was somewhat surprised to see people walking around with beer(!). Stella Artois was pouring Stella, Hoegaarden, and Leffe (the latter two being great beers) served in a free proper-style Belgian glass, with logo.

I will make a quick mention for some special things that caught my eye. My apologies to the many great others I didn’t get to. It may have been that I just got too carried away enjoying the event to take anymore notes.

Food:
- Autumn Barber at Aioli Deli/Catering did a delicious pulled pork slider with slaw. As a six year resident
of the Carolina’s, this was noteworthy stuff. Go Aioli!
- Epicurean Connection: Sheana again had great food, and a gelato people where hunting everywhere, and a line always in queue
- Hopmonk Tavern had a yummy lamb bite with pureed squash.
Many others as well. Everything I sampled was creative and delicious.

Sadly, I didn’t get to taste the fried chicken from Susan/Jeff Mall’s Zin Restaurant. The line was always long and I forgot to circle for the third time. (But I frequent Zin regularly, so I don’t feel too deprived.)

Wines:
Again, a dizzying array of choices. I tried to stay away from usual faves, and explore new. I was pleased that I was usually able to engage in meaningful dialogue. Its always great to meet owners, wine makers, and other knowledgeable staff, and I enjoyed the chats almost as much as the wine.

Spann Vineyards: I made up for my faux pas of not tasting Spann at the Family Winery event, and was pleased to meet Peter in person. The chard/viogner blend was a hit on my palette, all fruit, great balance…will be coming soon to purchase. The Mo Jo Super Tuscan red blend was also great…but then I am a sucker for well- made Sangiovese. I wish I could attend Spann’s tasting event Sept 12th, but that Saturday is already quadruple booked. Do treat yourself if you can make it.

VJB Cellars: great Italian varietals: Barbera, Sangiovese. Well made, neutral oak, all fruit, palette pleasers. They also make (weren’t pouring) a Montipulciano. Guess I will be making a visit soon.

Soujorn Cellars: Three great Pinot offers, but hands down the Gap’s Crown Sonoma Coast. They were just awarded a 95 score by the Pinot Report, was a crowd pleaser, and my Pinot pick of the day. (Amongst many stunning choices.) This Pinot is under allocation, only three per purchaser – hurry!

I, of course, did stop for quick tastes of some of my usual Russian River and Dry Creek favorites that were there (some weren’t) including Kokomo, Acorn, Lynmar, Thomas George, and more…

I was thinking this morning on how fortunate I am to live in such beauty and great culture. To be surrounded by warm, fun people who love life is a blessing. Kudos to Signature Visa for pulling this together and to share with so many people the jewel that is Sonoma County is.