Simple Hedonisms

Posts Tagged ‘pinot noir’

How do you know when you like a wine?  “It should have a wow factor … it should scream at you,” says John Saemann, vintner at Clouds Rest Winery in Sonoma County.  Clouds Rest has been hand-producing Pinot Noir from a small Sonoma Coast vineyard since 2002.  These are collector’s wines, priced outside my budget at around $100 a bottle. Good news: a new addition to the Clouds Rest Pinot lineup is available, and at a much lower price point. It’s Femme Fatale, a younger release from the same vineyard, priced at $45 ($39 with case discount). K&L Wine passes along their discount, bringing it down to $39 for a single bottle purchase – outright affordable for a Pinot Noir in this class.

2008 Femme Fatale

I got the wow factor when I tasted the 2008 Clouds Rest Femme Fatale recently … rich cherry red, aromas of ripe stone fruit, flavors of blackberry, plum, pepper, light smoky tannins and hint of rosemary … rolling into a soft, mouth-filling viscosity. My attention shifted to follow the flavor explosion and structure of this wine.  And I’m not alone. Beth Arnold wrote of Clouds Rest Pinot Noir in Huffington Post, “Their Pinots retail for at least $100 a bottle. But, my God, I was almost in tears they were so good.”  And she lives in Paris, so you can imagine the wines she has access to on a regular basis.  “Pinot is a wine for me that brings together so many varietal characteristics into one glass,” John told me, with a heavenward roll of his eyes. Wow factor is more than the look, feel and taste of the wine … it is a quality that transports and totally engages you — like a great movie or a conversation with a good friend.

Seamann says Clouds Rest wanted to give more people access to their Pinot Noir, but without compromising the label.  Femme Fatale is the answer; grapes come from the same vines and terroir Clouds Rest is known for, and the wine-making process is the same, except for bottle aging.  Femme Fatale is released earlier (younger), saving the winery on storage cost. How much? Up to 3 years of bottle aging for the collectors wines. Savings are also passed along through simpler packaging. Femme Fatale’s lighter weight bottle is less costly to ship. Paper labels save cost compared to gilt silk-screened labels on the heavy Burgundian bottles used for collectors’ wines.

Narrow rows above the clouds at Clouds Rest -- Photo: Scott Schuette

What goes into creating the “wow factor” in a wine?

A few things: winemaking skill and style, choice of barrels, choice of grape stock planted, farming style – and terroir. Think of terroir as the vineyard version of “location, location, location.” In this respect, Clouds Rest, on it’s perch above Petaluma California, is very unique.

I walked the vineyard with Scott Schuette, Clouds Rest General Manager and unofficial photographer. Scott tells me the vines are planted at 1250 feet, on an ancient volcanic knoll that was never before cultivated. It had been impossible to farm because of steep terrain and the volcanic rocks strewn over the landscape. To create the vineyard, Seamann ripped out rocks – some quite large – down to a 6-foot depth. Huge piles of extracted rocks dot the property today.  Rows are planted just 3 feet apart, the only known 36”x36” density in California — and possibly anywhere. On less than 2 acres, there are 10,000 vines – producing volume equivalent to about 10 acres of vineyard. Crowding plants this way would normally invite mildew and fungus. But because Clouds Rest is situated in the Petaluma wind gap, there is constant movement of marine air between the Sonoma coast and San Pablo Bay. Rows are deliberately angled to capture maximum sun and air movement on the hill.

Volcanic rocks extracted

The Clouds Rest philosophy is to orchestrate what the vineyard gives them. Having a rockstar winemaker helps too: Anthony Austin who studied under Andre Tchelistcheff, a legendary winemaker of Napa and Sonoma Valley. A Healdsburg (Sonoma county) California native and University of California Davis graduate in enology, Austin directed the first crush at Firestone Vineyards in 1976. He went on to become an award-winning winemaker of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the Santa Barbara area, and returned to make wine in Sonoma in 2001.

Irrigation lines and a huge water storage tank are visible on our walk, and yet no water was used during this wet weather year. These deliberately austere conditions – rocky, windy, crowded, dry — are influenced by the French “intensive” method. Intensive farming forces the vines to compete and struggle, resulting in small fruit of dense and complex flavor.

Dense clustering

Pinot Noir is a notoriously difficult grape to cultivate. It is thin-skinned, prone to rot, viruses, diseases, and vulnerable to over-crowding.  Tchelistcheff has said, “God made Cabernet Sauvignon whereas the devil made Pinot Noir.” There is a reason Pinot Noir is higher priced: the grape is difficult to grow and takes a great deal of viticultural skill and hands‐on processing to result in a good bottle. Against these odds, the wow factor is alive and well in Femme Fatale.  And Austin believes the harsh conditions at Clouds Rest force the grapes to develop thicker skins; thereby retaining more flavor and essence.

What gives wine the “wow factor” for you?

At the end of the day, the wow factor is about what you like. Wine preference is unique to each person, so what appeals to you may be different than for others. What gives a wine the wow factor for you? Where does the aroma and taste transport you to? What do you think goes into creating the wow factor in a wine? Please comment below – Simple Hedonisms would love to hear about your experiences!

Where can you find Femme Fatale?

Fem Fatale, as well as Clouds Rest Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, are available at Roadhouse Winery Tasting Room in Healdsburg, and Bounty Hunter in Napa. Check the Clouds Rest website for online purchase and for a list of restaurants pouring Clouds Rest wines. And as mentioned, K&L Wines is carrying 2008 Femme Fatale.

Clouds Rest will be pouring at Family Winemakers of California, Aug 22-23 at Fort Mason Center in San Francisco.

Clouds Rest will be a featured in the “Grand Reserve” tent at Taste of Sonoma: Wine Country Weekend during Labor Day holiday. They are also pouring at the Sept 3^rd Winemakers Lunch and at other venues throughout the event.

The Russian River Valley (RRV) has emerged over the last decade as a world renowned region of wine growing. It’s especially recognized for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but many great varietals from Rhones like roussanne and cool climate syrah, to cool climate zinfandel are produced here.

This weekend, August 20-22 is the showcase event for RRV, the 15th Annual Grape to Glass.

Friday August 20th

There are several great events to choose from Friday:

CELLARPASS WINERY SENSATIONS PASSPORT:

Your very own VIP CellarPass to tour our many participating wineries and discover what makes each sensational. Hosted by CellarPass, an online reservation tool for planning and booking wine country events, wineries will open exclusive bottles and surprise you with their own special attraction. Visit at least four participating wineries and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a return trip back to the Russian River Valley in 2011.  11 a.m. – 430 p.m. $45

IN CONCERT WITH THE ARTISANS

Taste an amazing array of the best of Russian River food and wine, hosted at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek in Santa Rosa.

The Evening’s Schedule:
6:00pm – 8:00pm Russian River Valley Varietal Hosted Garden Tasting
8:15pm – 9:45pm Concert with Nick Palance – No Host Bar, No Host Small Plates
10:00pm – 10:45pm Nick Palance Reception & Signing, No Host Bar

Tickets start at $85

Saturday August 21st

Saturday features a wide array of activities and seminars: everything from Kayaking the Russian River, to Seminars on Green Farming, or touring Pinot Noir Neighborhoods. No matter what your interest in food and wine, there is something for everyone; for the complete list click here. Events have limited space so don’t wait too long!

The amazing day wraps up with the spectacular HOG IN THE FOG ~ Festival of Plenty, hosted at the fabulous Richards Grove in Saralee’s Vineyard, in Windsor, a venue open only a few times a year for events.

The Russian River Valley Winegrowers annual Hog in the Fog ~ Festival of Plenty BBQ is a perennial favorite with its TasteFest and auction. This year add’s live music, art by our vintner artists, and a surprise guest chef known for firing up great BBQ recipes.

The event features more than fifty Russian River Valley wineries, small-bites produced from our region’s fabulous food products, silent auction items, and arts created by our versatile and talented vintners. Grape growers will be prepare the evening’s plentiful BBQ feast.

Dinner will be paired (of course) with Russian River Valley wines.  Vintners and growers will roll up their sleeves and make the rounds with great bottles.  The evening commences with a live auction featuring rare library wines and lifestyle packages.  $115/person.

Sunday August 20th

What better way to spend a Sunday, with Bubbles and gorgeous views at the BUBBLES & PIXELS ~ A Sparkling Pink Finish at Iron Horse Vineyards, a personal favorite. 

Set on the Sterling family’s stunning 350-acre estate, Bubbles & Pixels will feature the Sparkling & Pink wines of the Russian River Valley.  Wines are served with a family-style brunch, created by a top wine country chef and featuring local produce and artisan food products.
A panel of judges will announce the winners of the TasteLive Photo Contest. 10:30 a.m.  – 12:30 p.m.  $80

Have a GREAT Weekend, the Weather looks to

I have been a fan of C. Donatiello since I discovered them some 18 months ago, both for their wines, and the gorgeous property.
For those who may not yet be familiar with C. Donatiello or its location, Chris Donatiello, in partnership with Bill Hambrecht, purchased the facilities from Belvedere in 2006, and have morphed it into a world class facility and producer of stunning Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

C. Donatiello’s winemaker is Webster Marquez, also referred to as Web. An affable winemaker,  Web  is focused, committed, and always chasing making his best vintage yet, he comes to C. Donatiello from famous Pinot producer Williams Selyem. (He also has his own small label, Anthill Farms.)

In addition to their winery being a pleasure to visit, renowned for casual yet elegant service, each Sunday from late June through October 3rd they feature live music, with acts from all over the U.S. at no charge. It’s one of my Sunday’ faves, I almost hate to share to keep it smaller, but somethings are too good to keep to your self.

I was long overdue for a full tasting review; and was delighted for an invitation, as well as be one of the first for their new wine and cheese pairing which for $20, is one of the most underpriced, amazing Hedonistic pairings going on in Russian River. More on this in another post, but take my word for it, call for an appointment to schedule one of these.

Review

I have a special interest in this release, having just recently toured Floodgate Vineyard with vineyard manager Warren Burton, and new wine producer Cartograph Wines.

Region/AVA: Block 15, Floodgate Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County

Color: Lighter cranberry color, slightly opaque. (A thankful break from the ridiculously dark Pinot’s being produced today by many.)

Aroma: Cherry, Cranberry, with a pleasant touch of Earthiness

In The Mouth: Elegant. Despite the youth of this release, it’s a pleasure in the mouth, with velvet texture, wonderful balance and mouthfeel. Flavors of cherry and red fruit, with a nice finish, and  lingering acidity.

Price: $49 Retail

Wine Geek Info:

• Harvest Date – Sept 4, 2008
• Barrel Program – 10 months French Oak, 35% new
• Bottled – July 22, 2009
• 400 cases produced

Highly Recommend.

I have been trying to spend a bit more time in the Willamette Valley region of Oregon, given my regular travel to the Portland area. I was fortunate enough to spend a half day touring again last month as part of a Pre WBC (Wine Bloggers Conference) Tour, before driving up to Walla Walla. Lynette Shaw of Soléna, organized an entire afternoon for 15  wine bloggers. The highlight of the day was the incredible hospitality we received by the Soléna team, as well as fabulous food pairing and lunch. with their Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris.

About Solena Estates

Soléna Estates is owned by the husband and wife team of Laurent Montalieu and Danielle Andrus Montalieu. Laurent brings a French heritage, Bordeaux, not Burgundy, interestingly enough. Laurent took his first steps in the vineyard in Medoc owned by his great grandfather, Joseph Montalieu. His interest in viticulture led him to the Institute of Oenology of Bordeaux, where he studied viticulture and oenology. (Growing wine grapes and making wine.) After graduating in 1987 he worked for Chateau La Tour Blanche near Sauternes, and Domaine Mumm in California’s Napa Valley before moving to Oregon. After seven years at Bridgeview Vineyards in Cave Junction, Laurent joined WillaKenzie Estate in 1995 as partner and winemaker.

In May of 2000 Laurent and Danielle purchased an 80 acre estate as their wedding gift to each other, and with an interesting twist, registered with vineyard nurseries for six different clones of Pinot Noir grafts that guests could by as wedding gifts. (Hmmm maybe marrying again has some benefits.)

In May 2002, they launched Soléna by releasing their first bottling and, shortly thereafter, opening a tasting room in Carlton.

In 2009, they opened a new tasting room, located on their estate property in Yamhill,  now home to the new Soléna and Grand Cru Estates winery.

Review

The Soléna 2009 Pinot Gris is very interesting, and a standout amongst the many fine Pinot Gris releases in Willamette Valley. I opened two different Pinot Gris’ as the time of tasting, the second being from another from a Willamette winery I respect, and the differences were remarkable.

At the time I did the review; the 2009 was about to be released, and specs weren’t published, so I wrote to Lynette with questions. I though I recalled they used no oak or malolactic fermentation (ML) but the texture, density, mouth feel, made me scratch my head and question if (neutral) oak or ML were used during vinification.

Lynette advised neither was used, nor was I the first to be confused. As the illustrious Wine Spectator aptly described: 

Silky, with an almond edge to the apricot and apple flavors, lingering gently.

This balance is achieved by the fruit, that  is sourced  from several vineyards: Stone Ridge in the Chehalem Mountains, ElvenGlade in the Yamhill-Carlton District and Del Rio from the Rogue Valley. The variations are purposefully chosen and blended to offer flavor and structure. Grapes of higher acidity from cooler climate, blended with riper fruit from warm climates, and little manipulation, provide the complexity and differentiation.

Region/AVA: The grapes for this release of Pinot Gris are selected by design from multiple Oregon vineyards, thus no AVA designation.

Color: Pale straw color

Lately I have been taking a bit more time to enjoy and network with my ‘second’ city.  I travel to regularly to Portland Oregon for work, and keep a flat just outside the city. I am also a big fan of the nearby Willamette Valley wine region. My heart belongs to Sonoma, but I have had a soft spot for Portland and Willamette for many years, and have come here regularly for work and play.

Oregon Brewer’s Festival

Portland considers itself  THE microbrew mecca of the U.S., and this is it’s crown jewel. A multitude of events occur all week, with 70 thousand people usually from almost all 50 states flying in. (Note to you newbies, reserve cars, hotels, months in advance.)

Tip:

Serious beer geeks and tasters, get there early Thursday and Friday. By late afternoon, especially Friday, the lines become long and the event transforms from beer geeking to a mass party Downtown comes alive each night as revelers move to other venues.

Spit Cups Come to The Brewers Fest?

Talk to serious pub staff and beer drinkers in Portland, and you hear some of the same words wine geeks use,such as “flavor profile.” It dawned on me, that attending previous big microbrew events, especially the massive Great American Beer Festival in Denver, you can’t get down two of the 20+ aisles, even with 2 oz pours without getting schnockered.

Given that Thursday night I am headed to a pre IPNC event at Anne Amie, my same wine tasting rules apply – simply, I need to spit some of the beer, or just reduce Thursday night to a giant party, not a wine tasting.  It seems for microbrew TASTING, the same tasting principles apply; after a small amount of alcohol, sensory perception is distorted, so why not use this same principle and spit? Doubly so since I love Belgian triples, and other high gravity ales, that often top 7-10% alcohol, and quickly take affect.

I have gotten used to attending weekend wine passport events and getting stares for my spit cup; last week I got razzed by a flight attendant for a Riedel O (stemless glass) I carry; I see no point to not continue to blaze forward and be the only guy carrying around a spit cup! (Maybe others practice this in the beer industry, but I have never seen it at Brewers Fest.)

Festivities start tonight with the sold out S.N.O.B.  (Supporters of Native Oregon Beer) pre-event dinner, and special beers you may not see other days. Thursday opens with a parade and (sold out) brunch. I am attending a media tour/tasting Thursday afternoon, then enjoying some time on the scenic riverfront before taking the bus out to Anne Amie winery for the (also sold out) Counter Culture Pre-IPNC event.

And it Continues

Friday afternoon I am touring a few Willamette wineries, (still picking, feel free to suggest, lobby) and then attending an IPNC tasting and dinner. More on IPNC in a seperate post.

Saturday I jet back to North Sonoma to attend a special winemakers dinner and vineyard tour. (Not allowed to disclose until after.)

Sunday is a mini trip to Spain at the marvelous Gloria Ferrer Catalan Festival.

Monday I think I will rest!

I will be actively tweeting tasting notes, and profiles at both events. Hash tag for IPNC is #IPNC2010 (many still using just #IPNC) and for the Oregon Brewers Fest is #OBF. Will tweet and cross post pictures on Facebook, time, battery, and AT&T cell permitting!

Have a great weekend, cheers!

The Russian River Valley in North Sonoma, is a special place for me as it played a big role in my early discovery of wine, especially my beloved Pinot Noir. I am proud to be a Associate Member of the RRV Winegrowers, (a non profit organization) and do what I can to help promote this wonderful region.

I am excited about a new event that is coming up – Single Night: Single Vineyards. Before you go, ‘well I have a significant other, oh well’ ‘single’ means the wines poured are Single Vineyard Designates. Single Vineyard wines are produced from varietals (grapes) that come exclusively from a single vineyard (sometimes even just a single block, or area of a vineyard.) This is a special treat as it provides the ultimate expression of ‘terroir’ of the vineyard. In a more subtle, delicate varietal like Pinot Noir, one of the primary wine varietal grown in RRV, its a wonderful experience to compare wines this way.

Single also refers to single bites of food, so grab your singularly wonderful significant other and come for a night of great wine, food, music, and fun.

The event is being hosted at C. Donatiello Winery cellar, accented by Pete Avdoulos’ Liquid Metal Fine Art Paintings.

It’s an impressive list of  participating wineries, some not open to public, including : Acorn Winery, Ancient Oak Cellars, Balletto Vineyards, Benovia Winery, D&L Carinalli, Dutton-Goldfield, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery, Foppiano Vineyards, Foppoli Wines, Graton Ridge Cellars, Healdsburg Ranches, Hop Kiln Winery, J. Lynne Wines, John Tyler Wines, Joseph Swan, Ketcham Estate, Korbel Champagne Cellars, Landy Family Vineyards, Longboard Vineyards, Lynmar Estate, Martinelli Winery, Merry Edwards Wines, Papapietro Perry Winery, Patz & Hall, Siduri Wines, Twomey Cellars, Williams Selyem, Windsor Oaks, Y. Rousseau Wines.

The festivities kick off at 6:30 with a Single Vineyard tasting of Russian River Valley wines, paired with single bites of local artisan food.  While you enjoy these simple hedonisms, be entertained by  next generation vintner and grower “Cellar Teams”  antics to promote their Group Bid Adventure Auction Lots that will raise funds for educational programs. You can preview these lots via videos on the Facebook Fan Page.

At 8 p.m.,  the event moves to the crush pad for the Adventure Auction. A no-host bar featuring wines under $25 (offered by the taste and glass) and wallet-friendly grilled goods will continue to fuel the night. The adventures lots, personally hosted by vintners and growers, are designed for 6 to 10 people so bring your friends to bid as a group!

Auction items include:

• Plane rides over the Russian River Valley
• A kayaking and clam bake on the Russian River
• Classic Jeep vineyard treks
• Hot air ballooning
• And a winery cave tasting with more than just frills

At the conclusion of the auction, the party livens up with music from DJ’s Franco Finn and Samantha Vegas’ and the winery crush pad into a dance floor  – get your wine country groove on!

Tickets are limited, so join Simple Hedonisms at this fun event, try some amazing wines, and have a perfect evening in the Russian River Valley.

To purchase tickets (only $45 in advance, $55 at door), click here.

Cheers!

Greetings Simple Hedonisms Lovers

I am enjoying a rare week with no business travel, and brimming with anticipation for this Saturday’s 2010 Pinot Noir Summit, with 8 hours of seminars, blind tastings, and food pairings on my beloved varietal, Pinot.  (Only 250 tickets total, and a handful left for the full or partial day event, check this post for special discount Barbara was nice enough to extend blog readers.)

Tonight’s treat is the James Family Cellars 2007 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Stony Point Vineyard. I have had this Pinot a few times at Cellars of Sonoma, and was a fan from the first mouth swirl.

This is a small family of growers, now also turned Vitners; after a decade of growing and selling their fruit, they turned to making small lots. For a first release, I think they did exceptionally well.

I am becoming rapidly growing fan of Sonoma Coast and Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, and need to get out of my backyard here in Russian River more (hard to leave my favorites ) and explore more in person.

Color: Clear, violet, to ruby.

Nose: Pleasant, classic Pinot aromas of cherry, red fruit, a hint of floral.

In the Mouth: Mouth pleasing but not overpowering cherry, strawberry, a hint of cranberry, vanilla. Great balance, mouthfeel, weight.The finish is as a Pinot should be – a velvety lingering kiss that slowly dissipates in your mouth, with no sign of heat or tannins, just hedonistic pleasure that makes you want another mouthful.

Whether its my palette become more attuned to Pinot Noir delicacies, or just fatigued to over extracted Pinot Noirs trying to be a Rhone like varietal, I really liked this release. It captures the essence of Pinot, but doesn’t required you be the Burghound to enjoy it.

Highly recommended; $35 at Cellars of Sonoma, sold direct, and possibly other venues.

Hope to see you other Pinot Lovers Saturday!

Wine Geek Notes:

Cases Produced: 211 cases

Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir

Appellation: Sonoma Coast

Barrel Aging: 10 months in French Oak (33% new)

Titratable Acidity: 0.53g/100ml

Clones: 113, 115, 828

Vineyard: Stony Point Vineyard

Harvest Dates: 9/29 and 10/5/07 Alcohol: 14.3% pH: 3.68

Pinot Noir – oh how I love thee, let me count the ways. I keep waiting for palette fatigue to diminish my love affair with Pinot Noir as it has other varietals, but it never seems to abate…silky, seductive, finicky, and when its right, a sensory experience that makes you fall in love, for the 500th time…..

I have quested for an every day Pinot ~$20 that wouldn’t disappoint me for quite some time…on occasion I find it, but its generally been when K&L Wines, the Bay area’s premier wine merchant, does one of their great deals, as they often do. K&L is hard to beat, they literally travel the planet for wine, and allow you to purchase wine on their excellent website, and they will hold it Will Call it for 90 days, in the San Francisco SOMA or Redwood City location. Somehow every time I pick up I have 2-3 cases….dunno how that happens! I generally use them for imports, especially as I dabble more and more in French wines….however this gem I am reviewing caught my eye in an email.

I have to confess when I get an email from them about a Pinot saying:

” was $45 elswhere, 92 points from Wine Enthusiast! And, according to Wine Spectator: “Spicy cherry, wild berry and raspberry are ripe and full-bodied, fresh and lively, with firm tannins. Ends with a pretty burst of dark berry frutiness. Drink now through 2013. 650 cases made.” (Web only, 2009) Virtually any 2007 Anderson Valley Pinot at $19.99 is a steal. This is a complete and balanced wine with great acidity, beautiful cherry fruit with just a hint of cola, spice and earthy flavors. Don’t be afraid to buy a case, this wine will drink beautifully for the next year or two.This is probably my favorite of the two ’07 Jim Ball wines I tasted this year.

You had me at Pinot, Anderson Valley, 650 cases, Jim Ball Vineyards. I’ll gamble, 9 bottles ordered, 6 for me, 3 for Deb, my once blog editor, whom I hope will return soon after the CA Bar exam. (Thats law, not bar tending.)

This Pinot Noir doesn’t disappoint, the $20 sale price is just a plus. (The website still shows the originally price at $50.)

Color: Bright, brickish, lively color

Nose: Abundant mushroom and earth on nose at initial opening.  later to expose more of the cherry and red fruit.

In the Mouth: Well balanced acidity and tannins; the earthiness carries onto the palette, combined with cherry, berry a hint of spice.  The finish is pleasant, seductive and lingering.

If you are looking for a big, extracted, dark purply Pinot, this isn’t it. It’s not delicate or Burgundian, but it’s no wimp, and exhibits the many layers of complexity that make me love a good Pinot.

Glad I bought a few bottles at this price – the blind gamble paid off!

Pinot Lover? Don’t forget the Pinot Summit is almost here, and a few tickets left. Simple Hedonisms readers get a special discount, thanks to the generosity of Event creator, Barbara. Hope to see you there!

(Make sure you read to the bottom for special discount for Simple Hedonisms readers, and a chance to win a free ticket!)

Do you call yourself a lover of Pinot Noir – that sophisticated, velvet like, high maintenance varietal and nectar of the gods?

If you’re passionate about Pinot, I’d suggest you purchase tickets for the 2010 Pinot Noir Summit, before this divine experience is sold out. No industry passes, I even paid (gladly) for mine. Only 250 tickets are available, and this event sells out every year, the last seven years.

The event is Feb 27th, 2010 at Osher Marin Jewish Community Center, 200 N. San Pedro Road in San Rafael, CA.

The Summit offers two tracks, one is an entire day of events, the other is a Reception and Awards ceremony.

Full Day Pinot Noir Summit Tickets (including the Reception & Awards Ceremony)

The day long Pinotcentric events begins with The Pinot Noir Showdown, a blind tasting of 40 top-rated Pinot Noirs. Attendees become wine judges for the day and pit their palates against the expert panel, tasting and voting on their favorites.

Following the Showdown, guests may attend two Pinot Noir workshops featuring wine experts from around the country exploring the many faces and facets of Pinot Noir with top winemakers and viticulturists. Topics include:

1. When Pinot Sparkles… ~ Blanc de Noirs are sparkling wines made from black grapes, typically Pinot Noir. Taste some wonderful examples of these wines, explore how these wines are produced. The panel will discuss the process, appellations and food pairings.
   
2. Food and Pinot Noir Pairing ~ An exploration of Pinot Noir pairings. What works with which style of Pinot Noir…taste for yourself.
   
3. Winemaking 101 ~ The challenges a winemaker faces from harvest through bottling. When are decisions made and how do you decide? Three winemakers discuss the “process” as each share a wine that has not been released as yet.
   
4. Discovering New Stars ~ An introduction and tasting of wines from young wineries producing fabulous Pinot Noir
5. A Global Perspective on Pinot Noir ~ Yes, it’s the same grape. Are the wines different? Find out as we taste wines from three different classic growing regions: Russian River Valley, New Zealand and Santa Cruz Mountains.
   
6. Sustainable? Organic? Does it matter? ~ What effect do vineyard practices have on the quality of the wine? A panel of winemakers and wine growers discuss this very controversial subject as they share wines produced from their vineyards.

Pinot Noir Reception and Awards Ceremony:

Winemakers, proprietors, and winery personnel will share their outstanding Pinot Noirs and a taste of other wines they produce at the 8th Annual Pinot Noir Summit. Discover the identity of the wines you tasted at the Pinot Noir Showdown. The final results will be announced at The Pinot Noir Summit at 8:00 PM on February 27, 2010 and the winners will be unveiled during a reception featuring top Pinot winemakers and winery owners showcasing their wines with specially paired hors d’oeuvres.

• Full Day Pinot Noir Summit Tickets (including the Reception & Awards Ceremony): Normally $125 per person, Blog readers can click HERE to save 20%, only $100.

• Pinot Noir Reception and Awards Ceremony Only:  Normally $75 per person, Blog readers can click HERE to save 20% off, only $60.

Also, enter a drawing on their Facebook Fan Page to win a free ticket.  Simply become a Fan, and post on their wall what do you love about Pinot Noir? (Don’t wait to see if you win to purchase, or you may miss out, as it will sell out. If you win, they will refund your purchase, or you can bring a friend.)

I hope everyone’s new decade is off to a good start, and less frenzied than mine!

This week’s question of the week is:

If you were steering a visitor during the Winter Wineland coming up in a few weeks, what wineries would you urge them to visit?

This is a great question, one that I will answer in a few different posts. But first, for the uninitiated, what is the Winter Wineland?

This is an annual event, hosted by the Wine Road, Northern Sonoma County. I have long sung the praises of this marketing organization, which represents 150+ wineries, in the appellations (wine regions) of Russian River, Alexander Valley, Green Valley, and Dry Creek Valley.  I will write a follow-on article with tips to maximize enjoyment of this event, for now I refer to my posting on the last event, Wine And Food Affair, which still apply.

With over 120 wineries participating, there are any number of ways to decide where to go; by geography, by wine type, by food offerings, by wineries not open to public normal, by your normal favorites.Are you going for 1 day, or both? Generally, 4-5 in a day is about what you can expect to experience and enjoy, unless you are jamming through, spitting, and hitting denser clusters of wineries. Wine and wine country is to be enjoyed, and leisurely, go for quality of experience, not quantity.

As a rule of thumb, the first day of an event is ‘usually’ the busiest, and the mid afternoon on times are the craziest. Plan your stops accordingly, and make popular places your first, and lesser known ones perhaps later. Some wineries and their experience will resonate with you and make you sing like a bird, others may not make you all warm and fuzzy. I think  it’s a good idea to save a winery you know will be a good experience to finish on, to end your day on a high note.

I highly recommend you print out and read the detailed (11 page) list of participating Wineries, and what they are offering.  Live music, food pairings, library wines: each winery has unique offers.

This years Winter Wineland has a record number of participants (kudos to the wineries for solidarity.) I think it always good to visit some of the new participants to encourage them, especially if they are new to you. But don’t forget your favorites and the steadfast regular attendees.

I certainly have my own favorites wineries: for this posting I am going to highlight some of the new member wineries, many I have not yet explored. In a subsequent post, I will write about some of my favorites, and my planned itinerary. (Day 2 is mapped out, Day 1 still in progress.)

• D’Argenzio – this new member winery, is in Santa Rosa, and is an Italian family offer Italian varietals not commonly produced in this area, including Sangiovese, Muscato Canelli and Rossat, being tasted at a special event this Saturday. They also source and crush traditional Sonoma varietla like Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, etc.
• Robert Rue – new member winery, in Fulton. A family of Growers now also turned small wine producer -  Currently offering a 2005 and 2006 Russian River Zin. < 800 cases, old Vine Zins. Be among the first to visit Bob and Carlene Rue’s “just opened” Tasting Room. Taste award-winning Zinfandels paired with Mushroom Soup prepared by winery chef Kathy Bradley, and hand-made truffles by Gandolf’s Fine Chocolates.
• Souverain – new member winery. Their gorgeous Cloverdale property is offering historic Asti Tours at 11:30 am,
  1:00 pm and 2:30 pm
• New Members Hart’s Desire, J. Keverson, and the Hudson Street Wineries, visit 8+ wineries all side by side, right off downtown Healdsburg. Hart’s is offering a Mediterranean Lamb Stew that will pair wonderfully with their Red wine selections. (good Pinot!) (Make sure you go around and see Holdredge too. ) J. Keverson is offering a Chipotle-Squash Soup with Fresh
  Rosemary and Toasted Pumpkin 2006 Hales Zinfandel.
• Freestone Vineyards – a little off the beaten track, this new member and newer winery has a comfortable home like tasting room, and makes great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Lounge around the fire, and enjoy!

Haven’t bought your tickets yet! $40 for two days of wine tasting and food pairings! Advance ticket sales end Jan 11th, and prices go up to $50 for the weekend, so get them soon.

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