Simple Hedonisms

Posts Tagged ‘sonoma’

Guest post by Ed Thralls of WineTonite.

One of the coolest places, both literally and figuratively speaking, I have been since moving to wine country is Tomales Bay near Pt. Reyes, where I enjoyed the freshest oysters I have ever had.  This occurred over an entire beautiful sunny Saturday (it’s often quite foggy and cold) amongst great wine and food friends like William Allen, who was gracious enough to allow me to guest post here on his blog.  This day left me with such joy and amazement, not to mention a serious sunburn, the wife and I have been on an oyster binge ever since.  Not only were the oysters themselves just fresh as can be plucked right out of the bay over our shoulders, but when paired with wine, it was truly one of the choicest life experiences to date.

Wines you should enjoy for a perfect oyster pairing include bubbles (Cava, Prosecco, Champagne, etc.), Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadet, Picpoul Blanc or anything that is crisp, minerally or has essence of ocean or brine.  But, nothing is stopping you from being creative and finding that perfect pairing for your palate.  On this particular day, the Muscadet brought by Nick (@fermented) and Katie stole the show and is often considered by many to be the “perfect oyster wine.”  Muscadet is from the western part of the Loire Valley in France and are very fresh, crisp and can have a hint of brininess to them.  Personally, I prefer the bubbles.

Needless to say, my wife and I are now oyster and wine junkies and can often be found on Wednesdays or Thursdays at Hog Island Oyster Co. at the Oxbow Market in Napa.  This is why I want to let you in on this little secret, as if you already didn’t know, and get an opportunity to try this perfect pairing yourselves if you’re in Sonoma County in the middle of July.  The Vintage Wine Estates Tasting Room in Healdsburg is teaming up with The Oyster Girls to create some palate pleasing combinations on July 16th, 2011 from 1-5pm for only $25.  The Oyster Girls are a traveling oyster bar that serves only local, fresh oysters from Tomales Bay.

This Price includes 6 oysters and 5 wines per person.  Full Disclosure: I work for Vintage Wine Estates and would love to have you join me in this cool culinary experience.  You can purchase tickets in advance HERE.

WIN a Pair of Complimentary Tickets

Comment here on the blog below about your most memorable wine pairing experience and we’ll draw a random winner next Wednesday, July 13th at 5pm PT who will receive 2 complimentary tickets available via Will Call at the event.

Here’s more information:

It’s snuck up on me again, perhaps because (as many echo to me) it is sometimes hard to imagine I have only been here two years. In many ways I feel like was always here.

Two Years Ago – The Long Overdue Journey Begins

I knew in my heart and soul, over 12 years ago this is where I would live: The result of  working for a Petaluma startup and discovering Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley. However being (at that time) in my early 30s’s,  and single, I was in denial a rural, agrarian county was the place for me, and instead lived in San Francisco and Marin, but sojourning regularly into Sonoma for work and play. Russian River Valley (I fell in love with Pinot, my ‘first girl’) and often Dry Creek Valley, became monthly visits.

Flash forward to 2009; after leaving the Bay area and brief stints in Seattle, Denver, and Baja Mexico, I returned to California in 2007 and was working in Silicon Valley.

A rapid series of life & work  events landed me here in North Sonoma, newly single, on paid 6 months off, really not knowing anyone, and keen to dive, at least partially,  into the wine industry. After much urging by friends, I also decided it was time to start a wine website and blog on it. I was fairly new to Facebook, not even on Twitter, but realized, with my background in marketing & technology, that these Social Media tools really could provide some social integration and networking, as well as establishing the brand of ‘Sonoma William.’ Today the blog Facebook page has 2400 followers, and Twitter, 4000.

Which incidentally I get push back on occasion as a wine writer. I write, travel, and review all wines and AVAs. Sonoma County is where  I live and love, not my wine focus, per se. Although she holds a special place in my heart, and where above all other places, I choose to live.

I wasn’t alone – we had other new entities like Hardy Wallace and Rick Bakas, all of us only a brief span apart. move into wine country. The differentiator for myself being I was completely independent and self funded. (Not that I wouldn’t want a large or progressive thinking, funded, winery at my back!)

It wasn’t long before I heard regularly – ‘you are everywhere!’

Diving In

Things coalesced: I finished the blog site,  self designed and hosted;  I was fortunate enough to have good  local Industry backing, especially of the North Sonoma Wine Road, and then it spread to organizations like Hospice du Rhone,  and momentum just grew. More of my background and first adventures can be found in my post: ‘Sonoma William’ Joins Forces With the Rhone Rangers; Some History & New Directions. I jumped into 2009 harvest. I covered events and just waded in head first.

Alas, my 6 month ‘sabbatical’ ended prematurely and I had to stop mid harvest and begin the struggle of trying to balance time between two very distinct worlds.

Now, two years later much has evolved, personally and professionally, but one thing  is certain – being involved in the wine industry was my calling – but on what path?

More Changes and Several Paths To Choose From Ahead

• New Life Changes

Two years later, a touch ironically, I am amidst another series of life changes.

Until last month, I have been head of sales for a small, VC funded,  software company, which by its nature brings volatility, especially when you are subject to the whims of Venture Capitalists, and in turbulent times. Despite the fact I helped the company grow and 2011 was on target to meet or exceed another 25+ percent growth year, a never ending series of  changes and  re-orgs, my role was eliminated. Without the big corporate severance package this time.

It was clear this was an opportunity to assess and decide – is this the time to jump full time into the wine industry? I have had offers before (and now) – but the issue has always been a huge decrease in income, at a time with a new farm, small vineyard, and other projects where capital is needed…can I afford to? We shall see, for right now I am pursuing other avenues and interests, hopefully through Harvest 2011.

Additionally, a bit  unexpected, I am in a relationship with someone, also in (and new to)  the wine industry. After many years of focusing on everything but my own life, I am investing substantial hours per week in building and growing this relationship, and spending time with a person who completes my life in many ways. My ‘usual’ line of work involves heavy travel 2-3 days a week, every week, and has always made relationships a challenge, so I am welcoming the quality time getting to know a dear person I both greatly respect and whom I think the world of.  Life is short, time is precious. It’s time to live, love and practice what I preach about enjoying life’s primary pleasures.

• Wine Marketing Consulting

Over the last year, I had been doing some side consulting for marketing and social media integration to several clients, mostly in conjunction with wine Public Relations veteran Marie Gewirtz of MGPR, and occasionally independently. Given recent changes, I am now open to new clients, and have recently closed several with more request opens for proposals. These can range from a Social Media only focus, helping launch Facebook, Twitter, building a following, integrating key applications like Cruvee and Google Analytics for measurement, training, and handing over the keys to the castle over some months, to campaign and event consulting, or a full blown soup to nuts Marketing , Public Relations, and Social Media campaign combining the resources and and experience of MGPR, and others who work with us.

I need to build an ‘accolades’ page, as we have already accomplished some great things, and I have also launched several projects including the new Santa Rosa Wine Trail. I also teach seminars for Wine Organizations, teach at Sonoma State University, guest lecture at Santa Rosa Junior college, and have presented at winery’s national meetings. Work has never been this much fun, or fulfilling, until now.

• Starting My Own Wine Label

In the background I have been working to create my own small brand, focusing on Rhone blends, producing 7 barrels of Rhone varietals (175 cases) and am going through all the fun paperwork. (Especially daunting has been the name creation.) I have had help and coaching from many people, ranging from Rhone icon Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon (whom I feel guilty to even contact) to the guidance of local winemakers Darek Trowbridge (and Steven Washuta) (Old World Winery), Alan Baker (Cartograph), Dylan & Tobe Sheldon (Sheldon Wines) & Kevin Hamel, veteran Sonoma wine maker and consultant. Busy with their own small artisan wine brands (all personal favorites) , these people have been kind enough to mentor me.

The ultimate size of this label? Remains to be seen… I think this is my long term future…but is that five years out? Ten? It’s still TBD as I let it happen somewhat organically. Joining with a life partner, investment partner who is also a passionate wine aficionado could accelerate this. My experience with Venture Capitalists makes me reluctant to  create a business plan and raise outside investors who aren’t hands on involved, and like minded.

• Wine Writing, Press Tours, and Wine Judging

At the same time, my following and reputation as a wine writer seems to have really accelerated. Readership is high, for a niche wine website. Requests for media coverage and event press passes flow in. I am having to decline some wine samples, based on backlog, capacity,  and really wish I again had active wine writers again for events and reviews.

A new twist  has emerged that I am excited about – wine judging. In early August I will be a judge in the Mendocino County Wine Competition. In September I am judging the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, our biggest competition. And in November I am judging in a brand new competition called the Garagiste Festival.

Additional requests for press and media tours continue. I recently have been spending time exploring Mendocino County with a press tour and Paul Dolan biodynamic writers camp. In July I am one of six writers selected on a all expense paid week media tour in Spain, sponsored by Freixnet, and visiting properties and wineries of the 22 brands, including Ribera and Rioja. Wine writing doesn’t pay, but it has its perks!

• Stepping into the Rhone Rangers Board of Directors, and Starting the North Coast Chapter

Life has been so busy, I haven’t even had time to craft a press release about our record Rhone Rangers San Francisco Grand event, nor my appointment to the Board of Directors last month.

Additionally, I am also spearheading the new North Coast Rhone Rangers chapter, in the footsteps of the successful Paso Robles chapter. Our initial goal is a map of Rhone producers with an electronic map for Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, and Lake Counties. More on this in a separate article, but if you are a winery that fits this or can recommend one, please contact me ASAP. I love working with wineries, but if you have ever done any cross winery work, you know its cat herding at its finest!

Where Does It All Lead?

The above items are by far a complete list; add in the monthly social events  host for 100+ people, the live tastings I do, and much more, life is very full! But where does this lead? I often get asked where is my ‘master plan’?

Atypical for me, I don’t have one. I see multiple possible paths in front of me, and I am letting them play out, somewhat organically, or naturally. Water follows its own path, and in this case, I think my life will as well.

I can’t wait to see what the 2012 Third year anniversary summary brings! Cheers!

Last week I wrote about the Taste Alexander Valley event and special reader ticket discount code. In a nutshell 30 wineries will roll out the red carpet, for a great weekend full of food, music, and wine. The atmosphere is always fun, lively, and down to earth. Each of the wineries  will offer gourmet foods, paired with their own wines and many will incorporate a party theme featuring musical entertainment. Special wine discounts will also be available at most venues. Download the 3 page program here and plan your route!

Enter to Win Tickets – Two Different Ways:

Read carefully – TWO ways to win and you can enter both!

(1) Post in comments:

Tell us your favorite winery of the participating 30 wineries (list here) and why.

OR

If you have never visited any, which would be your top choice to visit, and wine(s) to try.

(2) Become an email subscriber (existing ones win too!)

Subscribe to Simple Hedonisms email updates so you never miss an article. Email is secure and never spammed. Important: You MUST complete the registration process to be eligible, which requires you click on a verification link sent to your email. This is usually almost immediate, so if you don’t see it, check your spam.

Winners will be drawn this Wednesday at 5pm – only 48 hours, get on it! And don’t forget to take advantage of specials to stock up, buy local, and support your local small artisans!

If you don’t win, you still have until Thursday night to save money by purchasing advance  tickets – just  click here, and enter code SIMPLE at checkout for $10 off. People, that’s $55 for two days of world class entertainment, best value date in town!

Follow the Fun

Follow Alexander Valley on Facebook and Twitter for news, updates and fun. Twitter followers (or anyone with a web browser) can follow the Hashtag #TAV11 by clicking here.

cheers!

As an associate member of the SVVGA I am delighted about this weekend’s Sonoma Valley Reserve, a new wine event that offers participants the exclusive opportunity to see Sonoma Valley’s classic wineries in a completely new light, has been set for Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15, 2011. This inaugural event, a series of themed daytrips around the region, will showcase rare offerings and hidden gems of Sonoma Valley wine destinations, many of which are seldom open to the public.

The first annual Sonoma Valley Reserve will feature a schedule of themed tours that take guests on a treasure hunt throughout the appellation. Each tour includes four winery visits, comfortable transportation by California Wine Tours and a wine country picnic lunch featuring fresh local ingredients. In addition, on Saturday the tours end at the Sonoma Valley Reserve Marketplace where wines – many not available elsewhere – will be available for purchase.

There are some very cool tours ranging from “Meet the Winery Rockstar Tour” “Sparkling Wines Tour” “Limited Production Wines Tour” “Sommelier Tour” are just a few of the great offers.

Tickets for Sonoma Valley Reserve are extremely limited (indeed some tours are sold out) and are  $85 for one day or $135 for two days. Sonoma Valley Reserve ticketholders can depart from Sonoma or San Francisco. For an additional nominal fee ($30), round-trip motor coach transportation from San Francisco and Mill Valley will also be available. For information and tickets click here or call 707-935-0803.

What better way to spend the day this weekend, riding around Wine Country in a  comfy bus, tasting great wines and food, meeting fellow wine lovers, and learning and having fun at the same time – sign me up!

cheers!

Alexander Valley is home to 40 wineries and stunning vineyards. Each year they roll out the red carpet, throw open the doors (and bottles) for a great weekend full of food, music, and wine. The atmosphere is always fun, lively, and down to earth.

Guests  will enjoy world class wines, international foods and a variety of outdoor entertainment while enjoying breathtaking views of northern Sonoma County’s inspiring mountainside vineyards.

Each of the more than 30 wineries will offer gourmet foods, paired with their own wines and many will incorporate a party theme featuring musical entertainment. Special wine discounts will also be available at most venues.

A few examples of the fun:

• Latin jazz, samba and rock fusion performed by Bautista, will hold court at Alexander Valley Vineyards along with their smoky syrahs, spicy zinfandels and braised short ribs courtesy of Healdsburg’s Zin Restaurant.

• deLorimier Winery“Hollywood in Wine Country” -   deLorimier will be featuring their entire collection of beautiful wines, grilled rib-eye steaks and 3 barrels to taste the future of deLorimier Winery. Live music both days provided by the Open Hearts band.

• Robert Young ‘Area 27′ – Local residents of Alexander Valley have reported seeing unusually  bright lights in the evening sky. After extensive investigation by high-level government
  officials, the remarkable phenomenon at the Robert Young Vineyards known as Area 27 is still a mystery. Soon after the sightings, reliable sources observed curious activity at the Robert Young Estate Winery. Wine aficionados often attribute terrestrial elements (Terroir) for the winery’s distinguished  and elegant wines, but perhaps, the contributing elements are extraterrestrial. Whatever is cooking at Robert Young, it must be Out of This World!

Download the 3 page program here and plan your route!

Other weekend hosts featuring live music include Clos de Bois Wines, Delorimier Winery and Hanna Winery & Vineyards — playing off of Mardi Gras, Hollywood in Wine Country and Major League Baseball themes. Lots of summertime BBQ favorites, summer salsas and chutneys, specialty pizzas, gourmet sliders and pulled pork sandwiches, artisan cheeses and luscious desserts will be featured alongside Alexander Valley’s world class varietals and blends over the fun-filled weekend.

Ticket Information AND Special $10 off for Simple Hedonisms Readers

Weekend passes (valid for both days – 11am to 4pm) are $65 per person in advance and $75 per person the day of the event. Tickets for the Opening Gala dinner event on Friday, May 20 from 5:00 to 8:30pm are $90/person.

To purchase tickets click here, and enter code SIMPLE at checkout for $10 off. People, that’s $55 for two days of world class entertainment, best value date in town!  Expires Wed. May 18th.

Participating Wineries

Winery participants are Alexander Valley Vineyards, Blue Rock Vineyard, Clos du Bois, deLorimier Winery, Field Stone Winery & Vineyard, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Garden Creek Winery, Hanna Winery & Vineyards, Hart’s Desire Wines, Hawkes Wine, Icaria Winery, J. Rickards Winery, Kelley & Young, Medlock Ames, Mercury Wine, Palmeri Wines, Pech Merle Winery, Pendleton Estate, Quaking Hills Winery, Robert Young Estate Winery, Rodney Strong Vineyards, Sapphire Hill Winery, Sausal Winery, Silver Oak Cellars, Simi Winery, Soda Rock Winery, Souverain, Starlite Vineyards, Stonestreet Winery, Stryker Sonoma, Stuhlmuller Vineyards, Trione Vineyards & Winery, Vintners Signatures and White Oak Vineyards & Winery.

You can also follow Alexander Valley on Facebook and Twitter for news, updates and fun.

Enjoy the discount code (share the love!) and the great weekend – cheers!

It’s a stunning weekend of wine events through out California. For some of these events only a handful of tickets remain. Get em while they are hot!

Passport to Dry Creek Valley

The Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley rolls out the red carper with  its 22^nd annual Passport to Dry Creek Valley. 45+ Dry Creek Valley wineries will be rolling out the red carpet for an exclusive weekend of new wine releases paired with a bounty of food from top Sonoma County chefs! Meet the winemakers and owners, often the same people, and learn more about winemaking in bucolic Dry Creek Valley. Many wineries offer either live music or entertainment. In past years, this has included circus troupes, belly dancers and safari adventures. Come and see what they have to offer this year!

There are a handful of two day tickets left -  tickets are limited by design to keep this event a very high quality experience. Check/ buy here.

Simple Hedonisms writer Katherine Parker will be attending and Tweeting live. You can follow her on Twitter as well as Dry Creek Valley. Follow the Twitter hashtag #PassportDCV. No need to have a Twitter account, just click here.

Hospice du Rhone

It’s Rhone Christmas in Paso Robles this weekend at Hospice du Rhône.  For the past 19 years, three-days in the late spring have been reserved for an exclusive weekend surrounding all things Rhône. A palate provoking weekend embracing the enchantment, history and tastes of the twenty-two Rhône varieties. Throughout the weekend, tip your glass with worldly Rhône wine producers, journey through the largest international collection of Rhône variety wines and savor Rhône inspired cuisine all while taking in the inspiring and spirited Rhône community.

Online Pass Sales will closed yesterday. Friday Rhône Rendezvous and Saturday Grand Tasting passes will be available at the door for $110. Considering over 30 French Producers are pouring, and the amazing food pairings, $110 is a steal, trust me.

I wish I could attend all four events, but unfortunately I can’t. I love almost all wines, but Rhone’s stir my blood,  and I have a media invite to this event that beckons.  Watch for a follow-up post tomorrow on how to follow for updates. Twitter hashtag is #HdR2011.

Hopland Spring Passport

This weekend at Hopland’s Famous Wine Tasting Event, Hopland area wineries assemble and “roll out the barrel” showing their finest in Rhone, Italian, Burgundian, and Bordeaux varietals ranging from Arneis to Zinfandel. Experience 17 Local Mendocino County Wineries -Each winery will entertain in their own special way, which could include live music, bocce ball, barrel tasting, barbeques, book signings, reserve and future tastings and much more.  Excellent summary by the Ukiah Daily Journal can be found here.

Pebble Beach Food and Wine

I have yet to attend this event, but its big enough that even hard core Rhoners like Bonny Doon divide and conquer coverage between this and Paso Robles Hospice du Rhone.

Pebble Beach Food & Wine is the massive epicurean lifestyle event, bringing 6,000 national and international attendees to Del Monte Forest. Hosted primarily at Spanish Bay, the scope of the event encompasses every property in Pebble Beach and uses local and regional staff to create a hedonistic four-day event that matches 250 acclaimed wineries with 75 celebrity chefs, and includes wine and beverage tasting, cooking demonstrations, and some of the most exclusive, unique dining opportunities available in the world.  Tickets are still available for some events and tastings, check here.

For every budget, focus and palate, there is something to enjoy this weekend – have a great weekend of Simple Hedonisms – wine, food, friends, and fun – cheers!

Related Posts:

A Rhone Event Like No Other – Hospice du Rhone April 29-30 Paso Robles (OR – The French are Coming!)

Wine comes from the earth. More and more of today’s wine growers are conscientious  shepherds and stewards of the Land. What better way than to combine the two.

Here are a selection of Events coming up in celebration of Earth Day, feel free to add others in comments!

Sunday April 17th – Celebrate Earth Day in Green Valley at Iron Horse

This is a really great event I attended last year, and bought tickets to again this year. Celebrate Earth Day in Green Valley serves up food, wine and Ted Turner at this fifth annual “Eat, Drink & Be Green” festival held at Iron Horse Vineyards.This delicious eco- event features a walk around food and wine tasting, showcasing the spring releases from the aptly named Green Valley, represented by DeLoach Vineyards, Dutton-Goldfield, Freeman Vineyard & Winery, Hartford Family Winery, Iron Horse, Marimar Estate and Sequana.

In deference to Ted Turner, who owns 50,000 head of bison across 12 ranches, the main food station will be 6-oz. grilled bison filets along with Sonoma’s finest, fresh, “sous-vides” eggs on crostini, local, seasonal produce, cheeses, brick oven breads and an array of heavenly chocolates.

The star attraction and speaker is Ted Turner, Planet Green’s second favorite billionaire, one of GQ’s 25 “Coolest Athletes of All Time, and winner of Mikhail Gorbachev’s “Man Who Changed the World Award”. The focus of the day is The Future. There will be a one-day exhibit in a 1920s redwood barn turned temporary art gallery, curated on the theme “Vintage Future: What the Future Used to Look Like” (Think The Jetsons, the 1964 New York World’s Fair, Future Shock.). Other highlights include a time capsule with bottles of vintage Iron Horse 2010 Sparkling that will be “buried” in the cellar for 15 years to be ready for Iron Horse’s 50th anniversary, vineyard tours, which in Green Valley is where the real future lies.

Thursday April 21st 630 pm – Quivira Winemaker Dinner at Spoonbar

In celebration of Earth Day, Spoonbar has prepared a special spring farm dinner featuring Quivira‘s own certified Biodynamically grown produce and stellar wines.

Winemaker Hugh Chapelle will be on hand to share Quivira’s equally inspiring wines including the gorgeous newly bottled Rose, fantastic Zinfandel and unique varietals including Mourvedre and Grenache. Chef Rudy Mihal has crafted a delicious menu based on Quivira’s harvest paired to compliment each wine. A true expression of our local land.

The Evening:

• Welcome 2010 Sauvignon Blanc ~ Gewurztraminer, Dry Creek Valley

• 1st Course 2010 Rose, North Coast. Little gem leaves with fava beans, young pecorino and toasted walnuts

• 2nd Course 2009 Grenache, Wine Creek Ranch. Grilled California swordfish with spring garlic and white gaeta olives

• 3rd Course 2008 Mourvedre, Wine Creek Ranch & 2008 Flight, Dry Creek Valley. Braised beef short ribs with rainbow carrots and zinfandel cuisson

• Dessert 2009 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, Wine Creek Ranch. Buckwheat crepe, honey chevre, macerated peppered strawberries

$65 per person Tax and Gratuity not included.  For reservations, please call Spoonbar at 707-433-7222

Fri. 22 April & Sat. 23 – Special Vineyard Tours and Tastings at Inman Family Winery

Kathleen Inman, a neighbor, friend, and favorite vintner, is well known in the Bay area not just for her Pinot Noir, but for her incredible focus on sustainability, including water reclamation & composting, and has been recognized with numerous awards for her contributions.

To celebrate Earth Day, Fri. 22 April & Sat. 23 April, Kathleen will be leading tours at 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. of the new winery and vineyard. Inman will be doing mechanical weeding, spreading of compost, brewing of compost teas throughout the day. The tour is followed by a sit down tasting of 2006-2008 OGV pinot noir, and tastings of the current releases. Only 20 people each of the four slots. Tickets are $20, very limited and can be purchased here.

April 23 Kunde Family Estate – Earth Day Hike & Taste in the Vineyards

April 23, 10:00 a.m. $30 per person (includes wine tasting)

Join Sonoma Valley Docent Bill Myers on a fun, casual and up-close hike through the 1,850 acre volcanic and vertical Kunde Estate. This is a great opportunity to see sustainable winegrowing practices at work while taking in some of wine country’s most spectacular scenery. Bill’s tours wind through the estate’s distinct eco-systems, each one uniquely contributing to the process of sustainable winegrowing. This moderately strenuous hike lasts approximately four hours. Please pack a sack lunch and wear hiking boots or appropriate footwear. Also bring sunscreen and water, especially on hot days.

The hike will also conclude at the Tasting Room, where invigorated hikers can sample Kunde’s hand crafted estate-grown wines. MAKE A RESERVATION. Please no pets or children under 10.

Whatever you do to celebrate Earth Day – give something back, and then celebrate with a glass or bottle from a local grower/winemaker. Cheers and thanks for reading Simple Hedonisms Wine Blog !

Last Saturday’s Follow the Olivet Road was an incredible fun day of food, wine, entertainment. For those of you that missed it, or looking for another value priced day of fun, this Sunday the ‘West Sonoma County Wineries’ (formerly Eight at the Gate) are having an open house.

11 Wineries. 11 Miles

Join 11 Russian River Valley Wineries, 11 miles apart. Free to wine club,  (check in at winery you belong to) $20 at the door -  enjoy food and wine and purchase discounts from these producers:

Update 4/8: Please note Freestone & Iron Horse are now not participating.

• Balletto Vineyards & Winery – Stop by to have some Zin stew and cornbread! Don’t miss out on a 15% discount on all wine purchases.
• Dutton Estate Winery – Yee Haw! Come try the famous Estate Chili served with cornbread and take advantage of a 20% discount on wines.
• Dutton-Goldfield Winery – Buzz on over to Dutton-Goldfield to enjoy special savings on current release wines and a sweet treat from Lavender Bee Farm.  Try favorite local purveyors on hand to help celebrate Spring and West County.
• Graton Ridge Cellars – Ride on over to enjoy a 15% discount off wines, 25% off for GR club members. Taste your way through a delicious Chili bar and sample from the barrel.
• HANNA Winery & Vineyards – Mosey on down to HANNA Winery for some good ol’ fashioned cobbler.
• Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery – Trot on over to Marimar Estate to enjoy Spanish Tapas paired with our Pinot Noir – sure to satisfy everyone’s taste buds! Your stop will be filled with fun entertainment and special offers just for the day of “How the West was Wine.”
• Red Car Winery – Special Open House Offer: 3 bottle Syrah gift package, 30% discount, 40% off for wine club members. Red Car is also offering 10% off cases! Whoa Nellie – what a deal!
• Russian River Vineyards – Enjoy a smoked trout and corn hors d’oeuvre in tribute to the Pomo Indians who once had a village on the winery property. Get 15 – 20% off on all current release wines.
• Taft Street Winery – Giddy Up to take advantage of the Open House offers, 15% off bottle purchases, 25% off

Sounds Fun, So What’s The Contest?

Read carefully – TWO ways to win and you can enter both!

(1) Post in comments:

Tell us your favorite winery of the West Sonoma County Wineries, and why. OR

If you have never visited any, which would be your top choice to visit, and wine(s) to try.

(2) Become an email subscriber (existing ones win too!)

Subscribe to Simple Hedonisms email updates so you never miss an article. Email is secure and never spammed. Important: You MUST complete the registration process to be eligible, which requires you click on a verification link sent to your email. This is usually almost immediate, so if you don’t see it, check your spam.

Winners will be drawn Friday at 5pm – only 48 hours, get on it! And don’t forget to take advantage of specials to stock up, buy local, and support your local small artisans!

Cheers and thanks for reading Simple Hedonisms Wine Blog !

Russian River Valley – Home is Where the Heart Is  – So Now its Home

The Russian River Valley holds a special place in my heart. Not just because I now live here and am establishing a small farm and vineyard (sheep, chickens, apples and grenache, who knew!) but it was my first real love discovered about ~13 years ago. Like many, wine country started for me as Napa, which I still appreciate. Then it was downtown Sonoma aka Sonoma Valley, which is also a special place.

But it was the winding tree covered roads, sleepy towns like Forestville and Graton, plethora of small non castle like wineries,and an early love of Pinot Noir that sung to me most, and I always knew in my heart I would live here. Despite the world recognition of as an AVA, its still down to earth and sleepy.

During the Wine Road recent Barrel Tasting when people were Tweeting about hordes in Dry Creek and Healdsburg on  a Saturday afternoon, I was able to get a barrel sample and shake the hand of the winemakers at most stops.

Follow the Olivet Road – Inaugural Event – Taste of Olivet

Recently seven of the wineries on Olivet Road in RRV got together to work more closely together, starting a group “Follow the Olivet Road” – this one seems lined with great wine instead of yellow bricks.

Participating wineries are Deloach, Harvest Moon, Hook & Ladder, Inman Family Wines, Inspiration Vineyards, Pellegrini, and Tara Bella.

This Saturday they will open their doors, hearts and bottles, and extend wine club privileges all day to ticket holders:

• Complimentary tasting at all seven wineries
• 20% discount on all current wine releases
• Tasty hors d’oeuvres
• Passport contest ~ visit all seven wineries to enter to win
• Music and entertainment
• Olivet Road hospitality

Tickets: $20 wine club, $30 general public, designated drivers $5. Tickets may be purchased online here.

Follow the Olivet Road: Facebook Page, Twitter, Website

See further below for additional details by some wineries.

Contest – Win a Pair Tickets One of Two Ways

Enter in comments below:

“Tell us your favorite winery of the Olivet Road Wineries, and why. OR

If you have never visited any, which would be your top choice to visit, and wine(s) to try.”

Entries will be drawn at random Thursday at 2pm. That’s in 48 hours, don’t delay!

Second Chance to Win: We will be drawing for a pair This Thursday night at our monthly meetup. This month its in Healdsburg – 530-7330. Details here.

Follow For Live Coverage

Unless I am hit by a truck or a rabid sheep, I will be there broadcasting live as I did for the Rhone Rangers event last weekend. Attendees will be Tweeting under the hash tag (a sorting mechanism) of #FTOR.

To follow along simple go to http://twitter.com/ and under the search window type #FTOR or click here. If you want to focus in more narrowly you can simple follow my Tweets, type in (or click here)  @sonomawilliam to follow along.

I will also be uploading some pictures and updates as I go on the blog Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/SimpleHedonisms.

Highlighted Winery Offers:

Hook & Ladder: Food catered by Sarah’s Forestville Kitchen -created  to pair with the wines we’ll be pouring that day. A special treat  a chocolatier here from XOAO Chocolatiers has made chocolates to pair with our wine, and chocolate flavored with one of their wines Live music as well is planned.

Inspiration Vineyards: Pouring from their new location at 3360 Coffey Lane, Suite E – look for the golden balloons!  (Same location as Carol Shelton)  Only 8 minutes from Olivet Road.  Ruby Slipper Specials  will be 20% off 1-11 bottles, 25% off mixed cases (excluding  Old Vine Zinfandel which  has a 3 bottle limit.) Also featuring  live entertainment – Classical / Blues Guitarist Bruce Klein. Food to pair with the wines as well.

Harvest Moon: Is offering live music from “Mr December”, a stand-up bass and ukuleilee combo.. They’ve played at Harvest Moon before and they rock!  Also,  showcasing their elegant 2008 zins paired with a “Harvest Salad”.  Yep, zin with salad and it’s pretty tasty. Also be tasting the Estate olive oil and discussing how olive oil is produced.  Fresh flat bread and garden veggies from the wood-fired oven will be on hand as well. AND, there’ll be some smokin’ bottle sale discounts too!

Will be pouring  -  Estate Dry Gewurztraminer, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Estate Zinfandel, Dry Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Late Harvest Zinfandel and Dessert Gewurztraminer, plus we wil be opening up some oldies….2003′s? 2004′s?

Tara Bella: (first visit for me!)  – ‘Dorotea en las zapatillas rubis’ will be featuring sultry Flamenco rhythms from David Brewer. Sample their 2009 Reserve and Estate Barrels. Serving ’08 Reserve Cab with little beef skewer tapas, and the ’08 Estate Cab with yummy chocolate brownie bites.   Weather permitting will be in the Outdoor Kitchen, heaters will be stoked and a small fire will be blazing

For the last 18 months now I have been hosting the monthly Sonoma Wine Meetup - a labor of love designed as a networking event to put the Social in Social Media. We have a Facebook Page where we post the events. This Thursday night from 530-730 is our latest meetup, in downtown Healdsburg.

New Format

In February I modified the format to be more of a combination Industry Open House and Meetup. This comes at an increased hosting cost to the winery, but the goal was to increase industry traffic, so we decided to waive the usual $10 cost, and eliminate all drink tickets, including for consumers, who are still invited.

It appears the new format was a resounding success, we had over 140 people come through Old World Winery last month.

So How Does This Work

The basic premise hasn’t changed; intermixing Industry, Media, Hospitality, Concierge and Consumers to network. Many have ‘met’ on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, but not always in person. The event is specifically NOT called a Tweetup. We are not spending the evening with our noses in our phones, but connecting, the old fashioned way, face to face, glass of vino in hand.

If you are industry there is no charge. If you are a consumer, or the guest of someone industry, the charge is $10, 100% of which goes to the winery to defray some of the costs of wine, catering, staff. That includes all food and wine that night (no more drink tickets.)

Where Are We Meeting?

This month we are at Vintage Wine Estates cozy new tasting room and lounge, right on the square in downtown Healdsburg. (308 B Center Street.) Vintage Wine Estates will be pouring bubbles. Vintage Wine Estates Sonoma Coast label was the winner of the Charlie Palmer Pig & Pinot Cup in 2008. They will be pouring:

• 2007 Sonoma Coast Vineyards Sea Fog Cuvee Blanc de Noir (bubbles!)
• 2009 Sonoma Coast Vineyards Gold Ridge Hills Chardonnay
• 2008 Sonoma Coast Vineyards Bodega Ridge Block Pinot Noir
• 2007 or 2008 Windsor Sonoma Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
• NV Windsor Vineyards Port

Also for consumers attending, and wish to purchase everyone is treated like Industry this night, so you may buy wine to take home at 30% discount.

Helena of Helena’s Kitchen will be catering again, as she did for Old World Winery.

Meet Fun People, Take Home Prizes

One of the highlights of the evening is the raffle prizes. Each person who comes in, drops of a business card to be entered. Winery staff who donate a bottle for the drawing, get an extra chance to win. Consumers who pre-pay, also get an extra chance.

We generally give away 6-12 bottles, so we have smiling faces at the end. Must be present to win.

This week, we also give away a pair of tickets to this Saturday’s inaugural Taste of Olivet Road event.

The Facebook event to RSVP is here. The site to pre-register, pre-pay, and for you people STILL not on Facebook is here http://sonomawine.eventbrite.com/.

Visiting Guests

We generally get some out of town winos visiting and try and make them feel welcome. This month Suzie Linville, Wine blogger and PR person will be in town. (Suzie is interested in moving to CA from the east coast.) Her wine blog is RunningWineGirl or @SuzieLin on Twitter.

Also visiting is the Portland based team from IndieVinos Karin McKercher (@KarinMcKercher), Kim Fuller (@KimF_IndieVinos) and Dennis Powers. Also @IndieVinos.

IndieVinos is in town visiting and chatting with wineries in anticipation of their June soft-launch of their community-based social-commerce site that enables the purchase of artisan wines. Also part owner of Part owner, Deux Fen Estates, a small producer of Burgundian-style Oregon Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.

Do say hi and show them some Sonoma hospitality!

Many people will hit the bars and restaurants of Healdsburg after, so it should be a fun night – see you there! Cheers and thanks for reading Simple Hedonisms Wine Blog !