Sonoma? I thought that was a brand of…. oh next to Napa? I can’t wait! So they are the same area – right? And so were the first words spoken in reference to the area that I was to spend the next 7 days. In a house. With very large group of my closest friends. I am sure I am not the only one introduced the the nation’s top wine region in such a fashion, but I can guarantee a perspective you won’t find in Wine Spectator.
My very first find was a lovely little winery nestled within walking distance of our residence, Korbel. I arrived there hoping to stock up on Brut for our next round of mimosas only to find that what they offer on the shelves at your nearest grocery is vastly different than what you can find within these local winery walls. Sweet, Rouge, Chardonnay, Blanc – what was I missing, this is Korbel right?
The Russian River valley is host to a couple wine and winery favorites of mine. Kendall Jackson, Harvest Moon, popularity and price doesn’t dictate quality here (or elsewhere for that matter). Which is good when you are traveling with a group with as diverse tastes as ours. The first thing we came to understand was the variety of wines produced in this Mediterranean style climate.
And more to come…
The Grapevine* 