We
visited the wine country most recently with a medium-sized group, and
as part of the Carneros wine region, Cline Cellars is a welcoming entry
point. Although some of us were only interested in sweeter, aromatic
whites while others looked for full-bodied reds, Ron, who poured for
us at Cline's patio tasting bar, was excellent at ensuring everyone
found something they enjoyed. He recommended wines at the edge of our
comfort zones, from less common varietals like Carignane, to a smooth
red blend even the white-wine-only drinkers might enjoy, but was
never pushy. Tastings are complimentary, the atmosphere is
gregarious, and the staff members are knowledgeable.
With
lunch in our sights, VJB Vineyard & Cellars was an excellent next
stop. The central plaza is large and airy - the perfect place to take
a glass of wine, a scoop of gelato, or a wood-fired pizza (from the
on-site gelato shop or pizza oven.) The pizzas are prepared on
demand, but the wait is worth it. The winery itself focuses primarily
on Italian varietals, and a glass of their Nero d'Avola paired
beautifully with a prosciutto and mozzarella panini. At the tasting
bar, $10 will snag you five tastes, which range from a medium-dry and
citrusy Prosecco to a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. The Chardonnay
Port was also delicious.
After
the sommelier at VJB recommended St. Francis Winery, particularly its
Zinfandels, we were thrilled to try a horizontal sampling of three
different Zinfandels at the St. Francis tasting bar as part of our
overall tasting. (The Dry Creek Zinfandel was my favorite, but they
were all delicious.) The newly released Petite Sirah is also worth
looking up, and if you can, wander with your glass to the patio
behind the tasting room to take in a positively gorgeous view. St.
Francis' staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and will work with you
to tailor your tasting to your tastes: we visited as a group of six
very different wine fans, and each found – and left with –
something we enjoyed.
For
our last stop, we headed to Sonoma's townsite, where a number of
tasting rooms circle the charming Town Square. M wanted to show off
Bump Wine Cellars, one of our favorites, to the red wine enthusiasts
in our party, but as we were traveling with a couple of Niagara
ex-pats who were missing icewine, we continued up past the Square to
Roche. The Californian and Ontarian wine regions differ considerably
in terms of climate and terroir, so while we knew icewine was out of
the question, we'd heard good things about their Late Harvest
options. It was a fun way to end the day; just off of the Town
Square, Roche is a casual and welcoming tasting spot. After sampling
six different wines, we enjoyed a bottle of the Late Harvest Merlot
while tucked in to a table on their large, sunny patio.