• Blog
  • About Me
    • Press Release
  • Back Road Wineries
    • California Wine Trail
    • Tuscany Wine Trail
    • Baja California Wine Trail
  • Wine A Bit ~ Editorial & Reviews
  • Contact Me

UNCORKED WINE TRAVELS

Musings Along The Wine Trails

De-Lovely De Loach Vineyards Is Simply Di-Vine

January 29, 2014 by Deborah Mines Leave a Comment

IMG_5996

With over 130 wineries to choose from in the Russian River Valley, Dry Creek, Healdsburg and the Alexander Valley, I decided that De Loach Vineyards was the perfect starting point for the Sonoma County Winter Wineland two-day event.   Every January, scores of wineries in Sonoma County open their bottles and barrels for the Winter Wineland festival.

IMG_6000

I was warmly greeted by De Loach Vineyards staff and a rather hairy, but very friendly, snow creature at the event check-in.  Banded with a blue wristband and armed with an official Wine Road glass, I was ready to hit the wine trail!  First stop — De Loach Vineyards.

IMG_6001The De Loach Vineyards tasting room was festively decorated, and the staff was bracing for the weekend crowds.  Tastings were set up in three different areas in the winery, with an opportunity to get up close and personal with one of the wine makers.  The smell of fresh fococcia bread with carmelized onions filled the room. 

Five amazing wines were offered for tasting.  Two Chardonnays shone brightly — the  2010 OFS Chardonnay and the 2012 Russian River Valley Chardonnay.  Both well-balanced with stone-fruit flavors, aged gently in oak.

IMG_6005Two fabulous Pinot Noirs were poured ~  the 2010 Van der Kamp Vineyard Pinot Noir and the 2012 Russian RIver Valley Pinot Noir plus one Zinfandel, the 2011 Russian River Valley Zinfandel.  The winemaker for Van der Kamp Vineyards was on hand to interact with guests and pour his gold medal wine, rated 92 points by both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast.

IMG_6008

The grounds at De Loach Vineyards are lovely, especially in the spring and summer when the flowers are in bloom.  Bring a picnic lunch or become a Winemaker For A Day where you learn how to blend Pinot Noir wines and create a custom label and foil for your very own bottle.  Weddings and special events are also held on the property overlooking the gardens and vineyards.  I absolutely love De Loach Vineyards’ library Pinot Noirs and am thrilled to be a wine club member here!   www.deloachvineyards.com

IMG_6527

Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, sustainable farming, Wine Enthusiast, Wine Road, Wine Spectator, Wine Tasting, Zinfandel

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Wine Trail Search

Follow My Wine Blog

    Your Name

    Your Email

    A Little About Me

    To many, I’m simply known as a wanderlust ~ a free-spirited adventuress with a passion for travel and a lover of great wines!Read more...

    Vintage Posts

    • Ojai’s Spiritual Vortex (And Great Wine) Soothes The Soul April 4, 2021
    • Book Review: The Billionaire’s Vinegar January 3, 2021
    • Book Review: Sonoma Wine And The Story Of Buena Vista November 29, 2020
    • California Wineries Are Now “Waiting For The Other Shoe To Drop…” November 15, 2020
    • Russian River Valley Welcomes Visitors in Uncertain Times… September 20, 2020
    • BOOK REVIEW: A Wine Journey Along The Russian River May 30, 2020
    • US Wine Market Update: A Regional Perspective Webinar Unites Top Industry Leaders April 17, 2020
    • The Lifecycle of a Grape Vine ~ From Vine To Wine March 26, 2020
    • 2019’s “Top 10” Eclectic RRV Wineries December 29, 2019
    • Russian River Valley’s Arista Wines Earn Top Accolades From Wine Spectator September 24, 2019
    • Littorai Wines ~ A Tale of Two Coasts & Three Pinot Noir Styles September 13, 2019
    • After Much Ado, “House of Flowers” Debuts In Russian River Valley August 29, 2019
    • Best Backroads For Cycling In RRV-Healdsburg Wine Country August 16, 2019
    • Experience Cave-Aged Wines At DRNK Winery in Russian River Valley July 3, 2019
    • Best Kept Secret in Sta. Rita Hills ~ Spear Vineyards & Winery May 17, 2019
    • Spring Is An Ideal, And Uncrowded, Time To Visit Wine Country April 19, 2019
    • NEW BOOK RELEASE: Root Cause, A Novel by Steven Laine February 19, 2019
    • Discover the Hidden Wine Caves in Sonoma Wine Country December 17, 2018
    • Vin Santo Reigns In Chianti’s Medieval Hamlet of Castello di Volpaia November 16, 2018
    • Hidden Gem Alert ~ Dry Creek’s Unti Vineyards Is A “10” October 31, 2018

    Copyright © 2021 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in