UNCORKED WINE TRAVELS

Musings Along The Wine Trails

2016 Wine Road’s Wine & Food Affair Tops All Expectations

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Nothing could be finer than to be in Northern Sonoma County in the fall ~ especially for the annual Wine & Food Affair which was held November 5 & 6, 2016.  What an awesome event!  Sponsored by the Wine Road, this event spans the Russian River Valley, Dry Creek and Alexander Valley and features over 100 wineries with delectable wine and food pairings.  Recipes can be found on the Wine Road website www.wineroad.com

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The highlight for me was meeting Victoria Wilson, Super Star Winemaker at Matrix Winery on the westside of Russian River Valley.  Victoria’s exuberance and passion for handcrafted small lot Pinot Noir was abundantly clear as we tasted through three single clone (667, 777 and 828) estate Pinot Noir vineyards.   Matrix’s 2014 Estate Pinot Noir was artfully paired with a Crispy Mushroom Roll with Butternut Squash Ketchup.  www.matrixwinery.com

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Dutton Estate put on a fine show as always, highlighting a Chardonnay, Kyndall’s Reserve 2013, and a delightful Pinot Noir, Karmen Isabella 2013, which was paired with mouth-watering North African Meatballs with Spiced Tomato Sauce.  As a special treat, the 2014 Late Harvest Syrah was served with homemade chocolate chip cookies.   www.duttonestate.com

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Battaglini Winery Touts “Viti Vecchie, Vini Buono”

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IMG_0239Italians have a wonderful saying, “Viti Vecchie, Vini Buono” which translates to “Old Vines, Great Wine.” This is certainly the case at Russian River Valley’s Battaglini Winery off Piner Road. Unassuming at best, it’s easy to pass the driveway on the windy country road mistaking the Battaglini Winery as another of the area’s old farmhouses with colorful red outbuildings and antique lawn art.

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Being an Italian wine aficionado, I ventured down the gravel lane.  Giuseppe,, aka Joe, Battaglini, sauntered out to unlock the tasting shed for me on a rainy winter’s day following the 2016 Winter Wineland  weekend festivities.   Joe warmly welcomed me to Battaglini Winery and invited me to taste his award-winning wines.

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Ribbons were proudly strung across the back wall and photographs of Italy adorned the walls.  Quite a bit of history in this tiny rustic tasting room!  Roots run deep, literally speaking, on this old homestead.

shapeimage_8 Giuseppe and his wife Lucia, immigrated from Italy to  California in 1956, seeking a similar Italian lifestyle amongst the vines.

The original owner and vintner,  Bartholomew Lagomarsino, also an Italian immigrant, planted Zinfandel and Petite Sirah in 1885 on this very site.

Today, the 1885 vines still flourish and produce incredible full-bodied Zinfandel and Petit Sirah, which have become the Battaglini Winery flagship wines.  In addition, the vineyards are planted to Chardonnay.

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For a truly authentico experience, stop by for a game of bocce and a glass of Old Vine Zin!  www.battagliniwines.com

 

Syrah is King at Rusack Vineyards

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Ballard Canyon AVA is no longer a well-kept secret.  As a matter of fact, my recent travels took me along the winding backcountry roads to Rusack Vineyards.  The oak-studded rolling hills and dramatic backdrop was ideal for my quest for the perfect Ballard Canyon Syrah and a dose of much-needed serenity.

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Unpretentious and inviting, Rusack Vineyards‘ tasting room was a welcome sight, as it is one of the few tasting rooms in the pristine Ballard Canyon.

geoff-alison-rusackIn the mid-1990’s, Geof and Alison Rusack  purchased the legendary 48 acre property, previously known as Ballard Canyon Winery.

Seventeen acres were planted primarily  with Syrah.  Alongside the Syrah are smaller blocks of Bordeaux varietals ~ Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Petit Sirah, Merlot and Petit Verdot.  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel are planted on the couples’  Santa Catalina Island vineyard, El Rancho Escondido.

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Dry Creek’s Wilson Winery Wins Gold Medal

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Just because you perceive something a certain way, doesn’t make it true.  Thank goodness!  Exploring the Dry Creek Canyon road in all it’s glory after much rain during the 2016 Winter Wineland festival, I decided to stop at Wilson Winery.

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Admittedly, the Wilson Winery roadside facade was truly understated and I have driven by it often over the years. The allure to visit the Dry Creek winery was to confirm the scuttlebutt heard at nearly every winery by fellow winery employees throughout the valley.  Who was this Diane Wilson, woman winemaker extraordinaire?  My curiosity and love of Dry Creek’s big bold reds got the better of me but not before I rounded the corner…

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Lo and behold, stood a magnificent wolf iron sculpture standing guard to the entry to Wilson Winery, probably howling at the moon in elation after tasting the decadent estate Zinfandel, Petit Sirah, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon!  [Read more…]

The Wine Carriage ~ A Perfect Marriage Of Horses & Wine

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Nothing could be finer than being carried through the vines by two handsome, two ton  Belgian Draft horses with owner Bret LeRolland of The Wine Carriage leading the way.   The starting point for the wine tour adventure begins at the historical Alexander Valley Vineyards in northern Sonoma County off Highway 128.

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Alexander Valley Vineyards‘ tasting room has a rustic old west country store feel, complete with a covered wooden porch.  Memorabilia of rancher Cyrus Alexander and his wife Rufina adorn the walls.  IMG_9360

Estate varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot,  Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Gerwurtztraminer.

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Freshly picked bunches of grapes sit on the counter, free for the tasting.

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Bret’s love for his horses, Willie and Django, is evident the moment you meet the team.  Guests are encouraged to approach the magnificent duo who calmly stand for pats and photos.  Gourmet snacks of locally sourced nuts and cheese are handed out as we take our seats.  Time to leave your cares far behind as guests board the horse-drawn carriage from Alexander Valley Vineyards.

IMG_9402Clip clop…. clip clop…. clip clop…. The Wine Carriage smoothly transports up to 10 guests through the heart of the vineyards over a 5 mile course, close enough to reach out and grab a bunch of grapes, which we actually did! [Read more…]