4 New Sonoma County Fantastic Wineries – plus a picnic



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For Chardonnay and Pinot Noir lovers, a trip to Burgundy is a divine experience. But you can find a bit of Burgundy much closer to home in a pocket of the vast Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, where the Green Valley subregion is home to renowned vineyards for these grapes.

Many new tasting rooms have opened on the outskirts of Sevastopol, making it a rural country getaway that feels almost as far as France, but at a fraction of the price.

Here's where to go for a perfect day of Burgundy style wine tasting.

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Sip: Emeritus Vineyards

This winery is an ideal entry point for an excursion to Sonoma County, thanks to peak hours. and easy location on the Gravenstein Highway – Highway 116 – one of the main arteries of the area. The large, airy tasting room, which opened in late 2015, overlooks the historic Hallberg Ranch, an old apple orchard that Brice Jones converted to 115 acres of dry-grown Pinot Noir at the turn of the century. latest.

Traditional bar, it features a tasting lounge filled with padded chairs and velvet sofas arranged in small vignettes that give an air of intimacy in the large, bright room. A wall is decorated with wine moats. An old vine, preserved roots-and-everything, doubles from one artwork to another. Outside, there are plenty of patio seats to enjoy the sun and light breezes.

The large, airy tasting room at Emeritus Vineyards is elegant and modern. (Courtesy of Kara Brodgesell)

Here, everything is pinot noir, starting with a rose made by the method of bloodletting – the pink juice is siphoned early in the fermentation cycle of a red wine. The tastings ($ 25) are followed by four other Pinots, some of which come directly from the doors and other cooler vineyards of the Sonoma Coast.

Details: Emeritus is open from 10 am to 4 pm. Fridays and weekends, from 10:30 to 16:00 Monday Thursday. 2500 Route 116, Sevastopol; www.emeritusvineyards.com

Sip: Vale Winery Char

Turn into the alley of the ancestral Char Vale tasting room and you'll feel like you've made a comeback in time. The meticulously maintained farm, with a red and white farmhouse, a restored barn and antique tractor, has a seriously old-school Americana charm.

Inside, it's completely modern, with a polished wooden bar and tables, a red garden bench and pillow accents. A wall of folding glass doors opens onto a large raised deck that gives tasters ($ 15) a first-row view of 10 acres of Pinot Noir vines. A nearby creek floods the vineyard during the rainy season, depositing a soil that gives the wines a distinct mineral backbone for developed fruit aromas, a feature that director Nicholas Dougherty calls "the spot between Burgundy and the California." The elegant and modern tasting room of Char Vale. (With the kind permission of Justin Warner)

To increase the French factor, get a bottle of Pinot Noir Rosé, which will be released soon, and pair it with a picnic lunch at the restaurant. one of the sunny tables. Life is Beautiful!

Details: Open from 11h00 to 16h30. Thursday-Monday 11h-16h30. 9280 western road, Sevastopol; www.charvalewinery.com

The Picnic: Andy's Market

Now about this Picnic: Part of the fun of an excursion to a wine country is to prepare a Outdoor feast, and Andy's Market, loved by the locals, is perfect Stop. Refuel at the coffee bar, then gather provisions for a lavish broadcast. Andy's Outdoor Products section is packed with fresh berries and stone fruit in the summer. Inside, you will find a wide selection of local and imported cheeses, an olive bar and bread from local bakeries, as well as spreads, pickles and jams to complete your party. A ready-to-go section with pre-made picnic packs – salumi and cheese, salads, sandwiches and even sushi – will get you on the road in a jiffy. Andy is open from 8:00 to 19:30. every day at 1691, road 116 at Sevastopol; www.andysproduce.com

Sip: Square Peg Vineyard

It's perhaps a bit off the beaten path, but a visit to Square Peg is worth the effort . The winding ride through Sevastopol takes you over the fog line to the vineyards of Brad and Alex Alper, where the father-and-son team focuses primarily on dry-grown Pinot Noir. It is a labor-intensive method, but which gives exceptionally nuanced wines from the terroir. Chardonnay, pinot and zinfandel are on the menu ($ 25) in the tasting room, which serves as a gallery for Brad's wife, sculptor Alanna Roth, whose bronzes are as gracious as the wine.

At Brad and Alex Alper Peg, the focus is on Pinot Noir. (Courtesy of Jerry Dodrill)

Tastings by appointment ($ 25) mean that visitors get the undivided attention of Brad or Alex, making it a perfect place for Nervous neophytes eager to learn or experienced tasters. take a deeper dive. Ask to reserve a table and enjoy a picnic in the intimate sequoia wood.

Details: 4728 Stoetz Lane, Sebastopol; Take a tasting appointment on www.squarepegwinery.com

Sip: Bowman Cellars

Alex Bowman started making wine in the garage with his father, while Bowman was still too young to drink it. But it was only in 2013 that Bowman, a professional electrician, accepted three tons of cabernet sauvignon to pay for a job and began to seriously consider opening a cellar

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