Simple Hedonisms

Russian River Valley – Home is Where the Heart Is  – So Now its Home

The Russian River Valley holds a special place in my heart. Not just because I now live here and am establishing a small farm and vineyard (sheep, chickens, apples and grenache, who knew!) but it was my first real love discovered about ~13 years ago. Like many, wine country started for me as Napa, which I still appreciate. Then it was downtown Sonoma aka Sonoma Valley, which is also a special place.

But it was the winding tree covered roads, sleepy towns like Forestville and Graton, plethora of small non castle like wineries,and an early love of Pinot Noir that sung to me most, and I always knew in my heart I would live here. Despite the world recognition of as an AVA, its still down to earth and sleepy.

During the Wine Road recent Barrel Tasting when people were Tweeting about hordes in Dry Creek and Healdsburg on  a Saturday afternoon, I was able to get a barrel sample and shake the hand of the winemakers at most stops.

Follow the Olivet Road – Inaugural Event – Taste of Olivet

Recently seven of the wineries on Olivet Road in RRV got together to work more closely together, starting a group “Follow the Olivet Road” – this one seems lined with great wine instead of yellow bricks.

Participating wineries are Deloach, Harvest Moon, Hook & Ladder, Inman Family Wines, Inspiration Vineyards, Pellegrini, and Tara Bella.

This Saturday they will open their doors, hearts and bottles, and extend wine club privileges all day to ticket holders:

• Complimentary tasting at all seven wineries
• 20% discount on all current wine releases
• Tasty hors d’oeuvres
• Passport contest ~ visit all seven wineries to enter to win
• Music and entertainment
• Olivet Road hospitality

Tickets: $20 wine club, $30 general public, designated drivers $5. Tickets may be purchased online here.

Follow the Olivet Road: Facebook Page, Twitter, Website

See further below for additional details by some wineries.

Contest – Win a Pair Tickets One of Two Ways

Enter in comments below:

“Tell us your favorite winery of the Olivet Road Wineries, and why. OR

If you have never visited any, which would be your top choice to visit, and wine(s) to try.”

Entries will be drawn at random Thursday at 2pm. That’s in 48 hours, don’t delay!

Second Chance to Win: We will be drawing for a pair This Thursday night at our monthly meetup. This month its in Healdsburg – 530-7330. Details here.

Follow For Live Coverage

Unless I am hit by a truck or a rabid sheep, I will be there broadcasting live as I did for the Rhone Rangers event last weekend. Attendees will be Tweeting under the hash tag (a sorting mechanism) of #FTOR.

To follow along simple go to http://twitter.com/ and under the search window type #FTOR or click here. If you want to focus in more narrowly you can simple follow my Tweets, type in (or click here)  @sonomawilliam to follow along.

I will also be uploading some pictures and updates as I go on the blog Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/SimpleHedonisms.

Highlighted Winery Offers:

Hook & Ladder: Food catered by Sarah’s Forestville Kitchen -created  to pair with the wines we’ll be pouring that day. A special treat  a chocolatier here from XOAO Chocolatiers has made chocolates to pair with our wine, and chocolate flavored with one of their wines Live music as well is planned.

Inspiration Vineyards: Pouring from their new location at 3360 Coffey Lane, Suite E – look for the golden balloons!  (Same location as Carol Shelton)  Only 8 minutes from Olivet Road.  Ruby Slipper Specials  will be 20% off 1-11 bottles, 25% off mixed cases (excluding  Old Vine Zinfandel which  has a 3 bottle limit.) Also featuring  live entertainment – Classical / Blues Guitarist Bruce Klein. Food to pair with the wines as well.

Harvest Moon: Is offering live music from “Mr December”, a stand-up bass and ukuleilee combo.. They’ve played at Harvest Moon before and they rock!  Also,  showcasing their elegant 2008 zins paired with a “Harvest Salad”.  Yep, zin with salad and it’s pretty tasty. Also be tasting the Estate olive oil and discussing how olive oil is produced.  Fresh flat bread and garden veggies from the wood-fired oven will be on hand as well. AND, there’ll be some smokin’ bottle sale discounts too!

Will be pouring  -  Estate Dry Gewurztraminer, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, Estate Zinfandel, Dry Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Late Harvest Zinfandel and Dessert Gewurztraminer, plus we wil be opening up some oldies….2003′s? 2004′s?

Tara Bella: (first visit for me!)  – ‘Dorotea en las zapatillas rubis’ will be featuring sultry Flamenco rhythms from David Brewer. Sample their 2009 Reserve and Estate Barrels. Serving ’08 Reserve Cab with little beef skewer tapas, and the ’08 Estate Cab with yummy chocolate brownie bites.   Weather permitting will be in the Outdoor Kitchen, heaters will be stoked and a small fire will be blazing

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14 Responses to “This Saturday – Don’t Miss ‘Taste of Olivet – Follow the Olivet Road’ Russian River Valley event. (Ticket Contest too!)”