Archive for July, 2012
Don't Miss This Weekend! Muscardini Cellars of Sonoma 8th Annual Barrel Tasting Weekend
July 27th, 2012 | 
Author: This weekend in Sonoma (July 27-28) Muscardini Cellars of
Sonoma hosts its 8th Annual Barrel Tasting Weekend , to be held at Deerfield Ranch Winery.
‘Mercato di Vino’ is the theme this year, with an Italian Marketplace set up overlo
oking the rolling vineyard hills in the Sonoma Valley.
Guest can enjoy current release tasting from both Muscardini Cellars and Deerfield Ranch Winery, tasting out of the barrels in the wine caves, wood fired pizza, live music, artisan chocolates, and a cigar deck., all out on the beautiful Deerfield Ranch Property in Sonoma.
The views are magnificent, the wines are small production and high quality, and the parking is in ample supply.
This fun day is a steal at only $35/person
- Event Hours: Both Sat and Sun 12-5pm
- Location/Address: Deerfield Ranch Winery, 10200 Sonoma Highway, Kenwood, CA 95452
- You can buy tickets for either Saturday Or Sunday
Buy tickets:
Tasting Notes: Bonny Doon Vineyard 2010 Contra Old Vine Field Blend
It’s time to wax poetic (again) about Bonny Doon Vineyard. It’s hard not to, when one comes across a wine this approachable in price and palate. natural viagra
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I loved the 2009, which Jon Bonne’ picked as a top 100 wine of 2010, but if memory serves (sorry not digging into the cellar, although some 2009 is still for sale on BDV website) I like the 2010 even more.
This year’s blend is less a cornucopia as the 2009, made from 68% Carignane, 32% Syrah. Fermented with native yeast, in individual lots.
Carignane can be a difficult grape to vinify, tannic and harsh if over extracted and not worked with properly. Or wonderfully complex, meaty, and layered, as this example shows.
The QR code on label is a great resource – shows you local places to buy and price.
Bonny Doon Vineyard 2010 Contra Old Vine Field Blend
- To The Eye: A dark, menacing inky purple that if you gaze at too long may mesmerize you.
- On The Nose: Complex, layered. Meatiness, dark fruit, plums, black cherry, spice. There is a lot going on to enjoy.
- In The Mouth: As one might expect, the carnival of an aroma profile carries over to the palate: Blackberry, dark
fruit, hints of red fruits, its both bright and fresh from lively acidity, and slightly brooding, at the same time.
- Recommendation: A must buy for under $20. Received
a media sample, but as a Bonny Doon wine club member I’ll be receiving more.
Wine Geek Info:
- Varietal Composition: 68% Carignane, 32% Syrah
- Appellation: 68% Contra Costa, 25% San Luis Obispo, 7% Santa Maria
- Vineyards: 68% Gonsalves, 25% Alamo Creek, 7% Bien Nacido
- Alcohol by Volume: 13.7%
- TA: 5.8 g/L
- pH: 3.64
- Production: 1,989 cases
Posted in Wine Reviews | 
Tags: Bonny Doon Vineyard, carignane, Rhone Wine, Wine Review | 
1 Comment »
Tomorrow is Rootstock: The Great Gastronomic Wine, Street Food & Music Festival. Save 45% On Tix!
Santa Rosa, CA, June 19th -Santa Rosa Vintners’ Square and Creative Furnace host the second annual viagra online best price
//www.rootstockfestival.com” target=”_blank”>Rootstock: The Great Gastronomic Wine, Street Food & Music Festival from 2-6 pm.
The Rootstock Festival brings together fine wine and craft brew tasting, gourmet street foods, a Best Bites Competition hosted by Heather Irwin of Bite Club Eats,
and live music from the Hotel Cafe Tour. Returning to the main stage is the fiercely independent and self-aware “loudmouth” Jim Bianco, whose songs “expose, embarrass and offend ex-girlfriends, future girlfriends, fellow singer/songwriters and, most notably, himself.” Joining Bianco are singer-songwriters Holly Conlan, Jesse Thomas and Javier Dunn.
Support The Santa Rosa JC Shone Farm Foundation AND Save 45%
A portion of the day’s proceeds benefit Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) Shone Farm Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is to manage, support and raise funds for the Shone Farm agricultural and educational facility. This includes the SRJC Shone Farm Winery, which makes and markets wine as an integral part of the instructional program at SRJC, and is now a member of The Wineyard cooperative in Santa Rosa Vintners’ Square. General admission is $45, with advance-discounted tickets available for $35 each at www.RootstockFestival.com and $25 each directly at Santa Rosa Vintners’ Square merchants until July 6th. A small allotment of VIP experience tickets are available at $65 each. (sold out!)
Use code SH12 at checkout. Expires at Midnight!
Music Lineup
“Along with the stellar indie talent, one of the main reasons we love teaming with Hotel Cafe is the camaraderie of the performances,” said Joel Quigley, co-producer of the Rootstock Festival. “Hotel Cafe isn’t just a venue in LA and a tour, they bring artists into their circle of talent to create a support network. These artists become close friends, who then collaborate and play together, which translates into their performances. Last year we saw our headliner playing mandolin and singing back up for our opening artist. This makes for a very unique, intimate, and special day of music.”
Los Angeles singer-songwriter and pianist Holly Conlan is a “surefooted indie-pop artist” who has shared the stage with the likes of Colbie Caillat, Katy Perry, Cary Brothers and Butch Walker. Conlan will take a break from recording her third studio album to join us in Sonoma wine country.
Singer-songwriter Jesse Thomas is a “redheaded firecracker” from Kentucky, whose “whiskey soaked soul drips into every song she sings.” She’ll be performing songs from her recently released, first full-length album War Dancer.
Javier Dunn, known equally for his awe-inspiring lyrics and guitar playing (he’s also lead guitarist for singer-songwriter and pianist sensation Sara Bareilles), will feature songs from his new EP Small Spaces.
You can check out some of the artists performance here: http://rootstockfestival.com/rootstock/Tunes.html
Great Wine & Microbrew
Santa Rosa Vintners’ Square is home to a host of lifestyle businesses such as its three outstanding wineries with production facilities including D’Argenzio Winery, Krutz Family Cellars and Sheldon Wines, with The Wineyard cooperative tasting room featuring Albertina Wine Cellars, Atascadero Creek, Flocchini Wines, Jazz Cellars, and SRJC Shone Farm Winery. Heritage Public House is the new local gathering spot for live music, comedy, special events and a rotating beverage menu focused on California nano- and micro-brews including Ruth McGowan’s Craft Brews, as well as wines from The
Wineyard next door. Squire Cigars, host of Rootstock’s VIP Cigar Tent, and The Barbery round out the line up of merchants at Santa Rosa Vintners’ Square.
Other festival partners include TasteLive, CellarPass, House Band Wines, Rodney Strong Vineyards, 7×7 Wine Country, Sonoma County Tourism Bureau, Sonoma County Vintners, Grapebuddy, Jahn Art, and preferred lodging partner, the Flamingo Convention Resort & Spa.
The 2012 Rootstock Artisan Street Food Line Up
Along with a host of wineries and craft brews to whet the appetite, Rootstock’s artisan street food purveyors will satiate guests with a diversity of delicious dishes created from locally sourced ingredients by some of the region’s best street and market chefs. They will also compete in multiple categories to take home a Best Bites award, which includes the coveted Rootstock bumper stickers touting each award.
- Chef Christopher Greenwald of Bay Laurel Culinary dishes up wine-friendly global comfort cuisine from his Gastro Shack cart.
- Proprietor Jill Dorman of Street-eatz Mobile Kitchen delivers “flavors of the world” from her food truck.
- Proprietor Alma Mendez of La Texanita Mobile combines authentic dishes from the occident of Mexico served from her food truck.
- Chef John Franchetti of Rosso Pizzeria & Wine Bar will serve up a whole roasted suckling pig from its Chinese Smoker Box.
- Proprietor Nellie Gamez of Nellie’s Oysters is firing up the grill to share her day-fresh oysters, which are a mainstay at local Sonoma County farmers’ markets.
- Chef Gabe Nahas of Awful Falafel’s food truck is cooking up a menu of Lebanese cuisine such as falafel, shawarma, and roasted lamb.
See you tomorrow – cheers!
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