Wine Country Adventures!
I love wine country! No, not that wine country, the "other", road less taken wine country. I've rapidly grown a vast affinity for Sonoma Valley Wine County (eastern Sonoma county). I first went there Tuesday, entertaining a friend who is in town and had a blast. I only went to two places, Benzinger and Mayo. Benzinger had quite the extensive tour and tasting (like 8 or 9 wines 5 you have in a wine cave) and I had a 10 wine taste for $12 at Mayo. The pours are much larger than Napa and the prices are less. Usually people will be happy to pour you 1 or 2 extra tastings too! :D All ports are paired with chocolate, it's awesome.
So I went back earlier today (Tuesday) and did a tasting at Benzinger's sister winery, Imagery then a tasting at Arrowood, which is right next door then a tasting at Kunde, which is over by John Lasseter's winery. Didn't do the tour at Kunde, but I'll be back. to do so as I'm now a member of their wine club. All of the wine clubs in Sonoma that I've been to so far do not have a membership fee and you don't have to buy any bottles upfront. Club members get 20% off everything the winery has for sale. So horray, my first wine club!
I personally find Sonoma more friendlier than Napa. ALL of the people pouring have been friendly and chat with you. Heck, the owner of Kunde even had a chat with Cro about scotches. It's a little more romantic too since it's not so commercialized and there are more nooks and crannies with hidden wineries. The wineries in Sonoma focus more of micro-climates and organically growing to produce their viticulture unique to each hillside. Each year is different and they'll tell you that.
Next time I head up back there (I'll have to in March-April anyway to pick up my wine club case, but before, I will probably go again) I might take the tour of Kunde, go visit Kenwood winery and Ledson winery, which looks surprisingly a little like Stan Hywett Hall in Akron, Ohio
So I went back earlier today (Tuesday) and did a tasting at Benzinger's sister winery, Imagery then a tasting at Arrowood, which is right next door then a tasting at Kunde, which is over by John Lasseter's winery. Didn't do the tour at Kunde, but I'll be back. to do so as I'm now a member of their wine club. All of the wine clubs in Sonoma that I've been to so far do not have a membership fee and you don't have to buy any bottles upfront. Club members get 20% off everything the winery has for sale. So horray, my first wine club!
I personally find Sonoma more friendlier than Napa. ALL of the people pouring have been friendly and chat with you. Heck, the owner of Kunde even had a chat with Cro about scotches. It's a little more romantic too since it's not so commercialized and there are more nooks and crannies with hidden wineries. The wineries in Sonoma focus more of micro-climates and organically growing to produce their viticulture unique to each hillside. Each year is different and they'll tell you that.
Next time I head up back there (I'll have to in March-April anyway to pick up my wine club case, but before, I will probably go again) I might take the tour of Kunde, go visit Kenwood winery and Ledson winery, which looks surprisingly a little like Stan Hywett Hall in Akron, Ohio