Sonoma Barrel Tasting 2020
Chicago winters are depressing. There is virtually no sun, it’s grey slush everywhere and the skies are perpetually grey most of the time. The wind that whips off of Lake Michigan encourages the best of my infamous wine and Cognac hibernations. In fact you may not see me for weeks during a Chicago winter!
So when the opportunity to visit California for the 2020 Sonoma Barrel Tasting slid into my inbox, I was all over it! I had never been to a barrel tasting before and I was long overdue for a winery visit. Sonoma sun vs Chicago grey skies in March was an easy choice for me! Within 1 hour, my wine friends had been alerted, travel itinerary booked and we were more than ready to go!
So what’s a Barrel Tasting? Wine Road (the association of Sonoma County winemakers and lodging) defines it as…
“A unique opportunity to get into the cellar and experience what a winemaker does, as they taste through their barrels, making blending decisions and tasting how their wines are progressing in the aging process.”
At a barrel tasting, you get an insiders view of the winemaking process. It’s a great time to meet and talk with winemakers and owners, sip their gorgeous wine offerings and, if you’re fortunate enough, buy wine futures.
Just like you can buy stock market futures of wheat, meat and gold, you can also purchase futures of wine. It takes a bit of skill to make the correct futures purchase or accurately assess the wine offerings. Here are my recommendations in order to have the best experience:
Understand the region you are visiting and study what the true varietal expressions are for the area.
Make sure you are well hydrated and eat a good breakfast before starting.
Keep in mind that the wines have not completed the barrel aging process. You are sampling wines that may have a bit more fizz and less complexity than normal.
Taste the future wine first. Then sample the finished wine in the tasting room or next barrel over. You will be amazed by the differences and it definitely will help you strengthen your wine palate.
Keep a journal. Document every note or sensation you experience and how it differs from what you know about the finished wine.
It was an amazing experience! Over the course of two days I had the opportunity to sip wine and speak with winemakers from at least 7 to 8 different wineries and vineyards. Which ones stood out the most? The Duffy Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Optima Wines and the Bar Lazy Pinot Noir by Foley Wines were surely among my favorites. Such good juice and an excellent expression of the grapes. It was during these visits I learned more about the terroir, harvesting and what it means to be a highly sought after and exclusive wine. Both futures were completely sold out!
One of the visits that also stands out was the Balletto Vineyards tasting. Balletto is a family owned and operated vineyard that has been making wine since 1976. They are a cooperative vineyard but the top 10% of their grapes are label wines which are estate grown and bottled. They offered 9 different Pinot Noir clones and only 1 Chardonnay offering at the tasting. All of them were fantastic yet my favorite was the Cider Ridge Pinot Noir clone. A youthful Pinot Noir with juicy cranberries, cherries and subtle spices present even in its’ wine infancy.
Check them out here! Balleto Vineyards
Another stand out moment for me was meeting legendary California Zinfandel Carol Shelton. She is the the 5 time winner of the Sonoma County Winemaker of the Year award, has earned countless gold medals for her wines and was named one of eight Pioneer Women Winemakers of Sonoma County in 2005. In 2011, her “Wild Thing Zinfandel“ was included in the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2014.
Carol was living and working on the Napa area in her 20’s considering her next move in life. After visiting Sebastani Vineyards and being struck by the smells, sight and energy of the barrel room, she decided to pursue a career in wine. After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Enology from UC Davis in 1978, Carol immediately went to work during harvest season crafting wine eventually perfecting her craft and launching her own label and brand. She has overcome so many of the barriers that women in wine face today and still serves as a mentor, motivator and resource for so many of us in the wine industry.
She offered a lot of kind words and sage advice to my friend Cheramie who is launching her own brand of Texas wine soon. There was no way I could leave without a bottle of 2018 Coquille Blanc and a 2016 bottle of Karma Zinfandel. Absolutely amazing! Visiting Carol was a top highlight of my trip and we were so thrilled to have met her. (We couldn’t stop chatting…apologies to her staff and thank you guys for being so gracious!)
So after a very long day of driving and sipping we were more than ready for dinner. one of my favorite places to dine in Napa is Bistro Don Giovani.
In true Napa fashion, there was a bit of a wait for our table. However, an amazing water fountain, impeccable grounds for relaxing and sipping great cocktails kept us occupied while we waited.
You really can’t go wrong with much at Giovani’s. My favorites are the heirloom summer tomatoes with burrata, beef carpaccio, spaghetti with clams, gnocchetti with lamb ragu, hot Italian pizza and the top shelf butterscotch pudding. Be sure to secure reservations because Don Giovani’s is always packed!!
For lunch or dinner, I always include a stop by Gott’s Roadside. My trips to Napa/Sonoma are never complete without an ahi tuna sandwich, chicken strips or the bacon cheeseburger with chili spiced sweet potato fries!
For breakfast, check out Southside Carneros and Grace’s table. Farm fresh California style meals that will have you super charged for your day of wine tastings! Check out the picture of Southside Carneros’s Avocado toast with Smoked Salmon below! Grace’s table is phenomenal as well. Make sure you try the homemade English Muffins and freshly made preserves. Sim…ply… heaven! You’ll never want the grocery store ones again!
When it comes to finding a great hotel, I love the home share selections in the Napa/Sonoma area! This time however, I wanted to try the Hotel Indigo in Napa Valley. Modern decor, clean and very comfortable. I got a wonderful night’s rest on the heavenly mattresses. The room was spacious and decorated nicely with a great shower. My favorite feature? The corked logo featured at the front desk! So cool!
So there you have it. My complete experience in Sonoma for Wine Road’s Sonoma County Barrel Tasting Weekend. I highly recommend you visit to gain a deeper appreciation for the wine. Also, try a barrel tasting in order to meet the people whose mission is to present the ultimate magic of the vines for your enjoyment.
Till next time. Cheers!
“Forever, this is my quest.. To travel the world searching for the perfect sip.”
-Joni Rials/Seek and Sip Travel
