Wine of the Day

This is a tough call – so many excellent wines, including the Venge Merlot, Araujo Cabernet, Navarro Pinot, Ravenswood Zinfandel, and Stony Hill Chardonnay. However, for sheer, decadent "drink me tonight with dinner" pleasure, I would have to give the nod to the Corison Cabernet Sauvignon. It was absolutely delicious!!

Conclusions

The tasting itself became a bit crowded at times. After all, there were 152 wineries here, and lots of folks eager to taste. The food was quite good, and I munched on cheese and foccachia sandwiches, which complemented the wines quite nicely.

Some of the tables were difficult to get to, but that is to be expected at a tasting of this size. Araujo and Montelena, among others, were very popular places.

I was, however, struck by one incongruity: several of the tables were not staffed by winery personnel, but by distributors, many of whom knew little about the wines and the wineries.

Nevertheless, it was a most enjoyable evening, and I had a chance to talk with lots of people I have been wanting to meet. I'll be back again next year.

califusa
Left Coast Correspondent
for the Gang of Pour

Tasting Notes From the Following Wineries

Amador Foothill Winery

Araujo Estate Wines

Chateau Montelena

Corison

Von Strasser
Vineyards

Fisher Vineyards

Laurel Glen

Navarro Vineyards

Babcock

Mayo Family

McDowell Valley
Vineyards

Michel-Schlumberger
    Benchland Wine Estate

Random Ridge

Ravenswood

Saddleback Cellars

Santa Cruz Mountain
Vineyard

Saucelito Canyon

Shafer Vineyards

Staglin Family Vineyard

Storrs Winery

Stony Hill Vineyards