A warm winter’s day in Northern California is not to be wasted. My roommate's, Colleen and Scott, and I head to wine country to visit exquisite Sonoma County and Napa Valley. We are going to spend the day sippin’ on the good stuff.
First stop is the picturesque vineyard of Gloria Ferrer in Sonoma. We have a champagne breakfast. Seated on a sun-drenched patio, surrounded by bright daffodils, we overlook twisted rows of vines stark from the winter. They remind me of corn-rows. The bubbles are delicate and roasted almonds are a tasty side-treat. This girl doesn't do things in half measures.
Even in winter, the region is inexplicably beautiful. The hills and dales roll and rollick, the vineyards are ablaze with wild mustard, and quiet country lanes are lined with olive groves. There is an abundance of production and a multitude of festivals on throughout the year.
Our second stop on route is Artesa. Via art installations, architecture and a tier of fountains Artesa becomes a contradictory flavour positioned against the usual Napa fare of “rustic” wineries. Atop a winding driveway Artesa presents itself impressively with sweeping panoramas of the valley. A large tripod at the foot of a staircase is decorated with panes of reflective glass mirroring the environment – one pane exhibits the ground surface, and another the trees and hills as the backdrop. Upstairs we see that the winery has been built into the hill with a large glass viewing window protruding outwards (reminds me of the Louvre). Inside are charming modern paintings and statues.
The service is lacking in enthusiasm and the wines are merely passable, but to be fair we sampled only a few vintages. Outside a lengthy veranda provides a moment of repose to enjoy stunning views and mull over our favourite drop - the tempranillo. Artesa’s “roots” are Spanish, setting it apart from the majority of surrounding vineyards where Zinfandel holds the crown. Exiting through the interior staircase the huge cellar displays an enormous amount of stacked barrels suggesting a large level of production and distribution.
In town we stop at Jessup winery. The vineyard is located further afield and not open to general public without membership. The tasting room is stylish with art-covered walls and exposed beams. Seated on stools around a barrel-table we are provided with a platter of cheese, pistachios and buttons of dark chocolate to accompany our wines. We start with a buttery smooth chardonnay paired with creamy brie. We move along to ripe reds - a fabulous zinfandel free from tannins and "Manny’s Blend" fashioned in the style of a burgundy. Through a taste comparison of a 2004 and 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon our sommelier Kim demonstrates the differences between the vintages. She explains that "2006 was a hotter year with less rain" which means the roots were "stressed" creating a fantastic, bold result. Kim says this is aided by the fact that "Jessup does not use irrigation". She lets us test the Table For Four - a Bordeaux styled wine which is very drinkable and juicy before we finish with a luscious Cabernet Sauvignon port paired with dark chocolate.
We pit-stop at a recommended bakery Bouchon and Colleen and I share the mushroom dip sandwich. We sit on the benches outside and devour our lunch.
Our final vineyard for the day is Goosecross. A modest and simple site tucked away in peaceful Yountville. It has a smaller production - the wines are only available through the winery or online and sold in select restaurants. We file into a small, basic tasting room. Barrels are shelved at the back and a small bar in front. Wine-induced, I banter with our man Jose as he pours glasses high. Crackers and chocolates are provided for a nibble. Behind him glass cabinets stand filled with chocolate covered bottles. Its unpretentious and relaxed environment is a nice ending to the experience.
The afternoon dims and we head back to the lights of the city. We choose a Mexican bar and restaurant, Tommy’s, to end the day and start the night with their famous selection of tequilas and share a pitcher of delicious Margarita. Lets taste the night away too!
