Topel Winery’s tasting room, located just off the Healdsburg Plaza, is a fabulous stop for out of town visitors and locals alike. The wines are wonderful, the staff is friendly and there is usually some sort of fun event happening there.

One of the most popular events is their “Love and Meritage” wine-blending event, which will take place on Sunday, February 12th, from 1 to 4 p.m. Participants will join Winemaker, Mark Topel and Ziggy the Wine Gal (from KRSH Radio in Santa Rosa) for an exclusive opportunity to blend their very own Meritage wine. Cost for the event is $75 per person or $100 per couple and includes one bottle of specially blended wine, plus appetizers.  Reservations are required in advance, as space is strictly limited to 12-18 couples.  Those wishing to have a case of their custom blend can do so for an additional charge of $415 – or roughly $35 per bottle.

“This event sells out every year and is a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day,” said Donnis Topel, co-proprietor of Topel Winery and manager of the tasting room. “There’s really nothing nicer than joining hands, hearts and palates to create a custom blended wine.  It’s fun, and it’s romantic!”

“Wine drinkers are looking for something new and blended wines offer variation. That’s why our blending parties have been so successful,” Mark said. “People have a lot of fun and they learn at the same time. Most of them have an innate sense of balance and good taste, which takes them in interesting directions. A couple of years ago, one of the blends created at the party was so good that I have to admit something – I copied it!” he said with a laugh.

Meritage (rhymes with “heritage”) is an invented American word that combines the words “merit” and “heritage.”  It is used to describe red wines made from blending Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and/or Petit Verdot; and white wines crafted by blending Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and/or Muscadelle du Bordolais.  No single varietal can make up more than 90% of the blend in order for it to qualify as a Meritage.  Meritage is all about blending, which can be an absolutely magical thing!

Topel Winery produces a fabulous Meritage, called “Le Mariage” (French for “marriage”), which has won three gold medals (to date) in major wine competitions, including the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, held just last month. “Le Mariage” is made from fruit grown exclusively at the Topel Estate Vineyards on Duncan Peak in Mendocino County.  All of the wines for the “Love and Meritage” blending event are handcrafted from organic grapes grown on these mountain estate vineyards.  Join Mark and Donnis Topel for “Love and Meritage” in blending Topel wines that perfectly reflect the soil and climate of their origin.Topel Winery’s Tasting Room is located at 125 Matheson Street in Healdsburg, just across from the Oakville Grocery.

For reservations, call Donnis Topel at 707-433-4116 or email donnis@topelwines.com. For more information, go online to www.topelwines.com or www.facebook.com/topelwinery