23rd Annual Wine & Chocolate Fantasy, February 4

There is one event and one winery you don’t want to miss next month. The event: the 23rd Annual Wine & Chocolate Fantasy.  The winery: Sonoma’s prestigious Rodney Strong Vineyards. Located at 11455 Old Redwood Highway in Healdsburg. Rodney Strong Vineyards is one of Sonoma County’s signature wineries and the perfect place to get acquainted with this spectacular winemaking region, and the perfect place to fulfill a fantasy; a wine and chocolate fantasy. What better way to kick off the month of love than to spend the day with that special someone at the 23rd Annual Wine & Chocolate Fantasy on Saturday, February 4, from 1 to 4 p.m.  

Feast the senses with Rodney Strong wine, local gourmet food and chocolate to die for.   And this year, Event Coordinator Debbie Moore says the event has been upgraded from simply sublime to absolutely divine! Moore says there will be about 400 attendees. “This year, it will be even more fun and sophisticated and absolutely gorgeous.”

“The barrel room will be transformed into a paradise,” enthused Moore. “We want to take your breath away when you enter in the sweet smelling barrel room.” Gorgeous rose colored lighting will surround you and the wine barrels will be lit up. Tables will be covered with elegant, berry colored cloth and oversized dramatic flowers. Listen or dance to the smooth jazz sounds of two time Emmy winner, Tony Saunders, while you meander through a beautiful series of halls and rooms.  There will be places to lounge and sip award-winning Rodney Strong wines paired with hand-made local chocolates from top notch chocolatiers. Biscotti Bari, Pam’s Candy, Ellene’s Peanut Brittle, Barlovento Chocolates, Peters’ Chocolates, Vintage Sweet Shoppe, Patisserie Angelica, Bert’s Desserts, Sift Cupcake and Dessert Bar. For food lovers, there will be stations filled with savory appetizers from gourmet catering companies like Fresh, by Sonoma County’s Queen of Cuisine Lisa Hemenway will pair mouth-watering pork mole which  with the Rodney Strong ’09 Pinot Noir Estate Russian River, which just won gold at the Harvest Fair, and yummy  caramel apple walnut bars drizzled with white chocolate to pair with the Chardonnays from Rodney Strong. Starks Catering, and Tim Vallery Peloton Catering will also be serving delectibles made just for this fantasy.

Rodney Strong’s three single-vineyard Cabernets will be featured in a special room.

Tickets for this popular event are $65 per person ($50 for Collector’s Circle members-limited to two) and include a commemorative glass. To purchase tickets, go to the website, www.rodneystrong.com. It’s sure to sell out, so be sure to buy your tickets well in advance, and remember your receipt is your ticket. You will be required to show your printed receipt and photo I.D. to gain admission to the event. Any questions, call the hospitality center at 1-800-678-4763.

BIT OF TRIVIA

Winery founder, Rodney D. Strong,  born in 1927, in Camas, Washington, was first a classically trained dancer. He danced with masters Martha Graham and George Balanchine at the American School of Ballet. The training led to a successful career, highlighted by four years dancing in Paris. When he returned to the U.S. in 1951, his love French food and wine sparked what would become his next passion, a career in winemaking. “I knew I couldn’t be an old dancer, but I could be an old winemaker,” said Mr. Strong. He had a sense of humor, too. He married his dance partner, Charlotte Anne Winson, and the couple moved to Tiburon, California. They purchased a century-old boarding house on the waterfront. In Rod’s early days as a winemaker, he would search for bulk wine, and blend and bottle it to his taste in the cellar of the house. He’d then invite members of the nearby yacht club to come to tastings and purchase their wine.

SUMMER CONCERTS

In 1959, Rodney Strong established Sonoma County’s 13th bonded winery. He was a visionary who understood the potential that Sonoma’s soil and climate held for producing world-class wines. It’s no wonder this dancer, and pioneer in the wine industry, would welcome artists to perform at the winery, and events like the summer concert series would unfold.

As the winter gets colder, warm yourself with thoughts of the Rodney Strong’s Annual Summer Concert Series. Enjoy top performers and amazing wine, while picnicking at the winery’s intimate concert venue, surrounded by breathtaking views and acres of beautiful vineyards. There’s no better way to enjoy a Sonoma County summer.

ENVIRONMENT

Not only does this winery care about wine, food and art, but Rodney Strong Vineyards cares about the environment. Sonoma County’s first carbon neutral winery, Rodney Strong Vineyards installed one of the largest solar electric systems in the wine world in 2003. The 766Kw system at Rodney Strong Vineyards generates enough energy to power almost 800 homes and has reduced their dependence on the power grid by 35%. Over 25 years, it will cut emissions of carbon dioxide – a major factor in global warming – by 8,700 tons. Since 1989, the Klein family has owned the winery and their passion for sustainable farming practices, solar power and other green business practices continues.

Rodney Strong Vineyards is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  and is located at 11455 Old Redwood Highway in Healdsburg. For more information, go to www.rodneystrong.com.