07 Best Picks
Revolved to broaden your tastes and knowledge this year? Break tradition by not following the masses. There’s only one way to really learn more about wine: be adventurous. Find your own zone and do everything in your power to stray from the same old thing. Explore a couple of offbeat wineries or hot boutiques. Pick something on a wine list you’ve never heard of, one you can’t pronounce. Become a world citizen with Argentinean Malbecs and Spanish Riojas. If you don’t challenge yourself, you’ll follow the masses into mainstream sipping and miss the best part of wine: discovering it for yourself. Here are some tips to kick-start your adventure.
1) For an out-of-the-ordinary tasting excursion, make an appointment to taste at Jarvis, Darioush or Prager wineries. The appeal of Jarvis is its class-act setting. The entire Napa winery is underground, 46,000 square feet of roaming caves with a waterfall streaming through it. For wine geeks, there’s the additional perk that the winemaker is Dimitri Tchelistcheff, son of legendary winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff, who revolutionized Napa Valley Cabernet. Darioush is another rare find, a Persian architectural feat. The Napa winery, which focuses on Bordeaux varietals, has classic Persian elements blended with modern European touches. Finally, Prager Winery and Port Works is unusual because it’s in a no-frills barn, offering insight into a determined new breed of entrepreneur hell-bent on making killer wines on a limited budget. Here the riches are in the glass: stellar Pinot.
2) Hand-crafted wines are at their best in boutiques – small wineries that produce 5,000 cases a year or less. Here’s a short list of my favorite labels whose producers are true artisans: Patz & Hall, Benessere, Elizabeth Spencer, Huntington, Trentadue, or Wilson Winery. Why not keep a running list in 2007?
3) When exploring wine lists with an eye to imports, keep this in mind: California Pinot Noirs have characteristics similar to Cote du Rhônes from France and Spanish reds based on Tempranillo; California Chardonnay aligns with white Chateauneuf du Pape from France and Verdelho from Spain; California Sauvignon Blancs echo Albarinos from Spain and Gruner Veltliners from Austria.
4) If exploring wine seems too pricey an exercise, here’s one final tip, peruse www.wineaccess.com. The website has a feature called “Wine Finder” that allows a comparative search of prices among area retailers by simply entering a zip code.
Olive Fare
Now that the grape harvest is over, celebrate Wine Country’s other bite-sized edible treasure during the 6th Annual Sonoma Valley Olive Festival, a three-month series that ends February 24-25, with the grand finale, The Artisan Market on the Plaza. Enjoy artisan breads and cheeses, fine wine, and succulent Sonoma Valley olives. Most activities takes place in venues along Sonoma Plaza [Highway 12 at Napa Street]. Nearby, The Olive Press [14301 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen, (707) 939-8900], has a working press with a tasting room and gift shop devoted to all things olive. Cooking demonstrations from Sonoma Valley’s finest chefs and winemaker dinners makes this fete especially popular among foodies and gourmands. Call or visit the Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau at (707) 996-1090, or visit www.sonomavalley.com, for details on these and other Olive Festival events. FYI: On February 10th, at 7:30 p.m., master flamenco guitarist, Eric Symons, will fill the air with a two-hour concert at Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves. The $25 per person price includes hand-crafted, Carneros sparkling wine. For more information, call (707) 933-1999, or visit www.gloriaferrer.com.
Hot Tickets
Amador Vintners takes wine lovers “Behind the Cellar Door.” With sumptuous tastings of new and limited-release wines from 28 award-winning producers combined with very affordable prices, this two-day fete is well worth scheduling a trip. The spectacular Sierra Mountains setting, discriminating gourmet cuisine, and homespun hospitality create a Wine Country experience that is refreshingly unique from that of other venues. On February 10th-11th, head east and discover why Behind the Cellar Door has become the insider event amongst hip and sophisticated wine lovers. A full list of winery seminars and other activities are available at www.amadorwine.com. Tickets are $50 per person, good for both days, or $35 for Sunday only, and includes a commemorative wine glass. For more information, call 1-888-655-8614.
Dinner and a Movie
Start your weekend with a prix fixe dinner and a glass of wine from Julia’s Kitchen for $24 per person, followed by a flick in Copia’s theater. On Friday, February 2nd, the intimate theatre will screen one of Bette Davis’ best-acted and remembered films, Now, Voyager. With the classic line – “For a woman, there’s always an excuse,” the film recounts the experiences of an overprotected, ugly duckling spinster who is encouraged by her therapist to change her life. Good entertainment with a very good musical score by the ever reliable, Max Steiner. On Friday, February 9th, Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper are paired in the soufflé-light, romantic comedy, Love in the Afternoon. Great Paris setting and Champagne elegance. Films are $7 per person, unless you’re a Copia member, then it’s $6. For dinner reservations, call (707) 265-5700 or visit www.opentable.com. For film tickets, simply head over to the box office window. FYI: With each screening, enjoy a classic Warner Brothers cartoon and a chocolate surprise!
On the Radar
This year marks the fourteenth season of sensational events during the Napa Valley Mustard Festival. One the most popular programs of the entire fete is The Marketplace – A Signature Event for Connoisseurs, which occurs Saturday and Sunday, March 17th and 18th. This festive gala celebrates the season with spectacular tastes of mustards from around the world, delicious foods, and some of the planet’s best wines. The Marketplace will provide you with the opportunity to explore the best of Napa Valley during the most beautiful time of year in Wine Country. For tickets, call (707) 938-1133 or visit www.mustardfestival.org.

Related Information

• Sonoma Valley Olive Festival