2007-12-20
Tasting Room of the Week:
CHRISTOPHERCREEK
by Millie Howie
One of the most delightful things about Christopher Creek Winery is the enthusiastic involvement of the owners, Fred and Pam Wasserman and winemaker Chris Russi in the total operation of the winery – from walking the vineyards every season of the year – watching the buds turn into tiny blossoms, seeing the first tender leaves unfurl and marking the changes as the clusters swell and take on purpley-red tones and then to taste the grapes as the rise in sugar signals it is time to pick.
First to be offered the opportunity to receive an allotment of rare or limited production Christopher Creek wines, are members of Chris’ Cellar Club – now numbering 2000 fans. The Club, offers a personal choice of how many bottles of each offering the member would like to receive (one, two, three or six) and they can also state a preference for all red wines in a shipment or a mix of red and white.
Fall and winter are ideal times to visit. That quieter time of year is when the Wassermans also check their own wine library and select some precious bottles of older vintages to offer their visitors. This is the only time to find those rare vintages on sale and many can be purchased in 1.5L Magnums as well as 750ml bottles. Calling for the wines in person provides several additional benefits including tastes of current releases and special sampling of wines that are only available in the tasting room. Three exciting tasting room only wines available now are the Deux Barriques, a stunning blend of 50% Petite Sirah and 50% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, the Petite Sirah Port, suggested by Chris as the perfect wine to serve after dinner with cheese or a rich chocolate dessert, and an ideal dessert on its own is the delicate Late Harvest Catie’s Corner Viognier.
Tasting room hours are 11 a.m. till 5 p.m. daily and there is no tasting fee. The feeling at Christopher Creek is that their visitors should be encouraged to try as broad s selection of wines as possible and tasting fees hinder that process.
Chris’ wine roots go back two generations to his days of helping his grandfather make wine at their home on the San Francisco peninsula. With that firm background he enrolled at the University of California at Davis graduating with degrees in viticulture and enology, followed by winemaking experience at a number of California wineries and a harvest in Australia as well.
Total annual production at Christopher Creek stays steady at about 4500 cases, rising to 5000 in exceptionally generous years such as 2005. More of the fascinating story of Christopher Creek winery is told on the website: www.christophercreek.com. For directions to the winery at 641 Limerick Lane, Healdsburg, or to ask a question call (707) 431-8243.
Related Information
|
