2008-03-27
FERRARI - CARANO
Spring Is In The Air by Sue Straight, The Wine Wench
This time of year in Sonoma County’s Wine Country, the hills are striped with new green grass and vivid yellow mustard and the cherry trees have burst into fragrant bloom. Spring whispers “come outside and play!” A visit to Ferrari-Carano Winery just may be the perfect cure for your spring fever.
At Ferrari-Carano Winery, you can witness spring’s colorful palate in all it’s vibrant colors (and flavors). Take a stroll through the award-winning five-acre garden and bask in co-founder Rhonda Carano’s labor of love. Every year, at least 18,000 bulbs are strategically planted to please the eye, tempt the nose and soothe the soul. This particular time of year, the tulips alone draw gardening aficionados from near and far. In fact, you can call Ferrari-Carano Winery’s tulip hotline at (707) 433-5349 for all the latest in colorful tulip talk. Tulips aside, the garden in its entirety and the surrounding grounds are not to be missed.
The Italianate villa-style visitor’s center sits atop the gently rolling hills of the Dry Creek Valley and the views are stunning. Inside the visitor’s center, you’ll find a bountiful variety of upscale gift items, including Italian pottery, tapestries, logo wear, wine and food related books and glittery, wine-themed jewelry. This is the perfect place to find that one-of-a-kind gift! A dark cherry wood bar stretches across the back of the room, beckoning visitors to stop and sip a while. The visitor’s center’s high ceilings echo with the conversations and laughter of guests and Ferrari-Carano Winery’s expert hospitality team.
Downstairs is a wine-lover’s wonderland. Where a spotless barrel room once resided, an inviting wine lounge beckons visitors to indulge in a series of private tastings. For a nominal fee, visitors can enjoy their choice of five wine flights, including “Scentiments,” a fun and educational tasting that focuses on twelve fresh aromas that are present in the different wines that Ferrari-Carano Winery produces. Visitors test their “smell memory,” familiarizing themselves with those scents and then try to identify those same scents in the wines. Gotta love that!
Ferrari-Carano Winery’s winemaking team is crafting some excellent wines. With Sarah Quider in charge of the white wine program (and Pinot Noir, too) and Aaron Piotter in charge of the red wine program, the resulting wines are world class.
So, let’s talk about the wines … I had the pleasure of tasting a couple of wines that this dream-team produced, and I can tell you first-hand that they rocked my world!
The 2005 Tré Terre Chardonnay is mouthwatering and creamy through and through, with aromas and flavors of baked apple with cinnamon and nutmeg, lemon custard and toast, all wrapped up in a warm blanket of sweet vanilla.
The 2005 PreVail Cabernet Sauvignon is opulently rich and eminently drinkable. Aromas of mocha, black cherry, cedar and spices continue as flavors in the velvety mouth. Long, delicious finish.
Take my advice, jump in your car, wend your way up Dry Creek Road and visit Ferrari-Carano Winery. Make an appointment for a free tour, taste their fabulous wines and take a stroll through their gardens. It truly is an experience not to be missed!
Ferrari-Carano is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Winery tours are offered daily at 10 a.m., by appointment only, and reservations may be made by calling the Hospitality Department, (707) 433-6700. Private tasting programs are by appointment only, and reservations may be made by calling the winery. Visit www.ferrari-carano.com for additional information.
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