2008-05-09
Tasting Room of the Week:
Francis Ford Coppola presents
ROSSO & BIANCO
By Millie Howie
Even if you have visited Rosso & Bianco Winery very recently, you will be impressed and captivated by the tasting area so charmingly presented for visitors to enjoy during the renovation of the winery. Be warned that getting to the tasting room is a bit of an adventure since the former parking lot is blocked off and the new route leads up the hill and curves around the main building. However, the road is well marked with red and white signs warning the traveler to “follow the bottle trail.” The bottles, painted on the roadway, are easy to follow with the corked end pointing toward necessary left turns. There is ample parking at the end of the road where visitors will be greeted by a cluster of secluded, tree-shaded picnic settings. A final sign points the way into the tasting room with generous amounts of seating on quite comfortable stools.
Chalkboards contain descriptions of the wines and wine-food pairings being offered and the menu of wines and companion foods is printed on the daily “Wine, Food and Adventure Flights” list. Each flight is made up of three two-ounce pours of wines from the Coppola collection set out on carry-home placemats which contain bits of information about the wines. A basket of homemade bread appears as the wines are poured, along with a small plate of rustic bites. All the wines may be enjoyed separately as well as by the flight. Each day’s food choices also include Chef Megan Croom’s special sandwich of the day on the winery’s own pizza dough bread, and, between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. the pizza oven is fired up and a dozen mouth-watering choices of toppings are available for modest prices ranging from $9 to $15.
For a glimpse of what new features will be added when the renovations are completed, there are architect’s drawings hung along the outside wall giving an overview of the new amenities. Since the concentration at Rosso & Bianco is placed on providing enjoyment for family groups, the drawings show many elements that appeal to family members of all ages. In the designs are incorporated plans that include two swimming pools and rows of dressing cabanas, bocce ball courts, an amphitheatre, a café and starting the Friday after Memorial Day a Frday night Farmers’ Market.
Hours at the present time are 11 a.m. till 5 p.m. daily. Following the Memorial Day weekend the visitor center will remain open until 6 p.m.
Though space is limited, there are a number of display niches of wine-related gift items and a corner dedicated to traditional Coppola film memorabilia and copies of the informative and beautiful magazine “All Story.”
Rosso & Bianco Winery is located at 300 Via Archimedes (at the Independence Lane exit from Highway 101), in Geyserville. The website – with much more information – is www.rossobianco.com and the phone number is (707) 857-1400.
Related Information
|
