Wine related travel is a popular part of Sonoma County, with its 13 American Viticultural areas, each with distinctive characteristics.  The Pacific coastline, redwood forests, fertile valleys, and mountains all add to the mix in producing some truly outstanding wines.

Take a day trip from Oakland or San Francisco, getaway for a weekend of wine, or spend more time tasting and learning about all the Sonoma wineries and wine have to offer.

Everyone has their personal wine preferences, and with over 250 Sonoma-area wineries to choose from, coming in all sizes and flavors, it’s often hard to come up with some favorites.  But that’s just what Sonoma County has done for you – put together a list of 13 wineries that offer a little something more than just great wine.

In alphabetical order, here’s the list, along with some tasting notes:

1. Acorn Winery – Variety of wines offered at this small winery.  Call in advance for a visit, but give it a try even if you’re just down the road.  Located in Healdsburg.
2. Annapolis Winery – Small family owned winery that produces small barrels.  Located in Annapolis.
3. Balletto Vineyards/Dutton Goldfield – Two wineries, one tasting room.  Balletto features Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Pinot Gris.  Dutton Goldfield features Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Located in Santa Rosa.
4. Gundlach Bundschu Winery – Gewurztraminer.  One of the oldest wineries in Sonoma County, located in Sonoma.
5. Hawkes Winery – Merlot, Cabernet, Chardonnay.  Located in Healdsburg.
6. Matanzas Creek Winery -  Merlot.  The winery is surrounded by lavender fields.  Located a little off the beaten path in Santa Rosa.
7. Mutt Lynch Winery – Dog lovers will love this places with the cleverly named wines, Merlot Over, Play Dead, and Unleashed Chardonnay.  Good wine always goes with good humor.  Located in Healdsburg.
8. Quivira Vineyards – California Grenache, Grenache Rose, and Sauvignon Blanc.  Located in Healdsburg.
9. Robert Rue Vineyard – Old-vine Zinfandel.  Located in Fulton.
10. Robledo Family Winery – Variety of wine offerings.  Open by appointment only, but the owners are very accommodating, and short notice isn’t usually a problem.  Located in Sonoma.
11. Russian River Vineyards – Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah.  Winery also has a restaurant.  Located in Forestville.
12. Stryker Sonoma Winery and Vineyards – Zinfandel and Cabernet.  Located in Geyserville.
13. Twomey Cellars – Merlot.  Located in Healdsburg.

Do you have a Sonoma favorite that didn’t make the list?  Leave your favorite, and tell us why, in the comments!

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

13 Sonoma Wineries Not to be Missed

Ruth Reichl, Dan Barber, Mario Batali, April Bloomfield, David Bouley, Daniel Boulud, Anthony Bourdain, Floyd Cardoz, Scott Conant, Gina DePalma, Sara Moulton, Florent Molleret, Charlie Palmer, Michael Psilakis, Eric Ripert, Marcus Samuelsson, and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

What is the Gourmet Institute? It’s a weekend just for foodie-focused individuals, organized by Gourmet magazine. The event will offer food enthusiasts and curious beginners intimate access to the industry’s leading experts and celebrities, through an interesting collection of culinary demonstrations, discussions and tastings.

The best part is you can attend the entire weekend event, or pick and choose your classes “ala carte.” Guests can pick  the specific classes and seminars that interest them, and purchase tickets to those classes if they prefer.

New this year the Gourmet Marketplace is making its debut.  For $20 guests can enjoy the Gourmet Marketplace throughout the weekend, inculding celebrity chef book signings, food tastings, artisanal food and beverage vendors, access to Gourmet’s chefs as well as kid-friendly activities.

The Gourmet Institute’s series of events will take place throughout New York City at venues including: The Institute of Culinary Education, Astor Center, Murray’s Cheese, Artisanal Cheese Center, and The Altman Building.

Cooking demonstrations (with tastings) include:

• A World Tour of Sausage Making, Daniel Boulud
• Bombay Street Food, Floyd Cardoz
• Gourmet Recipes: The Back Story, Kemp Minifie, Gourmet Executive Food Editor
• Hands-On Cooking Class, Sara Moulton, Gourmet Executive Chef
• Chocolate Epiphany, Francois Payard
• Pig Heaven, Laurent Tourondel
• Autumn in the Kitchen, Jean-Georges Vongerichten
• Traditional English Fare, April Bloomfield
• Italian Cooking: Savoring the Sea’s Simplicity, Scott Conant

Discussions include:

• Walking Tour of the Lower East Side, Ruth Reichl
• A Recipe for the Recipe, Dan Barber
• The Road Chef Traveled, Anthony Bourdain & Eric Ripert
• Food Styling and Photography, Paul Grimes & Romulo Yanes

Wines & spirits tastings include:

• Drink What the Sommeliers Drink, Michael Green
• The Art & Science Behind American Whiskey, Sean Josephs & Michael Tsoumpas
• The Icon Wines of Chile, Michael Green (Sponsored by Ruffino)

Cheese tastings include:

• A Frenchman in New York City, Florent Morellet
• The Making and Selling of Cheese in America, Liz Thorpe, VP Murray’s Cheese
• Mystery of the Caves, Michael Anderson

All of this sounds like foodie heaven to me! Looks like they have a fabulous weekend planned! If you go let me know so I can be jealous!

To find out more about the event visit the Gourmet Institute’s official website.

All images courtesy of Gourmet Magazine.

Post from: Blisstree

7th Annual Gourmet Institute This Fall

Image: sxc.hu

The event takes place on April 23, 2009 at The Ritz Carlton, South Beach (One Lincoln Road) from 5:30 – 8:00pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $35 or at the door for $50.

One hundred percent of all proceeds from tickets sales will go to WomenHeart (The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease). This organization benefits the research, education and promotion of women’s heart health. And as we all know, wine is good for the heart!

To purchase tickets and learn more about WomenHeart, visit womenheart.org.

Post from: Blisstree

Wines of Portugal Tasting in Miami