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winery

Demand for this white wine grape has some Napa, Sonoma vintners eyeing wider North Coast sourcing

in Business/Community/Drinks

Consumers’ thirst for sauvignon blanc are causing some vintners in Napa and Sonoma counties to look elsewhere in the North Coast appellation for high-quality fruit.

In Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, Ferrari-Carano Winery released its first wines in 1987, a fumé blanc and a chardonnay. Fumé blanc is a marketing name for sauvignon blanc coined by the late wine pioneer Robert Mondavi in the late 1960s.

As recently as the 2019 vintage, Ferrari-Carano’s fumé blanc had been labeled with a North Coast appellation, according to the company. By federal law, at least 85% of the grapes have to be grown in an approved American Viticultural Area. The North Coast AVA includes all or substantial portions of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake and Marin counties plus a sliver of western Solano County.

But after Foley Family Wines acquired the winery in August 2020, the Santa Rosa-based company moved sourcing for Ferrari-Carano fumé blanc back to Sonoma County for the 2020 vintage, according to Shawn Schiffer, Foley president.

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20 Great Places to Drink Wine in Sonoma County, California

in Drinks

As a San Francisco resident, I’m lucky enough to live within driving distance of many incredible wine-growing regions. But when I want to spend a day (or even weekend) tasting wine among the vines, more often than not I head to Sonoma County’s wine country. The 1,575-square-mile county is home to world-renowned wine and Michelin-starred restaurants, yet its laid-back vibe is perfect for ambling along a dirt road flanked by farms or cruising down a windy, redwood-lined highway as you drive to your next tasting.

Compared to neighboring Napa Valley, Sonoma wine country is varied, expansive, and spread out, with 18 distinct AVAs and dozens of detour-worthy small towns (including Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Guerneville, Glen Ellen, and Sonoma) within its bounds. This range is part of the fun: At a single winery, you might sample a pinot noir grown along the region’s foggy coast, followed by a robust zinfandel from further inland. But it also means you’ll want to pay attention to location if you plan to schedule more than one tasting—which we highly recommend you do.

Whether you want to taste some of the region’s best wines guided by an experienced sommelier or simply open a bottle and picnic among the vineyards, these are 20 of our favorite places to drink wine in Sonoma County.

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Sonoma Based Vineyard Writing Residency Program Opens 10th Season

in Food

Five Sonoma County wineries—Moshin Vineyards, Keller Estate, DeLoach Vineyards, Jordan Winery, and West Wines— will host writers for Writing Between the Vines writing retreat program in 2023.

Now in it’s 10th year, Writing Between the Vines partners with wineries to host writers in residencies of up to one week in length. Participating wineries become part of a professionally managed artist-in-residence program that awards writing retreats to qualified applicants. Over the years the program has received great support and generosity from the community starting with Moshin Vineyards, a champion of the program from the beginning and host for the past nine years. Keller Estate has participated for three seasons.

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Wine Country dream estate on the market for $22 million in Napa Valley

in Community

Grab your favorite bottle of cabernet sauvignon and explore this Napa Valley estate once owned by David Arthur Vineyards proprietor David Long.

This 40-acre wine lover’s compound sits on a picturesque parcel in St. Helena. Built for wining and dining, it comes with two 1000-square-foot guesthouses and an 8,500-square-foot main residence.

The primary Old-World style home features Venetian plaster walls, Chinkapin pocket doors, custom ironwork, walnut hardwood and French limestone floors. The main residence includes four bedrooms, six bathrooms, two offices, a gym, wine cellar, gourmet kitchen and more.

Outside you will find mature gardens, multiple outdoor entertainment areas, a full-sized tennis court, bocce court, fountain and two pools.

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Francis Ford Coppola selling Sonoma County wineries to Napa’s Delicato Family Wines

in Business

Filmmaker, vintner and hotelier Francis Ford Coppola has inked a deal to sell his Sonoma County wineries to Napa-based Delicato Family Wines, creating one of the top 10 suppliers of wine in the U.S. and exporters of California wine.

The deal, announced Thursday, includes the Francis Ford Coppola Winery and Virginia Dare Winery brands and the facilities as well as Archimedes Vineyard. Coppola himself would get a stake in Delicato and join its board.

Delicato President and CEO Chris Indelicato would remain in that role. Francis Ford Coppola Winery CEO Corey Beck would become executive vice president for production and chief winemaker for Delicato.

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New winery opening in Sonoma County

in Business

Sixth-generation vintner Katie Bundschu plans to open Abbot’s Passage Winery & Mercantile, an experiential winery located on a historic property in the heart of the Sonoma Valley, on July 1.

The winery offers guests tastings or bottle service at picnic tables in the Olive Grove, where they can relax in Adirondack chairs or play shuffleboard.

Guests also can reserve a private, premium and immersive food and wine experience that takes place at tables among the property’s old zinfandel vines.

Food will be a central component of the experience, with shareable plates that highlight the best of seasonal Wine Country fare, such as a grazing board with housemade pickled vegetables and dried fruits, housemade crackers as well as locally sourced cheeses and charcuterie.

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Former Geyser Peak tasting room in Sonoma County reborn as Orsi Family Vineyards winery

in Business
Orsi Family Vineyards holds an open house June 6, 2021, at its new Healdsburg tasting room. It’s the site of the former Geyser Peak tasting room and Alderbrook Winery. (courtesy of Orsi Family Vineyards)
Orsi Family Vineyards holds an open house June 6, 2021, at its new Healdsburg tasting room. It’s the site of the former Geyser Peak tasting room and Alderbrook Winery. (courtesy of Orsi Family Vineyards)

The Orsi family owns two sizable wineries in Sonoma and Napa counties, but they haven’t had their own home to make their wines and allow visitors to try them until now.

Near the beginning of this month, Orsi Family Vineyards opened its tasting room at the former Geyser Peak tasting room on the southern edge of Healdsburg, off Westside Road at 2306 Magnolia Drive, according to Orsi executive Teri Rolleri.

The tasting room was closed last year as Geyser Peak owner Accolade Wines consolidated operations for that and several others U.S. brands to Napa-based Quintessential Wines. Geyser Peak moved its tasting room to the Healdsburg location in 2014 after the Orsi family purchased the former Alderbrook winery at the Magnolia Drive site.

Continue Reading on The North Bay Business Journal

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Cuvaison Winery To Break Ground On Napa Valley Expansion

in Business

NAPA VALLEY, CA — Cuvaison winery announced its plans to break ground this month on a hospitality center expansion project designed to enhance the visitor experience at its historic estate vineyard and winery in the Los Carneros AVA region of Napa Valley.

The first phase of construction will focus on the Cuvaison Tasting Room, where a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass wall will be added, along with an expanded terrace. The second phase involves the installation of open-air pavilions cantilevered above the south shore of the property’s scenic pond.

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Winery dinners and more in Sonoma County

in Business/People

Santa Rosan wins “Split Decisions” contest

Santa Rosa resident Michael Pyland has been chosen as the winner of the Thomas’ “Split Decisions” Recipe Contest, which offers a $10,000 grand prize.

Thomas’ English Muffin celebrated National English Muffin Day on April 23 by inviting fans to create recipes for both sides of their English muffin. Pyland created a Sweet + Savory French Toast on one half and Loaded Buffalo Chicken on the other, and his entry was chosen out of 9,500 submissions.

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New California Releases: Stags’ Leap Winery, Pfendler And Miner

in Business

Stags’ Leap Winery 2019 Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley) – Appealing perfumes of spearmint, chervil and green melon. Medium-bodied, this has good acidity, and a round, clean finish. This is a crowd-pleasing style of Sauvignon Blanc that is very refreshing and offers excellent balance; this can accompany foods ranging from a simple chicken salad to bay scallops with a lime or orange sauce. Drink over the next 2-3 years. Excellent (90)

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