Prospecting in Gold Country

 Mike and Joel make the pilgrimage to California for the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium in Sacramento. While we were in the Golden State, we managed to find a few hours to do some prospecting  (for wine that is... nectar of the gods... liquid gold...).  The saga will probably not be recorded in history books, but I thought you might be thirsty for a few details and pictures. This isn't all of the wine, nor all of the story so we have something to share in person. Click the pictures to see the large view.

Unified Wine and Grape Symposium

What fun! Hundreds of exhibitors, selling everything from grape harvesting machines to wine-making yeast. We kicked the tires of the tractors, looked at new bottle shapes, checked out the corks, chatted with label printers and haggled about recycled packaging. It was fascinating watching a cooper assemble and fit barrels. Hard to imagine anyone taking a purchasing agent to yet another trade show, but Joel did. I think he knew he was in trouble when I started a conversation with a pump distributor over coffee before the show even opened. Seven hours later I was finally tired of talking to salesmen.

Food

Bear Republic Brewing Co, Healdsburg.
Crowded, noisy, fun. Lots of good brews (try the Hop Rod Rye), creative burgers and excellent pasta. 

Fat City Bar and Cafe, Sacramento.
Funky decoration, lively crowd and good looking menu. We didn't eat here but plan to next time.

Rusty Duck, Sacramento.. 
Those of us who remember the Rusty Pelican will recognize the Rusty Duck. Nice building but typical meal.

Rio City Cafe, Sacramento.
We had a fun time chatting with the bartenders about wine and a tasty dinner.

Tasting:

Yes we tasted some wines (who would have guessed). We also visited some wineries where we did not taste. Many of the wines were great, but finding an affordable value was a little difficult. By the time I started to think that the $36 bottles were a good price, I knew it was time to come home.

Duckhorn Vineyards

 
Last time I visited Duckhorn, there was no tasting room and the winery was operating out of an old house. After burning it down, they built the new facility into a wonderful country estate with a large formal tasting room. I was surprised by the friendly & warm reception by the tasting room staff. The Howell Mountain Merlot is dry, oakey and complex.
www.duckhorn.com 

V. Sattui Winery

What a wonderful vine covered building and large tasting room. I liked the 2002 Howell Mountain Zin, extra aged gouda and ossau iraty
www.vsattui.com .

The deli features a BIG selection of cheeses and we opted for a picnic lunch. Joel feeds the birds

Opus One

Think of a pyramid designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. King Tuts's Tomb probably started this way. Judging from the gates, "tasting by appointment only signs" and fortress-like building, there must be gold buried inside.

Sawyer Cellars

Who would have thought that anyone could afford the old barn and 10 acres of grapes directly across the highway from Robert Mondavi? Sawyer bought it and remodeled the barn into wood paneled tasting room and wine cellar. I liked the very dry 1999 Sauvignon Blanc.
www.sawyercellars.com 

Joel checks out the various vine growing styles.

Domaine Chandon

How could I have missed this place for all these years? Hidden at the end of the road behind a hill. Interesting & large tasting complex. Brut Champaign and aromatic Brandy I'm just dying to try
www.chandon.com .

BRANDY!

A Whole lotta a rock mushrooms!

Kenwood Vineyards

This was by far the most cost effective I visited. Interrupted the tasting room person doing her taxes at 10 in the morning, but she made it worthwhile by pouring an assortment of complex zinfandels. I preferred the Old Vine Zin, and Joel liked the more fruity Nuns Canyon. I'm in their tasting club, so lucky friends might get a taste of some of this.
www.kenwoodvineyards.com 

Ledson Winery

I wasn't sure I could even afford to look at this winery. They weren't open (luckily) but I talked Joel into stopping anyhow just so I could put my nose against the window. I'm sorry I did. Hardwood floors, paneled walls, and a huge Gone With the Wind wooden Staircase. Click the thumbnail below, you gotta look at the larger pictures!

This is brick people. Didn't anyone tell these people that this is an earthquake state? Can't hardly imagine what the slate for the roof costs let alone the rest of the grounds.

Chateau St Jean

Another big winery (aren't they all). I loved the magnum of 1974 Cabernet we opened in 1985. I also like their Chardonnay. We got to chatting with their hospitality specialist  Bob Logan  in the tasting room and he gave us the secret password to tasting the reserve reds. [Gee, did I forget to tell you that most of these places charge you to taste wine? You know the story... if you gotta ask the price, might as well become a monk. at least they get free wine...]   
www.chateaustjean.com 

Dry Creek Vineyards

 My favorite Place. I first visited them when they were the only winery in the Dry Creek valley and tasting on a barrel in an old barn. Now they have a large tasting room and vine covered building. My favorite was (yep, you guessed it) the Old Vin Zin.  
www.drycreekvineyard.com 

Teldeschi

Dan Teldeschi describes it as the second best view in the valley. Large selection of older zins and a tasting room about the size of my closet (with no windows to see the view.) Dan is in love with Petite Sirah (his spelling) and I'm glad I found him, 'cause I am too.
www.teldeschi.com 

Ferrari-Cerano

O.K. What can I say about this place? Huge, decadent, lavish, formal? Just the place for your next wedding. Bring lots of cash. We didn't even try to taste here, just wandered around in haze.

Intimidating isn't quite the word for it. Thirsty is more like it when I found the barrel cellar.

 
Joel steals ideas for the next Tefft landscaping project

You have to kiss a few pgs if you like pork chops. This bronze one probably weighted as much as my car.

Lake Sonoma Winery

Yep, Dan was right, they do have the best view in the valley. Looking south from the top end of Dry Creek. Sorry I didn't get a picture of the huge deck. Just the place for the reception after the wedding up the road. I liked the Sparkling Brut and old vine zin.

Raymond Burr Vineyards

Yes, the owner and Raymond Burr are friends. No, Mr. Burr doesn't live here. Stop in for an ear full if you dare.  Nice of her to tie a ribbon around the bottle, made kind of a special Cabernet Franc. www.raymondburrvineyards.com

Quivira

Nice tasting room. Petite Syrah and zin.

www.quivirawine.com

After a long day we kind of ran out of steam. Can you tell?