Red, White, and Green.

No, this isn’t a tribute to Dr. Seuss and as far as I know, Heinz is the only company to experiment with making a product unnaturally green, and we all know how that worked out. No, this is about the wine industry going green with their practices and philosophies. In a previous post, I discussed Quivira Vineyards, located in the Dry Creek Valley and mentioned how they practiced the principles of biodynamic farming and winemaking. I recently had the chance to take an extensive tour of Quivira where I learned much more about biodynamics as well as taste through their wines with winemaker Hugh Chappelle. Here I offer a very simplified explanation of their practices and why it is important.

Starting out in the gardens, General Manager Nancy Bailey explained that the 3 core values of biodynamics for Quivira are biodiversity of the land, a closed loop system, and giving back to the local community. The gardens consist of 120 raised beds of organic produce that were built and planted by the current Farm Manager, Andrew Beedy. The beds are on a 4 year rotation which changes the properties and adds to the richness and diversity of the soil. I don’t claim to understand all of the science that goes into this, but I can tell you that the fresh from the ground carrot I got to try was delicious. In addition to the vegetable gardens, Quivira also maintains multiple bee hives and a chicken coop. These are all part of creating a self-sustaining closed loop vineyard farm.

While exploring the farm a bit more we came across the pig pens. While talking about them Nancy referred to them as “workers on the farm.” I was really struck by this comment but it was explained that they are destined to restaurants or events Quivira hosts. While this may be tough for some to hear, it helps to demonstrate the closed loop principle. Everything and every animal on the farm have a role that contributes something to the winery. Manure used in composting, vegetables used for events and to provide nutrients into the soil, and the solar panels are all part of a self-sustaining vineyard farm.

Perhaps what I love most about Quivira is their commitment to the community. Many of their vegetable beds are on contract with local grocers. Rather than being paid for the produce, the grocers work on credit and then donate money to charity when their credit limit has been reached. Additionally, Quivira partners with many organizations and agencies on restoring Wine Creek, which serves as a spawning ground for Coho salmon and Steelhead trout.

I admit that I am passionate about sustainability and efforts to go green so it is really easy for me to get excited about what Quivira is doing. But I don’t think you need a passion for going green to appreciate what they do. All of these practices result in some really great wine, which I had the chance to taste through. Because of the health of the soil, the balance of sugar, acid, and flavor, and the distinctiveness of each terroir, the wines are well balanced and vibrant, including my "Best of 2010" pick, the 2008 Mouvedre.

Is this a new direction for winemaking? Maybe it is and maybe it isn't, but I can tell you that if you are looking for a place that values the land as well as the great wines they produce, Quivira is a must stop on any trip to Sonoma County.

Cheers!

Taste of Sonoma - SWCW 2010

This past weekend Katie and I had the pleasure of being invited to cover Sonoma Wine Country Weekend. Our adventures took us to three separate events, Taste of Sonoma, a winemaker dinner at Quivira Vineyards, and finally the 18th annual Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction. We begin our story on Saturday afternoon at Taste of Sonoma, hosted by MacMurray Ranch in Healdsburg, CA.
A collection of over 150 wineries and 60 local chefs, Taste of Sonoma was a bit overwhelming and intimidating to start. Not because we don’t think we belong there, because we can schmooze with the best of them. It was intimidating because as we approached Taste of Sonoma and entered the boundaries of the ranch, there were at least 10 distinct stations or areas that were calling our names. Like a previous event I covered, Wine and Song Around the Plaza, the Taste of Sonoma provided the opportunity to experience some of the best wines in Sonoma County all in one location. Organized by different appellations, there were 4 tented areas on the primary grounds. Sonoma Valley, Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley were all represented with both wine and seasonal food pairings.

Prior to the event I had connected with Robert Larsen from Rodney Strong Vineyards who recommended we check out Davis Bynum in the Russian River Valley. Having no other preference as to where we began our adventure, we made our way over and started the day with a crisp 2007 Chardonnay. While the Russian River Valley tends to be cooler, this Chardonnay came from the eastern part of the valley thus giving it a bit more of a tropical crispness. Expertly paired with a chilled corn soup from Syrah Bistro, this was a perfect way to start the day. Knowing there was a long day of sipping and socializing ahead, we moved along and made our next stop at J Vineyards. A maker of both still and sparkling wines, J was pouring one of each and paired it with a specialty BLT. Look for more information to come on J Vineyards, as I just received some sample bottles that will be reviewed soon. It should also be noted that the food offerings were quite substantial, especially given that the event occurred over the lunch hour and there was no doubt that mass quantities of wine were being consumed.

As the day progressed we made our way through each of the other appellation specific tents, stopping at some of our favorites, such as B.R. Cohn, Clos du Bois, and Chateau St. Jean (they were pouring Cinq Cepages), but really focusing on trying some new and unfamiliar wineries. Some of our new found favorites included Haywood Estates, Kokomo Winery, and Spann Vineyards, who we got to spend the entire day with at Harvest Auction. If you attend this event, I really recommend stopping by places you don’t know much about. I made it a point to stop at the wineries that didn’t have anyone around them. It is enticing to stay in your comfort zone and only go to those you know, but I found that some of the wines and conversation I enjoyed most came from places I’d never heard of. Overall we found the table hosts to be friendly and willing to converse, even with the sea of people trying to make their way to the front. Perhaps the most pleasing experience was that there was no expectations/opportunity to purchase wine at this event. You were expected to visit many wineries and try several wines so there was no awkward feeling as you left one winery and moved to the table just next to them.

While we spent most of our time sipping and socializing at the winery tables, there was much more to this event that we didn’t fully experience. We happened upon the chef demonstration going on in the middle of the grounds but did not stay long enough to see the Sonoma Steel Chef competition. Other opportunities not fully realized included a variety of educational wine talks, guided tastings with nationally acclaimed sommeliers, and a demonstration of an old fashioned wine crush. There was so much going on all at once that there is no way to experience it all in one day...I guess we will just have to go back next year.

Shortly before we left we stopped by Gloria Ferrer Bubble Lounge, where we found some of the youngest patrons to the event. However, given that it was nearing the end of the day the offerings were slim so we made our way to the Visa Signature Lounge to explore the several cheese stations from local, um...what do you call a cheesemaker? Their offerings were delicious although it would have been a nice compliment to have wines to pair with the cheese. But ending with sparkling wine and cheese was a nice way to finish the day, much like in those fancy-schmancy restaurants.

A mix of both young and old oenophiles and a mix of large and small wineries made for one incredible day at MacMurray Ranch. The beauty of any Sonoma event is the casual, laid back approach to wine making and wine drinking. The winemakers love what they do and even more, they love sharing it with you.

Check back later this week for my next post about our exquisite winemaker dinner at Quivira Vineyards. Cheers!

Upcoming Event: Sonoma Wine Country Weekend

Welcome back to your regularly scheduled coverage of California wine country. In the world of higher education, August typically means staff training and welcoming all of the first year students back. For me, that means 4 weeks of 12-14 hour days without a single day off. That is why I am so excited for Labor Day Weekend.

In Sonoma County, Labor Day not only means barbecues, picnics, and your last chance to wear white. It also means it is Sonoma Wine Country Weekend. This grand event is a chance to celebrate the summer with all of your favorite Sonoma wineries. With events taking place on all weekend, Sonoma Wine Country Weekend will be the perfect way for Katie and I to celebrate the end of August and get us back into enjoying what we love most about this area....good vino!

Giving everyone just enough to keep them coming back for more, Friday begins with intimate lunches and dinners with winemakers from around the region. These delectable meals take place at the winery where you have the chance to sit down and break bread with the winemaker and other key players who bottle some of your favorite wines. Each meal is prepared by local participating chefs and are expertly paired with wine.

Getting started on Saturday, MacMurry Ranch in Healdsburg, CA plays host to the 31st annual Taste of Sonoma. A collection of over 150 wineries and 60 local chefs, this event provides an opportunity for wine lovers and foodies alike to drink and dine on some of the best that Sonoma County has to offer. However, this isn’t just a vendor fair where you move from one booth to the next. Other programs offered include a chef competition, intentional food/wine pairing experiences, and the Sommelier Stars Wine Tours where you can be led through a series of tastings by some of the nation’s most acclaimed sommeliers. If you haven’t had enough food and wine yet, you have another opportunity to dine with a winemaker for dinner. After experiencing Taste of Sonoma, Katie and I will be going down the road to enjoy a five course, farm-to-table meal with Quivira Wines, a leader in biodynamic and organic wine producing.

Rounding out the weekend is the 18th annual Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction. Hosted at Cline Cellars, wine auction is sure to bring the spirit of wine country as people bid often and bid high a variety of lots, including specialty bottles, weekend excursions, and plenty more! Wine auction serves as your last chance to get up close and personal with winemakers as they serve as the hosts of each table.

Tickets are still available for all of these events but are going fast. Also, if you happen to have a Visa Signature card, you may be eligible for a number of discounts and benefits. Katie and I will be covering many aspects of this great weekend and will be sure to document our experiences, right here on The Oregon Wine Blog.