Sonoma Jazz+ Wine and Song Around the Plaza (Day 1)

As my wife Katie and I turned onto Broadway and drove towards historic Sonoma Square we didn’t quite know what to expect at Wine and Song Around the Plaza. We fought through the traffic and the freak rain storm that thankfully passed before we had to get out of the car to find some street parking about a quarter mile from the plaza. We grabbed our bags out of the car and started down to enjoy a day of local wine and local jazz.

Although we are pretty familiar with Sonoma and the downtown square, we both noticed that signage was lacking for the event. Not sure where we had to pick up our badges we gravitated towards the first white pop up tent we saw only to find out it was an art show. After finally seeing our destination we began our journey. Each ticket gave us 12 wine tastings, 4 tickets for food tastings, a personalized wine glass, and a nifty velvet tote for our wine glass. It wasn’t until later that an event volunteer would explain why we needed the velvet tote. We had nine locations to choose from so we headed off to a familiar location* to begin our day...The Swiss Hotel (The venue for our wedding rehearsal lunch).

Each location had two wineries pouring as well as a local musician playing jazz and blues music. Pouring at The Swiss Hotel was Headbanger Wine and winemaker Paul Hoffman. I decided to use one of my 12 tastes to start off bold with the Rock-n-Red, a blend of Syrah and Zinfandel. Wanting to get in as much wine as possible, I ventured to the other winey pouring at the Swiss Hotel, Robledo Family Wines which are also currently being poured at the dinner table of President Obama. The wine was good so I started observing my surroundings to feel the vibe of Wine and Song.

I first noticed that there were a lot of families at the event. I always feel it a bit out of place to bring a small child wine tasting, but this felt different. There isn’t much to do in a tasting room for a young child but at Wine and Song there was great music playing, kids (and hippies) dancing, and it was in a secured off area so parents could remove the despicable backpack leash they had their kids on and let them run around a little.

Although each winery pouring punched our tickets for each taste, a few places like Roche Winery saw Wine and Song as a real opportunity. Roche was offering 3 additional tastings while you were there. For a small winery like Roche that doesn’t distribute their wines, Wine and Song provided the perfect setup to get their name out there. Known for their chardonnay, Roche wines were complex and had wines that would appeal to any wine drinker, from the seasoned veteran with a refined palate to the person who is one step removed from drinking from a box. It was at Roche we learned that the velvet tote was for more than decoration. Because we were walking on public sidewalks and the plaza wasn’t roped off, walking around with an empty wine glass violated open container laws. As we moved from location to location, the wine glass had to be in its own carrying case.

Although difficult at some places because of the crowds, we found some time to talk with Angie from Moon Mountain Vineyards who specializes in 100% certified organic wines....watch out for a future post about them. Giving in to my temptations, I tried their Cabernet Franc which was much less bold than I expected it to be, but very smooth and still full of flavor.

Overall, the wine and music was a great pairing. It was a beautiful day outside and as my wife Katie noted “Even if you don’t like the wine you are going to enjoy yourself.” Wine and Song created a fun atmosphere to enjoy wine in a casual environment. My only disappointment from the day was the food tastings offered at each location. We each had 4 tickets to use and began the day using them sparingly so as not to miss something great. A delicious bruschetta was our first taste and it sadly went downhill from there. An insignificant cheese and pesto tart that had clearly been sitting out for awhile and an almost invisible dab of olive tapenade on a thin cucumber slice were some of the later offerings. I figured the restaurants and cafés would want to showcase their kitchen a bit more than they did. Wanting to experience as much of the event as possible and assuming the food tastings would be a bit more substantial than a tiny piece of corn beef and sauerkraut on a crostini, we opted against ordering a full lunch at any location. With 12 wine tastings, we clearly chose poorly.

Wine and Song was not the only event going on that day. In the evening the concerts in the park began and on Day 1 it was Earth, Wind, and Fire. Katie and I actually didn’t stay for the full concert for a couple reasons. First, we were definitely the youngest people there, but more importantly we were exhausted from the day of walking and drinking earlier. We found it a big challenge to do both Wine and Song and then stay up for the concert as well. On Day 2 we planned much better and were able to enjoy the concert which I will write about later.

Stay tuned for coverage of Day 2 that provided new and different wines, a Patron Tequila tasting, and some infallible marriage advice from a divorced and more than slightly inebriated concert goer.

Upcoming Event: Sonoma Jazz + Wine and Song Around the Plaza

Close your eyes (okay, well just pretend to close your eyes so that you can actually read on), it’s a warm, sunny Saturday afternoon and you’re walking around historic Sonoma Square. You pass by a small café and you hear sounds coming from what can only be described as angels singing. Your curiosity gets the best of you and you pop inside to inquire as to the source of these heavenly sounds only to be greeted by a glass of wine. Looking around you discover that the music that drew you inside is coming from a local jazz band. After listening for awhile and enjoying your wine you make your way back to the square. Just as you begin to think you could never experience something so amazing again, you walk by the next café and have the worst (or best?) case of déjà vu imaginable. Sound too good to be true, not at Sonoma Jazz+ Wine and Song it isn’t.

Presented by Sonoma Jazz +, a non-profit aimed at preserving jazz music through world-class festivals and education programs, Wine and Song Around the Plaza is a way to experience the best that Sonoma has to offer, all in one concentrated location. So leave the car at home and make your way to the Sonoma Square on May 22nd and 23rd.

This fantastic event, taking place on both Saturday and Sunday from 1:30-5:00pm, will feature over 20 participating wineries and 9 participating venues, each with their own band or musician rockin’ the day away. Tickets for this event are just $65 per day and get you 12 wine + song tastings, 4 food tastings, a complimentary water, tote, and souvenir wine glass. To experience all of these wineries individually would easily cost more than this so coming out to Wine and Song is not only a great price but a great way to experience some of the best wineries in the area.

If you can’t make it to the daytime activities (heck, even if you can), Sonoma Jazz + continues the fun into the night with some world class musical acts. Headlining on Friday May 21st, the evening before Wine and Song Around the Plaza kicks off is Crosby, Stills, and Nash. As we move into the weekend, Earth, Wind, and Fire will be sure to get the crowd groovin’ on Saturday and Elvis Costello will wrap up the festival on Sunday night. As with all concerts, tickets vary based off location but any seat under the tent is sure to be a great one.

If all this sounds like the way you want to spend a weekend in Sonoma in late May, Sonoma Jazz + Wine and Song is right up your ally. If I still haven’t convinced you to go or you are unable to make it, I will sacrifice my weekend to attend and write about it here on The Oregon Wine Blog.

Quality vs. Quantity - Chateau St. Jean Masters Both

We’ve all done it. We’ve all had that internal struggle as we stand in front of the wall o’wine at our local grocer trying to figure out what bottle will pair best with whatever culinary creation is in the oven.
Then, from seemingly out of nowhere a glimmer in your eye and you look to the far end of the shelf and see it....Chateau St. Jean. Whether you are in California, Oregon, Washington, or somewhere else, there is a good chance you have seen that bottle sitting on the shelf. For the everyday California wine drinker, Chateau St. Jean represents that little splurge you give yourself on payday. Many of the widely distributed wines are on the higher end of the all important under $20 price point. But don’t let the big name fool you. Chateau St. Jean, a pioneer in the single vineyard technique in California, maintains its identity as a maker of both fine wines and a maker of wines that appeal to a wide audience, rather than sacrificing quality for quantity. On a recent trip to the Chateau, Josh and I got to experience this first hand.

In the area for a conference, Josh took the liberty of setting up a tasting for us. We arrived at the Chateau at 10:30 and were met by the Hospitality Specialist Bob, who served as our host for the day. After a quick description of the tasting room we were led to the private and reserve tasting room where a small table for two was set up. Bob first started by telling us a little about himself and the winery. Founded in 1973, Chateau St. Jean has been a leader in fine California wines for many years. Just recently, winemaker Margo Van Staaveren was named the 2008 Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast. Part of her success comes from having worked in almost every position in the winery in the 25+ years she has been with Chateau St. Jean. Following the day of tasting, it is easy to see why Van Staaveren earned this esteemed honor.

As Josh and I sat down, neither of us knew what we were getting ourselves in to In front of us lay two tasting menus, one was the regular tasting menu and the other included all of their reserve and limited production wines. With few exceptions, Bob told us we would be going down the reserve list that morning, totaling 16 different pours. Yes, you read that right, at 10:30am we started our adventure of 16 very different wines. We started with two different Fume Blancs. First, was the 2007 La Petite Etoile from the Russian River valley. If this was any indication for what the day had in store, Josh and I were going to enjoy ourselves. The nose contained hints of lemongrass with a prominent scent of green tea. Upon tasting we noticed the tartness in this wine and immediately thought of grapefruit or some other sweet citrus. Having not gone through malolactic fermentation, the acidity and tartness of this wine lingered as it finished with a hint of spice. After tasting the Lyon Vineyard Fume Blanc we moved through Pinot Gris and onto one of my favorite whites of the day, the 2007 Robert Young Vineyard Pinot Blanc. This wine was actually off the regular tasting list but our host thought it special enough to pour alongside the reserves...boy was he right. Immediately we picked up on the intensely floral nose and it didn’t taste half bad either. The crispness of the wine was complimented by mellow flavors of melon, nectarine. This could easily be enjoyed by itself while sitting on the porch on a hot day with a good book, or enjoyed with food. Personally, I will be opening one of the bottles I walked away with tonight as a pair to a Thai curry dish.

And now on to the reds. While I would love to go in depth about each wine we tasted, there were a lot of them and I would encourage you to visit this landmark of Sonoma County and experience them on your own. However, I can’t leave you in the dark about some of the favorites of the day. We started with 3 different Pinot Noirs: Durrell Vineyard, Benoist Ranch, and the Sonoma County reserve, all from 2007. Each one different, I was partial to the Durrell Vineyard Pinot Noir. This wine held the spice you would expect from a Pinot Noir without overpowering the rest of the black fruit flavors. On the finish we got hints of black tea, leather, and bacon....that’s right, I said bacon! Two of my favorite things joined at the hip...today was a good day.

We continued through a the 2006 Estate Cabernet Franc and the Sonoma County reserve Malbec from 2005 before getting to the crème de la crème. A wine so great that even after 10 tastings, still stood out. This was the 2005 & 2006 Cinq Cepages Cabernet Sauvignon. A Bordeaux style blend of Cab Sauv (83%), Merlot (7%), Cab Franc (5%), Malbec (4%), and Petite Verdot (1%), this wine is the flagship of Chateau St. Jean each year. Since they began blending this wine in 1990, it has never received below 90 points by Robert Parker and in 1996 became the first (and remains the only) Sonoma County wine to be declared the #1 wine in the world. The flavor profile includes raspberry, blackberry, red and black currants, perfectly balanced with cedar wood and an earthy flavor. Josh and I enjoyed a bottle later that night and were quite impressed with the complexity of this wine. It is something to open on that special night or lay it down for another 5-10 years like I plan on doing with a couple bottles.

We ended our tasting excursion by jumping up the tasting menu to the 2004 Sonoma County reserve Merlot. What is so unique about this wine was the aging process. A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec, each varietal is aged separately for 2 years in French Oak before being blended and then aged another 3 years, totaling 5 years of aging before ever being released. Described as “liquid velvet,” the Reserve Merlot offers a profile of dark cherry, espresso, and bittersweet chocolate.

As you can tell, Josh and I were treated very well at Chateau St. Jean and I would highly recommend checking it out if you are in the neighborhood. Chateau St. Jean offers several different tasting options depending on what you’re in the mood for. While you do have to pay to taste at Chateau St. Jean, the wines and knowledge of the staff are well worth what you will get on either the regular tasting menu or the upgraded reserve tasting menu. While you’re there be sure to make time to walk around the property and enjoy the lush courtyard gardens that make for a great Kodak moment. Don’t be put off by the formal exterior of this property. Once inside, the friendliness and knowledge of the staff make you feel right at home. This was my first trip to Chateau St. Jean and I will be sure to return in the near future.

Cheers!

Welcome to California!

Located just 40 miles north of San Francisco, the Sonoma and Napa wine region is home to over 730 wineries. Sonoma County sits between the California coast and the Mayacamas mountains to the east. Divided into several different areas, including Alexander Valley, Carneros, Dry Creek, and the Russian River Valley all with different temperatures and climates, Sonoma County produces a wide range of wines and is one of California’s largest wine growing regions. Continuing east over the Mayacamas mountains drops you into the heart of Napa county. Arguably the more famous of the two wine growing regions, Napa County boasts its own unique climate being in the valley of two mountain ranges. Traditionally these two regions do not get along with each other and each one will say they are better than the other for a variety of reasons. Having grown up in this wine country I have learned that each has its own specialties and you get a different experience everywhere you go.

Since this is my first post as a writer for The Oregon Wine Blog, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jesse Andrews and I am originally from Sonoma County. However I have spent time in southern California and was able to experience the Temecula wine growing region as well as spending 4 years in the Pacific Northwest. It was here I was introduced to the other writers for TOWB as well as both Oregon and Washington wines. I moved to Washington with a bias towards California wines but over time found a love and appreciation for the wines of the Pacific Northwest. Now that I have returned I am excited to explore this region even further.

I am aware of the reputation that California has and I can’t say it isn’t deserved. California is home to many wineries that produce the wines regularly found in any grocery store. Names such as Clos du Bois, Kendall-Jackson, and Sebastiani are found in California but so are the little known, family owned wineries tucked away in the rolling hills of California. My hope with this blog is to share some of those wineries with you so that if you take a trip to this area you can find similar experiences that you do at many of the places you love in Oregon and Washington. I am excited to be a part of The Oregon Wine Blog team and to share my experiences with wine in California.

Cheers!