“A wine like Pinot Noir is bound to have a pretty big mystique, and Pinot Noir wears its like a rap star wears gold.”
So wrote New York wine writer Eric Asimov, and when it comes to American Pinot Noir, it’s tough to beat the renditions grown and made in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley.
As a bonus, the area also is known for exceptional bottlings of Chardonnay.
Of course, visitors are welcome at Russian River winery tasting rooms throughout the year, but in 2013, there are three occasions when guests can take advantage of some very special tasting opportunities:
- JUNE—The 2nd annual Passport to Pinot Barrel Tasting will be held on the weekend of June 8-9. More than 35 wineries will open their cellar doors and allow guests to sample Pinot Noir right out of the barrel. New this year is an evening devoted to local winemaker dinners, set for June 6.
- AUGUST—The 18th annual Grape to Glass Pre-Harvest Party is set for Saturday, August 17 at Richard’s Grove and Saralee’s Vineyard in Windsor. Winemakers, grape growers, restaurateurs, hoteliers and neighbors will all be on hand for the barbecue (and wine) event of the summer.
- OCTOBER—The 4th annual Single Vineyard Night will be held on October 24 at the General’s Residence of Fort Mason in San Francisco. Food, dancing and dozens of Russian River Valley single-vineyard wines will be featured.
Tickets will go on sale in March for Passport to Pinot, in June for Grape to Glass, and in August for Single Vineyard Night through the website of the Russian River Valley Winegrowers: www.rrvw.org.
