The Grape Juice Plus Wine Tasting Group will initiated 2003 with a trip to Sonoma County for the annual Russian River Wine Road's "Winter Wineland." The event is a hospitality-filled weekend of wine tasting, information, talks by winemakers, wine & food pairings, and vineyard and winery tours involving wineries in the Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Russian River Valley. It has become a popular event, attended by thousands of people each year. The event was held on Saturday, Sunday, & Monday, January 18, 19, & 20. Tickets were good for two of the three days and were $30 each if purchased before January 10, and $40 each there after. Participating in this event got you a commemorative logo glass, a sparkling silver wristband, and lots of wine.

The largest Grape Juice Plus group evar gathered at Alexander Valley Vineyards to start the day. Thirteen 'Vineyard Cats' sampled the 2002 "New Gewurz" Gewurztraminer, 2001 "Sin Zin" Zinfandel, and 2000 "Cyrus" Bordeaux-style red wine barrel taste. Although always delicious, the hors d'oeuvres they were serving seemed to really outshine the wine this year. After a history making group photo in front of the Hobbit hole (where's my damn pipeweed at?), everybody jumped back in their cars and caravaned north to old-town Geyserville to visit the tasting room of The Meeker Vineyard. Housed in a former bank, the tellers were serving up the 1999 Bartolomei Brothers Zinfandel, 2001 "Barberian" blended red wine, and 1999 "Four Kings" blended red wine. All these wines went nicely with the three varieties of grilled sausage they were serving. The 2001 Tu Tu Luna was one of the better dessert wines of the day. As a bonus, some members of the group tried out a few neighboring tasting rooms that weren't on schedule. These places were not part of the Winter Wineland, but were giving free pours to event participants anyway. With a little extra wine staining our teeth, the group began its journey back southward, taking a short freeway jaunt to the Trentadue Winery. The red wine here was not real exciting, which brings us to their dessert wines. The 2001 Viognier-based white port, and no-vintage flavor-enhanced "Chocolat Amore" Merlot-based port were hits amongst the sweet wine aficionados. The now officially fourteen member group piled back into their cars and headed southward once again, but this time down Healdsburg Avenue to the Simi Winery. One of the longest wineries around, we couldn't figure out which of the four driveways to pull into. Spread out along the wine bar, the group tasted the 2001 Sauvignon Blanc, 2000 Shiraz, & 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon. They had some pretty good Tawny Port too, but you had to sweet talk the pourers to get some (always go tasting with Jill). Winding our way a few blocks southward once more, we arrived at what would be our final stop of the day, the Seghesio Family Vineyards. Other wineries should take a lesson from this place on how to make a special event not seem like it's just another day. They opened up the cellar where they served their 2001 Arneis, 2000 Keyhole Ranch Pinot Noir, & 2000 Sangiovese with a variety of food. At the far table with the Seghesio Family Sausage were the highly debated 2000 Home Ranch Zinfandel, and 2000 San Lorenzo Zinfandel. Up stairs in the tasting room they poured the 2000 Barbera, 1999 Cortina Zinfandel, and 1999 "Omaggio" Cabernet Sauvignon & Sangiovese blend. With the time having run out on the event for the day, many of the group headed down the road on their long drive home. The rest of the group made their way to Moylan's Brewery & Restaurant in Novato for some dinner and some fine micro-brew.

Sunday started out cold and foggy too, but unlike Saturday, it never burned off. A group of four started north with plans to meet two more before the trip was done. By recommendation, the first stop was deLorimier Winery. As we walked in the door, we were greeted by the delicious chicken and dumpling soup that had been prepared. With our bellies warm and full, it was time to taste the 2000 Sauvignon Blanc, 1999 "Spectrum" white table wine, 2000 Chardonnay, 1999 Clonal Select Chardonnay, 2000 Malbec, 1999 Merlot, & 1999 "Mosaic" red table wine. All in all, a perfect opener to the day. On the fly it was decided that Chateau Souverain would be our next try. It was good to see them bringing their event presentation back up to the level that made it one of the favorites on this trip. To go along with the tastey cheeses available, they were pouring their 2001 Chardonnay, 2001 Viognier, 200 Syrah, & 2000 Mourvedre. A 2001 Mourvedre was available as a barrel sample. After finishing with the event pourings, the group went into the tasting room where many more wines were waiting to be tried. Too numerous to list. Another spur of the moment decision took us to the Lytton Springs vineyard of Ridge. Amazed by the thick, gnarled grapevine stocks, we almost missed the temporary entrance to the tasting room. Once inside, the group tasted the 2000 Chardonnay, 2000 Grenache, 2000 Sonoma Station Zinfandel, 2000 Lytton Springs Zinfandel, & 1991 Lytton Springs Zinfandel. The wines were all very good, but the atmosphere just didn't get you excited about them. Picking up the route from Saturday where the time constrait made us leave off, the group of four went to Foppiano Vineyards, where the wine jumps out of the bottle and onto the bar (and your clothes). Outside, we found our one and only band for the weekend playing some rockin' blues while patrons sampled the 2001 Sauvignon Blanc, 1999 Pinot Noir, 2001 Sangiovese, and a few others. Inside the tasting room were lots and lots of Petite Sirahs, including a 1996 Petite Sirah Reserve, as well as, a 1999 Zinfandel Reserve, & 1997 Merlot Reserve. When the final two members arrived, the group tasted some more and talked some more. The time came to move along to the final winery of the weekend, Limerick Lane Cellars. They did not dissappoint our weary taste buds with their 2000 Zinfandel, 2000 Syrah, 2001 "1023" Zinfandel & Syrah blend, 2000 Old Vines Zinfandel, & 2002 Old Vines Zinfandel barrel sample. With that perfect closer to the day, we rushed back down Highway 101 to Novato just in time to watch as the Oakland Raiders dominated to win the AFC Championship.

Michelle, Chad, Marge, Mike, Adam, Nicole, Stephan, Dell, Stephanie, Scott, Sandy, & Matt in front of the Hobbit hole.

Here's everybody's thoughts on the day:




Spill the wine, Dig that girl
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