Quick Jaunt to Sonoma!

 

Sonoma Wine Country is arguably the home of some of the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the planet, and has always been "the other wine destination" for those seeking to avoid the wine crowds in Napa, but now more and more of us are realizing the true charm of this easy to-get-to jewel.

I only had two days for a getaway to wine country, and with Horizon Airlines now flying right into the heart of wine country, "popping in" couldn't be easier and more affordable.

I left Los Angeles at 8:30 AM, and was at Iron Horse Vineyards, sipping bubbles by 10:30!

At Iron Horse, not only are they making ten amazing sparkling wines, but also 6 Chardonnays and 4 Pinot Noirs. The Sterling family has become known for top-notch wines as well as a strong commitment to the environment. When you buy a bottle of  their "Ocean Reserve" Sparkling Wine, they donate $4 to establish marine protected areas, in partnership with National Geographic. 

Up the road a tad, I stopped in to visit Shane Finley, winemaker at Kosta Browne, who is pushing the envelope in the world of Pinot Noir. The single-vineyard Pinots are incredibly expressive and unique. Shane took me through barrel after barrel of Pinots that were amazingly opulent, intense, well-structured, and consistent. His track record at Paul Hobbs and in the Rhone speaks for itself. These wines are not for the faint of heart! I could have stayed here all day, but I had to get moving. There were more wineries to visit on this whirlwind trip!

Next on the agenda, Jordan, one of the most beautiful wineries in Sonoma. Tom Jordan struck oil and natural gas in Indonesia back in the 60's, and with that fortune set out to build the most perfect Bordeaux-inspired winery he could. He settled on this gorgeous spot in the Alexander Valley in 1972, and built one of the most consistent Cabernet houses in California winemaking history. Winemaker Rob Davis has been with him since 1976, taking over the helm from Andre Tchelistcheff, and still turns out this top-notch iconic Cabernet Sauvignon today. We also had the fortune of trying their crisp, Burgundian Chardonnay and even their home-made extra-virgin Olive Oil.

After these 3 vineyard tours, it was time to hit the town and explore Sonoma Town Square. There is no shortage of great restaurants here, including Cyrus, Ravenous, Zin, Willi's Seafood Bar, Rustic, and Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen, just to name a few. I was craving seafood so went with "tapas style" small plates of seafood at Willi's, then went for jazz and after dinner drinks at the Dry Creek Kitchen where a wintry night was countered by a blazing fireplace and a live jazz trio. Great wines by the glass and top-notch mixology were in no short supply here! But I kept it an early night as there was an early morning agenda for more wine tasting!

That 2nd day started with a visit to Cline Cellars, where winemaker Charlie Tsegeletos is making more than 17 different wines!  It is an impressive lineup of Zins, Syrahs, Mourvedres, Carignanes, Viogniers, Marsannes, and Pinot Gris! What a great way to start my day!

It was an incredibly beautiful and windy drive up to Kenwood, on this frost-covered morning. It was my first trip to Chateau St Jean, a stunning 250-acre Estate built in 1920. It is meticulously maintained and has the charm and feel of the Great Gatsby! I was taken on a journey through the impressive lineup of Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, Merlots, and Cabernets, including of course, the seminal Cinq Cepages red wine blend that was Wine Spectator's wine of the year in 1996.

It's no wonder that winemaker Margo Van Staaveren was named Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast Magazine in 2008. The wines and  winery are gorgeous pure Sonoma!

Last stop before popping back onto the Eco-friendly Horizon Q-400, I had the privilege of visiting with Tripp Donelan, whose family makes Donelan Family Wines, formerly Pax. Nobody makes more dense, age-worthy Rhone-style wines than Tripp and family. We tasted through an array of 08 Syrahs such as the Cuvee Moriah, Cuvee Christine, and Kobler Family, as well as some of the 07 Pax gems. These wines are huge and muscular with a long life ahead of them. Impressive wines from an impressive family.

But alas, it was 2:45 PM, and the 3:30 back to LA beckoned. A 10-minute drive from the Donelan's and I am back at the Charles M SchulzSonoma Airport and a one hour flight back home to LA, and back to The Palm for me!

Don't worry, Sonoma, I'll be back soon. You can bet on it!