Sonoma Barrel Tasting, 2024: Introduction

​Every year for the last ten years or so, Sonoma wine makers have held a barrel testing weekend.  In the past it lasted three days and two weekends, but is now down to two days on one weekend.  Somehow, they’ve managed to only hold it on days when it is cold and rainy.  So, we were not surprised when our visit was plagued by cold, rainy weather.  Our plan next year is to move the Sonoma wineries to sunny San Diego for the event….
So how does a barrel testing event work?  Well, each participant pays an exorbitant amount of money for an empty glass and a wrist band.  One takes the empty glass to one of around 50 tasting rooms and people pour wine in the glass, often from a barrel but sometimes from bottles.  If you like the wines from the barrels, you can buy futures for the wine -- they ship it to you when it is finally released.
Before I write more about the trip, a few words about Sonoma are called for.  First, Sonoma County lies to the west of Napa, going all the way to the Pacific Ocean.  As the Pacific north of San Francisco is extremely cold, Sonoma is significantly cooler than Napa.  In wine terms, Napa is Bordeaux and Sonoma is Burgundy plus.  Whereas in Napa one finds Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc, in Sonoma one finds Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the plus being Zinfandel and some Italian varieties.
Sonoma’s wine production is greater, as it has more wineries and nearly twice the number of acres planted.  Its nearly 60,000 acres are second in the state to San Joaquin County and represents about 11% of the California’s planted acreage.  The best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines come mostly from the Russian River region, southwest of Healdsburg.  North and a bit to the west of Healdsburg one finds some very nice Zinfandels.  So, we arranged our wine tasting to cover the Pinot Noir area on Saturday and the Zinfandel area on Sunday.
Now as the wine barrel tasting event started on a Saturday, and, arriving early on a Friday we naturally had to stop in a winery on the way from the airport in Sacramento to Sonoma, and again on our way back on Monday.  Actually, we tried to hit two on Monday but we couldn’t find another one open along our way back to Sacramento.
Doc Ed has been up that way in the past, but only two of his recommended wineries were on the list of participating wineries.  Below is a listing of the wineries we visited or almost visited, including the two that were not part of the barrel tasting.  I will have more to say about most of these in future blogs.  Keep in mind that as we go through these wineries we were there when they were pretty busy and focused on the barrel tasting.  Some were able to put their best foot forward, but others were not so lucky.
Jacuzzi Family Wines:  Yes, this is the Jacuzzi of hot tub fame.  The winery is on the eastern side of Sonoma, far from the ocean, so their fields do not get as cold.  My next blog in this sequence will cover our trip to Jacuzzi
Bucher:  According to Doc Ed, Bucher has an outstanding Pinot Noir, named Pommard after a region in Burgundy.  We tasted their wines at our check-in point rather than their winery (which I understand does not have a tasting room).  Unfortunately, they did not have the Pommard available for tasting, either from the barrel or bottle.
Porter Creek:  Very nice Pinot Noir’s and a nice Chardonnay.  Worthy of a separate blog after Jacuzzi
Moshin:  Great find!  Great people, nice facility, and very good Pinot Noir (we bought a case).  Blog to follow Porter Creek.
Ektimo:  Very nice people, nice facility, but wines were too acidic for my taste.  No blog.
Char Vale:  Nice people, but wines and facility not up to snuff.
Armida:  This was our first stop on Sunday, in the region of Sonoma where Zinfandel reigns supreme.  It is also a Doc Ed recommended winery.  So, as expected, the Zinfandel was really good, and, well, the people and facility were right up there as well.  More of this winery in a blog following Moshin.
Orsi Family:  Every so often I come upon a winery that just knocks my socks off.  Orsi was the one on this trip.  It didn’t hurt that we were tasting three of my favorite varietals – Sangiovese, Montepulciano, and Nebbiolo.  They were three for three.  More on this fabulous find in the blog following Armida.  And no, I did not hurt myself patting myself on the back….
Idlewild Wines:  Very unique winery in that they make wines from 45 Italian grape varieties.  Unfortunately, none of the wines we tasted were very good.
Wilson:  Zinfandel is their specialty, and they produce some very nice wines.  Not sure what more to say, as their owners also own nine other wineries in Sonoma.  I will have more to say in a blog.
Kendall-Jackson:  The biggest surprise of the trip by far.  Known for wines produced on the million case a year level, this operation in Sonoma produces wines at the 50-case level, specializing in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.  The review of this winery will complete my tale of Sonoma – for the near future.  They did not participate in the barrel tasting event.