There’s no rest for wine lovers in Sonoma this month, that’s for sure. Several events of note are happening this month that will definitely keep you busy tasting some great wines. Here are three you should check out, listed by date.
Bachelor Ben visits Enoteca again
Ladies of Sonoma, our ubiquitous “Bachelor,” Ben Flajnik, returns to the Island for a special tasting at Enoteca Della Santina on Monday, February 13 (coming up real soon!). Ben will be joined by his Envolve Winery partners Mike Benziger and Danny Fay to pour their new wine releases. The event runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and is sure to be crowded. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For information, call 938.4200 or email info@enotecadellasantina.com.
VinOlivo kicks it up a notch
VinOlivo, the event created to celebrate two of our valley’s great culinary riches – wine and olives – has grown into a full weekend of celebration. Produced by the Sonoma Valley Vintners Growers Alliance and held over the Presidents’ Day weekend, VinOlivo showcases more than 60 wineries and 25 of top restaurateurs in a series of events and dinners.
The VinOlivo Grand Tasting, held on Friday, February 17 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Lodge at Sonoma (1325 Broadway), is an incredible collection of Valley wineries, restaurants and artisans offering their fare. Guests can also sample local olives at the event’s Olive Bar and experience the Pommes Frites and Sparkling Wine Bar (I definitely want to check that out!). Tickets for the Grand Tasting are $75 per person.
New this year is the VinOlivo Tasting Pass. This is like many of the “passport” style tickets where you gain special access to more than 40 Sonoma Valley wineries. Benefits will vary from winery to winery but may include complimentary tasting, special tastings and/or tours and discounts on purchase. Two passes are available; a 3-Day Tasting Pass covering Saturday, Feb. 18 through Monday, Feb. 20 for $50 per person or a 1-Day Tasting Pass for $25 per person.
There are also special winemaker dinners as well as an online auction featuring and unique Sonoma Valley winery and vacation experiences. For tickets and more information on VinOlivo, call 935.0803 or visit sonomavalleywwine.com.
Eighth Street wineries open house
One of the great collections of small-lot wineries in the North Coast is over in the industrial neighborhood on Eighth Street East south of Napa Road. These producers have formed a loose organization – Eighth Street Wineries – and have created a great open house event so that we can taste and explore some really terrific wines in the very cool environment where they are produced. This open house on Saturday, Feb. 25, and is a fundraiser for global water charity Water.org. The tasting features 10 wineries – Anaba Wines, Enkidu, MacRostie, Parmelee-Hill, Patz Hall, Stone Edge Farm, Talisman, Three Sticks, Tin Barn Vineyards and Ty Caton – all generally within walking distance of each other with food pairings as well. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at door. For more information, visit eighthstreetwineries.wordpress.com.
As always, you can email me with questions at gswalter@pinotreport.com.
Greg Walter has been a Sonoma resident for more than 20 years. Greg has been in wine and food publishing for more than 30 years, 15 of which were spent as a senior editor and later president of Wine Spectator magazine. Today he writes the PinotReport newsletter (www.pinotreport.com) and publishes books through his Carneros Press imprint (www.carnerospress.com).