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NorthBay biz Wine
Author: Judith M. Wilson
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2018
A gleaming bottle of fine wine with a perfect, natural cork has a special mystique. And while the wine within is the primary focus, the cork has a vital role, too. The distinctive pop that goes with opening a lovely effervescent sparkling wine is synonymous with special occasions, and uncorking a bottle of a still varietal is part of the ritual that goes with the first sip. And so, as small as a cork might be, it adds immeasurably to the experience, as well as fulfilling its most important purpose—sealing a bottle to preserve a wine while allowing its qualities to develop.
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Author: M.V. Wood
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2017
David Stare, founder of Dry Creek Vineyard, is sitting across from me at his vineyard garden. His demeanor is considerate and responsible, stable and kind. But, if it were not for his passion, this iconic winery would not be celebrating its 45th anniversary; and the Dry Creek Valley would almost certainly not be known for its Sauvignon Blanc, the most planted white grape in the area.
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Author: Alexandra Russell
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2016
Fred and Nancy Cline lead a life full of agriculture and adventure.
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Author: Alexandra Russell
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2015
Winemakers weigh in on the rising popularity of Rosé wine.
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Author: Jean Saylor Doppenberg
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2014
After five decades in the business, famed wine producer Davis Bynum has few regrets.
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Author: Jean Saylor Doppenberg
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2013
Plenty of wine and food pairing events educate and entertain visitors.
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Author: Jean Saylor Doppenberg
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2012
Winemaker and store owner Gina Gallo loves what she does.
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Author: Virginie Boone
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2011
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Long-time winemakers share their stories about what’s kept them in the same place through the years.
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Author: Virginie Boone
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2010
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Across the North Bay, wineries are letting consumers get a taste of blending their own wine.
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Author: Mallorie Kerrigan
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2018
The drive to Walker Apples in Graton is as picturesque as Sonoma County gets. What were once miles of apple orchards along Graton Road are now seemingly endless views of vineyards. West County looks more like Wine Country than apple country today, but 100 years ago, if you were visiting Sebastopol, you would see apple orchards lining the roads, not vineyards. And amongst them, one of the county’s most celebrated crop—the Gravenstein apple.
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Author: Jean Saylor Doppenberg
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2018
The name Mondavi has been woven into the fabric of Napa Valley lore for as long as anyone can remember. The story begins more than 100 years ago, when Cesare and Rosa Mondavi moved to Minnesota from Sassoferrato, Italy in 1908. Cesare worked in the iron mines while Rosa turned their home into a boardinghouse for other immigrant miners. Cesare left the mines when he and Rosa started their family, and entered into a partnership with another Italian immigrant to open a small grocery store. The young couple had four children, and Cesare eventually sold his share of the store.
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Author: Karen Hart
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2018
Do you recall the first glass of wine that captured your heart?
This is the question NorthBay biz posed to some notable winemakers in Sonoma and Napa counties. Here, they candidly share the intimate details of that first glass of wine that captivated them, revealing their passions and personalities.
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Author: Jessica Zimmer
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2018
For the majority of North Bay wine grape growers, 2017 was a good year, with a wet spring that encouraged growth, summer hot spells that hastened ripening, and almost all grapes in the tanks before the firestorm. Quality was also ensured by growers’ cooperative efforts to power through the labor shortage.
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Author: Jennie Orvino
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2018
“Sparkling wine is probably the most exciting wine to the human senses. You hear the pop of the cork and the frothy sound as it is poured,” says Ludovic “Ludo” Dervin, winemaker for Mumm Napa. “You see the tiny bubbles rising and feel the breath of the wine when you smell it. Even before you taste, the palate is primed for a sensual experience.”
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Author: Jean Saylor Doppenberg
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2017
There’s no argument that the wine in your glass showcases the skill of the winemaker. Yet it was Mother Nature who engineered the growing season that made it all possible. Rain at the right time and in the right amount, the absence of damaging frost, the welcome cooling from the marine layer after a string of hot days––these fluctuations of the weather all contributed to the flavors in the bottle.
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Author: Judith M. Wilson
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2017
Napa and Sonoma counties are remarkably similar on paper. They appear as next-door neighbors sharing a mountain range on the map, and rivers, valleys and fertile agricultural areas define the topography of both. Yet each has its own distinct character, drawing visitors from around the world, seeking a taste of an enviable lifestyle. The big question for travelers is which one to choose.
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Author: Mallorie Kerrigan
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2017
Scribe Winery, located at the end of a palm tree-paved Dresel Road in Sonoma, has found a way to attract the seemingly ever-elusive Millennial market. The winery, both rural and trendy, is often frequented by young wine enthusiasts, eager for Rosé all day. The relaxed vibe at Scribe removes the intimidation factor of wine, making it a popular stop for the 20- and 30-something crowd.
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Author: Karen Hart
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2017
Thirteen years ago on October 4, the movie “Sideways” was released, dramatically changing the course of wine consumption for two varietals—Merlot and Pinot Noir—and underscoring the fact that there are, indeed, trends in wine just as there are trends in fashion.
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Author: Tim Carl
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2016
“Terroir” is one of the most controversial words in the vocabulary of wine. For many, it holds within the ultimate meaning of wine, whereas for others, it represents an overused marketing tool with roots in mysticism and pseudoscience. Regardless of your position—and precisely because of the fervor surrounding it—terroir is a fascinating entry point into the world of wine, as well as to human physiology and psychology.
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Author: Bonnie Durrance
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2016
Here in Wine Country, we love to hear winemakers talk about their craft—about generations of vintners making wine on their particular patch of land. And if you talk to enough people, particularly in Sonoma County, you may discover a distinct accent in the voices of winemakers who do, indeed, come from generations in the business, but in a place a world away from here, where the land, climate, seasons, soils, people and even the stars are different. They’re from Australia or New Zealand, and you may taste a bit of an accent in their wines, too, for they typically bring a powerful tradition of winemaking in some of the world’s great wine regions. How they came here and what they do are tales as individual as their wines.
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Author: Jane Hodges Young
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2016
Consumers are demanding more from their wine tasting experiences, and wineries big and small are ready to serve.
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Author: Juliet Porton
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2016
Karissa Kruse leads Sonoma County Winegrowers toward 100 percent sustainability, bringing international attention to the region. (SCW) has long been advocating for the county’s winegrape growers, while educating the community on the importance of protecting and preserving Sonoma County as a winegrowing region.
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Author: Sarah Treseler, Christina Julian, William Rohrs
Oct, 2016 Issue
NorthBay biz visits GlenLyon Vineyards & Winery, Gamble Family Vineyards, Monticello Vineyards, Merriam Winery.
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Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2016
Welcome to the 42nd annual Sonoma County Harvest Fair
Pick up a copy of NorthBay biz at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair (Sept. 30-Oct. 2) and you'll find this schedule beginning on page 44.
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Author: Julie Fadda Powers
Special Wine Issue, Oct, 2016
Located just a 10-minute drive from downtown Napa, Coombsville feels much more far removed than it actually is. It’s an area made up of small, family ranches and vineyards dotted throughout its oak-studded, rolling hillsides. It borders the Napa River to the west, Mt. George to the north, Imola Avenue to the south and the Vaca Range to the east, encompassing 11,000 acres of largely untouched land (only about 1,400 acres are planted to vines). Its elevation ranges from near sea level to close to 2,000 feet at its highest mountain peaks.
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