100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 67 Blackstone Winery

Blog 67 Blackstone Winery



I visited the Sonoma Valley Blackstone Winery location in Kenwood, California. They make handcrafted wines with flavor and a balanced structure. I was able to try some limited releases with my favorite being the 2007 Merlot Sonoma Valley which sells for $70.00. Their wines mostly range from $11.00 a bottle to about $36.00 a bottle with the Merlot at $70.00 being their most expensive wine on the menu.

The tasting room was about to close but they accepted me with open arms and were not in a hurry to push me out the door. They also spent time with me explaining the medals that their wines have won. It was a pleasurable time.

When you are in the area, be sure to drop by and try some wine for a great experience without feeling rushed.

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!
Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 66 Kunde Family Estate

Blog 66 Kunde Family Estate



Kunde Family Estate is located in Kenwood, California in the Sonoma Valley Region. The Kunde Family owns over 1850 acres of land with 700 acres planted to over twenty varieties of grapes for winemaking on property in their winemaking facility. You can visit the winery for a wine tasting but be sure not to miss out on taking the tour of the property to see the wine caves.



During prohibition, the winemaking did not stop at this winery; they continued to make sacramental wines. However, at the start of World War II they had to stop making wine to fight in the war. In the 1960’s they expanded the vineyards and focused on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. In 2004, they celebrated their 100th harvest.

Family owned for five generations, their wines are made from 100% estate grown grapes and they improve environmental practices by using sustainable farming methods. My favorite Kunde wine is the Cabernet Sauvignon.

Be sure to view their video:



Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!
Bon Vin!
Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 52 Smart Wine Tour Tips

Blog 52 Smart Wine Tour Tips
You have decided to spend a day touring wine country but someone has informed you that it might not be as easy as you think. How do you make your day great? What can you do to create a memorable experience?

I suggest planning out your day prior to going on the wine tour. There are many people that just get in their car and go from one winery to the next. The only problem is that you need to get back and you may miss your favorites or ones that you have not been to before that are off the beaten path.

Each year when I head out to wine country, I plan out my entire itinerary. I call in advance to get any tours or tastings in to make sure that there is availability. It took me five years to get into Far Niente Winery. I finally had to beg them and I set up a tour for eight people well in advance. It was worth the trip. Some wineries you can get into with no problem and other wineries request that you ask in advance for your tasting. Caymus Winery will only take a few people at a time for their tasting and they do it at certain times; again, well worth the wait. Opus also works this way; however, you can go in their tasting room and pay for a tasting separately without a tour. Caymus and Far Niente are both gated and will not even let you on their grounds without an appointment.

Don’t drink and drive. Have a designated driver if you are going to be drinking wine. Don’t speed in wine country. If you can, try to start your day early in the morning when it is best to have a tasting. Plan your tours with food in between the wineries that you will taste at. Drink water and water crackers in between each winery if you are actually drinking any of the wines.

Spit the wines that you do not like. You don’t have to empty your glass with each wine. Only drink the ones that you want to enjoy. There are plenty of wines to taste. Pace yourself when you taste and only try the ones that you really want to try.

Take time to eat a nice lunch by either packing a picnic lunch or sitting at a great restaurant that the area has to offer. For instance, in Napa Valley, I always eat at Rutherford Grill or Don Giovanni’s with some of my best memories made there. Food is an important part of my day and I want to make sure that I eat and taste in comfort.
More on how to pick your favorites…coming soon.

Tell me what you think! I want to hear from you! Give me your thoughts!
Bon Vin!

Veronica

100 Wine Blogs, 100 Days Blog 22 Gloria Ferrer, the First Sparkling Wine House in the Sonoma Carneros Region of California.

22. Gloria Ferrer, is the first sparkling wine house in the Sonoma Carneros region of California. What do I like about this winery? They have a great tasting tour, a picturesque terrace overlooking Sonoma Valley and they offer Spanish and local cheeses along with other delicacies available in their tasting room. Planning on getting married, you may not find a more breathtaking open view of the valley. Gloria Ferrer makes still and sparkling wines but I like them for their sparklers. Below is one of my favorites.

1998 Carneros Cuvee



93 POINTS - WINE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE
"A luscious and superior California bubbly, this blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay shows an irresistible richness of raspberry puree, cherry skin bitterness, vanilla, yeasty baked bread and something unidentifiably smoky-sweet. Yet it's bone dry. With a long, complex finish, it should continue to age beyond this, its tenth birthday."
- Wine Enthusiast Magazine, December 31, 2008


Tell me your thoughts, make them funny, keep them nice and educate me.
Bon Vin!
Veronica