This weekend will be a busy one in Sonoma, thanks to the Sonoma Music Festival. However, not all of us are attending – whether you couldn’t get a ticket (or can’t afford it!) or you just aren’t into yacht rock. For me, it’s a weekend to indulge in harvest parties, people watch, and enjoy the fruits of Sonoma Valley’s labor – with wine.
Here’s my top picks for your wine weekend in and around Sonoma Valley.
Friday, October 2
Starmont Winery and Vineyards opened their tasting room on the outskirts of Napa and Carneros this summer. They serve one of my favorite rose wines and launch their Friday Night Socials this month. The winery is modern, with clean designs and lounge areas. It is also dog friendly! Wines by the glass and bottle will be available for purchase, Sonoma’s own El Coyote Mexican food truck will be selling tacos, and guitarist Justin Diaz will be performing.
The event is free and runs from 5-8 PM. Call 968-3491 for more information. 1451 Stanly Ln, Napa. starmontwinery.com
Saturday, October 3
Ty Caton’s 7th Annual Barrel Tasting will take place at their 8th street winery (not the Kenwood location). As of two weeks ago, Ty Caton had just began harvest for 2015. They are known for big bold reds, including Cabs and their legendary TyTanium red blend of Petite Sirah, Cab, Malbet, Syrah, Petit Verdot and Merlot.
Owner and winemaker Ty Caton will be sampling wines directly from the barrel, which Caton describes as a “snapshot in time,” as you’ll get to experience how a wine develops in barrel, after opening a new bottle, and after a bottle chills in the cellar over time. Chef Sandy will be serving savory Mexican food, too.
The event is from 11 AM-4PM. The tasting is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. It is free for wine club members. Contact angela@tycaton.com or 938-3224 for more information. Buy tickets online. 21684 8th St. E., Ste 460.
Schug Winery Oktoberfest will celebrate harvest, the Schug family’s German heritage, 35 years of wine production, winemaker Mike Cox’s 20th harvest with Schug – and Mr. Walter Schug’s 80th birthday! Mr. Schug, the founder, and his wife, are German. He was raised on a Pinot estate in Germany, that his father operated. It will be a lot of fun – how can you go wrong with fine wine and freshly made pretzels?
There will be live music, games, a photo booth, traditional German foods, and of course, wine – they’ll be tasting current releases, a Federweisser (a newly fermenting white wine in barrel), and estate wines that are generally old at the winery only, including a sparkling, which I never even knew they had. It’s a family friendly affair, and games and plenty of photo ops will be available at the winery, which resides on a hill overlooking Carneros.
Oktoberfest is from 11AM-3PM and costs $45 for the general public adults and $35 for wine club members. Children under 12 are free, children over 12 are $10 – with a pumpkin included! schugwinery.com
Sunday, October 4
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Pangloss Cellars opened their downtown Sonoma tasting room last weekend – after three opening parties and plenty of Pinot later, they’re settling into their new digs – quite possibly the most beautiful tasting room in downtown Sonoma. They did a number on the 113-year-old building, which is overseen by a giant portrait of Voltaire. Don’t forget the olive tree growing inside.
You can do a formal tasting at the bar or in the lounge areas, or grab a glass of wine and enjoy some great people watching in comfortable leather couches looking into the Square via ceiling to floor windows. They also have fancier tastings in a private room, call to learn more. It’s surely a place I’ll be holed up with a good book and a glass of Pinot this winter.
You can also pick up a chilled bottle of Sauv Blanc for the park, which starts at $25 a bottle. 933-8565 or wine@panglosscellars.com. 35 E. Napa St., Sonoma. panglosscellars.com
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