Longtime readers will know that I make it a point to promote events that provide an opportunity to really educate your palate. As a wine lover, nothing teaches you more than getting a chance to taste a lot of similar wines side-by-side. Whether that’s learning if you really do like Merlot, or understanding the what kinds of wine a particular region does well, there’s no substitute for taking a couple of hours to taste forty wines poured by people who can tell you most anything you might want to know about what you’re tasting.
Which leads me to the question: how do you feel about the Russian River Valley? Undoubtedly one of California’s most distinct wine regions, the fog-influenced Russian River Valley was ground zero for the rise of California Pinot Noir from obscurity to its near-cult status today. Thanks to producers such as Williams Selyem and Rochioli, the Russian River Valley proved that not only were people were willing to pay $80 for a bottle of California Pinot Noir from a very specific vineyard, but that they’d wait years to get onto a mailing list for that privilege.
There’s nothing like visiting a wine region to get a feel for it, but a close second is having the chance to taste a lot of its best wines in a single sitting. And that’s precisely what you’ll have a chance to do if you attend an event called Russian River Valley Single Vineyard Night on November 15th in San Francisco.
Dozens of wineries from the region are bringing their single-vineyard designated wines to the Presidio Officer’s Club for a walk-around tasting. So if you’re interested in learning more about the Russian River Valley, what grows best there, and what it tastes like, or if you’re a super-fan and want to go gargle with some of your favorite juice, you should consider checking it out.
There will be food, music, and a silent auction as well.
Some of the wineries pouring that night will be:
ACORN Winery, Balletto Vineyards, Benovia Winery, Campana Ranch Wines, Char Vale Winery, Christopher Creek Winery, Croix Estate Winery, Davis Bynum, Gary Farrell Winery, Kanzler Family Vineyards, Inman Family Wines, La Crema Winery, Landmark Vineyards, Limerick Lane, MacPhail Wines, MacRostie Winery & Vineyards, Maritana Vineyards, Matrix Winery, Paradise Ridge Winery, Russian River Vineyards, Tara Bella Winery, Ten Acre Winery, Thomas George Estates, Tongue Dancer Wines, and Wren Hop Winery.
So have a late lunch, go taste some good wine, and then have a late dinner.
2018 Russian River Single Vineyard Night
Thursday, November 15th
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Presidio Officer’s Club – Ortega Ballroom
50 Moraga Ave
San Francisco, CA 94129 (map)
Tickets for the event are $85, but if you pay $100 you can get in early, hobnob with winemakers, and get to taste limited-edition bottlings and other “rare” wines. This event will likely sell out so get your tickets soon.
