Displaying items by tag: Sonoma Valley

TASTE News Service, March 3, 2021 – The Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance (SVVGA) has launched a new marketing program and campaign called Sonoma Valley Presents.

TASTE News Service, December 2, 220 – Sonoma Valley's holiday season officially kicked off with annual Lighting of the Plaza on Thanksgiving and continues through December with special holiday wine tastings,

TASTE News Service, November 26, 2019 - Sonoma’s town square is an enormous shaded plaza rimmed with old adobe buildings and carefully preserved historic structures.

TASTE News Service, May 1, 2019 - Tucked behind a mature vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, just off Highway 12 in Glen Ellen, lies one of the most exotic and biologically diverse places in Sonoma Valley—a hidden gem that most Sonomans are unaware exists.

TASTE News Service, July 11, 2018 - Budget Travel has named the town of Sonoma one of the "10 Coolest Small Towns in America 2018."

TASTE News Service July 29, 2015 - Pat Roney, President of Vintage Wine Estates, confirmed today the acquisition of B.R. Cohn Winery, located in Glen Ellen, California in Sonoma's Valley of the Moon. In 1974, founder Bruce Cohn transformed a former dairy into the Olive Hill Estate Vineyard, named for the property's grove of 140-year old French Picholine olive trees. In 1984, Cohn built the B.R. Cohn Winery on the estate. B.R. Cohn produces a range of critically acclaimed wines including Cabernet Sauvignon from the 61-acre Olive Hill Vineyard. The estate also produces extra-virgin olive oils and vinegars, and is a popular destination for visitors to Sonoma Valley.

"We are thrilled to welcome B.R. Cohn Winery into our collection of classic wineries, vineyards and brands. As a family-owned wine company, Vintage Wine Estates is particularly interested in preserving heritage wineries such as B.R. Cohn, and taking them into the future. We are looking forward to carrying on the legacy of B.R. Cohn which we consider one of the crown jewels of Sonoma Valley," commented Roney.

Marco DiGiulio B.R. Cohn wines are close to the heart of Marco DiGiulio, Chief Winemaker for Vintage Wine Estates. DiGiulio was the consulting winemaker to B.R. Cohn in 2004 through 2010, assisting in creating an award-winning style. He has a history of making remarkable wines – most notably as Winemaker at Pepi Winery in Oakville and Lokoya, where he made the world-class 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon that received 98 points in the Wine Spectator. DiGiulio now oversees all winemaking for Vintage Wine Estates wineries.

"Of all the properties I have been privileged to work with, I have a special fondness for B.R. Cohn. I intend to continue to produce wines of the highest quality that reflect the Sonoma Valley style that people have come to know and love," said DiGiulio. Tom Montgomery, B.R. Cohn's current winemaker, will remain in a consulting role for the foreseeable future.

Other properties in the Vintage Wine Estates collection include Clos Pegase Winery, Girard Winery, Cosentino Winery, Viansa Winery and Sonoma Coast Vineyards. Each has received substantial investment by Vintage Wine Estates in the vineyards, cellar and visitor experience.

Editor’s note: If you’re planning a visit to BR Cohn or any of the Sonoma Valley wineries first check out the North Coast listings in the Resource Directory of Taste California Travel. There you’ll find links to the websites of hundreds of Lodging and Dining options, as well as links to Wineries and Craft Beer purveyors.

2012 Rosato di Sangiovese

Valley of the Moon Winery

Sonoma Valley

Alcohol: 13.9%

Suggested Retail: $18

“The linguistically-challenged can translate Rosato di Sangiovese as a rosé wine made from Sangiovese, the grape variety responsible for wonderful Chianti in Italy, but one that hasn't reached those heights as grown and vinified in California.

“Color is fairly deep—we'd describe it as between salmon and hot pink. Aromas of Maraschino cherries and an orange slice as found in a Shirley Temple, followed by flavors of Bing cherries and strawberries. There seems a little residual sugar, but it gives a richness and full-feeling in the mouth, without any cloying in the finish. (At 13.9 alcohol, this wine isn't big by California standards, though quality rosés from Europe would be a point or point-and-a-half lower in alcohol.) This rosato could be appropriate as an aperitivo or poured with a main course.

“We wish we could encounter more wines like this one. Shop around—we found it at $7.99 at one big retailer.”

Food Affinity: “Reviewer enjoyed this wine with grilled pork chop, but kept thinking it would be great with Lobster Newburg, that classic dish from another era.”

2012 Chardonnay

 Producer: Kunde Family Estate

Appellation: Sonoma Valley

Alcohol: 13.9%

Suggested Retail: $18

“Nice combination of creamy and crispy aspects in this Sonoma Valley Chardonnay (Other, more expensive Chardonnays are produced at this winery, but the Sonoma Valley label is what we're reviewing here). Though it's fairly priced at suggested retail, we purchased it at a considerably lower amount. Opens with some appealing floral aromas. Has a creamy vanilla quality (crème caramel? crème brulee?) and also some melon on the palate. Drinks easy, but shows some complexity when it has been open for a while and is not too chilled. Offsetting/complementing the richness was a subtle, lemony acidity.”

Food Affinity: “After tasting, we decided to pair with a roast chicken, prepared with garlic, herbes de Provence and covered with thin slices of lemon. It seemed a successful marriage."

Steve and Orlando

Hot on the heels of the San Francisco Giants World Series win, Ledson Winery is re-releasing limited quantities of its wine collaboration featuring legendary former San Francisco Giant baseball player and Hall of Famer, Orlando Cepeda. Proceeds from the sale of Ledson’s “Baby Bull” Zinfandel will benefit the Ledson Harmony Foundation for Children (www.ledsonharmonyfoundation.com). The special price is $50 per bottle and $70 for a signed bottle. This special offering runs through December 15.

“The Giants are successful because of these young new players like Posey, Baumgarner and Lincecum,” explained Harmony Foundation head Steve Ledson. “They were just kids the other day themselves. So we have this special price to recognize the Giants, but just as important give every kid a chance to become a professional and help us build America’s future, our kids.”

The Ledson Harmony Foundation was started to give kids a leg up, something in short supply these days. The Foundation has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to deserving children’s related endeavors including local girls softball teams, Make-a-Wish foundations, Anderson Valley school district, Sonoma Charter school playground, Flowery school in Sonoma, Sonoma Jazz + music programs to name a few.

Previous high-profile celebrity humanitarians to be honored with wine bottlings include singer Michael McDonald, actor Jeff Bridges, San Francisco 49er Dwight Clark, and most recently baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda. All proceeds from the Harmony Collection Wines have gone to youth related organizations.

Local builder, philanthropist and fifth generation Sonoma winemaker Steve Ledson founded Ledson Winery and Vineyards in the Kenwood area of the Sonoma Valley 1993. More information about the winery and the commemorative bottle can be found at www.ledson.com.