A Brief History of Wine

A Georgian (no, not from that Georgia, but the one next to Turkey) was a lazy farmer. He let his fruit rot. It fermented.

Two Sumerians got drunk and invented algebra. The roots of every 8th grader's hatred can be traced back to that lazy farmer.

The Romans got drunk, the Goths came rolling in, and we all know what happened next. The Dark Ages, when they drank mead, for crying out loud.

The French, who like stealing ideas from others, took over wine and pretended they invented the whole thing.

Then California butted in.

A mid-grade movie, Sideways, made people hate merlot and love pinot noir. People are so easy, especially when they're drinking.

On Being the Next Napa

Napa envy is common with other wine grape growing areas and even with people who write about wine. Everyone wants to see the success of Napa Valley happen somewhere else. Don't believe me? Google "the next Napa Valley" and see how much stuff comes up. Heck, I even wrote about it here.

So what do you need to be the next Napa? Well, let's see what those lucky bastards have going for themselves.

Autumn 2019 Events in Sonoma County

Yup, it's harvest season when the grapes are a pickin' and the wine is a makin'. It's the perfect time of year for a visit. Following are the main wine and non-wine events from September through November. There's a lot going on! Enjoy the bounty of Sonoma County.
        

Weed in Napa Valley

Napa Valley is world famous for its world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. They actually grow other grapes, too! But not much else. This is a potential problem.

Visiting Sonoma - A Little Tasting Etiquette

Wine tasting is easy. You pay a few bucks and get to taste a few of the wines from a particular winery. I think it's pretty easy to know how to act, but people often forget.

Visiting Sonoma - Kids, Dogs, Food, Etc.

Kids get bored, dogs get in the way if the tasting area is crowded or aren't allowed at all. There are a few wineries that don't allow anyone under 21 to enter. Those are mostly ones requiring appointments. Find out before you go.

Visiting Sonoma During the Grape Harvest

Each year the dates for the grape harvest depend on what Mother Nature has been up to. For 2019 it looks like early September through mid-October should be the busiest period. Why do you want to visit at this time? To see, hear and smell grapes being turned into wine. It's a very hectic and exciting time for the wineries.

Visiting Sonoma - For Sparkling Wine

There are many wineries that may have a bubbly or two available. This list is of wineries that specialize in sparkling wine. Some require reservations so check before going.

Visiting Sonoma - Wine Tasting With a View

Sip and take in the view. I'm sure I've missed a few as I haven't (yet) been to every winery in the county. Check for hours and if appointments are required before going.

Visiting Sonoma - Beautiful / Interesting Winey Properties

If you're into visuals along with your wine following are a few ideas of places to visit.

Visiting Sonoma - Wineries for First Time Visitors

There are many opinions on what might be good starting places for first-timers who maybe don't know a whole lot about wine. Here are a few that will give you a well-rounded intro into Sonoma County wine. All are easy to get into as they don't require reservations for tastings though some other experiences such as tours or food plates may require giving them advance notice.

Sonoma County is large (bigger than the state of Rhode Island) so don't try to stop at them all on one trip.

Wine Accessories You Need

It's amazing all the crap, I mean useful accessories, you can buy to go with enjoying a bottle of wine. Here are a few of the best.