Zinfandel and BIODIESEL

I had quite a scare with my BIODIESEL vehicle recently………. the one that I use for my wine tours.  I had some engine problems (the vehicle only has 30,000 miles on it) and one would THINK that it would be covered under warranty.  However, it’s been coming to my attention more and more frequently than dealerships will do almost ANYTHING to avoid having repairs done under warranty.  Their latest scam is to claim that biodiesel is the culprit, thus negating the warranty…….. no matter WHAT the problem is.  Anyone else having problems like this?  Anyway, on to a more pleasant subject….. wine tasting!

 Here in Sonoma we had a WONDERFUL weekend with our Vintage Festival.  Live music, artists and artisans on the plaza, great food and lotslotslots of good wine!  This doesn’t even take into consideration the Doobie Brothers/Three Dog Night concerts that were held at the BR Cohn Winery on Saturday and Sunday.  There’s so much going on in the Sonoma Valley that it’s hard to choose which events to attend (but YES!  I’m going to give you a hint about another upcoming event).

“Spotlight on Zinfandel” is the next really sumptuous, light, fruity, vibrant, flamboyant event.  Saturday and Sunday, October 13 and 14th about a dozen wineries in the heart of the Sonoma Valley will showcase their Zinfandels.  It’s only 20 bucks per person and that covers the wine tasting, vertical tasting, select barrel sampling, seminars, etc. for BOTH DAYS!  See you there!

Sonoma Valley Wine Tasting

Another wine tasting weekend!  This coming Labor Day Weekend (August 31 through September 2, 2007) there is in awe-inspiring array of festivities.  Not only will the “Big Boys” be there, but here’s an opportunity to taste food and wine from some of Sonoma Valley’s best SMALLER wine producers and restaurants.  It culminates Sunday evening at Cline Winery with a wine auction to benefit local charities (of course!).  I’ll be there!  Note: BEWARE!!!!  The Bay Bridge will be CLOSED Labor Day weekend…….. plan accordingly.

Russian River Barrel Tasting Weekend……. again!

Whoa!  The barrel tasting event is COOL!  Anyone looking to go winetasting this weekend March 9, 10, 11 make sure you go to Healdsburg/Russian River/Dry Creek Valley/Alexander Valley for their annual barrel tasting event.  This year it takes place two consecutive weekends.  This weekend is the finale.  I loved it so much I may do it again this weekend.  I went on Sunday with five friends (we did the right thing and had one person who volunteered as the designated driver).  We started in the Russian River Valley and went north on the west side of Highway 101.  Martin Ray, Iron Horse, Marimar Estate, Dutcher Crossing, Talty,Mauritson……… they were all GREAT!  Every time I visit this area I’m stunned by the quality of their pinot noir and zinfandel; Napa Valley simply cannot compete with the zins from this area.  If you go, just stay away from the large obnoxious wineries like Ferrari Carano, and La Crema; the tasting room personnel couldn’t care less.  Stick to the smaller wineries and you will be treated like royalty. I bought some fantastic wines (I put “Mr. Plastic” to the test).  Take along a picnic lunch and have a blast!

Biodiesel mania? The saga continues…..

Because I use biodiesel in my wine tour SUV, I put a little blurb about it on the back window of the vehicle so that people would know I’m not a “gas hog”.  And, if anyone’s curious about biodiesel they can ask.  However, it can have its drawbacks………

I pulled into the parking lot of a grocery store in Napa Valley, and some guy pulled in front of me, and jumped out of his car pointing at me and shouting, “Hey!  Hey!”.  I thought I had inadvertently cut him off or SOMETHING and he was going to resort to fisticuffs.  As it turned out, he read my little biodiesel blurb and wanted to know if I had any brochures or information about biodiesel. Whew!!  It’s nice to know that if you get pulled over in a situation like this in Napa or Sonoma it is most likely NOT going to be gang related.  Much better than my former life in Los Angeles.

Barrel tasting weekend, Sonoma County

I am so excited!  Barrel tasting weekend is upon us.  In the Healdsburg, Russian River, Dry Creek Valley over 120 wineries are participating in this weekend’s barrel tasting “abondanza” (my word, not theirs).  The great thing about barrel tasting is that it puts a whole new spin on the wine tasting experience.  You get more of a close-up and personal look at how wine is made and how it develops.  Another advantage is that if you like the wine you can buy it in “futures”.  That means you can buy it before it’s even bottled, and USUALLY it’s at a discounted price because the folks at the wineries realize that it’s better to give a discount and sell more wine now than to have to spend more money on marketing later.  Anyway, it’s this weekend March 2, 3, 4 and next weekend March 9, 10, 11.  See you there!

Wine Tasting Event: Barrel Tasting in Russian River

Hey! Anyone who might be interested in a fantastic wine tasting event in the Napa Valley/Sonoma Valley/Russian River area, here it is! The first two weekends of March there is a barrel tasting event. I just finished an interview that gives all of this information. Check it out at: www.sonomavalleycalendar.wordpress.com

I’ll certainly be there. If anybody has any questions about it contact me through this blog or visit my web site.

Wine country weather update

I have clients across the United States who are calling voicing their concerns about the cold weather and how it affects the grapevines.  From Healdsburg to Russian River, from Sonoma Valley to the Napa Valley, the answer remains the same; it’s not a problem.

 Since the grapevines are dormant this time of year it doesn’t matter how cold it gets.  That’s why they can produce such fabulous wines in France and Germany where they get LOTS of weather like this every year.  One of the major considerations for a successful crop is the timing of the pruning.  It’s fun to do a wine tour and see the vineyard workers pruning the vines, watching the piles of freshly cut canes growing larger between the rows, and seeing the vineyard transformed……. it goes from scraggly looking with the canes jutting out every which way to neatly cut, symmetrical lines.  It’s like you’re giving the grapevines a haircut!

For more information please visit www.epicurewinetours.com

Tips from Sonoma Wine Country

Tips for choosing your wine tour/limousine service:

Here’s an example of a difficult situation you may be faced with.

Winter Wineland was a wine and food extravaganza in the Russian River/Healdsburg area of Sonoma Valley this last weekend. There are some stunning Zinfandels just a few blocks off the
Healdsburg Plaza. Less than a mile east of Healdsburg there is a winery owned by a gregarious, fun-loving trial lawyer who makes FANTASTIC Pinot Noir. West of Dry Creek Road there’s a wonderful winery that has bocce ball courts adjacent their picnic area which is shaded by majestic oak trees and has a superb view of the Russian River Valley.

With over 90 wineries (ALMOST from A to Z…… Acorn Winery to Yoakim Bridge) participating in this event, how do you choose which ones to visit?

That’s where I come in.With over a dozen years experience as a wine tour guide, I’ve done the homework for you.With over 500 wineries between the Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley it’s virtually impossible for the casual visitor to know which wineries will provide the kind of experience they are hoping for.

I really get to know my clients needs so that I can provide them with a truly customized wine tour. How knowledgeable is the group? Are you beginning wine drinkers or serious collectors? Do you enjoy wine regularly with your meals? Do you like to cook? Do you enjoy pairing wines with your special dishes? Which types of wine do you prefer……white, red, sweet, dry? Or are you just starting out and would like to learn the basics of wine and wine tasting? Have you visited Napa Valley before? Have you been to Sonoma wine country? Do you already have a favorite winery or two?

Wine is my passion…. let me share it with you!
Phillip Torres, DFG
For more information please visit www.epicurewinetours.com

Epicure Wine Tours: Our Vehicle

Our beautifully customized Ford Excursion allows you to travel wine country in relaxed, understated elegance. Not a gaudy “head-turner”, it has simply been reconfigured to create a comfortable “conversation pit” for up to six people…… unlike the foreword-facing seating arrangement typically found in SUVs.

The decision to purchase one of the largest SUVs ever built (for use as the touring vehicle for Epicure Wine Tours) was not made lightly. However, we feel confident that this vehicle was the most economically and ecologically sound choice; because it is a turbodiesel, it provides far better mileage than a conventional diesel engine. Furthermore, because it is a diesel rather than gas engine, we are able to use 100% bio-diesel fuel, with a commitment to use 100% RECYCLED biodiesel fuel whenever possible, thereby eliminating the need for fossil fuel. At the same time we are able to reduce harmful carbon-based emissions by over 95%.

To the best of our knowledge, we are the ONLY wine touring company in Northern California to incorporate biodiesel in their program. We fully support the use of biodiesel, and encourage anyone who may have questions about it to feel free to ask.

For further information, please visit www.epicurewinetours.com