Buena Vista Winery: A Taste Of History

Sonoma County is a one-hour trip from most of the Bay Area, but its story takes you back in time.

As early as 1812 Russian immigrants planted Palomino grapes from Peru. The Palomino Fino grape was brought to Spain by the Phoenicians. How's that for an archaic grape? Today it is known for sherry or pisco not still wine. Fort Ross is open on the weekends and the Russian-American Co. put the Russian in the Russian River.

Wine Pioneer Agoston Haraszthy had the forsight of California's purple gold. Called the Father of California wine, the Count from Hungary started the roots that we will drink for centuries. He met his abrupt death in 1869-in an alligator-infested river in the jungles of Nicaragua.

BUENA VISTA Winery is in the CARNEROS terroir. I came home with a bottle of VINICULTURAL SOCIETY 2008 ZINFANDEL. 

Thank you, Ron, who did not want to join the wine club. Nice tasting experience but to get a good price you join the club. 

Bright aromas of dark cherry blend beautifully with exotic spices as notes of orange rind and black currant grace the palate. Cranberry flavors mingle with clove and cardamom spice as elegant tannins give this wine a lush mouthfeel all before ending in a long, delicious finish.  Zinfandel is the wine you can bring to a BBQ it works well with fire. 

Learn more at www.buenavistawinery.com.

Appellation   Appalachian

Sonoma County  has 13 legally defined appellations. Also known as TERROIR It takes more than a weekend to see them proper. ALEXANDER VALLEY, BENNETT VALLEY, CHALK HILL, DRY CREEK VALLEY, GREEN VALLEY of the RUSSIAN RIVER, KINGS VALLEY, LOS CARNEROS, NORTHERN SONOMA, ROCKPILE, RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY, SONOMA COAST, SONOMA VALLEY, SONOMA MOUNTAIN.

The Appalachian mountains are not around here. Each of the appellations has unique characteristics. Enology helps match the grapes to the location where they grow best.