Governor Brown visits Wine Country

Governor Brown made an unannounced visit to Iron Hose Vineyards yesterday to help celebrate Earth Day with some of our Green Valley of Russian River Valley AVA wineries and local chefs.

Ken Jorgeson who with Tommy Caldwell spent 19 days in the first free-climb of the Dawn Wall of El Capitan at Yosemite National Park earlier this year was the featured guest. When the climbers reached the summit of El Capitan, they celebrated with Iron Horse Ocean Reserve Blanc de Blanc Sparking Wine.

For the Earth Day celebration Ken Jorgeson worked with Iron Horse winemaker, David Munksgard, to create a special bottling of a 2010 Iron Horse Vineyards Summit Cuvee Sparkling Wine which was released at the party.

Guest chefs Daniel Kedan and Marianna Gardenhire of Backyard in Forestville created delectables to accompany the wines from Iron Horse Vineyards, Marimar Estate , Freeman Vineyards & Winery, Hartford Family Winery, Lynmar Estate, and Rubin Family of Wines. Before the event Audrey and Barry Sterling, co-founders of Iron Horse Vineyards, hosted guests at their home on the property with Summit Cuvee and caviar from California Caviar Company, but the event highlight was the El Capitan Cake created by Condra Easley & Deborah Morris of Patisserie Angelica in Sebastopol.

An impressive exhibit of the photographs of Jerry Dodrill who documented their climb was on display for the event along with the tent they slept in on the cliff face.  

The proceeds from the event benefited the B-RAD Foundation, a memorial fund set up for the late Sebastopol rock climber Brad Parker, supporting community, getting kids outdoors, and environmental stewardship.