Taste of Sonoma a 'Wine Circus' at MacMurray Ranch

Crowds of wine-lovers, food lovers and lovers of the good life filled the grounds of on Saturday, the key public event of the 2011 "spectacular," as the multi-part fund-raiser terms itself.

Located just a 20 minute drive down Westside Road from Healdsburg, the MacMurray Ranch gets its name from actor/rancher Fred MacMurray, whose storied career in Hollywood film and TV was balanced by this Sonoma county retreat.

Now his daughter shares the house and 1500 acre grounds with the public on special occasions -- such as the annual Taste of Sonoma event, now in its 32nd year. (In 1996, the Gallo family bought the ranch from the MacMurray family, and became active caretakers of the land, grounds and buildings.)

For the event, several large tents are erected, each labeled with a major Sonoma County appellation -- Russian River, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Sonoma Valley. Winemakers and local food purveyors offer tastes and information to attendees, many of whom come from out of county if not out of state for Wine Country Weekend.

Special cooking, wine and food pairing, and winemaking activities are spread throughout the day to round out the experience. Overall Saturday's event, blessed with near-perfect weather and the natural abundance of Sonoma County, was a successful expression of why people live here, and love to visit.

Take a tour through our Viewfinder Gallery for images and more information about this year's Taste of Sonoma.