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Community Corner

Russian River Passport to Pinot Event This Weekend

With hot weather on the way, a garden tour and wine tasting afternoon sounds just about right. That makes this weekend’s Passport to Pinot a timely option.

With about  30 wineries participating, it’s a bit more manageable than the larger tasting festivities. The Russian River Valley appellation sprawls from Healdsburg to Cotati,  across the southern valleys of the river’s course, and toward the coast to the Bohemian Highway.

The region is widely noted for its Pinot Noirs, with Chardonnay almost as notable: the cool maritime climate and morning fog followed by sunny afternoons is perfect weather for the fickle fruit.

This passport is for the pinots: Burgundy's most noble grape, the wine that drove Miles mad in Sideways,  the obsessive focus of winemakers in cool climates to beat the challenges, and bring out the best in the wine they can.

You’ll find a participating winery list here that shows a concentration in the River Road / Slusser Rd area, including La Crema, Martinelli, Sonoma-Cutrer, Deloach and others.

But other areas are represented too, such as Dutton-Goldfield in Graton (Green Valley), and Thomas George, Matrix and others on Westside Rd.

The wineries each have their own “show,” so to speak, from barrel tasting to food pairings to art demonstrations and vineyard tours. Some do several: Dutton Goldfield is doing artisan truffles, local artists and aroma jars to go with their barrel tasting. Sounds like sensory overload; don’t forget that designated driver.

Tickets for both Saturday and Sunday are $65, Sunday only $40, designated drivers $20.  Buy tickets at this link or call 877-650-3717.  More info on the Russian River Valley Winegrowers website www.rrvw.org.  


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