Pellegrini Family Vineyards
Pellegrini Family Vineyards, set in idyllic, historic, family-owned vineyards on Olivet Lane, is a true-working facility- in fact, the “TR” is called The Barrel Room- though tasting goes on there and retail sales. All parts of the winery are working. Located in the Russian River Valley AVA, the winery produces pinot, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc to name a few- but also, pulling grapes from its own Cloverdale Ranch property, 55 acres at the very northern tip of the Alexander Valley AVA, it produces Bordeaux varietals- making the offerings at Pellegrini rich, interesting and unexpected in the RRV. Follow/”like” Pellegrini on Facebook and you will be privy to Fans, Friends & Family Specials- deep discounts that are often announced on...
Read MorePedroncelli Winery
Since 1927, Pedroncelli Winery and the Pedroncelli vineyards, family and spirit have all been right in the same place- on the corner of Walling and Canyon Roads in Dry Creek Valley. Amidst beautiful rolling vineyards, the family has made delicious, affordable wines for generations and the tradition continues with an incredible array of varietals to enhance food and life. The Pedroncellis represent warm hospitality and welcoming conviviality. They tell me: It all adds up to tradition, heritage and a family of wines you can enjoy with confidence-and the fourth generation is coming on strong! This family kept going through Prohibition by selling grapes to home winemakers and converting parts of the winery buildings into barn use. The are...
Read MoreConcierge Fam Tour Fall 2010
At least once each year, Wine Road, working with Rick Spear of Blue Heron Custom Tours, brings up concierges from San Francisco’s hotels to acquaint and familiarize them (thus “Fam” Tour) with our Wine Road members. We take them out on a tour date to show them what their guests will enjoy when they come up here. We try to visit two of our AVA’s and have some sort of festive Wine Country lunch-this is one of my favorite days! This year, Rick and I had a very lively group: Calvin Lam- Mandarin Oriental Tom Wolfe- Fairmont Lane Sandman- Prescott Hotel Ken Gallant- Intercontinental Rick picks up our concierges in the Financial District at 8:30 and heads up the easy Highway 101 to Wine Road just about 60 miles north of the Golden Gate...
Read MoreTR’s AW&FA: Sunday Itinerary
Sunday dawns with a bit of cloudy residue and the promise of some rain. My quest today, as it was yesterday, is to purchase some fantastic wines for Thanksgiving- at Papapietro Perry purchased an amazing magnum of pinot noir- @ Mazzocco, great specials on some zinfandels. Today I am heading out into the Russian River Valley- going south on Olivet Road I make a stop to see Inman Family Wines- though there are 90 Wine Road wineries participating in AW&FA, there are 90 that are NOT- Inman is one of them but Kathleen is busy. I taste through two chardonnays and choose one perfect for the upcoming holiday. On my way south now to DeLoach Vineyards. Next stop: Martin Ray Winery. The clouds are looking ominous, but the crowd is happy- tents and the cozy...
Read MoreTR’s AW&FA: Saturday Itinerary
The Feeney Family of Berkeley (they are staying at The Healdsburg Inn on the Plaza) is kind enough to include me in a snap: MY FIRST A WINE & FOOD AFFAIR- I have my glass ready! Bella Wine Cave beckons behind us. Because of an increase in our Wine Road Admin Office staff at WR HQ (Lynn- Our Office Manager!), I am actually released to attend AW&FA! (On AW&FA Eve, Wine Road staff ate lunch at RUSTIC, Francis’s Favorites- and I ate dinner there, too- a great start to the weekend- sampled some great Francis Ford Coppola Wines- one of my favorites, his viognier, and a Matrix pinot noir. While there, I met guest John & Party from PA- had been working with him on his itinerary for quite some time- always great to actually meet our e-guests in...
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