Living in the Sonoma Valley wine country is definitely gratifying. We constantly meet happy people on their vacations. And we eagerly share our wine and vineyard and farm life. Like everything in life, there is work involved in growing grapes and making wine, sometimes hard work. But at the end of the day, it is worthwhile. Please enjoy these photos and captions of the most recent weeks around the Sonocaia winery and the Sonoma Valley…
Visitors to Sonocaia and Dysfunctional Family Wineries
Standing in front of the winery “totem pole”, wonderful winery clients visiting from Kukui ‘Ula resort in Koloa, Kauai. Their visit was so entertaining. Every few minutes, another couple of their friends wandered in. We started as a group of 7 and ended at 13. And they walked away with smiles and much wine including dramatic large-format bottles. Great group.
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Multi-year visitors, the "Maine Girls" (from Maine and Florida) tasting at Sonocaia
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and that night as our guests at Sebastiani Theater wearing their Dysfunctional Family Winery t-shirts
Euphoria Yoga Day Retreat
We partnered with Euphoria for a Yoga Day Retreat. Guests enjoyed a full al fresco yoga practice, relaxing sound healing, and a complete wine tasting experience.
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Euphoria Yoga Retreats - welcome and introductions
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and yoga flow and sound healing
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followed by delicious food service
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and a Sonocaia wine tasting
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Artist Lori Leigh Klocek of Green Leaf Kitchen
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and her evocative black and white pencil drawing made on the spot live of the Hydeout Farm patio
An invitation – Travel with us to Umbria Italy: Wine, Wellness, and Culinary Retreat with Euphoria
Join Euphoria Retreats, a Sonoma-based luxury retreat company, for a visit to Umbria Italy. Immerse yourself in Italian cuisine, culture, wine, and nature at the famed Borgo di Carpiano Resort. This retreat offers a blend of wellness and indulgence, featuring activities like cooking classes with Chef Luca, wine tastings, and walks through the wooded landscape. Guests will explore the medieval village of Gubbio, enjoy three glorious fresh light meals a day prepared by your very own in house chef. There will be plenty of time to relax by the pool and warm evening toasts. The retreat promises a rejuvenating experience in a setting rich with history and modern comforts. In the mornings you are invited to mix in some wellness and try on some light exercise, including stretching and flowing with resistance bands under the guidance of Lisa Carlsson, co-owner of Euphoria Retreats. For more information call 707.309.0010, we love to chat about travel!
Note: Cynthia and I travelled on a version of this Euphoria tour two years ago. We like to think that Tuscany is to Napa as Umbria is to Sonoma. As dedicated growers of the rare Umbrian Sagrantino red grape variety, we were on a pilgrimage to taste the original Sagrantinos in their native land of Umbria. And we concluded our travels at the very glorious Umbrian mountain hideaway, Borgo di Carpiano. We can highly reccomend this travel excursion. And as subscribers to this blog, you get 25% off using the special discount code, if you apply soon!
Expansive view from the Borgo Di Carpiano Resort terrace
It’s always time for fresh homemade pasta at the Borgo!
Rack and Return – time for a bit of wine science
The primary wine fermentation, when yeast converts sugar to alcohol, take places in the first few weeks after harvest in the Fall. Then the wine is pressed and moved into barrels to settle and ‘elevage.’ Sometimes spontaneously, but traditionally after winter when the barrel cellar begins to warm up a bit, a secondary fermentation begins called Malo-Lactic fermentation. Malic acid (like the tartness in a green apple) is converted to Lactic acid (like the acid found in dairy). The result is a profound softening of the wine along with an increase in desirable aromatics.
And, after the secondary Malo-Lactic fermentation is complete, it is traditional to perform a ‘rack and return.’ Simply put, the wine is drained from the barrels into a vessel, the barrels are cleaned, and the wine is then returned to the barrels to complete the ‘elevage’ or cellar aging.
The most critical activity during rack and return is the very labor intensive act of sanitizing the entire winery and all of the equipment, moving the wine out and back to barrels, and then sanitizing everything again. It is fair to say that the number one activity in a winery is sanitization. Keep things spotless, like a hospital, and most trouble can be avoided.
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Prepping for rack and return
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Sonocaia racking staff, Ken and Dom
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2023 Sagrantino is safely returned to barrels
Vineyard management – and a bit more wine science
We just completed deleafing the fruit zone on the north side of the Sagrantino vineyard the result is to bring in plenty of air and light to the grape bunches on the north side of the canopy but avoids sun burn on the south side of the rows from the scorching sun by leaving the leaves in place; we’re going for perfect ripening here. We also irrigated for the first time since the winter rains. We’ve captured surface rain water for just this occasion. We’re trying to stretch out irrigation as the vineyard gets older. Eventually, we should be able to dry farm 100%. Dry farming saves water. And makes grapes very deep, dark, and delicious. The roots reach deep every year looking for water. And eventually they go deep enough that they don’t need added water. The result is very evident – dense dark rich wine vs. somewhat watery, bland, and/or weak wine.
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
Sonoma is blessed with many non-profits including several that enrich the lives of the residents. The SVMA museum is a treasure in our small town, with a constant flow of challenging and intriguing works on display. This summer’s annual museum gala was held at the famous Buena Vista Winery. Built in 1861 (see stone walls in photo), revived by the Bartholomews in 1949, and brought back to life again in 2011 by Jean-Charles Boisset and Gina Gallo.
The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art held its annual gala at the stunning Buena Vista winery. It was a spectacularly successful event, with delicious food and drink al fresco, and funds raised support art education in Sonoma Valley.
Hot Air Ballooning
Hot air ballooning is a year-round spectacle in Sonoma Valley. If you’re up early enough, you’ll very likely see hot balloons in the sky. Cynthia signed up with a visiting friend and joined Sonoma Ballooning for a ride. Call time is bright and early at 5am. Here a few photos from the ballon and from the ground.
Click here for Cynthia’s hot air balloon flight log video
A blurry but close view of the Sonoccaia winery, Sagrantino vineyard, and surrounding Hydeout farm
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Three balloons from a distance
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One balloon gets closer
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And then they're right overhead!
Another perspective of the Sonocaia estate grounds, vineyard and winery on the right half of the photo
Our wines! You have not yet tasted our fabulous Sonocaia and Dysfunctional Family wines? What are you waiting for? Call us to plan your visit:
Dysfunctional Family Winery rosé, made in the traditional French saigneé style, a bit darker and more robust than typical cotton-candy rosés, best ice-cold with appetizers before dinner
And when you’re done with rosé, consider these gorgeous red wines:
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Inaugural release of the 100% estate reserve Sonocaia Sagrantino. It is such an interesting variety - the tannins and depth of Cabernet and Petite Sirah, but with the body and finish of a more delicate wine
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The new Dysfunctional Family Winery 'Double Buffalo' label, a salute to our western roots and our family's sense of humor - serious wine, irreverent style. Delicious blend of 62% Syrah, 24% Zinfandel, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauv.
Enjoy the rest of your summer. And thanks for reading!
One last thing – a taste of San Francisco
Yes, San Francisco is in the news, currently challenged with an endless homelessness and crime problem/debate plus empty offices and vacant retail spaces due to (depending on who you ask) covid, work from home, taxation, crime, etc. But, “The City” still provides many glorious ways to enjoy it.
Driving back from a wine tasting event in San Francisco, we could not resist pulling over and marveling at the beauty of the Palace of Fine Arts on Lyon Street, host the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. It’s like a little taste of Rome or Paris in our own backyard.
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