It is once again time to celebrate the spirit of fabulous Sonoma County wines…
The amazing hospitality, the breathtaking vineyard views and the generosity of patrons and vintners alike ….. are what make this annual event so special.
Featuring a myriad of activities for all to enjoy, this year’s auction sounds like it will be as successful as the last. April 28-30 – Save the Date.
Put on by the Sonoma County Vintners… the Sonoma County Barrel Auction is a live auction of wine futures from the county’s top growers and winemakers. Guests will enjoy bidding on some of Sonoma County’s most coveted limited-release wine barrels during the exciting Barrel Auction. All the while indulging in gourmet local fare presented by the talented chefs of the area.
Staged by the 250+ member vintners group and an army of volunteers, this year’s annual charity event attracts trade and media from across the country.
The collaborative spirit shown by the Sonoma County Vintners is making the often seemingly impossible, possible.
The Sonoma County Barrel Auction presents the chance to own a truly one of a kind wine… Cultivated in Sonoma County’s most acclaimed vineyards… Handcrafted by legendary winemakers… & Evaluated by an elite panel of wine authorities. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to taste, and own, a masterpiece of Sonoma County wine.
These rare lots, representing Sonoma County appellations, were evaluated in blind tastings held in February and March by a panel of Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine. The barrel selections include single vineyard, one of a kind collaborative lots, as well as a “Judgment of Paris 40th Anniversary Barrel”.
The Sonoma County Barrel Auction is a 3-day event so it is best to plan your activities ahead of time in order to experience it all. I plan to attend the Barrel Auction Preview Event and am super excited about the Russian River Valley Annual Pauleé Dinner!
A French tradition, “La Paulée”, is held at the end of harvest to celebrate. Guests of this event, gather for a communal meal while sipping from special bottles pulled from their cellars. Dinners, such as this, offer a rare glimpse into the future of Sonoma County wine and agriculture. Hashtags to use are: #RRVPaulee and #RussianRiverValley
The Pauleé Dinner will be hosted by the Russian River Valley Winegrowers and Arista Winery. Being billed as the ultimate winemaker dinner offering guests an unmatched tasting experience in both wine and food… it sounds pretty epic to me. The night will be experienced in the spirit of the Paulée tradition, which originated in Burgundy.
More than fifteen Russian River Valley winemakers or principals will be in attendance and guests will dine on an exquisite meal prepared by local renowned chefs Tim Kaulfers of Arista Winery, Duskie Estes of Zazu Kitchen and Farm, Dustin Valette of Valette Healdsburg and Cheyenne Simpkins of Wine Country Feasts.
Participating wineries include: Arista Winery, Bacigalupi Vineayrds, Balletto Vineayrds, Davis Family Vineyards, Davis Bynum, Dutton-Goldfield, Gary Farrell, Gordian Knot, Joseph Swan, MacPhail Family Wines, Martinelli Winery, Sonoma-Cutrer and more
Celebrate Sonoma while drinking the good stuff.
During the feast, the winemakers and collectors come together to enjoy an elegant multi-course meal paired with rare and favorite wines from winemakers’ & guests’ personal cellars. Burgundy, in our own backyard.
For the Auction Day itself, unique single vineyard bottlings, specific clonal selections, blends, wines aged using special barrel regimes and joint lot wines made by collaborating wineries are ALL available for purchase.
Some top lots from this years Sonoma County Barrel Auction include:
Bacigalupi Vineyards, Dutcher Crossing Winery, Flanagan Wines, Gary Farrell Winery & MacRostie Winery & Vineyards “Judgment of Paris 40th Anniversary Barrel” 2015 Chardonnay, Bacigalupi Vineyards, Russian River Valley (20 cases)—The 1976 Judgment of Paris sent shockwaves through the wine community, and forever cemented California’s place among the world’s most revered wine regions. The original Wente Clone on St. George Rootstock that contributed to California’s unexpected victory still thrives today at Bacigalupi Vineyards…..
Laurel Glen Vineyard “Block 4 Old Vines”, 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Laurel Glen Vineyard, Sonoma Mountain (5 cases)—When Patrick Campbell bought Laurel Glen Vineyard in 1977, the vineyard was three acres of 10-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon. Patrick took cuttings from the existing Cabernet vines to develop an additional 12 acres of vineyard. UC Davis subsequently identified the clone as unique. The Laurel Glen clone of Cabernet Sauvignon remains the only clone Laurel Glen uses. Block 4 was developed in 1978 and has never been replanted…..
Rodney Strong Vineyards “Asymmetry,” 2015 Merlot Blend, Alexander Valley, Knights Valley & Northern Sonoma (10 cases)—Rodney Strong was one of the pioneers of Sonoma County’s modern wine industry, a visionary who understood the potential that Sonoma County’s soil and climate held for producing world-class wines. Now under the care of Proprietor Tom Klein and Winemaker Rick Sayre, Rodney Strong Vineyards carries this legacy forward by continuing to craft wines that achieve critical acclaim and a loyal consumer following…..
Seghesio Family Vineyards & A. Rafanelli Winery “Pioneer Producers from Dry Creek Valley,” 2015Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley (5 cases)—This story begins in the early 1900s when Italian families began immigrating to Dry Creek Valley to grow grapes and make wine. Families worked together to build and farm the vineyards of Dry Creek Valley, using methods most suitable for growing Zinfandel. Two such families, the Seghesios and the Rafanellis, are still thriving after five and four generations of winemaking, respectively, producing some of the best quality wine in one of the most highly recognized AVAs for Zinfandel: Dry Creek Valley…..
At last year’s barrel tasting event, $461,700 was raised. The funds were used for marketing initiatives to promote Sonoma County wines.
ABOUT SONOMA COUNTY VINTNERS
Sonoma County Vintners is a non-profit organization committed to promoting the wines and wineries of Sonoma County. Since 1946, the association has focused on building awareness of its diverse appellations and the resulting distinctive wines.
With more than 250 winery and affiliate members ranging in size from small, boutique wineries to large family-owned operations, Sonoma County Vintners comes together to educate, invite and entertain the public with our industry, our region and our lifestyle. Through member collaboration, we develop strategic partnerships and create promotional programs to enhance the image of Sonoma County and its wines worldwide.
For more information about the Sonoma County Vintners, visit www.sonomawine.com.
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