SonomaCounty

Attend Grape Camp in California Wine Country

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wine

What better way to indulge your love of great wine than by scheduling a vacation around it? At Grape Camp in Sonoma County you'll learn all about how wine is made through the hands on experience of picking grapes and blending your own wine, plus learning about wine, food, and cheese pairings during gourmet meals provided by master chefs. This year the camp runs from September 27 - 29 and costs $1750 per person per couple (or $1900 for a single) and includes two nights accommodations at the Vintners Inn plus all meals, tastings, and transportation.

Via Luxury Travel Advisor

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Tags: california wine, CaliforniaWine, grape camp, GrapeCamp, sonoma, sonoma county, SonomaCounty, wine

Wine Billionaire Wants To Rename Mountain

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Billionaires have a lot of power but do they have the power to change the map? That's what wine tycoon Jess Jackson would like to happen. According to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Jackson's company, Jackson Family Enterprises has asked to rename a Sonoma Valley mountain as part of a marketing strategy. The company has petitioned the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to change the name of Black Mountain to Alexander Mountain as part of an attempt to create a special grape-growing designation of the same name on Jackson's property. Jackson lives on 5,400 acres that he calls Alexander Mountain Estate. He does not own Black Mountain but lives near it. The mountain has had the same name for generations. Jackson wants the name change because Jackson Family Wine applied several years ago for a Alexander Mountain viticultural designation to highlight the wines coming from this specific area.

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names will run any potential name change by several city councils in northern Sonoma County and Native American tribes with ties to the area. Some say that the Alexander Mountain name may be fitting because it reflects the proximity to Alexander Valley. The mountain seems to have originally been named for its color (its thick crop of chaparal makes it a little darker than other mountains nearby) but the name Black Mountain is pretty common, there are three others in Sonoma County along and 266 more Black Mountains across the U.S. A Black Mountain viticultural area would not be specific enough because of the commonality of the name. Jackson has already changed the name of the road onto his property from from Foote Road to Alexander Mountain Road. He may have a bit of a wait for his mountain, it can take years to get this kind of a request approved.

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Tags: jackson family wines, JacksonFamilyWines, jess jackson, JessJackson, kendall-jackson, sonoma county, SonomaCounty

Villa Andrea, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Today's estate in California's Sonoma Valley, has a tempting feature for oenophiles, a private wine cave. Villa Andrea is on over 25 acres of land that includes a ten acre terraced Cabernet vineyard. The main house is a furnished seven-bedroom home. The property also concludes a tile pool and spa, sauna, steam room, lighted tennis court, bocce area. Three separate structures include guest accommodations, a home theater and an office. The Robb Report says that the home is available for rent through Beautiful Places for $22,000 a week or you can make it your own for $8.9 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Gallery: Villa Andrea

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Chateau Vallonnee, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

The beautiful Château Vallonnée has vineyard views in scenic Sonoma, California. The three-bedroom main house was given a glamorous renovation in 2007 that gives it an amped-up country appeal that combines cozy stuffed chairs, a bright color scheme and dashes of modern art. The property has a separate pool house and a truly epic infinity edge pool with its own grape arbor. The home is a perfect wine country fantasy with a country kitchen and rooms that open out onto mountain views. This home is listed at $5.85 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

Gallery: Chateau Vallonnee

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Pedal, pedal...Sip, sip...Bicycle Wine Tours

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wine

This idea either sounds like torture or like a good way to avoid a DUI...unless of course you can't steer the handlebars after a day's worth of tasting...is that called a RUI?? Getaway Adventures offers a fantastic, car-less way to explore the valleys of Napa or Sonoma via a bicycle (or kayak if you prefer a more refreshing option). Whether you are looking for just a day-trip, corporate/group event or weekend excursion I doubt you will be disappointed. A spread of local foods is provided for lunch, stops at a myriad of local wineries is included, and local tour guides will expand your knowledge of flora, fauna, and vineyard as you ride.

Don't expect a strenuous adventure -- it is geared toward the 'enthusiastic beginner' as they put it so don't worry if you aren't Lance Armstrong. Vacation...wine tasting...exercise all in one? Perfect.

Tours are available from March 1st to November 30th.

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Tags: bicycle wine tours, BicycleWineTours, getaway adventures, Getaway-Adventures, GetawayAdventures, kayak wine tour, KayakWineTour, Napa Valley, NapaValley, Sonoma County, SonomaCounty

Signaterra Wine

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Benzinger's Signaterra wine is a new wine label that seeks to join the best of three forces, earth, nature, and man for excellent wine. They have produced two wines, the 2006 Bella Luna Pinot Noir Russian River Valley and the 2006 Sauvignon Blanc Shone Farm Vineyard Russian River Valley. The Signaterra wine notes are divided into Earth, Nature and Man categories which describe the location of the vineyard and how it is formed, the climate and how the grapes are tended (often using organic, biodynamic and sustainable farming methods) and the way the grapes were harvested and how the wine was produced. At $24, the Sauvignon Blanc is on the pricier end of that varietal. The San Francisco Chronicle recently named it tops in their tasting of Sonoma County Sauvignon Blancs finding it rich and well-balanced with notes of jasmine and mango cream aside the citrus and grassy flavors traditionally associated with Sauvignon Blanc.

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Tags: benziger, pinot noir, PinotNoir, sauvignon blanc, sonoma county, SonomaCounty, wine