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Cabernet Sauvignon Excels At Rodney Strongs Alexanders Crown Vineyard

Also In This Issue: Fully Exploring the Wine Country A Peek at Wine Country Offers The Ultimate Tasting at Artesa Top Wine Country Restaurants Special Reserve Tours at Sterling Impeccable Hospitality at Ledson

S a mpl e new vintag e s of ou r v i n e ya r d -d e s i g n a te d w in es paired w it h a d el ectabl e array of ta s ty f ood s a mp l e s . N o r e s er vat io n s requ ired.

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with vineyards dating to the early 1800s. The regions winemaking reputation is built on robust red wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Meritage blends, among others. But Sonoma Valley vintners produce over 25 varieties of wine in all, so no matter what your palates preference you are likely to find wines that please here. Travel-Wise Tip: Sonoma Valley and the Healdsburg area (including Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River valleys) are the main wine regions of Sonoma County. From the town of Sonoma to Healdsburg is about 40 miles and, in usual driving conditions, driving time is about an hour. While it is certainly possible to tour the Healdsburg area through day trips from a base in Sonoma Valley, it is not advisable. It is far better to devote two or three days to each area and to reserve accommodations close to where youll be touring. Visiting

the Wine Country is all about relaxing and enjoying the wine and lifestyle amenities of the different regions you visit. That becomes difficult if a significant portion of your day is spent driving. Top Picks For Wine TastingTo Santa RosaMatanzas Creek Winery

There are many more wineries in Sonoma Valley than most people have time to visit. Researching the wineries you could visit to choose the ones you will visit can be a frustrating and time-consuming process.Adler Fels Winery

Ledson St. Francis

Bennett Vly. Rd.

Landmark Winery Kaz WineryAdobe Canyon Rd. Chateau St. Jean

Sugarloaf State Park

Blackstone Mayo Reserve Room

The Wine RoomKenwood

Loxton Oakville Grade 12 Kunde Wellington Benziger (steep) Family Audelssa Mayo Family Winery Winery Winery Imagery Estate Winery Jack London Glen Arrowood Winery Ellen State B.R.Cohn Winery Historical Valley of the Moon Winery Park Madrone Glen Ellen Olive Oil Agua Press CalienteRd. Boyes Blvd.

to Napa Valley

SONOMA VALLEY4th St.yR d.

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Sonoma Mission Ravenswood Winery Inn & Spa Bartholomew Park Verano General Vallejo's Ave. Home 12 Sonoma Buena Vista Plaza Ledson Hotel Winery 12 Napa St. & Harmony Club Sonoma Gundlach-Bundschu Wine Hardware Winery

El Pueblo Inn

1st St. West

12

12

Denmark St.Carneros Hwy.12121

Napa Rd.

8th St. East

Ol

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Burndale Rd.

Petaluma

Arn

old

Sebastiani

Dr.101

Larson Homewood E. Bonness Rd. Family Winery Winery Anaba Wines Schug Winery Bonneau Rd. Schellville Aerobatic Plane Rides Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Valley Visitors CenterCline Cellars Jacuzzi Winery

ArInfineon Raceway

Nicholson Ranch Winery

no116

ldTo Stone Tree Golf Course

. Dr121

Napa

Viansa Winery

Vallejo

37

Novato 37

To San Francisco

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Sonoma Spa

Sebastiani Vineyards

The Plaza

Glen Elen, Kenwood West Napa St.Broadway (Hwy 12)12

Ledson Hotel & Harmony ClubEast Napa St.

Sonoma Valley Bike Tours

Sonoma Wine Hardware

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vineyards and rose borders to where the winery building is tucked into a hillside containing underground barrel caves. Behind the German style post-and-beam building, there is a vista point with a 360 view of the surrounding area and the opportunity to see as far as Mount Diablo on a clear day. Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, 389 Fourth Street East, Sonoma; 800-888-5532. This legendary winery has been making fine wines at the current location for well over 100 years. Get a first-hand sense of history while tasting outstanding wines, many available only at the winery. Valley of the Moon, 777 Madrone Road, Glen Ellen; 707-939-4500. This landmark winery marries a rich history dating to 1860 with state-of-the-art wine production and Italian artisan packaging. The etched bottles are gift-worthy, but you ll be tempted to keep the wine for yourself.

Where To DineBasque Boulangerie Caf, 460 First Street East, Sonoma; 707-935-7687. A great place to find locals early in the morning talking to neighbors, reading the paper and grabbing a cup of coffee with a pastry. Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar, 1325 Broadway (in The Lodge at Sonoma), Sonoma; 707-931-2042. For heartier fare,

TASTING SUGGESTIONS2010 Sonoma County Rosato Di Sangiovese A dry rose with vibrant red cherry and cranberry fruit character and aromas of watermelon and kiwi. The perfect summer time wine that pairs wonderfully with fruit, cheeses and even strawberry shortcake.

Play among the stars. . .

Valley of the Moon Winery

V

alley of the Moon Winery has enjoyed a rich and illustrious past dating back to 1860. Since its purchase by Kenwood Vineyards in early March of 1997, the winery has experienced a renaissance, which combines elements of the propertys colorful and significant past with its glorious new future as a producer of ultra-premium Sonoma wines. Valley of the Moon Winerys standard of quality control begins in the vineyard with the hand-selection of the highest-quality fruit available. Whole cluster pressing, careful separations of press fractions, barrel fermentation, aging in small French and American oak barrels and utilizing the cuve method (every lot is kept separate until the end of aging) allow the winery to bring out the full potential of each wine. At the end of this aging period, lots are blended extensively so that each contributes to, yet doesnt overshadow, the final wine. The end result is a superior quality wine that is complex and well balanced. Designed in Bergamo, Italy, the packaging of Valley of the Moon wines is extremely

unique and progressive. The etched bottle design illustrates the moon in all of its lunar 2008 Cuvee de la Luna Cabernet Aromas of black cherry and plum phases. The initial inspiration for the design originated from mingle with notes of bay leaf, anise an eighteenth-century East and sweet tobacco. Supple tannins and balanced acidity provide Indian drawing, showing the excellent structure to this elegant and moon as the measurement complex blend of Cabernet, Merlot of the worlds time. As and Malbec. the moon and the sun are complementary in nature, VALLEY OF THE MOON so are their portrayals on the WINERY bottles of Valley of the Moon 777 Madrone Road wines. Glen Ellen, CA 95442 The rebirth of Valley of (707) 939-4500 the Moon Winery evokes valleyofthemoonwinery.com the original character of the Open daily 10-4:30 110 year old stone building: PRIVATE TOURS AND the barrel cellar incorporates TASTINGS AVAILABLE ancient stone walls with Offering a $5 standard or a $10 modern trusses creating a Reserve Tasting. Groups of 10 or harmonious collaboration of more may reserve a private tour stone and wood, old and new. and tasting at $15 per person. Sit With Tuscan red overtones, and relax with the addition of a the newly structured tasting savory plate of local cheeses to room, finished with handaccompany your tasting experience. troweled plaster and stone, Complimentary tours at 10:30 AM features a 60 foot long and 2:00 PM daily. Picnic areas sculptural concrete and metal available for winery guests. tasting bar. DIRECTIONS Celebrating the marriage of From Santa Rosa, drive east on its rich history with a stateHighway 12, through Glen Ellen. of-the-art wine production facility, Valley of the Moon Make a right turn on Madrone Road. Proceed 0.1 mile to the entrance of Winery is a familiar landmark Valley of the Moon Winery. on Madrone Road in the heart of Sonoma Valley.

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