Sonoma Wine Blending Seminars

There are a lot of wineries in Sonoma County competing for you time, attention and dollar.  Every once in a while a winery comes up with a new angle on how to get you, the treasured consumer with credit card in pocket, in the door.  For example, the food-wine pairing angle is thriving, with Lynmar Winery a more recent addition, and St. Francis, Mayo and Kendall-Jackson still enjoying great success with their elaborate paired tastings.  While J Winery no longer offers their food-wine pairing to bar visitors, but it’s still available in the J Bubble Lounge.

Now a new visitor hook is popping up in Sonoma County tasting rooms, the blending seminar.

Wineries like Joseph Phelps in Napa Valley have long held blending seminars; now more and more blending seminars are offered on the Sonoma side.  These offer visitors the opportunity to play winemaker for a day.  Given, for example, the five Bordeaux varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, what portion of each tastes best to you?  Participants have the opportunity to get to know each varietal on its own, and then learn what each does in a blend (add depth, fruit, spice, etc.)  Winemakers often refer to blenders like Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc as the spice cabinet—they are like adding salt and pepper to make a recipe sing.

Trentadue Winery in Alexander Valley will hold a blending seminar on May 18 for $100 per person (includes a Maine Lobster feast), and you’ll get to take home a bottle of your own brew at the end of the day.  Mayo Family Winery, Chateau Felice Family Winery and Lambert Bridge Winery also frequently offer blending seminars.  Keep you eyes peeled here for more information on blending seminars.  It’s a great way to learn more about wine, and your own palate.