#WRBT First Friday 2012
@ Rafanelli- by Marta Hayden. Particularly popular BT spot.
I hit the Wine Road with Chicago journalist Jerry Nunn for a whirlwind day- do not attempt! Remember, Jerry and I are professionals! (I have always wanted to say that….)
Jerry and Tracy at Bella Villa Messina by Jerry Messina
I pick Jerry up at his lodging, the lovely Bella Villa Messina, and off we go!
First stop: Dave Coffaro Winery- Dave & Pat: experienced and knowledgeable King & Queen of Barrel Tasting:
Jerry Nunn, left, and Dave Coffaro Himself….
The Coffaro BT Setup – The Big Picture. Lots to sample- great Futures opportunities!
The Specific, Little Picture.
Next stop, Pedroncelli Winery , where we meet up with Ed and Julie Pedroncelli St. John- along Wine Road, it is all about owners, winemakers, proprietors- THE folks here for you, the visitor:
Winter vines….
Pedroncelli TR.
Jerry Nunn, left, and Julie Pedroncelli St. John.
I learned @ the Barrel, that Julie and Ed are Underdog Experts, entertaining us mightily, though Jerry was too young to remember….Polly Purebred rules with Julie- she thought it would be an excellent Little Sister Name….
Voiced by Wally Cox.
From left, Underdog, Polly Purebred and Jerry Nunn in the Barrel Room at Pedroncelli.
Romantic Pedroncelli: When you have their wines with your dinner, the bottle will be empty before you know it….
Next stop, downtown Geyserville:
Route 128 and Lorna Opatz:
Route 128 sparkling in the winter sun!
Jerry and Lorna!
Off down Geyserville Avenue south to The Meeker Winery where we are greeted by Charlie Meeker:
Charlie Meeker and Jerry….
Heading now to Mercury Wines ….
Grady and Brad Beard- Mercury Wines!
Next up, W2 Williamson Wines:
Jerry Nunn at the TR Bar at W2
Those wacky Williamsons- ALWAYS pairing their delicious wines with food!
Now it is time to drive out 128 over to Jimtown for lunch with Carrie Brown:
Carrie Brown and Jerry Nunn- what a great lunch….I LOVE the Olive and Brie on the sourdough….
Next, Starlite Vineyards all set for BT with their amazing viognier and zinfandel, and statue by Peter Crompton:
Wow- right there in the vineyards….
Starlite TR.
We drive through the Alexander Valley, through Chalk Hill and over to the RRV to Joseph Swan and Rod Berglund, another Wine Road King of BT:
Designs by Lynn Swan Berglund….a Queen of BT.
Jerry and Rod.
Volunteer womanning the barrels at Joseph Swan.
Rod is always ready to offer up visuals to explain exactly what is going on with the wines- here a soil display, totally geeky, totally endearing- Jerry and I learned a great deal….
Rod and Lynn are ready for BT: give us a place to BE THE SPITTING IMAGE!
Jerry and Rod- BT!!
Heading now to Sunce Winery- with Janae & Frane Franicevic- Barrel Tasting Royalty!
Jerry and I have covered lots of professional/journalistic/amazing wine ground ! We head back to Healdsburg and Bella Villa Messina- Jerry had an incredibly early flight out of SFO- so, off we go to dinner early at Scopa:
Amazing; completely delicious with wonderful ambiance!
Scopa- exquisite food, wine, service, atmosphere: amazingly delicious!
Lots of ground covered- great Friday #1 #WRBT 34th Annual- where were you in ’78? (Please excuse, Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas- where were you in ’62?)
Here’s looking at you, kids.
TR
Here are some amazing non-winter blossom shots I took today:
Ornamental Cherry tree on Matheson Street in Hburg- ready to pop since last Sunday!
The hounds of spring are definitely on winter’s traces- but let it pass, let it pass.
Thank you! TR