Saturday, AUGUST 30, 2008 11:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
MacMurray Ranch, Healdsburg (Directions)
General Admission tickers are $150 per person. Visa Signature Cardholders receive a special price of $95 per person.
Online ticket sales end at 5:00 pm PST on Friday, August 29.
Tickets may be purchased at the event for $160 per ticket.
Immerse yourself in the food and wine culture of Sonoma County at 29th annual TASTE of Sonoma event. Sonoma’s own Gallo Family personally invites you to enjoy an afternoon of strolling through their historic MacMurray Ranch property while sipping and savoring the very best of Sonoma County’s rich wines and delectable cuisine.
With more than 100 wineries pouring thousands of wines, and over 60 local chefs whipping up divine pairings, TASTE of Sonoma delivers a once-in-a-lifetime experience for oenophiles and foodies alike. Informative and entertaining wine seminars, lively cooking demonstrations, get-your-boots-dirty vineyard tours, The Sonoma Wine Market and so much more make for an enchanting afternoon enjoying the best of the Sonoma County living.
Named one of the 10 Best Wine and Food Events in the United States by Celebrated Living magazine, TASTE of Sonoma is an coveted ticket; get one before they sell out. TASTE of Sonoma is hosted by MacMurray Ranch and Gallo Family Vineyards.
Highlights include:
The Sonoma County Appellation Grand Wine & Food Tasting
Sip and sample world class wines from the most diverse wine region in the world paired with seasonal local foods prepared by experienced chefs. It’s an afternoon spent with like-minded epicures, sharing in the abundance of Sonoma County. Alexander Valley - Bennett Valley - Carneros - Chalk Hill - Dry Creek Valley - Green Valley - Knights Valley - Rockpile - Russian River Valley – Northern Sonoma - Sonoma Coast - Sonoma Mountain - Sonoma Valley.
Participating Wineries Include:
| Acorn Winery | Joseph Swan Vineyards |
| Adobe Road Winery | Kendall Jackson Winery |
| Alderbrook Winery | Kokomo Wines |
Alexander Valley Vineyards | La Crema Winery |
| Amphora Winery | Landmark Vineyards |
| Arrowood Vineyards & Winery | Ledson Winery & Vineyards |
| Atmosphere Wines | Little Vineyards Family Winery |
| Audelssa Estate Winery | MacMurray Ranch |
| Balletto Vineyards | MacRostie Winery & Vineyards |
| Bartholomew Park Winery | Matanzas Creek Winery |
| Blackstone Winery | Matrix Winery |
| Blue Rock Vineyard | Mauritson Family Winery |
| Buena Vista Carneros Winery | Mazzocco Sonoma Winery |
| Carica Wines | Medlock Ames |
| Castle Vineyards & Winery | Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate |
| Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery | Mill Creek Vineyards & Winery |
| Charles Creek Vineyards | Montemaggiore |
| Chateau Felice Winery | Moon Mountain Vineyard |
| Chateau St. Jean | Mounts Family Winery |
| Churchill Cellars | Murphy-Goode |
| Cline Cellars | Mutt Lynch Winery |
| Clos du Bois | Nicholson Ranch |
| Da Vero | Owl Ridge Wines |
| David Noyes Wines | Papapietro Perry Winery |
| Davis Bynum Winery | Paradise Ridge Winery |
| De Loach Vineyards | Pedroncelli Winery |
| Dutcher Crossing Winery | Petroni Vineyard |
| Dutton Estate Winery | Pezzi King Vineyards |
| Dutton-Goldfield Winery | Pride Mountain Vineyards |
| Elements of Sonoma | Quivira Vineyards & Winery |
| Enkidu Wines | Rancho Zabaco |
| Everett Ridge Vineyards and Winery | Ravenswood Winery |
| Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery | Rielle Wines |
| Robert Hunter Winery | |
| Fichtenberg Vineyards | Robledo Family Winery |
| Field Stone Winery & Vineyards | Rodney Strong Vineyards |
| Foppiano Vineyards | Rued Winery |
| Forchini Vineyards & Winery | Sapphire Hills Vineyard |
Foppiano Vineyards | Sausal Winery |
Forchini Vineyards & Winery | Sbragia Family Vineyards |
| Forth Vineyards & Winery | Schug Carneros Estate |
Francis Ford Coppola Presents Rosso | Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery |
| Frei Brothers Reserve | Seghesio Family Vineyards |
| Frick Winery | Silver Oak Cellars |
| Gallo Family Vineyards | Simi Winery |
| Garden Creek Ranch Vineyards Winery | Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards |
| Geyser Peak Winery | Souverain |
| Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards | St. Francis Winery & Vineyards |
| Gundlach Bundschu | Stonestreet |
| Hanna Winery & Vineyards | Stryker Sonoma Winery |
| Hartford Family Winery | Terlato Family Vineyards |
Harvest Moon Winery | Tin Barn Vineyards |
Hook & Ladder Winery | Trecini Cellars |
| Hop Kiln Winery - HK Generations | Trek Wines |
| Hughes Family Vineyards | Trentadue Winery |
| Inman Family Wines | Twomey Cellars |
Inspiration Vineyards & Winery | Ty Caton Vineyards |
Iron Horse Vineyards | VJB Vineyards & Cellars |
| J. Rickards Winery | Wattle Creek Winery |
| Jacuzzi Family Vineyards | Wilson Winery |
Participating Restaurants and Vendors Include:
| A La Heart Catering | Maya Restaurant |
| Alexander Valley Vineyards | Medlock Ames Winery |
| Bear Foot Honey Farms | Mosaic Restaurant & Wine Lounge |
| Bert's Desserts | |
| Blazing Saddles BBQ Catering | Nana Mae's Organics |
| Bovolo & Zazu Restaurant & Farm | Nectar Restaurant & Lounge @ Hilton Sonoma Wine Country |
| Brasserie Restaurant | Park Avenue Catering |
| Canvas Ranch | Patisserie Angelica |
| Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar | Peloton Catering |
| Carnevale Confections | Petaluma Coffee & Tea |
| Castaneda's Marketplace | Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery |
| Charizma Wine Lounge | Rocket Cafe and Catering |
| Classic Culinaire | Saddles Steakhouse @ MacArthur Place |
| Clover Stronetta Farms | Sante @ Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa |
| Costeaux French Bakery | Sassafras Restaurant |
| DaVero Sonoma | Santa Rosa Golf & Country Clun |
| DeLoach Vineyards | Sea Ranch Lodge |
| Depot Hotel | Simi Winery |
| Dry Creek Olive Company | Sonoma Organics |
| Feast Catering | Sonoma Sparkler |
| Flamingo Resort | Sonoma Springs Brewery |
| Francis Ford Coppola Winery presents | St. Francis Winery & Vineyards |
| Rosso & Bianco Winery | St. Pierre Extra Virgin Olive Oil |
| Full Circle Baking Company | Starlight Wine Bar |
| Hana Japanese Restaurant | Syrah Bistro |
| Jimtown Store | Terra Sonoma |
| John Ash & Co. | The Epicurean Connection |
| Kinyon! Culinary | the girl & the fig |
| Kendall-Jackson Winery | The Olive Press |
| Lagunitas Brewing Company | Vintage Valley Catering |
| Wild Thyme Events | |
| Zin Restaurant & Wine Bar |
The Bubble Lounge
Please join us for a glass of bubbly in the Gloria Ferrer Bubble Lounge! Cindy Friedman, Gloria Ferrer's Certified Wine Professional will be showcasing their sparkling wines perfectly paired with appetizers created by Executive Chef Jesse McQuarrie of Feast Catering. Exuberant and fruit forward, you will discover how Gloria Ferrer’s Carneros wines are outstanding with today's diverse and flavorful cuisine. Don't miss out - there will be two drawings to attend an exclusive VIP tour, tasting and wine education seminar held at the winery.
The Crushpad - Experience the Sonoma County Harvest
At Crushpad, guests are invited throughout the day to join local Sonoma winemakers and growers to taste, touch, listen and learn about the grapes grown in Sonoma's diverse vineyards and AVA's. Featuring tasting of freshly picked winegrapes, a demonstration of basket pressing (and a taste of the results), and topped off with a sample of a finished bottle from the highlighted vineyard, Crushpad is a unique opportunity to engage with the Sonoma wine community, from grape to glass. Presented by the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission and La Crema Winery.
The Gourmet Kitchen Presented by Jenn-Air: Steel Chef Competition and Cooking Demonstrations
Iron Chef quivers at the sight of Sonoma's top brass in the Sonoma Steel Chef Competition. Presented by Matanzas Creek Winery. Catch Emcees Ziggy, The Wine Gal and Clark Wolf as you watch Sonoma County's best chefs face off for a fast paced, fun and educational competition for the coveted title of Sonoma County's Chef of Steel. Brent Farris guides the way as you learn to flip, dip, chop and whip like the pros in the demonstration kitchen, where throughout the day Sonoma's top chefs share the tricks of the trade. New recipes, techniques and innovative ways to flavor your food are just some of the tasty topics on display.
Chef Demonstration Schedule:
11:30-12:00 Ken Tominaga, Hana Japanese Restaurant
Ken Tominaga’s Hana Japanese Restaurant has been lauded by Zagat Guides as the “best Japanese food north of the Gate.” Tominaga shares some of his secrets in this delectable demonstration.
12:15-12:45 Wine & Food Pairing: Chef & Sommelier
Join pairing experts Chef Bruce Riezenman and Sommelier Michael Green as they explore the palatable possibilities of elegant food paired with the wines of Matanzas Creek Winery.
1:00-1:30 Sonoma Steel Chef Competition: Round 1
Janine Falvo from Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar takes on JohnToulze from the girl & the fig. It’s a quick-paced culinary clash – who will be left standing?
2:00-2:30 Sonoma Steel Chef Competition: Round 2
Defending Sonoma Steel Chef Jeff Mall of Zin and Carlo Cavallo of Sonoma Meritage go toque to toque for a shot at the top prize. Grab on to your seat and watch the spatulas fly!
3:00-3:30 Sonoma Steel Chef Competition: FINALS
Watch as the winners from Round 1 and 2 grapple with graters and wrestle with pestles. It’s a tense and tasty showdown where only ONE chef can claim the title of Sonoma’s Steel Chef!
The Wine Barn
Attend the Wine Dialogues and increase your wine IQ through informative wine seminars, lively panel discussions, and focused tastings with renowned winemakers from throughout Sonoma County.
Seminar Topics Include:
11:30-12:00 Beyond the Mainstream - Discovering Interesting and Out of the Ordinary Wines with Wine Spectator
There’s a whole world full of fascinating and often-overlooked varietals, regions and wine techniques. Gloria Maroti Frazee, Wine Spectator Director of Video and Education, presents a master class in wine discovery that makes every day a wine adventure. Featuring wines from Stryker Sonoma, MacMurray Ranch, Viansa Winery and BR Cohn Winery.
12:15-12:45 High Personality Vineyards: Exploring Pinot Noir with Don Hartford
Taste some of Sonoma County’s finest pinot noir with master winegrower and vintner Don Hartford. He’ll lead you through an in-depth tasting of four different wines from Green Valley and Sonoma Coast, comparing regional characteristics with specific vineyard designate characteristics.
1:00-1:30 Riedel 101- A Sensory Evaluation with Riedel, The Wine Glass Company
A hands-on introduction to the history and functionality of Riedel stemware. Discover how Riedel glasses were first developed, gain insight into the design and manufacturing process, and understand the importance of varietal specific stemware for the true enjoyment of fine wine. Finally, taste the difference in a comparative tasting using Riedel and conventional stemware.
1:45-2:15 Extreme Winegrowing: Growing Grapes and Making Wines in Extreme Locations
Making great wine even in the most genteel conditions can be daunting. Winemakers from deal with steep hillsides, rocky terrain, high altitudes and punishing heat -- all in a day’s work. Come taste the fruits of their labor and learn why they chose the road less traveled. Featuring wines from Mauritson Family, Pride Mountain Vineyards, La Crema Winery, and Rancho Zabaco Winery.
2:30-3:00 History of MacMurray Ranch with Kate MacMurray
Join Kate MacMurray, daughter of actor Fred MacMurray to learn the history of this beautiful property. For her father Hollywood was work, but this magnificent ranch was his home.
3:15-3:45 Cabernet Comparison: Exploring Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon
Sonoma’s rich and diverse winegrowing region is responsible for producing Cabernet Sauvignon as different as the people who make them. Join some of our local Cab experts for a dynamic tasting of the king of wines from around Sonoma. Featuring wines from Rodney Strong Vineyards, Arrowood Vineyards and Winery, and Gallo Family Vineyards
The Wine Shop
One of the truly great perks of TASTE of Sonoma is access to wines you simply can’t find anywhere else. Purchase your favorites and have them conveniently packed and shipped to you directly from TASTE of Sonoma. (Note: some states do not accept wine shipments from California.) Your own taste of Sonoma will arrive signed, sealed and delivered to you when you get home. Powered by Silicon Valley Bank.
Sonoma County Marketplace
Sonoma County chefs have access to the seasonal abundance of the most fertile foodshed anywhere in the world, often grown and provided by small, local family farms. At the Sonoma Country Marketplace, get a glimpse of the high-quality, artisanal ingredients local chefs and diners enjoy every day, and acquire some for your own home pantry.
New! Sommelier Stars
Sponsored by Southern Wine and Spirits and Rodney Strong Vineyards. Sonoma's own celebrity sommelier Christopher Sawyer has invited an all-star team of nationally acclaimed sommeliers to act as your "tasting tour guides” throughout the weekend. Sign-up for a guided tour through the Showcase:Taste of Sonoma and discover the hidden gems that you might not find otherwise. Sign up at the Information Booth.
Silent Auction
The silent auction is your opportunity to take home a memento from this exciting event while supporting local Sonoma charities. Our sponsors and donors have created enticing lots of collectible wines, large format bottles, one-of-a-kind wine country experiences and exotic getaways. Don’t miss this chance to bring home a memorable souvenir! Brought to you by American Ag Credit. Thank you to all of our very generous Silent Auction Donors!
Directions
MacMurray Ranch
9015 Westside Road, Healdsburg, CA 95448
From Highway 101 heading North take the River Road/Guerneville exit. Come to the stop light and turn LEFT going over the freeway. Travel approximately 6 miles then RIGHT onto Wohler Road. Stay on Wohler Road; cross over narrow bridge. Turn RIGHT onto Westside Road. Follow Westside Road for about ¾ mile. The entrance to MacMurray Ranch is on the LEFT side of the road.
From Highway 101 heading South take the Westside Road exit (in Healdsburg). Take a RIGHT onto Westside Road heading west. Stay on Westside Road for approximately 15 minutes to the MacMurray Ranch. The entrance to MacMurray Ranch is on the RIGHT side of the road.
