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Having a Holiday with Ferrari-Carano
by John Koetzner
Photographs by Margie Koetzner

If you think going to the Sonoma County Harvest Fair or a ZAP tasting can generate a crowd, this year’s celebration for the holidays at Ferrari-Carano generated gridlock in the parking lot. Fortunately, we decided to go early and we secured a space for what turned out to be a scrumptious tasting experience at the Holiday Affair 2004, their 18th such event.

Hosted in their cellar, the event was a great way to taste the wine and food pairings that highlighted the balance in winemaker George Bursick’s wines. Those invited were part of the Circle of Friends, the wine club that sounds as if were inspired by songwriter Phil Ochs. What was inspirational were parings such as the Crabmeat Parmesan Balls paired with the 2003 Fume Blanc, the Tre Terre Chardonnay paired with Arancini, the 2003 Villa Fiore Pinot Noir paired with Radicchio Lasagnette, and the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon paired with Venison Stew with Dried Cherries.

Ferrari-Carano's Circle of Friends hover around tables in the cellar to taste wine and food paired for the holidays

Not to be lost in the shuffle was the Eldorado Noir Chocolate Trifle dessert paired with the 2001 Eldorado Noir. The wine is a Black Muscat that was delicate and would surely complement a number of dessert choices that include chocolate. This is definitely a wine to put on the list for future dinner parties. It’s a great substitute for port-style wines.
While there were other pairings at the tasting, those were the ones that really stood out for our taste buds.

So, we proceeded on to the reserve tasting room to catch up on a couple of releases and to check our past sensory evaluations. As usual, the Tresor, a Bordeaux style blend, was the winner here. The rich berry flavor, highlighted by hints of vanilla, with a soft mouth-feel, lingered on the palate in a very pleasing way. Other noteworthy releases were the 2001 Merlot and the 2001 Syrah. Both exhibited the best characters for their varietals.

Besides hosting a wonderful holiday bash, Don and Rhonda Carano also had a collection of recipes that matched the tasting. These were handed out so that participants might go home and try to duplicate the experience. We’ve done the Crabmeat Parmesan Balls and they’re a hit.

Next year, they may need to secure more parking from neighbors as their Circle of Friends continues to grow larger than their spacious parking lots. In the meantime, you can visit Ferrari-Carano online at www.ferrari-carano.com or try visiting them at the winery at 8761 Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg. They have tasting daily from 10 AM to 5 PM with a $3.00 charge. Tours are also available at 10 AM, but reservations must be made by calling 1 800 831-0381 ext 248. You’ll want to spend time perusing the gardens, tasting some wine, and relaxing on the grounds.