Copia

From Tiny Acorn - Mighty Wine Grows
by John Koetzner
Photographs by Margie Koetzner

Amidst the glitz, the lines for food, and the hundreds of wines being poured, came the announcement that the Sweepstakes winner for best red wine at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair was awarded to Acorn Winery. While there were several “Huh?” expressions in the crowd, those who tasted the 2002 Zinfandel from the Alegria Vineyards in the Russian River Valley knew its winemaker, Bill Nachbaur, deserved to be recognized. Thus began a mass migration by those who had passed over the wine to seek it out. The winery, which does not even have its own production facility, and houses its wine in the Bill Nachbaur’s garage, produces around 2,000 cases a year. Yet, this wine that retails for $30.00 a bottle beat the big names for the coveted prize of the night.

The hat trick of the night went to Hanna Winery, which has now won three sweepstakes, making its Sauvignon Blanc one of the most celebrated in Sonoma County. Obviously, it makes winemaker Jeff Hinchcliffe a bit like the Gordy Howe of winemaking. The 2003 Slusser Road Vineyard, Russian River Sauvignon Blanc retails for $17.00 a bottle and it’s a bargain in today’s wine market for premium Sauvignon Blancs.

While many of the wines we tasted were impressive throughout the night, there was plenty of gold to go around. Recent visits to such wineries as Camellia Cellars were confirmed when it received its gold for the 2002 Damio Grazie, a proprietary red. But more than anything, the night is about getting to taste so many different releases in one location.

Grazing at the awards night is another of the activities, and it usually means bumping into old wine friends, making some new wine friends, and discovering some new taste sensation. For a sweet tooth, a newer entrant, Auntie B’s Bakery in Santa Rosa, was a winner with its cakes. However, one of our favorites, Café Des Croissants also pulled in the gold for a variety of its delicious treats. Onyx Baking Company of Sebastopol captured our taste buds with its breads. Of course, restaurants such as Equus at Fountaingrove Inn tantalized our taste buds also, reminding us how much we enjoy their appetizers and their entrees.

Maybe it was a sign of the times, or a sign of the bad economy, but Sonoma County Harvest Fair Awards Night tickets were still on sale just prior to the event. Quite a change from years where people (including us) camped in line for hours the day they want on sale at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Or, possibly it’s a sign that the night’s activities need to be revisited. Maybe trying to hear the awards announced over the drone of the crowd, while watching a PowerPoint presentation of the awards is just becoming less appealing. However, for us it was another night to visit the best of Sonoma County wines in one room with some tasty hors d’oeuvres, and that was reason enough to brave the crowd.

You can check the Sonoma County Harvest Fair Awards for 2004 by going to their web site (http://www.harvestfair.org/pro_wines.php) that includes a searchable database for the different varietals, wineries, the past two year’s awards and the different awards- gold, silver and bronze.