While this blog is directed toward what is happening in this region, it doesn't preclude my looking nationally for stories and events that wine drinkers here would find interesting. Such is the case with the inaugural Russian River Passport Weekend, scheduled for the first weekend of June in the northern California.
The Russian River Valley is the largest of 13 appellations that make up Sonoma Wine Country, according to the Web site, and includes more acres of vineyards than Napa.
I e-mailed a couple of questions to the Passport site and within a couple of hours received these answers from Eric Hall. The photo, by the way, should be credited to Chris Knapp.
Q: How many passports are you limiting this to and what prompted you to start this event?
A: One thousand passports this year, and I’ve been doing a October event called Pinot on the River (see www.pinotfestival.com) for the last 5 years, and a lot of the local wineries make some great non pinot wines, that I thought would be great to get people up here to try them too!
Q: Modeled after something others are doing?
A: The “Passport” model is a well understood one out here, and there a many successful ones in California., the Russian River area did not happen to have one tho.
Q: For those traveling from our neck of the woods, are any hotels tying into this?
Q: How far apart are all these wineries? Be one of those events I'd love to try all, obviously impossible in one weekend. Seeing how it goes and then judging whether to expand it to more weekends next year?
A: I’d that end to end, they are within a less than 10 mile radius. Hard to say whether we’d expand the days, more likely just more wineries.
Thanks!
Thanks!
What follows is the release. For me, something to circle on next year's calendar.
Russian River Passport Weekend
June 7 & 8, 2008 40 Wineries - Great Wines, Food & Entertainment
40 acclaimed wineries from the famous Russian River Valley will open their cellars to wine lovers in the first Russian River Passport, to be held June 7-8, 2008. The event will showcase the wineries, vineyards and exceptional beauty of the Russian River Valley wine region.
There are more than 150 wineries and 300 growers in the Russian River Valley, all producing a variety of world class wines to please any wine lover. The goal of the Russian River Passport is to introduce these wineries - both large and small - to wine lovers and partygoers from all over Northern California.
Winery locations will also feature great food and/or entertainment for their guests.
Since Russian River Passport is limited to only small number of participants and offers access to many smaller wineries that normally have no public access, it allows participants a chance to speak to and connect with the winemakers and vineyard owners on a personal level, and learn more about the history and topography of Russian River Valley and its wines.
For more info, either e-mail Info@passportrussianriver.com or visit passportrussianriver.com.
Since Russian River Passport is limited to only small number of participants and offers access to many smaller wineries that normally have no public access, it allows participants a chance to speak to and connect with the winemakers and vineyard owners on a personal level, and learn more about the history and topography of Russian River Valley and its wines.
For more info, either e-mail Info@passportrussianriver.com or visit passportrussianriver.com.
· Commemorative wine glass
· Wine tasting at up to 40 wineries
· Prerelease, library and limited edition winery-only wines
· Discount pricing on select wines
· A wide variety of great food and desserts.
· Live music
· Tours
· Wine Education directly from the people who make the wines
Ticket InformationTo purchase Advance Tickets: weekend pass $89 (direct from wineries) Saturday or Sunday $59 (online only).
