Unless you have the right connections or happen to be a Pinot Noir VIP you will have to wait until Sunday, October 25 to go sideways at Pinot on the River wine festival, edition 2009.
On that day, some 100 wineries from up and down and all over the West Coast (of the US) will be pouring their best juice.
This wine festival really starts on October 23 but the first 2 days are for the In crowd.
This year's October 25th tasting will cost you $69 per person and is hosted by Rodney Strong themselves.
Amongst the 100 wineries present are my friends of Olson Ogden.
I was intrigued by the old truck on the label of Road 31 Wine Co (below) which my friend Glenn might have fallen for.
They produce a mere 700 cases of Pinot…
I also could not help but notice La Rochelle winery based not in France but in Livermore Valley.
Seems like they source grapes through their Vineyard Partners not just from California but also from Oregon to reveal the many faces of Pinot Noir.
Here I was dangling images of bucolic river banks in Russian River valley and all you get is a Ford pick up truck.
If you drive your own pick up to the festival you might use the flatbed to pile up case upon case of your discoveries or just lay there for a nap once you tire of sipping and spitting (maybe)…
If you make it there have fun.
Hopefully the weather will cooperate.