Barrel Tasting

Barrel Tasting Weekend Preview

Have you ever wanted to taste wine out of a barrel? Have you ever heard of a wine thief? Here is a chance to taste new wines right out of the barrel just like a winemaker.

Join us as we celebrate our 33rd annual Barrel Tasting. This event happens along the Russian River Wine Road in Northern Sonoma County with over 130 Wineries participating. This annual barrel tasting event occurs over two weekends, which makes it easy to find the time to sip and savor the best of Sonoma county wines.

This year at the Kendall-Jackson Wine Center we will have four different barrels to taste from, in addition to offering samples of our finished bottled wines. Our Healdsburg Tasting room will have a different barrel to sample as well.

Here is a sneak preview of what we have in store: Have you ever wondered how a wine ages in a barrel and what does the winemaker look for in a barrel? If so, you are in luck as we will have both a barrel of our 2009 and 2010 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon available for tasting.

Tasting both wines side by side will allow you to recognize and identify the unique characteristics that typify a very young wine compared to older, mature wine. One of the questions that always fascinated me was, “how does a winemaker recognize that a wine will be a quality wine when it tastes so young, tight and bold in the barrel?” The answer is simple: “experience.” The more you have the opportunity to taste young wines, the more you will begin to see the future and possibility of the wine as it matures and ages. Younger wines can be like people, exuberant in style, yet not as complex and sophisticated. Come try and taste for yourself.

We will also be offering a barrel tasting of our Grand Reserve Malbec from Atlas Peak in Napa Valley. This grape has been used for centuries as a blending grape in world class Bordeaux wines. The lighter and softer attributes of Malbec is compliment when blended with more heavy, tannic wines. The elegant and supple tannins of Malbec can tame the unripe characteristics of late ripening Caberenet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

Malbec, most notably from Argentina, is being recognized as a superior single varietal wine. Not a lot of wineries in Sonoma produce a varietal wine from this grape, so take advantage of this opportunity to taste something unique.

Last but not least we will also have a barrel of our Taylor Peak Merlot from our estate vineyard in Bennet Valley. Merlot is thought to be best suited for areas that are not too hot or not too cold. Bennet Valley fits the description perfectly, offering slow and even ripening conditions that promote greater flavors and concentration. Some say it is truly the chosen spot for Merlot. Stop by and see for yourself.

At our tasting room in Healdsburg we will have a barrel of our Napa Valley Veeder Peak Cabernet Sauvignon. The Mount Veeder Region is widely known for producing world class wines. I promise that this will be the biggest, darkest, most intense Veeder Cabernet you have had the opportunity to ever try. Stop by to see why this wine can be enjoyed young or can be aged for decades. We hope to see you at the event and check out www.wineroad.com for more info.

33rd Annual Barrel Tasting
Dates: March 4-6 and March 11-13, 2011 from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm each day.
Cost: $20 In Advance – $30 At the Door, Price Is per Person, Per Weekend
Designated Drivers are $5 — includes NO wine tasting