Love at First Sight-Sonoma County

We arrived at nearly midnight, weaving up Plum Creek Road, the canopy above blocked our view below. We entered through a porte-cochere, hidden again, and after a brief tour of the essentials, gave in to pull of the pillow after a long day of travel. As I went to sleep, I wondered what I would see when the inky sky gave way.

Traveling west, rising early is to be expected. The wonder built to anticipation. We quickly dressed, opened our curtains and gasped. Perhaps a bit of a cynic in me arises when people talk about love at first sight between two people, but I am a believer when it comes to places. The vineyards folding down to my left, the golden hills swaying in the wind, the tall evergreens and teeming fruit trees. I instantly fell for Sonoma.

Recently, I was invited to attend an event to promote Sonoma County. We sampled wines, learned more about the commerce and topography, shared stories. We learned about specific growers and winemakers, tourism programs, and how each host came to fall in love with Sonoma. We discussed the great lengths the growers and winemakers are committed to going to preserve Sonoma for generations to come. Their goal is to be 100% sustainable by 2019.

At the end of the evening, they presented each guest with a token of Sonoma. In my bag, I found Saxon Brown 2013 Chardonnay from Sangiacomo Vineyard, Green Acres Hill in Carneros and a 2013 Martin Ray Pinot Noir from Dark Star Hill in the Russian River Valley. I knew just when I would open them.

For three years, during Sonoma Wine Country Weekend, we would head west with our favorite foodie friends. To celebrate my WSET 2 exam, they were coming for dinner. The forecast was cool, probably the last for the season. I planned a menu to highlight the wines and the weather.

We began with a Goat Cheese Cauliflower Gratin (recipe below) on toasted baguette and the Chardonnay. Golden lemon in the glass, yellow apples and vibrant minerality, warm vanilla and toast. It paired perfectly with the gratin.

The cooler temperatures and Burgundian wines meant it was just the right time to try Julia Child’s Beef bourguignon. I could start it in the morning, take my exam, and let it cook all day. The Martin Ray Pinot was lovely. Brilliant purple and ruby, herbaceous raspberry and cranberry on the nose. Bright red cherry, rosemary, good acidity softened with a touch of oak. It played off the rich thyme and savory stew perfectly.

What began as an instant connection has grown with every visit. The more we’ve explored, the deeper it grows. A dozen years and nearly that many visits later, my heart still quickens. Riding bikes around the town of Sonoma, picnics in the park. Farmers markets and music in the town square. Driving along the rocky cliffs of Jenner, lazing at Bodega Bay. A glass of Sonoma’s finest and barbecued oysters as the sun sets on the beach. Strolling the streets of Healdsburg and on the way to Dry Creek. The chill of an August morning gives way to golden light and temperate nights. It is magical. It is a place that calls to me. It was love at first sight.