Wine Road, Northern Sonoma County, introduces the first annual Esprit du Rhône, a weekend celebrating the spirit of the Rhône, taking place May 18 & 19, 2018.

The event kicks off on Friday night, May 18th at Longboard Winery with a casual walk-around tasting from 6 to 8 pm with winemakers from 18 wineries that produce just one Rhône varietal. In addition to sampling wines such as Viognier, Syrah, Grenache and more, attendees will enjoy appetizers, live music and play a few games.

On Saturday, May 19th, from 11 am to 4 pm, spend the day Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys sampling Rhône wines. Attendees are invited to visit any of the 30 participating wineries, show their wristbands and they will be given access to a specialty Rhône tasting. A map of the participating wineries can be download at the Wine Road website to help plan which wineries to visit. 

“Most of our visitors are familiar with Dry Creek Zinfandel, Russian River Pinot Noir and Cabernet from Alexander Valley,” says Beth Costa, Executive Director of Wine Road. “We wanted to find a way to showcase our region’s diversity and introduce guests to the Rhône varietals being grown along the Wine Road. So, we created an event to celebrate them!”

The Rhône Valley is a huge, diverse, viticultural area in Southern France. The range of wines produced is as large as the appellation and includes varietals that are lesser known in the United States such as Viognier, Grenache, Marsanne, Roussanne, Cinsault and more.  Rhône varietals were first brought to the United States by immigrants over 100 years ago and flourished until Prohibition. In recent years they have made a comeback, especially in California and are considered generally more intense and fruit forward than their French counterparts.

Tickets to Esprit du Rhône can be purchased on the Wine Road website beginning March 29th and are $40 for Friday night, $40 for Saturday or $65 for the weekend (plus taxes and fees). 

ABOUT WINE ROAD NORTHERN SONOMA COUNTY:

The Wine Road is a travel resource for those looking to visit the region, which is famous for its renowned wine producers and cuisine, scenic beauty, and wine country lifestyle. The association hosts three celebrated wine events throughout the year: “Winter Wineland” in January; “Barrel Tasting” in March; and “Wine and Food Affair” in November. 

Read more at source: Wine Industry Advisor