To welcome Los Angeles-based travelers out of their homes and back to wine country, on March 22, 2022 Sonoma County Tourism, hosted a very special event. An Evening With Sonoma: Beyond a New Perspective – Life Opens Up was a veritable reopening for Sonoma and Sebastopol wineries and tourism alike. 

The event was held at 1 Hotel West Hollywood on the Sunset Strip and many notable guests were on hand. Our vintner Ross Halleck of family owned West Sonoma, Sebastopol Winery Halleck Vineyard poured current releases. Andy Harris, host of the SoCal Restaurant Show dropped by to mingle with vintners and taste their wines. Award-winning wine and culinary writer and reviewer Cori Solomon sampled a variety of Pinot and Chardonnay offerings. And local Sebastopol artist Alana Tillman displayed her latest acrylic on canvas Sonoma landscapes.

New Nonstop Flights to Visit Sonoma & Sebastopol Wineries

Sonoma County Tourism CEO Claudia Vecchio invited guests to enjoy great food, the best bottles of wine from locale wineries and shared a brief tourism update. One highlight is a new airline offering daily nonstop service between Burbank and Santa Rosa. Los Angeles-based wine lovers have a more convenient way to travel to Sonoma and Sebastopol wine tasting rooms.

With an estimated flight time of an hour and 13 minutes, Houston-based Avelo Airlines has introduced the wine country route. Travelers can get to Sebastopol Wineries without the hassle of battling through LAX or SFO.

Wineries and Tasting Rooms Back in Business

Vice President of Business Development Johnny Westom – who recently joined the Sonoma tourism board from Visit Dana Point – spoke about the plethora of special event and meeting venues open for business. Travel and meeting planners can book all kinds of amazing venues right now at extremely competitive rates. There are also a number of Sonoma wine festivals reopening this summer for the first time post lockdown, which offer a nice mix of work and play opportunities for meeting planners.

Johnny Westom brings an impressive array of experience and talent to the table along with significant familiarity with Sonoma. He served as Executive Director of Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau for three years, where he developed significant relationships with regional and national corporate planners. He was also the driving force behind a brand refresh.

An event dedicated to Sonoma wouldn’t be complete without a chance to taste some of the region’s best wines. Winery representatives uncorked many varietals including Dry White Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc.

Guests enjoyed Russian River Chardonnay from Halleck Vineyard, Chardonnay from Donum (45 minutes from Sebastopol) and Dutcher Crossing Winery (37 minutes from The Barlow).

Vintner Ross Halleck also poured two Halleck Vineyard award-winning Pinots: 2018 Sonoma Coast, 2018 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. He also shared his current Dry White Zinfandel release for style blogger/red wine lover Jessica Moore and travel blogger Alicia Chew.

Visiting Sonoma County

Although travelers from all across the globe visit Central Valley wine tasting rooms, California wine country destinations and Russian River Valley wineries, approximately 21% of the area’s visitors come from Southern California. To break the numbers down further, 68% of these visitors live in Los Angeles, and the remaining 32% reside in Orange County.

The top activities for those visiting Sonoma from the southern part of the state include shopping, wine tasting, sightseeing, enjoying celebrations, and attending conventions. 

Other activities guests of Sonoma can enjoy are hiking, fishing, boating, or simply exploring the area’s more than 30 quaint communities and idyllic countryside, including the rugged Pacific coastline with its towering redwoods.

As beautiful Sonoma continues to open up, estate tasting salons, inns, restaurants, spas, and tour operators ready to welcome guests back to the magic this unique environment offers. Visitors are encouraged to rediscover walks under the redwoods, early morning mists over the vineyards, and the taste of Pinot Noir while the past two years fade into the background. 

On one side of the table, we have the wine that has come to be synonymous with White Zinfandel over the years, Sutter Home White Zinfandel.

On the other, we’ve got a new wine by Halleck Vineyard crafted with old school traditions that we call “Not Your Mother’s White Zinfandel.”

But before we talk about the sweet and dry White Zinfandel wine tasting, some backstory on the evolution of White Zinfandel in New World viticulture. 

History of New World White Zinfandel

Although Sutter Home White Zinfandel is widely credited with being the first New World winery to produce White Zinfandel, the honor actually goes to El Pinal Winery in Lodi, which began producing rosé Zinfandel in 1869.

Rosé Zinfandel evolved as the result of a process known as “bleeding off,” which was used in the production of red Zinfandel wine. Excess grape juice was drained to elevate the concentration of tannins, and the leftover juice was fermented to make a dry rosé.

The result was well-regarded, and other wineries soon followed suit. California vintners continued producing dry rosé Zinfandel for decades. Sutter Home started producing off-dry rosé Zinfandel in 1948 and called it White Zinfandel for marketing purposes. In 1975, an overnight — and accidental — sensation was born. 

Sutter Home White Zinfandel is the result of what’s known in the wine world as stuck fermentation — which simply means that the yeast prematurely stopped converting sugars into alcohol.

Vintner decided to bottle it anyway the sweet stuff anyway, and it became an overnight sensation, and people who’d never drank much wine before were buying it by the case. In 1994, Wine Spectator awarded Sutter Hom with its Distinguished Service Award for introducing more consumers to the pleasure of the grape than any other wine in history. It’s even displayed in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

White Zinfandel’s story is still evolving, however. Russian River Valley Dry White Zinfandel from Halleck Vineyard takes it back to its roots in the New World and gives it a 21st-century twist. 

Sutter Home Sweet White Zinfandel Wine Tasting Notes

We liked the way this wine’s light, almost amber color mimicked the onion-skin hues traditionally associated with French winemaking tradition.

However, that’s where the similarity ended — the nose was pure marshmallow, followed by notes of sugared peaches, strawberry cream, and ripe melon. It’s a happy, sweet, uncomplicated wine.

Although Sutter Home White Zinfandel doesn’t have the structure necessary for successful main course pairings, we can see it with a summer fruit course, light salads, and mild cheese.

We think that where it really shines is as a warm-season cocktail wine served cold with a side of sunlight.

• Brand: Sutter Home
• Country/State: California
• Vintage: Non-vintage
• Appellation: California
• Varietal: White Zinfandel
• Body: Light Bodied
• Style: Sweet
• Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 9.5%
• Retail Price: $5
• Restaurant Price: $15
• Food Pairings: Fruit course, mild cheese, summer salads
• BUY Sutter Home White Zinfandel

Halleck Vineyard Dry White Zinfandel Wine Tasting Notes

A new school wine crafted with old school traditions, this is Not Your Mother’s White Zinfandel. So if you’re wondering “is Rose wine sweet,” the answer in this case is a resounding no.

We noticed the difference in color before we even poured the wine — instead of light pink with pale amber tones, this wine was the color of cotton candy. The nose was white flowers followed by honeyed nectarine, strawberries, rose petals, and hints of maraschino cherry. However, this isn’t a sweet wine. It’s elegantly dry with balanced minerality and a crisp, refreshing finish.

Halleck Vineyard Dry White Zinfandel is a seriously structured wine with bright acidity that makes it an excellent pairing partner for a variety of foods. It’s strong enough to stand up to strong flavors such as Mexican tacos and white meat barbecue, and we also think it’s a good choice for the hors d’oeuvres course. It shouldn’t be discounted as a front porch or poolside sipping wine because it’s superb all on its own. 

• Brand: Halleck Vineyard
• Country/State: California
• Vintage: 2021
• Appellation: Russian River Valley
• Style: Crisp
• Body: Light Bodied
• Alcohol By Volume (ABV): 13.7%
• Retail Price: $37
• Restaurant Price: Approximately $56
• Pairings: Chicken, seafood, or pork barbecue, Mexican tacos
• BUY Halleck Vineyard Dry White Zinfandel

Wine Review Video

White Zinfandel Wrap Up

Halleck Vineyard Dry White Zinfandel definitely lives up to its name — it’s far from the Koolaid-like sweet wine that made such a splash in the 1970s. This is a complex, sophisticated wine worthy of a place at the grown-ups’ table. While we understand that sweet White Zinfandel will always have a special place in the hearts of many people, we encourage you to introduce your mother to Dry White Zinfandel — perhaps at a Mother’s Day brunch with a seafood omelet or at an festive dinner in her honor with crab cakes or roast lamb. 

The Gewürztraminer Grape

Gewürztraminer is a cool-season, pink-skinned grape with its ancestral roots in the foothills of the Alps. It was first cultivated in Alsace, France. Alsace sits on the border between France and Germany, which explains the Germanic Gewürztraminer pronunciation. The grape is high in natural sugars that give the wine its trademark lycée bouquet. 

Gewürztraminer is typically described as an off-dry wine with tantalizing shadows of sweet field flowers, lychee fruit, roses, aromatic spices, and honey. Variations exist depending on region — German Gewürztraminer, for instance, is typically more restrained than its counterparts from other regions. 

Traditional Gewürztraminer Pairings

Gewürztraminer’s complex flavor profile lets it pair well with a wide range of foods. 

Gewürztraminer food pairing involves a wide range of foods, but it shines best with rich poultry dishes such as duck a l’orange, butter chicken, traditional Germanic fare such as wiener schnitzel and pork chops, and egg dishes such as Eggs Benedict and simple quiches. It’s also a great vegetarian option for dishes with a ginger or soy base, anything prepared with coconut milk, and oily seafood such as salmon. 

This is also a great pairing wine for those who enjoy culinary exploration, so don’t be afraid to veer off the beaten track and uncork Gewürztraminer with something not so obvious. It’s okay to break a few rules along the way — thanks to its nuanced flavor profile and rich notes of honey, roses, and spices, Gewürztraminer is suitable for pairing with marbled red meats. 

Château St. Michelle Gewürztraminer Wine Tasting Notes

Château Ste. Michelle’s Gewürztraminer is an inexpensive option ideal for casual al fresco dining.

Our first impression was of an exuberant orange bouquet nicely tempered with bits of clove We especially liked the tease of orange creamsicle just below the surface and the wine’s pale yellow hue. This is a lively Gewürztraminer with a solid mouthfeel and just enough sweetness for balance. However, it didn’t have the definition usually associated with Old World Gewürztraminer. 

Overall, we felt this was a pleasant wine perfectly suited for use as a cocktail wine, during the fruit course, or as a light dessert wine with fresh fruit and ice cream. It’s also good with uncomplicated spring pasta dishes such as pasta primavera.

• Brand: Château Ste. Michelle
• Country/State: Washington
• AVA: Columbia Valley
• Wine Type: White Wine
• Varietal: Gewürztraminer
• Vintage: 2019
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Retail Price: $15
• Restaurant Price: Approximately $25
• Pairings: Fruit salad, fresh fruit bowls, and most types of picnic food

Halleck Vineyard Dry Gewürztraminer Wine Tasting Notes

The Halleck Vineyard Dry Gewürztraminer brings black tie elegance to the table. 

We recognized Halleck Vineyard Dry Gewürztraminer’s Alsatian heritage right away in its white-gold color and elegant notes of rose petals and lychee in the nose. A light breeze containing faint notes of honeysuckle follows along with traces of candied ginger. Make no mistake, though — this isn’t a sweet wine despite the floral accents. As its name implies, it’s dry as a bone. 

This wine features a bright acidity, balanced minerality, and a nuanced flavor profile ideal for pairing with a variety of foods. It’s particularly suited to spicy cuisines, seafood with bold flavors such as grilled black cod served with a drizzle of wild berry and honey sauce, and with stinky cheese during the cheese course. It also makes a great holiday wine and pairs especially well with pumpkin pie and roast goose or duck.

• Brand: Halleck Vineyard
• Country/State: California
• AVA: Russian River Valley
• Wine Type: White Wine
• Varietal: Gewürztraminer
• Vintage: 2021
• AVA: Russian River Valley
• Alcohol: 14.3%
• Retail Price: $65
• Restaurant Price: Approximately $95
• Pairings: Indian curry with fruit chutney, full-flavored seafood, and Korean fried chicken 

Wine Review (Video)

Gewürztraminer Wrap Up

Both wines were instantly recognizable as Gewürztraminer, which doesn’t always happen with other white varietals. We also felt they did a great job of representing the wide variation characteristic of this wine, with Halleck Vineyard’s Dry Gewürztraminer being the little black dress to Château Ste. Michelle’s sweet floral sundress. One of them goes to festivities after sunset, while the other attends sunlit picnics among fields of blooming flowers.

However, we feel that Halleck’s Dry Gewürztraminer’s nod to Old World traditions brings its New World wine up several notches and appreciated how it offers the best of both worlds. Whether you want to celebrate a special occasion or add a festive accent to an ordinary occasion, Halleck’s is the one to uncork.

California Pinot Noir Wine and Cheese Pairings

Whether the occasion calls for an impromptu mid-afternoon respite on a sunlit porch or a fully-fledged wine and cheese board as a prelude to an elegant or romantic evening, the age-old combination of wine and cheese tasting is appropriate for a range of circumstances.

With roots in French and Italian agrarian traditions, wine and cheese traveled symbiotic culinary paths. Consequently, classic pairings reflect a clear correlation between the regional origins of wine and cheese.

While localized pairings are still very much a part of the wine and cheese tradition, the 21st-century global marketplace opens up a whole new world of pairings. Don’t be afraid to bring a sense of adventure to the table and delve into previously unexplored territory when creating wine and cheese experiences.

California Pinot Noir is a versatile light red wine with notes of red summer fruit, forest herbs, and ripe earth that mingle well with a variety of cheeses, but it really shines when served with semi-soft cheeses.

Traditional Pinot Noir and cheese pairings include semi-soft cheeses such as Brie and Gruyèr. Salty cheeses like Feta or Aged Gouda are a natural pairing with Pinot Noir’s bright acidity.

Pinot Noir from grapes grown in California is more fruit-forward than their counterparts from France, which opens up a wider range of pairing options. Fruit-driven Pinot Noirs pair particularly well with sheep milk cheeses with nutty, salty piquancies. Jim recommending trying them on a water cracker with marionberry compote and wild smoked salmon from Alaska as a prelude to a gourmet feast. Or include a few wedges with a side of summer berries for casual afternoon tastings.

At our wine tasting in Sonoma, we like our guests to taste our 2018 Three Sons Cuvee Pinot Noir (95 pts) with Estero Gold from the Valley Ford Cheese and Creamery. Three Sons Cuvee is our Russian River Pinot Noir.

We pair 2017 Hillside Cuvee Pinot Noir (91 pts) paired with Triple Creme Truffle Brie from the Marin French Cheese Company. Our Hillside Pinot Noir is from the Sonoma Coast.

And we serve our 2018 Haas Vineyard Pinot Noir (99 pts) paired with Pinot Noir-Infused Chocolate Truffle, produced by Sonoma Chocolatiers in Sebastopol. Our Haas Pinot Noir is from Sonoma Mountain, which is just beside the Petalume Gap where Kosta Browne Pinot grapes are grown. 

Russian River Valley Chardonnay Wine and Cheese Pairings

As a full-bodied white wine with plenty of butter and oak, Russian River Chardonnay cries out for rich, soft cheeses with plenty of fat and cream.

A big Chardonnay with dominant butter notes dances divinely with the pungency of well-aged blue cheese and Vermont cheddar. Washed rind cheeses are another good option for big Chardonnays.

At the other end of the scale, the crisp flavor profile of unoaked Chardonnay pairs better with milder options — try a young, semi-soft cheese such as goat’s milk Gouda. Dried fruits and nuts make an excellent addition to the cheese board when a pre-dinner wine and cheese tasting is on the menu.

We find our Sobre Vista Chardonnay, a lean French-styled wine, pairs beautifully with organic California grown, dried Turkish-style apricots.

California Sauvignon Blanc Wine and Cheese Pairings

With its trademark high acidity and herbaceous green notes, California Sauvignon Blanc plays well with artisan and alpine cheeses. Full-bodied enough to hold its own with a tangy Vermont cheddar, it’s also a good pairing partner for rich butter cheeses such as Muenster and Gouda.

As the white wine most often paired with goat cheese, you can’t go wrong with providing a young white chèvre with a prominent place on the cheese board alongside Sauvignon Blanc. Any type of unaged sheep milk cheese, such as Pecorino, is also a good addition.

Cow’s milk cheeses are tricky to pair with Sauvignon Blanc because they have more acidity than cheese made from sheep or goat milk. However, the production process used in washed-curd cheeses, such as Havarity and Monterey Jack, removes lactose sugar that evolves into acid, leaving the cheese with a mild, sweet taste. Include plenty of ripe, raw vegetables and slices of in-season pears and apples on your cheese board for a finishing touch.

Dry White Gewürztraminer Wine and Cheese Pairings

Often floral and always aromatic, Dry White Gewürztraminer goes with anything that’s soft and sweet and is one of the easiest wines to pair with cheese. Alpine cheeses are a no-brainer here because they complement Gewürztraminer‘s floral bouquet, but don’t overlook their tangy counterparts such as Feta with its trademark nutty flavor and piquant saltwater edge. A fresh white Stilton brings a contrasting sweet note to a dry Gewürztraminer. No matter what you’re stacking the cheese board with, fresh flowers on the table are a must when you’re pouring Gewürztraminer.

Dry White Zinfandel Wine and Cheese Pairings

Dry White Zinfandel, cheese, and fresh fruit make every occasion special.

Like other tart rosé wines, Dry White Zinfandel introduces superior palette cleansing properties into the mix, making it a great pairing partner for all but the most stinky and strong cheeses. Many blue cheese overpowers dry White Zinfandel, but mild, creamy Cambozola or even Gorgonzola is in step with this wine’s delicate dance. Other great options include tangy Halloumi and Feta to complement the wine’s brightness.

Baratta complements the summer strawberry notes in rosé. Gouda’s rose-colored rinds match the color of the wine for maximum visual appeal at the tasting table. Fresh, salt-brined Feta pays homage to dry White Zinfandel’s mid-palette mineral notes.

For a luxurious contrast worthy of taking the place of a decadent dessert, pair dry White Zinfandel with a dense, aged chèvre, and taste the wine’s inner minerality rise to the occasion. Elevate the experience by loading up the cheese board with lots of dried apricots, bananas, and cranberries.

Notable wine writer and educator Jim Laughren approaches all vinous subjects with a sense of fun and adventure. With a background as an importer, distributor, and collector, Jim’s career in wine has taken him around the globe several times over. Despite abundant experience in the world of wine, Jim brings wide-eyed wonder and enthusiasm to all aspects of his work. His most recent work, 50 Ways to Love Wine More: Adventures in Wine Appreciation, takes the reader straight into the heart of that wild-eyed wonder.

Kendall Jackson Pinot Noir Wine Tasting Notes

Because Kendall-Jackson is a major player on the world stage and a defining fixture of the California AVA with vineyards spread over more than 5000 yards along the Sonoma Coast, we actually didn’t want to like this red wine. We typically cheer for the underdog instead. Nonetheless, the deep-but-clear garnet coloring is the hallmark of a brilliantly crafted Kendall Jackson Pinot Noir, which is the most famous of all their variants.

After the first glance, we were prepared to be captivated. Kendall Jackson didn’t disappoint. Midsummer red raspberry and bright cherry fruit notes dance with sultry earthy notes infused with cola and mild spice accents in true Pinot fashion. We loved how this red wine’s taste was true to the promise delivered in its nose. We felt transported to the middle of a field filled with ripe raspberries on a warm summer day. The whispers of vanilla in its subtly soft finish brought an elegantly grand finale to this vintner’s reserve varietal. 

• Vintage: 2019
• AVA: California, California
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Retail Price: $14 
• Restaurant Price: Approximately $35
• Pairings: Perfect with a quality burger or lamb dish

MacMurray Estate Wine Tasting Notes

This opulent Pinot from Central Coast AVA offers a nearly translucent, dark jewel tone with just a hint of haze. Its fruity bouquet is laced with lavender fields, dark cherries, blackberries, and pomegranate, ending with the trademark hints of vanilla, signifying a traditionally crafted Pinot Noir that deviates sharply from the Kendall Jackson Pinot Noir’s berry pie notes.

MacMurray is an excellent choice for those who like their red a little on the sweet side. We even detected notes of hard candy swimming under its surface along with a contrasting small dash of freshly cracked black pepper. 

Overall, this fruity wine is an average, perfectly pleasant option that is well-suited as a picnic or cocktail wine. We also think it’s great on its own as a pre-dinner wine. Or sip it on the porch on a hot afternoon with a bowl of fresh fruit. 

• Vintage: 2019
• AVA: Central Coast, CA
• Alcohol: 13.9%
• Retail price: $26
• Restaurant Price: $65
• Pairing: Pair it with pork or casual al fresco fare

Halleck Vineyard Three Sons Wine Tasting Notes

The most expensive of our three options, we consequently expected more from this varietal — and it delivered. The crystal clear clarity was the first clue that we were in for a classic Russian River Valley Pinot Noir experience. This wine also delivered that elusive spark of artistry rarely captured by large commercial wineries. 

The nose was bright with light red cherries mingling seamlessly with notes of earth and forest floor. There’s also a gentle touch of warm cloves and cinnamon. We were particularly impressed with how this extremely well-balanced red delivered that extra pop of acidity that’s essential for superb pairings.

• Vintage: 2018
• AVA: Russian River Valley, California 
• Retail Price: $55
• Restaurant Price: Approximately $137
• Pairing: Pair it with Filet Mignon prepared with Porcini mushrooms and served with tarragon butter

Wine Tasting Video

Pinot Wrap Up

Each of these wines has a place on the dinner table, in the picnic basket, or at a cocktail party. We recommend:

1. MacMurray Estate Pinot Noir 2019 under the sun
2. Halleck Vineyard Three Sons Pinot Noir 2018 by candlelight
3. Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Pinot Noir 2019 for dressing up a burger or a casual pasta night. 

In closing, we feel like the Halleck Vineyard’s Pinot Noir option brings boutique winery artistry to the table in a tangible way. There are a large number of lovely New World Pinot Noirs on today’s market. But this is the one to uncork when the occasion calls for something out of the ordinary.

If you’d like to try it, we invite you to join us for an intimate Sonoma wine tasting in Sebastopol at our estate. Our shop our selection of some of the Best California Pinot Noir.