Love this quote from winemaker Cynthia Cosco posted on her website:
“I believe something magical happens
when you bring wonderful friends, awesome food,
and great wines together.”
I believe that too, Cindy. Something washes over me, a form of relief and relaxation. Something that makes my default expression a smile and my immediate response a laugh. And to all those nay-sayers and negative energies…
Bohème Wines takes its name based on its Bohemian Highway location along the Sonoma Coast. Back in 1872 a San Francisco-based men’s club, the Bohemian Club was established — a group of artists, prominent business leaders, even a few government officials. In 1878, the men decided to follow the Bohemian Highway route to what is now referred to as the Bohemian Grove. Here the club would host a two to three week encampment celebrating art in all forms — whether created by man or nature.
I came across Fore Family Vineyards during my last excursion to Lake County. An enjoyable experience at the tasting room’s downtown Kelseyville location, I was intimately hosted by both Jim and Diane Fore. (To be honest, it was 11am on a rainy Saturday morning — no one in their right mind was out wine tasting that day.) I tasted through a full line up of their current releases, but it was this GSM Rhone-style blend that, to me, elegantly displayed what their unique plot of Lake County has to offer.
I had such a great experience with the Clos Pegase Sauvignon Blanc, I was quite excited to move on to their Chardonnay. Interestingly, these two very different grapes come from the same vineyard — Mitsuko’s Vineyard in the cool(ish) climate of the Los Carneros appellation. The sprawling 365 acre vineyard boasts a wide array of soil types and elevations that creates a broad range of microclimates suited for different varietals.While the portion planted to Sauvignon Blanc is all about the Bordeaux-like soil, the portion planted to Chardonnay (and Pinot Noir) is all about those chilly breezes wafting off of the San Pablo Bay.
On my most recent trip to Sonoma, I popped by the highly recommended Mounts Winery. A tiny little shack hidden in the hills of Dry Creek, this is the kind of winemaker one-on-one experience I crave every time I visit a winery. Admittedly, his wife Lana is usually behind the tasting table, but I came on a day when winemaker and third-generation vineyard owner, David Mounts, was able to host my small little group through a tasting of current releases himself.
