A Bad Taste In My Mouth
So, today I dropped by the Nicholson Ranch to taste wine.
I live in Sonoma County and love that fact that many great wines are right in the neighborhood. So, I often stop by at a local winery to taste their wares when traveling from one point to another. I've been admiring the property where this winery is located years. It's on the corner of highway 12/121 and Napa Rd. just outside of Sonoma. It's really a beautiful place up on a hill.
I've been driving by it for a long time now, always wanting to stop in, but we've always been going by too early in the morning or without the time to drop by. Finally, this afternoon I had my chance.
I walked it to a bit of a crowd but not a deal breaker, for sure. I mosey up to the bar and see that they're giving me the 'chance' to taste 6 of their wines for $10. Now, anyone can run their business however they want. Many wineries charge for tasting. But, I'm not going to pay someone just so I can buy some more!
My point: do I really want to support a local winery that charges me to sample their wines? Uh, no. I am a local wine fan (not a snob). I want to support this region. I've met so many nice wine makers who are so impassioned about their wine they are willing to share it with me. Am a free loader? No way. Let me finish. If one of these fine people is nice enough to talk about their wines and share them with me, I feel more than obligated to buy some of their wine. That is part of the mystique. It's also darn good marketing. There are several wineries here that I'm very loyal, too. Why? They share they wine and passion for it. To me, it's kind of a psychological terrior - the friendly, sharing attitude of these folks is part of what I taste when experiencing their wine.
Nicholson Ranch - not!
Try these folks instead: Paradise Ridge, Siduri & Novy Family Wines, Hanna, Thumbprint, Bella, & A. Rafanelli. You won't be disappointed...as I was today...
