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Liza Zimmerman
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Cool Climate winery opens in the Russian River Valley
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Liza the Wine Chick and friends arrive at the winery.
The C. Donatiello Winery, named for owner Chris, opened last weekend in Sonoma just outside of Healdsburg. Last Saturday evening press and trade were treated to a sneak preview of the beautiful property complete with an aroma garden.
I headed up with a posse of buddies (see picture). Thanks to the fabulous publicist Paige Poulos who sent us a stretch limo. Forgive me if I need to publicly thank someone who does something this lovely on online. I don't think I have been in stretch limo since the prom in high school and had to sign a release promising we would not get ill in the car or pay the consequences. Needless to say, we behaved.
The winery features a certified-organic lineup of two Chardonnays, a Sauvignon Blanc and a lovely rosé. The Sauvignon Blanc and rosé are only available at the winery. As a Pinot specialist, C. Donatiello also makes three different lines of Pinot Noir. My favorite, as is often the case, was the simplest and least expensive of the three: the 2006 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, priced at $48. They also produce a Pinot of the same vintage from the Floodgate and Maddie's Vineyards. Total production at the winery is small, but not excessively tiny, at 7,500 cases.
The hedge-lined entranceway is a gracious approach to the meticulously arranged aroma herb garden flanked by a beautiful wood deck and view of the vineyards. The night we visited delectable nibbles from chefs Todd Muir and John Littlewood were on offer.
The winery will also be home to an extensive music program, every Sunday from mid June until the end of September performers such as Otis Taylor and Booker T. Jones will take the stage. Chris Donatiello said that the segue into music was a natural as; "music, food and drink are some of life's true pleasures." More detailed information on the summer concert lineup can be found on the winery's website.
I have been in my birth town of New York that last couple of days and can only imagine the cool breezes up there. It's 80 degrees and humid here and I will keep you updated shortly on what some of the best drinks New Yorkers are imbibing, and cooling off with, shortly.
In Good Spirits,
Liza the Wine Chick
The tasting room.
Chef Littlewood has a laugh.
Topics: Pinot Noir
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