California Wine Country

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Our three day trip started along the coast north of San Francisco. We had lunch in Bodega Bay, the setting for Alfred Hitchcock's movie "The Birds", and continued up to the Russian River. Then we headed inland and checked in at the Vintner's Inn, a great hotel set amongst rows and rows of chardonnay grape vines.

 
 
     
We had an upstairs room with a balcony overlooking the central courtyard with the sounds of a large fountain; a good place to relax with a glass of cool sauvignon blanc.
 
         
     

The following morning we took a drive back up to the Russian River and took a long hike amongst the redwood trees of Armstrong Park. (Click here for details). Then we toured the wine country and stopped at a couple wineries for a taste and stock up on some of our favorites. One of those is a cabernet sauvignon made by B.R.Cohn (North Coast Silver Label).

 

The Hop Kiln is more than a century old and was used to roast hops for the beer brewers of the west. Now it is an historic monument converted into a winery. It is located along a narrow side road, west of the Russian River; a bit hard to find but in an area with beautiful vineyards scattered in the rolling hills.

Many folks who like wines are familiar with several varieties. Some can tell the difference in taste, color and aroma. I wonder how many can tell the difference in the grapes that were used to make those wines.

Here is a tough test. Match the grape picture with the variety listed below:

1. Cabernet sauvignon                            2. Pinot noir

3. Merlot                                               4. Petite sirah

5. Zinfandel                                           6. Chardonnay

7. Gewurtztraminer                               8. Johannisberg riesling

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 
Finally here is one more for the real expert. What is it?
To see the answers click here.

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