Leslie Sbrocco, host of KQED’s “Taste This,” visits Viansa Sonoma Winery in the Carneros region for some wine tasting and a picnic with a view.
Cool breezes, summer fog and the terroir make Carneros perfect for growing finicky pinot noir and chardonnay. Viansa Sonoma Winery, set atop a small hill at the entrance of the region, offers amazing views of San Pablo Bay and the Mayacamas Mountains. The winery also maintains 97 acres of wetlands making it an exceptional place to visit. And for Leslie, it’s a perfect place for a picnic.
Leslie chose two Viansa Sonoma wines to enjoy with her picnic:
2014 Viansa Reserve Chardonnay, Sonoma Valley $30
Excellent structure and integrity of fruit character, with notes of stone fruit and crème brulee. Toasted butterscotch, baked pear, and crème brulee dominate the palate with just the perfect amount of acid to balance the viscosity. The finish is generous with mandarin orange, toasted almonds and baked shortbread. Viansa’s Reserve Chardonnay is wonderful anytime with summer fare such as fresh seafood, and tropical fruit salad, to winter meals like creamy risotto or roasted winter squash. Drink now or cellar through 2018.
2013 Viansa Heritage Red Wine Blend, Sonoma Valley $40
Hugely intense aromas jump from the glass, full of deep dark berry fruit and a thread of herbal spice. The core is tinged with black plum, mulberry backed by gentle tannins and mild acidity. The finish lingers, latent with coco and cedar.
This article was originally published on ww2.kqed.org/food.
