A Spring of Food and Drink in Northern California

By Emma Krasov. Photography by Yuri Krasov.

It’s not like we ever experience real winter here, but still—when bright-yellow mustard flowers start popping up upon our green rolling hills and neatly combed vineyards, and the last rainy clouds give way to hot sunny skies, we know it’s time to eat, drink and enjoy the beginning of spring—a season of barrel tastings, restaurant weeks, winemakers dinners, and other culinary events all over the San Francisco Bay Area and California Wine Country. In fact, all kinds of celebrations of food and drink happen here all year round, but for a savvy traveler to Northern California early spring holds additional bonuses of blossoming wild flowers, beautiful weather, and better priced accommodations and attractions. (So, what are you waiting for?)

Trinchero Napa Valley Winery, St. Helena

In sunny California, there are good wineries, great wineries, even perfect wineries, and then there are wineries that create an inimitable atmosphere, make an indelible impression, or in other words offer a fulfilling experience that you won’t soon forget.

Trinchero Napa Valley Winery is one such place. Gorgeously appointed and decorated with historical memorabilia relevant to the founders of the estate, and intriguing contemporary art pieces, the elegant winery boasts multiple lounge facilities, a spacious tasting room, where Landon Donley, Chief Winemaker, provides educational sessions on his delightful creations, and a professional open kitchen helmed by James Houghton, Director of Culinary, who makes fresh mozzarella with his bare hands, and takes mere seconds to pull a fantastic fig, arugula, and cornflower pizza from an 800-degree oven.

A recent introduction of the new portfolio of excellent wines at Trinchero Napa Valley started with a winemaker’s comprehensive presentation and a reference to the family-owned winery’s legacy since the 1940s, when Italian Immigrants Mario and Mary Trinchero moved from New York City to California to make wines. The guided wine tasting was followed by a culinary demo and Italian family recipes food pairing from the winery’s kitchen team.

The biggest surprise of the launch event came in the form of many hats, echoing the new wines’ labeling. The Hattery of Sonoma County, based in Santa Rosa, presented each of the attendees with a gift of a custom hat in honor of the hard-working Trinchero family members who had to “wear many hats” while developing their remarkable business that started 75 years ago.

Here’s a list of the new Trinchero Napa Valley wines, available for tasting and purchase at the winery, and for ordering delivery: All the Hats Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Calistoga; All the Hats Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Napa Valley; Sisters-In-Law Chardonnay 2022, Napa Valley; Central Park West Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Napa Valley; Traces of Manhattan Red Blend 2021, Napa Valley, and Tale of Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Napa Valley.

“We proudly unveil six new wines, each seamlessly blending modern techniques with tradition and excellence,” states the winery. “You won’t find these wines in-store, but they are a must-try. Taste our new portfolio for yourself, with convenient doorstep delivery.”

Learn more about Trinchero Napa Valley, plan your visit, and order new wines at: https://www.trincheronapavalley.com/.

BACA Wines, Healdsburg

Attending wine tasting after wine tasting in our glorious Sonoma Valley, no matter how diverse are the wines, you might eventually find the process somewhat repetitive. Not so when a mostly female crew takes charge!

Kathryn Walt Hall, vintner and co-owner of the well-known HALL and WALT wineries, founded BACA Wines, (“BACA” is Latin for berry) led by Jennifer Brown, Director of BACA; Megan Gunderson, Director of Winemaking, and Alison Frichtl Hollister, Senior Winemaker, to create a robust portfolio of zinfandels (while HALL is famous for its cabernet sauvignon and WALT for pinot noir).

Sure, there are some male participants in the Hall family’s newest enterprise—Craig Hall, vintner and co-owner, and Mike Reynolds, President, but the fact is that the very idea of the playful endeavor, titled, Sensory Tasting Experience, came from the female corps.

Sensory Tasting Experience is not your run-of-the-mill wine tasting—it’s a game! Casino chips and playing cards on your table are there for a reason—you’re about to gamble on your taste buds to see if they’re up to deciphering all the mysterious tasting notes a winemaker attributes to her creations.

This unique experience starts with a solid black glass obscuring the color of the wine you’re about to identify, letting you figure out to the best of your sensory ability what you’re tasting. In this reporter’s case, that was 2021 BACA Ring Around the Rosé, made of zinfandel grapes, and perfectly setting the tone for a friendly competition with my companion. According to Peter Oakes, Tasting Room Manager, the game is intended for two or more participants, and surely the stakes are higher the larger the group.

On the four beautiful zins that followed (all named after childhood games) we were supposed to identify four tasting notes out of eight, presented on prompt cards neatly stacked by the each tasting glass.

2021 BACA Tug O’ War Zinfandel, Maffei Vineyard, Russian River Valley; 2020 BACA Somersault Zinfandel, Pacini Vineyard, Mendocino; 2019 BACA Cat’s Cradle Zinfandel, Rockpile AVA, and 2021 BACA I Spy Zinfandel, Howell Mountain AVA were offered to be described in terms of brambly fruits, licorice, violets, wild sage, and other whimsical flavors, like stone and sweet pine, to the detriment of my companion’s bidding, and my winning of a cute prize!

Fun, exciting, educational, and highly recommended experience, indeed!

BACA produces wines from many established wine-growing regions—Mendocino, Russian River Valley, Rockpile, Calistoga, Howell Mountain, Paso Robles, and others. The BACA portfolio includes eight zinfandels, a carignan, a petite sirah, a roussanne marsanne, and rosé of zinfandel.

The large and full of light BACA tasting room is beautifully furnished, and features a custom designed bar by artist Maggie Michael. The space also displays a 10-foot-tall painting “Angel Falls” by Pat Steir and a custom wall mural by Rita MacDonald titled “Torque.” From the bar, you can see a green vineyard, dotted with mustard flowers. The 22-acre property offers plenty of open air seating, picnic tables, to which you can bring your own lunch, and outdoor artworks. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations for all tastings are encouraged at www.bacawines.com.

Taste Tri-Valley Restaurant Week

Happening from February 23 to March 3, Taste Tri-Valley Restaurant Week, presented by Fremont Bank, and in its fourth year now, is more like a ten-day event, but who’s counting!

Or rather, why count a good thing by the day? Every day of Taste Tri-Valley is a celebration of food and drink in the California’s oldest wine-producing and agricultural region. According to a historical record, the first grapes were planted in Livermore Valley by Spanish missionaries in the late 18^th century. The geographical area of Tri-Valley includes the cities of Pleasanton, Livermore, San Ramon, Dublin and Danville, and prominent historical wineries, like Wente Vineyards, Concannon Vineyards, Las Positas Vineyards, and many others.

At the opening industry kick-off party in the AC Hotel Pleasanton, Las Positas Vineyards and Shadow Puppet Brewing Company presented their libations alongside culinary creations of the hotel’s kitchen team. Taste Tri-Valley closing brunch is scheduled for Sunday, March 3 at Las Positas Vineyards in Livermore. Fizz, Food & Fun includes a mimosa bar, live music, and a seated five-course gourmet pairings of food and Las Positas wines. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Sunflower Hill, a nonprofit organization based in the Tri-Valley that aims to create affordable housing and opportunities for people with disabilities and special needs. Get your tickets at https://www.laspositasvineyards.com/.