Spitting in the City
My two cohorts and I descended upon Fort Mason via BART and cab today around 1 pm. With dark clothing to conceal any spills and a good breakfast in our bellies, we made it though the slow line to enter into what is essentially Disneyland for wine drinkers: the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Having poured there last year, this time I wanted to to experience the tasting from the other side of the table.
With glasses and spit cups in hand, we made it through the crowds in a bit of a daze, no concrete plan in mind, as we’d forgotten the list of winners (and not all winners are present at the tasting anyway). Readers and drinkers, with a wine glass, paper cup, loaf of bread, etc. in hand, it’s hard to take notes or pictures. So we’ll have to rely on my memory for the stand-outs.
*Navarro, as usual, especially with the 2005 Late Harvest Muscat Blanc (a well-deserved Sweepstake winner) and the 2005 Edelzwicker (Double Gold)
* Fernwood Cellars Chardonnay
*1996 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Cuvee’
*Sarah’s Vineyard Roussanne (not yet released and still a Gold)
*Vie Grenache Blend
*Pinot Noir from Patz and Hall, Fritz
*B.R. Cohn Petite Sirah (another Sweepstake winner)
*Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon
And of course, finally meeting El Jefe from Twisted Oak Winery, however briefly, and tasting his Syrah and The Spaniard.
Sadly, I couldn’t find a few I was set on trying, including the Roederer Sweepstake Winner and the Escafeld Petit Verdot: Double Gold Best of Class. I don’t know if Elsbeth was hiding or unable to make it, but I was disappointed not to taste and meet.
The girls and I ended up leaving a little bit earlier than we’d planned. Not many seemed to be using the spit cups as we were so wise to do, and the noise kept increasing at almost the same rate as the jostling. We decided to high-tail it out and grab some food to keep our wits about us. Besides, we had some bottles of wine to open later for OTBN.
….Farley Walker
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
February 25th, 2007 at 2:39 am
I’ve always been impressed with Gloria Ferrer in Carneros. They have a great tour, by the way, and it’s a great place to stop in southern Sonoma, if you’re on your way up north to Healdsburg, Lytton Springs or Geyserville.
February 25th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Hi Farley, Sorry we didn’t make it along to the event–it would have been great to meet you! We were actually home watching our house being demolished! We did send wine along though, so I hope it was poured. Hope we’ll get a chance to share a glass soon!
February 25th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
hi Farley - was fun meeting you! I’m looking forward to actually getting a chance to chat with you someday. The good news is I got a great picture of you and your friends - here’s my post on the tasting:
http://www.elbloggotorcido.com/2007/02/san_francisco_g_1.html
I agree that there was way too little spitting going on. At a 4-hour tasting you just gotta do it! I’m not used to having to cut people off at a tasting…
February 28th, 2007 at 7:26 am
Ahren, I’ve been to GLoria Ferrer, and my only complaint is that you have to buy a glass–no tasting menu.
Elsbeth and El Jefe, I’ll have to come visit you both in your natural habitats, where hopefully there aren’t a ton of drunk, crazy adults running around. Oh, wait, El Jefe, that may be your natural habitat…