The Windsor Green Half Marathon - May 2014

The day was May 18th, 2014. The Windsor Green Half Marathon-10K-5K - Sonoma County's newest and biggest race - started and finished on the Windsor Town Green.

There was something enormously bright and colorful about the whole scene before start. Suddenly the time makes it impossible to be on call and the only thing on your mind and to-do list is to run! 

An Iconic Winemaker Ed Sbragia Continues to Work His Magic

The year melted into Summer. I am standing on my favorite terrace at the Sbragia Family Vineyards in the early afternoon, drenched with golden light and taking in the dramatic view. I am thinking again that this place reminds me of something - some forgotten mood or feeling from my past. It is so peaceful and beautiful up here. And I am hopelessly in love with Sbragia wines...

There is always a certain degree of mystery in a glass of good wine for me. The wine has to have a touch of aromas that's recognizable, but at the same time cannot be too obvious. I know I need some guidance in the art of loving and understanding wines, and I truly believe that Ed Sbragia is a brilliant and generous winemaker and teacher. The surprise and the magic of his wines are here, in every glass of his wines.  

My favorites for the moment (from the Wine Club Exclusive Wines) are 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon (Andolsen Vineyard), 2010 Vino Rosso (Bordeaux Blend) and 2009 Petite Sirah (Teldeschi Vineyard).

“Why do you sell your wine, merchant? What can they give you in exchange for your wine? Money? … And what can money give you? Power? … Aren't you the owner of the world when you are holding a drink? Is anyone richer than you, who have gold in your cup, Rubies, Pearls, Dreams, and Love? Don't you feel the blood burning in your veins when the cup kisses your lips?” 

- Omar Khayyam 

Dutcher Crossing Winery: Magic of Vision and Wine

The car slowed up at the parking lot of the Dutcher Crossing Winery and I caught sight of the main house and simple wooden tables and benches that came suddenly into my view. There were happy and noisy parti-colored crowds inside and outside. There was a great and constantly increasing amount of red and white roses that silhouetted against the wine fields. What a magnificent place it was!

I wonder what is it that causes this happy feeling, this sensation that you are being helplessly drawn to a place like this? Well... I adapted myself to the wine tasting culture, I guess :) I became a wine lover!

My favorites at the Dutcher Crossing Winery are 2012 Greewood Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir and 2010 Luciana's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Truett Hurst Winery: Unique Wine Country Atmosphere

Part of the pleasure of wine tasting, one that lies in a long tradition of the industry, is being able to identify the wine more nuanced aromas from the grape variety or the blend, which define the culture and quality of wine at any given moment, which presence in the wine shapes the way it looks and influences the way we like it. There are so many aromatics happening at the same time and it's hard to separate one smell from the other, but it is fun to try.

Truett Hurst Winery is one of my favorite places to sample wines. There is something undeniably down-to-earth and relaxing about this place, where the time makes it possible to forget about your phone :) and enjoy the wine and wine country ordinary moments.  

Donald and Maureen Green Music Center is a New Wonder of the World

The wealthy and generous sun glittered in bright gold through large windows, lighting upon the interior of The Joan and Sanford I. Weill Hall, upon the Bahia Orchestra Project of young Brazilian musicians; upon the conductor Ricardo Castro; upon the pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet; upon the casually-dressed audience; upon chairs, made of European steamed beech wood; upon the lovely concert program in my hands. And the music began...

The sound was rich, clear, and true. The Orchestra performed Tchaikovasky (Romeo and Juliet Fantasy), Ravel Piano Concerto in G Major, Revueltas - Semsemaya, Villa-Lobos (from Bahianas 4), Arturo Marquez - Danzon 2, and a uniquely Brazilian finale. The finale started with high samba cuica drums, then the strings kicked in, and the musicians began standing up and sitting down by groups. All the parts of the concert were sensational.

The Hall, the Bahia Orchestra, the music, the sound, and the sun were phenomenal.

Along the Wine Road in Spring

I have a profound affection for California, but spring always makes me think of my childhood in Siberia, and my almost hopeless dreams of warm weather after the dead of long winter.  With the awakening of nature, my first perception was always a sense of complete bliss, a sweet ache at the sight of new life around me.

On these days, when I am driving Healdsburg side roads, I am in that familiar mood, but marked by a craving for luxury of vivid California colors of blue, green, yellow, rose and orange.

All life is Spring!

Barrel Tasting: Young Wine to Sip and a View to Enjoy

First day of March dripped rain, and the world of Sonoma County became pale, wet and beholden.

With a simple pleasure that never grows old, my husband and I joined the group of our dear friends for the barrel tasting tour. This was the 36th year of a sneak-peek wine tasting event that covered 100-plus wineries in the Dry Creek, Alexander and Russian River valleys.

After breathing the fresh air and tasting young wines and hearing the stories of winemakers, I felt like I'd lived life a little more happier than if I'd stayed at home. I still remember this wonderful feeling of sipping wine in the wine cellar at Rodney Strong, wandering beautiful and sleepy lands of Truett-Hurst, looking at the wet fields from the balcony of Chateau Diana, listening to the happy chatter of the crowds at Sbragia, and tasting wine and tri-tip sandwich at Wilson.