IN PHOTOS: Rhone Rangers Grand Tasting (March 28)

Craneway Pavilion, on the waterfront in Point Richmond, with
magnificent Bay views, was the venue for the Rhone Rangers
this year, for the second year in a row

A silent auction in the center of things raised money for a
Rhone Rangers scholarship fund

Sebastian Donoso, winemaker for Hopland-based
Campovida winery, with two of his wines
from organic vines - the estate Viognier
and a Grenache from the Dolan family's
nearby Biodynamic vineyard - Dark Horse Ranch 

Lasseter Family Winery poured their Rosé and Chemin de Fer, a GSM blend 

Ridge Vineyards poured its beauties from Lytton Springs; pictured here
are David Gates, vineyard manager, and John Olney,
Ridge's Lytton Springs winemaker

Bob Lindquist of Qupé had more than a dozen wines to try, including
his beautiful Syrahs from the Sawyer Lindquist estate.
 He's never shy about wearing his Dodgers attire in the Bay Area.
Friday night, he won the Rhone Rangers' Lifetime Achievement
Award. Hurray!

Sondra Bernstein, proprietess of Sonoma classic
The Girl and the Fig, serving forth a stemaing
heap of French Rhone goodness in the form
of a cassoulet

Her cassoulet is a perennial favorite at the Rhone Rangers

Cassoulet looks like it's ready for its closeup...hmmm...
better reach for a nice bottle of an American Rhone wine...