Rhone Rangers Mini Tasting in Oakland - July 23

Campovida's Taste of Place Oakland tasting room (near Jack London Square) will host a North Coast Rhone Rangers wine tasting event Saturday afternoon, July 23, from 12-4. (The 12-1 slot is for VIPs). Tickets are $20 in advance or $30 at the door and can be purchased online. If you want to taste during the less crowded 12-1 time slot, add $10 for a VIP ticket.

If you haven't visited this tasting room, it's housed in a historic brick building on what was once Oakland's waterfront.

Who's Pouring

There are 12 featured wineries who will be pouring. The organically grown wines among them include:

Campovida



Winemaker Sebastian Donoso is my favorite Mendocino winemaker.

Don't miss his Grenache from Dark Horse Ranch's Biodynamic grapes ($42) - a perennial standout and one of my personal favorites.

Also available: 2014 estate Viognier from the certified organic Campo dos Robles vineyard.

In addition, Campovida also has a 2014 Riesling from McFadden Vineyards, a vineyard known for its outstanding Rieslings, which are also made by Napa's Chateau Montelena as well as by McFadden itself.

Ridge Vineyards

This Zin and Rhone powerhouse winery has just converted all of its 200 acres of Sonoma old vine vineyards to organic certification, thanks to many years of effort by vineyard manager David Gates and his team.

Look for its Zin from newly certified organic vines: the 2014 East Bench Zinfandel.

Field Family Cellars 

This Lodi winery certified its Syrah a few years back and may have an organically grown estate Syrah on offer. Check with the winery.

Nearby

Check out the pleasures of visiting Jack London Square (half a mile away) - for an urban adventure follow the railroad tracks, which used to be the Oakland waterfront.

Or check out the neighbors: the infamous and popular Linden Street Brewery (hipster heaven) and, after 5:30, The Dock restaurant, a casual dining establishment run by Oakland's only Michelin rated chef.

You can also run over to Dashe Cellars, also nearby, and taste some more wines from McFadden vineyard's grapes. Dashe makes a Riesling and a Zin (medium bodied; not a heavy tannic monster) from these vines.

For more information or to buy a ticket, click here.