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Monday, June 24, 2024

150+ Wines! Rhone Rangers Tasting This Weekend in Sonoma

A certain contingent of Rhone Rangers have been stalwart fans of certified organic and biodynamic farming since the group started, with these producers punching above their weight (percentage wise) when it comes to how they farm (and get certified, too). From Cowhorn, Lindquist Family (formerly Qupe) and Tablas Creek's estate wines to newer entrants like Troon, the force is strong. 

This Saturday, the Rhone tribe will descend in Sonoma for their annual grand tasting, celebrating Rhone pioneer Steve Edmunds at a dinner Friday night (hurray, I'll be there and writing about it), and then pouring 150+ wines on Saturday at Cline.  

Come to the dinner to hear remarks from Bill Easton, Bob Lindquist, and Randall Grahm as they pay homage to Edmunds, one of the earliest to work with and recognize the quality of grapes from Rhone growers in the Sierra Foothills.  


Here are the folks with organic certified estates to look for:

Early under the spell of their organic rockstar vineyard "manager" Phil Coturri, this producer started planting Grenache. Lured by the promise of making amazing Syrah, they planted a new vineyard, with Coturri, in the Moon Mountain District AVA. See what happened next.

They make a Lytton Springs grown estate Syrah blend with Grenache and Mataro. Hopefully they will be pouring it.

Grenache, Syrah... and...more Grenache...this organic powerhouse winery has it all. (If we are lucky maybe they will break out the A Deux Tetes wines, too.)

Those who buy organic grapes:

Makes a Vermentino and a Picpoul from the former Windmill vineyard (Steve Matthiasson got it going) in Solano County. And a carbonic Carignane from Trimble Vineyard in Hopland. And an orange wine from organic vines in Lodi. You can also check out their sparkling orange wine in cans.

Not certified but iconic and organic in the vines: 

This was the year I finally got to meet Bill Easton and to taste the wines. Yowsa. What a treat. 

Hope to see you there. Ticket info

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