Photos from a Taste of Mendo: 19 Wineries with Organically Grown Wines Participated

It was a warm, breezy evening when hundreds filled Fort Mason to taste wines from Mendocino's three main areas: Ukiah/Hopland, Redwood Valley and Anderson Valley. More than 19 wineries offering organically grown wines participated.

Here are some photo highlights of the event.

It was a warm summery evening...

The exhibit hall was broken down into geographical
sections with Hopland/Ukiah in the front, Anderson Valley
on the left, and Redwood/Potter Valley in the back

Only a small map up high by the bathrooms
gave visitors an overview of the region
and its wineries; it would be nice to see
something more elaborate in future events

Here's the Ukiah Hopland section; there was no labeling for organic producers

Parducci poured

Fetzer poured a number of its wines, including its Coro

Paul Dolan booth

Yorkville Cellars is one of the few organic wineries in Anderson Valley
I was glad to meet the owners after visiting last month

Guinness McFadden (in the turquoise shirt) was on hand to pour
McFadden Wines; many of his organically grown grapes also
go into prestigious wines from Napa's Paris-tasting winner
Chateau Montelena and other wineries

Martha Barra of Barra and Girasole, affordably priced wines 

I finally got a chance to meet Maria Testa of Testa Wines; she makes
a natural, organic "Black" wine, which is 89% Cabernet ($20)

The event is great for bringing together all of Mendo's producers in one hall - a chance you won't find if you visit the region. However if you do want to visit the region, next weekend would be a good time to visit - it's the annual Taste of Redwood Valley, when 9 participating wineries open their doors. One fee gets you a two day pass in to see all of them. More than half are organic and some (small premium Cab producer Oster) open their doors only for visits on this day.