Taste Moon Mountain District at its Big June 1 Event

The 2023 masterclass on Moon Mountain District 

When I first started writing about wine in 2011, I began researching certified organic estate wineries and eventually then found this guy who was a legendary rock star organic viticulturist who happened to live on Moon Mountain–Phil Coturri. 

If I drove to any of the many wineries he worked on in what was then "Sonoma Valley," my little 1991 vintage Miata  (collectible now!) would barely navigate poorly paved, twisty, windy, narrow roads on steep mountain hillsides. It was pothole city–and hardly a valley.

By 2013, Phil and friends–many of whom had their estates planted by Coturri (a list that includes Kamen, Reprise, Stone Edge, to name a few)–had righted that wrong, separating the mountainous parts of what had been Sonoma Valley into a new Moon Mountain District AVA.

Today Moon Mountain District has a distinctive identity. Some say it's Sonoma's answer to mountain grown Cab in Napa–although the prices might be less than what Napa is able to charge (although Moon Mountain Cab prices have been rising). But that would be an uneducated, outsider perspective. It is actually its own very unique place and terroir, as you will learn if you're able to be among the lucky to attend the June 1 masterclass the AVA has planned. 

AN ORGANIC HEARTLAND 

Due to Phil's handiwork and guidance, the Moon Mountain District has more certified organic vineyards (by percentage) than any other Sonoma appellation, and that is something to celebrate in a county that is a bit behind the times on that score. But mostly it's just about pleasure, pure pleasure, that you can enjoy and celebrate with others on June 1. 

A WORTHY CELEBRATION

Saturday, June 1, the AVA will celebrate ten years of vintages (starting with 2013) with a masterclass with Antonio Galloni and a grand tasting with 25 wineries participating. Nine have certified organic estates, one is in transition to organic certification and two others buy grapes from certified organic estates. 

Here are the wineries with certified organic vines:

1. Hanzell Vineyards

2. Kamen Estate Wines

3. Korbin Kameron

4. Lasseter Family Winery

5. Liquid Sky Wines

6. Moon Hollow Estate

7. Repris Wines

8. Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyards & Winery

9. Winery Sixteen 600

These wineries buy grapes from Louis M. Martini's Monte Rosso which is in transition to organic certification: 

1. Muscardini Cellars 

2. Sojourn Cellars 

BOOK

All of the certifieds are included in Slow Wine Guide 2024. Learn more, see a sample winery listing , or buy the book here on slowwineusa.com.  

LISTEN UP

To hear more about the region and get psyched to buy tickets for this event, listen to The Wine Makers podcast, hosted by, among others, Sam Coturri. 

TICKETS TO MOON MOUNTAIN EVENT SATURDAY JUNE 1

Get tickets here.