Barrel Tasting

Most people say there is “nothing to do,” around Sonoma State. Those people have never experienced Barrel Tasting. This past weekend a couple of friends and I loaded up our cars and headed on the Wine Road to Dry Creek Valley and the Russian River Valley to taste some of the nation’s top wines.

This Northern Sonoma County event draws people in from all over the state and also, college students. Party buses, stretch limos, or just a roommate to drive you around in your car; they all came to taste the reds and the whites.

You not only will learn about the wine you are drinking, you can see the vineyard where it was bottled. They explain which wine goes with what food (they even have food samples of chocolate, bacon and grits, to hot roast beef sandwiches), how big your wine glass should be depending on the win and you learn the entire 411 of wine tasting.

Going to school in Sonoma County, I have had the stereotype of knowing about wine. Whenever I am at dinner with old friends or family I usually hear, “Oh you pick the wine, you’re from the wine country, you’ll know what’s good.” When really I’m thinking, crap I have no idea; this is going to be embarrassing. By going to this weekend event, I learned the basic and that I actually LOVE wine.

If you’re ever in Sonoma County in the first few weeks of March, and you have a sober driver, you should definitely go barrel tasting. If you like wine or not, they offer the complete experience of Northern Sonoma County. The beautiful vineyards, lakes and wineries all offer something to everyone. It is about experiencing the culture of the Wine Road and maybe you’ll even pick up a new hobby of wine tasting.

Whether you’re a wino, wine diva or not, you should probably go wine tasting sometime in your life. Overall it is an extremely fun weekend to spend with friends and family, with great food and wine.