Our late winter Barrel Tasting weekend(s) offer more proof that there is no finite list of ways to enjoy wine and all its associated pleasures and sensory experiences.
The Wine Road’s annual Barrel Tasting event beginning here tomorrow will lure the very serious wine collectors, looking for the newest liquid golden discoveries. Nearby more boisterous mobile crowds of fun-seekers will party through the 100-plus open house cellars while more discerning couples will closely follow their pre-mapped day’s itinerary, careful not to miss their favorite zinfandel or other Russian River Valley favorite.
In a crowd of what is expected to be almost 20,000 winegoers here for the next two weekends, you would expect to meet a veritable “United Nations” of palettes, personalities and party styles. And, amazingly, for those locals or others, who want the Wine Road to themselves, there’s a set of strategies for that, too. (See Box Below.)
From its very modest beginning in 1978 with a few dozen participating wineries, the Russian River Wine Road’s Barrel Tasting event has grown from a two-day event to a six-day event with more than 144 participating wineries in Alexander, Dry Creek and the Russian River valleys.
Besides the draw of escaping winter’s hibernation with thousands of other wine lovers, each participating winery opens its cellars, special barrels and mid-winter discounts to Barrel Weekenders. Winemakers and winery owners step out from behind their counters and offices to share tasting notes and stories from last year’s harvest. Many conversations also turn to spring and the upcoming releases of the newest whites and the reds that will follow by summer’s end.
Only the weather could change this bucolic scene. And it might.
“We all know we need some rain, but, please not on the weekends,” pleaded Beth Costa, the Wine Road’s executive director who announced 15,000 pre-sold tickets as of this past weekend.
Besides the weather caution, Barrel Tasting workers also stress a short list of other “do’s”and “don’ts.”
“Pack a picnic,” Costa suggests. “Unlike our other events, Barrel Tasting is not a food pairing event, although some wineries do offer some pairings.” No one under age 21 is allowed at the event and large groups in buses, stretch limousines and big car caravans are strongly discouraged and banned at the smaller wineries. (Sorry, no pets.)
In recent years, the Wine Road has paired with the Redwood Empire Food Bank in raising thousands of dollars for the non-profit food pantry. This year $1 of each $40 ticket is being donated to the food bank and all proceeds from the $5 designated driver tickets will be donated as well.
The genesis of Barrel Tasting served two purposes. First, the fledgling direct-marketing group of wineries was looking for an “off season” winter event to attract crowds. Second, to create some important early year “cash flow,” many of the wineries began to sell “futures.”
This year, about two-thirds of the participating wineries (105) will be selling “futures” on pre-released wines. That’s where the barrels come in.
Cellar visitors are offered “thieved” pours of unfinished wines straight from the barrel. It takes a very discerning palette to judge the future potential and structure of the immature wine — but it can be done. And the winemaker is usually right there to help. The reward is a special pre-release discount on case lots of the wines that are picked up or shipped later in the year at the public release date.
These days, many of these featured “future” wines sell out prior to their public release and can only be purchased at a winery event like Barrel Tasting.
“We now see people arriving as early as Wednesday before the first weekend,” said Costa. “They may go out scouting a bit on Thursday and then do all their ‘futures purchasing’ that first Friday. The local inns are beginning to really love this event.”
Not too many of the area’s restaurants and shops complain either, with Barrel Tasting now attracting visitors from all 50 states and from overseas as well, according to Costa. With all the mid-winter activity and postive cash flow comes associated costs. Narrow roads and winery entrances become car-clogged at peak tasting hours and locals with errands to run in town are known to fume a bit.
“We stress responsible tasting and behavior on all our messages and advertising,” said Costa. “Barrel Tasting is a very popular event. What can we say?
Experience Barrel Tasting Your Own Way
LOCALS SECRETS — Among the 144 participating wineries are several smaller wineries that are rarely open to the public. Spy them out and visit early in the day before the big crowds wake up!
PICK A NEIGHBORHOOD — Say you have a favorite or a “must do” winery. OK, after your visit, draw a circle on your Wine Road Map and limit your barrel tasting tour to that one neighborhood of wineries. Surprises and rewards await you.
JOIN A WINE CLUB — As popular as ever with both the public and wineries, Wine Clubs are a great way to have the opportunity to buy special releases and discounts. Events like Barrel Tasting offer the opportunity to meet and start a relationship with a winery owner, winemaker or Wine Club director.
