Olive and Vine Restaurant-Sonoma Winecation June 2013

Everyone who has ever been to Sonoma knows about this restaurant. I first went there in 2009 during a wine bottling trip my husband put together after a wine label competition in the spring. 

Back then it was a place to eat and also listen to a local band that the owner's friend played in. Now that friend is married to the owner. Catherine and John are shown below. Go to their website and see the amazing dishes that she and her team cook and cater. The food is fabulous and John is the sommelier on staff. My husband has been long time friends with him and he takes very good care of us when we are there. Don uses his tour services each wine bottling year. John is a very fun man to have on board a bus of thirsty wine bottlers! He plays/sings and jokes all day when you are on his tours in Sonoma or Napa!

 Here are some of the wines he served us the night we were there on our winecation.

First was a Scharffenberger Brut Excellence Sparkling Wine ($20) made in the traditional way champagne is made. This is made from its own 120-acre vineyard in the Anderson Valley in the greater Mendocino County, California. It has received 90 points from both Wine Enthusiast and Wine and Spirits.

The next bottle of wine he served us was the 2011 Stark Grenache Blanc ($28) from the Santa Ynez Valley. It's a crisp clean white wine! Oh so good!

The last bottle of wine served was the 2007 Berthoud Ursus ($38), a proprietary blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petite Verdot. It is a muscular wine with an elegant balance.  It is an old world style wine.

We had a delicious dinner, finished with amazing desserts to share with the group!  If you get the chance, go by the restaurant, make reservations, and get ready to enjoy a fabulous dinner!

Enjoy!