The Flamingo Resort, Santa Rosa, circa 1959: it was the place to stay north of the bay within two years of its opening, a posh retreat for the Hollywood Jet Set. One could find the likes of Jayne Mansfield, dramatic and daring in her then-scandalous two-piece swimsuit, soaking up the sun poolside and presumably posing for the local paparazzo.

I remember our family trips to see my nana in Kenwood. We would motor up Highway 101 from Santa Clara all the way to the Highway 12 exit into downtown Santa Rosa, and would always drive past the Flamingo before turning south toward Kenwood and the Sonoma Valley. I profess a fondness for art deco and googie architecture, and even as a young kid was struck by the way the resort’s iconic tower—with flamingo perched atop—evoked all things exotic to me. It was the epitome of cool before I knew what cool really was. I knew the good life must be happening, right there in Santa Rosa. Little did I know at the time that I would someday return as part of a new revolution.

Fast-forward nearly fifty years: the Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa has undergone a recent major refurbishing, and the City of Santa Rosa has declared it a historic landmark. It is still the place to see and be seen, and it is, as was announced today, a place where wine bloggers from all over the U.S., possibly even the world, will convene October 24-26 for the North American Wine Bloggers Conference, the first event of its kind.

It purports to be a classic mix of yesterday’s hip, today’s hype, and tomorrow’s vinotechnolust. Sessions over the three-day conference will include speakers Alice Feiring and Gary Vaynerchuk as well as tasting competitions and a handful of Sonoma County vineyard walks. Of course, being that the greater bulk of us wine bloggers have only met online, the opportunities for glass-to-glass networking will be lively and legion. The big fun, I suspect, will be the Blind Tasting Challenge, which will have us testing our skills at identifying grape varietals and regions within each of the twelve Sonoma County appellations.

I’m going to be there. In late October, you can probably expect to see more than one report from me about the experience here on Winehiker Witiculture, and I’m sure they will be interesting. In the meantime, to get a full sense of the event, today’s press release follows. It’s interesting all by itself.

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Changing World of Wine Journalism Focus of 2008 Wine Bloggers Conference

Wine Bloggers From Across America to Converge in Wine Country October 24-26

SONOMA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–America’s new wine media will gather in Sonoma County, California on October 24-26 for the first annual Wine Bloggers Conference. As the number and influence of wine bloggers grows, the Sonoma gathering will bring together hundreds of online wine scribes to discuss their impact, how to better impart information to wine lovers across the globe, and how to stake their claim as the next generation of wine media.

Organized by the OpenWine Consortium and Zephyr Wine Adventures, the three-day conference will take place at the Flamingo Resort and Spa in Santa Rosa, California. Wine Bloggers and other attendees will be treated to a series of seminars, vineyard walks, wine dinners, tasting competitions, and an exposition of mass wine blogging.

WINE BLOGGING CHANGING WINE JOURNALISM

“Wine blogging in America has exploded in terms of the number of people maintaining wine blogs as well as their impact on how wine lovers and the industry get their news,” said Joel Vincent, an organizer of the conference. “The wine blogging community has always been close-knit but never had an event of its own or opportunity to all come together to discuss the state of their efforts.”

In addition to wine bloggers, the conference is open to wine industry participants and media professionals that want to learn more about the wine blogging community and how it is changing the way wine information and news is communicated.

Among the speakers at the 2008 Wine Bloggers Conference will be Alice Feiring, an award-winning writer and author who also maintains her own wine blog, and Gary Vaynerchuk, author, wine retailer and proprietor of the wildly popular Wine Library TV videoblog.

WINE BLOGGERS WIELDING INCREASED CLOUT

The sponsors of this year’s conference indicate the importance and growing influence of wine bloggers. Among those sponsoring the conference are Sebastiani Vineyards, the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau, Inertia Beverage Group, the Sonoma County Vintners Association, and the Sonoma Winegrape Commission.

“For decades wine writing and popular wine education has been dominated by a few visible critics and wine publications, yet the emergence of hundreds of wine blogs and their millions of readers is changing that old model,” explained Vincent. “Technology is changing the way the wine industry is covered and explored, and blogging has a broader and more democratic character. The bloggers attending this year’s conference are responsible for implementing these changes.”

More information on the 2008 Wine Bloggers Conference can be found at: http://www.winebloggersconference.com/.

OpenWine Consortium is a global, non-profit wine industry association featuring the newest generation of emerging companies, wineries, publishers, services and a motivated community dedicated to changing the world of wine. Zephyr Wine Adventures is the leading provider of active hiking, biking, and multisport wine vacations in locations throughout the world.

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For an additional perspective on the upcoming conference, I invite you to read today’s post from Tom Wark’s Fermentation, titled The Wine Bloggers Conference is Here!

~winehiker

When I’ve walked the paths through the stately giants of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, about 30 miles from my hometown, I’ve always been awed by the majesty of those timeless trees. Equally timeless, it seems, is the far-off whistle of the historic Roaring Camp steam locomotive that runs daily from its mountain home in the town of Felton to its terminus at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Hearing that lonesome whistle blast always makes me yearn to transport myself to faraway places, and so it is a welcome sound in my ears as I meander along the banks of the San Lorenzo River.

There’s something about being outdoors and getting a concurrent dose of history. There’s also something to be said for adding fine wine to that equation.

This Sunday, May 18th, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., the Santa Cruz Mountain Wine Growers Association (SCMWA) will sponsor its inaugural Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Railway and Auction, to be held at the Roaring Camp & Big Trees Railroad Museum in Felton, California. Guests will be able to enjoy wines from over 50 SCMWA-member wineries - which is to say, nearly all of them - plus get an opportunity to ride the venerable Roaring Camp train through the redwood forests of this mountain appellation.

From the SCMWA website:

Wines tasting will be accompanied by delectable appetizers, as well as, a silent and live auction. Auction items include rare wines, large format bottles, getaways to world class resorts, and trips, unique private winemakers’ dinners and much more.

Tickets are $55 in advance, $65 at the door, and $20 for children; leashed dogs are allowed. For reservations, or for more information, contact the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association at (831) 685-VINE (8463) or send them an email at info@scmwa.com.

~winehiker

Wine 2.0 is, apparently, the confluence of wine and technology that results in purple teeth. Without a whole lot of fanfare, I hereby offer photos from last night’s Wine 2.0 Spring Fling at Crushpad in San Francisco. Many thanks to Cornelius Geary and Jeff Playter of Rad-Cru for hosting what many folks felt was a very successful evening.

Before the human onslaught, a pre-wine moment: Say hello to WineQ.com’s Marshall Sontag & Brittany Dean, and Wine Biz Radio’s Randy Hall.

That tall fella is Jeff Stai (a.k.a. El Jefe) of Twisted Oak Winery. To his left are Randy Hall and Patrick Llerena (a.k.a. Oenophilus) of Iridesse Wines. That’s yours truly on the left, blinded by the light, but already purply-teethed. Go figure.

El Jefe, flanked by those ubiquitous rubber chickens, pours his popular Syrah for a couple of the wine industry guys. Note the Twister mat as table cover.

Philip James of Snooth.com flew in from Manhattan for his first Wine 2.0 experience, and for good reason: the networking potential on this night made for an incredible blur of flying business cards.

That’s me and Cameron Hughes. His wines exhibited enormous purple-stain potential, especially Number 69, which *ahem* showed good legs.

~winehiker

I’ve been invited by the nice folks at Cinnabar Winery to speak at their next Alchemy Tuesdays program, which is scheduled for January 8th. The public is invited, and yes! - it’s on a Tuesday evening. Imagine that.

So far I’d have to say I’m delighted by the variety of speakers who have presented in this monthly series. I especially enjoyed October’s presentation featuring Monique Lee, a volunteer with the California Bat Conservation Fund - so much so that I wrote a post about it the following day. At the time, Halloween was fast approaching, and so the timing of Monique’s presentation could not have been better.

January has its own appeal, too, for it represents new beginnings - a time when many of us look ahead with dreams for the new year and plans to realize those dreams. Often those plans include our own sense of well-being as well as the positive changes we desire to make for ourselves. I’ve often regarded my time in the outdoors as being wholly therapeutic; there’s nothing like a good hike to heighten my sense of engagement with the world. And it can’t be overlooked how beneficial moderate wine consumption can be. Both of these passions are also highly social endeavors, and thus I can surely tell you that there’s nothing better than experiencing the glow of camaraderie in the faces and voices of the many people who have joined me thus far on the winehiking trail.

I’ll therefore be presenting about how hiking and wine integrate with each other in my California Wine Hikes tours. But more than that, I’ll be talking about those things that make me so passionate about all that the California wine country represents to wine lovers and nature lovers alike. Plus, I’ll be throwing in a Winehikerism or two.

If you’ll be local to the San Francisco peninsula or the San Jose area on January 8th, then come to Cinnabar’s tasting room for the wines and cheeses. Or come to see me! In any case, I hope you’ll consider attending.* I promise it will be fun!

My presentation will start at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $10 and include wine and cheese. Seats are limited, though, so if you’re planning to go, do sign up soon. I hope to raise my glass to you in Saratoga!

~winehiker

*Special reason to attend: I’ll be offering 10% off my York Mountain & Edna Valley Hiker’s Paradise tour scheduled for June 8-12, 2008.

Having a few friends on Facebook is a cooler thing than I expected it would be. For instance, while I originally joined Facebook some weeks back to ostensibly stay in touch with my burgeoning band of wine and hiking friends - bloggers and nonbloggers alike - I sometimes find myself invited to actually see them face-to-face!

Tonight is such a night. I’ve been invited by Cornelius Geary of RadCru.com to attend a Wine 2.0 mixer in San Francisco that will be showcasing the latest releases from over 40 local small-producer wineries. With a $40 pre-admission, I believe I can easily taste at least $40 worth of really good wines*, many poured by the winemakers themselves. If you know your boutique California wineries, you might agree that the wares of the following producers - and talking with them - will give me a shiny happy face tonight.

Bourassa, Cameron Hughes Wine, Canihan Wines, Clautiere Winery, Concannon, Creekview Vineyards, Dashe Cellars, Dogwood Cellars, Dono dal Cielo Vineyards, Due Vigne, Esca Wines, Fantesca Estate & Winery, Foppiano, Four Vines Winery, Girard, Gryphon Wines, Halleck, J Dusi Wines, Jeriko Estate, Joseph Family, Kenefick Ranch, Kenwood, Lake Sonoma Winery, McFadden, Medlock Ames, Modus Operandi, Otter Cove Wines, Owl Ridge, Peter Franus, Radog, Robert Stemmler, Sapid, Spencer-Roloson, Stag’s Leap, The Donum Estate, Three Families Winery, Tobacco Road Cellars, Twisted Oak, Valley of the Moon, Vie Winery, Windsor Sonoma

I hope to come back to this post when I have time to organize the above list of wineries by appellation. But I’ll be sure to report on tonight’s fun in a follow-up post.

Tonight’s New Releases Tasting event is happening at Varnish Fine Art and Wine Bar in SF; price at the door is $60 and those doors are open from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. If you plan to attend tonight, look for the guy with the Winehiker name badge.

~winehiker

*Thank goodness I’m getting a good walk in the City and riding CalTrain home!

In a July 31st update to his winemaking clientele, Crushpad CEO Michael Brill relates his strategy for creating a passageway to his new barrel room, and he does it in high YouTube fashion. Writes Mr. Brill:

We just took possession of the 7,000 sq ft room that will store up to 2,000 barrels. The problem was that there was a wall between the main winery space and the barrel room. So Ty put on a helmet and carefully went to work to join the rooms. Many of you know that Ty used to be in the military. With these driving skills, we all feel that our country is a lot safer with Ty working at Crushpad.

Driving skills? In a barrel room? Here’s a look at what went on at Crushpad (requires QuickTime).

Michael also mentions that the Wine Spectator has published a full-page story about Crushpad. In Wanna Be a Winemaker?, columnist Eric Arnold writes that it still takes passion, but nowadays a lot less money, to make your own high quality wine. It’s good reading, complete with more video.

Making high-quality wine on the cheap. That’s just what I’m doing with 24 other wannabe winemakers.

~winehiker

Tasting rooms seem to have come and gone over the years in Saratoga. That’s why I’m hoping Cinnabar Vineyards & Winery will make a good go of it for many years in their new location at 14612 Big Basin Way between 5th and 6th Streets in downtown Saratoga, commonly referred to by locals as The Village.

While Cinnabar has been around for a few years, they have not had a tasting facility at their mountain winemaking operations just outside of town and up a treacherous (for some) dirt road. Just in terms of post-tasting road safety, that’s probably been a good thing.

But I think the time is ripe for the public to once again have options for tasting Santa Cruz Mountain wines in this sleepy upscale hamlet. Fortunately, the winds of change have blown gently, and as of June 1st, Cinnabar has opened the doors of its 1,300-square-foot tasting room to the public. Indeed, their Grand Opening Weekend is Saturday and Sunday, June 23rd & 24th. The hours are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The new tasting room will feature Cinnabar’s small-production wines made by Cinnabar’s own George Troquato. Seminars will be held at the tasting room to give people the opportunity to learn the A to Z’s about wine. All wines will be available for purchase.

On the Cinnabar website, General Manager Suzanne Frontz suggests, “We’ll truly be a wine destination.”

I intend to stop in this Sunday afternoon with a group of friends to wash down the trail dust after a fun little 11-mile hike I’ll be guiding at Long Ridge Open Space Preserve, which is just up the road. We’ll see if Cinnabar’s new tasting facility will truly be my wine destination, too.

See my previous posts about Cinnabar: Cinnabar Winery wins double gold and set to become new wine country destination and A nice note from George Troquato, winemaker at Cinnabar.

~winehiker

If you’re planning a girl’s weekend out or a bachelorette bash, then an escape to the wine country may be the perfect plan. You and your girlfriends can fill your days with spa time, fabulous food, and of course, wine tasting. A number of wineries fit the bill for a celebration, either with their bubbly wines, large outdoor terraces, or inviting group atmospheres; many even offer discount deals and coupons. Listed below are 10 of the best. So go have a good time, girls!

Domaine Chandon
Nothing gets the celebration started better than a sparkling glass of bubbly. Domaine Chandon, experts in sparkling wine, provides a great indoor lounge and sunny patio to toast among friends. Their tasting salon is located just across from the town of Yountville in Napa Valley. You can even print a 2-for-1 tasting coupon.

Merryvale Napa Valley
When enjoying the company of close friends, the day can just fly by. Merryvale is open until 6:30 p.m. for late-in-the-day celebrations. The historic winery is ideally located within easy walking distance (¼ mile south) of St. Helena and is adjacent to world-famous Tra Vigne restaurant - the perfect place to end your day with an amazing wine country dinner. You can even print a coupon for a 10% savings on tasting room purchases at Merryvale.

Robert Mondavi Winery
Spend a memorable moment together among friends in the heart of Napa Valley at the place where the California wine experience started, Robert Mondavi Winery in Oakville. You may even consider booking one of their group tours focused on the integration of wine and food. Relax by the fireplace and enjoy a selection of Mondavi wines. Print a coupon to receive a 2-for-1 wine tasting in their Appellation Tasting Room.

Cliff Lede Vineyards
Another hot spot for bubbly and for relaxing among friends is Cliff Lede Vineyards. Located just off the Silverado Trail in Napa Valley, your party can relax in a garden area with a glass of wine and enjoy the warm environment. You can also set an appointment-only walking tour past the Sculptures Garden and through the vineyards up to Cliff Lede’s state-of-the-art-winery and back into the Wine Club Room for a sit-down tasting.

Domaine Carneros
Indulge in the red carpet treatment for your celebratory weekend at the magical Domaine Carneros Winery. You approach this chateau style winery via a grand staircase, passing chardonnay and pinot noir vineyards and planters bursting with seasonal flowers. The grand staircase delivers you into their Louis XV-style salon or on their stunning terrace overlooking the hills and vineyards of Carneros. Table service is available to present cheese plates paired with your sparkling wine or pinot noir. Once outside on the terrace, you may not want to leave for hours. That’s good, because the winery is open until 6 p.m.

Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves
This winery is another notable for their sparkling array of wines as well as their relaxed Sonoma Wine Country personality. Take in the awe-inspiring views and sunny rays as you enjoy a glass of wine on the Vista Terrace. Regardless of the season, you’ll find the ambiance to be welcoming, gracious, and unhurried. Plus, when you visit Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves, you will receive 20% discount off all bottle purchases and tasting fees.

Blackstone Winery
Whether your group getaway is to Sonoma Valley or the Monterey wine region, you should plan to visit Blackstone Winery. Honestly, these are two very fun wine tasting rooms to kick back with your friends and taste a wide variety of wines, ranging from crisp Chardonnays and Rieslings to their infamous big Syrahs, Merlots, and Zinfandels. The Kenwood winery presents ultra-premium wines from Napa and Sonoma appellations in a relaxed, lively tasting room. On warm afternoons, you can enjoy the outdoor wine-tasting bar overlooking the Blackstone vineyards. Make sure to bring along your 2 for 1 tasting offer.

Ledson Winery & Vineyards
An instant landmark, Ledson Winery, referred to as “the castle” by locals, is an expansive 16,000-square-foot French Normandy winery. You and your girlfriends will be welcomed at any of their 6 beautifully-appointed tasting bars. Also, no wine tasting party is complete without the gourmet goodies. You can pack up local artisan foods at the winery’s gourmet marketplace and enjoy the vineyard and mountain views together with a perfect picnic. And, with this coupon, you can sample a very limited production wine with a regular wine tasting.

Landmark Winery
Just down the road from Ledson, Landmark Winery provides an amazing patio area to relax outside with friends and enjoy hand-crafted premium wines, especially their delicious Chardonnays. Adjacent to Landmark’s flower garden and bubbling fountain, take in a fun game at their Bocce Ball court while gazing up at the rolling Sonoma Valley hills. Be sure to bring this special offer of a 2-for-1 Reserve Tasting Flight of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir!

Kendall Jackson
You cannot pass up a trip to either of the Kendall Jackson tasting rooms in Sonoma County. The Kendall Jackson Wine Center, located just off highway 101 on Fulton Road, features groomed gardens and an expansive tasting room. The other tasting room is found situated on the trendy, tree-lined Healdsburg town square among a number of bistros and fine dining restaurants. Let your group indulge in special food and wine pairings, or even receive a complimentary reserve wine tasting with this coupon.

Source: WineCountry.com

~winehiker

How’s this for a great part-time job? A $200,000 pay package and a $5,000-a-year wine allowance. That’s the deal given independent directors at UST Inc., which sells tobacco and wine. Chairman and former Chief Executive Vincent Gierer Jr. got $6,500 for his wine allowance last year, despite making more than $6 million. The company says the wine has to flow freely to “foster use of the Company’s wine products at events supported by such directors.”

Some might find such lavish perks egregious, as if the interests of the executive cabal would take precedence over shareholders. Some say that it’s relatively cheap for a company to provide for such outlays, and that the ROI is substantial.

I say: level the playing field. Why should executives be the only ones receiving wine perquisites? An underling should be able to negotiate the same kind of deal. After all, it’s common for each of us to be asked what it is that we do to make a living. Every two-minute elevator speech we deliver about the companies we work for ought to be worth at least a tasting pour. I find I’m answering the question a handful of times every week. And I’m always terribly thirsty! So, I want it in my contract.

A bottle a week, that’s all we ask. No, better make that two bottles, and the keys to the executive washroom. Gotta start this negotiation somewhere.

~winehiker

The following list presents the top ten lodging facilities located in and near California’s most celebrated vineyards. They’re not cheap places to stay, but if you can plan your vacation budget well, you will experience the best of the best of the California wine country. I look forward to being your host someday at these fine establishments when you choose a rewarding vacation full of fun, camaraderie, fine food and amenities, and of course, tasting locally-produced wines and exploring nearby hiking trails.*

10. Farmhouse Inn: Russian River Valley
Located in the small town of Forestville, California, in the stunning Russian River Valley region of Sonoma County’s famed wine country, Farmhouse represents the finest level of Sonoma inns, restaurants and spas - where sublime guestrooms, farm-fresh food and seasonal body treatments come together in one unforgettable experience. Their restaurant received the prestigious Michelin Star, and they are also rated by Zagat’s as a Top Three Wine Country Restaurant for Northern California.

9. Santa Ynez Valley Marriot
With tranquil views of the Santa Ynez Valley, this premium hotel is surrounded by rolling hills dotted with horse, ostrich, and llama ranches, ancient oaks, and thousands of acres of some of the world’s greatest vineyards. Every suite has been decorated and named for a local vineyard, and some rooms boast Jacuzzi tubs and dining room areas. The Santa Ynez Marriott provides the perfect stay for a wine-tasting weekend in this popular Sideways setting.

8. Poetry Inn: Silverado Trail Napa Valley
The Poetry Inn is an extraordinary new sanctuary perched on a hillside in the Stags Leap District offering staggering views of the Napa Valley and a place to rest among the vines. Guests can live the life of a Napa Valley vintner, if only for a night, enjoying a massage in the open air, sipping sparkling wine on a private terrace, or just lounging by the pool. Each suite boasts wood-burning fireplaces, soaking tubs, and outdoor showers.

7. Inn at the Pinnacles: Monterey
Located in the Gabilan Mountains of Monterey County, Soledad, California, the Inn at the Pinnacles offers luxury accommodations in the peaceful, serene setting of beautiful Steinbeck Country. It is nestled in the heart of a working vineyard, offering romantic views from every direction. The Inn is just a short drive to Monterey County’s finest wineries, world-famous Carmel, and Monterey Bay.

6. La Residence Inn Napa Valley
Rekindle your romance at the luxurious La Residence property in Napa Valley. The elegant French-country barn rooms provide verandas with views of the vineyards as well as fireplaces and private baths. (In collaboration with La Residence , WineCountry.com provides an exclusive experience which includes a romantic stay plus private access to Hall Rutherford’s stunning hilltop winery with an intimate tour and sommelier wine tasting for two.)

5. BeautifulPlaces: Sonoma Valley Tuscan Retreat
Escape to the wine country with fellow food and wine enthusiasts for a 5-night/6-day wine country gourmand extravaganza created for you by BeautifulPlaces, Vacation Homes of Distinction. Miraval is an elegantly appointed 4-bedroom Tuscan retreat, perched high above the heart of Sonoma Valley vineyards, and complete with a pool, expansive terraces, and a gourmet kitchen imported from England.

4. Vintners Inn & Ferrari-Carano Winery
The exclusive Vintners Inn is a 92-acre wine country resort featuring lush grounds, surrounding vineyards, and European-style charm. Your room may display a view of the sumptuous vineyards or a flower-filled central courtyard with bubbling fountain. Enjoy dinner at their elegant John Ash & Co. restaurant just steps away from your room. You will also be guests at the Ferrari-Carano Winery where you’ll experience a private tour and exclusive private tasting at the ultra-premium Prevail tasting room.

3. Kings Hill Cellars
Enjoy the ultimate insider wine country adventure: make fine wine, tutored by a master winemaker with 30 years experience using state-of-the-art equipment. Kings Hill Cellars is a private “members only” winery dedicated to making the best wine possible, while sharing the experience with its members and having fun in the process. In addition, you will be their special guest for a weekend while staying in Kings Hill Cellars’ elegant guest house over the winery.

2. Grape Leaf Inn
Indulge yourself in this one-of-a-kind opportunity to savor a relaxing Sonoma wine country experience. Stay in their luxurious, fully-equipped cottages surrounded by 80-year-old Zinfandel vines. Enjoy the most spectacular view in the northern sonoma wine country and stroll through the vines at your leisure, soaking up the peaceful ambience.

1. Inman Family Wines & Olivet Grange Vineyards
Why just visit the vineyards when you can stay in the vineyard? In collaboration with WineCountry.com, Olivet Grange Vineyards and Inman Family Wines offers the Ultimate Wine Country Exclusive Experience with a 2-night/3-day getaway for wine adventurers. This wine experience also includes touring the vineyards with owner Kathleen Inman and a spectacular 5 -course dinner menu that pairs with the wines.

Source: WineCountry.com

~winehiker

*If you wish to know more about my winehiking vacations, please see my recent blog post titled California Wine Hikes announces 2008 multi-day winehiking tours.