Tasting Pinot Noir, relaxing in a wooden deck chair in the vineyards of the Anderson Valley!
The drive to Anderson Valley is a scenic, winding, double-back trip up Highway 128 North. Only about 50 miles or so from Healdsburg. A little more than an hour's drive. Calling this particular portion of 128 a highway is a bit of a stretch. There are so many hairpin curves and no-shoulder stretches on steep hills that 15 to 25 mph is not uncommon.
Maybe it's just me, but I love this type of scenery. The rolling hills with patches of tan grass intertwined with the green trees framed by that bright blue California sky.
If you look far off in the distance in the 1st photo you will notice a subtle thing in the background. Redwood trees! The vineyards run right into the redwoods. At least near Goldeneye's Confluence Vineyard.
I meant to go deeper into Anderson Valley. Stop in several tasting rooms. Explore as much of the area as I could cram into an afternoon. Get back late. Jump back into the harvest in earnest again come Sunday morning. But.....
Goldeneye was not a planned stopped. I carry their 2006 Anderson Valley Pinot on the list. Readers of the blog can also ask Brenna to dig out a bottle of Goldeneye's Ten Degrees. Tell her there are a few bottles stashed in the Bob's Steak & Chop House cellar somewhere, the Goldeneye staff seemed surprised we have this special 10-barrel Anniversary blend down in Dallas. Anyways, this winery caught my eye before I got to Navarro, where I was originally headed. I was sent to the patio with a glass of aromatic, refreshing Vin Gris of Pinot Noir. "Grab a patio table or deck chair and Bruce will be with you in a moment." Bruce shows up with this:
Wow! Cancel the rest of my day. Hold all my calls. Send the wife and kids out shopping (okay, no wife, no kids, but you get the picture)
Three single vineyard selections, two different styles of appellation pinots, the vin gris, a cheese platter and later they dropped off a healthy dollop of that Ten Degrees!
It just felt right. A busy, physically taxing week of work. Time to stop and just enjoy the moment. The temps went from a foggy, chilly 49 when I hit the road, to mid-70s with bright sunshine. I sat there for the better part of 2 hours.
A big thank you to the staff at Goldeneye.
Take the drive North. It is well worth the time. The scenery alone is rewarding but the Pinots won't let you down.
Made one other stop that I will tell you about tomorrow (time permitting).
