Often times on our tours we will spend some time out in the vineyards talking about the vines and enjoying the views.  This time of year we often get the same question- "Hey!"  "Why are these grapes all the same color and much smaller than I expected?" 

Answer:

Early in the growing season all grapes start out small, green, and hard.  Not very remarkable yet, they are much different  from what they will eventually be at harvest time.  During a period of development called veraison, the grapes begin to change color, which is visible on the outside.  At the same time changes are occurring on the inside, as the grapes are moving towards ripeness with increases in sugar and decreases in acidity.  During veraison grapes are beginning to increase in overall size, and are becoming much softer to the touch.  Depending on the type of grape, the color will end up red (sometimes referred to as black) or green ( sometimes referred to as white).  Veraison in Sonoma County varies from vineyard to vineyard, but can be seen in some vineyards as early as the end of June. 

See you on the tour!

Once you have booked a Sonoma County wine tour with Wine Country Journeys, there is not a whole lot you need to do to prepare.  Sit back, relax, and pat yourself on the back for making the right choice!  Here is a list of things guaranteed to make your day even better.

1)  Eat breakfast the day of your tour.  Wine tasting starts early and you will want to have started out with a good breakfast.

2)  Dress comfortably.  We are all about casual and comfortable.  If it is hot, feel free to wear shorts.  Flat comfortable shoes work 
best as we often head out to a vineyard or behind the scenes at a winery.  Bring a jacket or sweater for later in the day.

3)  Drink plenty of water throughout the day.  Staying hydrated is a great way to ensure that you will feel great at the end of the day. 
We provide bottled water on your tour to make this even easier.

4)  Bring a camera!  Many of the places we visit are spectacular and you will want to have pictures of your day in wine country.  We
are always happy to play photographer for you.

5)  Ask lots of questions.  Your guide and tasting room staff feed off of your energy and enthusiasm.  The more you are into the tour,
the better your experience will be, and the more likely it is that you will have an extra special day.

6)  Be respectful of the winery staff, owners, and other tasters.  It is more than OK to have fun, but try to keep noise levels down in     
tasting rooms so  that everyone can enjoy the experience.
      
7)  Pace yourself.  Wine tasting at 4 or 5 wineries can add up-be mindful of the amount of alcohol you are taking in on the tour. 

8)  Take advantage of special offers that the wineries may offer on their wines or wine clubs.  Many wines that we come across may  
only be available at the winery
.
9)  Try many different wines throughout the day.  You may surprise yourself by enjoying wines that you may have not liked in the past.

10)  Book another tour with Wine Country Journeys before you leave!   Tell your your friends about us when you get home!

So here I sit in front of the computer after the Sharks just dropped their third in a row in the playoff finals against the Chicago Blackhawks.  I don't think it would sting so bad if I wasn't going to end up sending some of my Sonoma County wine off to my brother in Chicago.  Sure, the bet seemed like a great idea when the series started.  How was I supposed to resist the chance of a Chicago style pizza packaged so nicely and shipped to my door?  I mean it was only four simple games that the Sharks needed to win!  Heck, I even had the perfect wine picked out to pair with my pizza feast.  But alas, it seems that it was not meant to be and instead my brother will be sitting snugly in his chair, Blackhawks hat on his head, drinking my wine with a smirk on his face.  I have not given up completely on my Sharks, but things definitely look grim.  I think I will go open a bottle and think about how things might be different next year.  I am not sure what he has up his sleeve for next year but he is already talking about ribs and a local beer for his end of the bet.  I am not falling for it next year.  I promise I will be smarter!  But hey for now I will sit back, enjoy some wine and feel bad for myself.  Every once in a while everyone needs to wine a little.....

Its almost time to head outside for summer barbecues and some serious lounging by the pool.  My shorts have already made their way back into my daily wear along with my flip-flops and Tommy Bahama shirts.  As a lot of you know, I am really into summer, sunshine, and being outside.  This time of year usually means that I ease off on the big red wines, and transition into something that is a little more fitting for the season.  I have to be honest, sometimes that means I grab for an ice cold beer or Margarita, but when I do reach for wine its usually a white or ros'e.  I know, I know, I can almost hear everyone now.....a Ros'e?  Before you get too upset when I talk pink wines, I am not talking about the sweet, almost Kool- Aid type wines (please continue to drink if this is your style-its all about what you like) , but instead a dry Ros'e. Dry Ros'es are showing up on the tasting menu's of quite a few Sonoma County tasting rooms these days, and for good reason.  They are very easy to drink in warm weather, (especially with a chill on them) and the acidity found in many helps to quench your thirst.  Being higher in acidity also means that a wine will usually pair a little easier with the foods on your summer table.  Because Rose's do not require long periods of oak aging, they are much easier on the pocketbook as well.  So go ahead and give one a try!  You can always go back to your old favorites, but much of the fun of wine is trying new things.  Let me know what you think!

Often times on the wine tour I get asked about places to grab a good locally brewed beer on tap.  Any of these would be a great place to start:

• Bear Republic Brewing Company (Healdsburg )
• Stumptown (Guerneville)
• Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma)
• Russian River Brewing Company (Santa Rosa)
• Third Street Aleworks (Santa Rosa)
• Sonoma Springs Brewing Company (Sonoma)

Please let me know if anyone has a favorite to add to the list!  Cheers!

The weather should start to get much better here in Sonoma County very soon.  Once we get through May our rain usually tapers off and rarely returns before late October.  Our currently green hillsides will turn a golden brown until the rain makes it's welcome return.  Here in wine country our visitors will continue to increase over the next several months, until maxing out during harvest. Harvest can start for some as soon as mid- August and will usually end in the beginning days of November. 

I take this calm before the storm, to welcome all of my past clients from Terrific Tours and Incredible Adventures. As you can probably understand, out of fairness to Terrific Tours I was not able to let past clients know that I was leaving.  I can only hope that many of you will find my new home via the internet and through word of mouth.  I have enjoyed all of our tours together and hope that you will come out and tour with us many times now that I own Wine Country Journeys.  I thank you all for your past support and your encouragement to "go it on our own."  For all of you that are new to Wine Country Journeys, and have never taken a tour with me before, I would encourage you to check out my past reviews on Yelp and Trip Advisor under Terrific Tours.  See you in wine country!

Jerry