May 7, 2024 – Seriously, every Mom deserves something special on her day, whether it’s a gift certificate for a Sonoma or Mendocino getaway, dinner at a hot new restaurant, a month’s worth of freedom from doing the dishes, tickets to the SLH Gala on May 18, a year’s worth of massages at her favorite spa, or a bottle of her favorite wine—complete with a cooler flask she can take to the pool or the beach.
In the Get Away department, the Four Sisters Collection, has 17 boutique properties from Pacific Grove (Gosby House) to Kenwood to the village of Mendocino. FourSisters
In Mendocino, between Little River and Albion, SCP Mendocino Inn and Farm, offers cozy lodging on the splendid north coast. They just opened Terra Farm Kitchen, an oceanfront restaurant and bar helmed by Chef Kenny Boyle. It features a plant-forward menu and unique pizzas with a crisp sourdough crust, using organic heirloom grains sourced exclusively from the Mendocino Grain Project.
Get tickets for the 16th annual SLH Gala, which will feature gourmet bites from the region’s best chefs and restaurants, a bubbles bar, live music, and wines for purchase to take home. May 18, from 11am to 2:30 at Mer Soleil Winery. SLHGala
Bubbles! We must have bubbles. Here are two you might not have tried:
Rhys Perpetual Reserve Sparkling – From Mt. Pajaro Vineyard in Watsonville, comes this solera-style multi-vintage beauty made from grapes that Rhys owner Kevin Harvey planted near Windy Oaks in Corralitos. Made by winemaker Jeff Brinkman, it attacks like a crashing wave, suddenly evaporating into a fine mist just past the mid-palate, then returning with a refreshing little spray of lemon. It’s an extraordinary sparkler. Rhys is now open for tasting by appointment, Tuesday through Saturday: RhysVisit
Wrath Brut Rose, Méthode Champenoise – Made from Kistler clone Chardonnay, for you purists out there, as well as Chard clones 17 and 96, this is heavenly, rich and round, yet perfectly airy, made pink by a dosage of 3—5% of clone 828 Pinot Noir. All the fruit is from the San Saba Estate. Peach and persimmon flavors are accentuated by a delightful Rainier cherry and candied strawberry mid-palate, finishing with strawberry sherbet. Absolutely gorgeous and only $65.
Galante’s 2023 Heritage White – This utterly different and delicious wine is made by Jack Galante from the 115-year old Santinamaria Vineyard in Sonoma Valley, to which he and Dawn’s Dream have exclusive rights. This is where the 2022 “Dare to Dream” Zinfandel originates. This classy, nicely texture beverage is a rare field blend of Old Vine Muscadelle, Golden Chasselas, Palomino, Semillon and Sauv Blanc, which were originally used for Sherry production. Aromas of Meyer lemon mingle with tropical fruits, leading to flavors of fresh citrus, white grape, ripe peach, banana and verbena.
Testarossa will pour some very special library bottles for Mother’s Day weekend, including the 2014 and 2016 Rosemary’s and Rosella’s Pinots and Chardonnays, in celebration of the matriarchs of these excellent vineyards. Testarossa also just released their 2022 Pisoni Vineyards Pinot Noir.
Wrath has three Chardonnays to float most boats. Sabrine Rodems wants to highlight how oak transforms the grape, like Barbie dressing up in different outfits.
The 2021 EX Chardonnay Unoaked is sassy, a bit oily and smells like banana and coconut, like Barbie heading to the beach.
The 2021 Wrath Fermata Chardonnay sees only 50% malic fermentation, so much of the sassy malic acid remains. It has 20% new French, which adds a floaty, silky beachy coverup to the outfit. Five clones pile into the VW beach bus for complexity: 35% Mount Eden, 24% Clone 96, 18% Wente and Clone 17 and 5% Kistler. The floral and melon aromas are pretty and the flavors of apple and apricot crumb cake are delightful. Great finish.
The 2021 Wrath 3 Clone Chardonnay is so named because it contains 35% Mount Eden clone, 30% Kistler clone and 35% Clone 96. With aromas of mango orange creamsickle and honeycomb, and flavors of lemon custard, this is definitely the richest and most sartorially detailed of the three Chardonnays. Stitched to the nines, this is impeccably layered, with a silk blouse, cashmere sweater coat and a mohair scarf. Or, if you prefer to stick with the beach theme, think of it as a cozy soft sweatshirt adding creamy warmth to tanned shoulders when the fog rolls in.
Further sticking with the beach theme, I highly suggest this awesome insulated wine bottle cooler from High Camp Flasks that keeps wine – or water or whatever – cold for hours, and includes two tumblers that attach magnetically to the flask. The Parkside comes in soft cool colors like Cypress, Granite, Parasol Grey and of course, a lovely light Barbie pink. On sale for Mother’s Day. ParksideFlask
About the author
Laura Ness is a longtime wine journalist, columnist and judge who contributes regularly to Edible Monterey Bay, Spirited, WineOh.Tv, Los Gatos Magazine and Wine Industry Network, and a variety of consumer publications. Her passion is telling stories about the intriguing characters who inhabit the fascinating world of wine and food.
