We met up with Ed Hudson, at the Hudson Ranch in Carneros in the morning to tour the ranch and taste through his current line up of wines. The Hudson Ranch is a very impressive operation - spanning 2000 acres and with views from the upper elevations that take in the Bay and on clear days the bridge. It is a working farm with vegetable gardens, pigs and sheep and some of the land is leased for cattle grazing. Only 200 acres of the property are under vine and the majority of the fruit is sold to other producers - primarily known for their Chardonnay and Syrah. The Hudson Vineyards wine only represents a very small portion of the fruit that is grown.

I am not sure if they are open to the public for visits, but if you ever get the chance this is highly recommended. Some of the things we loved were:
1) the Gourd Alley - a long trellis covered in vines where large gourds (think taller than 3 feet) are grown and you walk between them - like something from Jurassic Park.
2) the Giant Pumpkins - the farmworkers compete for the largest pumpkin - there is a patch with these 500plus pound pumpkins under tents - lovingly cared for to ensure maximum growth
3) the Pigs - raised for sale, we got to see babies, and multiple ages between -
4) THE WINE - it is delicious and great value!!

We also loved driving around the ranch with Ed in his pickup truck - exploring the vast landscape and the views from the top. After the tour we gathered at a long picnic table outside and tasted through the range of wines.

WOTF - 2014 Hudson Vineyards Syrah

After our Hudson Ranch visit we headed over to Opus One to spend some time with Michael Silacci. Michael gave us a a brief tour of the facility and then took us to the lab to meet the team there and get an overview of some of the projects that they are working on. Then we headed down to the barrel room to do a tasting with Aimee Baker, the assistant winemaker.

WOTF - 2013 Opus One

After a long day of wine tasting, what better way to end the day then a champagne and caviar dinner. The following champagnes were paired with Tsar Imperial Ossetra Caviar from Petrossian and an assortment of chopped egg whites, egg yolks, capers, creme fraiche, onions and pickles, buckwheat blinis, brioche toast points and potato chips.

WOTF - for me the 2004 Dom Perignon Champagne Rose

A really special visit to Snowden Ranch beginning with a multi-location vineyard tasting and ending with a mexican feast served poolside. The ranch is located up a very long and rough road that is narrow and twisty - requiring a rugged four wheel drive vehicle. We entered at close to valley level and climbed about 800 feet. Apparently the ranch can also be reached from a paved road at the top:-) Randy Snowden was our host for the vineyard tasting as we stopped at the Lost Vineyard, Levi Philander David vineyard and the Los Ricos Vineyard. Wine serving stations were set up on wine barrels and paired with different types of cheese crackers (Goldfish, Wheat Thins and Annies). The property is one mile long and 1/4 mile wide, surrounded by deep woods and moving uphill. They have owned it since 1955 and it feels very authentic and old Napa. After the tastings we made our way to the Snowden's private swimming pool where we were joined by Randy's wife Janet, his brother Scott and his wife Joanne and their daughter Susanne. While they don't have a house on the property, they do have a swimming pool and outdoor dining area. Their vineyard manager's son, has an amazing catering business and prepared us a Mexican Feast. Dinner was accompanied by a number of additional wines, but the only one I have notes on is the 98 CS - so sorry for that. When the sun went down we climbed back in the trucks by flashlight and headed down the long hill back to the valley. A truly special visit with really awesome people.

The wines are all made by Scott's daughter Diana Snowden, who is the winemaker for Dujac in Burgundy (her husband's family's estate). She returns a few times a year to the US to make the wine's at Snowden for her family. With her background, the wines lean more to classically old world style wines that are elegant and well balanced. They are also terrific value and just plain good.

WOTF - 2015 Snowden Cabernet Sauvignon Los Ricos Vineyard

The main event that brings the group together every year and quite possibly the funnest event we have ever attended. This year for its 10th Anniversary STOMP was held at Round Pond Estate in Rutherford. The event always begins with a two hour cocktail hour - with various pouring stations that switch at the hour mark and a whole variety of food booths mixed in. The participants are all dress in western style, cowboy boots & hats are standard attire. This year the cocktail hour was held in the old pole barn at the Estate. The only complication was the weather - the temperature hit 107 degrees at 5pm the start of the event - YIKES! Given the temps I only sampled 3 wines during cocktail hour and kept hydrating with tons of water. 600 people in cowboy hats in the heat - together inside the barn - pretty hot. Once the sun got lower, temps dropped and we moved to the tables set up among the vines for a seated dinner and live auction. After dinner a band and dancing to the wee hours in the pole barn. A very successful auction this year with just under $2 million dollars raised for the organization.

An entire lamb was purchased at the local 4H auction and butchered in preparation for "Lamb all Day" celebration. The commenced with Lamb Sliders and Lamb Skewers for lunch. That evening a larger group of friends assembled for a Lamb Smorgasbord (Lamb Ribs, Lamb Souvlaki, Lamb Salt & Pepper Steaks, Lamb Chops, etc....etc...) with the featured wine being the '85 Mouton. Many more wines followed as we worked our way through the feast. The '85 Mouton was clearly WOTN for all of the participants.