Wineries reopen tasting rooms
On June 12, California wineries were given the green light by the state to reopen their tasting rooms to visitors in approved counties. Protecting the health and safety of their visitors is a top priority. Wineries have implemented stringent cleaning and sanitation protocols including employee wellness screening and mandatory face masks.
Visitor flow will be monitored by limiting the number of guests who are allowed to visit at any one time. This is why calling ahead is a must. Tables will be spaced meeting the 6-foot physical distance requirement and many wineries will have outside tasting only. Tours will be limited to members of the same household so different parties will not be mixed together. Guests are asked to wear face coverings while checking in or when coming within six feet of winery staff or other guests. Wineries are asking guests to please call ahead for a tasting appointment. Calling ahead also gives the visitor the opportunity to find out any special tastings or experiences the winery is offering. Visitors should also check with the wineries in advance for any county-specific requirements.
If you can’t make it to a California winery this summer, many wineries are also continuing their virtual wine tastings and experiences. You can find out more at discovercaliforniawines.com.
I’m excited to get back on the wine trail and so is the Navigator. With 4,600-plus California wineries there’s a lot of homework we need to catch up on. I promise, we will give it our best shot.
What’s On our Table
The Steal: The Best of Show Merlot (under $15) in the SF Chronicle Tasting was the 2017 Purple Moon. It is produced by the Purple Moon Winery and is available only at Trader Joe’s for just $3.99. If there is any of the 2017 left, buy it. However, at $3.99, the 2018 Purple Moon is still a steal.
The Deal: The Bogle Vineyards 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon was a Double Gold Medal winner (all the judges agreed) and is priced at $12. With supermarket discounts, I’ve seen it priced in the $8 range and that is a super deal. Bogle Vineyards was also selected the Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine.
The Splurge: Wilson Artisan Wines, owner of 11 small Sonoma wineries, had a super-duper-shelter wine deal, 40% off and free shipping. Yes, I took the bait and splurged. I’m proud to say that my 2017 Matrix Russian River Valley Pinot Noir was $31 and my boring ho-hum shelter time just got oh-so much better. Cheers!
Questions? Comments? Find me on Facebook or at rgwinton@yahoo.com.
This story was originally published June 23, 2020 at 12:31 PM with the headline "Wineries reopen tasting rooms."