Guild of Sommeliers Cruise on the SF Bay

Trip Notes - December 15, 2009

We all had a great time on the yacht of Alpha Omega Winery, Rutherford, out on the SF Bay. The event was organized by Geoff Kruth, MS, the Guild of Sommeliers for 20 of its members from all around California. With that said, you can only imagine what great wine we had. Our hosts, Alpha Omega, brought their flagship wines. What a treat to sip on luscious wine while food pairing was catered by La Saison in St. Helena and cruising on the Bay. It was a very fun and relaxing time. The weather was perfect, considering it was mid-December and we could have been out in a storm. The yacht was very beautiful, spacious and comfortable. Even if it would have been cold and windy, we were well-protected in the cabins. Alpha Omega is one of Rutherford's newest wineries. Call Eric and let him know you are coming before your visit and he will give you the VIP tour. You may even be able to meet award winning winemaker, Jean Hoefliger who teams with Michel Rolland to create beautifully blended wines. Paul Kamian, CS, was also on board from Darioush, one of my all time favorites wineries. He brought a bottle of their Syrah, VERY nice. Among other guests were Alexandra Alznauer, CS and Wine Consultant, Suzanne Chowla, Wine Director and Som for Chez TJ in Mountain View, and, Ryan Williams, CS, for Ana Mandara, a Vietnamese cuisine restaurant at Ghirardelli Square. Please do visit these wineries and restaurants - all wonderful and worth the trip.