Appellations

PARTY ON WHEELS

After many years in the restaurant industry, a Marin resident came up with the hippest version of a “Party in a Box” when he decided to convert a 1965 Airstream trailer into a traveling Bar Car. Greg Medow of Mill Valley has taken his show on the road, offering $25-a-head instantly equipped soirees. The side of the trailer opens up to reveal a fully stocked bar with alcohol of your choosing, including a self-serve beer tap pouring local microbrews — perfect for birthdays, tailgates, after-work happy hours and weddings. No setup, no cleanup, no last-minute ice runs. barcarsf.com MIMI TOWLE

1The Tea Lounge at

The Taste of Tea

The menu here includes Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese or artisan tea blends and a selection of small bites, including locally made granola with Straus Family Creamery yogurt, farro, Japanese-style green tea roll cake, and green tea ice cream. 109 North Street, thetasteoftea.com 2 Valette Valette is the newest venture from chef Dustin Valette, formerly of Dry Creek Kitchen, and his brother Aaron Garzini. Located on Center Street, Valette has a contemporary rustic feel. The restaurant features a tasting menu, fresh pastas, local meats, housemade charcuterie, bespoke cheeses and the chef’s signature scallops en croute. 344 Center Street, valettehealdsburg.com

Fresh Eats

If you’re headed to Healdsburg here are three new and exciting restaurants worth checking out. M.T.

3Wild Flowers Saloon In the location of the former Frank & Ernie’s in the center of downtown, Wild Flowers Saloon is a labor of love from husband and wife Vivian and Howard Flowers. The down-to-earth, family-friendly restaurant and bar offers great steaks, chicken and ribs along with cocktails, beers and local wines. 9 Mitchell Cleone Lane, 707.433.4500

Piercy Leggett Cummings

Rockport Laytonville

Branscomb Westport

MENDOCINO COUNTY WINE MAP

To Eureka

Mendocino County

Mendocino Lake Co. Ukiah

1 1 128

Covelo Cloverdale Healdsburg 162 Sonoma Co. Santa Rosa BRANSCOMB RD. LAYTONVILLE DOS RIOS RD. Marin Co.

162

San Francisco

20 Pacific Ocean

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Eel River

Mendocino is a rural county of striking natural beauty, friendly small towns and people who love and protect the land. Since the 1850s, Mendocino County has developed a personality Eel River farmers, their respect for the land and their dedication to quality. At present many farms are owned and cultivated by multiple generations of the county’s historic farming families. Today Mendocino’s grapegrowers stand out as leaders Eel River in sustainable, organic, Biodynamic® farming. Winemakers highly regard the quality of fruit produced naturally on unspoiled land by Mendocino’s passionate grapegrowers. Vintners create balanced, pure wines from grapes that express the individuality of Mendocino’s 10, diverse appellations.

Alder Springs Vineyard Visit Mendocino Fort Bragg

Noyo River

VITICULTURE VARIETY Just north of Ukiah, the sparkling wine producers of Mendocino County have

Dos Rios Covelo recently received their own American Viticulture Association designation called Eagle Peak. Wedged between the Redwood Valley and Potter Valley AVAs, the 21,000 acres of rugged terrain with vineyards on east- and south-facing slopes are home to four commercial winegrowers and one tasting room, Masút Vineyard and Winery, featuring artiEagle Peak san pinots crafted by Jake and Ben Fetzer. masut.comRedwood Valley M.T.

Caspar

Mendocino COMPTCHE UKIAH RD. Comptche Little River Albion FLYNN CR. RD.

JACKSON STATE FOREST MENDOCINO COUNTY AVAs 20

Willits

Masut Winery Redwood Valley

Calpella

LAKE MENDOCINO

Napa County DUI Arrests in 2014

JANUARY

59 FEBRUARY 56 MARCH 46 APRIL 67

MAY 53

JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER 51 53

67 73

68

56 82

WINE DRIVER It’s a familiar conundrum: drink wine, get to the next winery, drink more wine — keep driving? This potentially deadly situation has always been an issue in Northern California’s wine country. “DUI fatalities are actually down in Napa and Sonoma counties as compared to the rest of California,” says Allen Porter, president of the website drinkinganddriving.org. “A big portion of that is directly related to the use of private drivers and winery tour guide services.” Porter also recently endorsed the My Napa Valley Driver service, a professional twist on the designated driver founded by Chris Pittman five years ago. The idea came to him when he realized many visitors to the wine country were renting cars and leaving them in the parking lots when they hired a professional driver, basically paying double. “Instead of hiring a car, which can start at $85 an hour, we have a stable of eight professional tour guides who will drive your car or rental car for $45 an hour.” mynapavalleydriver.com M.T.

Buzz Words

Is that wine really a bomb? And why would anybody want a concrete egg? Cameron Vawter, director of winemaking for Napa’s Dana Estates, has helped craft two 100point wines in her career. Here, she takes the mystery out of the jargon. SOMER TEJWANI

Concrete Eggs Winemaking vessels used in lieu of oak to increase weight and richness in white wines; they can also be used in making red wines to focus fruit during the aging.

Fruit Bomb A wine made in a ripe, fruit-forward style.

Malolactic Fermentation The conversion of malic acid (think green apple) to lactic acid (think cream).

Meritage A rather silly word used in the United States to describe a wine made with all five Bordeaux varietals.

Oaked Describes a wine that has been in contact with oak.

Terroir The notion of place and how it affects the character of a wine through soil and climate.

OUT OF THE VINES Been there done that when it comes to the

well-trodden vineyard tours? Head to Napa’s south county wineries for off-thebeaten-path tastings in wine country’s industrial parks and other areas far from the vineyards, where the costs are lower and the regulations fewer — ideal for small and start-up ventures that can offer more one-of-a-kind experiences. At familyowned Holman Cellars (707.287.7557), husband and wife Jason and Helen Holman produce fewer than 1,000 cases at their micro-winery (pictured) and are known for their proprietary cab-based blend. Visit during harvest and they’ll let you help press and pick grapes. At Rocca Family Vineyards (707.257.8467), the tasting experience begins the second you set foot on the historic property. The family purchased a Victorian home built by general Mariano Vallejo for one of his daughters in the 1860s and converted it into a tasting room, where they serve samples of four to six estate wines. Most small-production wineries offer tastings by appointment only. Other spots worth visiting are Bourassa Vineyards (707.254.4922), Etude Wines (707.257.5300) and Mi Sueño Winery (707.258.6358). S.T.