A while back at my 21st birthday, one of my aunts gave me a bottle of Ravenswood Winery Zinfandel. Not knowing anything about wine, what attracted my attention most was the dark bottle and hypnotic logo of three ravens. My young palate, used to drinking shamefully cheap beer, was in for quite a surprise.
For almost 20 years I have been fortunate enough to have spent most of my adult life living in Sonoma County where my “big palate” has thrived thanks to wines like those from Ravenswood Winery. I’m fascinated by the skills and knowledge it takes to create what I consider a masterpiece.
Recently I attended the Blend Your Own “No Wimpy Wine” blending seminar at Ravenswood. I tried to maintain my composure as I sat at the table with the rest of the group. Waiting for each of us was a glass of Zinfandel, Carignan, and Petite Sirah. We also had a glass for blending, a pipette, and a sheet with tips for blending that would also be used to keep track of our blending attempts. This was my chance to create my own masterpiece!
Like a mad scientist I tried different combinations in the pursuit of the perfect blend. I cleansed my palate with crackers and water and sipped and spit in the hopes my palate would hang in there until I reached perfection. We laughed with and at each other and compared notes to learn how we could make our blends better.
Once finished, my blend was replicated by our gracious, knowledgeable, completely enjoyable host, Peter Griffith, and poured into my own 375 ml bottle. I made the final push on the lever to cork my bottle which Peter sealed with beautiful red wax.
“That was hard,” I told Peter with a satisfied smile.
“It really gives you an appreciation of what you’re tasting,” he said, “It’s like art.”
Yes, it is.
Click here to learn how you can reserve a place at the blending table for this fun, exciting, educational, tasting experience. Make sure to contact Pure Luxury for a safe, private ride to and from Ravenswood Winery.
