This time of year tourist traffic begins to slow down at wineries as the leaves in the vineyards turn brown, the air becomes cold and the rainy season begins to kick in. Such conditions make the wine country a little less inviting and it is difficult to take eye capturing photos. The beauty of the vineyards doesn’t really come alive again until February as the Mustard season rolls and the vineyards begin to bloom with wild flowers. On the other hand this is a good time to visit wineries if you want less traffic and fewer crowds.
Last Saturday I headed up to the Sierra Foothills to visit a friend and do a little wine tasting in Sonora at Muir-Hanna Vineyards. Although the tasting room is in downtown Sonora the vineyard and winery is in the Napa Valley. It is owned and operated by the direct descendants of John Muir, one of America’s most famous naturalists and conservationists.
Muir-Hanna Vineyards practices sustainable agriculture in every phase of their operation and celebrate in respect for the vision that John Muir had for the wonders of creation.
John Muir was born in Scotland in 1838, where he first experienced the beauty of nature on walks with his grandfather. At the age of 11 he immigrated with his family to Wisconsin, where he and his younger brother grew up in the fields and woods of the rich farming state.
When he was 30 years old he went to San Francisco and fell in love with the beautiful state of California In 1880 he married Louie Strenzel. Three years later his new father-in-law planted vineyards near San Francisco Bay in 1853 and was already renowned as a winemaker, taking three first prizes with his wines at Sacramento’s Agricultural Exposition. In 1890 John and Louie settled in Martinez and he lived there until his death in 1914. The home is currently managed by the National Park Service, it is open to visitors Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., year round. John helped the family ranch succeed before continuing his travels, writing, and conservation advocacy that resulted in the establishment of the National Park system and the founded the Sierra Club. 
Another sight to see named in John’s honor is Muir Woods just north of San Francisco in Marin County. I first visited these woods when I was a wee lad in the cub scouts and I visited it again frequently when I was in college. Now I do most of my forest hikes in the redwood forests of the east bay hills where is there is less tourist traffic.
John and Louie’s eldest daughter Wanda married Tom Hanna, and their son John is the father of Muir-Hanna owner Bill Hanna and the grandfather of winemaker Michael Hanna, who are sustaining a joint legacy of viticulture and environmental conservation.
So, with my friend on a cold and rainy Saturday I sampled a number of Muir-Hanna Vineyards wines in the small quaint corner tasting room in Sonora including the 2006 Alpenglow ($12.) a slightly sweet blush, the 2006 Napa Valley Estate Chardonnay ($24) the 2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon-Particelli Vineyard ($31), the 2004 Merlot ($28) the 2005 Bully Red ($22.00),and the 2004 Napa Valley Estate Pinot Noir ($22).
The wines are respectable and the Alpenglow is a reasonably priced blush that would have been more enjoyable on one of the hot summer days we just a couple months ago. However in my opinion the 2002 Cabernet may be a little past its peak and the Pinot Noir seemed a bit overly done, lacking the more subtle qualities that a fine Pinot can offer if grown in the right terroir and not overly extracted. Otherwise, the tasting room staff were extremely hospitable and if you are a devotee of John Muir this place is a “must see” in your wine tasting adventures.
0 comments:
Post a Comment