1. How long can a wine last once it has been opened?

This is a concern sometimes that will discourage someone from opening a bottle of wine, especially if that person is alone – you don’t want it to go to waste because you weren’t able to finish it and it has “gone bad.” In general, wines will last at least a day or two, and sometimes longer, once you have opened the bottle. There are several steps you can take to help your wines last longer, but first, it helps to understand what happens to a wine once you’ve opened the bottle.

When you open a bottle you expose the wine to oxygen. That interaction is important because it “wakes up” a wine’s aromas and flavors from sometimes years of being sealed up. So, a certain amount of “air time” helps most wines, especially red wines, to smell and taste better. The best way to save a bottle for a later date is to slow down or stop that oxygen reaction. Three ways to do that come to mind, in order of ease: 1.) Simply put the cork back in the bottle and refrigerate it. Red or white, this works and will extend a wine’s life by several days. For red wines, take the bottle out an hour or so before you want to drink it to let it come up to temperature. 2.) Use a vacuum pump (like a Vacu Vin), a device that comes with rubber stoppers and a hand pump, to remove the oxygen from the bottle. 3.) Replace the air in the bottle with an inert gas using a product like Wine Keeper.

It bears repeating that, especially with red wines, a day or so open on the counter will many times help a wine taste even better.

2. Should I be worried about sulfites in wine?

I am not a medical professional and don’t even play one on television or in any other medium. Sulfites are elements that occur naturally in wines. Vintners also use sulfur in various forms in the vineyard and in the winery to protect grapes and wine from spoilage. In general, vintners work hard to minimize sulfites in wine to the extent that they can. I’m told that allergies to sulfites are not very common; many times the headaches and other allergic reactions are due to other compounds in wines, like histamines.

3. If a wine has a screwcap, does that mean it’s the cheap stuff?

Not at all. Bottles with screwcaps are becoming more and more common on retail shelves and on restaurant wine lists. And those screwcaps are being used on more and more expensive wines every year. Why? Screwcaps provide a nearly perfect seal for wine and avoid much of the problems and failure issues associated with natural corks. Now, the majority of natural corks provide great seals, but because natural corks are by definition irregular some provide a better seal than others and can result in different bottles of the same wine aging differently. The other downside of natural corks is that they can be prone to attract a chemical compound called TCA (abbreviation for a very long scientific name) that causes “corked” wines. I’ll cover corked wines in a future FAQ. White wines of all price levels are quickly moving to screwcaps and more and more red wines are going that way too. I rarely buy a bottle of white wine that’s not screwcap finished – it also makes saving the wine for a few days really easy.

So, do not be afraid of wines with screwcaps—especially white and rose wines. In fact, because they provide such a great closure, they can help extend the length of your white wines in the refrigerator adding another solution to question #1 above.

As always, you can email me with other questions at gswalter@pinotreport.com.

Greg Walter, a Sonoma resident for more than 20 years, has been in wine and food publishing for more than 30 years, 15 of which were spent as a senior editor and later president of Wine Spectator magazine. Today he writes the PinotReport newsletter (Pinotreport.com) and publishes books through his Carneros Press imprint (Carnerospress.com).

Working at home like I do, when the weather starts to act like summer, there’s a change in the routine. I go into “passive cooling” mode hoping to push off the inevitable firing-up of the air conditioning. That means windows open at night and early morning, then shut and shades closed during the day.

That same movement into warmer weather triggers my wine consumption shift from mostly reds to white and rose wines.

If you’ve been reading this column for a while you probably know that I am a Sauvignon Blanc and Rose nut. But I drink a lot of other white wines as well. I’ve assembled a list below of some of the mostly local wines I am drinking right now and would recommend you check out.

Let me say up front, that these are not necessarily the most complex or most expensive wines of their respective types; some of them are great values. I’m buying these for casual sipping and sharing with friends — and so I’m much more concerned about finding wines I can afford to keep buying and enjoy all through the summer.

The lists below are organized by wine variety or type and the wines are listed in alphabetical order. Any of these qualify as “go to” wines as far as my summer sipping is concerned.

ROSE:  Lately I am finding myself really attracted to rosé wines. I love the brightness of the strawberry and other fruit flavors, but truthfully, I love the color of the wines as much as the wines themselves. It puts me in a better, more festive mood and they really make a meal feel like summertime!

Anaba Wines Turbine Pink Sonoma Valley 2012, $22

Bryter Estates Pinot Noir Rosé Sonoma Coast Gap’s Crown “Jubilee” 2012, $32

Cochon Old Vine Rose 2011, $21

R2 Wine Company Hannah Rose Rosé 2011, $18

SAUVIGNON BLANC: This is definitely the most frequently consumed white wine in my household or when I’m out. I love the crisp, bright-fruited styles and find that they really do pair well with any casual summer dishes. The Merriam bottling listed below is from outside the Sonoma Valley (actually just south of Healdsburg) but I mention it because it is definitely the best SauvBlanc I have had to date this year — really worth seeking out!

Bartholomew Park Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma Valley 2012, $24

Kunde Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma Valley Magnolia Lane 2011, $17

Merriam Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley “Danielle” 2012, $18

Schug Carneros Estate Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma Coast 2012, $20

CHARDONNAY: I am a very selective Chardonnay drinker. I do not really enjoy the over-oaked, big bruiser versions of this wine. I prefer those that offer more structure and elegance with the oak in the background, or no oak at all.

MacRostie Cellars Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2011, $25

St. Francis Winery Chardonnay Sonoma County 2010, $15

Sebastiani Vineyards Chardonnay Sonoma County 2011, $14

Sojourn Cellars Chardonnay Sonoma Coast Sangiacomo Vineyard 2011, $45

OTHER WHITES: There are a lot of other interesting white wines, from White Rhone blends to Riesling to Pinot Blanc/Pinot Gris. The common thread again for me is bright fruit and very crisp acidity, because that is what makes them the most versatile for sipping and pairing up with a meal. Here are several I like:

Anaba Wines Coriol White Rhone Blend Sonoma Coast 2010, $28

Gundlach Bundschu Gewurztraminer Sonoma Coast 2012, $22

Pey-Marin Riesling Marin County “The Shell Mound” 2011, $29

R2 Wine Co. Vin Blancs White Rhone Blend 2010, $24

Greg Walter has been in wine and food publishing for more than 30 years, 15 of which were spent as a senior editor and later president of Wine Spectator magazine. Today he writes the PinotReport newsletter (Pinotreport.com) and publishes books through his Carneros Press imprint (Carnerospress.com).

1. How do I know which wines to buy?

The answer to this question is easy – read this column! OK, that was a bit self-serving, but there is a kernel of truth hidden underneath the self-promotion. The truth is that figuring out what wines to buy can be a complex task. There are so many wines out there competing for your attention, whether you buy your wines at the local market or at one of our tasting rooms. And the simple truth is that unless you have an opportunity to taste the wine before you buy it, you have no idea whether that great deal on a Sauvignon Blanc you just purchased at Sonoma Market is going to be so great when you get it home.

As far as I’m concerned, there are really three ways to approach buying wines that result in the highest probability of enjoyment. 1.) Find wine(s) you like, and keep buying them. My parents do this quite a bit, and it works well for them. They don’t want to experiment that much and yet they want to drink wine every night. They’re OK with drinking the same wines, because they like them. 2.) Find a writer or publication whose reviews you calibrate with and start building a “try and buy list” based on their recommendations. 3.) Find a local retailer you like and let him guide you. A knowledgeable retailer can really become your own personal consultant as he or she learns what your likes are.

After all of that, though, the ultimate answer is to try wines and trust your own palate.

2. How do I know when a wine I’ve purchased is ready to drink?

This question generally applies more to red wines than to whites and I will tell you for 90 percent of the wine purchases made out there, it is a moot question. Why? Because just about all wine purchased (especially single bottles) is consumed within an hour or so of purchase. We Americans are an impatient lot; we love our instant gratification. And let’s face it, for most of our wine purchases – on our way to a dinner or barbecue, or on our way home after a long day—how well a wine will age is really only an academic discussion.

Now, as an aside, I will say here what I’ve said before, for maximum enjoyment of any young red wine, make sure you open that wine an hour before you plan it drink it. This gets the shut-down aroma components interacting with air and I guarantee doing that one thing will make for maximum enjoyment of what that wine has to offer.

For those of you who are looking to lay down a case of something you really like and want to have a foolproof way to understand when that wine will be drinking at peak, I have a simple system for you: drink a bottle periodically. Open a bottle when you first buy the case and make some notes (mental or otherwise) on where the wine is – take a mental or verbal snapshot of it. Then wait six months and try another and see if it’s different. Then wait another six months and repeat the exercise. You should be getting an idea of where this is going and if the wine is improving. Make your own call about whether it’s really ready or needs more time, because, ultimately you are the one who wants to enjoy drinking it. It’s the best way I know.

As always, you can email me with questions at gswalter@pinotreport.com.

Greg Walter, a Sonoma resident for more than 20 years, has been in wine and food publishing for more than 30 years, 15 of which were spent as a senior editor and later president of Wine Spectator magazine. Today he writes the PinotReport newsletter (Pinotreport.com) and publishes books through his Carneros Press imprint (Carnerospress.com).

That winery is The Donum Estate.

The Donum Estate was established in 2001 by Anne Moller-Racke who came to California from Germany in 1981 to manage the Carneros vineyard holdings of Buena Vista Winery, then owned by German beverage company Racke. During the 1980s and 1990s, she expanded and improved the Buena Vista vineyards on Ramal Road to include the adjacent Tula Vista Vineyard, now known as the Donum Ranch.

When Racke sold its interest in Buena Vista to Allied Domecq, then a British beverage company, it retained part of the vineyards and Anne led an effort to create what she thought would be the ultimate Pinot Noir project on the western portion of that Buena Vista property, and Donum Estate was born.

Today, Donum Estate is actually composed of four vineyards: The Donum Ranch on Ramal Road; the Ferguson Block, located very close to the ranch in Carneros; the Nugent Vineyard in Russian River Valley and the latest addition, Angel Camp Vineyard in the Anderson Valley.

The year 2002 brought in another key player in the project: consulting winemaker Kenneth Juhasz. With experience making Pinot Noir in Oregon, New Zealand and up and down the California coast with his own Auteur label, Kenneth was the perfect partner for Anne to develop the Donum Estate Pinots. Five Pinot bottlings are generally produced: the Carneros Estate ($72), the Carneros Estate West Slope ($90), the Carneros Estate East Slope ($90), the Russian River Valley Estate ($72) and the Russian River Reserve ($90). For the just-released 2010 vintage and as a commemoration, a special Tenth Anniversary bottling from the Carneros Estate was also produced.

In late 2011, the Racke group sold Donum Estate to Winside Inc., a partnership of Danish investors who share a love of fine wines and were also big fans of the Donum wines. Anne Moller-Racke remains as president and winegrower; Kenneth Juhasz continues in his role as consulting winemaker.

These are terrific, rich, complex, texture-driven Pinot Noirs and as I said earlier, easily among the best Pinot Noirs produced on the West Coast. To be sure, they are not inexpensive, but if you love great Pinot, they are worth every penny.

For more information, contact The Donum Estate at 707.939.2290 or info@thedonumestate.com. The winery’s website is Thedonumestate.com.

Greg Walter, a Sonoma resident for more than 20 years, has been in wine and food publishing for more than 30 years, 15 as a senior editor and later president of Wine Spectator magazine. Today he writes the PinotReport newsletter (Pinotreport.com) and publishes books through his Carneros Press imprint (Carnerospress.com).

I’ve decided that 2013 is going to be the kind of year to do things in new and different ways across the board in my life, but in particular in matters concerning wine.

I’ve already begun this quest and I have to tell you, it’s been a great thing so far. As many of you know, I have spent the past decade-plus really focused on Western Pinot Noir. While that focus is not going to change, I have really begun to broaden my horizons wine-wise and have started tasting, and enjoying, a lot of wines that I have been out of touch with for years. It’s been a tremendous rediscovery of the amazing diversity of flavor and style that drew me to wine in the first place a long time ago.

I know how many of you are. You find a wine type or a specific wine that you really like and you buy and drink it again and again because it’s safe and reliable and tastes great. I’m like that with Sauvignon Blanc. Truthfully, there’s nothing wrong with that approach, but it will prevent you from experiencing some truly amazing wines.

I encourage you to step out of your normal wine habits and try some new wines this year. Over the next several columns I am going to do the same thing and share with you not only some of the interesting wines I discover, but also some ways you can do the same easily and without breaking the bank. Stay tuned for that.

Eighth Street Wineries Open House on Saturday

Speaking of trying something different, if you have not visited the great collection of small-lot wineries in the industrial neighborhood on Eighth Street East south of Napa Road, you are missing some of our best local wines. These producers have formed a loose organization, called Eighth Street Wineries, and have created a great open house event so that we can taste and explore some really terrific wines in the very cool environment where they are produced.

This Saturday is the annual open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the main cluster of wineries at 21481 Eighth Street East. The tasting features 10 wineries — Anaba Wines, Enkidu Wines, MacRostie Vineyards & Winery, Parmelee-Hill, Patz & Hall, Stone Edge Farm, Talisman Wines, Three Sticks Wines, Tin Barn Vineyards, Ty Caton — all generally within walking distance of each other, with food pairings as well.

Tickets are $40 in advance with a special $10 designated driver ticket also available. For more information, visit Eighthstreetwineries.com.

As always, you can email me with questions at gswalter@pinotreport.com.

Greg Walter, a Sonoma resident for more than 20 years, has been in wine and food publishing for more than 30 years, 15 as a senior editor and later president of “Wine Spectator” magazine. Today he writes the PinotReport newsletter (Pinotreport.com) and publishes books through his Carneros Press imprint (Carnerospress.com).

OK, that was a little cynical and I apologize for that. I am writing this the day after my 49ers just about won the Super Bowl (an occasion about which by the way I must have read reference to hundreds of “perfect wine pairings” to accompany the Big Game). But the concept really is kind of absurd. Truthfully you should drink what you like to drink — what tastes good, what fits your budget and lifestyle — regardless of what someone like me, or some marketing company, thinks.

So, undoubtedly, you are hearing about the next “perfect wine pairing” opportunity: Valentine’s Day. Well, I am here to tell you that if you are really and truly concerned about which wine to pair with a box of chocolates, you have completely and utterly missed the point. I would also say that if Valentine’s Day is the only day of the year that you focus on demonstrating your love for your partner, you have other work to do in that area as well (and that falls under the purview of another columnist).

To me, the perfect wine for Valentine’s Day is whichever wine I am sharing with the person I love. And if I’m in love, that’s what I want to be doing every day anyway.

Wine can be a perfect enhancer of just about any social experience. It relaxes us; it helps us slow down and enjoy the people and situations we find ourselves in. It can transform any meal into a great meal. It can help us talk, and listen, to each other. Wine can add so much to a special occasion, but it also adds as much to a normal evening.

Whether we are sharing glasses of bubbly on the terrace at Gloria Ferrer, or sipping a great Pinot while cooking dinner, or relaxing on the couch in front of the fireplace or sitting on the balcony of an inn overlooking the coast at Mendocino, it’s the experience that counts. The shared experience. Wine is not the driver or the focus, the experience is. And that experience doesn’t have to be extravagant, but it does have to be something you do together.

So here’s my big recommendation for this Valentine’s Day. Use it as the day you start creating memorable experiences with the one you love. Come up with something simple but very meaningful. Enjoy it together. And then on February 15, do it again. Then repeat it frequently throughout the rest of the year.

Add flowers where appropriate.

As for my wine recommendation, think of the last wine the two of you really enjoyed; not because it was expensive or scored a “95,” but because it was part of a really great time. Go out and buy more of that wine and enjoy it more often.

As always, you can email me with questions at gswalter@pinotreport.com.

Greg Walter, a Sonoma resident for more than 20 years, has been in wine and food publishing for more than 30 years, 15 of which were spent as a senior editor and later president of “Wine Spectator.” Today he writes the PinotReport newsletter (Pinotreport.com) and publishes books through his Carneros Press imprint (Carnerospress.com).

VinOlivo: ‘best wine event in Sonoma’

Created to celebrate two of our Valley’s great culinary riches, wine and olives, this event has grown into a full weekend of celebration. Produced by the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance and held over the Presidents’ Day weekend, VinOlivo showcases more than 60 wineries and 25 of top restaurateurs in a series of events and dinners.

The VinOlivo Grand Tasting, held on Friday, Feb. 15 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Lodge at Sonoma (1325 Broadway), is an incredible collection of valley wineries, restaurants and artisans offering their fare, and I think, the best wine event in Sonoma. There’s so much to taste including local olives at the Olive Bar and experience the Pommes Frites and Sparkling Wine Bar. Tickets for the Grand Tasting are $75 per person in advance.

Participating wineries for the Grand Tasting include Anaba Wines, Annadel Estate Winery, B.R. Cohn, B Wise Vineyards, Bartholomew Park Winery, Beltane Ranch, Benziger Family Winery, Buena Vista Winery, Canihan Family Wines, Chateau St. Jean, Clarbec Wines, Cline Cellars, Deerfield Ranch Winery, Enkidu Wines, Envolve Winery, Eric Ross Winery, GlenLyon Vineyards & Winery, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards, Haywood Estate, Idell Family Vineyards, Imagery Estate Winery, Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, Keating Wines, Kenwood Vineyards, Landmark Vineyards, Larson Family Winery, Lasseter Family Vineyards, Ledson Winery & Vineyards, Little Vineyards Family Winery, Loxton Cellars, MacLeod Family Vineyard, MacRostie Winery & Vineyards, Muscardini Cellars, Nicholson Ranch, Petroni Vineyards, R2 Wine Company, Ravenswood Winery, Schug Carneros Estate Winery, Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, Sojourn Cellars, Spann Vineyards, St. Francis Winery & Vineyards, Talisman Wines, Tin Barn Vineyards, Two Amigos Wines, Ty Caton Vineyards, Viansa Winery & Marketplace and Walt Wines.

Restaurants and artisans include Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar, Crisp Bake Shop, El Dorado Kitchen, HelloCello, Hopmonk Tavern, Meritage Martini Oyster Bar & Grill, Ramekins, The Epicurean Connection, The Girl & The Fig, The Red Grape, The Strudel Guy, The Vineyards Inn and Wild Thyme.

There is also a full slate of VinOlivo events over the weekend, from a tasting pass to visit wineries during the weekend to winery dinners and an online auction featuring unique Sonoma Valley winery and vacation experiences. For tickets and more information on the VinOlivo weekend, call 707.935.0803 or visit Sonomavalleywine.com.

Eighth Street wineries open their houses

One of the great collections of small-lot wineries in the North Coast is over in the industrial neighborhood on Eighth Street East south of Napa Road. These producers have formed a loose organization, dubbed Eighth Street Wineries, and have created a great open house event so that we can taste and explore some really terrific wines in the very cool environment where they are produced.

The annual open house this year is on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the main cluster of wineries at 21481 8th Street East. The tasting features 10 wineries—Anaba Wines, Enkidu Wines, MacRostie Vineyards & Winery, Parmelee-Hill, Patz & Hall, Stone Edge Farm, Talisman Wines, Three Sticks Wines, Tin Barn Vineyards, Ty Caton—all generally within walking distance of each other with food pairings as well.

Tickets are $40 in advance with a special $10 designated driver ticket also available. For more information, visit Eighthstreetwineries.com.

As always, you can email me with questions at gswalter@pinotreport.com.

Greg Walter, a Sonoma resident for more than 20 years, has been in wine and food publishing for more than 30 years, 15 of which were spent as a senior editor and later president of Wine Spectator magazine. Today he writes the PinotReport newsletter (Pinotreport.com) and publishes books through his Carneros Press imprint (Carnerospress.com).

There are times during the often stressful holiday season when one just needs a little impromptu holiday cheer. What better way to reward oneself for a successful outing in the maze that can be holiday shopping than with a glass of wine in a comfortable, friendly setting? Here are my top three locations in town for holiday cheer.

Enoteca Della Santina Next Door. It’s hard to beat the Enoteca Della Santina Next Door for an intimate, comfortable venue to sit and enjoy a glass or bottle of great wine. I’ve always loved the diverse, eclectic selection that can range from a killer Chenin Blanc from South Africa to Steve Law’s amazing local MacLaren Syrah.

When you walk in the door at Enoteca, you enter an intimate, warm space. On your left is the bar (about 10 seats) extending most of the length of the room. There is a small alcove in the back with a high-rise glass table and seats. On your right is a beautiful stone wall with floor-to-ceiling metal wine racks, literally a wall of wine. So far, so good. Great selection, cool, intimate setting, friendly people. There’s also a wine club and special tasting events throughout the year.

But that’s not all. Most nights you can also enjoy the full dinner menu from the adjacent Della Santina’s Trattoria served at the bar. A glass of Pinot Noir and some rich, earthy Penne con Funghi… just about says it all for me!

Enoteca Della Santina Next Door, 127 East Napa Street, Sonoma, 938.4200, Enotecanextdoor.com

Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar. For many people, locals and visitors alike, the Carneros Bistro is not the first place they think of for a respite from the rigors of holiday shopping or just grabbing an impromptu glass of wine. Most likely, that’s because of it’s location at the Lodge at Sonoma, about a mile south of the Plaza. Well, that’s their loss. I’ve become more and more convinced over the past year or two that Carneros Bistro may be the best “complete” wine and food experience in Sonoma. The bar and lounge are comfortable and friendly with the full restaurant menu available. The restaurant, and Chef Andrew Wilson’s menu, is hands down one of the best in town. Chris Sawyer’s wine program is really eclectic and yet having said that he definitely has an affinity — and the selection to match — for Sonoma County Pinot Noir.

Let me tell you, the wine fun doesn’t end there. Chris has a lot of special wine programs and seasonal dinners at the restaurant including two special weekly features. Every Tuesday is the “Grapes to Glass” wine class with each class focusing on a different wine type or topic. The classes are free of charge. Thursdays are “Celebrity Wine-tender” nights featuring local winemakers pouring complimentary tastes of the latest and finest releases.

Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar, The Lodge at Sonoma, 1325 Broadway (at Leveroni), Sonoma, 935.6600. Thelodgeatsonoma.com

Sigh. Sigh is unique in Sonoma in that it is the only wine bar in town totally dedicated to Champagne and sparkling wines. I haven’t had the chance to spend a lot of time here yet, but from what I have seen so far, this is an awesome addition to the Plaza wine mix.

Located toward the back of “Wine Alley” at the Sonoma Court Shops on East Napa (across the alley from the Bryter Estates tasting room), Sigh is the brainchild of Jayme Powers and features a wide ranging list of 20-30 bubblies from sparkling wine regions around the world, including but not limited to France (duh!), Italy, Spain, Austria, Australia and California. And while it is not difficult to find good sparkling wine at a number of locations around the Plaza, it is impossible to find a selection as diverse and eclectic as the one at Sigh.

There are times when only Champagne (or another bubbly) will do and I am looking forward to spending more of those times at Sigh.

Sigh Sonoma, 29 East Napa Street, Suite C, Sonoma, 996.2444, Sighsonoma.com

As always, you can email me with questions at gswalter@pinotreport.com.

Greg Walter, a Sonoma resident for more than 20 years, has been in wine and food publishing for more than 30 years, 15 as a senior editor and later president of Wine Spectator magazine. Today he writes the PinotReport newsletter (Pinotreport.com) and publishes books through his Carneros Press imprint (Carnerospress.com).

I’ve put together a list of several items that I think make great gifts for the wine love in your life (or for yourself!). These are mostly useful gifts — not fancy, expensive things.

1. Glassware: Good wine really does benefit from good glassware. Glassware is a very personal choice and I would really not try to buy it for someone with one exception. I find that the stemless glasses like the Riedel “O” wine tumbler series and others like them are really useful and make a great gift. I would not use them for a dinner party, but I have to say that there is almost no better wine glass for someone who travels a lot and like to bring wine along to the cabin or hotel. The Riedel versions are available in white (smaller) and red (larger) versions and come in a convenient box that’s easy to pack.

2. Decanter: If you or the wine lover on your list is a red wine lover, then a good decanter is a great gift. Red wines need air to open up and deliver the maximum in terms of aromas and flavor. I always recommend opening a bottle of red wine and letting it sit for at least an hour before you want to drink it. Most of us drink immediately after opening the bottle. You can short cut that hour by decanting (pouring) the wine into a decanter, thus allowing the wine to come into contact with air as you splash it into the decanter. As with glassware, these are personal, but you don’t need to go fancy or expensive here.

3. CellarTracker: This is a great service that allows you to track you wine cellar and interact with a huge community of like-minded wine lovers. CellarTracker also allows you to seamlessly access reviews of wines in your cellar not only from top wine reviewers (my newsletter PinotReport is one), but also peer reviews from across the CellarTracker community. Signing up and basic access is free, go to Cellartracker.com for more information.

4. Wine Check: This is a really cool gift idea if you travel with wine or buy wine on your travels. The “Wine Check,” is a collapsible, secure, padded case with wheels that fits around a standard wine shipper box and converts it into a piece of luggage. It’s a safe economical way to transport up to one case (12 bottles) of wine while staying under the 50-pound airline weight limit for luggage. Get more information at Thewinecheck.com.

And finally, if nothing else will satisfy your wine loving friend or family member and he or she loves Pinot Noir, there’s nothing better than a subscription to my newsletter, PinotReport (OK that was a shameless plug, sorry).

As always, you can email me with questions at gswalter@pinotreport.com.

Greg Walter, a Sonoma resident for more than 20 years, has been in wine and food publishing for more than 30 years, 15 of which were spent as a senior editor and later president of Wine Spectator magazine. Today he writes the PinotReport newsletter (Pinotreport.com) and publishes books through his Carneros Press imprint (Carnerospress.com).

That’s the sequence of events that led me to want to get to know more about Anaba Wines. I think the winery first appeared on my radar maybe as much as two years ago when I first tasted Anaba’s while Rhone blend called Coriol. That wine and a Grenache Rose definitely got my attention. Later I heard that they also produced a Pinot Noir and have had a couple of opportunities recently to confirm that it too is worthy of your attention.

I’ll bet that many of you have not heard of Anaba either – it’s not one of the 22 winery tasting rooms located around the Plaza. But I’ll also bet you’ve driven by their attractive, unassuming tasting room hundreds of times. Anaba is located at the junction of highways 121, 116 and Bonneau Road.

Anaba founder and owner John Sweazey named his wine project after the “anabatic winds,” a phenomenon where winds move across land—in this case, vineyards—and are drawn up slopes due to the warming of the air by the sun at the top of the slope. Anaba’s location right in the path of the daily winds from the Petaluma Gap lives up to the name.

Anaba is the culmination of Chicago native Sweazey’s decades-long journey learning about and enjoying fine wines, especially those from the Burgundy and Rhone regions of France. And although he loves wine and the wine business, his bio says that he never really wanted to be a winemaker.

For that role, he’s fortunate to have Jennifer Marion in the cellar and vineyards at Anaba. Part of a growing (and good) trend in winemaking, Jennifer has hands-on experience working on both sides of the fine-wine equation. She has worked for an agricultural technology consulting firm as well as spent time in service as assistant winemaker at Carneros Pinot pioneer MacRostie Winery.

Jennifer’s Anaba wines are full of texture and nuance and are the best examples of her understanding of what it takes to make terrific wines.

Anaba’s white wine offerings include the Coriol White Rhone Blend ($28), a Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($28), an unoaked Chardonnay from the Denmark Vineyard ($37), Chardonnay from the Gap’s Crown Vineyard ($37) and the Turbine Pink Grenache Rose ($22).

Red wines include the Coriol Red Rhone Blend ($28), a Sonoma Valley Mourvedre ($40), a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($32), Syrah Las Madres ($42) and the Turbine Red Sonoma Valley ($24).

Other wines include a Late Harvest Viognier ($30/375 ml), White Aero Port Sonoma Valley ($28/375 ml) and Red Aero Port Sonoma Valley ($28/375 ml).

The Anaba Wines tasting room is located at 60 Bonneau Road and is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.anabawines.com or call 707.996.4188.

As always, you can email me with questions or comments at gswalter@pinotreport.com.

Greg Walter, a Sonoma resident for more than 20 years, has been in wine and food publishing for more than 30 years, 15 of which were spent as a senior editor and later president of Wine Spectator magazine. Today he writes the PinotReport newsletter (Pinotreport.com) and publishes books through his Carneros Press imprint (Carnerospress.com).