Frank is a legend.  Many up and coming winemakers look up to Frank.   He is what is known as “old school”.    With 85 acres in Sonoma County near Cloverdale he sells most of his grapes, yet produces 500 cases annually under the Pastori label.  There is no modern machine that bottles, corks, foils and labels in one pass.  Each paper label that proudly displays the Pastori family name is hand glued onto each individual bottle…  Old School.

His father founded Pastori winery in 1914.  At nearly 90 years of age, you’ll still find Frank in the vineyard driving the tractor, in the winery caring for wines and if you see his truck in the parking lot that means the tasting room is open.

You’ll find many winemakers consulting Frank.  All the “big guys” still come around for his advice and a grondino of Petite Sirah.  He’s seen it all in his years at Pastori Winery.  The 2010 season presented challenges not unfamiliar to Frank, but conditions not seen by many winemakers:  cool temperatures, heavy rain and then an unexpected spike of intense heat.  He seemed to know the weather pattern and what to do, while many were taken by surprise with what Mother Nature had in store for the season.

Beyond the respect of the wine community, I was so taken by how much this man  accomplishes with his traditional approach.  The tasting room is open when he is there.  It is not the modern, upscale, beautiful tasting room that many have become accustomed to in Wine Country.    This is the real deal.  He makes the wine, he tells you how he made it, the history of the vines and the soil from which they come.

Frank had much wisdom to pass along to Russell throughout the day that we spent with him, but I came away with a few simple lessons:  Most importantly, small production = quality and letting the grapes and soil take precedence over barrel flavors and letting the wine “make itself”.   So much of what he had to share was so different from what you hear from “modern” winemakers.  I had to stop myself, actually more like pinch myself.

He learned from his father and his father learned from his father…  For the Pastori family, there was no education at UC Davis or another enology program.  This family learned by doing and passing the knowledge on to the next generation… there is a lot to be said for that (And we know that Frank has passed his incredible wealth of knowledge on to the next generation of his family and to us here at Stone’s Throw as well).

We dedicate this issue to Edith Pauline Pastori, the love of Frank’s life, who passed away on February 8^th, 2010 after nearly 70 years of marriage.

We drank to the future… guests tasted the 2008 & 2009 vintage wines.   It was a great way to increase guest knowledge of wine plus they enjoyed the rare opportunity to discover hands-on, the Stone’s Throw wines currently in barrel!    

And as always, only at Stone’s Throw Winery. ™

Click to view slideshow.

How does the saying go… something old is new again?  For the first time  guests enjoyed the rare opportunity to taste some older Stone’s Throw vintages… back to 1997!    

And as always, only at Stone’s Throw Winery. ™

 For reservations please call 920.839.9660.

One of the ultimate indulgences in life is wine and chocolate.  Which is why there is a selection of chocolate in our tasting room from literally all over the world!   Wines matched with chocolate guarantee unusual, unexpected and delicious tasting experience. 

Milk or Dark?  Red or White?

In general, you should match milk chocolate with white wines, and champagnes and dark chocolate with red wines.

Zinfandels that are rich and complex pair beautifully with dark chocolate.

My favorite pairing….. A caramel sea salt truffle paired with Stone’s Throw Baccardax!  Unbelievable!!!

How to taste?

1.)    Begin with a small sip of wine and allow the wine’s flavors to coat your mouth.

2.)    Nibble your chocolate making sure to let the chocolate partially melt in your mouth.

3.)    Take another sip of your wine and enjoy the compliments of the two flavors together.

What to think about while you are tasting?

Enjoying your pairing should be like an exploration involving all your senses.

Smell:  The smell is 90% of the taste.   Different smells can indicate different parts of the world and even specific beans.

Look: Look at the consistency of the chocolates color.  Is it even?  Is it shiny? The shinier the chocolate the better it has been tempered (tempering being the most important part of chocolate making.)

Listening:  Listening to your chocolate is more important than you might think (and no, I have not had too much wine while writing this article).  It should make a clean, bright, snapping sound when broken.

Texture: Texture is a big deal!  How does the chocolate feel melting in your mouth? Waxy? Smooth? Gritty? Smooth usually means good, but there really is no right or wrong here; if you enjoy something, just go for it!

The taste of chocolate matures over your tasting experience.  And after the chocolate is gone there are still opportunities to taste.  The length of a chocolate aftertaste, or “finish” (as in wine), is an indication of quality.  Is the finish different from the way chocolate tasted initially?  Did the chocolate improve with mouth time?

Remember:  Just like with wine, every palate is different and there are no right or wrong answers in tasting.

We hope to see you soon in the tasting room for Chocolate weekends and be sure to tell us about your at home experiences as well (those that aren’t personal!)

 Kim

P.S. Chocolate Weekends begin February 6th and continue through May.  We’ll be pairing Stone’s Throw Artisan Wines with Artisan Chocolates from the world over.  See you in the Tasting Room!

 Stone’s Throw Winery

Chocolate Weekends!

Friday’s, Saturday’s, & Sunday’s

 Jan 22, 2010 through May 23, 2010

LOVE IS…WINE… and CHOCOLATE! 

The ultimate chocolate experience! 

 We have selected four assorted divine and yes, decadent fine American and imported European artisan chocolates to four of our artisan wines and Champagne! 

You’ll taste, rate the chocolates, and leave with 2 logo glasses, your

tasting notes, and great memories…*

Expand your love for wine and chocolate.

$25 per couple

Chocolate Tastings will be held at our Tasting Salon starting at 10 am

don’t miss out on this opportunity to indulge!  

  Feel the love with Stone’s Throw Wine and chocolate….how can you go wrong?

And, as always, only at Stone’s Throw Winery™.

 *NOTE:  We are not responsible for where this experience may lead.

Wine & Chili Weekend 

Attend our annual Wine and Chili Weekend during the Fish Creek Winter Games Festival,  February 5, 6, and 7^th.

Don’t want cherry wine?  

You’re in luck, for we have matched our house-made ’Wino-Chili’ with our artisan wines.  Try Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or our rich Zinfandels…  

 What’s your favorite? 

 $10.00 per person, no reservations are required. 

 And, as always, only at Stone’s Throw Winery™.  

 For more Information: 920-839-9660 or stonesthrowwinery.com