![]() ![]() Since Scribe values pairing food and wine, too, each tasting involves a small wooden plate of seasonal eats like local dry jack cheese, miniature apricots, nuts and cucumbers grown on site. On a recent visit, four current releases were sampled, but the stand-outs were a lovely dry Riesling a wildly good, almost-orange skin-fermented chardonnay and an unfiltered-yet-versatile pinot noir. ![]() ![]() Scribe is known for its lively quarterly parties for wine club members and, of course, its bottles. A dozen or so picnic tables dot the landscape in front of the tasting room and Edison light bulbs hang from the trees. Their tasting room is just that - a small spot on the bottom floor of an old hacienda where the bearded and braided staff handles the incoming crowds. Scribe is a rebellious little outfit run by brothers Andrew and Adam Mariani, the reigning princes of the Sonoma wine scene. Having Too Much Fun On Two Wheels, Photo Courtesy of Hunt Bailieīut alas, you are on a bike tour and your next stop is a bit of a trek away. This time, you’re headed to the other side of the Sonoma Square, nearly 10 miles, to Scribe, a winery that pours a completely polarizing experience from the one you just finished. The sentiment is contagious, so it’s hard to pedal away from here without having a wide smile on your face. This family doesn’t take itself too seriously and it has an awesome time doing what they do. There’s a playfulness to the sips, much like everything else about Hamel. The 2014 sauvignon blanc is tropical and smooth while the red blends, especially the 2012 Isthmus, are full-bodied and delightful on the palette. Like the vistas, the vino is exceptional - especially for a lesser-known, younger producer. The space is keenly decorated, but its architecture is nearly as notable. The Hamels made sure that each room’s rectangular windows frame the outside view as if they were pieces of art. says before mentioning how his commitment to the cause is so strong that he offered up a part of the property to be used for a scenic bike path through Sonoma.īack inside, you’ll find the Hamel Family tasting room to be incredible it’s an indoor-outdoor space with a massive stone fountain, wide umbrellas, lounges, tables and plush seating. “Sonoma is a cycler’s paradise,” Hamel Jr. Additionally, both Georges are biking enthusiasts who greet you with a friendly smile and provide as much insight on area routes as possible. and his sons, John and George III, are the ones ensuring that things go well with the grapes. Hamel, which started producing wine in 2006 and opened its stunning new tasting room a year ago, is a 100-percent organic and biodynamic vineyards. Hamel Family Wines, Photo Courtesy of Bruce DamonteĪfter you’ve familiarized yourself with your bike, head north to your first stop of the day, Hamel Family Wines. The company offers all sorts of tours, but we think a trip through the valley is the way to go. Once your bags are comfortably stowed in your room, get the Fairmont’s concierge to connect you to Sonoma Adventures, a great mobile bike, segway and vehicle rental company that will drop your wheels off in front of the hotel. Perfectly situated amongst the vines, this picturesque property gets you in the mood for all the movement to come with a sweat-inducing itinerary that includes everything from yoga in the mineral water pool to tennis lessons and Pilates. Start your journey by booking a room at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa. Want to experience the best of Wine Country by bike? Here, we breakdown a journey through Sonoma to some of the region’s most illustrious wineries. A few years back, the best way to travel around Napa or Sonoma counties while wine tasting was in a rented stretch limo. However, with savvy travelers yearning for more unique and healthful experiences, the transportation method of choice is the bicycle these days.
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