On Saturday, June 18, an enthusiastic group of San Francisco Young Leaders took off for a unique wine country tour.
Led by our energetic Event Chair, LJ Prendergast, this was a beautiful day of special tastings, fun and friendship in the Napa Valley. This is the time of year when the grapes are ripening and the crowds are not as heavy as during harvest time in September and October; really a perfect month to be there with warm weather and blue skies.
First stop was Ram’s Gate winery in Carneros. This is a magnificent rustic-chic farmstead on a hilltop overlooking the Sonoma Valley with a state-of-the-art facility. Guests were greeted with glasses of wine and whisked off for a tour of the winery. Our wonderful guide gave a most informative overview of the history of the winery and production facility. The 30-acre vineyard produces Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.
From there, the group continued on to Maze Wines and were greeted by one of the the owners, Paul McSharry, at the private Bennett vineyard. Paul was a warm, welcoming and generous host and led the Young Leaders up the hill to a picnic table in the most stunning location with breathtaking scenery. Paul’s fine wines (Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc) are exquisite and a tribute to his well-deserved accolades and success.
The final stop was at the small and rustic McKenzie-Mueller Winery. This is family-owned and a charming place to be! We were treated to a private tasting and had the winery to ourselves while we enjoyed several interesting offerings.
A toast to LJ for producing a fabulous day for our Young Leaders. Thank you.
