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Medlock Ames: Wine Tasting in a Secret Garden

CaliforniaPosted by Kacy

2 Mar

Our trip to Sonoma was a dream from start to finish, but especially the start with a visit to Medlock Ames in the Alexander Valley.
When traveling, I tend to want to do it all and see it all. I plan my itinerary for weeks, if not months, ahead of time by mapping out must-see destinations and getting an idea of where I want to eat most of my meals. To be honest, I sometimes have as much fun with the planning as I do on the actual trip.
But with such a short amount of time to spend in Sonoma, I knew I had to let my control issues go and focus on quality over quantity. There was no way we could make a dent in visiting the over 400 wineries in Sonoma County (although if I lived in the area, I’d certainly try). Instead we focused on sampling wineries from several of the major regions in the area.
We started our day by making the forty-five minute drive from our Airbnb in Glen Ellen toward Healdsburg, a gorgeous route with mountain and vineyard views around every bend. In Sonoma, it’s as much about the journey as it is the destination.
Welcome to Medlock AmesBut what a destination we’d found in Medlock Ames: an ethical, sustainable, boutique winery with a stunning tasting room and bountiful gardens.
Medlock Ames tasting roomWe knew we were in the right hands when we were greeted warmly as soon as we walked in the door and shown to a sunny table on the back patio, overlooking the gardens and seemingly never-ending stretch of vineyards in the distance.
Medlock Ames view(Those are actually Rodney Strong vines, Medlock Ames’ vineyard is about fifteen minutes away at the ranch.)
To our surprise and delight, the woman pouring our tasting for us was Brazilian, so we spent the time in between sips discussing Rio and Paraty and using the tiny bit of the portuguese we learned this summer. I love it when worlds collide.
Medlock AmesIt was a gorgeous, sunny morning and the wines went down easily. We started with a crisp but surprisingly creamy Sauvignon Blanc and finished with the rich and luxurious 2013 Right Bank Red, a small lot production with only 224 cases produced. Everything in between, from a newly-released rosé to a versatile and affordable red blend, was wonderful as well.
Medlock Ames tasting porchAlong with complimentary mint and lemon water, a tasting at Medlock Ames comes with a delicious pairing of local, artisan cheeses.
local California cheeseThese pairings were very thoughtful and took the tasting experience to the next level, especially the peppery Mezzo Secco alongside the Right Bank Red.
Medlock Ames HealdsburgMedlock Ames is a lesser-known winery in the Healdsburg area; many of the locals we mentioned it to had no idea what we were talking about. That, along with the fact that we were the only patrons there right as they opened, made it feel like our own secret garden. I honestly could have stayed there all day, reading a book and breathing in the fresh air.
Sonoma is often referred to as Napa’s less pretentious neighbor, and after our first tasting was in the books we couldn’t help but agree. As we pulled out of the parking lot and toward our next destination there was only one thing on our minds, How will anywhere else we go compare to this wine lover’s paradise? 
Stay tuned to find out if anything did!

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8 Comments

« Remembering February
Drink in the Views at Paradise Ridge »

Comments

  1. Lizzie Lau says

    March 2, 2016 at 5:14 pm

    I was already really keen on visiting Sonoma and Napa, and you’ve just made Sonoma sound even more appealing. My traveling companion these days is only 5 and her appreciation for this kind of trip is super minimal, though I am toying with the idea of taking her to see Michael Franti at BottleRock in May.

    Reply
    • Kacy says

      March 3, 2016 at 2:29 pm

      Ah, that sounds like so much fun! I would love to go to BottleRock one of these years. I’m sure your little companion will love it 🙂

      Reply
  2. DarkSideRunner says

    March 2, 2016 at 6:33 pm

    Beautiful photos! Have you been to the Temecula region for wine tasting? I used to live around there and miss it – Florida has a lot of good to offer, but not so much in the way of wine!

    Reply
    • Kacy says

      March 3, 2016 at 2:30 pm

      I haven’t yet, but I definitely plan to return to California to visit more wine regions. It’s just so beautiful out here!

      Reply
  3. Ray says

    March 6, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    Amazing coincidence with the Brazilian sommelier! Did you find out what brought her to California? Or if she ever worked at any of the wineries in Bento Goncalves before arriving in the United States?

    Reply
    • Kacy says

      March 9, 2016 at 2:17 pm

      She actually hadn’t been to Bento or had Brazilian wine. It’s not that popular of a destination among locals for some reason. Maybe in the coming years it will get more popular.

      Reply

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