Big turnout for Wine Road barrel tasting

KENT PORTER/The Press Democrat At Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves in Dry Creek, tourists take a vineyard path to the caves during the Russian River Wine Road wine event on Saturday.

Crowds packed wineries Saturday for the Wine Road Barrel Tasting held in the Dry Creek, Russian River and Alexander valleys — a signature spring wine event in Sonoma County.

Maps in hand, thousands of wine lovers found their way down country roads to dozens of wineries, including Bella Vineyards & Caves and A. Rafanelli Winery at the end of West Dry Creek Road.

With an expansive view over the verdant Dry Creek Valley, wine lovers could easily endure waiting for a taste of the latest cabernet and zinfandel produced by A. Rafanelli, a fourth generation winemaking family.

“We usually go to Napa because it’s closest, but here it’s a little more of an escape,” said Rachel Burge, an Oakland resident with a group ending its wine tasting day at A. Rafanelli. “We’re being educated and we’re buying a lot of wine.”

Drawing visitors to appreciate wine and spend money are twin aims for the Wine Road occasion promoting the region’s wineries and lodgings. The event is as popular as ever considering the large crowds are paying $30 at the door for weekend tickets in the midst of an economic recession.

The tasting event continues today and for a second weekend next Saturday and Sunday.

More than 120 wineries were on the Wine Road map this year, up from nine for the inaugural Wine Road event 33 years ago.

“We’ve done it from year one and we’ve seen the thing grow. We’re giving people a unique experience,” said Dave Rafanelli.

Barrel tasting gives novice and experienced wine lovers alike a sneak preview of wine that won’t be available in bottles for another year or two.

Some wineries sell so-called futures on their barrel samplings, offering discounted prices to encourage purchases now.

While the wine is not finished, it’s still often very good, said Remy Bernada, a San Francisco resident who visited six wineries Saturday.

“If it’s good wine it’s going to be good in the barrel,” she said. “I had some great barrel tastes today. They’re going to be real good in a year.”

Sparkling spring-like weather was a bonus, but the wine was the main attraction.

Knowing there would be crowds to contend with, Bernada and a group of about 20 from San Francisco rented a limousine and targeted specific wineries in the Russian River and Dry Creek valleys. Tops on the list were those that were only open to the public on limited occasions.

A. Rafanelli surrounded by terraced hillside vineyards was a draw because it only opens to the public on two weekends each year.

While the family doesn’t need to promote their winery and still has to deal with the crowds, the Rafanellis continue to participate in Wine Road.

“Every year you say should we keep doing this,” Dave Rafanelli said. “But it’s fun.”