Sample Sumptuous Sonoma County

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. March 25, 2009

SONOMA COUNTY, CA, March 25, 2009 - Foodie and wine fans rejoice: A "taste" of Sonoma County, as recommended by 150-plus journalists, takes the frustration out of planning a wine-tasting and dining trip to Sonoma's wine country.

Journalists, who were following the Amgen Tour of California, were treated to a Taste of Sonoma County, as part of the Sonoma County Tourism Bureau's sponsorship of the media room in Santa Rosa.

WARNING - The following descriptions will bring on sharp hunger pangs that will have you salivating about the amazing food and wine found in Sonoma County. To counteract these effects, log onto www.sonomacounty.com and start planning your vacation today.

Try your own "moveable" feast by sampling dishes at these amazing restaurants. Be aware, all the chefs use seasonal and locally grown foods in their menus. You may not be able to get exactly the same dishes. Though, the delicacies you do get will be great.

Start with appetizers at Windsor GreenGrocer, 434 Emily Rose Circle, in Windsor. Their salmon rillettes on carraway toast and pulled pork on sweet potato chips were accompanied by Epicurean Connection's Delice de la Vallee cheese served on Bennett Ridge sourdough baguettes.

Some 90 percent products at GreenGrocer are sourced within 150 miles to actively support the local economy and reduce the carbon footprint. The GreenGrocer is so much more than just another gourmet foods grocery store. You can eat in, take out or delivery for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Or, buy fresh and cook it yourself. This is a great stop for your wine country picnic.

Epicurean Connection recently launched Delice de la Vallee, an original blend of cow and goat milk cheeses. This delightful cheese is now available nationally.

Pasta carbonara at Zazu, 3535 Guerneville Road, Santa Rosa, is just the ticket for the next course. John Stewart, chef at the famed eatery, cures his own bacon that gives this traditional dish an extra kick.

Finding themselves in the agricultural and viticultural mecca of Sonoma County, with the best ingredients and wine in the world, Stewart along with his wife and co-chef, Duskie Estes, focus on a menu that is "wine friendly" and uncomplicated. They are committed to the philosophy of finding ingredients as close to the restaurant as possible, harvested at peak ripeness, and doing as little as possible to alter their natural perfection. Zazu cuisine is Americana and rustic northern Italian inspired.

For enticing, exotic comfort food, duck confit with cherries from Mosaic is sure to please. Located at 6675 Front St in Forestville, Mosaic offers a fresh spin on classic cuisine.

From the garden to the table, the California Global menu at Mosaic Restaurant & Wine Lounge reflects chef/owner Tai Olesky's native Sonoma County roots and philosophy of serving local, fresh, seasonal ingredients. Our visit will include wine, light snacks and a pre-season view of their secret garden.

Rounding out menu was pork belly braised in sake from the Brasserie, 170 Railroad Street, Santa Rosa. This rich, decadent dish was a crowd pleaser.

French brasseries are known for their lively social atmosphere with great food and libations, and this restaurant is enjoyable proof. The cuisine is inspired by classic country French influences that incorporate only the freshest and finest Sonoma regional products and the best of Northern California seafood.

What's the use of all this fabulous food without equally amazing wine? Pair the fabulous dishes at the amazing Sonoma County restaurants with wine from Chalk Hill, Rodney Strong, Taft Street, D'Argenzio, Paradise Ridge, St. Francis and Chateau St. Jean.

If you choose to taste from all the wineries in one day, log onto www.sonomacounty.com and book a wine tour or a limo, so you can imbibe without restraint.

Chalk Hill, 10300 Chalk Hill Road, Healdsburg, has a philosophy that goes beyond the norm. All the wines are estate bottled after being hand-harvested in small lots. Whether a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a hearty Cabernet, you can taste this attention to detail in every glass.

Rodney Strong Vineyards, 11455 Old Redwood Hwy, Healdsburg, is one of Sonoma County's most stunning wineries. Enjoy wine tasting with balcony views, taking a tour of the winery's working centers, or just relaxing with a picnic and glass of Merlot or Chardonnay on the lush lawn set among the beautiful vineyards of the Russian River Valley.

Located at 2030 Barlow Lane in Sebastopol, Taft Street's winemakers have worked with the same growers and vineyards for years. Whether producing an Alexander Valley Viognier or a Russian River Valley Zinfandel, their goals for winemaking have stayed the same: Make good wine with a balance of fruit and acidity. Make it available at a fair price. Most of all, have fun in the process.

D'Argenzio, 1301 Cleveland Ave. in Santa Rosa, is an Italian family winery. Three generations are working together to produce fine handcrafted wines from Dry Creek and Russian River valleys. Their award-winning Pinot Noir is the perfect pairing for a Sonoma County picnic.

Come for the wine, stay for the art at Paradise Ridge Winery, 4545 Thomas Lake Harris Dr. in Santa Rosa. Nestled on a 156-acre wine country estate, Paradise Ridge Winery offers spectacular natural vistas overlooking the Russian River Valley. Stroll through the winery's Marijke's Grove while sipping the amazing sparkling Shiraz. This sculpture exhibit is nestled in a four-acre grove of ancient oaks.

St. Francis Winery and Vineyards, 100 Pythian Road in Santa Rosa, with Hood Mountain as its picturesque backdrop is located in Sonoma Valley. The winery produces big, bold, full-bodied wines that deliver on flavor. Each wine is produced from 100 percent hand-picked Sonoma County fruit and is a direct expression of their winemaking philosophy of "maximum extraction, minimal intervention." Taste it in each glass, whether it's a Merlot, or their own Cuvee Lago.

Chateau St Jean Winery, 8555 Sonoma Highway in Kenwood, is Sonoma's champion of single-vineyard-designated wines - terroir. Terroir speaks volumes about how each vineyard's unique combination of climate, soil and growing conditions determine a grape's flavor and intensity. Learn more about this while trying some delicious Cinq C'epages, reserve Cabernet or Chardonnay.