• Sonoma Valley
    • Region
    • History
    • Wine
    • People
  • Visit
    • Directions
    • Eat
    • Stay
    • Transport
    • Map
  • Wineries
    • Wineries Open, Promotions and Special Offers
    • Virtual Sonoma Valley
    • Sonoma Valley Video Library
  • Events
    • SIGNATURE SONOMA VALLEY
    • All Events
  • Extended Family
  • Store
  • Blog
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Events
  • Plan Your Trip
  • Reserve Now
  • Partners
  • Press

May 13-16, 2021

EVENTS

ALL

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

At-A-Glance

Weekend Package

Immersion: Vineyard Exploration + Tasting

PRESENTED BY AMERICAN AGCREDIT

PLACE MATTERS

LOCATION: SERRES RANCH
Saturday, May 16, 2020
9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Perhaps in more than any other agricultural product, when it comes to winegrowing – place matters. Explore the splendor of Sonoma Valley terroir through learning and tasting about the regions varied soil types, micro-climates, clones and other factors that create the regions’ complex and acclaimed wines. See first-hand how the Valley’s diverse vineyards come together to create the distinctive wines the region is known for worldwide.

FEATURING WINES FROM: Arrowood Winery, Benziger Family Winery, Kenwood Vineyards, Lasseter Family Winery, Ordaz Family Wines and Serres Ranch.

$125

RESERVE NOW →

The Setting

Serres Ranch

Serres Ranch was established in 1924 in Sonoma, CA. The ranch is nestled in the Valley of the Moon, where surrounding mountains narrow down to the smallest part of the valley, creating its own unique micro climate suitable for growing world class red wines. The nearly 300-acre ranch has raised dairy cattle, beef cattle, row crops and wine grapes. Guests will stroll the vineyard where they will examine firsthand the historic terroir of Serres Ranch and enjoy an intimate conversation with Serres Ranch farmer and owner, John Serres with next generation, daughter, Taylor Serres to learn the remarkable history of the property while savoring the sense of place that defines it.

Featured Panelists

Lisa Amaroli

Winemaker
BENZIGER FAMILY WINERY

Lisa Amaroli has been a vital part of the Benziger Winemaking team since 1999. She graduated from Sonoma State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in both biology and chemistry. Previously, she worked at Martini and Prati Winery as a Production Manager. Lisa is responsible for determining styles for Benziger wines through collaborative tastings and initiates implementation in wine processing.

Close

Lisa Amaroli

Benziger Family Winery

More Info →

Kristina Shideler

Winemaker
Arrowood Vineyards & Winery

It didn’t take long for Kristina Shideler to discover the allure of wine and the integral role it plays in cultures around the world. After traveling throughout Western Europe she developed a love
of wine, particularly for Barolo and Bordeaux blends. Born in San Diego and raised in Missouri, Kristina attended University of Missouri where she double-majored in Biochemistry and Agricultural Economics. In 2007, she interned with a Missouri winemaker, working her way from the vineyards and bottling line to the cellar. Kristina remembers the invaluable wisdom she received, “Taste everything you can get your hands on. Never stop learning and never get bored.” Following harvest stints in New Zealand, Kristina enrolled at the University of California Davis Viticulture and Enology Masters of Science program in 2009, specializing in viticulture coursework. Kristina’s next adventure took her to the steep vineyards of Neipoort Vinhos in Portugal’s Douro Valley. She became fascinated by the unique complexities of mountain vineyards and studied how the dramatic interplay between climate and elevation as well as varying soil types are critical to making high quality wine. Kristina’s subsequent experiences at Bodega Caelum in Mendoza, Argentina as well as Verite and Stonestreet in Sonoma County, California, cemented her desire to produce artisan Bordeaux wines reflecting the terroir of truly remarkable vineyard sites. Kristina joined Arrowood Winery in 2015 as Winemaker. She works closely with the cellar and vineyard team to make wines of extraordinary balance, complexity, and beauty. Kristina is passionate about crafting distinctive Cabernet Sauvignons from Sonoma’s diverse AVAs and vineyards along the western ridges of the Mayacamas Mountains. In her spare time, Kristina enjoys running, cooking, and hosting food and wine pairing dinners. She also continues to travel the world to experience as many cultures and wines as possible and has recently focused her attention on exploring South America.

Close

Kristina Shideler

Arrowood Vineyards & Winery

More Info →

Zeke Neeley

Winemaker
KENWOOD VINEYARDS

Zeke Neeley, grew up in California but not the California people think of when they hear “California”.  The town of Daly City, south of San Francisco, has a climate more resembling foggy London which was why it was always such a joy for him to visit his grandparents in a sunny paradise called the Sonoma Valley.

That soft-spot for Sonoma wine country hung with him throughout his college years studying Biochemistry and later while living in San Francisco and working in the Biotech industry on cancer research.

Eventually, after finding that he and his wife spent every vacation visiting wine country, it dawned on Zeke what he wanted to do — become a winemaker!  After returning to UC Davis for a M.S. in Viticulture and Enology, Zeke worked at wineries in Santa Cruz, Carneros, and Napa—the last 10 years as a winemaker in Napa—and finally found his way to Kenwood.  All those years after burning his pale, Daly City skin in the Sonoma sun he has made it full circle and found a roundabout way to a childhood dream.

When not orchestrating the cellar, Zeke likes to spend his time with his wife and two children, watching baseball, and going for the occasional run.

Close

Zeke Neeley

Kenwood Vineyards 

More Info →

Tony Biagi

Winemaker
LASSETER FAMILY WINERY

Anthony Biagi is a tour de force in the Northern California wine world. A sixth-generation Californian, he spent 10 years working at Cade and Plumpjack. Currently, he’s the winemaker for Hourglass in St. Helena and Amici in Calistoga; he consults for projects in Napa, Sonoma and Paso Robles including Clos Du Val, Lasseter, Jada and My Favorite Neighbor, a new Cabernet Sauvignon project with Eric Jensen of Booker Wines. In 2013 he started his own brand, Patria.

Close

Tony Biagi

Lasseter Family Winery

More Info →

Taylor Serres

Chief Operating Officer
SERRES RANCH

Close

Taylor Serres

HOST

Serres Ranch

More Info →

John Serres

Proprietor
SERRES RANCH

Close

John Serres

HOST

Serres Ranch

More Info →

Close

Eppifanio Ordaz

Ordaz Family Wines

More Info →

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Events
  • Plan Your Trip
  • Reserve Now
  • Partners
  • Press
  • Members
  • Trade
  • Wine Grower
  • The Alliance
  • Contact
  • Media
  • SVVGA Member Login

© 2021 Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers. All Rights Reserved.

  • Sonoma Valley
    • Region
    • History
    • Wine
    • People
  • Visit
    • Directions
    • Eat
    • Stay
    • Transport
    • Map
  • Wineries
    • Wineries Open, Promotions and Special Offers
    • Virtual Sonoma Valley
    • Sonoma Valley Video Library
  • Events
    • SIGNATURE SONOMA VALLEY
    • All Events
  • Extended Family
  • Store
  • Blog