@dannymangin Got a head start yesterday on @fodorstravel Napa / #Sonoma research for 2020, when @beldenbarns hopes to open a new tasting room far up #sonomamountain. In the meantime, tastings take place on a limited basis in the property’s atmospheric 19th-century milking barn. Nice people, good wines, fantastic views—what’s not to like? Ran into a few press pals at host Nate and Lauren Belden’s several-course luncheon, a stunner catered in the barn by @glenellenstar, that showed how food-friendly the wines are (they’re on some top Bay Area restaurant lists). • • • Considering that there are only 20 acres of grapes planted, the winery’s all-estate lineup is pretty broad. The whites included Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner, and late-harvest Viognier, the reds Grenache, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. The 2015 Chardonnay and 2016 Serendipity Block Pinot Noir were two faves. The Pinot is a daring endeavor. The block’s nine Pinot clones ripen at different times, but all the grapes are picked on one day and fermented whole cluster (stems and all) by winemaker Justin Harmon. Loved wrapping my mind about that while savoring the long finish. Good show! • • • • Looking forward to visiting #beldenbarns again for #fodorstravel. #fodorsonthego #sonomavalleywine #sonomamountain AVA #therootsrundeep