I have a soft spot in my heart for family-owned vineyards that eventually release their own wines. Baptiste Grangeon at Domaine de Cristia, Mark Neal at Neal Family Vineyards, Shea Vineyards in Willamette Valley, Hermann Bossert at Weingut Bossert in Germany, Peno Cardetti in Rosati… the list goes on. As the French have long professed, the wine reflects both the terroir of the vineyard and the care of the winegrower.  Therefore, one could argue that the best wines come from the best growers.  These families all took generations to perfect their craft of tending the vine before taking the next step, as is true with the Trione family in Sonoma County, California.

“Dedicated farmers for forty years, brothers Mark and Vic Trione own and cultivate close to 700 vineyard acres in three prime Sonoma County appellations: Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley and Sonoma Coast.  During 2005, a new chapter took root: Trione Vineyards and Winery.”  In 2006 and 2007, winemaker Scot Covington, whom honed his skill under the tutelage of Merry Edwards, utilized a custom crush facility before completion of the estate winery. In 2008, Trione Vineyards and Winery was completed in time for harvest.

My first experience with Trione Vineyards occurred during my tenure in Kansas City.  I was still a novice in the suddenly massive world of professional wine, but when given the opportunity to sample their inaugural 2008 vintage, I couldn’t help but think I was onto something truly incredible.  Yes, my exposure to premium wines at that time was still limited; however, I couldn’t help but find something unique in what I sampled (a bottle of their 2008 Block 21 Cabernet Sauvignon sits in my cellar).

I still consider myself a novice, but I would like to say I am beginning to understand differences in style.  I remember tasting the Trione Pinot Noir in Kansas City and was amazed by its rich texture and austere power. At a recent tasting, I was reminded of that character when sampling the current offerings by Merry Edwards. The memory of those early wines sprung back to the front of my thoughts, but I didn’t know how to introduce them to this area. When Chef Alex Giger joined us at Just A Taste, everything connected.

We welcome Patrick Seymour, National Sales Manager of Trione Vineyards and Winery for fantastic evening of wining and dining. Chef Alex will prepare four courses to enhance the already incredible wines this family produces. On the tasting menu: