Naked Wines Sonoma Tasting Tour – Something for Everyone
Naked Wines held a fun event at their crush pad in Kenwood Saturday afternoon. It featured twelve winemakers pouring thirty-nine wines to be tasted. This is only a small contingent of their almost 100 winemakers from around the world. While called the Sonoma Tasting Tour, it actually featured local winemakers with wines from Amador, Paso Robles, Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino. Additionally a couple of Australian wines were featured by Daryl Groom, former winemaker at Penfolds. He featured a wine from Barossa and one from Adelaide Hills.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Naked Wines goes to market by passing the distributors and retail channels, selling direct to the consumer. Each of the winemakers have extensive winemaking experience from their own wineries or working at other wineries. By selling direct they are able to reduce the “cost of the wine” and with their Angel Program provide an even deeper discount. This was the first time I had the opportunity to taste many Naked Wines at one time. I am not currently a member, but after tasting some very good wines, this may change! You can check out their program at: https://us.nakedwines.com/angels .
Here are just a few of the winemakers and wines tasted during the event.
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Smith
Matt Parish pouring his 2022 Rose of Pinot Noir and his 2020 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was outstanding. Matt’s experience includes making wines for Beringer, Etude, Stag’s Leap just to name a few.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Rudy von Strasser formerly of Von Strasser Winery (where I was a member for several years) and now producing wines only for Naked Wines. Two excellent wines tasted were his 2018 Diamond Mountain Sori Bricco Cabernet Sauvignon and his Vineyard 2131 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Daniel Baron, a previous winemaker for Silver Oak and other wineries, poured a wonderful “Ode to Harold” a 2020 Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and a couple of other solid wines.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Ana Diogo-Draper poured wines from Amador County including one of my favorites of the event, a 2021 Touriga Nacional.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Camille Benitah originally from France making wines from Bordeaux, poured her refreshing, 2021 North Coast Chardonnay besides two others.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Montse Reece, originally from Catalonia Sprain and now also making wines for Pedroncelli, featured a blend but also two spicy Zinfandel wines showing the change year to year between her 2019 and 2020.
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Smith
Even Naked Wines Copywriter, Elizabeth Smith, helped pour wines for Matt Parish. She also provided me some valuable history and insight to Naked Wines. Thank you Elizabeth!
Ran into some long-time friends and made several new ones at the event. A wonderful gathering of folks enjoying beautiful weather while sipping on some wines not readily available at extremely reasonable prices unless you are a member. A worthwhile late afternoon spent in Sonoma tasting wines from around the world and talking with the winemakers.
Sláinte,
Michael