Tasting Fees Simplified & the Academy of Cabernet

So much is happening along the Wine Road this month. First, check out how to simplify tasting fees when visiting the Wine Road wineries, and then read about an exciting Academy of Cabernet tasting in Alexander Valley.

Ticket to Wine Road: Only One Tasting Fee
Tasting fees vary from winery to winery, as do the policies of refunding with a wine purchase. The Wine Road offers 1-day or 3-day tickets that allow tasting for one set price at almost 100 of the Wine Road member wineries, taking the guesswork out how of much of your wine budget will be spent on tasting fees.

Ticket to Wine Road costs are $30 for 1-day or $60 for 3-days. As part of the yearlong 40^th Anniversary celebration, this February the Wine Road is offering a $20 discount on the 3-day tickets. That brings the price down to $40 for three days of wine tasting! A great deal just became the bargain of the month. This offer is only on the 3-day ticket.

How can you get in on this deal? Select the dates you want to go wine tasting, and then visit the Wine Road website, or you can go directly to Eventbrite to buy your tickets. The coupon code is WR40TH. If you forget the code, is it also listed in the lower half of the Eventbrite page. You must purchase one ticket for each person tasting. Be sure to review all the guidelines on Eventbrite before you purchase your tickets.

Many of the Wine Road lodging members offer ticketholders who stay with them a complimentary item, like a cookbook or a bottle of wine, or a voucher for an on-premise restaurant or spa, or a discount on the cost of the room. The wineries also offer added value to ticketholders. From discounts on wine purchases to winery or vineyard tours to complimentary logo glasses, there is a range of offers. Below are links to PDFs that show the details on both the winery and lodging offerings.

Participating Wineries and offerings
Participating Lodgings and offerings
Participant list by area
Map of Participating Wineries

The Ticket to Wine Road program is available year round—except during Wine Road Events, see the blackout date list—but $20 off the 3-day ticket is only available until the end of February, so check your calendar and get your tickets now.  #mywineroad #wineroad40th

Alexander Valley’s Academy of Cabernet
As part of the Wine Road’s 40th Anniversary celebrations, they are partnering with the three AVA groups to co-host intimate, appellation-specific tastings. The first tasting focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon from the AVA of Alexander Valley, in partnership with the Alexander Valley Winegrower.

This tasting will be held on Saturday, February 20^th from 10:30 am to 12 noon at Stryker Sonoma in Alexander Valley. This premium Cabernet Sauvignon educational seminar and tasting is modeled after the Alexander Valley Winegrowers’ invitation-only Cabernet Academy held each May for sommeliers and wine aficionados across the country.

Rachel Voorhees, from Rodney Strong Vineyards, will guide you through the terroir of Alexander Valley as you taste nine distinctively different Cabernet Sauvignons. Local winegrowers and winemakers will be on hand to share the valley’s history, and details about how the geology, soils, climate and elevation influence the flavors of these outstanding Cabernets.

Alexander Valley’s Academy of Cabernet is an excellent way to spend a Saturday morning. Tickets are limited, so don’t spend too much time contemplating the value of this expertly guided seminar. Tickets are $42.99 per person on Eventbrite. Act now and don’t miss this great tasting opportunity. #cabacademy

Happy sipping!