Wine Tasting in The Carneros Region

of Sonoma & Napa Valleys

with Corinne Van Houten

Review by Scott W Clemens

Corinne Van Houten’s unassuming 52 minute CD offers the listener her recommendations for touring eleven family-run wineries in Carneros. She doesn’t profess to be a wine expert, and her CD is aimed at wine lovers like herself who would like to know a little bit about the history of a winery before visiting.

I wish there was an explanation as to her choice of wineries. Why did she choose these eleven? Why did she leave out other family wineries in the area?

The 1940’s French Bistro music that plays in the background through much of the narration is a little distracting and, to my mind, out of character. I don’t have a better suggestion, but the music did not add to the experience.

The CD begins with a ten-minute simple introduction to winemaking that can be skipped to get to the meat of the CD, which consists of brief profiles of Roche, Robledo, Larson Family, Homewood, Domaine Carneros, Mckenzie-Mueller, Bouchaine, Ceja, Truchard, Schug and Cline wineries, each with a quote or two from family members. It ends with some recommendations for restaurants in Carneros and the town of Sonoma.

Along with the CD you’ll receive a road map, and four $10 coupons for wine tasting at Roche, Schug, Larson Family and Bouchaine.

This CD is the equivalent of an aural blog. It serves its niche, but If I were listening as I drove from one winery to another, I’d like to have a broader historical commentary on the region.