We’re having quite the busy week, so we’ll be posting this week’s “Don’t Miss” Wine Events piece tomorrow.  Stay tuned!

For six bucks, our threshold for what constitutes a recommendable wine is very, very low.  However, with that being the case, the Viu Manent Malbec 2007 exceeded our expectations by quite a bit.  In the nose we found blackberry and hints of oak along with herbal scents — the combination seemed slightly strange at first, but we eventually found ourselves more intrigued than anything else.  In the mouth, we found more of the same with a bit of tea flavor in the finish.  The medium tannin and light acidity matched the body nicely.

The Viu Manent was hardly as fruit-forward or heavy as the Malbecs that we’ve had from Argentina (which is more famous for the varietal), and the alcohol content of 14% reflected the lighter style.

Overall, we felt that our money was well spent.  Heck, we’ve paid twice as much for other wines that weren’t half as good!

Where to get it: We bought our bottle at Plumpjack Wines in Noe Valley.  They ship.  You can also find it using the Snooth search function under “Wine Locator” in the right hand column of this page, or by visiting wine-searcher.com or winezap.com.

Well, folks, after a very busy Tuesday, we’re only just now popping open our Weekday Wine candidate (a promising $6 Chilean Malbec).  As such, we’re going to have to report back tomorrow with our reactions.  Stay tuned!

As of this past weekend, Bella Vineyards, located along the idyllic back-roads of Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley, is now one of our favorite wineries to visit.  We had visited Bella once before, when our son was less than four months old, and just days prior to my return to the law firm.  At the time, we relished the laid back and familial vibe; we soaked in the scenery and the sun from our white Adirondack chairs; and we especially enjoyed tasting Bella’s exquisite Syrahs and Zinfandels.

Our return visit with friends this past Labor Day weekend only reaffirmed these glowing memories.  This time, we were able to spread our picnic on one of the several picnic benches dotted along the front lawn.   As our son clapped in delight to the sounds of the live band playing at the foot of the lawn, the four of us relaxed underneath the umbrella’s shade and sipped our delicious Zinfandel.

Visitors to the winery taste Bella’s wines from within the cave, which is built seamlessly into the side of the vineyard’s hill.   As further described on Bella’s website, the caves feature barrel storage, working space, and entertainment space (complete with a dining room, tasting area, and music room).  The atmosphere within is somehow spacious (in light of its being a cave) and romantic, with flickering candles used to light the space.

The combination of great wine, a stunning backdrop, and a picnic (and family) friendly lawn, make Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves a top destination for a day trip to wine country from San Francisco.

www.BellaWinery.com
9711 West Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, California 95448
(866) 572-3552