By Joel M. Fisher & Sara Fisher Chapin

Kunde Winery

Although less exotic than the Mediterranean, I actually physically visited Sonoma late in 2005. I swung by two old favorites: Kunde and B.R.Cohn wineries. Kunde produces 120,000 cases annually, and B.R. Cohn produces 30,000.

At Kunde, I found the wines to be good, drinkable, and refreshingly affordable. I bought a full-bodied 2001 Port ($23), made from old zinfandel vines. Rich with berry and vanilla, it was a great buy. Also notable were the fruity but dry 2001 Reserve Chardonnay ($35), the sweet but well balanced 2004 Estate Chardonnay ($16), and the grapefruit-tinged 2004 Sauvignon Blanc (Magnolia Lane Vineyard, $15).

I got to taste the 2003 Merlot straight from the barrel. It's already smooth, balanced and nicely fruit-forward. The 2001 Merlot ($18) showed similar traits, but unsurprisingly was more complex. I particularly loved the zesty 2002 Zinfandel ($30)! Made from 120year-old vines with 14.5% alcohol, this was a hearty bottle.

We moved on to B.R. Cohn, a beautiful winery. During our visit I particularly enjoyed the 2003 Silver Label Cabernet Sauvignon ($20). This wine nicely balanced cherry and berry fruits with tannins and spices. The 2001 Olive Hill Cabernet Sauvignon ($50) deservedly got ranked 90 by Wine Spectator. This big cab is elegant and complex, and shows a cedar-tinged finish. Also notable is the earthy, plumy 2002 Cabernet ($50), which is enlivened with a hint of mint.

From Sonoma to a stint at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa, I had a remarkable trip. My thanks to everyone who made it possible: Joanna Walker, Karen McNeil, the Wine Enthusiast, the Larsens and the Busses.

Raise a glass to the new year. May it be full of pleasant discoveries, old favorites, and great wines.

Joel M. Fisher Ph.D writes a monthly column for the Chefs de Cuisine Association of California and has been the wine instructor for the Culinary Arts Department, Art Institute of California-Los Angeles. He is Director of Public Affairs for Avalon Hollywood, and as a partner in WineVineandDine conducts wine tastings, wine dinners, and wine-and-food pairings throughout Southern California. His email address is joel@winevineanddine.com

Sara Fisher-Chapin is enjoying an eclectic writing career, and has been published in a variety of magazines and newspapers. Her favorite hobbies include cooking, wine tasting, and studying foreign languages.

This January 2006 article published in Culinary Connection is re-published here by permission.