I seriously need to plan a wine country get away to Sonoma. Seriously! I am a huge Pinot Noir lover and Sonoma County crafts some of the best Pinot Noirs in the world. Sonoma is a more relaxed atmosphere than its Napa neighbor. It is easy going, less commercial, with great people and great wineries. Don’t get me wrong, Napa Valley is awesome, but Sonoma has a different vibe than Napa; not better, just different. And there is that Pinot! Of course many varietals grow in Sonoma and are all beautifully crafted wines, such as world class Chardonnay, and Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, the list goes on and on…I seriously need to visit Sonoma! When was the last time you visited Sonoma?

What has spawned my Sonoma travel desire? Well I have wanted to visit for a few years now. I had hoped to get there this spring but my travel plans take me across the Atlantic (no complaints). In the past few years I have been to Napa Valley and Santa Barbara. I plan to visit Lodi this summer. But I still long for Sonoma. I am constantly introduced to new wineries in Sonoma. Sonoma has many large, well-known wineries but it is also filled with many high quality off the beaten path boutique wineries. I was recently introduced to one that falls somewhere in the middle: Landmark Vineyards. Reflecting on all the delicious Sonoma wines I have had over the past year and viewing the breathtaking images on Landmark’s web site has definitely reminded me it is time to visit Sonoma!

Landmark Vineyards began in 1974 by a group of investors that included Damaris Deere Ford, great-great-granddaughter of John Deere. In 1989, Damaris was the sole proprietor and moved the vineyard to its present home overlooking the majestic Mayacamas Mountains in Sonoma Valley. In 1991, Landmark began exclusively producing Chardonnay and the first vintage of Landmark’s flagship Overlook Chardonnay was made. In 1995, Landmark moves into the world of crafting Pinot Noir. In 1997, the 1995 Overlook Chardonnay made its first of six appearances on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines. In 2014, the first vintage (2012) of Landmark’s Overlook Pinot Noir was released. I am thrilled to share with you two media samples I received of Landmark’s 2013 Overlook Chardonnay and Pinot Noir! SRP $25

Landmark Vineyards Overlook Chardonnay Sonoma County 2013: 100% Chardonnay sourced from 21 vineyards from northern Sonoma down to southern Santa Barbara including Lone Oak Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, Bald Mountain in the Sonoma Valley, Bien Nacido Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley, Lorenzo Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, and Flocchini Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap; straw color in the glass; orchard fruit, spice, nutmeg, cedar and lemon meringue; creamy texture but not buttery, penetrating acidity that coats the palate and leaves a long mouth-watering finish; each lot was lightly whole clustered pressed, after settling it was placed in 100% new French oak barrels where spontaneous fermentation took place without the addition of cultured yeast, the barrels were stirred twice a month; 14.2% alcohol. SRP $25

Landmark Vineyards Overlook Pinot Noir 2013: 100% Pinot Noir sourced from 64% Sonoma, 27% Monterey, and 9% San Benito counties; ruby in the glass; aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, spice, and cola; elegant wine with nice structure, well-balanced, smooth acidity and tannins with a long cola finish; very nice wine at a great valueSRP $25

Landmark Vineyards sources their grapes from the best vineyards in California including: Sonoma, Monterey, and Santa Barbara Counties.

We source from vineyards that each claim a unique microclimate and soil composition. Through careful blending, our winemaker creates wines that balance and enhance those characteristics. The resulting blend is greater than the sum of its parts.

Landmark Vineyards winemaker Greg Stach’s approach combines traditional winemaking techniques with a less is more philosophy. He believes great wines begin in the vineyards and intervenes only as necessary to insure “consistency and quality.”

The best grapes make the best wines. At Landmark®, that is our philosophy and guiding principle. By sourcing the finest grapes from California’s best vineyards, we’ve been able to create wines that garner high ratings among critics and wine lovers alike.

There are many different meals that pair beautifully with both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. I particularly enjoy salmon with both varietals so I chose to pair a cedar plank grilled salmon topped with a Greek yogurt dill sauce, and a side of asparagus, pea, and parmesan cheese orzo pasta. It was a delicious meal that was light, perfect for spring, and really delicious with both wines.

Landmark Vineyards hosts many fun events throughout the year. It is also a wonderful venue to host a wedding or a private party. Furthermore, they even have guest rooms so you can stay on their beautiful property as you experience Sonoma Valley! I strongly encourage you to visit Landmark Vineyards web site to learn more about the winery, view their events calendar and their entire portfolio of wines, and order some wine for yourself.

My Song Selection: Well crafted Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are like a good jazz song, lots of layers and complexities that make up the final arrangement. I think this song is a great pairing with Landmark Vineyards Overlook Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Get your own bottles of Landmark Vineyards 2013 Overlook Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and let me know what song you pair with them. Cheers!