TASTE Alexander Valley

TASTE Alexander Valley is the Alexander Valley Winegrowers' April invitation: for the whole month, participating wineries pour a complimentary tasting, many without an appointment, and many take 10% off the bottles you carry home. The month also brings a few bookable extras, such as a Wine 101 class for new wine drinkers at Silver Oak and winemaker dinners. The recent roster ran the length of the valley, from Alexander Valley Vineyards, ACTA and J. Rickards to Jordan, Trione and Francis Ford Coppola.

Go because the usual barriers are gone. Alexander Valley is broad, warm and deep in Cabernet, and in April, with the tasting fees lifted, you can follow curiosity instead of a schedule: a family estate you have never heard of, a second visit to an old favorite, a long talk with the person pouring. Spring is a fine time to see the valley, with the vines waking up and the hills still green. Partner hotels offer TASTE rates, so a weekend among the vineyards costs less than usual too, and a group can make a real reunion of it.