Hidden amongst long-winding Wine Country roads and under the cover of winter morning fog lies a boutique tasting room with a lone honeybee gracing the storefront. “I love this location for us,” says Andrew Smith, director of wine hospitality. “Meadowcroft Wines is the gateway to Wine Country.”
Located at Cornerstone Sonoma, it’s the perfect square for socially-distanced wine tasting. With outdoor seating in the courtyard that are shared amongst all businesses that occupy Cornerstone. The businesses work so closely together that even Folktable Restaurant delivers food inside to guests drinking wine at Meadowcroft.
As the pandemic continues to impact the wine industry, Meadowcroft moved to a virtual tasting format as needed. “I hate the word pivot, but everyone is saying pivot,” says Smith. “Of course you have to pivot, but you have to change entirely, so we viewed COVID-19 as an experiment. Even if COVID-19 was magically gone tomorrow, we would still roll out virtual tastings because they are so much fun for the guests.”
While every winery in the area has pursued virtual tastings, Meadowcroft stands alone as the magnum opus of drinking wine on a Zoom call. The tastings are themed, unique and a breath of fresh air. “We did a blind tasting where we rolled out four bottles that are wrapped and no one knows what they are and we teach them the art of blind tasting,” says Smith. “We did one with wine trivia where I created 20 questions that are all wine-centric and we would pair that with some wines. Even did one on Fathers Day with dad jokes, if you laughed, you had to drink the wine.
“Everyone is doing virtuals and frankly some of them are dry,” Smith continued, despite stating his love for less interactive wine-making virtuals. “We all miss the camaraderie that we have with guests here, so lets put everyone in a virtual room and be friends again.”
Smith’s lively persona comes from his past life, a stage performer in New York after studying theater at San Diego State. He traveled the world performing musicals on cruise ships that visited Europe and all the beautiful vineyards the land has to offer. With this background, Smith effortlessly creates a fun experience as entertainer and host for Meadowcroft virtual tastings.
Smith’s effervescent attitude as an actor leaps from his hospitality into the bottle.
Meadowcroft was named a 2019 Top 100 winery from Bonfort’s Wine & Spirits. “We let our wines and our personalities speak for themselves, but we do have winners every year for people who care about ratings and points,” says Smith. The European-style at Meadowcroft with California grapes are a perfect tempest for award-winning wine.
Smith likes to lead off the wine lineup with something light, such as the 2019 Napa Los Carneros Chardonnay, which boasts complex aromas of vanilla, tropical fruit and baking spices. The fruity, lingering finish crosses over with some well-integrated nuttiness.
Then comes the 2017 Riesling from the Nelson Ranch Vineyard, which mixes a peach and honeysuckle blend before a dose of nectarine drifts into the concoction. The slightly off-dry wine holds a remarkable balance.
Next he moves to the reds, starting with a 2018 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Still one of the lighter reds, it balances French oak and spice while mixing in classic Russian River characteristics.
But the Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon is the crown jewel. It’s the winery’s strongest, boldest wine, densely rich and concentrated with aromas of dark chocolate and ripe mountain blueberry that explodes with tones of black currant, sage and exotic black pepper. The palate reveals a smooth and tingling in acidity, yet also shows a vast length and breadth.
Meadowcroft is an unexpected gem in a Wine Country. The winery took virtual tastings to the next level, all anchored by a performer whose infectious energy and charisma can create a wine tasting experience that matches the charm a trip to wine country possesses.
“I live off smiles, and I don’t get them anymore, so when I’m in someone’s home in Nebraska, and their mother is in New York and their brother is in Florida, while I’m sitting at my desk in California, in a way I literally brought the world together,” says Smith. “The relationship we have with our guests and club members is second to none.”
Did You Know?
Meadowcroft’s logo of a black and gold honeybee stands out. According to the winery, the honeybee symbolizes its hard work, the journey of mastering a discipline and the process of transforming grapes from single vineyards into outstanding wines. All wine club members receive gifts with their shipments, and the honeybee graces the majority of them. The most recent gift was masks donning the unique logo.
At A Glance:
Meadowcroft Wines
Cornerstone Sonoma
23574 Arnold Drive, Sonoma, CA 95476
(707) 934-4090
Meadowcroftwines.com
Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tasting Fee: A Taste of Meadowcroft Experience- $30/person, $24/members
Sensory Garden Experience – $55/person, $40/member
A Perfect Blend Experience – $105/person, $84/member
Wines Offered: 2019 Napa Los Carneros Chardonnay, 2017 Nelson Ranch Vineyard Riesling, 2018 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, 2017 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, 2017 Giles Vineyard Cabernet Franc
Reservations: Required for both in-person and virtual
Picnics: Yes in Cornerstone
Pets: Yes, on a leash
