Stryker Sonoma celebrates 10 years of winemaking in Alexander Valley

June 12, 2012 - PRLog -- Sonoma County, CA (June 12, 2012)-- Stryker Sonoma will celebrate a milestone on Sunday, June 24th as it marks its 10th anniversary of winemaking in the Alexander Valley with award-winning wine, catered cuisine and music by the Bay Area 90s cover band Love Fool. Inspired by the bounty of the North Bay, Stryker Sonoma has invited Oyster Girls of Tomales Bay, Zin Restaurant & Wine Bar, and Moustache Baked Goods of Healdsburg to join the winery in presenting a wine and food pairing that is truly a “localvore” experience.

In anticipation of this special day, ten years ago winemaker Tim Hardin held back a limited allotment of the 2002 Monte Rosso Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and will be sharing this rare find with club members and guests during the
day’s festivities.

When asked how it feels to be involved from the inception of a winery and witness its success over the last ten years, Hardin replied, “It doesn’t feel like ten years. Having the good fortune to build a winery around my winemaking style has been incredible. From the vineyards to the barrels and the wine, I’ve been given the opportunity to run with it, and I believe the wine speaks for itself.”

This year also marks the 20th vintage for Hardin. Originally from California’s Central Valley, he began following his passion for grapes at a young age. Moving west after high school, Hardin found himself knee deep in the harvest of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley.  This total immersion in the industry has led to a hands-on approach, and exemplifies the expression “grapes to glass.”

When many winemakers are relaxing after a long harvest, Hardin can be found out in the vineyards quietly pruning his favorite blocks of Chardonnay, Zinfandel & Cabernet Sauvignon. This connection to the vines gives him an incredible insight into the following year’s vintage, and is where Stryker Sonoma’s winemaking truly takes root.

As a winery known for its casual atmosphere and stunning vistas, Stryker Sonoma is the “Quintessential Alexander Valley.”  After ten years, it is truly a destination for those in the know, as word of mouth brings most guests up the knoll from Highway 128. Visitors are invited to see Hardin's work up close during one of the winery’s self-guided vineyard tours, or may find themselves immersed in the winemaking process as a member of the crew guides them through the winery with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon in hand.

The 10th anniversary celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on June 24th. Participation for Wine Club members is $10, Wine Club members’ guests are $45, and $95 for the general public. Outside this special event, Stryker Sonoma’s tasting room is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and winemaking tours are available by appointment. Wines are available for purchase direct from the tasting room or online store.

About Stryker Sonoma:

Open to the public in 2002 and recently featured in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s exhibit “How Wine Became Modern,” Stryker Sonoma winery and estate has become known for its understated elegance, and contemporary style. These stylistic cues carry through to each vintage of Stryker Sonoma wine and are a reflection of both the winemaker and estate. Winemaker Tim Hardin has been with the winery since its inception, instrumental in both the wineries design and planting of the estate vineyards. He focuses on the Bordeaux varietals; the winery has been producing single varietal Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec alongside the traditional Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot since 2001. Total case production is under 5,000 cases making it one of only a handful of truly artisanal wineries in Alexander Valley. Hardin has taken Stryker Sonoma’s wines to stunning levels of achievement. In 2010 the Sonoma County Harvest Fair presented Stryker Sonoma with its highest honor, the George Cooke Memorial Award for top-ranking red wine for the winery’s 2006 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, affirming Stryker Sonoma’s place among consistently exceptional Sonoma County wineries. For more information, visit http://www.strykersonoma.com or http://www.facebook.com/strykersonoma