Napa or Sonoma: Can't Decide? Choose Pride

My son and I had only enough time to visit one vineyard in the area north of San Francisco. Just one hour drive north of San Francisco, we could be in the vast wine growing region of Napa County and Sonoma County. With hundreds of potential places to go, the possibilities are numbing. Napa or Sonoma? How to see the region without feeling trapped in a tasting room?
We chose Pride Mountain Vineyards as the perfect solution. Pride is on top of a mountain, called Spring Mountain, which straddles the Napa/Sonoma county line. It is in the northern area of the wine sector. That meant traversing almost the whole region up the western side through Sonoma County (on the 101) and allowed a return by a different, easterly route down through Napa, via the charming town of St. Helena. Pride's mountain access road is a 30 minute climb on a sun-dappled country lane, up a sinuous path of linked switchbacks. The isolated rural road was a welcome contrast to the bumper to bumper, stop and go traffic crawl out of San Francisco. Maybe we passed 4 people; tops.
Pride Vineyard's tour of its cave and tasting experience took about 45 minutes and was particularly well done. Host Scott pointed out the distinct line cutting through the property to demarcate the Napa side from the Sonoma side.

Napa/Sonoma line runs right through the vineyard, jiggles across the parking lot, and continues into the processing area

He emphasized the importance of segregating the grapes by county of origin. For wine labeling, they need to accurately track where the grapes were grown. The origin regulations allow some wiggle room for a small percentage of the non-dominant wine to be blended in.  To enjoy the status of being produced in Napa, he explained, with a hand motion pushing his nose into the air (meaning Napa is snobby?), the vineyard must certify that the grapes were grown on land in Napa County.
My brother in law, the wine expert told me that Pride's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is particularly well regarded, and I should get "a few bottles" if I could. At the end of the tour, I asked. That wine is $135 per bottle and it's not for sale -- unless you are a member of their wine-buying club.  I'm not. I didn't go home with that wine.  I'm not proud.

Pride Vineyards Host Scott

George Washington Wrote Here

225 years ago, George Washington wrote a letter "To the Hebrew Congregation in Newport", which is now known as the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island. To mark the historic importance of the letter, the congregation and the Touro Synagogue Foundation conduct an annual "Letter Reading", around the time that the letter was sent. The setting is the beautifully restored Touro Synagogue, built in 1763.
 
The letter was only four paragraphs long, but they were four powerful and significant paragraphs and they are regarded as critical in the history of the Jewish people in the Colonial United States.  The letter reading evolved into today's two hour event filled with greetings from dignitaries, announcements of scholarships and an award to Teny Gross, leader in the Institute for the Study of the Practice of Nonviolence. The colonial costumed color guards pumped up the pomp, as did the reception in the garden, where cherry pie was served.
George Washington wrote his letter as a reply to the August 17, 1790 note of thanks from Moses Seixas on behalf of the Jewish congregation in Newport at the time. Mr. Seixas had written to President Washington of gratitude for "a Government, which to bigotry gives no sanction, to persecution no assistance..." and "For all these Blessings of civil and religious liberty which we enjoy under an equal benign administration..."
George Washington replied that he rejoiced in the fact that the Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves, and "May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants...."

Actor portraying George Washington, reading his letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island

The program wrapped up with a singing of God Bless America. It was difficult to avoid get teary-eyed.

I loved this photographer with a Star of David stamped on his head.
Note the paper fan with George Washington's picture, handed out to everyone on a hot August day without air conditioning.