Across the spectrum of wine tasting, it is always challenging to find an experience that will appeal to both the novice wine drinker and the oenophile. Corner 103 has managed to do just that providing a tasting journey of Sonoma AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) that is equally educational and enjoyable.

When you first walk into Corner 103, you instantly notice that a lot of thought and detail has gone into its design. It’s both elegant and comfortable without a hint of pretension. Lloyd Davis, Owner and Director of Winemaking, greets you with a warm smile and although soft spoken, his passion is palpable. He dispels any notion of intimidation in tasting wine and simply wants to ensure you understand that his main goal through the Corner 103 experience is for you to discover YOUR palate…and to trust it.

As you sit down to your table, you’ll first notice a selection of different wine glasses (from standard white glasses through to large Bordeaux glasses); each meant to properly showcase the specific wine variety you are tasting. As opposed to just being fancy display pieces, Lloyd’s purpose here is to demonstrate that there is a reason wine glasses are designed the way they are and show how each design assists in the tasting experience—most importantly through the enhancement of the wine’s aromas.

Also presented in front of you is a plate with two-bite pairings for each wine. The first bite a simpler version of the pairing, and the second bite featuring an added essence specific to the varietal to augment that flavour in your mouth. For example, the first pairing of hummus with the Corner 103 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay helps round out the wine while the second bite with the added lemon squeezed into the hummus complements the lemon/citrus notes intensifying a completely different aspect of the wine. The emphasis is not on whether or not you can identify the specific notes, it’s simply to assist you in figuring out what you enjoy and provide a comfortable atmosphere with which to discover your preferences.

Corner 103’s nine limited production wines are specifically made to express the AVAs, from which they originate. From the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay to the Russian River Pinot Noir to the Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, each wine is also made to reflect its variety in terms of flavour profile. The Corner 103 Pinot Noir has the typical notes of cherry, strawberry and spice, but given the Russian River region it originates from, it will not be mistaken for a French Burgundy in terms of body or intensity. Corner 103 would not be able to achieve this goal if it weren’t for quality wine making and we were suitably impressed by each of the wines that were presented, not only for their accuracy in reflecting the variety but in also being extremely approachable and delicious. In fact, all 12 of Corner 103 wines were recently submitted to the San Francisco Chronicle wine competition and every single one of them received a medal, including the 2012 Red Blend which won Double Gold.

At AdVINEtures, we enjoy all types of wine experiences but Corner 103 certainly ranks among the best especially knowing that any level of wine enthusiast can enjoy it. But the real key to the Corner 103 experience is the man behind it all. As Lloyd guides you through his Sonoma wine tasting journey, his passion and knowledge shines through with each explanation of the wines. Rather than talk at you, he provides context and background to each wine/food pairing allowing you to take your time to taste and decide what you pick up with each sip and bite. As with any good wine educator, there is no wrong answer, and you are simply encouraged to explore the varietals at your own pace.

Lloyd’s goal of making Corner 103 a “must-visit” has definitely succeeded. Not only would we recommend a stop here to any first-time visitor to Sonoma, we’ll definitely be back on our next visit.