Tasting Notes: Sierra Starr, Montoliva and Sierra Knolls

FOOD, WINE & MUSIC AT SIERRA KNOLLS

The winery has a new commercial kitchen, and it is offering cheese plates, desserts and small bites to pair with its wines. The winery has a new release called Afternoon Delight, a white wine blend with a tropical nose.

Sierra Knolls will continue to offer pizza from its wood-fired oven paired with its wines on Fridays, along with music starting in late May. The winery’s gift shop has reopened, and the space is available for private wine tastings or small group gatherings.

SIERRA STARR’S NEW RELEASES
The winery has four new releases: a 2015 Super Nova Petite Sarah (90 points in Wine Enthusiast magazine), 2014 Inertia (Gold Medal, El Dorado Wine Competition), 2015 Rising Starr Cabernet Franc and a 2017 Solstice Sauvignon Blanc. Sierra Starr’s 2014 Old Clone Zinfandel is featured in the June issue of Wine & Spirits magazine. The winery also plans an open house and summer wine club gathering on June 9 at its winery and vineyard.

CINCO DE MAYO AT PILOT PEAK
The winery is hosting a festive Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5, which includes a wine sale, Mexican food, and a band. It also is releasing a 2016 chardonnay at its Cinco de Mayo celebration. Pilot Peak’s popular Sunset at the Peak series, featuring wine, food and music, returns on May 12, June 9, July 14, August 11, and September 8.

MONTOLIVA’S MOVIE NIGHT
The winery presents its 10th season of Saturday Night Movies in the Vineyard, one of the region’s premier summer wine country activities. Visit Montoliva.com for more information.

SMITH VINEYARD OWNERS RETIRING
Owners Gary and Christina Smith are retiring. The tasting room will continue to be open until the end of May, and the winery is closing. “Smith Winery has been operating for 31 years in our community, and we look for- ward to continuing to farm our vineyard and sell certified organically grown fruit to other winemakers,” the Smiths wrote in a letter.