Sonoma Sojourn

I stop into Whole Foods here in Sonoma upon arrival – Smokey and I have made good time up from the airport and, thus, arrive in town before the house is ready for our arrival.

No problem – we’ll drive around, reacquaint ourselves with the town, stop to get a few basic groceries (e.g., cheese and wine) before we settle into Oak Lane.

Sonoma Square looks almost as it did three years ago, with a few storefronts boasting new names. Parking around the Square looks about the same as it did before (not too bad – but if you can walk from where you’re staying, that’s a good thing). All in all, arriving in Sonoma feels the same – and at the same time different … as it did before.

I saunter through Whole Foods’ wine aisle, looking for what – I don’t know. The gentleman merchandising the wine has silver gray hair, tattoo sleeves on both arms, and disarming eyes. “Can I help you find something,” he asks. I say, “No, thanks.” I don’t want him to know I’m on a budget, if I am going to enjoy wine here in Sonoma for the next two months.

But the choices are many, and I’m still on Eastern Standard Time. I’m still dehydrated, and still tired beyond belief. I don’t care if my budget is below others here in Sonoma.

“Can you recommend a spicy, full-bodied red wine for $15 or less,” I ask. I expect him to roll his eyes, but he doesn’t. He seems happy for the challenge.

“Do you like Zinfandel?”, he asks. If it’s full-bodied and spicy, I do.

He brings me over a Cline Zinfandel, and I put two bottles into my basket.

“What about a Pinot Noir,” I ask. I learned three years ago that there are spicy and delicious Pinots. Which are they?

No problem. He ushers me to a St. Vincent Pinot … less than $15 a bottle.

Two St. Vincents go into my basket, and I head to the registers.

In line, I’m ahead of a gentleman who notices the bottle of Sonoma vodka I also have in my basket. “Oh, did you know this vodka is made from grapes?,” he says. “GRAPES!”

No – I had no idea vodka could be distilled from grapes. But I’m dehydrated from the six hour flight from Boston. I’ve been up and out of bed since 4 in the morning, eastern standard time. I’m giddy just by being in Sonoma. Vodka made by grapes sounds like the right thing to buy.

So the cashier runs my order through the register. The wines and vodka go into a shopping bag with separations for each bottle.

The cashier sets the Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam Triple Creme and dry Parmesan (no wood chips) aside. She and the gentleman behind me (who turns out to be the store’s baker) and I say good bye to each other. I wonder why the cheese has been left aside, but I pick up the wedges and place them atop the wine. I carry my fused wine carrier out to the Red Fusion and drive to our home for the next two months.

So here is what I quickly learn upon arrival in Sonoma:

You can bring you own bags to grocery stores, to Target, to CVS – or – you can buy a paper bag from the store of your choice for $.10 each.

I chose to purchase ‘souvenir bags’ today and hope I remember to bring them with me at all times – even when just strolling through the Square. I SO want to be a proper Sonomaian … Sonomite?

“Tourist bags” here in Sonoma/Napa … don’t leave home without them!

LOVE the label graphics … and I really wanted to love it – but I have finally met a vodka I don’t like. It’s not that it’s not good – it’s just that it tastes like grapes, and I get confused when I drink it! :)