Embedded Files
Saturday, May 8th, 2010, fifty-five members of the Hillsborough LaChaîne traveled to Landmark Winery in Kenwood, Sonoma Valley for a Mondiale du Vin event.
As one entered the winery, one was greeted by a large sign with the owners Mary and Michael Deere Colhoun on a John Deere tractor with their vineyard in the background.
Landmark Winery was founded in Sonoma County in 1974 and moved to the present location in 1993. However, its roots go back to the Midwest – Grand Detour, Illinois – where John Deere invented the steel plow in 1838. John Deere’s great great granddaughter, Damaris Deere Ford, was instrumental in developing Landmark. Her son Michael Deere Colhoun and his wife Mary joined her as partners in the winery. Helen Turley is the winemaker.
As members assembled in the garden patio, they were served glasses of 2007 Overlook Chardonnay and 2007 Grenache, accompanied by appetizing hors d’oeuvres of Yukon gold potatoes with feta & green onions, smoked salmon on bagel chip topped with crème fraiche & chives, and gougere with pancetta, oven dried tomato and peppercress.
Bailli Harry Dokouzian greeted everyone and introduced the 3-piece band of Laurent Fourgo, a fantastic French cabaret singer, and his Ensemble noted for its jazz & pop standard music. Members mingled and enjoyed the sunshine amidst gorgeous roses and shade trees, while some danced to the music.
Lunch, prepared by well-known Sonoma caterers, The Girl and the Fig, was served to members seated at round tables on the patio. First course was an attractive little gem salad with pickled red onions, garlic croutons, shaved parmesan and black pepper. Wines poured were 2006 Lorenzo Chardonnay and 2008 Grand Detour Pinot Noir.
A tasty grilled New York steak was served as second course, with potato chive cake, asparagus and red wine vinaigrette. This was paired with 2008 Steel Plow Syrah.
Dessert was a delicious seasonable almond brown butter cake with macerated strawberries, sweetened sherry sauce and topped with whipped crème fraiche.
Landmark continues the agriculture legacy of the original John Deere by the way they have named their wines. Landmark and Overlook were family homes. Grand Detour is named for the John Deere blacksmith shop in Illinois. Steel Plow is named for their 1838 invention.
Landmark is a great place to stop during one’s wine tour of the area. There is a scenic picnic area where people can bring their lunch and buy wine in their Tasting Room. On summer weekends guided vineyard tours are offered in a horse-drawn wagon. There is a bocce ball court. I’m sure that our members enjoyed themselves so much that they will return to Landmark
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse