The Summer Picnic is a Beautiful Experience with Wines from Ron Rubin Winery

Anyone can throw together some sandwiches, find a bag of chips, purchase store-bought cookies and consider this the best summer picnic ever. But how about making the experience one that is memorable and truth be told, beautiful, with thoughtfully prepared food choices and affordable, delicious wines? Fortunately, I’ve enjoyed three wines (sent as samples) from Ron Rubin Winery located in the Green Valley subzone of Sonoma’s Russian River Valley. Once I tasted, I knew immediately that each will be perfect choices to tuck into that straw picnic basket.

For Ron Rubin, “Inspire a Beautiful Experience” is a mantra to which he adheres. His intent is to “make affordable, accessible and all-round beautiful experiences” as opposed to “high priced, super-limited-production, hard-to-find wines. No frou-frou wines!” From the perspective of my palate and wallet, Ron Rubin nailed it and I hope you’re just as inspired as I’ve been.

Always in the beverage industry, Rubin distributed Clearly Canadian Sparkling Water and currently owns The Republic of Tea, now managed by his son. With two feet firmly planted in the vineyard, he embraces social and ecological responsibility as core values and is a highly regarded member of the wine industry.

Ron Rubin Winery in Green Valley

In 2011, 40 years after enrolling at University of California-Davis for classes in viticulture and enology, Ron Rubin purchased a winery and a 12-acre vineyard site of which 9 acres are under vine with 6.5 acres of Pinot Noir and 2.5 acres of Chardonnay. The Green Valley, in the southern part of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley AVA, is unique thanks to its Goldridge soil, a sandy loam. Of about 60% sand, 10% clay and 30% silt particles, sand forms the top layer followed by layers of clay and silt. Grapes grown on the Goldridge soil tend to yield wines of a deep color. For example, Russian River Pinot Noir is often garnet red, while Pinot Noir from Green Valley may be a saturated purple hue.

In Green Valley, a gentle fog moves in from the Pacific Ocean via the Petaluma Gap and burns off in the late morning. Fog is not driven by harsh wind and the diurnal temperature range is not broad. Grapes “ease into the day” and “don’t shut down because of cold winds later.” The result are wines that tend to show breadth and depth on the palate with ripe tannins upon the first sip. Rubin also purchases fruit from a core group of five trusted growers in Green Valley, Russian River Valley and beyond.

Not only is Ron Rubin Winery SIP- (Sustainability in Practice) Certified and Certified Sustainable by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, the winery has been re-designed in line with the principles of Feng Shui. “From south-facing windows that allow energy to flow freely, to meandering paths throughout the estate, the goal is to have spaces that feel right and help us be healthier and happier.”

Picnic-Perfect Wines from Ron Rubin Winery

Easy drinking and affordable, a chilled bottle of Pam’s UN-oaked Chardonnay 2018 ($14) is a refreshing must-have in the picnic basket. Stone fruit, golden apples, pears, lime, tangerine, lemon zest and steely minerality were an enticing entry on the nose. Light in body, notes of citrus, herbs, and honey were fresh, tart and crisp thanks to brilliant acidity. Enjoy a glass as an aperitif as you unpack your picnic basket and settle in… Lawn games before lunch perhaps?

Chardonnay lovers will revel in Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2018 ($20) that exuded lemon curd, lime, kiwi, smoke and wood on the nose. Flavors of juicy citrus including apples and pears, hint of caramel, oak, white pepper, herbs and spice were threaded with strands of vibrant acidity that led to a lip-smacking finish. Plan on packing an assortment of hard cheeses and your favorite beet salad for an exceptional pairing enjoyed on your checkered blanket.

Rich and lush, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2017 ($25) burst with aromas of dark raspberries, cola, cranberries, black plums, pepper, dill and vanilla spice. On the palate, notes of dark cherries, milk chocolate, cherry cola, black pepper and baking spice were framed with soft tannins and food friendly acidity. Balanced with a round mouthfeel and lingering finish, enjoy a glass or two with fig and goat cheese crostinis or cold roasted chicken. Don’t forget to save a splash to pair with those homemade brownies waiting in the basket…

It’s your turn to create a beautiful experience with wines from Ron Rubin Winery. I encourage you to visit the website here. Your picnic basket is calling…

Cheers! ~ Cindy

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