Part of the fun is getting there. And the day of the 2006 Russian River Wine and Food Affair was absolutely gorgeous. It was late fall, yet sunny, with wispy clouds floating by. The country lanes were lined by trees. Their limbs, covered with red and golden leaves, reached over the windy roads.
Over 60 wineries from the Alexander, Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys participated in the weekend event. For $50, attendees could go from one winery to the next, and sample not only the wines but the food that was prepared specifically to be paired with those wines. Each attended was also given a cookbook that featured all the pairings.
The first stop on this beautiful day was J Vineyards & Winery. It was 11 a.m. The parking lot was already full.