Napa vs. Sonoma in wine judging fun at Fleming's

WALTON COUNTY, FL - When it comes to wine, does it really matter from which plot of land the grapes come?

This question was explored in depth recently at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Bar at Grand Boulevard during the restaurant's quarterly wine dinner.

Based on the premise that wine dinners should be interactive and fun, Manager Matt Bradshaw led the charge of judging between the wines of California's Sonoma and Napa valleys.

Participants were asked to rate the wines in the blind tastings, and see if they could tell which was which.

The winners in this evening of tasting and fun were awarded prizes of -- what else -- a bottle of wine.

Bradshaw started with a little history lesson of Sonoma and Napa, and the type of grapes each produces.

Then on to the cross valley rivals challenge: Napa's Merryvale 2006 vs. Sonoma's Russian River Valley Picket Fence 2006. These chardonnays were paired with a Bodega Bay crab cocktail, which tasted differently with each.

Merryvale's rich aromas of ripe peach and green apple, with a hint of vanilla and spice were typical of wine comprised of 100 percent chardonnay grapes, aged in oak.

However, the Russian River Valley chardonnay exuded its signature lemony flavor with hints of apple.

The tasting then moved to the cabernets with Napa's Freemark Abbey 2004 taking on Sonoma's Rodney Strong Alexander Valley 2005 Reserve.

These cabs were paired with filet mignon and wonton crusted ahi tuna with a Cantonese mushroom sauce.

Freemark Abbey's blend of mostly cab, some merlot and a little petite verdot and sirah, and younger fruit tasted of warm clay, vanilla, leather, black currant and a hint of cedar.

The Rodney Strong's riper fruit expressed more sweet sandalwood notes and appeared more intensely fruity. Its cabernet tannins complemented the proteins in both the filet and the ahi.

As diners ate, they were guided through the tasting, and played the game. Most were able to distinguish between the distinct products of the two rivals.

As to which was better, however, the room was pretty well divided on the answer. The answer, as with most things, came down to personal preference.