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IT’S BEEN AWHILE SINCE I’ve had a more enjoyable afternoon than one I spent at Slow Food Yolo’s inaugural event, held at the RH Phillips Winery just north of Esparto on Sunday. Hosted by Slow Food Yolo’s coordinators Geogeanne Brennan of Winters and Ann Evans of Davis, the gathering was designed to attract new members who share the love of leisurely get-togethers with friends and family that revolve around good food and wine.
Slow Food Yolo was formerly known as the Yolo Convivium until Brennan and Evans picked up the reins, and although the name is new, the international organization’s history goes back more than 20 years to Italy, founded by Carlo Petrini in reaction to the opening of a McDonald’s in Rome.
Sunday’s event was so heavily attended (many from Winters) that chairs were spilling out into the lobby to accommodate everyone. The crowd was treated to a presentation on California farmstead, raw-milk aged cheeses, paired with RH Phillips’ EXP viognier and syrah.
A lovely discovery was Point Reyes bleu cheese, a slightly less sharp and creamier version of the classic, and here’s the best news of all: Town & Country Market carries it. If you love bleu cheese, this one’s heaven. My second runner-up was Three Sisters’ serena, reminiscent of parmesan, but milder and slightly softer in texture. It wasn’t on the T&C shelves at last glance, but hopefully it will find its way there soon. RH Phillips wine is also available locally. (The rich, berry-ish syrah is very nice, but let it air out well before pouring.)
The winery itself is simple but gorgeous, nestled in the rolling Dunnigan Hills. It offers wine tasting and hosts special events, and with only an easy 30-minute drive north to the end of County Road 87, it’s a wonderful place to spend an afternoon tasting wine without fighting the tourist-choked highways to the Napa Valley.
To find out more about the Slow Food organization, go to their website: www.slowfoodusa.org. To get in touch with Slow Food Yolo, call Brennan, 795-3043 or send email inquiries to slowyolo@aol.com. For more information about RH Phillips, go to www.rhphillips.com or call 662-3215.
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