Kathleen Hill on Corner 103 Opening

A smiling Ingrid Martinez and her brother, Jeff Montague (Wine Country Cyclery), owners of the Feed Store building at West Napa and First Street East looked very pleased at the opening party for Lloyd Davis’ Corner 103 tasting room last weekend. Davis and his family celebrated with wine club members on Saturday, and with friends and media on Sunday.

Everyone was greeted by Lloyd’s mother, Carol, who had flown in from New York for the weekend to pour his 2013 Rosé Sparkling wine in the new sleek and svelte tasting room that replaces Martinez’s art gallery on the corner. Carol then sent guests around the corner to the Red Grape’s patio, a perfect setting for a perfect afternoon event.

Even I, as a loyal fan of the Red Grape, was surprised that chef Todd Thompson could elevate the food pairings to the level he did. Every wine was served at a separate table complimented by an appetizer such as chardonnay with roasted red pepper hummus in cucumber cups, pinot noir with duck confit rillette on toasted rye, zinfandel with Genoa salami flanking Parmesan crisps like a little sandwich, smoked turkey with mustard and pickle mini sliders with merlot, roast beef on twice-stuffed baked mini potatoes with a red blend, and cocoa rubbed Dry Jack with dried figs poached in and served with Corner 103 Cabernet.

Lloyd Davis is known locally for turning Viansa Winery around into a profitable business starting in 2008, and then selling the enterprise.

Wine tastings are by appointment only to taste seven wines with only 10 guests at a time. Each wine is from a different Sonoma County AVA, including Carneros, Sonoma Coast, Russian River, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Valley and Rockpile. This way visitors will learn extensively about the wines and winemaking, all accompanied by food tastes from rotating local caterers and restaurants. Each seven-wine 90-minute tasting experience costs $40. Corner 103 wines range retail from $35 to $60, and are only available in the tasting room. 103 W. Napa St., Sonoma. Corner103.com.

Read more at http://www.sonomanews.com/lifestyle/kathleenhill/3838364-181/spinach-recall-corner-103-tasting#VC8YRqqA0itpdKAD.99