DORÉ

It’s probably no surprise that I’ve been to my fair share of wineries, but Scribe Winery in Sonoma, California, is unlike any other winery I’ve visited. Christina, Bogdana, Mary and I were lucky enough to visit Scribe last month and we still find ourselves referencing some aspect of the experience on a weekly basis.

Scribe Winery was founded in 2007 by brothers Andrew and Adam Mariani, who also happen to be fourth generation California farmers — so their love for California soil, and all it has to offer, runs deep. Keeping with their family roots, their sister, Kelly Mariani, a Chez Panisse trained chef heads up the kitchen at Scribe. Upon arrival at Scribe, we were promptly instructed to drop our bags and sit for a wine tasting, along with a Persian inspired meal to celebrate the Persian new year (one of Scribe’s employees is Persian and was homesick for the food). This is the kind of caring and thoughtful attention to detail that comes so naturally to Scribe.

At first we were all a bit overwhelmed and confused, but couldn’t quite figure out why until I finally blurted it out, “everyone just looks so happy and healthy here.” I’m not one to comment on the energy of a place, but the energy at Scribe is just… good. I don’t know if it’s the soil it sits on, the wine they provide, or simply the Northern California air, but I swear I gained at least an inch in height as I sat up straight for what felt like the first time in months.

Oh. And the wine is delicious. Trust me, we brought back many a bottle to New York (also, probably in the hopes we’d bring back some of that soil / air / mojo that makes everyone look so dang happy and healthy).

But, then we were spoiled even further. They made us dinner. With more wine. And more cool people, that work with or are connected to Scribe, came to join us for the family meal.

You know that family meal you day-dream of and that you promise yourself one day you’ll throw together? One day when you have the space / time / money / energy to effortlessly whip up three to four courses paired expertly with wine, but the linens will be perfectly crumpled, the wine always chilled, the lights dimmed, the flowers done, but not overly done, because entertaining is effortless for you and all your friends will comment on it as such?

That’s just another day at Scribe. And now I no longer have to try and day-dream about what my perfect family dinner would look like, I just have to try and recreate what we experienced at Scribe.

Of the cool people that joined us for dinner, the most popular person of the night was probably Andrew’s adorable two year old daughter Una, who lead the table in a rousing rendition of Doe a Deer while we all ate our dessert. I was shocked by the two year old’s pitch until I learned her mother, Lia Ices, is an incredible singer. The night concluded with Lia singing a few songs for us from her forthcoming album, coming this fall! Gathered around in the basement at Scribe (where, yes, there just so happens to be a grand piano) Una (and the rest of us) watched on in awe…