Wine Spectator: August 31, 2003

An Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator

by Ryan Isaac

"Paula Lambert, manager and wine buyer at Santi Restaurant in northern Sonoma County, doesn't need to look far for most of the wines on her list-it reads like a compendium of boutique wineries from the surrounding Alexander Valley and nearby Dry Creek Valley. 'We focus on supporting each other,' says Lambert. 'I really enjoy finding these little productions and being able to come forward with wines that no one knows about.'

"Bottlings from local producers such as Bella, Rusina and Scherrer present diners with the chance to sample Zinfandels that may never leave the area. Experimentation is made easier because more than half of the 180 selections cost less than $40 a bottle.

"Santi's Cal-Ital cuisine-with dishes such as risotto with braised Guinea hen, and seared pork chop with braised red cabbage-has inspired Lambert to augment her list with more than 50 Italian wines. So whether it's the Ceretto Barolo 1997, the Antinori Solaia 1990 or the Seghesio Omaggio Sonoma County 1999, Italian vintners and their American brethren have a proponent in Geyserville."