When Drinking and Driving DOES mix!

Several months back while gathering research for our annual trek to the California Wine Country, I Googed “Wine”& “Racing” and found out that Kevin Buckler and his wife Debra, the owners of the most prestigious and successful Porsche Race Team and Car Builders, are also the owners and winemakers of Adobe Road Winery.
In 1995, Kevin founded The Racer’s Group (TRG) and grew it into an internationally prominent manufacturer and distributor of performance Porsche parts, while simultaneously building a career as a successful endurance sports car racer and team owner. Kevin’s accomplishments as a driver include class wins at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona (2002) and the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans (2002), an overall win at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona (2003), and the title of Porsche World Cup Champion in 20021.
So between the combination of Porsche Racing and Wine, it didn’t take much to convince Susan that during our wine adventures last week that we should make the 20-mile trip from Sonoma to Petaluma, CA to visit the Winery.

So on Tuesday, March 7th, we left our temporary abode at the El Pueblo Inn and ventured off with the hope of tasting some good wine.

As we got closer and closer to the address of the winery, the geography became more and more “industrial complex” in nature. Not what one would expect for the usual winery or even “tasting room” setting.

Eventually, we arrived at the published address of 1995 S. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma CA, only to find a large white building reminiscent of an office or light industrial complex. I looked at Susan and she looked at me and we both agreed that the address published must be wrong. So we pulled into the parking lot with the intended purpose of turning around when we saw a white Porsche Cayenne in the parking lot? So I drove a little further in and then saw the TRG (The Racers Group) logo and the Adobe Road logo on the door? Puzzled, we decided to inquire within.

As we entered the lobby we knew we were nearing heaven, Porsche Racing Posters, a Large Screen Plasma TV’s with the Speed channel playing and glass case after glass case of Trophies. At this point, who cared about wine, we were in the presence of Porsche Greatness, this was undoubtedly the Racers Groups’ corporate office. Too Cool!

We first met Sarah who is in Customer Service I believe, I’m, sure she told us, but I was still in awe and not really paying attention to most of what she said. I stammered something about being lost and looking for the Adobe Road Tasting room, really not caring if we every found it at this point. When to my surprise, she said, “you found it, it’s in the shop”. Now two things came to mind, first, the term “shop” must mean the place where the awesome racing 911’s are meticulously assembled and second, the Tasting Room was located in it. Could that possible mean that if we wanted to taste the wine of Adobe Road, we would need to enter the “shop”? Now we are getting closer to heaven.

Sarah said she would get Denise Sanders who came right out to meet us and introduced herself as the General Manager of Adobe Road Winner and asked if we wanted to have a tasting? I wanted to say “you are kidding right?”, of course we did, especially if that meant seeing the Shop!

We then entered the Shop and as far as the eye could see, there were full race prepared 911’s and one lone Guards Red 1984 944 and being an owner of a Guards Red 1984 944 it caught my attention. But I’ll get back to that later.

Denise led us though the shop to a large room with round-topped doors reminiscent of wineries and tasting rooms.

Now I must regress, when we first decided to visit the Adobe Road Winery, understanding that it was owned by a famous race car driver, there are too possibilities as it relates to wine making, is he into it because many famous people are doing it? Or is this a passion of his? Breaking the norm and placing his “Tasting room” in the middle of his Race Shop, it was becoming clear that this was a passion for him. Later, when we tasted the wines, it would be confirmed that besides racing, winemaking was really a passion of this group.

Denise first opened the 2002 Zinfandel; there were scents of fresh berry jam, which lead into juicy red raspberry, black cherry and red currant flavors. The grapes were form Sonoma County and they only produced 250 cases.

Next we did a side-by-side comparison of the 2000 and 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, which had concentrated aromas of licorice and chocolate with, black cherry and blackberry flavors with hints of olive. Susan and I disagreed on which we like best so we bought one of each.

Denise explained that partner and fellow racer Ron Herrerias was the grower of most of the grapes and Kevin along with Susie Selby took on the winemaking duties. She explained that Kevin knew what he wanted in the “style” of his wine, and Susie made it happen form a technical standpoint. I understand that with one of the vintages, ALL of the grapes were hand picked by the Buckner’s and Herrerias’, now that is passion.

Denise left us to wonder around the shop, drooling over the racecars while she packed up our wine, when to my surprise Kevin came out of the offices and introduced himself. He talked about the cars, his racing and his passion for wine. He autographed our bottles of wine, and I couldn’t let him get away with out asking about the lone Guards Red 1984 944 setting in the corner of the shop. It turns out the 944 was his first Porsche and he is keeping it for sentimental value.

So if you are ever in the Petaluma area, I highly recommend visiting the Adobe Road Winery. I understand that Denise will be taking her show on the road this racing season and you may be able to taste their great wines at a track near you. For more details, visit they’re web site at http://www.adoberoadwines.com/