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NAPA VALLEY | WINE COUNTRY THIS WEEKTasting Room of the Week:MERRYVALE VINEYARDSBy Michelle J. BakerFor visitors who want a little somethingmore, Merryvale Vineyards is offering acouple of “up close and personal” winetastingexperiences that are sure to fit thebill.Coming up on June 12 is Merryvale’squarterly barrel tasting, an opportunity forvisitors to taste the 2009 Pinot Noirs straightout of the barrel, enjoy live music and TraVigne’s handmade pizza cooked in a woodfiredpizza oven. The Merryvale team willalso be featuring some finished wines,including summer sippers Rosé, SauvignonBlanc, Viognier and Chardonnay.Merryvale has also introduced an exclusiveWine and Cheese Experience for visitorsto learn more about food and wine pairing.Merryvale’s Food and Wine Educator ShawnDougherty hosts the Wine and Cheese Experienceon Fridays, Saturdays and Sundaysevery week all summer long from 11 a.m.until 12:30 p.m. The seminar features fivehand-selected cheeses, assorted charcuterieand five Merryvale wines for $45 per person,or $35 for Profile Club members.Merryvale Vineyards has long been apopular destination for Wine Country visitors.For more than 25 years the familyownedwinery has operated out of thehistoric St. Helena building that was the firstto be built in the Napa Valley after the end ofProhibition in 1933.You can still just drop by Merryvaleanytime for just about anything your palatedesires. Merryvale’s tasting room has aseasoned, knowledgeable and friendly staff,and visitor-friendly hours and tastingchoices. Visitors can walk in without anappointment and choose from a selection offive different tastings. The tasting choicesinclude their Signature line-up, an all whitetasting, and an all red tasting.Profile is Merryvale’s flagship Bordeauxstyleblend. It is perennially rated at 90+points, and the current release is no exception.Wine Enthusiast gave the 2006 Profile94 points, calling it “a rich, complex andsmooth wine packed with blackberry, cassisand smoky, new oak flavors.” Visitors get arare opportunity to try a vertical of Profile atthe tasting bar to see how beautifully it ages.Merryvale has one of the most popularwine clubs in Napa Valley. Members receivea three- or six-bottle Quarterly Club optionwith 15% discount and free shipping on thesix-bottle club; two complimentary bottles ofwine after one year of membership and everysubsequent anniversary as a thank you;complimentary tastings and discounted wineseminars. To learn more about Merryvale’sProfile Club and to join, call 1-877-887-7763.Merryvale Vineyards is convenientlylocated at 1000 Main Street in St. Helena,next to Tra Vigne and directly across fromGott’s (formerly known as Taylor’s Refresher).The tasting room is open daily from 10 a.m.to 6:30 p.m. For more information about thewinery, visit www.merryvale.com, or to booka spot for the Wine and Food Experience orBarrel Tasting call 1-877-887-7763.34 www.WineCountryThisWeek.com