Fresno’s Wine Tasting Destination

FRESNO – Jason McDonough and Alysia Sofios already had a love of wine tasting when they met about a year ago, and when the couple discovered that The Tasting Room in Fresno was up for sale they felt they had to buy it.

The Tasting Room is a comfortable and fashionable place where people from miles away come to relax and unwind, and enjoy fine wines and food.  The walls are covered with various shades of purple, and guests can lounge on sofas and chairs. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and soft jazz music plays in the background.

“There’s other places to go have wine, but this just has an intimate atmosphere that people really respond to,” Sofios, who is also a reporter for KMPH FOX 26, said.  “I can’t think of a better place to have a date.”

McDonough and Sofios so far have changed the establishment little since they purchased it roughly a month ago.  They both are a good management team for the business, with Sofios handling marketing and McDonough offering experience from a background in small business.  The Tasting Room features some of the best wines the San Joaquin Valley has to offer, and Sofios said they work with winemakers not only in California, but around the world.  There is a plan to form a partnership with Fresno’s sister cities, including Verona, Italy.

“We’re trying to bring its winemaker in, and we also have local art from Verona we’re going to spotlight,” Sofios said.  “So we’ll have a corner dedicated to Fresno’s sister cities.”

The Tasting Room not only has wines from Fresno, but uses vendors from various countries, such as Chile, Italy, Argentina, Spain and France.  Part of its stock includes wines rare for this region, including Rombauer.  A favorite vendor of McDonough is Mastro Scheidt Family Cellars, located in Sonoma County and the Dry Creek Valley.  The establishment offers guests two dozen varieties of wine, and more than 100 wines.  There are eight wines on the tasting menu, which are switched out weekly.

More than just wine aficionados can be found lounging in The Tasting Room.  For those who know little about wine, they can ask for suggestions and find the variety they are looking for.

“We have people from age 21 all the way up to in their 80s, that just really have an appreciation for wine and like to try new things,” Sofios said.

The wine prices vary as do the varieties.  The Tasting Room offers $5 wines, and glasses priced at up to $16.

“We try to vary all our wines to hit all the different price points, so that we offer something for everyone,” McDonough said.

The food at The Tasting Room is also a hit.  Chef Suzanne Siroonian creates different menu items such as flatbreads, salads, sandwiches and tacos.  She also puts together mouthwatering cheese platters with fruit and nuts.

“She really understands pairing with wine,” Sofios said.  “So everything on our menu goes great with wine.”

The Tasting Room has also kept up with the times by offering its own app.  Users can create a wine diary where they can keep track of wines they tried, along with their opinions.  They can also see comments and ratings from other customers.

“It’s kind of a fun, interactive way to try wine,” Sofios said.

Patrons can also join a Wine Club, where once a month club members can attend a pick-up party and choose two wines from around the world to take home.

Events also take place at The Tasting Room.  The establishment sometimes welcomes in local jazz bands, and also hosts business events and parties, with no fees involved in the booking.  Happy hour is Monday – Friday from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., and The Tasting Room is open from 2 p.m. – 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 2 p.m. – 11 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Fresno’s Leading Young Professionals (FLYP) held a mixer there Wednesday, and on August 15 a sommelier will put on a business and wine etiquette class.

The Tasting Room has also had visitors from wine hotspots, including Napa Valley, Monterey and Pismo.  The San Francisco 49ers cheerleaders have recently stopped in as well.

“We really want people to love wine, to fall in love with wine and to be able to try things without committing to the whole bottles,” Sofios said.

For more information on The Tasting Room, call (559) 432-8584 or visit http://www.thetastingroomfresno.com/.