As is our annual custom, several friends spent the first weekend in March surrounded by the lovely, rolling hills of Sonoma County wine country. Using a lovely house in Forestville as a home base, we joined thousands of others who took part in the Russian River Wine Road's Barrel Tasting Weekend - tasting, laughing, eating, and celebrating spring. Photos by Alan Sheckter / AlSheck@comcast.net Permission must be granted for re-publication.