Sunday we headed off to the Napa Valley for a day of tastings with friends. It was such an unusual day for June. It was actually raining! California does not usually see rain in June but given the drought we are experiencing, every drop we can get is welcome. We began by sharing a rare and wonderful morning on Howell Mountain barrel tasting with one … Continue reading Tasting in Napa……
In the Dry Creek Valley just below Lake Sonoma sits Cast Wines. It’s perched on a hillside with views for what seems like miles across the valley, beyond Bella Vineyard. We were there pre-Covid for Passport To Dry Creek not long after the winery had opened. They’ve expanded extensively since then. Their wine making facility is on site along with an interesting array of venues … Continue reading Sensational View
Just east of downtown Sonoma along 8th Street you’ll find Patz & Hall. It’s a stunning facility with a tasting bar and indoor and outdoor casual seating. Single-vineyard, limited-production Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines are what Patz & Hall are all about. They have established exceptional relationships with some of the best growers throughout the region and the Central Coast enabling them to create some … Continue reading Patz & Hall
Just a short update…… Through Covid picking up releases has been pretty darn boring – No tasting, no socializing. This spring they’re back and it was fun to have Morgan Twain-Peterson pouring for us. Everyone showing up for pickup seemed relieved and delighted to get to have an interchange once again with the winemaker and wine friends while tasting the new releases. Of special note … Continue reading Spring Pickup at Bedrock
Napa has a handful of wineries that are as old as the hills. Larkmead is one of those wineries. Its history is as remarkable as its wines. Larkmead is located on the valley floor just south of Calistoga. 110 acres of planted vineyards are on the property as well as facilities for making the wine, storage and wine tasting. It’s a gorgeous property. After a … Continue reading An Institution
When you truly enjoy wine and visit the wine country for decades it is hard to resist the desire to make it home. We did and we love it. However, some who move here plunge in a bit deeper and take on the challenge of wine making. Laurie & Dean Gray along with partner Steve Nordhoff did just that and started Riverain Vineyards in Rutherford, … Continue reading Riverain
We were on a mission to try Mending Wall’s Petite Sirah. It was our only appointment of the day while we were doing some trip planning in Napa. Our host was Amy and we will forever remember her for one of, and I truly mean this, best tastings we have ever experienced. Mending Wall wines are one of Thomas Rivers Brown’s many accomplishments. He makes … Continue reading “a winery built around the spirit of wine itself”*
It’s difficult not to be moved by the view when you drive to Howell Mountain. We’ve driven there twice since the 2020 fires and both times I was struck with a feeling of despair seeing the devastation of homes, wineries, and charred hills. Thankfully It’s all coming back. Sonoma and Napa residents, and winery owners in particular, are nothing if not resilient. For Jon and … Continue reading Paravel Pick Up
There is a new complex in Healdsburg off Westside Road that is quietly opening this summer called Bacchus Landing. We stopped in last week to have a look. There isn’t much signage in or around the facility to direct you but there are in fact a few businesses open and happy to see visitors. In the huge and empty courtyard of Bacchus Landing we met … Continue reading New in Healdsburg
If you’re lucky enough to live in the area, events at Grand Cru Custom Crush are not to be missed. After attending their well-done event in June of 2019 I made sure to keep track of future events they were scheduling. Grand Cru is a crush facility in Windsor, California. 20 or more family wineries share the facility for the production and tasting of their … Continue reading Grand Cru’s Summer Event
John's Wine Cellar 