Continuously producing exceptional wine – That’s Scherrer – Fred Scherrer to be exact.
In the hills outside Sebastopol on a dead end road, in an old apple packing shed is Scherrer Winery. They don’t offer regular tastings. Three times a year Scherrer holds open houses to taste the new releases, pick up wines, and enjoy the comradery of his family and friends. It’s held in the simplest of fashion in the winery, with a backdrop of colorful artwork on display.
Scherrer’s Zinfandel started it all – from making Zin from his father’s Alexander Valley vines, to a decade of winemaking with Tom Dehlinger – to finally moving into his own facility in 1997. Today Fred Scherrer makes around a dozen wines producing around 3000 cases.
The spring open house offered tastings and a catered lunch. The wines poured were the 2022 Helfer Vineyard Chardonnay, 2024 Dry Rosé, 2023 Dry Rosé of Grenache, 2021 Sonoma County Pinot Noir and finally the 2023 Shale Terrace Zinfandel. The lunch, prepared by Chef Peter Brown was amazing. More lamb sausage please!
We picked up our allocation and added bottles of the particularly wonderful 2023 Helfer Vineyard Chardonnay, and because I’m always looking for fun blends – I picked up a bottle of his Zinfandoodle!
No pretense, just a perfect down home event at a working winery with exceptional wines , great food, and wonderful people! Not to be missed!
Thank you Fred Scherrer!
p.s. – Loved the Zinfandoodle!
John's Wine Cellar 
A perfect day in wine country!
John, what a delightful discovery. No hype, no fancy fashion statements: just good wine making and the appreciation of its beauty. Thank you for sharing this. Francis
Does Fred have a Doodle pup? 💛🐩
Judy, It’s my favorite kind of tasting. d
Francis, So wish you were here to experience more tastings held by the amazing small family wineries! Missing you and Marta! Debbe
HaHaHa! I believe their dog is a blonde lab.
Nice to see the “Cellar” notice in my in box! Very enjoyable review of another rare and interesting Dart find. Might have to time our next visit to coincide with a Scherrer open house. Let us know how the Zinfandoodle tastes after an appropriate bottle rest.
The Zinfandoodle was terrific. An excellent wine to start the week off with!
Glad you enjoyed. Looks like it’s not available online…will have to visit.