We visited Lancaster Estate a year ago and had an exceptional tasting in their cave. Returning a few weeks ago we reserved an outdoor tasting and lucked into perfect weather and the perfect host. Lancaster is on Chalk Hill Road in Alexander Valley. The drive up Chalk Hill Road from Windsor is gorgeous but you can also drive in from Geyserville which is just as … Continue reading Return Visit to Lancaster Estate
Currently Closed Tucked away in Bacchus Landing is a unique tasting room –13th & Third. This boutique winery produces their Rhone style wines in Paso Robles but their tasting room is here in Healdsburg. Gregg Rothenberg and wife Julie are the passion behind the wine. They’re New Yorkers who met on 13th & Third in the city, married, and made the move to California to … Continue reading Paso Wines in Healdsburg
In 2015 Comstock Wines opened its doors on a 17 acre site along Dry Creek Road. Kelly Comstock Ferris is the General Manager and Chris Russi the winemaker. Together they have created a wonderful array of experiences with great wines. The tasting room is expansive offering both indoor and outdoor tastings. There is a bocce court for those who require more than wine and a … Continue reading On Dry Creek Road…….
Just about halfway between the town of Healdsburg and the Hacienda Bridge in Forestville is Arista Winery. 36 acres in what is known as the Middle Reach of the Russian River Valley. Here they focus on making exceptional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines from their estate grapes and from a handful of the areas finest growers. The McWilliams family and winemaker Matt Courtney are responsible … Continue reading Tasting at Arista
This vineyard’s location will dazzle you! The B. Wise Vineyards Estate Cave complex includes a huge, complex tunnel system, the residence of owners Brion and Ronda Wise, vineyards, orchards, gardens and incomparable views of the mountains and Sonoma Valley stretching all the way to San Francisco! One blogger described it as “Incredible. Hard to believe. Surrealistic. Beyond Belief. Unimaginable.” It is most definitely all of … Continue reading An Unforgettable Place
Kenwood, California is home to a winery making some interesting Italian wines – Muscardini Cellars. Their tasting room is right on Highway 12 in the heart of town. Sangiovese and Sagrantino wines can be found here as well as an extensive range of California wines from Savignon Blanc to Cabernet Sauvignon and almost everything in between. They source their grapes from growers throughout Sonoma’s wine … Continue reading Italian Varietals in Sonoma
Wells and Kate Guthrie are Dupuis Wines. Nestled high in the mountains of Anderson Valley, above Booneville, there is a 40 acre estate that is a dream come true for this couple. It’s a trek of sorts to get there. It’s pretty much a one lane twisting road that you hope you won’t meet another vehicle on coming the other way. When you get there … Continue reading Wells and Kate
We were looking for a diversion from our wine tastings this week so we headed out to the coast. It’s a great change of scenery and attractions. There are tasting rooms along the coast, seafood restaurants, hiking, and cool water sports, but the area has expanded more recently to include cheese tastings, farm visits and something we tried that is completely different – tasting mead. … Continue reading Coast diversions….
We have driven down Bennett Valley Road dozens of times never knowing Coursey Graves was just above us. Sitting high off the road the winery, facilities and a private home are nestled into a mountain of rock and craggy oaks that are part of the Sonoma Mountains. We went to visit just a couple weeks ago. When we reached the winery we were greeted with … Continue reading Treasure in the Sonoma Mountains
Sometimes you simply get blown away by the lengths to which people who love farming and grapes will go to build a winery and its surrounds. A perfect example is Hudson Ranch and Vineyard. They call it an Agrarian dream and yes, it is that and so much more. The ranch is 2000 acres in Napa Valley’s Carneros District. It’s a working ranch with 200 … Continue reading Hudson Ranch and Vineyards
John's Wine Cellar 