Most reviews by James Knight. Note: Those listings marked ‘WC’ denote wineries with caves. These wineries are usually only open to the public by appointment. Wineries in these listings appear on a rotating basis.
SONOMA COUNTY Adobe Road Winery Award-winning Cab, Pinot, Zin, Cab Franc, Syrah and Petite Sirah. Their tasting room is located in Petaluma at the Racers Group Porsche race headquarters. 1995 S. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. 707.939.7967.
Arista Winery Nothing big about the wine list, just style-driven, focused wines. 7015 Westside Road, Healdsburg. Tasting room open daily, 11am–5pm. 707.473.0606. Armida The wines are original, and there are three mysterious geodesic domes on the property. Plus: bocce! 2201 Westside Road, Healdsburg. Open daily, 11am–4pm. 707.433.2222.
Arnot-Roberts Some fresh pepper on that Syrah? Duo of chums craft spicy, savory lower-alcohol wines from cool climates in funky backstreet cellar. 6450 First St., Forestville. By appointment only. 707.820.1383.
Arrowood Winery Most of Arrowood’s wine is done in the Bordeaux style of France. 14347 Sonoma Hwy., Glen Ellen. Tasting room open daily, 10am–5pm. 707.935.2600. Atascadero Creek Winery Produces mostly red wines and specializes in small lots of single-vineyard Pinot and Zin. At West County Wine Collective in Pizzavino707, 6948 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. Friday– Sunday, noon-6pm, $12 fee. 707.829.9500.
Audelssa Audelssa’s wines are indeed as dramatic, dry and rugged as the location suggests. 13750 Arnold Drive, Glen Ellen. Tasting room open Friday–Sunday, 11am–5pm; Monday–Thursday and vineyard estate visits, by appointment. 707.933.8514.
Balletto Vineyards Some of the best values from
the Russian River Valley, in Chard and Pinots both Gris and noir. Being out of the touring loop, it’s generally a low-key place that picks up a bit on weekends. 5700 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa. Open daily, 10am–4pm. 707.568.2455.
Camellia Cellars Like owner Chris Lewand, the wine is just so darned approachable and easy-going. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon are most consistently strong. 57 Front St., Healdsburg. Open daily, 11am–6pm. 888.404.9463.
Chateau St. Jean Winery Take the educational tour and sample both reserve and premier wines on acres of vineyard with gardens and gourmet food. Famed Riesling and rare Malbec. 8555 Sonoma Hwy., Kenwood. Open daily, 10am–5pm. 707.833.4134.
Christopher Creek The tasting room is a small, woodpaneled anteroom stocked with bins of wine. There are no fountains, Italian tiles or anything not having to do directly with the business of sampling wines made on the premises. Chard and Cab shine. 641 Limerick Lane, Healdsburg. Open daily, 11am–5pm. 707.433.2001. Claypool Cellars “They call me Mister Knowitall, I sup the aged wine.” Sup on Primus frontman’s Purple Pachyderm Pinot Noir and Rhone-style Fancí Blend in wine country’s cutest caboose, a must-see for rock and wine fans alike. 6761 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. Open SaturdaySunday, 1–5pm. 707.861.9358. Cline Cellars Look for single-vineyard designate Zinfandels–gorgeous fruit bombs. 24737 Hwy. 121, Sonoma. Open daily, 10am– 6pm. 707.940.4000.
Clos du Bois With picnicking area, friendly staff and knickknacks galore, Clos Du Bois is a reliable treasure. 19410 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville. Open daily, 10am– 4:30pm. 800.222.3189.
Downtown Wine Casual spot with LP records on the turntable and relaxed vibe, founded by surfer-skater turned winemaker. Offers an eclectic range of wines from delicate, Thai-cuisine–inspired Banyan whites to rustic, brambly Hobo reds inspired by the open road. Folk Machine and Branham Estate Wines, too. Don’t skip the refreshingly dry Santa Lucia Highlands Riesling. Ramble on in. 132 Plaza St., Healdsburg. Open Thursday–Monday, 11am to 6pm. Tasting fee, $5. 707.473.0337.
Gourmet au Bay Seafood takes to wine even better than water. Wine bar and retail shop offers flights served on custom wooden “surfboards,” artisan cheese and cracker plate, and liberal bring-your-own picnic policy. Cold crab cakes and sparkling wine at sunset on the bay? Sounds like a date. 913 Hwy. 1, Bodega. Wine surfing, $8. 707.875.9875.
Inspiration Vineyards The colorful pastoral depicted on the label does exist, but this small, family-owned labor of love is sensibly located in the Pinecreek Business Park. Stylish tasting room; Chard, Cab and Blanc. 3360 Coffey Lane, Ste. E, Santa Rosa. Daily 11am–4:30pm. $10 tasting fee. 707.237.4980.
Iron Horse Despite the rustic tasting room, Iron Horse produces sparkling wine and Pinots for the elite. A brilliant view for winetasting. 209786 Ross Station Road, Sebastopol. Open daily, 10am–3:30pm. 707.887.1507.
Meeker Vineyard You might expect Meeker to be more slicked-out, what with its big-time Hollywood origins (co-owner Charlie Meeker is a former movie executive). But that’s clearly not the case. 21035 Geyserville Ave., Geyserville. Open Monday–Saturday, 10:30am– 6pm; Sunday, noon–5pm. 707.431.2148.
Paul Hobbs Winery Unfiltered and unfined wines,
Sojourn Cellars Complex but lissome Sonoma Valley Cab is the star at comfortable tasting salon just off the Sonoma Plaza that’s as comfortable as a living room. No need to fear sit-down, appointment-only tastings; just focus on Sojourn’s lawn chair logo and relax. 141 E. Napa St., Sonoma. Complimentary tasting by appointment. 707.938.7212. Thumbprint Cellars Vegan wines named Arousal, Threesome and Four Play; but it all started out innocently enough. Downtown lounge offers curvaceous bar, hookah-den-styled booth, and seasonal nosh. 102 Matheson St., Healdsburg. Open 11am to 6pm Sunday– Thursday, to 7pm Saturday. Tastings $5–$10; with food pairing, $10–$20. 707.433.2393.
Two Amigos Wines One of the “Vino Brothers” is a famous television commercial actor, but they look alike in plastic nose and Groucho glasses disguises. Goofy theme and good wine. Vito’s Vino Bianco is a rich Roussanne; Guido’s Vino Rosso a successful California Sangiovese. 25 E. Napa St., Sonoma. Open daily, 11am– 6pm. 707.799.7946.
Woodenhead Damn good wine. Pinot, Zin–yum, yum, yum. 5700 River Road, Santa Rosa. Open Thursday– Monday, 10:30am–4:30pm. 707.887.2703.
MARIN COUNTY Bacchus & Venus A trendy place for beginners and tourists. Great place to learn the basics. 769 Bridgeway, Sausalito. Open daily, noon– 7pm. 415.331.2001. Pey-Marin Vineyards A Marin wine adventure where cow country meets conifer forest, at the historic, hospitable Olema Inn. Discover razor-lean “Shell Mound” Marin County Riesling, opaquely purple, yet eminently food-friendly “Punchdown” Syrah, and more. 10000 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Olema. Open daily from noon to 4pm. $12 fee. 415.663.9559.
Point Reyes Vineyards The tasting room features many varietals but the main reason to go is for the sparkling wines. Open Saturday–Sunday, 11am–5pm. 12700 Hwy. 1, Point Reyes. 415.663.1011.
Ross Valley Winery In existence since 1987, the Ross Valley Winery produces Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Zin port wines. 343 San Anselmo Ave., San Anselmo. Open Tuesday– Sunday, 1–7pm. 415.457.5157. Tam Cellars Spacious wine bar quietly distributes the soul-salve of the ages and, like its soul mate the coffee shop, passes the laptop test. Cheese plates, wine flights and comfortable seating arrangements make a nice place to convene with the companion or flat screen of one’s choice. Wine shop features international, eclectic selection at fair prices. 1803 Larkspur Landing Circle, Larkspur. Open Monday–Wednesday, 4–9pm; Thursday–Saturday, 4–10pm. 415.461.9463.
and envision it to be a retaildestination winery. The wines are quite good. 4089 Silverado Trail, Napa. Open daily, 10am– 5pm. 707.253.1400.
Ceja Vineyards To Ceja Vineyards’ motto, “Vinum, Cantus, Amor,” and when there’s wine, song and love, there’s dance. Founded by one-time field workers, the Mexican-American-owned winery celebrates culture and wine at this sleek downtown lounge. Wine flights, light bites and one of the few full-bodied rosés “con huevos” in the county. On Saturdays, free salsa lessons and dance party spice up the night. Bailamos! 1248 First St., Napa. Sunday– Friday, noon–6pm, Saturday, noon–10pm; free salsa class starts at 7:30pm. Tasting fees vary. 707.226.6445.
Domaine Carneros
Tasting room is a white barn lit by skylights and often staffed by the owner’s wife or mother. 333 Silverado Trail, Calistoga. Open Thursday– Sunday, 11:30am–4:30pm. 707.942.5854.
Inspired by Taittinger’s Château de la Marquetterie of Champagne, this house of premium sparkling wine is a hard-to-miss landmark on the Carneros Highway. Enjoy a private Balcony Package for special occasions or taste sparkling and still wines paired with artisan cheese and caviar with the masses. Luxury bubbly Le Rêve offers a bouquet of hoary yeast and crème brûlée that just slips away like a dream. 1240 Duhig Road (at Highway 12/121), Napa. Wine flights $15; also available by the glass or bottle. Open 10am–5:45pm. 800.716.2788.
Beaulieu Vineyard
Eagle & Rose Estate
NAPA COUNTY August Briggs Winery
History in a glassful of dust– Rutherford dust. Somethingfor-everyone smorgasbord of solid varietal wines, plus library selections of flagship Georges de Latour Cab back to 1970. 1960 St. Helena Hwy., Rutherford. Daily, 10am–5pm. Tastings $15–$20; Reserve Room, $35. 707.967.5233.
Beringer Vineyards (WC) This historic winery offers some seven daily tours for nominal fees, most of which end gratefully with a glass and a spin through the underground wine-aging tunnels. Open daily, 10am– 6pm (summer hours). 2000 Main St., Napa. 707.963.7115.
Black Stallion Winery Owned by a pair of Midwest liquor-distribution barons who hired a capable winemaker
(WC) Tours of this small winery are led either by the winery owner or the winemaker himself. 3000 St. Helena Hwy. N., Napa. By appointment. 707.965.9463.
On the Edge A key stop for devotees of the cult to Charbono. 1255 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga. Open daily, 10am– 5:30pm. 707.942.7410.
Taste at Oxbow Discover refreshing white varietals Albariño and Vermentino in stylish setting across from Oxbow Market, then move on to Pinot Noir from Carneros pioneer Mahoney Vineyards; Waterstone Wines, too. 708 First St., Napa. Sunday– Thursday, 11am–7pm; Friday– Saturday, 11am–9pm. Tasting fee $10. 707.265.9600.
17 NORTH BAY BOHEMIAN | DECEMBER 21–27, 2011 | BOHEMIAN.COM
Wineries
fermented with native yeasts. 3355 Gravenstein Hwy. N. (Highway 116), Sebastopol. By appointment. 707.824.9879.