Mayacama Vintners

Vi n t n e r P r o g r a m

a m e s s a g e f r o m m a y a c a m a’ s d i r e c t o r o f w i n e

H H a n s

H o l z m a n n

Red or white. Elegant or opulent. Old

we are ideally placed to take in all of

for me for almost as long as I can

And we are proud to say that thirty

World or new. Wine has been a passion remember. When you think of wine

it’s natural to wax romantic. After all we’ve had a historic relationship with it through the centuries. Whether an intimate conversation with someone special, a pairing that creates an

extraordinary dining experience, or at special events celebrated with

loved ones or close friends, wine seems to have an almost endless way to captivate us.

Some of the world’s finest varietals are found here in California Wine Country.

And Mayacama has a unique position here in more than

one way. Nestled in the heart of northern Sonoma County

near the border of Napa Valley,

the magic that this region offers. of the area’s premier vintners not

only call us their second home, but

offer our members and their guests superb tastings and events featuring select vintages exclusively offered

here, amid the private club, Nicklaus

Signature Golf, and Tuscan-inspired Villas, Casitas, and Hillside Homes.

In the following pages, allow me

to introduce to you some of the

finest in the region. And being of

European descent, I savor blending Old World experience with new

world wines to create a singular member experience. I invite you

to realize Wine Country living as

it was meant to be. At Mayacama.

M ay a c a m a presents its

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1. Araujo Estate Wines

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2. Armida 3. Azalea Springs 4. Cakebread Cellars 5. DuMOL 6. Failla Wines 7. Ferrari-Carano Winery 8. Fritz Underground Winery

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9. Gallo Family Vineyard 10. Harlan Estate 11. Joseph Phelps Vineyards 12. Jordan Estate 13. Kendall-Jackson Winery

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18. Lynmar Estate

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19. Marcassin Vineyard 20. Miner Vineyards 21. Ravenswood Winery

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23. Rudd Vineyards 25. Stuhlmuller Vineyards

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22. Realm Cellars 24. Silver Oak Cellars

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Napa LOS CARNEROS

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1 N a p a Va l l e y

Napa, meaning land of plenty, gives rise to 14 sub appellations, each imprinting its own distinct characteristics on the fine wines that originate there.

The different soils that nourish these small but flavorful grapes come from the valley’s 60-million-year-old geologic history of volcanoes, alluvial waters and flooding.

MEMBERS: Bart and Daphne Araujo LOCATION: Calistoga FOUNDED: 1990 8

VARIETALS: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier THE ESTATE: First planted in the 1880’s, the complex geology of the 38 Eisele Vineyard inspires the Araujos to farm each small subsection differently. This 150-acre estate now supports not only grapes but a diversity of life that includes bees and chickens. The well-drained, cobbly soils of this vineyard in northeast Napa Valley gives rise to wines that have the capacity to develop profound complexity with age.

HERITAGE: Eisele Vineyard’s first Cabernets were planted in 1964.

From 1971 through the present day, the Eisele fruit has consistently produced some of California’s most age-worthy and intense-flavored Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bart’s lineage of five generations of California ranchers as well as his

astute business sense provided him with the right instincts to steward the land of this historic estate. Daphne’s education and expertise as a landscape architect were the perfect prerequisite for the tasks of updating the winery buildings, replanting the vineyard and bringing to life the large organic vegetable gardens and olive groves.

UNCORKED: In addition to great wines, Araujo Estate also produces grappa (grape-based brandy), honey, olive oil, and olive oil soap – which, like its wine, expresses the unique terroir of Eisele.

PHILOSOPHY: Passionate commitment to organic and Biodynamic® practices in farming and winemaking to reinforce the unique terroir of Araujo wines, and to ensure the health of the soil and vines now and for the future.

ACCOLADES: The Wine Advocate, 98 points (2005 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Eisele Vineyard, Napa).

TOURS: Closed to the public.

Winemaker dinners and tastings available for Mayacama members.

A zalea S prings MEMBERS: Norman and Norah Stone LOCATION: Calistoga FOUNDED: 1973 VARIETALS: Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon THE ESTATE: This family-owned winery in the foothills of Napa Valley’s Diamond Mountain is hidden from the outside world by its lush surroundings. Evergreen trees grow from the terraces of an ancient prune orchard that encircles the vineyard. And the namesake springs feed a tall redwood grove…a cool refuge from the hot, dry summers.

HERITAGE: It was love at first sight when noted art collectors Norman and Norah Stone spotted the white farm house. The San Francisco couple envisioned a second home filled with friends, family and their private art collection. That the two-story home – built from redwood lumbered on the property in 1887 – was skirted by seven acres of premium Merlot grapes was peripheral to the Stones.

Norman, a psychologist, and Norah, a

former corporate attorney and registered nurse, weren’t vintners. Art was their passion.

But when famed winemaker John Kongsgaard advised the couple to “forget the house and buy the place for the vineyards,” the Stones took note and set out to better acquaint themselves with their vineyard. Today, the Stones produce deep, dark Merlots and Cabernets that reflect the perfect growing conditions of this Napa Valley property.

UNCORKED: Friends and fellow art enthusiasts can view curated exhibits from the Stones’ private collection in the 5,700square-foot Art Cave, built into a limestone hillside on the property. As a space to display art, there is nothing else like it in the world.

PHILOSOPHY: “If it’s too easy to get, it doesn’t interest us because it doesn’t challenge us.” — Norman C. Stone ACCOLADES: Decanter, Best New World Red (1997 Azalea Springs Merlot).

TOURS: By appointment only.

707.942.4811

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LOCATION: St. Helena FOUNDED: 1973 10

VARIETALS: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Rubaiyat THE ESTATE: Off of Highway 29 between Oakville and Rutherford, you’ll find the classically weathered redwood structures of Cakebread Cellars. These buildings house an exquisite tasting room and all the accouterments for producing fine wines.

On land that nourishes not only vineyards but also magnificent landscaping, this winemaking family has designed the poetry-inspired Rubaiyat blend and is also famous for it’s organic kitchen garden.

HERITAGE: As high school sweethearts in the 1940’s, Dolores and Jack Cakebread worked together on the Cakebread family ranch.

About three decades and four careers later, on an assignment taking photos for Nathan Chroman’s Treasury of American Wines, Jack made an offhand remark while

lunching on a friend’s farm across the road from Mondavi, “If you ever want to sell this place…”

Starting with a surprise phone call from the farmer and culminating with a contract written on a yellow legal pad, Jack and Delores bought Cakebread Cellars’ first 22 acres with a $2,500 down payment. Back then, Yountville’s Groezinger Wine Shop was the only outlet for Cakebread’s first 157 cases.

Now, the vines grow on 420 acres spread across 13 sites, and son Dennis, sells thousands of cases around the globe.

UNCORKED: In 1959, Jack was a student in an Ansel Adams workshop. In 1966, he became an instructor in one. Now the winery sponsors an annual photography contest.

PHILOSOPHY: “We didn’t know we were going to build a winery. We just believed in our heart-of-hearts that it would work to bring our family here.” – Jack Cakebread ACCOLADES: San Francisco Chronicle, Wine Competition Gold Medal Winner (2006 Chardonnay).

TOURS: By appointment only.

800.588.0298

Cakebread Cellars photography by Terry McCarthy. Bottle shot by M.J. Wickham.

MEMBERS: Dennis and Sara Cakebread

MEMBERS: Ehren Jordan and Anne-Marie Failla LOCATION: St. Helena FOUNDED: 1998 VARIETALS: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Viognier THE ESTATE: To truly appreciate this unique winery you have to follow the roots of the vines and go underground. You will enter a unique 12,000-square-foot cave, home to subterranean production facilities that utilize the earth’s insulation properties to cut energy costs, as well as barrel storage, hospitality areas, and some excellent wine – like Ehren’s Burgundian Pinot Noirs, Rhone-style Syrah and Viognier, and Chablis-like Chardonnay.

HERITAGE: Husband-and-wife team Ehren Jordan and Anne-Marie Failla took different paths to get to the same place. Anne-Marie was an investment banker and venture capitalist before Ehren wooed her to Napa. After working in the wine business from the cellar-floor on up, she now serves as Failla’s CFO.

While majoring in Art History at George Washington, Ehren worked part time at a DC wine shop where he waited on Sam Donaldson and Andy Rooney. That started him on a novel path that led him to the venerable vineyards of France’s Rhone Valley. It was here that celebrated oenologist Jean-Luc Columbo took a chance on this unconventional budding winemaker, passing on the secrets of this ageold craft. Eventually becoming known as a superstar in his field, Ehren co-founded Failla and today makes all of its wine.

UNCORKED: The winery is located in a vintage yellow farm house with a late-1800’s stone winery, formerly a hard apple-cider mill.

PHILOSOPHY: Ehren loves to experiment with his favorite varietals, coaxing out their various incarnations from different climates, soil types and rootstock.

ACCOLADES: “Failla is a top-notch source of high quality, Europeaninspired wines that combine flavor intensity and elegance.” – Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate.

TOURS: By appointment only.

707.963.0530

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H A R L A N E S TAT E

MEMBERS: William and Deborah Harlan LOCATION: Oakville FOUNDED: 1984 12

VARIETALS: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot THE ESTATE: Described by the Harlans as a “place of great inspiration,” this 240-acre winery is set amongst the natural splendor of Oakville’s western hills, nestled above the Napa Valley benchlands. Only 15% is under vine, and discerning farming practices produce about half the per-acre yield found in most Bordeaux “first growth” vineyards. The result is carefully chosen grapes that are among the most celebrated in the world.

HERITAGE: While Bill Harlan has certainly not been overlooked in the wine industry, amazingly enough the property that would become Harlan Estate had been. Not many buyers

were interested in such a steep, hilly plot.

But Harlan knew the importance of location.

He’d studied the great wines of the world and discovered that they nearly always came from hillside vineyards.

A weekend’s drive through Napa proves that there is nothing more highly prized than hillside vineyard land. Nothing, that is, except Harlan’s Bordeaux-style blends. Experiencing these “first growth” wines is a rare treat with production limited to less than 2,000 cases a year.

UNCORKED: A 10-vintage vertical selection of magnums of Harlan Estate sold at Napa Valley Wine Auction for $700,000.

PHILOSOPHY: Quality, not quantity.

ACCOLADES: The Wine Advocate, 100 points (2003 Harlan Estate Proprietary Red).

TOURS: Closed to the public.

Winemaker dinners and tastings available for Mayacama members.

MEMBERS: William and Andrea Phelps LOCATION: St. Helena FOUNDED: 1972 VARIETALS: Cabernet Sauvignons, Insignia, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc THE ESTATE: One whiff of the Wisteria blossoms that cover the huge trellis, made from the timbers of a hundred-year old bridge, will convince even the most experienced wine country aficionado that Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a magical place. The ancient alchemy reflected in the tasting room’s Rhône-style wines, combined with a spectacular view of Spring Valley, St. Helena, and the Mayacamas Mountains that is reminiscent of the rolling hills of Provence, transport you to another time…another place.

HERITAGE: When he was elected chairman of the winery in 2005, Bill Phelps didn’t hesitate to fill the shoes of his well-respected father. Joseph was a ground-breaking pioneer, who had produced the first proprietary

label Bordeaux-style blend in California, resurrected the all-but-forgotten Syrah, and introduced a whole family of Rhône-style wines.

For the eight years prior to taking on his new role, Bill, an attorney by trade, had also contributed to the success of the business representing the Phelps family in the partnership between family and management.

Now, as chairman, he has developed and implemented long-term strategic plans for the winery and vineyard that stay true to his father’s vision.

UNCORKED: Wine Enthusiast named Joseph Phelps Vineyard “American Winery of the Year” for 2003.

PHILOSOPHY: Maintain, preserve and (where possible and appropriate) ecologically enhance the natural vineyard environment.

ACCOLADES: The Wine Advocate, 93-96 points (Insignia Proprietary Red Wine).

TOURS: By appointment only.

707.963.2745

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MEMBERS: John and Diane Livingston LOCATION: St. Helena FOUNDED: 1984 VARIETALS: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chardonnay THE ESTATE: Tucked in the Mayacamas Mountains on the western edge of the Rutherford Bench, Napa’s prized Cabernet growing district, sits Livingston-Moffett Winery. This is a place shaped not only by geology – the soil’s volcanic rock gives Livingston-Moffett’s wines a complex minerality and the nutrients held in by silt and clay particles enhance fruit flavors – but a geologist as well.

HERITAGE: That geologist is John Livingston, who along with his wife Diane, was lured to St. Helena by its lovely setting. Unlike many others who have arrived in the past 25 years, they didn’t expect to join the wine business – just raise a combined family of six children in a small-town setting. They hired a farming company to care for the vineyard on the land

they purchased, selling the grapes to various wineries.

Without even trying, notable wineries always pursued their grapes, which intrigued the Livingstons about the possibilities of winemaking. They took a leap of faith and launched a small family-operated winery.

Livingston-Moffett remains a true family operation. Sons Trent and Mark handle sales and winemaking. Diane manages the winery from her barn headquarters near the family home. With geology degrees from Yale and Rice universities, John focuses his love of the land on overseeing the vineyards.

UNCORKED: The site has a long winemaking heritage – it originally housed a winery that dates back to 1883.

PHILOSOPHY: Dedicated to personal relationships with its customers, while making the highest quality, limited production wines.

ACCOLADES: Wine Enthusiast, 94 points (2004 Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon).

TOURS: By appointment only.

707.963.2120

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MEMBERS: Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer LOCATION: St. Helena, Sonoma Coast FOUNDED: Marcassin Wine Co., 1990

Marcassin Vineyard, 1995 16

James Laube, Senior Editor of the Wine Spectator, Helen is “arguably California’s most talented winemaker.” In 2005, Robert Parker showcased Marcassin in his book The Worlds’ Greatest Wine Estates. Marcassin wines have consistently scored in the high 90’s for the last 15 years.

VARIETALS: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir THE VINEYARD: Located three miles from the Pacific on a ridge that rises 1,250 feet above sea level, this site possesses rare and outstanding conditions for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The original nine-acre vineyard was planted in 1991 on rootstocks with budwood from California vineyards with Burgundian selection.

Phase II (about 10 acres) was planted in 2002 and came into production in 2006. It represents all that John and Helen have learned in designing and developing vineyards over the last 25 years.

HERITAGE: Since its beginning, Marcassin has been recognized as an extraordinary producer – growing and making Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs equal to or better than the wines of the great Grand Cru of Burgundy. According to

UNCORKED: John and Helen believe the ideal size for a vineyard is big enough to produce 100 barrels – enough for 2,500 cases.

PHILOSOPHY: “Marcassin wines embody an aesthetic of ‘richness with finesse’ – richness from the vineyard and finesse from the winemaking. Verification and finishing must be gentle and on a scale that permits the wines to be precisely monitored and cared for.”

ACCOLADES: In his December 2008 Wine Advocate review, Robert Parker gave the 2005 Marcassin Vineyard Chardonnay 99 points and awarded 98 points for the 2004 Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir.

TOURS: Closed to the public.

Winemaker dinners and tastings available for Mayacama members, who also have mailing list priority.

MEMBERS: David and Emily Miner LOCATION: Oakville FOUNDED: 1998 VARIETALS: Pinot Noir, Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese and Rosato THE ESTATE: Follow the scenic Silverado Trail through Napa Valley to find this familyowned winery. The location has views of Napa’s famed vineyards on the valley floor and, at just the right time of day, the glowing hills beyond. While the wines produced here are informed by Napa, they are not limited by it. These varietals are sourced from a who’s who of California wine, from the Central Valley’s John Simpson to the Santa Lucia Highlands’ Garys – Franscioni and Pisoni.

HERITAGE: As the name suggests, family is a central ingredient in this Napa winery. It’s what brought David Miner to winemaking. He left a lucrative career in the software industry when his ailing uncle, Oracle Corporation co-founder Bob Miner, asked him to take over Oakville

Ranch Vineyards.

A year into David’s work, a young woman named Emily who had worked for a wine distributor in Minneapolis moved to Napa. She became an Oakville Ranch employee where she and David met. Soon after, Emily and David launched a label of their own. And about a year later, launched their family by becoming husband and wife.

Even the Miner label pays homage to David’s family. Tracing his ancestry back to Assyria, the artwork is based on an ancient relief. The image of the winged sun god illuminates mankind while providing energy and warmth to the vines.

UNCORKED: This family winery offers a seated private “Grand Cru” tasting with food and wine pairings in its caves.

PHILOSOPHY: Small lots from a single vineyard or appellation showcase each area’s microclimate.

ACCOLADES: Wine & Spirits Magazine, A Top 100 Winery of the Year, 2006.

TOURS: By appointment only.

800.366.9463

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REALM CELLARS MEMBERS: Wendell and Claire-Marie Laidley LOCATION: St. Helena

Mike Hirby. Laidley describes it like this, “Realm embodies this ever-changing, nothing-ispredetermined metaphor that we like. Follow the past and see where it takes you.”

FOUNDED: 2001 18

VARIETALS: Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends THE ESTATE: Working from the Château Boswell property in St. Helena, Realm Cellars handcrafts its superior wines from Bordeaux varietals. The grapes themselves are culled from some of the most renowned Napa Valley vineyards.

HERITAGE: In a sense, Realm traces its heritage back to France and England.

The French nature is evident in the Bordeaux-style wines themselves.

The English is embodied in the wine’s spirit – names were chosen with a nod to Shakespeare (The Tempest, The Bard), and each label bears his quote “This blessed plot, this Earth, this realm.” This Napa – that is where Realm Cellars was founded by San Franciscobased investment-portfolio manager Wendell Laidley, his wife ClaireMarie, Juan Mercado, and winemaker

UNCORKED: Realm’s 2005 vintage has been heralded by Wine Spectator as “some of the best wines of the year.” World-class quality wine meets world-class packaging with the release of “The Absurd.” Three unique labels were produced for this celebrated blend and applied by hand to each bottle giving new meaning to the term “hand-crafted.” Communication Arts magazine selected the artwork from renowned illustrator, Craig Frazier, for two of its five Annuals (impressive considering only 2% of the work entered from more than 40 countries is selected).

PHILOSOPHY: Producing handcrafted Bordeaux varietals in limited quantities from the finest fruit sources in Napa Valley.

ACCOLADES: The Wine Advocate, 94 points (The Tempest, Napa Valley Red Wine, 2005).

TOURS: By appointment only.

707.967.0226

MEMBERS: Leslie and Susan Rudd LOCATION: Oakville FOUNDED: 1996 VARIETALS: Bordeaux-style Proprietary Red, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay THE ESTATE: Some of the reddest, rockiest soils in California anchor the vines here at Rudd’s Oakville Estate Vineyard, located along the foothills of the Vaca Mountains on the eastern benchland of this worldrenowned appellation. This state-of-the-art winery, sits atop 23,000 square feet of subterranean caves.

HERITAGE: Born and raised in Kansas, Leslie Rudd was brought up in the wine trade. At an early age, he was introduced to some of the world’s greatest vintners and came to appreciate the wine industry. After college, he joined the family business and eventually became owner and CEO, co-founded the Lone Star Steakhouse chain, and acquired Dean & DeLuca – the upscale nationwide purveyor of specialty foods, housewares and California wines.

One of Rudd’s long-held goals was to create a small wine estate that would challenge the very best in Europe. In 1996, he bought 55 acres and set out to make his dream come true. The first wines from the Rudd Winery were released to critical praise in 2000. Today, Rudd Winery is a world-famous producer of Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends.

UNCORKED: The first Dean & DeLuca opened under Leslie’s leadership in Charlotte in June 2007. St. Helena and Kansas City followed in October and December.

PHILOSOPHY: “To produce wines of rare, artisanal quality. To honor past winemaking techniques while incorporating modern winemaking practices. To incorporate sustainable farming practices. To learn from, and adapt to, the challenges of each vintage. Finally, since winemaking is an art as well as a science, we wish to create the finest wines achievable from our unique, single-sourced vineyards.”

ACCOLADES: The Wine Advocate, 94 points (2004 Rudd Oakville Estate Proprietary Red).

TOURS: By appointment only.

707.944.8577

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MEMBERS: Ray and Sally Duncan LOCATION: Napa FOUNDED: 1972 20

VARIETALS: Cabernet Sauvignon THE ESTATE: Nestled in the vine-covered hillsides of northern Sonoma County sits Silver Oak’s elegant Geyserville estate. Season after season, loyal wine lovers return to sit and sip by the rustic stone fireplace or at the tasting bar designed to resemble the winery’s signature American oak barrels.

Through etched glass doors leading to the stone-lined wine library, rests an enormous barrel carved with the Silver Oak Cellar logo.

HERITAGE: When entrepreneur Raymond Twomey Duncan first visited the Napa Valley in the 1960’s, California’s wine business was more about the jugs than the juice. At the time, Ray didn’t simply see what was, he saw what could be. He turned his insight into action, buying land

throughout Napa and enlisting expert advice on tending his vineyards.

The expertise of future partner Justin Meyer came only on one condition – that they would create a winery that would “forever raise the standards of California wine.” Together they decided to focus on only one wine – Cabernet Sauvignon. As a team, they have created a wine that is deliciously drinkable upon release, yet worthy of cellaring for years.

UNCORKED: Based on input from 300 sommeliers from Zagat Surveys’ most popular restaurants, Wine & Spirits 19th Annual Restaurant Poll rated Silver Oak Cellars’ Cabernet Sauvignon the fifth most requested wine in American restaurants.

PHILOSOPHY: “Life is a Cabernet.

Great wine is meant to be savored with family and friends.”

ACCOLADES: The Wine Advocate, 94 points (1997 Silver Oaks Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon).

TOURS: By appointment only.

707.942.7026

MEMBERS: Angus and Margaret Wurtele LOCATION: St. Helena FOUNDED: 1999 VARIETAL: Cabernet Sauvignon THE ESTATE: High on Spring Mountain, Terra Valentine offers spectacular views across Napa Valley. Behind enormous copper-plated doors, the winery is housed in an American castle. Ancient winemaking images in stained glass grace almost every wall. The tasting room is lined with sumptuous oak paneling, originally built for a London wine merchant’s office and brought over piece by piece for Hearst Castle.

HERITAGE: Fred Aves, who made a fortune inventing car accessories like the automatic curb feeler, retired on Spring Mountain where he handsplit and set stones to construct the two-story winery. He set up shop as a winemaker and artist, yet kept the winery’s existence largely a secret.

After his death, the building fell into disrepair until retired Minnesota paint

magnate Angus Wurtele purchased the winery and renamed it Terra Valentine. “Terra”, Latin for land, acknowledges the importance of hillside soil in defining mountain wines. “Valentine” honors Angus’ father, Valentine Wurtele, who was a twin born on Valentine’s Day. While the mountain sites present challenges – including accessibility, diversity of soils, ripening, and hand labor – they reward the effort in wine filled with intense flavor and color.

UNCORKED: Terra Valentine employs sustainable vineyard practices including the use of goats in place of herbicides, organic compost as fertilizer, and abstaining from pesticides.

PHILOSOPHY: “I listen to the vineyard and use that as a starting point for everything that follows…”

ACCOLADES: Wine Enthusiast, 94 points (2005 Wurtele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon), and 93 points and ‘Cellar Selection’ (2005 Yverdon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon).

TOURS: By appointment only.

707.967.8340.

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MEMBERS: Tor and Susan Kenward LOCATION: St. Helena FOUNDED: 2001 22

VARIETALS: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Grenache THE ESTATE: From his large stone house overlooking the Napa Valley, Tor Kenward directs this small family-owned winery that specializes in limited-production, single vineyard-wines that exemplify Napa Valley’s most famous sub-appellations.

HERITAGE: Tor Kenward, with 27 years as a Beringer Vineyards senior executive, and his wife Susan, a James Beard-award-winning author of cooking and entertaining books, have a history deep in Napa Valley’s wine and food culture. So when he retired from Beringer, their only natural path was to start a winery.

Producing small quantities of wine, they could do it the way they always wanted to – buying grapes from top Napa vineyards, neither fining nor filtering the wines, and using only

naturally occurring yeasts.

As a long-time wine country resident, Tor learned the inside scoop on the best grape sources and counted many of the premier vineyard owners as close friends. Both owner and winemaker, he works with these noted growers, farming special vineyard sites acre by acre to achieve the best possible grapes regardless of cost.

UNCORKED: Tor works exclusively with small cooperage houses in France to ensure the winery uses the best barrels.

PHILOSOPHY: “If we harvest what we consider world-class grapes, our job as winemakers is to stay out of the way. That takes experience and patience, but can be very rewarding when it all comes together.” – Tor Kenward ACCOLADES: The Wine Advocate 96-100 points (2006 Tor Kenward Family Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon).

TOURS: Closed to the public.

Winemaker dinners and tastings available for Mayacama members.

MEMBERS: Wesley and Jessica Steffens LOCATION: St. Helena FOUNDED: 1999 VARIETALS: Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay THE ESTATE: The terraced slopes of Vineyard 7 & 8 reside high above the valley floor.

Growing above the morning fog line, the fruit of these vines bathes in sunlight three hours earlier than the grapes in the valley below. This microclimate and unique terroir explains why this area has grown grapes since the Civil War. HERITAGE: For Launny Steffens, former vice chairman of Merrill Lynch and founder of an investment management venture for the ultra-high net worth market, winemaking is a labor of love.

Despite his passion, the creation of Vineyard 7 & 8 was a result of what Launny calls “coincident experiences.” A casual query about investing

soon turned into an exhaustive search throughout Napa. Three years later, Launny and his wife, Weezie, found a site with exceptional grape-growing potential atop Spring Mountain – an amazing place for great Cabernet Sauvignon.

While Launny and Weezie visit periodically, their son and daughter-in-law Wesley and Jessica reside in Yountville, close to Vineyard 7 & 8. Wesley serves as Assistant Winemaker and oversees operations. This family venture has not only created a high-ranking Cabernet in a crowded market, it offers a richer, more foodfriendly flavor.

UNCORKED: Before joining the family business, Wesley was the cellar master at Harlan Estate.

PHILOSOPHY: “We strive to produce world-class wines that emphasize the life and passion of Vineyard 7 & 8.”

ACCOLADES: Wine News, 94 points (2005 “8” Chardonnay).

TOURS: By appointment only.

707.963.9425

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C h a pt e r

2 S o n o m a Va l l e y

This rolling patchwork of vineyards, also called The Valley of the Moon, marks the birthplace of the California wine industry. Unpredictable fog patterns create a diverse terroir and subsequently, a wide variety of grape types to produce some of the world’s finest wines.

MEMBERS: Michael and Mary Colhoun LOCATION: Sonoma FOUNDED: 1974 VARIETALS: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah THE ESTATE: Nestled in the Sugarloaf Ridge foothills, part of the Mayacamas Mountain Range, Landmark Vineyards epitomizes the gracious living and Old World charm that come to mind when someone says “Sonoma.” This 20-acre estate effortlessly blends California mission-style architecture with the location’s natural beauty amongst the lush mountains and vineyards.

HERITAGE: Many growers owe a debt of gratitude to John Deere’s invention, the steel plow, perhaps none more so than the stewards of Landmark Vineyards. Almost 150 years after his revolutionary invention, John Deer’s great great granddaughter, Damaris Deere Ford, followed the family tradition in agriculture and founded Landmark Vineyards.

Damaris convinced her son, Michael Deere Colhoun and his wife

Mary to move from the East Coast and join her as partners in the winery. Under Michael’s direction, and with Mary’s help guiding public relations, Landmark has catapulted from a littleknown winery to world-class prominence.

But Landmark’s owners never forgot their heritage. Landmark was the name of a family home. The Grand Detour Pinot Noir is named for the Illinois location of John Deere’s blacksmithing shop. And with a nod to the beginning of it all, the Syrah is aptly named “Steel Plow.”

UNCORKED: The estate’s lovely picnic area features a bocce ball court. On Saturdays in the summer, the winery offers horse-drawn wagon rides through the vineyard.

PHILOSOPHY: To make great wines that enhance the joy of life.

ACCOLADES: Its signature wine, the Overlook Chardonnay, has appeared on The Wine Spectator Top 100 list six times since 1997.

TOURS: By appointment only.

707.833.0053

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MEMBERS: John and Janice Bostock LOCATION: Sonoma FOUNDED: 1976 VARIETALS: Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Sirah, Carignane and Cabernet Franc THE ESTATE: When you visit Ravenswood, you can’t help but notice the final resting place of a bottle of White Zinfandel. The tombstone reads, “To err is human but to Zin is D’vine. Here lies the last Wimpy wine. RIP.” The entrance of the cellar also warns, “No Wimpy Wines Allowed.”

Despite the prominent irreverence, Ravenswood is the home of serious winemaking.

HERITAGE: Ravenswood Winery was born out of a passion for wine that was planted in its founder at age nine, when he first participated in his father’s wine tasting club. From its very inception, Ravenswood aimed to produce wines that rivaled the best in Europe. And so they did from the very first vintage in 1976, which

won first place in a prestigious San Francisco tasting.

Over time, a cult following and critical acclaim wasn’t enough. Based on founder Joel Peterson’s conviction to make good wine available to all, which he visualized as “a lake of wine an inch deep,” Ravenswood also became known as “the people’s premium winery.”

UNCORKED: In 1999, Ravenswood made history as the first company to sell its IPO shares via Dutch auction over the Internet – blazing the trail for how some tech-savvy companies like Google conducted their IPOs. PHILOSOPHY: As the sign says – “No Wimpy Wines.” Ravenswood continues to set a stubborn standard for complex, balanced, uncompromising wine that captures everything a vineyard has to offer (and, we might add, nothing more).

ACCOLADES: Wine Enthusiast, 93 points (2002 Ravenswood Dickerson Zinfandel).

TOURS: Open daily 10-4.

707.933.2332

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C h a pt e r

3 R u s s i a n R i v e r Va l l e y

This beautiful area is named after the river that once flowed south but now heads west.

The confluence of uplifted bedrock, which has eroded, and deposits of volcanic ash on the nearby shallow ocean bottom creates a sandstone with a layer of loamy soil.

This valley’s fog-cooled climate produces some of the more challenging yet expressive varietals such as Pinot Noir.

MEMBERS: Kerry and Margie Murphy LOCATION: Russian River Valley FOUNDED: 1996 32

VARIETALS: Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay and Viognier THE ESTATE: The 25 acres of the DuMol Vineyard grow on the east-facing slope of one of the Russian River Valley’s most famous rocky ridge lines. Here, the warm sky of sunny days lingers into the dusk as the hillside creates one last hurdle for the evening’s marine-cooled air.

HERITAGE: Since 1987, when he sold his family’s tire business to Goodyear, Kerry Murphy has collected the wines of Burgundy. On a fateful day in 1990 he ate in the Walnut Creek restaurant of his future co-founder, Michael Verlander. That day, the seed was sown to transform Kerry from wine hobbyist to wine-making entrepreneur, whose fine Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays have graced

the tables of the White House and the U.S. Embassy in Paris. Although the wines have been outstanding from the beginning, only in the past few years have the final pieces of the DuMol puzzle fallen into place. The 2007 harvest was the first from its estate vineyards and this summer the state-of-the-art, 19,600square-foot pure production winemaking facility was completed.

UNCORKED: The new DuMol winery, completed just in time for the 2008 harvest, is the first green building in Windsor Township.

PHILOSOPHY: Fully express the aromas, flavors and textures of the unique and compelling vineyard sites that we are so fortunate to work with.

ACCOLADES: Wine Spectator 95 points (2005 Sonoma County Chardonnay, Green Valley, Isobel).

TOURS: Closed to the public.

Winemaker dinners and tastings available for Mayacama members.

MEMBERS: Lynn and Mara Fritz LOCATION: Sebastopol FOUNDED: 1990 VARIETALS: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay THE ESTATE: Just west of Laguna de Santa Rosa’s forest and freshwater marsh, Lynmar’s 47 acres of vines rise like green waves flowing across rolling hills. After the morning’s coastal fog has dispersed, visitors who venture beyond the gardens and up into the fields, are greeted by live music drifting upward from the hospitality center’s sunny deck.

HERITAGE: Long before Fast Company magazine recognized him in its “Fast 50.” Before he founded the Fritz Institute to deliver humanitarian aid to disaster victims. Even before he sold his global logistics business to UPS… Lynn and Mara Fritz purchased Quail Hill Vineyard.

Entrusted with some of the Russian River Valley’s oldest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines, they lovingly tended their land. For a decade they sold their prized grapes to some of the Valley’s top Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers.

Lynn and Mara waited ten years before founding Lynmar. Now along with their worldclass team, they are still devoted to the vines and the land. The vineyard team farms vine by vine – pruning, hoeing, and harvesting by hand to produce fruit with the perfect balance.

In contrast to manual labor in the fields, Lynmar’s wine is processed by modern winemaking equipment and stored in barrelaging caves based on the latest research.

UNCORKED: Pianist, composer, and conductor Nolan Gasser offers infinite musical possibilities to enhance the wine experience – from suggesting the perfect pairing of music and wine to composing a song inspired by a Lynn Fritz poem that celebrates the Russian River Valley and the Pinot grape.

PHILOSOPHY: Diligence and balance, in every aspect of the winemaking process, are the keys to making world-class wine.

ACCOLADES: Wine & Spirits, 94 points (2005 Pinot Noir, Quail Hill Vineyard).

TOURS: Daily from 10-5.

707.829.3374

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MEMBERS: Jess Jackson and Barbara Bonke LOCATION: Santa Rosa FOUNDED: 1982 34

VARIETALS: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Muscat Canelli, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Meritage THE ESTATE: Breathtaking, beautiful and productive, Kendall-Jackson’s estate vineyards comprise 12,000 acres of hillsides and mountaintops throughout the Mayacamas Range – from southern Sonoma County to Lake County, from Mount Veeder to Sonoma Mountain to the hills surrounding Alexander Valley.

The Kendall-Jackson Wine Center is a wine and food experience not to be missed. Set amid 120 acres of gardens and vines, guests are welcomed at a beautiful château for a variety of tasting, food pairing and tour offerings.

HERITAGE: Jackson was raised in San Francisco and graduated from UC Berkeley’s Boalt Law School before working as a land-use

attorney. It wasn’t until 1974 that he entered the wine industry. Seeking to escape the big-city rat race, Jess and his family bought an 80-acre pear and walnut orchard in Lakeport, California.

After converting the orchard to a vineyard, Jess began selling his grapes to local wineries. In 1982, he produced his first bottle of wine under the Kendall-Jackson label.

While Jess Jackson is now one of the most well-known vintners in the world, there is still much that many don’t know. Jess and his family still run the day-to-day business of the winery, overseeing the process from the very first step. He’s also been a major success in thoroughbred horse racing.

UNCORKED: More than 175 varieties of heirloom tomatoes grow in KendallJackson’s organic gardens.

PHILOSOPHY: Create extraordinary wine from vineyards grown on mountains, ridges, hillsides and benchlands.

ACCOLADES: Wine Enthusiast Lifetime Achievement Award (Jess Jackson).

TOURS: 10-5 daily. 866.287.9818

MEMBERS: Stephen and Cassie Kistler LOCATION: Sebastopol FOUNDED: 1978 VARIETALS: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon THE ESTATE: Early in the morning at Kistler’s Vine Hill Vineyard in the cool Russian River Valley, the sun paints the hillside an orangered as another day of perfect exposure nourishes the fruit. In this peaceful setting thrive some of the finest grapes in all of wine country.

HERITAGE: It was 1978 when Stephen Kistler and his brother John bought 40 acres of remote land in the hills above Glen Ellen – not far from the location of Jack London’s Beauty Ranch. Their debut ’79 Chardonnay garnered rave reviews.

Later, when John left the business, Mark Bixler, a chemist with degrees from M.I.T. and U.C. Berkeley, came in as winemaker

and partner. Stephen knew what he was doing when he partnered with Mark. Together Bixler and Kistler launched the winery to new heights.

Noted wine critic Robert Parker gave the ’87 estate bottling a 95, a mark he didn’t give again in that category until Kistler 1990 came out. In 2006, Robert Parker wrote about Kistler, “It is wines like these that keep an old critic like me inspired and energized.” A limited number of Kistler wines are released each year.

UNCORKED: The Chardonnay vines planted in the original Kistler vineyard descend directly from cuttings that were brought from Burgundy to California.

PHILOSOPHY: Kistler strives to balance early drinkability and longevity.

ACCOLADES: Robert Parker’s “2005 Vintage Review”, 96-100 points (Cuvée Cathleen Chardonnay).

TOURS: Closed to the public. Limited access for Mayacama members.

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C h a pt e r

4 A l e x a n d e r Va l l e y

This once untamed valley is now home to over 15,000 acres of intensely flavored grapes. Rich, herbal Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc grow best in the loamy soil along the banks of the winding Russian River. Sturdy Cabernet and Merlot thrive in the warm, dry soil which covers the rocky, volcanic hillsides.

E S T A T E

MEMBERS: Tom and Sandra Jordan LOCATION: Healdsburg FOUNDED: 1976 VARIETALS: Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay THE ESTATE: Graced with formal French gardens and panoramic views of Geyser Peak and Mount St. Helena, Jordan Winery is located on 1,600 acres in the Alexander Valley. The winery itself, built on an oak-studded knoll, recalls the style of an 18th-century French châteaux. Nearby, in an informal preserve, deer, wild turkey, coyotes, waterfowl, and other wildlife share this bucolic estate.

HERITAGE: When successful geologist and wine connoisseur Tom Jordan first came to Northern California in the early 1970s, he was quick to appreciate the Alexander Valley’s potential for a premium vineyard and winery. In 1972, Jordan acquired 275 acres of prune orchards plus 1,300 acres of rolling oak woodlands as a site for the future winery and wildlife preserve.

Tom Jordan always believed that wine making should be a logical conclusion to the all-important work done in the vineyards where art and nature become one. His instincts proved right. Jordan’s classically styled wines have gained an international reputation for excellence.

UNCORKED: Twenty-six acres of the estate are dedicated to olive trees. Using a stone mill and three-phase centrifuge separator, Jordan presses the olives and sells its acclaimed extra virgin olive oil.

PHILOSOPHY: “In the early 70’s, fine wine in California was in its infancy. The natural place to look for a model wine estate was in Europe. Our primary goal was to produce memorable wines, but secondarily to emulate the European tradition of doing so in beautiful surroundings.”

ACCOLADES: 18th Annual Restaurant Poll, Wine & Spirits, “Jordan wines rated top seller in America’s favorite fine restaurants.”

TOURS: By appointment only.

800.654.1213

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MEMBERS: Ted and Nicole Simpkins LOCATION: Healdsburg FOUNDED: 1995 40

VARIETALS: Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc THE ESTATE: Tucked amongst the rolling hills of Alexander Valley, near the confluence of the Knights Valley and Chalk Hill appellations, you’ll find the breathtaking Lancaster estate. Designed by Eugene Silva, an architect known for organically blending his creations into the landscape, the winery blends into the natural beauty of its magnificent surroundings and abundant hillsides.

HERITAGE: After a remarkable 30year career in the wine and liquor distribution business, Ted knew a thing or two about selling wine. In 1995, he tried his hand at making wine when he bought the former Maacama Creek Winery and its vineyard.

Here, Ted and his wife Nicole created a true family winery. Ted lent the estate his family name – Lancaster. The vineyard blocks that grow various Bordeaux varietals are named for family members, both human and canine.

Nicole Simpkins has the final say on what goes into her namesake blend – a thoughtful selection of the best lots the winery produces.

UNCORKED: As a sustainable farming technique, Lancaster Estate uses raptors to eliminate vine pests.

PHILOSOPHY: “When I first walked this property, I knew it was a special place.

It wasn’t just the beauty that spoke to me – it was the soil, the climate, and the south-eastern facing hillsides. That day I committed to making wines that reflected the essence of this place.” – Ted Simpkins ACCOLADES: Wine Enthusiast 95 points (2005 Cabernet Sauvignon).

TOURS: By appointment only.

707.433.8178

MEMBERS: Roger and Carmen Stuhlmuller LOCATION: Healdsburg FOUNDED: 1982 VARIETALS: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel THE ESTATE: Tucked in the cool southwestern corner of Alexander Valley, Stuhlmuller’s 150 acres encompass prized river benchlands and rocky hillside soils at the convergence of three of northern Sonoma’s top appellations. On summer mornings, fog rolls in through the Chalk Hill gap. Soon afternoon temperatures rise and the fog burns off. As the day progresses, Pacific breezes enter the gap and the vines cool off once again. This ideal microclimate combined with the location’s varied terroir allows for the growing of three exceptional, complex varietals.

HERITAGE: From the fertile soils along the Russian River, Roger and Carmen Stuhlmuller not only coaxed some of California’s finest grapes, they grew a true winemaker

as well. Working amongst the vines, their son.

Fritz, gained an early appreciation for the hands-on commitment required to produce superior wine grapes.

Years later Fritz began exploring California wines. He was impressed with the complex, expressive, terroir-driven varietals being made from Stulhmuller’s fruit. This led Fritz to establish a small, artisan winery bearing the family name. As a result of his efforts, the Stuhlmullers are not only known as world-class grape growers today, but as proprietors of a respected, vineyard-driven winery as well.

UNCORKED: The Stuhlmuller property dates to the 1800s, when it was part of the ranch owned by Cyrus Alexander – for whom the Alexander Valley is named.

PHILOSOPHY: Great vineyards that yield distinctive fruit will, ultimately, produce distinctive wines.

ACCOLADES: Wine Enthusiast 92 points (2005 Chardonnay).

TOURS: By appointment only.

707.431.7745

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MEMBERS: Christopher and Kristine Williams LOCATION: Cloverdale FOUNDED: 1994 42

VARIETALS: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Rosé and Shiraz THE ESTATE: Just south of the town of Cloverdale, amongst northern Sonoma County’s scenic countryside, lies the 56acre vineyard and winery known as Wattle Creek. What you see from the road is what goes into the wine. With a total of nearly 200 acres under vine, Wattle Creek is almost entirely estate grown.

HERITAGE: Originally from Australia, Christopher and Kristine Williams had always sought to find a place to grow grapes that reminded them of the warm Barossa Valley, legendary for its rich Shiraz. When a rare opportunity to purchase an Alexander Valley vineyard presented itself in 1994, they hopped on the first plane from Arizona and found the perfect union of climate, soil, and geography.

The Williams dubbed this place “Wattle Creek,” for their homeland’s Wattle tree – its distinctive yellow blossoms grace the label of every bottle produced here. Beyond label and moniker, Wattle Creek’s very essence and style comes from Down Under. The Williams and their Australian-born winemaker, Michael Scholz, produce Aussie favorites like the sparkling red Methode Champenoise.

UNCORKED: Wattle Creek brings Sonoma County to the city with a tasting room in San Francisco’s historic Ghirardelli Square.

PHILOSOPHY: Focus on estate grown wines to give the winemaker ultimate control over the quality and consistency.

Wattle Creek decides at harvest if the quality of a particular varietal is up to its standards. If not, the grapes don’t get anywhere near a Wattle Creek bottle.

ACCOLADES: Wine Enthusiast, 90 points (2006 Mendocino Sauvignon Blanc).

TOURS: By appointment only.

707.894.5166

MEMBERS: Dick and Erleen Ludwig LOCATION: Healdsburg FOUNDED: 1981 VARIETALS: Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel THE ESTATE: White Oak Winery adds a touch of the Mediterranean to the alreadybeautiful Alexander Valley. Seventeen acres of Zinfandel vines, some of which date back to the 1920s and ‘30s, surround the Tuscan-inspired structure and landscaping. Inside the spacious tasting room, the gracious and knowledgeable staff not only fulfills your vinous needs, it anticipates them.

HERITAGE: In the 1970s, White Oak founder Bill Meyer left his life as an Alaskan contractor and fisherman.

He found his way to Healdsburg, a quaint town whose chamber of commerce describes it as “the belle of the trendy wine country ball who prefers to be out in the vineyards sampling Zinfandel on the vine.” White Oak Winery began

with a single vineyard, a tiny tasting room, and a winemaking facility located right off the Healdsburg town square.

Since those early days, White Oak comprises over 750 acres spread throughout Alexander, Napa and the Russian River Valleys.

Starting in 1991 with the ‘Sonoma County Harvest Fair Sweepstakes Award’ for its 1990 Sonoma County Chardonnay, White Oak wines continue to win local and international acclaim.

UNCORKED: In October 2009, Dick and Erleen, along with White Oak cofounder, Bill Meyer, will host a 12-day Mediterranean tour on Oceania Cruises’ Regatta.

PHILOSOPHY: Instead of advertising, White Oak Winery creates lasting relationships with visitors by taking a sincere interest in guests, finding out their favorite wines, and welcoming their children and pets with toys and biscuits.

ACCOLADES: San Francisco International Wine Competition, Double Gold Medal Winner (2004 Alexander Valley Reserve).

TOURS: Daily 9-5. 707.433.8429

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C h a pt e r

5 D r y C r e e k Va l l e y

The uplifting and folding of Pacific tectonic plates created a soil rich in old marine materials yet varied from erosion and the movement of the creek bed.

This variability combined with the long, warm days and foggy, cool nights instills a spirit of experimentation and discovery, leading to a wide array of rich and full-bodied varietals.

Armida W I N E R Y

MEMBER: Bruce Cousins LOCATION: Healdsburg FOUNDED: 1989

VARIETALS: Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay THE ESTATE: Armida Winery bills itself as having the finest minds ever to gather in a geodesic dome for the purpose of making wine. While the tasting room dome certainly makes a statement, you’ll also be struck by the views from this sublime location perched on a steep ridge above the Russian River.

HERITAGE: Growing up in San Francisco, Bob Frugoli spent entire summers with his Italian grandparents in Healdsburg. There he relished his grandmother Armida’s opulent meals with family and friends while sipping his grandfather’s homemade wine. These rich, loving memories led him to launch Armida Winery. After a four-year labor of love, Bob sold majority interest to wine industry veterans Bruce and Steve Cousins.

Today, Bruce oversees daily operations while his brother, Steve, handles sales and marketing. Since assuming ownership, the Cousins have not only produced award-winning wines (including the flagship Reserve PoiZin, a full-bodied Zinfandel described as a “wine to die for”), they have even won awards for their tasting room.

UNCORKED: Armida has sweeping views of Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys. A large deck provides seating for 60 and there is a professional size bocce ball court.

PHILOSOPHY: To understand Armida Winery, you have to understand the geodesic dome, which Buckminster Fuller described “…uses the doing more with less principle in that it encloses the largest volume of interior space with the least amount of surface area.”

Armida has taken this philosophy to heart, utilizing a handful of people to make 10,000 cases of incredible wine.

ACCOLADES: “Best of Show”, 2008 LA Wine & Spirits Competition, (Armida Winery Zinfandel, Maple Vineyards).

TOURS: 11-5 daily by appointment.

707.433.2222

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MEMBERS: Don and Rhonda Carano LOCATION: Healdsburg FOUNDED: 1981 48

VARIETALS: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Siena (Sangiovese blend), Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tresor (Bordeaux-style blend), PreVail West Face, and Black Forty (Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah blend) THE ESTATE: Nestled in picturesque Dry Creek Valley, visitors may stroll acres of lush gardens, take in spectacular panoramic vineyard views, taste classic wines in the Villa Fiore Wine Shop, or head downstairs to the Enoteca tasting bar in the cellar to sample reserve and limited release wines. Ferrari-Carano owns over 1,500 acres of vineyards in five appellations, the end result being spectacular wines such as the Russian River Valley Vineyard Select Chardonnays and PreVail Back Forty and West Face from Ferrari-Carano’s mountain vineyards.

HERITAGE: Before becoming a winemaker, Don was busy building a hotel and casino dynasty in Reno, where he met Rhonda.

Soon after they married, they bought two vineyards. But it wasn’t until after a trip to France and Italy that they became passionate about studying wine making. As their knowledge grew, they acquired more Sonoma land. Using their shared business acumen, they developed Ferrari-Carano into a world-renowned winery.

UNCORKED: Ferrari-Carano wines were served at 12 White House meals. Ronald Reagan served it twice, the elder George Bush seven times, and Bill Clinton three.

PHILOSOPHY: “We believe that giving back to the environment balances out the ecosystem and enhances the quality of our fruit.”

– Steve Domenichelli, Vineyard Director ACCOLADES: The Wine Advocate, 91-93 points (2004 PreVail Back Forty and PreVail West Face); 90 points (2005 PreVail West Face); Wine Enthusiast, 92 points (2005 Ferrari-Carano Zinfandel); Wine Spectator, 90 points (2005 PreVail Back Forty).

TOURS: Tours and private tastings by appointment. 707.433.6700

MEMBERS: Clay and Natalia Fritz LOCATION: Cloverdale FOUNDED: 1979 50

VARIETALS: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and old-vine Zinfandel THE ESTATE: Tucked away deep in Dry Creek Valley, nestled high upon a picturesque hillside with well-drained soils and advantageous south and east exposures, Fritz has been producing handcrafted fine wines from its subterranean winery for two decades.

HERITAGE: After spending weekends away from San Francisco at their Sonoma retreat for many years, Jay and Barbara Fritz were inspired by the area’s small but vibrant wine industry and the vineyards growing on their property.

In 1979, the family decided to take the plunge into winemaking and Fritz Winery was born. They built their wine business in a deliberate fashion, hand-selling their wines to a cadre of fine shops and restaurants

that became loyal customers.

Today, under the leadership of their son Clay Fritz, the winery is one of California’s most acclaimed. Clay is redesigning and replanting the family’s prized estate vineyard to produce a new ultra-premium line of Fritz estate wines.

UNCORKED: In 1979, with an eye on the looming energy crisis and concern for gentle handling of his wines, Jay Fritz built an innovative three-tier, gravity-flow facility into the hillside.

PHILOSOPHY: Approach winemaking as an art form. Art, in its truest sense, inspires a shift in consciousness. Fritz Winery’s mission is to create wines of genuine artistry that have the potential to change how people think of Sonoma County’s premier appellations.

ACCOLADES: Wine Enthusiast, 90 points (2006 Mendocino Sauvignon Blanc).

TOURS: M-F 10:30 to 4:30, weekend by appointment only.

707.894.3389

MEMBERS: Matt and Kathleen Gallo LOCATION: Dry Creek Valley FOUNDED: 2006 VARIETALS: Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Zinfandel THE ESTATE: With seven premium vineyards under cultivation and a world-class winery in Dry Creek Valley, Gallo Family Vineyards allows aficionados to experience California winemaking firsthand. Wine lovers are invited to “walk the land, touch the vines, and taste the wines” at the Gallo family’s breathtaking Barrelli Creek Vineyard in Alexander Valley. These tours change with the seasons and cycle of life on the vineyard. Guests are also welcomed at the tasting room in charming Healdsburg.

HERITAGE: The first thing you might notice about Gina and Matt is their last name.

The sister and

brother team are members of the first family of American wine – Julio Gallo is their grandfather.

For the family’s third generation of winemaking, Gina and Matt focus on limited production vineyard-designated wines and top-of-the line estate wines. Many of the vineyards Matt looks after today were planted by his grandfather.

UNCORKED: Julio Gallo instituted a policy of setting aside one acre of property to be used as wildlife habitat for every acre planted to vineyard. Today Matt continues this vision.

Half of the 6,000-acre-property is dedicated to natural habitat.

PHILOSOPHY: “Our guiding principle remains the same as it was for our grandparents – make each vintage better than the last.”

ACCOLADES: Gold and Best of Class, 2006 San Francisco Wine Competition (Gallo Family Vineyards, Sonoma Reserve, Pinot Noir 2004).

TOURS: By appointment only.

707.433.2458

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V I N T N E R S

B Y

A L P H A B E T I C A L

Araujo Estate Wines www.araujoestatewines.com.................................... 8 Armida www.armida.com.................................................... 47 Azalea Springs www.azaleasprings.com.......................................... 9 Cakebread Cellars www.cakebread.com.............................................. 10 DuMol www.dumol.com..................................................... 32 Failla Wines www.faillawines.com...............................................11 Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery www.ferrari-carano.com......................................... 48 Fritz Underground Winery www.fritzwinery.com............................................... 50

O R D E R

Realm Cellars www.realmcellars.com........................................... 18 Rudd Vineyards & Winery www.ruddwines.com.............................................. 19 Silver Oak Cellars www.silveroak.com................................................ 20 Stuhlmuller Vineyards www.stuhlmullervineyards.com.............................. 41 Terra Valentine www.terravalentine.com......................................... 21 Tor Kenward Family Wines www.torwines.com................................................. 22 Vineyard 7 & 8 www.vineyard7and8.com....................................... 23

Gallo Family Vineyard www.gallosonoma.com.......................................... 51

Wattle Creek Winery www.wattlecreek.com............................................ 42 White Oak Vineyards & Winery www.whiteoakwinery.com...................................... 43

Harlan Estate www.harlanestate.com........................................... 12

WINE VARIETAL BY PAGE NUMBERS:

Joseph Phelps Vineyards www.jpvwines.com................................................. 13 Jordan Estate www.jordanwinery.com........................................... 39 Kendall-Jackson Winery www.kj.com............................................................ 34 Kistler Vineyards www.kistlervineyards.com...................................... 35 Lancaster Estate www.lancaster-estate.com..................................... 40 Landmark Vineyards www.landmarkwine.com........................................ 27 Livingston-Moffett Family Winery www.livingston-wines.com..................................... 15 Lynmar Estate www.lynmarwinery.com.......................................... 33 Marcassin Vineyard ............................................................................... 16 Miner Family Vineyards www.minerwines.com............................................ 17 Ravenswood Winery www.ravenswood-wine.com................................... 29

Barbera: 51 Bordeaux-Style Blend: 18, 19, 48 Cabernet Franc: 12, 29 Cabernet Sauvignon: 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 29, 34, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 47, 48, 50, 51 Carignane: 29 Chardonnay: 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 19, 22, 23, 27, 32, 33, 34, 35, 39, 41, 42, 43, 47, 48, 51 Grenache: 22 Meritage: 34 Merlot: 9, 12, 17, 29, 34, 43, 48, 51 Muscat Canelli: 34 Petit Sirah: 29 Petit Verdot: 12 Pinot Gris: 51 Pinot Noir: 10, 11, 16, 17, 27, 32, 33, 34, 35, 42, 47, 51 Riesling: 34 Rosato: 17 RosĂŠ: 42 Rubaiyat: 10 Sangiosvese: 17, 48 Sauvignon Blanc: 8, 10, 13, 19, 34, 40, 42, 43, 47, 48, 50 Shiraz: 42 Syrah: 8, 11, 15, 17, 22, 27, 32, 34, 43, 48, 51 Viognier 8, 11, 32 Zinfandel: 17, 29, 34, 41, 43, 47, 48, 50, 51

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