Wineries
NORTH BAY BOH E MI A N | OCTO BE R 1 6 – 22, 20 1 3 | BO H E M I AN.COM
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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 CO U N TY
Healdsburg. By appointment only, Monday–Saturday (opening in the Barlow Center, late 2013). Tasting fee, $10. 707.433.4780.
Georges de Latour Cab back to 1970. 1960 St. Helena Hwy., Rutherford. Daily, 10am–5pm. Tastings $15–$20; Reserve Room, $35. 707.967.5233.
Buena Vista “Our future
River Road Vineyards
Cuvaison Estate Wines
is our past” is the motto at this historic, remodeled and reinvigorated winery, founded 1857. Watch for character actors, taste Buena Vista Vinicultural Society favorites Zinfandel, sparkling wine and cream sherry—and look out for the crocodile. 18000 Old Winery Road, Sonoma. Daily, 10am–5pm. Tasting fee $10, Saturday tour $20. 800.926.1266.
Russian River Pinot for $18 at no-nonsense, solid producer. 5220 Ross Road, Sebastopol. By appointment only, Monday–Friday. 707.887.8130.
(WC) Producing some 65 percent of its product as Chardonnay, Cuvaison has a 22,000-square-foot cave. 4550 Silverado Trail N., Napa. By appointment. 707.942.6266.
Forchini Winery Handsome Italianate tasting room, proudly stocked with gold medal-bearing bottles and tributes to winery dogs past and present, a cozy space where conversation strikes up easily among visitors. Papa Nonno TuscanStyle Red. 5141 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. Friday–Sunday, 11am–4:30pm. Tasting fee, $10. 707.431.8886.
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Graton Ridge Cellars Formerly an apple shed beloved by regular customers who drove up to get juice and apples, this tasting room is clean and contemporary, with a bit of wine country art on the walls, and an apple dessert wine. The apples are not gone after all. 3561 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol. Daily, 10am– 4:30pm. $10. 707.823.3040.
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409 4 0 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa os a 707.579.5999 70 7.579.5999 ccross ros s sstreet t re et 5th 5t h
Karah Estate Vineyards Like a riddle 3883 Airway Drive Ste 145, Santa Rosa 707.528.3095 www.chloesco.com M–F, 8am–5pm
angez Bien! Quiche Lorraine Squares Mini Croque Monsieurs Mini Savory Croissant Tray Pissaladiere Crotini Full Catering Menu Available
bottled up in a mystery, it’s all but hidden in plain sight above the 101 freeway’s Cotati Grade. Impressive view; mixed bag of low-alcohol, low-priced Pinots from quirky winery. 1010 W. Railroad Ave., Cotati. Friday– Sunday 11am–5pm. $5 fee. 707.795-3030.
MacPhail Family Wines Anderson Valley vineyards were something of a new frontier when James MacPhail set out. Now partnered with Hess Collection, MacPhail makes Pinot to reminisce about with each sip. 851 Magnolia Drive,
Spann Vineyards Ninety percent of Spann wines are distributed out of state, leaving a little aside for this off-thePlaza tasting room. Malbec, Mourvedre and Mayacamas Cab; the take-home bargain is a $20 blend. Photography gallery adds visual interest. 111 E. Napa St., Sonoma. Open daily, noon–6pm. Tasting fee. 707.933.8343.
Vinoteca Vinify Wine Services is like a Russian doll of wineries within wineries making brands for still more clients. It’s in a generic industrial-park location, but with unique, single-vineyard wines from Frostwatch, Baker Lane, Bjornstad, Super Sonoman and others. 3358 Coffey Lane, Ste. C, Santa Rosa. Friday– Sunday 11am–5pm. $10 fee. 707.542.3292.
Wilson Winery Scenic setting and rustic-modern tasting room makes for an atmospheric, recommended visit. Single-vineyard Zinfandels, Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Petite Sirah win awards for good reason— namely, even curmudgeons take one sip and turn into believers. 1960 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg. Open daily, 11am to 5pm. Tastings are $5; $10 for reserves. 707.433.4355.
N A PA CO U N TY Beaulieu Vineyard History in a glassful of dust– Rutherford dust. Somethingfor-everyone smorgasbord of solid varietal wines, plus library selections of flagship
Frenchie Winery Every winery has a story: this one goes “bow wow wow.” It’s really just a bulldog-themed shed set amid Raymond Vineyard’s biodynamic gardens. While dogs snooze inside their own private wine barrels, or cavort with others in the gated kennel, their humans can keep an eye on them via video link. 849 Zinfandel Lane, St. Helena. Daily, 10am–4pm. Tasting fees vary. 707.963.3141.
Jericho Canyon Vineyard Oh boy, boutique Napa Cab from celebrity consultant Michel Rolland and high-rollers who used to spend half the year in Hawaii? Well, yeah, but they’re super nice, work hard, and their wines are tops. Cab and Sauv Blanc. 3322 Old Lawley Toll Road, Calistoga. Tour and tasting by appointment only, $30. 707.942.9665.
Monticello Vineyards Thomas Jefferson had no success growing wine grapes; happily, the Corley family has made a go of it. Although winetasting is not conducted in the handsome reproduction building itself, there’s a shaded picnic area adjacent. 4242 Big Ranch Rd., Napa. Open daily, 10am–4:30pm. $15. 707.253.2802, ext. 18.
Robert Biale Vineyards Was it the high scores that attracted the horde, or the excellence of the wine? It’s a chicken-and-egg type of question, but “Black Chicken” is neither chicken nor egg; it’s a bottle of Zinfandel. 4038 Big Ranch Road, Napa. By appointment daily, 10am– 4pm. Tasting fees $20–$35. 707.257.7555.