A classy place to taste the bubbly, sample super-gourmet treats, take a tour, or join a class, J specializes in sparkling wine and has a dazzling showroom for visitors. Check out the gardens, drink in the view, and be ready for plenty of tiny bubbles.
Following a lifelong fascination for food and wine, James and Rosalind Manoogian established Fog Crest Vineyard in 1998 in the Russian River Valley area of Sonoma County, California. As a restaurateur in San Francisco, James had had close proximity to the great wine-growing regions surrounding the city, and it allowed he and his wife to become knowledgeable about wine, how it accompanied fine dining, and where each varietal excelled locally. Today, Fog Crest Vineyard produces less than 2,500 cases annually of limited production, vineyard-designate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that show off the classic terrior of this small Russian River Valley vineyard.
The Hobo Wine Company is the brainchild, side job, menace to the wine industry, hedged bet, cash strain, mental anguish, late night musing, bruised hands, dirty t-shirts, and constant companion of Kenny Likitprakong. Despite knowing better, he started his own label in 2002 with the simple idea to have some good fun.
Family Vineyards is a winery located in Napa, California. The winery is owned by Jim and Diane Fore. The wine at Fore Family Vineyards is produced by Peter Franus, Alison Doran.
The Wine
Fore Family Vineyards produces the following wine varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Late Harvest, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.
In 1997 began the pursuit of a dream; it started with 75 acres on Jack Creek Road in Templeton, CA. Before the first vine was planted Jack Creek Cellars made the commitment to farm the finest fruit possible, even if it meant a longer period of time before the vineyard became financially viable. The first priority with the fruit produced from the vineyard has always been excellence, believing strongly that without remarkable fruit you cannot make a world-class wine.
Castle Rock Winery buys grapes from approximately 40 grape growers, all renowned for their expertise and consistency. In each case, vineyard practices are carried out under the guidance and instruction of Castle Rock Team, all to ensure that quality standards are maintained from start to finish.
Hours:
Not Open to Public
All work is done by hand - from planting to camopy work to harvest. Mark and Gary Pisoni farming and winemaking are deep rooted in Burgundian traditions.
A small family-owned vineyard in the Russian River Valley appellation (AVA). Particularly in the cooler southern region, this is an area of premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes -- is their focus.
We tasted three pinot's a syrah and two cabs. The three pinot's were from the same vineyard in Sonoma but from three different blocks. Three distinctly different wines. All very Burgundian in crafting but with that amazing Sonoma Coast fruit. My favorite style...French winemaking but with CA fruit!
The Syrah was amazing. Once again, very French. Northern Rhone in crafting but with Bennet Valley fruit.
The Cabs...well, they were quite simply amazing. Two totally different wines from two different AVA's.
Frei Brothers Reserve is a winemaking story more than a century in the making. In 1890, Swiss immigrant Andrew Frei purchased the core of what is now Frei Ranch in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley. The superb stretch of land was already a vineyard, but Frei brought it to prominence when he built a winery that produced 20,000 cases of wine annually by 1895. In 1903, Frei turned the winery over to his sons, Walter and Louis, who adopted the name Frei Brothers.
