The Pellegrini Family traces its heritage in winemaking to the early 1900s when brothers Nello and Gino Pellegrini arrived in New York City from their native Tuscany. They soon made their way to the West Coast and in 1925 became Sonoma County grape merchants, shipping grapes throughout the U.S. for home winemaking.
In 2003 Margaret Davenport took her career in a new direction by starting her own business, Davenport and Company. Under this label she has been making Russian River Pinot Noir, and, more recently, Zinfandel from her Rockpile vineyard, while also providing consulting services for winemakers and winery owners. Margaret directs small-lot production of Cabernet and other Sonoma County varietals at several wineries.
Harry Walker’s journey to grow grapes that would make great wine began in 1968. It was a journey that took him from Lodi, then to Napa Valley, Knights Valley, and Dry Creek Valley. When he stumbled upon a gorgeous little chardonnay vineyard in Green Valley, he knew he found something special.
In 1997 he began selling fruit to Paul Hobbs who made a Walker Station, vineyard designated chardonnay that immediately got the attention of chardonnay fans and wine critics alike. Ever since the Paul Hobbs Walker Station chardonnay has consistently been a top ranking chardonnay from vintage to vintage.
Produce limited amounts of hand-crafted wines from the Dry Creek Valley and the Puccioni Ranch. Pucioni Vineyards has been growing grapes and making wine at the Puccioni Ranch since 1904. Pucioni family were one of the last families in Sonoma County to use a mule and a plow.
The staff can be kind of hit or miss. Usually they are a little stand-offish or at least less eager to talk, but they don't try to over sell you on buying their wine they let you enjoy the experience. The tasting room isn't spectacular (actually I liked the smaller tasting room they had before) but they do have a large selection of gifts other than wine.
Ray, the owner/winemaker poured for us and explained his thoughts on Dry Creek type wines. It was personal service and attention to detail that seems rare in a lot of the bigger tasting rooms. To top it off, the wine was fantastic. Highly recommended weather you are new at tasting or an oenophile.
Deerfield is a winery where you're encouraged to sit and enjoy your wine. You're not crowded around a tasting bar, fighting for space and attention in order to sip your wine. Instead, the tasting takes place in a cave, with tables and chairs everywhere - encouraging everyone to have a seat, enjoy their wine and the sommeliers will be around to pour the wine.
Free wine tastings, perfect scenery, a great little picnic area, and did I mention free tastings?
There's also a great book of menus/letters from the White House where their wines had been used. They go back to the Clintons - kind of cool! Hours: Thursday - Monday 11:00 to 4:00, Tuesday and Wednesday by appointment only.
Papapietro Perry Winery specializes in small lots of handcrafted, single-vineyard designate Pinot Noir and Zinfandel produced from the finest grapes the Russian River, Anderson and Dry Creek Valleys have to offer.
Hidden Jewel of Sonoma County. Pezzi King Vineyards Family owned since 1993. Winemaker Chris Barrett is a native to the Sonoma County wine country. He has seen this area grow from a few wineries to the prestige that the area holds today.
