Sonoma

Sonoma

Windsor Oaks

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

Windsor Oaks estate is open to the public only eighteen days a year. They do offer limited VIP tasting and tours.In an wine tasting event that sadly has become increasingly all about tour buses, limos, bridal parties and frat boys guzzling Coors Light in the parking lots, many wineries struggled to find the right balance of paying attention to those that were there to focus on the art of winemaking, and those that were there to party. The folks at Windsor Oaks rose above and created a memory for all in attendance. Special thanks goes to winemaker Julie Hagler Lumgair, who climbed atop a second tier barrel, and from above, shared a taste of yet another wine "off the list"...her passion, expertise, warmth, and generosity.

Peterson Winery

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

Tasting room location is in the same parking lot as 10 other wineries tasting rooms - right off Dry Creek Road. Stop at this ONE location and you will be able to taste wines from Amphora, Collier Falls, Dashe, Forth, Philip Staley, Peterson, Lago di Merlo, Kokomo, Mietz and Papapietro. We went in for wine tasting- which was complimentary. Melissa, who helped us out, was so nice! Friendly and enlightened us on the wine. Some nice wines.

George Wine Company

wine barrel - Pixabay

George Levkoff had his wine epiphany when a friend brought a 1991 and 1992 Williams Selyem Rochioli Vineyard Pinot Noir to share at dinner. Four years later, he left his job as a bond trader on Wall Street and headed west to Sonoma. He interned at Williams Selyem from 1999 to 2002, learning the winemaking process.

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards

wine tasting with small bites

Jacuzzi is a unique place for sure. Yes, there are a lot of wineries that combine both vino and olive oil, but I think Jacuzzi "owns it" as good as anyone. They've got a huge facility with a very generous, separate area devoted completely to the olive oil, so you've really got two completely different tasting experiences in one stop. Both the wine and the olive oil tastings are free; another pleasant surprise since even Sonoma county is running low on the complimentary tastings.

Rancho San Miguel Winery

grape cluster - Pixabay

The wine has a beautiful spicy bouquet, nicely fruit forward in the mouth with lots of raspberry tones, and slightly peppery notes on the clean, lingering finish. A very well balanced wine framed with good acidity and a soft touch on the palette. The distinctive intensity and spiciness of old vines fruit is well preserved. Grilled meats and anything lamb immediately come to mind as pairing choices.

J. Rickards Vineyard & Winery

corks and wine glass - Pixabay

When we drove up we were greeted by 2 dogs and Jim the owner. The place is quaint and wine is phenomenal. Jim the owner took his time and explained the wine making process to our group, he even had us taste one of the grapes on the hillside. One of my favorite wines was the wine blend called "Sisters" which is made from the traditional Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Malbec, all estate grown

Chateau St. Jean

grape clusters - Pixabay

The tasting rooms and grounds are beautiful and well kept. There are shaded areas to enjoy a glass of wine, as well as a great deal of manicured lawns to have a picnic or catch some rays. If you arrive with sufficient time, they gladly give tours of the production rooms, which I found interesting. Each time I've gone to a tasting here, the staff has been welcoming and informative, without being pretentious. The selection of wines for the regular tasting is good and includes several of my favorite wines from this winery. They usually give away the tasting for free if you buy a bottle.

Eric Ross Winery

Grape cluster - Pixabay

A foodie at heart, Eric likens the wines to a beautiful meal: "If you start out with really good fresh ingredients, I mean really good, you have the fundamental components for something extraordinary." Taking advantage of this premium growing region, and by hand-crafting each vintage, Eric Ross Winery takes that same approach when producing our wines. " Taste The Vineyard" that's what the wine should reflect.

Joseph Swan Vineyards

rows of wine barrels - Pixabay

Mr. Swan makes some very nice California pinot noirs and zinfandels. Sure, this is not OPUS ONE facility-wise, but Rod makes great wine at more than fair prices. I appreciated their willingness to educate people and enjoyed their 07 Tannat.

Silver Oaks Wine Cellars

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

The day was gorgeous and couldn't have been more perfect. Both indoor and outdoor surroundings were beautiful. The architecture and the courtyard were very impressive. There were plenty of shaded lawn areas that were perfect for picnics or for the guests to simply sit and hang out at.here were just a few cars in the parking lot when we arrived, and the tasting room was warm and inviting. There's a really cute patio and fountain outside, so if the weather was nicer I can see that being a great place to relax with some friends and a glass of wine. We found a spot to stand at the counter/bar and ordered 2 tastings to share. They are a red only producer, so we tasted 4 different vintages from the Alexander Valley.

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