This was also a fabulous winery to taste at. They let us picnic in their beautiful courtyard, complete with bocce court, and supplied us with complementary glasses of wine to enjoy while we ate. The employees were chatty, knowledgeable, and not at all pushy.
David and Holly Nelson got involved in the wine business after purchasing their first 65 acre vineyard from the owner of Korbel Champagne Cellars in 1977. They enjoyed growing Russian River Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes for Korbel for many years, and finally got bitten by the "wine bug." Tasting available at Family Wineries, 9200 Sonoma Hwy., Kenwood, CA
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.
icest folks, best wine.. however if you like fruit or oak bombs or over ripe alcohol bombs this is not for you. These wines are for the lover of a more classical earlier picked style of wine like; the Cali wines from say 25 years ago. If you love old school european wines, these are the wines for you.
Doug is wonderful as well as the whole crew.
Open every Saturday 12pm-5pm. By appointment all other days.
What really made the experience magical was the overall layout and view of the place. The wine tasting counter/bar is backdropped by an amazing window that overlooks the vineyards. The wine tasting room itself is on a hill overlooking the vineyards, so all you see out the window is a sloping valley of gorgeous grape vines.
Pulled into the Winery parking lot and the sign said closed.
Some guy, KAZ waved us in and the next couple that pulled in as well.
I was here to try his ports, but he had 7 other wines to try as well. $5 to taste 5.
The varietals are unique and funky like the winemaker. He's a nice guy. Wines were good, especially the ports.
Love the metal sculptures in the patio and gardens. They make for a great backdrop to relax and get ready for rest of the day. The tasting room is large enough to handle a crowd, but it has never been that crowded when we stop in. The staff has always been friendly. They make a decent Cabernet sauvignon for the price.
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.
It truly was love at first sight when Barry and Phyllis Rodgers drove through the gate off Chalk Hill Road. The property captivated their imaginations. That June day in 1997, Chateau Felice was conceived.
Over the following months, the Rodgers family set to work on the overgrown, unkempt cattle ranch. By 1998, the land was ready for planting 20,000 vines on 25 acres.
New structures were built, and winemaking facilities and equipment were installed in preparation for the first crush of estate grapes in 2001.
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.
