A life-long interest in fine food and artisan craft led, Proprietor and Winemaker, Rick Davis to the wine industry. With graduate work in soil sciences and his first experience as a cellar-hand for Rivendell Winery, a small winery in New Paltz, NY, he quickly learned the trade and excelled to Winemaker. In order to pursue this newfound passion, his move to Sonoma County, CA left him in the perfect place to master winemaking and focus on Pinot Noir.
We had a great time here. We stepped in here while waiting for another winery to open. The very first thing we noticed when we opened the door was the intoxicating scent of wine. We were able to take a self-guides tour around and realized the large barrels were right in the open, which was why the facility had that lovely sweet wine smell. Tour was timed perfectly, not too long, but not too short, and we had a super nice tour guide. Wine tasting after the tour was extra fun.
You walk up to this old house with gardens and fountains. There is some outdoor seating if you desire to sit and relax. Definitely on the more expensive side bottles ranging from $50-80, but the wine was wonderful. The tasting is $15, but if you buy a bottle that fee is waived so it really gives you some incentive.
At Souverain the goal is to make authentic wines that are the best expression of each varietal and Alexander Valley. Souverain believes that consumers deserve to drink great wine every night. Souverain love affair with producing wines has stretched back over 60 years and during that time they have produced award winning wines, have received numerous accolades and praise from the wine press.
Sourced exclusively from Estate-owned Knights Valley vineyards, Anakota is a collection of single vineyard, single varietal Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines that exemplify the rustic elegance and spirit of Sonoma County’s Mount St. Helena. Situated in the flanks and foothills of Mount St. Helena, each mountain vineyard is brought to life as stressed vines struggle with rocky soils and challenging climatic conditions to create small, intensely flavored berries.
If you're interested in the workings of a true family run winery, please do yourself a favor and visit.John and Carri produce some great wines at great prices and always provide some fun at the tasting room. With an emphasis on Pinot they still produce two zins, two syrahs, and couple of deserts.
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.
Mark Ketcham had long dreamt of owning a Vineyard in the Northern California wine country. That dream came true in 2000 when he purchased a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyard in the heart of the Russian River Valley. The vineyard was quickly converted to 100% Estate Pinot Noir, while retaining the 'Old Block Pinots' that were its heritage.
The winery itself has a ton of history and is one of the longest standing wineries in the area. The staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Our tour consisted of a drive around the property by our guide, Ben, a tour of the wine caves and finally trying the wine itself! Views are gorgeous all the way from Oakland, Sonoma, SF.
Alexander Valley is often referred to as “California’s Bordeaux”, as the local landscape is itself a genuine mosaic of soil types and microclimates. Some of the finest grapes in the world are grown here making this a winemaker’s dream location for producing world-class wines. So when Ken and Diane Wilson discovered this property they knew at once this would be there new Cabernet Sauvignon Showcase. It is their intent to produce wines known more for the character of the estate than for the varietal content.
