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.
Robert Rue Vineyard,
Carlene and Robert, the owners and host of the winery are unbelievably friendly, honest and passionate about their business. If you're interested in tasting some really nice Zins, seeing the winery that produced it and personally talking to the people who made it happen, this is the place to go to.
After tasting completely through, I must admit I was very impressed! Not only by all the lovely single vineyard pinots, but also talking with Scott (winemaker) and Marta Rich about the wine... Really cool folks.
Pasterick produces one of the best Syrah I've tried - but that's not the reason to visit the vineyard. People at Pasterick are truly amazing, one-of-a-kind - they greet you like old friends, and you leave feeling like your family just got extended.
The tasting was a blast, the guy behind the counter was knowledgeable and funny. Why can't all tasting rooms have this kind of service? He listened to what we said and altered our tasting to fit our palate. Excellent service.
They offer private tasting at their Alexander Valley Estate in Healdsburg by appointment only (call tasting room or make an appointment request online). The tasting takes approximately two hours & the tasting fee is $25 per person, which is refunded with a purchase. Parker gave 7 of their wines a perfect 100 score. It's going on my winery to-do list! :)
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.
David Macrae founded this winery to develop limited production wines that reflect the top growers including Bacigaluipi Vineyards in the Russian River Valley and Stagecoach Vineyards in Napa Valley.
The winemaker is Kerry Damskey, a University of California at Davis graduate. The wines are sold on the website and available for tasting through the Family Wineries Tasting Room in Kenwood.
9380 Highway 12, Kenwood, CA
Hafner Vineyard is a small family winery tucked away in Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley. For 30 years we have been making Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay only from grapes grown at our winery. Wines are sold directly to patrons and to leading California restaurants, but not in any stores.
Think Dessert!
Sonoma Valley Port Works tasting room and offices are located in the old Foundry Wharf building along the Petaluma River just south of the historic city center of Petaluma. Not only can you experience their wonderful after-dinner wines, but taste their new creations right out of the barrel!
