Schug was not on our original list to visit while in Sonoma, but we happened across it and were glad we did! Its down a dirt road and still feels privately owned which is my preference. We were tasting in the patio area / courtyard which was much more open and nicer than the indoor tasting room. Tasting was 10 dollars for 6 wines and the team was knowledgeable and friendly. Schug is known for their Pinots, but I thought their Carneros Cab Sauv was also really great.
Glen Ellen Wines are not available on line but are nationally distributed and owned by Concannon.
Since 2002, Annadel has been in the fine wine business, importing from legendary estates and wineries in France, and producing wines of excellence from California vineyards. Annadel is privately held by Sebastian and Estelle Lane and is located in St. Helena, California.
Beautiful winery with lush vineyards, Spanish style building, fountain, panoramic patio, and nice wines. They specialize in Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.
The vineyards were planted in 1978, replacing an old apple orchard. After farming for several years, Basil Scalabrini began making wine commercially. With no winery, the first wine was made in a redwood grove at the top of the hill, a 1986 Cabernet Sauvignon… It was a good one! The Scalabrini family built the winery in 1987, and began making wine from each vintage thereafter. A family owned and operated, and the family is involved in every phase of the wine growing process. At Annapolis Winery the focus is on quality, not quantity and the winery produce a very small amount of wine, taking personal care at each step of the process. The results are wines that are naturally lush and intense.
Albini Family Vineyards only sell two kinds of wine - Zinfandel and Merlot. This year, there are three varieties of wine available: First, is the 2008 Zinfandel (500 cases; Russian River Valley); Second is the 2008 Zinfandel Ponzo Vineyard (500 cases; Russian River Valley); Third is the 2008 Merlot (Russian River Valley).
Tim Olson has been a winemaker in Northern California for more than 21 years. For six years Olson served as winemaker for Tarius Wines in Santa Rosa, CA. With a focus on vineyard designated Pinot Noirs and Zinfandels, Tarius Vineyards produced 1500 cases a year and was distributed in 12 states and three foreign markets. Olson's wines have garnered numerous awards including "Best of Show" at the California State Fair and numerous gold medals in other competitions.
Tasting Room - open 11 am to 5 pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday and by appointment Monday through Thursday
We tasted some exceptional wine here and the customer service was great here. We were able to enjoy our tasting on their beautiful ground outside while snacking on some really nice cheeses, meats, and crackers that we brought along with us. They poured us some wines that were Members Only wines that we really fell in love with.
Step foot into their "cave" and see how the other half lives. The barrel tasting was fantastic and you couldn't help but hang out inside this cavern all day. The conversation was friendly and light while the service remained educated and proper keeping true to most Napa Valley wineries without actually being in Napa. The furniture lightly dressed the hallways as you make your way back out and into their tasting room. The space is equally as refined as their wine-makers palate.
In 1846, former Army Captain John G. Ray moved West to the rough-and-tumble frontier of Northern California. He settled with his family first in the town of Sonoma, where he took part in the Bear Flag Revolt. Ray's old residence still stands to this day as a historical site in downtown Sonoma.
