After three years of traveling to various wine regions of the world, Charles B. Mitchell has returned the vineyards to operate with the highest standards possible. With estate grown fruit this winery strives for the highest quality from vineyard to bottle. Image courtesy of Randy Caparoso
Terre Rouge and Easton Wines
Founded in the late 1980s by Bill Easton and Jane O’Riordan, Terre Rouge and Easton Wines has established itself as a notable presence in the wine industry. Winemaker Bill Easton, one of the original Rhône Rangers, pioneered the cultivation of Rhône varietals in the Sierra Foothills under the TERRE ROUGE label. The EASTON portfolio features Amador County favorites, including old vine Zinfandel and Barbera.
The wines produced by Terre Rouge and Easton are characterized by their balance and elegance, with complexity that evolves as they age in the bottle. This process, known in French as élevage, refers to the "raising" of wine in the bottle. There is a distinct art to this style of winemaking, offering great pleasure in wines that are ready to enjoy while still holding significant potential for future aging.
Photo courtesy of photographer Randy Caparoso
Breggo means "sheep" in Boontling, in honor of our place, a 203-acre farm just north of Boonville. Our Craftsman house from the 1920s and random cluster of sideways-tilting outbuildings recently served as headquarters to one of the oldest and largest sheep ranches in Anderson Valley. For 150 years, sheep dominated the agricultural landscape of Anderson Valley. Sheep, like the domesticated vinifera grapevine, occupy and even thrive on the geographic periphery - places too steep, with soils too thin and climates too cold for other types of intensive agriculture. Sheep and vines flourish where the domesticated meets the wilderness. The margins. This is our place.
A 12,000 Sq ft world class facility, is perched on a hillside and has spectacular veiws of the nerby vineyards of the Sierra Foothills. Using the natural terrain, the architectural design of the winery was constructed on 2 plateaus, thus creating, "gravity feed" as part of the winemaking process. This facility, which features 2 art galleries, is built to enable the winey to produce a maximum of 16,000 cases annually.
On October 22, 2007, the tragedy of the Witch Creek Fire struck the southeast part of the San Diego Wild Animal Park, located on the other side of the San Pasqual Valley. As the fire fueled itself by over 100 mph winds, it spread up to Bandy Canyon and created a huge firestorm. The fire consumed the majority of Perrin Oak Ranch and almost took the life of our owner, Duane “D.O.” Perrin while he was sleeping. Thankfully, Duane got to safety in time. The fire destroyed structures, farm equipment and, most of all, about 3,000 avocado trees. The only figures left standing after the fire were the valiant speckled boulders of granite. From that tragic memory, Duane decided to rise up from the ashes and start over. Instead of re-planting avocado trees, he decided to plant wine grapes. Through that move, Speckle Rock Vineyards and DG Cellars were born. Currently, the ranch has more than 23 acres of vineyard composed of Grenache, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Carmenere, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Meunier, Clairette Blanche, and Falanghina grapes. Each year we target to plant more acreage to reach our 40-acre goal and ultimately yield 4,000 cases each year and continue to be one of the top vineyards in San Diego, complete with wine tastings, events and much, much more.
Lone Buffalo Vineyards, launched in 2007 in Auburn, CA is the culmination of owner and winemaker Phil Maddux’s thirty-five year passion for wine making. The buffalo's power and resilience in the face of encroaching civilization symbolizes hope and renewal for humanity and harmony among all people. Here in the Sierra foothills, Lone Buffalo Vineyards symbolizes this same hope and renewal with its contribution to the re-emergence of the wine-making tradition in Placer County.
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Baiocchi Wines
From the moment the vision to produce premium, small-lot wines took shape, the focus has remained on the land, the fruit, the wine, and the experience of life. With this in mind, the mission of Baiocchi Wines is to create fine wine from exceptional grapes grown in a high-altitude setting. As the team continues to explore the concepts of balance and harmony in winemaking, they consider the individual elements that contribute to wine: soil, water, fruit, and craft. From the composition of the soil to the careful handling of the grapes, each wine reflects this intricate relationship.
The Genesis of Baiocchi Wines
How does one transition from skydiving to winemaking? Very carefully, indeed.
While the path may not be traditional, it is uniquely their own. The passion for crafting great wine stemmed from a love of enjoying it—particularly with friends after many successful skydiving and base-jumping adventures.
This appreciation for fine wine led to formal education in viticulture and winemaking through the U.C. Davis Extension Winemaking Program. During this time, practical experience was gained through hands-on work at two Northern California winemaking properties: Miraflores Winery and Big Basin Vineyards, where they had the honor of being mentored by Proprietor and Winemaker Bradley Brown.
The hope is that a dear friend, who opened countless airplane doors and many bottles of fine wine, will someday find themselves sitting with friends, post-jump, savoring a bottle of Baiocchi wine.
Photo courtesy of photographer Randy Caparoso
Fort Ross Vineyard & Winery is one of the closest, if not the closest winery to the ocean in all of California. From the vineyard you can see the breaking surf and the misty silhouettes of Bodega Head and Pt. Reyes far below. The vineyard’s high elevation above the coastal fog and its proximity to the ocean provide a gentle, sunny and temperate climate that has proved to be very favorable for the slow and even ripening of Burgundian varietals.
Yes, we all know Sutter Home Wine is a basic table wine, great tasting, easy going, affordable, and all that... Ok here's the deal, my first stop was BV Winery, wine tasting for two, two bottles of wine, out the door $92, yes Nine-two bucks.... (not complaining as I really like BV, just comparing) down the street Sutter home, wine tasting for two unlimited, two bottles of wine, four two packs of wine, 2 wine glasses and a sign up for the wine club $32 out the door and to boot, you get free wine tasting at their premium brand Menage a Trois, so we went down there and we had unlimited tastings there as well and 20% off wine so out the door there $27 for two bottles of wine and wine tasting. Sutter Home has one of the most beautiful properties among all of the wineries with a slew of Victorian style buildings. These buildings have become inns perfect for anyone finding a place to stay in wine country!
This winery is a must see/taste. The winemaker/winegrowers - Frank and Teena are truly special. Their passion translates into every bottle of wine. They have a very nice selection of both white and red wines that will appeal to just about every taste.Take a beautiful drive up to Narrow Gate and check them out!
