Ended a lovely wine weekend at Fisher Vineyards with a tour and tasting overlooking the valley. Cameron was our hostess and what knowledge, charisma and overall hospitality! Their cabs are phenomenal - the Coach Insignia and the Cameron's Vineyard are my favorites. It was a pleasure to tour the smaller, family run wineries, where wine is their passion, their history, their legacy.
Susan, the Grower, and Sal, the Winemaker, offer an immersive vineyard and cellar tour that showcases their commitment to Sustainable, Organic, Green, and Dry Farming practices.
During the tour, the winemaker presents four one-ounce samples of their Estate wines, paired with four carefully selected artisanal cheeses, homemade and steam-baked bread, and an assortment of nuts. This experience is available for $45 per person.
Guests also have the opportunity to purchase bottles of wine and enjoy them at the Mid-Vineyard deck, surrounded by over 3,000 vines under a canopy of oak trees, with views of the most beautiful undulating hills.
Ruston Family Vineyards is a vineyard and winemaking company situated in the Napa Valley. The family has been cultivating the west St. Helena hillside since 1941. Originally an old prune orchard, the land now supports grapevines of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The vineyard produces artisanal wines from both their own grapes and purchased fruit, designed to be enjoyed with food, family, and friends.
The story of Ruston Family Vineyards begins with Fred Carpenter, who moved to California from North Dakota around 1907 with his family. They settled in the San Joaquin Valley. At the age of 17, Fred relocated to Oakland, where he studied engineering through a correspondence course. He later became one of the inventors of the jet pump, with his company based in Berkeley, CA. In 1941, seeking to escape the summer fog of the Bay Area, Fred and his wife Lana purchased a 40-acre orchard in St. Helena, which was the maximum distance they could travel on a weekly gasoline ration. They built a house and spent weekends and summers there until the 1970s, after which they lived there permanently until the early 1980s. A photograph of Fred and Lana working in the orchard appears on the back label of their wines.
While the prune business eventually paid off the property loan, it eventually declined. In 1975, the more level eastern section of the orchard was sold. In the mid-1980s, Fred and Lana’s daughter, Lorraine Ruston, moved to the ranch and planted Merlot vines on the remaining western slopes. Lorraine managed the vineyard herself, selling the grapes to local wineries.
In the mid-1990s, Lorraine’s son, John Ruston, and his wife, Janet Sapadin, were residing in New York City and working in the environmental field. Janet, a New York native from Washington Heights, Manhattan, and John shared a mutual interest in wine and cooking, which led them to recognize the winemaking potential of the vineyard. In 1996, John, Lorraine, and Janet decided to expand the vineyard and enter the wine business. The 1997 Merlot was the first wine produced under the Ruston Family Vineyards label. John and Janet left New York in 1999 to live in the old farmhouse. Their two daughters, born in New York and raised in Napa Valley, pursued higher education at UCLA and UC Riverside before branching out, leaving behind cuvées named in their honor.
Four Brix Winery – an urban winery located in the heart of Ventura – specializes in internationally-inspired wine blends. Four Brix Winery produces wines based on their four favorite grape-growing regions: Italy, France, Spain and California. The word “Brix” is a term for measurement of sugar in grapes; therefore Four Brix equals four sweet spots for great wine! With a total production of around 1,000 cases, these wines are very limited and in high demand.
Tony and Kimberly Kirk established Birdstone Winery with the goal of producing world-class wines from Madera-appellation grapes. A friends and family effort from the start, Birdstone’s winemaking team includes Tony, Kimberly and their sons Travis & Conner. It’s not uncommon to find Tony & Kim’s siblings, parents or friends behind the bar in the Tasting Room or helping to crush grapes during harvest.
Ancient Peaks Winery Vineyard stands alone as the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles region, tucked beneath the peaks of the Santa Lucia Mountains just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Here, the vines unfold along a rare array of soils amid one of the region’s coolest growing environments. The resulting wines express an unmistakable sense of place, with balanced structure and flavors that are native to Margarita Vineyard.
Painting by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski
Moseley Family Cellars is a small, family-owned winery in Redding California. Mimi and Marty did not start out with tons of dollars in the bank when starting Moseley Family Cellars. However, Mimi and Marty Moseley had tons of passion and some experience in traveling around the sun on this planet for a few years and being involved with other ventures. It has been enjoyable to watch Moseley Family Cellars grow from a small storefront to a fully operational winery. When they say; “Come as friends, leave as family." You know they mean it.~
Hours:
Thu 12:00 am to 5:00 pm
Fri 12:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sat 12:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sun 12:00 am to 5:00 pm
Our winery opened in 2016, our unique tasting room will offer a relaxed indoor and outdoor atmosphere with fresh Coastal breezes, featuring views of Spring Canyon and distant Mexico lights. Our wine styles are influenced by both California and Baja Mexico. Wines will be artisanal small production lots sure to please any palate. Currently open by appointment only for barrel tasting. Advanced purchase of our 2014 vintage release is now available.
Cima Collina produces artisan wines sourced from small Monterey vineyards. The concept of "artisan wine" for them involves partnering with growers who meticulously cultivate their vineyards, selecting only the finest fruit, and crafting wine on a barrel-by-barrel basis.
Their focus on Monterey vineyards reflects an acknowledgment of the region’s potential to consistently produce wines that are interesting, compelling, and unique. The cool maritime climate, well-drained soils, and the vibrant energy of the local winemaking community contribute to a dynamic renaissance in the region, making it an exceptionally gifted area for growing grapes.
Experience the wines of Cima Collina, along with other offerings from Monterey Wine Country, confident that these selections will meet the highest expectations.
Taste with Hourglass
Tastings are by appointment only and are complimentary for our active mailing list members. There is a $125 per person tasting fee for new guests. The fee is waived with a three bottle purchase per person within the group.
Please continue to contact us at tnt@hourglasswine.com to schedule a tasting.
