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.
Frostwatch is located in the recently established Bennett Valley appellation, located just south and to the East of the city of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County. Roughly defined by the Matanzas Creek watershed, it has been estimated that Bennett Valley had some 2,000 acres planted to wine grapes in the mid-1800s. Largely due to the efforts of these individuals, the wine cognoscenti recognized Bennett Valley as an area that was synonymous with fine Merlot and Chardonnay. More recently, Bennett Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot and Syrah have been recognized for their exceptional quality.
Larkmead puts out some of the finest Cabs and Sauv Blancs in the valley. The vineyard itself is beautiful, located right on the valley floor. Sonny treated us great, explaining the winemaking process and the unique history behind Larkmead. Not to be missed if you are in Napa. The Larkmead Vineyards tasting room is open from 10am to 3pm, by appointment.
Selby Winery Tasting Room is another great tasting room in downtown Healdsburg. The tasting room itself is small and well organized with enough space at the bar for 2-3 small groups. What struck me was the friendliness of the staff and of Susie Selby (the winemaker) herself, who was in the tasting room taking care of some business. The conversation was very comfortable and free flowing and Susie was wonderful. After such a positive initial experience, it was on to the wines, and they did no disappoint.
Hart's Desire had absolutely exceptional wines, and very many at that. They had a lot of varietals that you rarely find elsewhere in Sonoma County except for in blends, such as Malbec, Claret, and Cabernet Franc. Their tasting room has beautiful artwork and has an old school jukebox playing great tunes!
Tom Burgess established Burgess Cellars in 1972, but these Howell Mountain slopes were first planted in the 1870s by Italian-speaking immigrants from the Swiss canton of Ticino. The Poncetta & Rossini families, in the way of their Alpine homeland, cultivated vines on the rugged mountainside at extreme elevations. With the same ambition and imagination, Lee Stewart planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah grapes on Howell Mountain’s steep hillsides, naming his winery Souverain, meaning “sovereign.” Subsequent Napa Valley greats also saw the high promise of the land. Before starting the historic Stag’s Leap and Grgich wineries, Warren Winiarski and Mike Grgich each learned his trade at the Estate known today as Burgess.
Beringer Vineyards is a large winery in St. Helena, California. Founded in 1875, Beringer Vineyards is "the oldest continuously operating winery in the Napa Valley", and is a California Historical Landmark. There reserve Cab is one of my favorites. The tour is informative and interesting so if its your first time I recommend it. But for regular visitors to Napa then the tastings and select wines are what you'd come here for.
Although Fallbrook is not presently known for its plethora of wineries, a stop at the Fallbrook Winery is well-worth your time, especially if you're in the neighborhood of Temecula. Rather than the usual crowded belly-to-the bar-tastings, this place affords you some privacy, and a chance to revel in the winemaking process. Make a reservation ahead of time, bring a picnic lunch, and also learn the nuances of pruning and planting from proprietor, Ted Gourvitz.
Hatcher Winery was founded in 2002 by owner/winemaker Matthew Hatcher. His skills as a winemaker have put this winery on the map and the tasting room in Murphys is a very popular stop for wine lovers in the Sierra Foothills. Matthew Hatcher is the owner and winemaker, and his wine making talents have put Hatcher on the don't miss list of Foothill wineries.
At Beaver Creek Vineyards, our approach is simple: "Let nature create the wonders and we will work hard to support and enhance her efforts." With this credo as a guiding principle, Beaver Creek Vineyards strives to make wines of utmost quality borne from viticulture practices that are in alignment with nature. Beaver Creek Vineyards is an eco-friendly, organic and biodynamic certied boutique winery specializing in limited production, estate wines as well as select wines from exclusive organic or biodynamic certied vineyards. Harvests are done by hand, choosing only the best grapes for Beaver Creek wines.
