Bell is an incredible winery in Yountville. If you can, book a private tour and tasting where you'll get the full story behind the single clone Cabernets and their winemaker Antony. If you're lucky, Maggie will do your tour. Brace yourself for the Clone 6!
The 2007 San Francisco International Wine Competition had 47 judges tasting 4,300 wines. After three days of sipping and spitting, the awards for Best Syrah/Shiraz, and Best of Show Red Wine, went to the 2004 Canihan syrah "Exuberance." It was the first commercial release of Bill Canihan's life, and his was judged the best red wine in the entire competition, which encompassed a galaxy of wines from all over the world.
This winery is fun! They're only open the third weekend of the month. Tucked away down Redwood Retreat Road about 3.5 miles from Watsonville Road, the drive to get here is truly spectacular. They are only open the third weekend of each month and passport weekends. They ask that you sign in and they then give you name tags with your first name on it. The staff was friendly and the owners Therese and Dan were walking around greeting people. Dan and Therese Martin clearly have a passion for making great wine. They have scores of awards for their wine but that's not what they lead with. Their tasting room is welcoming and intimate. The vibe is comfortable and engaging. Martin Ranch produces a variety of wines from Chardonnay to Cab Franc, Sauvignon Blanc to Sangiovese.
In 1960, Stephen Russell became one of the first graduates of UC Davis' now-renowned Enology program, part of the inaugural class alongside a Franciscan monk. Without family ties or connections in the wine industry, Russell quickly made his mark by becoming the first formally trained enologist hired by the Gallo family. However, after feeling disillusioned with winemaking in his twenties, he decided to step away from the industry. He returned to school to pursue a PhD and embarked on a successful academic career in cancer research, eventually becoming the head of the cancer program at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
Despite his accomplishments in academia, in 2001, Stephen and his wife, Mary, returned to California to fulfill a long-held dream by founding Prodigal Wines. The “prodigal son” had returned.
Nestled in the picturesque hills of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation, Prodigal Wines is known for producing some of the region’s finest Pinot Noirs. The sloping vineyard is planted with clones 115, 667, and 777. With a focus on limited production and careful clonal selection matched to each vineyard block, Prodigal continues to craft world-class wines that reflect the unique terroir of the area.
For wine lovers visiting California's wineries, Prodigal Wines offers a captivating story of redemption and artistry, with exceptional wines that celebrate the journey of a man who returned to his first passion.
Demetria Estate produces two separate portfolios of wines including, Burgundian varietals and Rhone-style blends that capture the singularity of the vineyards and the region from which they originated. The Burgundian offerings comprise of varietal honest manifestations of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, farmed sustainably in the Santa Rita Hills appellation of Santa Barbara County. The Rhone blends feature a rich, aromatic array of wines that are well-balanced, and intensely flavorful. The Rhone blends are styled after the famous Chateauneuf du Pape reds and are made from varieties of Syrah, Mourvedre, and Grenache. The white Rhone wines are blends of Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Grenache Blanc.
Image: Corks and Glass
Stephen Storrs and Pamela Bianchini-Storrs begn Storrs winery with their first harvest n 1988. Both are trained winemakers at UC Davis, they have wrked at a number of wineries which include Domaine Chandon, Felton-Empire and Almaden before starting their own venture. Stephen and Pamela appreciate the cool Burgundian climate of the Santa Cruz Mountains. This winery grew to a comfortable 10,000 cases per year and in 2001 realized a dream with the purchase of land in Pleasant Valley district of Corralitos.
Our San Diego locations features a main room, as well as a roof top deck overlooking little Italy. Bring your friends and family and enjoy our fine wines in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
The tasting room host was very sweet and hospitable. All of the wines were good and VERY reasonably priced, but the one wine that stood out the most to me was the late harvest sauvignon blanc. Late harvest sauv blanc is not an easy wine to come by, giving Rued brownie points in my book! It's a lusciously sweet wine that's reminiscent of ripe yellow peaches and honey.
For over half a century, the George Fotinos family has lovingly tended to Pinot Noir grapes in Napa's Carneros region, where the climate is perfect for this delicate varietal. With sustainable practices and rainwater irrigation, their commitment to quality has never wavered. Today, the family carries on this legacy, crafting exceptional wines that celebrate over five decades of dedication.
“Distinctively Carneros elegant wine with aromas of raspberries, dried cherries, fresh herbs and light touch of toasty oak. The fruit flavors are integrated with spice notes, balanced acidity, a silky mouthfeel and a long pleasant finish.”
A cool microclimate in the Oregon House Valley: forty five hundred vines planted on a gentle, well-drained, north-east facing slope. Red loam and clay topsoil on decomposed granite and volcanic ash subsoil, sprinkled with fragments of granite rocks, basalt, and quartz. The virgin soil is pure, uncontaminated, alive with microorganisms and earthworms. The Sierra Nevada Foothills are not the first to spring to mind when thinking about Pinot Noir in California, and yet this site provides an ideal microclimate and soil combination for its demanding nature.
