Al Scheid set his roots in Monterey County in 1972. Al has said if he had every planned to build a family winery it never would have happened. Instead, by his entrepreneurial spirit, skills at building relationships and a lot of hard work today it has become just that. Enjoy the passion and heart in this wineries wines.
In 2002, two generations of our family - both winemakers by trade - came together to create BAXTER, highlighting the very best in North Coast viticulture. Father & son partners, Phil L Baxter and Phil T G Baxter, produce handcrafted single vineyard wines focusing on the Anderson Valley and surrounding Mendocino appellations. Known primarily for their Pinot Noir.
Brewer-Clifton strive to be singular and true to the region, connected to the appellation and working diligently to display and celebrate it in the most honest way by means of their wines.
The reds were all fantastic..I really was pleasantly surprised. Their tasting room has a large table that they invite you to sit at, or , you can go outside and sit at those smaller tables, if you choose to. Wines are fantastic and the people here are passionate, welcoming and knowledgeable. They host a number of fun events and perks for wine club members. They also are well known for their micro-batch wine making - come make your own wine from start to finish (blending, bottling, labeling) with the experts!
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.
They express their gratitude for the loyal support of Sojourn Cellars. This year, Sojourn Cellars is celebrating the 20th vintage of their wines. As they reach this milestone, they are introducing a fresh new look and elevating their wine labels. They invite followers to join them on their journey, offering an insider’s perspective on the new Sojourn look and feel.
What remains unchanged is the quality of the wine in the bottle. The winemaking team continues to be the same, as does their commitment to crafting memorable wines from exceptional vineyards in Sonoma and Napa Valley.
What a delightful hidden gem worth the short jaunt off the main road. The jovial Scott gave us an extended pour of some wonderful if overpriced wines. but the out door tasting was a treat and the much lower traffic spend some real personal attention.
The tasting room is at the end of the main road in Calistoga, you cant miss it. Its a smaller place with three bars for tasting, all in the same room. Their dog would greet you when you walked in which was kind of nice. I really liked this place because it was smaller, they took their time with your and would answer any questions you had. The other wines were very good too but it was our first winery on the trip so we just picked up the one bottle. We spent about 45 minutes there and will definitely stop back in next time in Calistoga.
In 1977 Sunol's grape growing tradition was revived by the planting of 55 acres of premium grape varieties on San Francisco Water Company land. In 1984 the Awtreys obtained rights to the Sunol Valley Vineyards and also replanted Elliston's own vineyard at the estate with three acres of Chardonnay. The original carriage house was converted into the winery, and Don Blackburn was hired as Elliston's first winemaker. Trained in Burgundy, Don's wines from 1985 to 1990 were classically Burgundian in style employing French Oak exclusively, barrel fermentation, "sur lie" aging, and malolactic fermentation emphasizing complexity and the unique flavors of the vineyard. Since 1992 the winery and Elliston Estates have been owned and operated by the Awtrey's daughter Donna and her three children Mark, K.J., and David.
Adastra Winery is organic with a great history, and Chris is happy to walk you through it. He'll introduce you to the property -- which he and his wife live off of -- and the business as well. The property is wonderful, and you can tell a lot of love has built the place up. He'll share with you the old barn and his herb garden. You'll become familiar with the origins of the name and finally, with the wines themselves while sitting around his dining room table. The reds are excellent, absolutely top-notch. On our trip, my wife and I only joined two wine clubs, and Adastra Winery is one of them. The tasting and tour can be expensive, $25 per person but that fee is waived if you join the wine club. Honestly, even if you don't join the club, it's worth the fee for the experience.~ Artwork by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski – Agata Art Gallery
