Roth Estate is a family-owned winery dedicated to crafting full-flavored wines grown in exemplary Sonoma County vineyards. Beginning in 2001, Roth committed to producing classic Bordeaux varietals in Alexander Valley. A decade later the winery expanded its winemaking to include cool-climate varietals from the Sonoma Coast.
Roche is a great spot for a glass of wine or a tasting in Sonoma. I've brought nearly every visitor/friend I've had, here, because of its proximity to the square and its fantastic outdoor tasting bar. Very quaint and dainty! For $5.00 you can taste all the wines. You can sit outside, and for the brisk afternoons they have fire pits at the tables. The estate chardonay was crisp and slightly sweet. The cab was nice. The Syrah was robust and peppery. Late harvest chardonay close to amazing.
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.
Claiborne & Churchill is a small, premium family-owned winery located in the Edna Valley of San Luis Obispo. Founded in 1983 by Claiborne (Clay) Thompson and Fredericka Churchill Thompson, former University of Michigan teachers, the couple transitioned from academia to the vineyards of California in 1981 to pursue a new life in the wine industry.
With its first crush, Claiborne & Churchill announced its special focus by producing 565 cases of Dry Riesling and Dry Gewürztraminer, inspired by the fruity but dry dinner wines of the French province of Alsace. Today, Claiborne & Churchill produces about 8,000 cases of wine each year, sourcing grapes from vineyards in the cool maritime valleys of California’s Central Coast and its own small estate vineyards.
Despite the fact that this winery is owned by behemoth wine and spirits company, Brown Forman, we could not have picked a better winery to have a midday tasting. The three ladies that were manning the tasting room could not have been more charming as they set us up with a flight of pourings outside on the beautiful patio. We were surprised at the many offerings that Sonoma-Cutrer only provides from the winery or to wine club members.
Great winery conveniently located next to a chocolate shop. Moondance offers wine and port tasting for $5 apiece. In addition to wine, they also have mustard, olive oil, and balsamic samples for you to try. They are in a mutually beneficial relationship with their chocolate selling neighbors. They offer chocolate samples as a pairing with their wines.
John and Kimberly Cabot set out to be self sufficient and live off of the land. After college on the Humboldt coast they moved inland where more fruits and vegetables could ripen. They grew a wide assortment of organic produce and marketed it through Northern California retailers and Farmer’s Markets. Ten years of growing experience on the Klamath River in Northern California nurtured within them a deep respect for the land. They also developed a deep appreciation for red wine from their families. They set out to bring their love for growing, wine and the land together into one dream… They began planting wine grapes in 1998. It was exciting to pioneer an undiscovered wine area in California. The land is carved by narrow gorges and steep mountains making ideal vineyard sites rare little gems. They now have three small vineyards that they hand planted with small crews of locals. Each of the vineyards is individual and is meticulously tended in accordance with its unique needs.
