Excellent Zinfandel and equally excellent Zinfandel Port. I believe they also make a Zin chocolate sauce for those of you with a sweet tooth. Now they're a bit off the beaten path but completely worth visiting. It's rare that you get the combination of excellent people and wine like this while also avoiding the tourist crush that is much of Napa. I highly recommend calling them up and experiencing it yourself. I know I'll be back the next time I'm headed that way.
A great choice for Healdsburg. The area is known for it's Zins and you'll find many decent wines at Mauritson. The tasting is free to Visa Signature card holders. The tasting room isn't terribly fancy but it's nice and there's an outdoor area for warmer days. The staff was quite friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.
“Sonoma County is one of the most fabulous places in the world to live and make wine,” says Gary Sitton, Blackstone's winemaker. “There’s no place like it. The immense diversity—from the coastline to the mountains, valleys and rivers—still leaves me in awe. For me, tapping into this range of growing conditions is fundamental to making beautifully expressive wines.”
Michael Noggle is an award-winning winemaker with over three decades of expertise in grape cultivation and wine production. His journey began at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he initially pursued a career as a large animal veterinarian, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Sciences and a Master's Degree in General Agricultural Sciences. While awaiting admission to the School of Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis, he uncovered a deep-seated passion for viticulture. This revelation led him to shift his academic focus, culminating in a degree in Viticulture and Enology from Napa Valley College. Today, Michael channels his enduring passion into crafting exceptional hand-made Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc wines.
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!
We found the Barterra winery, located in Half Moon Bay, to be a delightful place. A husband and wife team run this winery. The staff is friendly and they know their stuff when it comes to wine.
Barterra offers premium wines from the finest vineyards in Napa Valley, Sonoma, Carneros, Lodi, Amador, Alexander Valley, Mendocino, Lodi, Paso Robles, Russian River Valley and Madera. All of Barterra Wines is sold directly to the public.
Their quaint tasting room is located on the main street and the pours are generous. Their standard wine tasting allows you to sample three wines, but the owner let me try an additional port (and it was excellent!). We enjoyed tasty white wines and their Ruby Cabernet and chocolatey dessert wine were very good. ~
Hours:
Tues-Weds Closed
Thur 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Fri 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Sat 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Sun 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Mon 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Manzoni Estate Vineyards is in the heart of the Highlands, only six, focused acres small. Here, hands-on wine growing and traditional winemaking combine to create limited production wines of elegance and balance.
Craddled in the breathtaking Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County, Buttonwood Farm & Vineyard is a true hidden gem for wine enthusiasts. This charming spot began its journey with a commitment to sustainable farming practices, nurturing a harmonious relationship between people, animals, and the earth. It all started with horses, then blossomed into an organic vegetable farm, and finally evolved into a flourishing vineyard.
Today, Buttonwood boasts a sun-kissed 42-acre vineyard on the eastern side of its 107-acre property. Since planting its first vines in 1983, the farm has lovingly tended to 38,000 vines—small in the vast wine world but monumental to their passionate team. The tasting room, surrounded by the vibrant bounty of their working farm, is a feast for the senses, featuring a delightful array of olives, pomegranates, peonies, herbs, vegetables, and, of course, their beloved peaches!
Over the years, Buttonwood has embraced change and innovation, grafting some of their original vines to introduce exciting new varietals. Among the standout additions are the Rhône varieties of Syrah, Grenache Noir, and Grenache Blanc, alongside the rich Malbec that complements their red Bordeaux lineup. They’ve also enhanced their white offerings with the Musque clone of Sauvignon Blanc, adding layers of complexity and aromatic charm. And in 2017, they planted a bit of Chenin Blanc—because let’s face it, outside of the Loire Valley, Santa Barbara County is simply the best place to grow this delightful grape.
For those looking for a unique wine experience, Buttonwood Farm & Vineyard is a must-visit, where sustainable farming meets exceptional wines in the heart of California's wine country. Cheers to the adventures waiting at Buttonwood!
Cynthia is the owner and winemaker at Passaggio Wines. Cynthia's focus is small lot boutique wines that include unoaked chardonnay, pinot grigio, rose altogether about 10 varieties of wine. Cynthia went from cop to artisan wine crafter, not a typical journey by any stretch. In 2004, Cynthia left a 15-year Law Enforcement career to pursue that passion and family tradition of winemaking. It has been enjoyable to watch Passaggio Wines grow and see Cynthia follow her dreams. Passaggio's tasting room is gorgeous for either tasting, having wine by the glass, or for a special event. The tasting room staff and winemaker are very friendly and accommodating and make you feel right at home.
Whitehall makes some great wine! We were surprised by the mostly empty parking lot and even considered turning away before entering. Did an empty parking lot mean bad wine? Everything we sampled, from white to red was great. Easy drinking and definitely well priced. Come summer time it can be very busy at times. Well worth a visit.
