Syrah

Syrah

Glenlyon Vineyards & Winery

grape cluster - Pixabay

In 1986, Squire and Suzy Fridell packed up their three-year old daughter and all their worldly goods to trade the freeways and the sand of Southern California for the back roads and fertile soil of Sonoma Valley. They purchased twenty-six acres of raw land, just north of the Village of Glen Ellen. The gentle rolling hills were covered with poison oak, oak trees, manzanita trees, madrone trees, bay trees, and a few redwoods. Glenlyon Vineyards & Winery does not have tours or tasting at GlenLyon.

Buoncristiani Family Winery

wine swirling in the glass - Pixabay - saman teher

This is a Famly business run by four Brothers, all native residents of Napa, and all grew up making wine in their garage as kids.... Needless to say they produce some outstanding wine! The brothers take turns conducting private tours at a cave winery in the southeastern hills of the Napa Valley. It's a great tour and a REAL Napa Winemaking experience.

Tulocay Winery

wine and cheese - Pixabay

Tulocay was one of the "new" wineries to start up in the early 1970's, and the owner, Bill Cadman, is still at it and still making great Napa wines, in the traditional style. This means that his wines are very well-balanced and play well with food - they don't dominate, they enhance and compliment, good meals. They also age very well. Another plus is that the Tulocay wines are generally very well-priced compared with your average Napa wine - many if not most of his wines are in the 20 to 30 dollar range.

Roudon Smith

Roudon Smith Winery Sign at entrance of tasting room

Join us on a delightful journey through the history of Roudon-Smith Winery, a cherished gem in California’s wine country! Founded in 1972 by the passionate duo of Bob and Anna-Maria Roudon and Jim and June Smith, this winery began as a bold dream and has blossomed into a celebrated destination for wine lovers.

In the early 1970s, Bob Roudon, a visionary engineer, shared his dream of creating a small winery in the picturesque Santa Cruz Mountains with his colleague Jim Smith. This dream ignited their adventurous spirits, leading them to purchase vineyard land and embark on their winemaking journey while balancing their careers in the burgeoning tech industry. With support from their families, they produced their first crush in a charming basement winery, laying the groundwork for what would become a beloved winery.

By 1978, Roudon-Smith had expanded to accommodate a production goal of 10,000 cases, all while ensuring the operation remained intimate and sustainable, hand-crafted by their dedicated team. As the original owners transitioned into semi-retirement, they gracefully scaled back production, ensuring the quality and integrity of their wines remained paramount.

In 2003, the winery changed hands, leading to a new chapter in its history. Al Drewke took the reins in 2006, bringing nearly 30 years of leadership experience and a passion for winemaking. He welcomed winemaker Brandon Armitage, whose expertise from Colorado and New Zealand added depth to their Pinot Noir offerings. Though challenges arose during the economic downturn, Al persevered, taking full ownership in 2011 and relocating the winery to Watsonville.

Today, Roudon-Smith thrives at a new facility in San Carlos, allowing for refined operations and enhanced wine quality. Our vibrant tasting room, now located in downtown Saratoga at 14572A Big Basin Way, invites wine enthusiasts to savor our exquisite selections.

Our commitment to excellence shines through in our award-winning wines, including exceptional Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, and Zinfandel. A standout favorite is our RSW Cuvée, a delightful house red blend that never fails to enchant.

 

Singer Wine at Baker Lane Estate

grape Cluster - Pixabay - a i generated

Stephen Singer founded Baker Lane in 2003 after decades of work in the wine business in the San Francisco Bay area. He was the wine director at Chez Panisse for many years and was married to owner Alice Waters. He has partnered in the restaurants Cesar in Berkeley and Pizza Vino 707 in Sebastopol. Singer farms an estate vineyard just beyond Sebastopol planted to Syrah and Pinot Noir. The winemaker is Steven Canter. Baker Lane wines have some restaurant and retail distribution and are sold online.

Ojai Vineyard

grape cluster

The Ojai Vineyard, owned by Adam and Helen Tolmach, works closely with a dozen different vineyards on the Central Coast of California and produces wines from syrah, grenache, mourvedre, pinot noir, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and viognier. About 6000 cases are produced each year, divided between 15 bottlings, most of which are vineyard designated wines.

Read more about other Ojai Wineries and Vineyards.

Denner Vineyards & Winery

Corks and glass - Pixabay

The Denner Winery was completed in time for the 2005 harvest. Ron and John believe that great architecture blends with the environment. Denner Winery, therefore is designed to fit into the rolling hills and is complementary to the geography and culture of the Central Coast and the wines they produce.

Anaba Wines

wine and cheese - pixabay

Anaba wines are handcrafted from the best Rhône and Burgundian grape varieties grown at our Carneros Estate vineyard and in selected outstanding vineyard properties throughout Sonoma County. Anaba Wines Rhône-style wines are artistic blends, inspired by the rugged earthiness of France's Rhône Valley and replicated in the rocky Sonoma soils.

Gershon Bachus Vintners

Painting by Agata Zaborowski - woman in bat with glass of wine

Gershon Bachus Vinters is located on De Portola Dr., across from Cougar Winery. Gershon Bachus is a wine producing estate that's located at the top of a hill, providing gorgeous 360 views of Temecula Valley. You drive up a huge hill and park your car in the gravel driveway. It's home to the "seated tasting." You walk in, are warmly greeted by Kenny and/or Christina, have a seat, and enjoy some of the better red wines I've found in Temecula. GBV is more spacious than the typical tasting room experience, so it's great for groups. Tastings are $22 each and the number of wines offered in the tasting is generous.

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