“What the heck are people doing growing grapes and making wine from way out on a ridge top above the cold Pacific Ocean? I mean, it is remote. And mountainous. And, frankly, the weather can be a little inhospitable at times.” The quick answer goes something like – this is where our research and luck led us. The longer answer follows.....
Although Failla (pronounced FAY-LA) has a relatively brief history, it is marked by complexity. The first vintage release, under the name Failla-Jordan, was in 1998. That year, Failla debuted its Alban Vineyard Viognier from Edna Valley and Que Syrah Syrah from Sonoma Coast, while simultaneously planting the initial blocks at their Estate Vineyard in Cazadero. The first Estate releases would not emerge for several more years.
Ehren Jordan, the founder, has a passion for experimenting with his favorite varietals, exploring their diverse expressions across different climates—cool, cooler, and coolest—as well as varying soil types and rootstocks.
In 1998, Failla acquired a parcel adjacent to an earlier purchase and planted it with five acres of rootstock in 2002, later grafting Pinot Noir clones the following year. Ehren's viticultural training in France profoundly influences his farming and winemaking decisions. Today, Failla’s eleven acres of Estate vineyards produce Syrah, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir that embody the essence of California’s coolest regions.
After honing his skills with Pinot Noir from Keefer Ranch Vineyard in the Russian River Valley in 1999, Ehren sought out unique, cool-climate Pinot Noir sources to fuel his ongoing experimentation and passion.
This is a small vineyard making only 3500-4000 cases a year. A varitey for wines to choose from. Alicante Bouschet, Barbera, Barbera Rosato, Black Muscat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Port, Primitivo, Sangiovese, Shiraz / Syrah, Tempranillo, Verdelho, Vinho Tinto, Viognier, Zinfandel
Photo courtesy of photographer Randy Caparoso
Founded more than 125 years ago, Wente Vineyards is the country’s oldest, continuously operated family-owned winery. Today, the winery maintains its leadership role in California winegrowing under ownership and management by the Fourth and Fifth Generations of the Wente family. Blending traditional and innovative winemaking practices, the winery draws from approximately 3,000 acres of sustainably farmed Estate vineyards to create an outstanding portfolio of fine wines. Located just east of San Francisco in the historic Livermore Valley, Wente Vineyards is recognized as one of California’s premier wine country destinations, featuring wine tasting, fine dining and championship golf.
Unconventional by Nature - Winemaker Robert Morse
Terroir is everything, but so as they say is location, and sometimes those aren’t the same place. We have chosen to stay at our vineyard, winery and estate tasting room to allow our customers to experience our unigue terroir. Opposed to what might seem apparent by the concentration of valley wineries, the best vineyard sites are not necessarily alongside the pre-existing major thoroughfares.
In the Foothills, we can grow any warm climate varietals but focus on those that perform at their best in granitic soils. Italian and Rhone varietals benefit from our consistently ideal climate. Our vineyard and winery’s location straddles ridgelines above an elevation of 2000 ft, benefitting from cooling afternoon breezes, abundant sunshine and low yielding rocky soils resulting in our unique terroir.
The Il Gioiello, “the jewel,” name comes from the final home of famed astronomer and scientist Galileo Galilei. Our 2 Roads brand name was inspired by my favorite Robert Frost poem and Morse is my name and most importantly the name of my parents. All three have inspired a slightly different approach to my choices and my respect for integrity, honesty and hard work.
Our wines and winery reflect these values; unpretentious, no concentrates or additives, just wine grapes and great value wines. In my life, the right wine has always been the wingman of a good meal, not the star of the meal. I recall great meals far better than other pleasures and that is why we make “food wines”.
As the French proverb says, “to have a great meal, one requires great hunger”. Having 17 unique estate varietals and clones allow us to create complexity and balance in our wines difficult to achieve with single varietals.
When asked about my favorite wine, the answer is always the same, “what are we eating”. If I’m having a glass of wine without the benefit of food, our 2 Roads blends Crossroad and La Strada are soft, fruity and complex.
photo - courtesy photographer Randy Caparoso
Alapay owners Scott and Rebecca Remmenga are passionate about their wines and giving each customer personalized attention within an approachable, relaxing, non-intimidating setting. Alapay does not distribute to wholesalers, restaurants or wine shops, so you will only find these special wines in their seaside wine cellar. They pride themselves on being part of the total wine production process and being "hands-on winemakers".
Mount Palomar Winery, located in the Temecula Valley wine appellation, is a fine wine estate dedicated to making wines of distinctive taste and high quality. Located among rolling hills and mesa lands at 1400 feet elevation, Mount Palomar is a working wine estate with 45 acres of producing vineyards overlooked by the Palomar Mountain range. John H. Poole established the original Mount Palomar vineyards, and was Mount Palomar Winery's first winemaker in 1975. He created a place where people could immerse themselves in the world of fine wine in a pleasant and relaxed Wine Country atmosphere. Today, Mount Palomar’s winemaker James Rutherford is a Northern California transplant who received his degree from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. He gained most of his experience on the Central Coast in both the Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo wine regions.
I sat on the Patio listening to some awesome music. Three very nice ladies were sketching while the music played! I had the best lunch, Chicken, Artichoke- sun dried tomatoes-feta cheese and roasted garlic flatbread! Glass of Dry Riesling! Delicious! The perfect outdoor day! If you have never been there, I suggest you go and relax on the patio for some great food and delicious wine tasting!
Hart's Desire had absolutely exceptional wines, and very many at that. They had a lot of varietals that you rarely find elsewhere in Sonoma County except for in blends, such as Malbec, Claret, and Cabernet Franc. Their tasting room has beautiful artwork and has an old school jukebox playing great tunes!
Victorian winery owners, Joe and Kay Berghold, are collectors at heart. For nearly two decades, the couple purchased and stored antiques from the American Victorian period (1860 – 1900) with a goal in mind – to build an architecturally unique winery and tasting room representative of the era of the pieces in their collection – and the same era of beginning of Lodi wine history.
At Brick Barn Wine Estate, a winemaking philosophy is embraced that is deeply rooted in the character of the estate vineyard and the unique attributes of its location. Guided by the essence of the vineyard, the estate follows non-invasive farming practices, allowing the fruit to express its inherent qualities, resulting in wines of remarkable personality and distinction.
The commitment to the "will of the vineyard" is reflected in the estate’s approach, with minimal interventions, purposeful inputs, and a dedication to showcasing terroir clarity. This philosophy demands constant vigilance both in the vineyard and the cellar, where winemaking practices are adapted to the nuances of each variety and vineyard lot.
Under the discerning guidance of Winemaker Adrian Bolshoi, a diverse array of fermentation and maturation vessels, including neutral oak barrels, new oak barrels, oak puncheons, stainless steel, and concrete, are employed. Each wine undergoes a tailored maceration and fermentation process to accentuate and celebrate its unique characteristics.
Brick Barn Wine Estate’s pursuit of excellence remains unwavering. The team is steadfast in their quest to amplify the voice of each vineyard block, continuously exploring new techniques to honor the terroir’s intention and unlock its boundless potential for greatness.
Adrian Bolshoi, the winemaker at Brick Barn Wine Estate, brings a wealth of experience and a global perspective to his craft. Growing up in Moldova, a region known for its wine production, Adrian learned the art of winemaking from his family. Inspired by this heritage, he pursued enology studies at the Polytechnical University of Moldova.
After completing his education, Adrian sought to expand his knowledge of winemaking methods and technologies, immersing himself in New World practices in 2011. Since joining Brick Barn Wine Estate in 2019, Adrian has risen to the position of winemaker. His focus on crafting wines that reflect the essence of each varietal has earned him recognition for his exceptional skill and dedication. For Adrian, winemaking is not just a profession, but a passion deeply rooted in family and tradition.
