John and Barbara Drady founded SCV with winemaker Anthony Austin in 2001. Their affinity for the Pacific Ocean and surrounding landscape brought them to the Sonoma Coast and their passion for Pinot Noir drove them to create Sonoma Coast Vineyards.
Combining over two decades of wine industry experience, John and Barbara teamed with Tony to utilize his wealth of expertise and experience to create the stunning wines of SCV.
The Winery: Hefty pours and knowledgable pourers. The winery is notable for having 10 different sparkling wines and we took a brief tour of the sparkling wine facilities. I particularly liked the ruby cuvee and most of the wines are great for the price. The Restaurant: All of the food was decent, but I was particularly impressed by the soups. I ordered a corn and clam chowder, which tied together 2 of my favorite soups in creamy and savory perfection. The French onion soup was just as tasty and loaded with cheese.
Painting by Agata Zaborowski
At Souverain the goal is to make authentic wines that are the best expression of each varietal and Alexander Valley. Souverain believes that consumers deserve to drink great wine every night. Souverain love affair with producing wines has stretched back over 60 years and during that time they have produced award winning wines, have received numerous accolades and praise from the wine press.
On October 22, 2007, the tragedy of the Witch Creek Fire struck the southeast part of the San Diego Wild Animal Park, located on the other side of the San Pasqual Valley. As the fire fueled itself by over 100 mph winds, it spread up to Bandy Canyon and created a huge firestorm. The fire consumed the majority of Perrin Oak Ranch and almost took the life of our owner, Duane “D.O.” Perrin while he was sleeping. Thankfully, Duane got to safety in time. The fire destroyed structures, farm equipment and, most of all, about 3,000 avocado trees. The only figures left standing after the fire were the valiant speckled boulders of granite. From that tragic memory, Duane decided to rise up from the ashes and start over. Instead of re-planting avocado trees, he decided to plant wine grapes. Through that move, Speckle Rock Vineyards and DG Cellars were born. Currently, the ranch has more than 23 acres of vineyard composed of Grenache, Tempranillo, Sangiovese, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Carmenere, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Meunier, Clairette Blanche, and Falanghina grapes. Each year we target to plant more acreage to reach our 40-acre goal and ultimately yield 4,000 cases each year and continue to be one of the top vineyards in San Diego, complete with wine tastings, events and much, much more.
Spelletich Family Winery . started with the 1994 harvest in Napa Valley. The first wines produced by winemaker Barb Spelletich, were Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Bodog Red, a blend. With minimal intervention, the Spelletich family – Barb, Timothy, and Kristen -- rely upon its secret weapon: Barb's palate.In 2012, The Spelletich Family Wine Company is united by four brands – Spelletich Cellars, SPELLwine, 3 SPELLS, and Crush 94. Spelletich Cellars produces about 3,000 cases per year made from grapes sourced from some of the finest Napa Valley vineyards. Kristen and Vanessa are so accommodating and helpful that it is impossible not to like what Spelletich Cellars has to offer. For a slice of the Napa Valley without any of the pretense you are likely to find in many of the Valley's high-end tasting rooms, you really couldn't do any better. Great value, great service and a personal touch drawn from years of hard work.
The Spence family's journey on Howell Mountain began in 1994 when Allen and Jacalyn Spence purchased a small piece of land situated at 1,900 feet. Initially, the property was intended to serve as a peaceful retreat from the fog and hustle of San Francisco. However, over time, Allen and Jacalyn realized that this mountain paradise would become much more than just a "weekend getaway."
After becoming full-time residents of Howell Mountain in 1996, Allen and Jacalyn dedicated years to restoring the neglected property. They pruned back the overgrown, 40-year-old table grape vineyard and renovated the orchard, ultimately reviving more than 50 fruit trees.
With the support of their new Howell Mountain neighbors, the Spences quickly became part of a vibrant community of winemakers, wine enthusiasts, and friends. This newfound passion culminated in 1998 at the "Taste of Howell Mountain" auction. Eager to try their hand at winemaking, Allen and Jacalyn placed a bid on a "home winemaker's kit." Their winning bid, which unexpectedly included 2,000 pounds of Howell Mountain Cabernet, marked the beginning of their winemaking journey.
The 60 acre property west of Lodi has been owned and farmed by the Spenker family for more than 100 years. At a home winemaking party Chuck and Bettyann met and fell in love. They started the winery in 1994 as an outgrowth of their interest in maintaining and demonstrating the high quality of their Zinfandel grapes. Jan-April: by appointment (209) 367-0467 May-Dec: Sat & Sun 12-4pm or by appointment
Rooted deeply in the history, winegrowing, and agricultural heritage of Napa Valley, a visit to Spottswoode offers an intimate experience that highlights the winery’s dedication to producing exceptional wines that authentically reflect their time and place.
Estate Tasting
Spottswoode eagerly welcomes guests to experience their current release wines. Visits are available by appointment only, with tastings potentially held outdoors, weather permitting. Due to their use permit with the City of St. Helena, reservations are limited. It is recommended to inquire about availability as early as possible when planning a visit.
Guests who visit Spring Mountain Vineyard will experience a unique estate established in the 1880s. From the greenhouse garden surrounded by fragrant European and American Beauty roses to the canopy of antique olive trees, a visitor is transported to another place in timeless beauty. A perfect opportunity to experience handcrafted, limited production wines modeled after some of France’s finest.
St. Amant Winery is a family owned winery located in Lodi, California that prides itself in producing handcrafted wines of superb quality. Founded in 1979 by Tim and Barbara Spencer, St. Amant crafts distinctive wines from Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian varietals in addition to California’s own Zinfandel.