Wine Guerilla

You will find this tasting room in downtown Forrestville on 116.  This is a great spot to meet your Zinfandelity needs.  When I say this, you must know, this is a Zin house.  This bitchin' spot has cork flooring, modern contemporary look, a wonderful tasting table, copper counter tops on the bar, and beautiful artwork.  Bruce, the vintner and owner, took me through all his awesome Zins - 12 to be exact.  What makes his wines different in this area is that he sources from all the top producers of zinfandel.  Meaning, that although he does small lots, they are premium grapes.  All the grapes are Sonoma county.
One thing that is nice about this place is that you can order lunchbox from Twist, down the street from the tasting room.  Delicious food to go with delicious wine.  There is a patio in back, that is nice in warmer weather.
Most of the wines are between $30-40.   Though there are some deals around $18.
Check it out!

http://www.wineguerrilla.com/

Bobdog Winery at Skypine Vineyards

Decided one afternoon to explore an AVA from the top down, so I went to the highest AVA in Sonoma County - Pine Mountain AVA.   Actually, it is the highest AVA in the United States.  This AVA is most known for Bordeaux grapes, with some Rhone varietals grown.  What is interesting is that grapes grown at elevation (between 1500 to 2500 ft) produce grapes with a higher skin to juice ratio than at lower elevations.  This give a very intense, robust, flavor profile.  Also increases the value of the juice, as less is produced and difficult growing conditions.  The wines produced at elevation are part of a growing ultra premium wine category you may be hearing about.
Now...to Bobdog. The owners, Kandi and Tim, purchased the property over 25 years ago and are growers first.  In the last few years they have started producing wines themselves.  They grow the Noble 5 Bordeaux and make a few blends and a Merlot port-style wine.  When I first got to the winery I realized just how steep a drive it really was and thought what a pain it must be to grow and harvest grapes here.  The view up her is just amazing.  You are in this tiny AVA, bridging Sonoma County and Mendocino Counties and looking down on the hills over Cloverdale.  
These people are a hoot.  Very down to earth.  Very knowledgable.  They do tastings right in the room they produce the wines in.  They even let me join in the process, stirring the "must" for fun (it is a lot of work, btw.)  Tim and Kandi are about the grape...growing it...and making wine with the grape being the star of the show.  They don't want to mess with it or throw too much at it, and don't believe it pushing up the flavors with some oak.  They let the wine shine on it's own merits.
The tasting is well thought out.  They even pair with foods, knowing their wines stand up best to the palate this way.  It was a very nice experience.
All the wines had nice acidity, balanced tannins, and great flavors.  If you tried these without food, you may think them a bit too strong.  With food, however, they are perfectly balanced and give you a great mouthfeel as well as delivering a lush taste compliment to your chosen bite.  I spent a good two hours just talking to the owners about their wine, their vineyard, and their history.  Bobdog was named after their first dog, a Rottweiler named Bob.  The winery is now patrolled by a McNab named Cabernet, Cabbi for short.
Wines are very decently priced, around $30-48.
Definately call for an appointment.  It is a drive up the hill. They are very nice people, but it is a small production winery and they will sit down with you when you come.
This winery is worth the trip up the hill.  Especially if you want to explore the different AVA's or see really what a change in terroir can do to a grape.

http://www.bobdogwine.com/contact/

Cheers.!

Balletto Winery and Vineyards

This extraordinary Pinot house makes some of the best Pinot Noirs out of Russian River Valley.   They are one of the largest growers of Russian River Pinot Noir.  Many other wineries source their grapes from Balletto for both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Of course, they keep the best blocks for themselves and produce fabulous wines at a good value.  You will find this winery on Occidental Road between Hwy 116 and Fulton Roads.  Technically, this is my backyard.  (lucky me.)

I run next to Balletto vineyards at the Laguna de Santa Rosa trail.

Winery is open to the public.  There is a small tasting fee, but totally worth it.  They have one of the best wine clubs around - flexible, friendly and amazing pickup parties.
What they are known for is Pinot Noir, although they have very delicious Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay (including a good unoaked Chard), Zinfandel and Syrah.  Staff is friendly, knowledgable and do not push the sale, which is why I joined the club.  Most of the red wines are between the high-$20s to high-$40s, with significant deals for wine club members.  The whites will run you from $15-20 a bottle.  The one thing about this winery that I really enjoy is that it is completely surrounded by their vineyards.  It is nice to bring a lunch, buy a bottle, sit outside on their nice courtyard, and fall in love with the wine as you sit within the very vineyard it came from.
This is an experience you cannot get at a wine shop or a barn full of bottles.
John Balletto passed up a sport scholarship to farm his family's vegetable farm after the passing of his father. Continuing the legacy, he eventually went from vegetables (the largest vegetable producer north of the Golden Gate bridge) to growing grapes.  They transitioned the produce to grapes in 1999.  In 2010 the winery was honored as the Sonoma County Family Winery of the Year.
The wines I like here most is the Gewurztraminer, Unoaked Chardonnay and their 2010 Burnside Road Pinot Noir.  The Burnside Road Pinot Noir smells of toasted marshmallow on the nose, lush blackberry on the tongue, with a finish of subtle baking spice, such as cinnamon.  What is odd about this Pinot is you can put it up against a dark meat, a steak or a rack of lamb, and it will hold your palate well.  That is a quality you normally find in a Zin or Syrah.  It is also delicious paired with a glass all on its own.
The Unoaked Chardonnay is bright and complex, with hints of a lemon drop.  Great with fish, but not with creamy dishes, as Chardonnay's are normally ok with (it's because it doesn't have the oak and or go through the malolactic fermentation of other chardonnays).  The Gewurztraminer has the smell of orange blossoms, citrus fruits and reminds me of the smells of spring.  The palate has a wonderful citrus and minerally quality with a slight effervescence with only the scant residual sweetness.  Nice wine for the holidays.  Also great on a warm day with some spicy Al Pastor tacos.
I have to go back to the experience of this winery.  I really enjoy the ambiance here...the tasting room vibe...the great staff...the wine club...and the vineyards...and, of course, the wines.

Cheers!

Chateau Adore

I was very excited to visit this winery, as it just opened. This winery is surrounded by their vineyards that rise along the glorious Fountaingrove hills in Russian River Valley. The varietals grown are Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Chardonnay.

For many years Kendall Jackson Winery  sourced their grapes from this vineyard.  when KJ changed sources (to obtain larger lots, no doubt) the growers decide to produce there own award-winning wines. 

The tasting staff who poured for me and my wife was great and very personable.   We tasted a Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon all were amazing. But my favorite was the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. It had a taste of mocha and dark berries with some baking spice.

A side note: This one of the very few wineries in Sonoma County that is Asian-owned. 

Check it out

Copain Wines

You will find this winery on a hilltop with a view that overlooks the Russian River Valley. Tastings are by appointment only and is $20 per person. So be sure to call and set up a time to taste some exquisite wines. Copain produces some knocking Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. The grapes are sourced from mostly Anderson Valley AVA, Yorkville Highlands AVA and Chalone AVA. Though the wines were great as well as the experience helped made by the wine guide who poured for me. I was a little disappointed not to have tasted any wines from there Russian River Valley vineyard that virtually surrounds the winery and tasting room. When I asked the only staff person available what varietal(s) are grown on the property I could not get back a clear answer. Besides that snafu the gentleman that poured for me was very knowledgeable and knew his wines.

Hidden Oak Winery

I went to this winery while doing my spring trip tour around Paso Robles. As you walk into this winery you'll find a flat screen TV on the side of the tasting room with the golf channel on.  My wife who was with me was very glad to see this and was stuck on watching golf during our tasting.  That was, until the owner Mike walked in wearing golf clothes.  My wife and him hit it off immediately, as she's a golfer too.  When he found out that we were from Sonoma county he said "so you're here to taste some real wines!" Mike was a hoot and made our tasting very enjoyable.  I loved tasting their Petite Sirah and Zinfandel.  The 2009 Petite Sirah took a double gold medal from the SF chronicle wine competition. One of the best Petite Sirah's I've had yet. 

Shone Farms Winery

Me and my wife were here during the Strawberry Festival.  Very family friendly environment.  When I went into the pavilion there was wine-tasting, so I got to taste some of the wines produced by the Santa Rosa Junior College students.  Their Syrah and Zinfandel were amazing.  The Syrah was actually an award-winner and I ended up leaving with a bottle of it.
The Gallo family sponsored the wine lab, which was pretty cool to see.  We also signed up for their produce service, and receive a box of farm fresh groceries weekly.  I like the idea of buying local and having it come directly to my kitchen from.

http://www.shonefarm.com/winery

Sbragia Family Vineyards

I went to Sbragia for an odd reason.  Its name has come up several times through my wine travels.  Finally I get invited in the most unique way - Twitter.  While I was checking into a restaurant that was nearby, Andrew (marketing guru from Sbragia) sent me a tweet inviting me to stop by.  So I stepped up to the challenge.  Made the short drive to just shy of Lake Sonoma, where you will find Sbragia perched on the hillside.

Making the drive out there I noticed there were clusters of deep red dirt and some beige dirt.  I'd only seen one or two other areas with such diverse variance in soils.  This is indicative of the uniqueness of the Dry Creek Valley.  I'm always intrigued to see the red dirt found in volcanic areas like Lake County and the nearby Rockpile AVA.

The winery is luxurious, has an amazing view down the entire valley.  Outdoor seating is trendy, wicker pillow top sofa's for enjoying the view and some wine.  There are also bistro tables to enjoy your picnic lunch or a snack from the local selection of nibbles.  There is indoor/outdoor music and had a nice run of R&B. 

Walking in I felt like the "Man".  Had Al Green playing, cool air conditioning, nice artwork, eclectic tables and chairs made of barrels, and, of course, a fine selection of Dry Creek's finest wines.

This winery specializes in making delicious Chardonnay's, Zinfandel's and kick-ass Cabs.  Did I say kick ass cabs?  Yes I did.  

Fortunately I was there to visit only one lady today, Zinfandel.  I had two Zinfandels, Gino's Vineyard and La Promessa.  Both were very good.  From both I got a toasted marshmallow caramel taste that I love and don't come across too often from a Zinfandel.  I've had Pinots that had this character, but this was a first for a Zin.   The Gino's Vineyard was more dark berry, white pepper, soft vanilla, soft spice, and good to have with a little BBQ.  La Promessa is from same property the wine is produced on, at the warmer end of the valley and higher in elevation.  This changed the Zin completely.  La Promessa gave me her kiss of beeswax, with some sweet pipe tobacco.  I got more red berry, currant, peach pit, white pepper, but with soft tannins and a supple mouthfeel.  That's a mouthful, I know.  But I took the time to savor, as I ordered a glass of each and enjoyed slowly on the patio.  

There is something very amazing about sitting there, tasting the wine, seeing the very vineyard the grapes came from, smelling the soil, appreciating the work that went in from the soil to my glass.  It is a wonderful experience and one I speak of often in my blog.

All in all, it is a great experience.  While leaving I got to meet with Andrew and some of the staff.  We discussed the history of the property and found out the Russian River Brewing company started out there.  Interesting piece of history to leave you with.

Make a day of Dry Creek Valley.  Start at Sbragia and work your way home.  You will not be disappointed. And bring some lunch.

Seghesio Family Vineyards

During my Zin travels I had to make my way to Seghesio, as they have a reputation for delicious Zins. Besides having their fabled delicious Zins, they also have a awesome Sangiovese and a varietal I had not had before, Aglianico which was a good heavy red wine.
Seghesio has a long history of making wines, all the way back to the 1800s. The tasting room was very open and welcoming, with a great view of the expansive barrel room with large timbers and a rustic charm. One thing about this place is they have these wonderfully animal head wine top pourers. If you are a fan of Game of Thrones, they kind of looked like the Stag, Wolf, Eagle (and they also had a duck.) Kinda fun, something different. 

Zin lovers must make a stop here!

Mazzocco Winery

Being that one of my favorite red wines is Zinfandel, I cannot pass up the chance to go to the House of Zin.  This winery boasts more single vineyard zinfandels than any other in the region (at 26).  They sell out quickly of their vintages, being that most are small production (9 barrels avg).  Every Zinfandel that I had tasted amazing, and had different flavor profiles from vanilla and  jammy to peppery and soft on the fruit.  

The scenery is nice, witch looks like an old hop kiln - nice decor and a nice open outdoor area to lounge and enjoy good company and definitely good wine.  Located next to the Healdsburg municipal airport, you can also watch small planes takeoff and land from the hill overlooking the vineyards.

Staff is friendly and knew a lot about their wines and the entire Dry Creek area.

Thatcher Winery

Thacher Winery was bittersweet. My wife and I went out with our Passport to Paso Robles and was going out for a complimentary tasting and the purchase discounts. It was one of the wineries that was the most furthest out from where we were staying. We were met with our wine guide telling us that they were no longer participating in the passport deal and offers (despite it being printed) and that if we wanted to taste it would be $20 per person. So, we shared a tasting and went through their wines. They had a Viognier that was very delicious. They had a nice Syrah and a GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) and a Zinfandel and a red blend. I liked all the wines, but was put off by the no passport deal after a long drive.  So we decided not to purchase and just payed the tasting fee. The wines where priced between $25-$40 per bottle. On a good note this winery is a member of the Rhone Rangers.

www.thacherwinery.com

Veris Cellers

The service was great. They had some good wine.  The environment was very welcoming.  The wine guide took us through the entire wine list.  We ended up leaving with a sparkling Almond wine (as a gift) and a rose that consisted of Granache Blanc and Temperanillo.  What was unique about this winery was the fact that you can rent golf balls and hit some balls out into the vineyard.  Definately a place for those who are lovers of both golf and wine.

Changala Winery

This tasting room shares space with Kaleido Wines. Our wine guide was great but the tasting had a odd approach you had to taste wines with chocolate.  I have had a chocolate that went well with a savory wine, with one exception for Syrah and dark chocolate from other wineries.  Chocolate is normally reserved for the port-type dessert wines.  The gourmet chocolates were infused with either basil, cayenne pepper, salt and where very delicious.  However the chocolates modified and masked the taste of the wines and didn't pair with the wine.  I feel like I missed out on some of the flavors of the wine. I could only taste extreme tart sour berries. Wines were priced between $25-$30 per bottle. If I go back here I will try a tasting without the infused chocolates if aloud.

www.changalawinery.com

Enriquez Estate Wines

You will find this winery on Adobe road, very easy to miss, but you don't want to.  As long as you have number, call the owner and she can help you find it with ease.

Tastings are by appointment only and she personalizes the tour for you.  It was great being taken around the vineyards, with the planes taking off and landing around the Petaluma airport, and the golf course nearby.  

What she had available to taste was a white blend (Brisa - Sauv Blanc, Muscat and Chard), a (must try) rose of Tempranillo,  an estate Tempranillo (also delicious) and two Pinot Noirs.  As we tasted, Cecilia told her story of how she came to be in the wine business and her family's shared passions for wanting to grow wine.  Enriquez is their family name and they are proud of their Mexican heritage and it comes through on the label and shines in the wine.

The wines are priced between $20-$40 per bottle

Check it out!

Still Waters Vineyards

Wonderful view of the vineyards and great greenery to walk around. Has nice outdoor seating that faces the vineyards along the hillside. You also will see old olive trees.
Walking inside, very friendly, warm staff. Wines were great. I enjoyed their Chardonnay and Viognier and their Syrah. I ended up taking a bottle of each. While we did our tasting, we also got to taste their estate olive oil with fresh bread.

Their chardonnay has a very rich creme brulee, buttery flavor, with hints of pineapple with a little coconut finish on the end. The Viognier was very floral, citrus, honeysuckle. The palate was clean, crisp, asian pear, not syrupy or oily - perfectly balanced. The prices per bottle of wine is between $20-$40.

Compared to the other wineries in Paso, this would rank near the top.

http://www.stillwatersvineyards.com/

Polmar Junction Vineyard & Winery

This winery was very down-to earth. When I say that I mean laid-back and not at all pretentious, like what you'd sometimes find in most Napa Valley tastings rooms.

Becky, our wine guide, was knowledgeable and awesome. She gave us several maps of Paso Robles and gave us several recommendations of places to visit, based on our taste preferences. Of their wines, the Viognier, Zin, and Cab Sauv where all great. Most of the wines were estate grown and all award winners. The wines I enjoyed the most was a red blend called the 2010 Train Wreck and a late harvest Viognier called Amber Moonlight. they also had another late harvest Viognier that was beyond but amazing. Wines average between $30-$50 per bottle. This winery is also apart of the Rhone Rangers which is an organization dedicated to promoting and educating Rhone varietals to the public.

Next time I come back to the Paso area, I'm definitely going to be back here!

www.pomarjunction.com

Lone Oak Estate Winery

  So if you're ever out in Cloverdale you will find this winery.  It is conveniently on Hwy 128.  Small production winery.  Most of their wines are estate grown.  They have  a chardonnay, a merlot/rose and a 2002 Merlot that is amazing for the price.  They also have a great 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2005 Sangiovese.  One thing that makes this winery unique is that they let their wines age in the barrels longer than is common in the industry. Staff here was very friendly laid back and knowledgable on wine. Check it out

Chateau Montelena Winery

This winery is historic for making a chardonnay that beat Frances in a blind tasting in 1976 putting Napa and many other Californian wineries on the map for producing great wines.
I took my wife out here for Mothers day here in 2011. The Winery has an amazing beautiful view of the hills a lovely  decorated garden and pond. Of course if you seen the movie Bottled Shock you will see the classic land marks shown in the film. The wine tasting experience was great  and our server was a true gentleman. Loved the Riesling Chardonnay and  2008 Estate Zinfandel, 2008 Estate Cab were all awesome we left with a bottle of Riesling and the 08 Cab. Prices per bottle are between  $40-$150. Check it Out



www.montelena.com/

Inman Family Wines

This is a cool spot looks like a regular barn on the outside but as you enter the side you see patio furniture.  Walk inside you'll find a tasting room with counter tops made of broken wine bottles that look like multi colored cortz stone with recycled wood very cool. This winery mostly do Pinots  Chardonnays but I must say I'm a fan of the rose of pinot called the Endless Crush and the beautiful romantic story behind the name. I wont ruin it but you must walk in and try the wines and hear the story from vintner Kathleen Inman. Prices per bottle is $30 -$40.

Iron Horse Winery

You will find this beautiful winery in the small town of Sebastopol out in Sonoma County. Its in the Green Valley AVA. Iron Horse specializes in making premium Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and sparkling wines. Tasting fee is a steep $15 for still wine flight and $20 per person for sparkling wine flight. Most of the wines here are between $30-$100 per bottle. My favorite wine here is the sparkling wedding cuvée.  This winery has a wonderful view great music and friendly staff. Check it out if your ever in Sonoma County.

Kunde Family Estate Winery

This is a great winery with lots of outdoor setting. If  you were out in Kenwood and wanted to grab a bottle and have a picnic out front Kunde would be the perfect place. My wife took me here for Fathers Day last year. We did the the tour hilltop tasting. Since it was Fathers Day there were very few people out wine tasting. So we turned out to be the only ones to do the hilltop tour. We got a guided tour in the van, seeing some spots such as the boxing ring from the movie Bottle Shock and a tour of the vineyards. When we got to the very top there is this awesome view and a wine bar with two very comfortable chairs staring out at the valley. I loved all the wines I tasted. I ended up leaving with a bottle of Port, Cab Reserve, Chardonnay and a Zinfandel. My wife treated me very well that day. Most of the wines are between $30-$45 per bottle.

http://www.kunde.com/

Fritz Underground Winery

I and a group of 8 were doing a limousine wine tour. Our driver recommended we check out Fritz Underground Winery. When we came in to the winery we get scolded at by two of the staff members for not calling in to make an appointment first. We were then told to get out of the tasting room and to sit outside if we wanted to do a tasting (with an eye roll). I and my group felt really bad.

We were seated out at the picnic benches by the hillside where there was a great view of a lake below. A lady came out 10 minutes later and took us through the wines. Maybe it was the scolding but the wines were just ok to me. No one else came inside the tasting room so we didn't seem to be intruding in any appointments during our visit. We left with a sour bitter taste in our mouths due to the level of service we got.

I understand we were a big group and respect that some wineries require a fair notice of time to accommodate a group coming in. However I felt like some of the staff handled us the wrong way. As if we were naughty children who had mud and dung on our feet. We would of rather been told to kindly leave.

If you plan on going here be sure to call first!

Navarro Vineyards & Winery

Its unusual that I go to a winery and find that I like the white wines better than the reds. The reds where decent but what blew me away was the Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer and the Edelzwicker a blend of Gewurztaminer and Riesling. To be honest, I liked every one of their white wines. But those were the ones that really appealed to my palate that day. Staff was very polite and knowledgeable too. Good place to stop by if your visiting Mendocino County. There is plenty of out door seating. You can by some of their cheeses with a bottle of wine. Sit outside and enjoy the scenery with some good company. So, if you like whites mines, definitely make a stop by this place.

Sarzotti Vineyard & Winery

It is always nice to go to a winery and be able speak to the vintner. When I came into this winery I got a down to earth country vibe , with Garth Brooks playing in the background. There were nice assortments of cheese and crackers to eat while tasting. This winery is family owned and operated very small production. They have really good award winning Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon with very fair pricing. The wines here are very bold, heavy in tannins almost a kick in the mouth in a good way. These are wines to go with a beef or lamb dish with some water,  not something to drink outside on a hot day. If your visiting Paso Robles you must make a trip to this winery.

Old World Winery

What I liked about OWW, is that they make wines both new style and old world style. One of the wines I liked during barrel tasting was the Sauv Blanc - fermented in a cement egg shaped fermenters and then aged in neutral oak - which was crisp yet had a minerally taste to it which I liked and appreciated. I also enjoyed from the barrel a grape varietal called ABORIOU which is rarely grown in California and almost an extinct grape varietal originally from France. Very interesting and look forward to its bottling. Vintner/Owner Darek Towbridge runs a very friendly winery. I actually brought my son by one day to buy some wine. I ended up staying over for an hour because my son got to play with Dareks kids and see some of the farm animals they have on the property. Darek makes a special secret blend of red wines sold in ez top jugs known as the Juggernaut. the cost is only $25 but you can return the bottle and get a full jug for $20. ( nice way to recycle!) Most of the wines are between $20-$40 per bottle. This winery is easy to miss, being the first winery on River road off 101 in Santa Rosa.Ca but worth the stop.
www.oldworldwinery.com

My Experience at Imagery Winery

I've said I would share my bad experiences as well as the good ones. Well
folks, here's a negative one.

I went to this winery first in the summer of 2006 and had a great
experience. This was pretty special as it was the very first winery I went
to for wine tasting. Because it was my first winery experience, Imagery was
a special place to me. There are various uncommon varietals that I was
introduced to here, such as Viognier (which is now my favorite white wine.)
Besides the delicious wines, I loved how each bottle had very cool art work
from artists around the world.

My very last visit was in December of 2010. I brought a family friend here
to check out the art work and and the great wines. Started off ok and we
thought our tasting room lady was nice - just busy multitasking with
multiple people who were also tasting. But then we overheard a man in the
group she was helping as she looked over at us and he said "you can put
koolaid in the wine they wouldn't know the difference." The whole group
laughed along with the server. Of course, at this point I'm hoping this is
not really happening or maybe that I might be misinterpreting what just
occurred. But I couldn't hide the fact that the jerks comment was towards me
and my friend. The server did not defend us or realize how wrong that
statement was and pretty much condoned this kind of behavior. It took a few
seconds to take in this whole surreal event. I was very angry and enraged
but did not want to show how badly I was bothered by it. I felt like we
where in an environment that we were being told we didn't belong in and was
established only for people who were white.

My friend and I looked at each other, poured our wine into the dump bucket,
put our glasses down, put $20 tasting fee down on the counter, and left
before we exploded. FYI I hate koolaid, water melon, grape soda, but I do
love wine and fried chicken.

Though I had my first wine tasting experience her almost 7 years ago I can
never go back here. I can't be angry at this winery for how customers and
patrons may treat me. But I'm definitely disturbed on how the staff handles
racist customers, even if they do plan on buying a case or 2 of wine.

Due to my experience here I cannot recommend this place because of the level
of customer service. This is sad to me, because the wines produced here are
actually unique and well-made.

Prager Portworks

I love a winery that does lots of port tastings. As you walk inside the winery into the tasting room you find thousands of dollar bills with guest signatures on them stapled to the ceilings and walls. There is also a cool cigar section. There was 4 ports to taste from to ruby style ports, one tawny and a decadent white port there was a petite syrah and a late harvest riesling as well. Tasting fee is $10 per person and you get a wine glass at the end. I left with a bottle of 2006 Tomas port.
The staff here was very welcoming knowledgeable and made me feel at home. This winery also does custom bottle etching for special occasions. As a very good friend had a bottle of port made for me to give to my son when he is of age to drink.port if stored right port can last many years. Prices for port here are from $25-$50 per bottle. If you go here be sure this places is your last stop as your palate will be shot after having sweet wines.

www.pragerport.com‎

Tara Bella Winery & Vineyards

 Out in the Russian River Valley Tara Bella produces delicious Estate Cabernet Sauvignon wines. I got to speak with the owners son Dillon who helps out with allot of the work around the vineyard and the process of making wine. I was very excited about visiting this winery because its not normally open to the public. Also it is very rare for Cabernet Sauvignon to to grow out in Russian River Valley being its a colder climate. The cabs have  the aromas of tobacco and green bell pepper. On the palate I get soft tannins with blackberries. Tastings are by appointment only price range is from $60-$80 per bottle.  If you are a lover of Cabernet Sauvignon you should try out this winery.

Battaglini Winery

What I like about this winery is that it has a ma and pa feeling when you go into the tasting room. I called to make an appointment for a tasting. When I got to the parking lot the owner and vintner Joe Battaglini walks out of his house and greets me with a wine glass and walked me to his shack where his wines are kept. Joe makes his wines the old Italian way, where his award winning wines from whites to reds are meant to age for 10-15 years. I had a Chardonnay that was vintage 2001 along with Zinfandel vintage 2002 that both tasted great. I left with a few bottles of Zin. Wines here are fairly priced  from $15-$40 per bottle.

Check It Out!

http://www.battagliniwines.com

Karah Estate Vineyards

This place was formerly known as Windy Hill EstateWinery. Same vintner owner, same grapes . You can even get some of the 04, 05, 06 vintages Pinot Noir under the Windy Hill label. The new style wines are not aged as long under the Karah Estate label. This winery specializes in making great quality Burgundy wines. My favorite is the 2010 Karah Estate Pinot Noir that has the aromas of berries and toast marshmallows and baking spice. Yes I said toasted marshmallows!  The 2011 Karah Estate Chardonnay has the taste of pineapple and creme bulee with a nutty finish. The sell prices fluctuate but price ranges are from $15-$40 per bottle. The gentleman who pours here name is Bill. Bill is very knowledgeable and a hoot. Since the winery is on a hill top you get an awesome peaceful view of the Petaluma valley.

http://dev.karahestate.com/vineyards/

Taft Street Winery

Taft Street Winery is one of the hidden gems of Russian River Valley. This winery is off occidental road as you cross 116 going west. The wines I enjoyed the most was the Riesling, Rose of Pinot Noir, 2011 Chardonnay and the 09 Merlot. By the way all these wines are award winning in major wine competition events. What I like about Taft Street is you can buy great quality wine without a huge mark up. Most of the prices ranging from $18-$36 a bottle. Staff here is knowledgeable on there wines and other wineries in the Russian River Valley area. Check it out worth the trip.

www.taftstreetwinery.com

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

This is a beautiful winery inside and out with a friendly staff that gives a peaceful feel  to the whole experience. The wines will run between $30-$50. The zinfandel wines here are very good. You can get a delicious generous size port sold in 375 mil bottle for $38. My favorite wine here is the red blend known as the 2010 Rockpile red. This wine is smokey and makes me think of bacon and BBQ. The food wine pairing is $40 and worth ever penny. Definitely a must go to.

www.stfranciswinery.com

Gamba Vineyards & Winery

Gamba Vineyards & Winery specializes in old vine zinfandels. In my opinion some of the best zins I have every had. This winery is only open on Sundays by appointment only. First time I was here was actually during the Follow the Olivet Road wine event and was blown away by the awesome live jazz music playing outside. There is meats and olives served during tasting. It is really something to ask the vintner how long the winery has been here and have them respond with "my family planted these grapes in the early 1900 and been here ever since." That's pretty humbling for a wine lover. If you like zinfandel, you should check out Gamba Vineyards & Winery

Vigilance Winery & Vineyards

I went here while on vacation with my wife. There are really good wines produced here for very low prices. It really should be a crime! The staff was friendly and took us on a tour of the vineyards. We ended up buying a bottle with a picnic kit of goat cheese, smoked salmon and crackers and sat outside at the picnic benches and enjoyed the glorious view of a Clear Lake and the vineyards. I know Lake County has a bad reputation, but if your a true oenophile you should make the trip out to this winery.

www.vigilancewinery.com

Yorkville Cellars

This is the place if you like the wines of Bordeaux, individually and collectively. And when I mean Bordeaux, I mean the varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Carmenere and Malbec. They actually had two of the white Bordeaux grapes, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion (which is rare to find in California). They even have a late-harvest Semillion. The wines that made my tongue all happy and excited was the Malbec and their Sweet Malbec. Be sure to ask about their deals. Staff is professional, friendly, knowledgeable. So if you are out in Yorkville (Anderson Valley AVA), do not pass this place by.

 Cheers!

www.yorkvillecellars.com

Campovida Winery

In the town of Hopland,Ca Anderson Valley appellation you will find a beautiful winery that happens to be an Inn as well.  I went here with my wife on the way to Lake county to do more wine tasting when we saw the sign for Campovida winery.  Very artsy, contemporary tasting room with a friendly down to earth staff.  Some of the wines were roussanne, marsanne, viognier, syrah ( rhone varietals).  Their zinfandel and charbono cabs were pretty darn good.  While we did our tasting we had an option of having bread and olive oil or local honey.  We were encouraged to check out the beautiful organic garden, and then return to try some more reds.  This is a great spot to bring kids to because it is so close to nature.  Tasting fee is $5 dollars wines run from $20-$40 per bottle.  Check this place out.  

www.campovida.com

Best view of Russian River Valley

OK i dub Paradise Ridge Winery to be one of the most beautiful wineries in Santa Rosa with an awesome view.

Though it is kind of out of the way from the other wineries in the town of Santa Rosa. It is a hidden gem in the Fountaingrove Hills. The Vineyard is surrounded by unique art work and trails to various sculptures.

The other thing about this winery is its wonderful view of Santa Rosa. There are bistro and picnic tables where you can bring your food, buy a glass or bottle of wine and have a stellar time.

The staff is great and very knowledgeable. Now to finally get to the wine. Most of the wines are estate produced. You will find sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, blush, cabernet sauvignon, Zinfandel and some good blends most of the grapes are estate grown.

 It is always gratifying to taste a wine and see the very field it came from.

Everett Ridge

I was referred to go to Everett Ridge from some good friends. Finally took a trip out to taste the wines and got a chance to meet one of the owners.

One thing about this winery...it has a wonderful view of the entire valley. Whether you are sitting out at the tables or inside doing a tasting. Staff is very friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. I was a fan of quite a few of the wines. What stuck out for me was the Zin-a and the Diablita Red Blend and the Diablita Blanca. It is very rare that I go to a winery and from day 1 join the wine club - I did here!

I was surprised not to see too many awards, but found that the family does not focus on the competitions.

One thing that is unique about this winery is that it is owned and operated by an African American family (4 brothers and their Dad).

I also liked their port, which was fortified with grappa made from grape skins. This is my favorite type of port, and only a select few wineries fortify with grappa.


http://www.EverettRidge.com

Robert Young Estate Winery

If you like the kind of red wines that suck the moisture out of your mouth this is the place for you. The Cab Franc and Petite Verdot are awesome but a kick in the mouth. All the wines here are good. The hostess took me to the wine cave that stays at a constant cool temperature for storing the wine. I left with the Cab Franc and Petite Verdot. The Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignon are excellent. You will find this winery in Geyserville, Ca Alexander Valley appellation.

http://ryew.com

Kendall Jackson

I treated myself to a petite food wine pairing. Robert was the hostess who served and explained the wines while each chef explained the dish that they served. What I enjoyed most was a syrah wine that paired well a crispy fatty bbq pork belly slider omg good! I felt like a king here great service and had a wonderful experience. But better if you go with company. 

http://www.kj.com

Carol Shelton

Zin, Zin, and more Zin. Carol Shelton makes some awesome zinfandel. She also makes a delicious syrah and rose. The first time I went here I actually had a chance to be poured by vintner and owner Carol Shelton herself. She is very kind and humble. One of my favorite Zins is, the Karma Zin, and the Wild Thing Zin. This is an urban winery in a cluster of other urban wineries in northwest  Santa Rosa, Ca. 

http://www.carolshelton.com

J Rickards Winery

Darn good wine for reasonable prices.  What I enjoyed here was the old vine zins, the cab and the malbec. The rose here is a must try as it's perfect to have on a hot day.  If you like dessert wines there are three that the vintner produces, such as the los ninos perdidos that is a port style and the twilight a late harvest sauv blanc wine.  The friendly vintner and staff makes the environment here very welcoming and laid back. You will find this winery in South Cloverdale, Ca Alexander Valley appellation. 

http://www.jrwinery.com

Sunce Winery and Vineyards

Out of all the wineries I have been to Sunce is still my favorite winery when it comes to great experience and variety of good wines made here. I recently tried the merlot port that is still aging in the barrel. Being a port guy I couldn't help but to buy futures on what Frane (the owner/wine maker) has aging.  I'm still in love with the Les Trois Amis a splendid silky red wine blend.  The staff and wonderful family here are absolutely awesome.  When ever I take my family and friends out wine tasting this is the first place I have them check out.
I'm a wine club member here so I've had the pleasure of helping out at some of the events.  I had the pleasure to be apart of harvesting the estate pinot noir.

For the last two years I've helped at the annual barrel tasting events and had a great time!

http://www.suncewinery.com/

The First Pour

I have made my journey across most of northern california, tasting many good wines.  Most of the time I've had great experiences at the wineries I've visited.  On this blog I'd like to tell you about the varietals that grow in Northern California, the great wineries, and which wineries to avoid.  My wife and I live in Russian River Valley appellation so most of our review are of this area, but we have traveled to Dry Creek, Alexander Valley, Napa and Lake County.