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!