VJB Vineyard and Cellars

What I like about VJB is as soon as I walk in I feel like a celebrity.  Everyone recognizes me, some even by name.  They make sure that I, and the guests I bring, are well taken care of.  Usually I am greeted by Henry Belmonte, who greets everyone and makes you feel welcome.  

This winery combines great Cal-Ital wines with fresh Italian-inspired California cuisine.  

The winery is setup with a tasting room, deli, outdoor pizza oven, dessert/gelato bar and coffee bar, all surrounding an open, inviting courtyard.  Nice music plays throughout the property, which is located in Kenwood.

The wines they produce are Cal-Ital varietals, along with some of the local varietals.  They make a Primotivo, Aglianico, Barbera, Montepulciano, Albarino, Tocai Fruilano, and Sangiovese, along with some blends.  There is Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Zinfandel, as well.  You can either do a tasting flight, or do wine by the glass.  You can order a pizza, prepared fresh, along with some nice antipasto salads (gluten free)  from the deli, and enjoy on the patio.  In the courtyard are nice patio tables with comfortable seating and umbrellas.   You can have either a romantic lunch for two, or end a nice day of wine tasting with a group and some tasty small bites.  To me this is a one stop shop because you can get snacks, entrees, desserts, coffee, and, oh, yes, wine.  

The architecture is interesting, as well. The main building is a stone building, newly built.  It was fun watching the building go up.  The main building houses the tasting room, deli and an art gallery/great room upstairs.  There is a nice view of the Mayacamas mountains from the north window and the courtyard from the south.  

This is a great place to escape into.  It is almost as if as you walk through the gate you are transported to another place.  I really do like that experience of being able to come taste wine, get tasty food, sit, people watch in the courtyard, get gelato or coffee, and relax.    The wines are only available at the winery, but it is certainly worth the trip for both the wines and the experience.

Cheers!

http://vjbcellars.com/

Fog Crest Vineyard and Winery

Tucked up on a side of the hill overlooking Laguna de Santa Rosa is an unexpected treat in our valley - Fog Crest Winery.
One of the newest wineries in RRV.  It has been around for a while but recently opened a tasting room the public.  This is a burgundy house, specializing in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  I would consider their wines in the premium category for this area.
What is nice about this winery is a great hillside view.  But inside, nice concrete floors, nice ambiance, fireplace, comfortable furniture and nice music.  You have the option to taste either indoors on the couches or counter, or outside at teak tables overlooking the vineyards and Santa Rosa.  The view is expansive, over vineyards, and clear to Taylor Mountain.
Tasting flights are available.  They also sell wine by the glass.  They also offer a cheese plate, perfectly paired with local cheeses and their wines.
One of the wines I really like here is the Elevage Chardonnay.   The wine has a citrus nose, but peach, mango and tangerine on the palate.  Mouthfeel is slightly buttery, with a nice long finish.  It is $45 a bottle, which may be on the steeper side for some wine drinkers, but well worth it with a nice meal.  Perfect for fall, maybe with a butternut squash soup or harvest vegetable dishes.  It paired perfectly with the Humbolt Fog cheese that was part of the cheese plate.  I'd also like it with a nice local goat cheese.
The Rose was a nice treat.  Awesome porch sitting wine.  It is a wine you could share with anyone and they would like it.   Nice bright strawberry flavors, a little buttery (even though this is done in the saignée method) with a smooth, creamy finish.
Now for the big shots, the Pinots.
They offer two Pinot Noirs - the Estate Pinot and the Laguna West.  Both Pinots have a character of cherry cola, some herbaciousness (yes, I said herb-a-cious-ness, bitches.  LOL)  with soft tannins, and notes of baking spices (a little cinnamon and nutmeg) with a fruity finish, like the aftertaste of pomegranates.
A nod to their vintner, you can really taste the difference between the terroir as he brings out the individual qualities from both locations.  The same clone is planted in two locations on their property.  The Pinots run between $39-$55.  Definately, I am no somm, I am no wine expert, but I've been around.  I would hold these up the better Pinot houses in RRV.

If you are ever in the area, take a couple of friends while the weather is still nice, and enjoy the patio.  If you end up going on a rainy day, enjoy the fireplace and a glass.

Cheers!

http://www.fogcrestvineyard.com/

Russian River Valley Pinot Classic

I attended this seminar for my birthday - a very thoughtful gift from my wife.  Don't confuse this with the Passport to Pinot, as that is presented by the Wine Road.  This is an event that is put on by the Russian River Valley Winegrowers Association.  And it is strictly for wineries in RRV that produce Pinot Noirs.

For people familiar with the local AVAs, go ahead and skip down to the next paragraph.   For someone who may not be familiar with AVAs, let me offer you a little primer on the Russian River Valley.  Russian River Valley gets its name from the Russians that settled here in the 1830s.  It became a viable viticultural area with plantings above 7000 acres around the 1870s, when the first wine company was started in Santa Rosa.  What makes the Russian River Valley unique is the movement of fog in and out of the region, with a large diurnal shift in temperatures that allows for a longer growing season than neighboring regions.  This is pretty much natures air conditioner.  This allows the grapes to develop full fruit flavor while maintaining their natural acidity.   Wines from RRV have a distinct character and is recognizable and sought after by wine enthusiasts.  Many varietals are grown in RRV, not just world-class pinot noir.  Some varietals are chardonnay, zinfandel, syrah, pinot grigio, merlot, gewurtztraminer and  sauvignon blanc, along with a few other cool climate loving varietals (and a lesser desired cool climate cabernet sauvignon).  This is literally my backyard.  :)

This was a two day event, with the first day being a panel discussion/seminar and tasting and the second day being winery tours.  The seminar was held at the Fountaingrove Inn banquet room.  (Equus, the restaurant at the Fountaingrove Inn, has a really nice wine selection,  BTW.)  As you take your place there are 9 glasses of wine in front of you, cheese and fruit plates, soil samples and folder of information.  The panel members came out and took their places, introducing themselves.  Panel members were:

Mark McWilliams - Arista Winery - representing the Middle Reach neighborhood.
Michael Browne - Kosta Browne Winery - representing Green Valley neighborhood
Rod Berglund - Joseph Swan Winery - representing Laguna Ridge neighborhood
Steve Heimoff - Wine Enthusiast magazine
Mike Sullivan - Benovia Winery - Moderator

The focus of the discussion was on the differences between the micro terroirs within the Russian River Valley AVA and their affect on the flavor profile and characteristics of different Pinot Noirs.  The three neighborhoods of the Russian River Valley that were mainly discussed were Green Valley, Laguna Ridge, and Middle Reach.  The panel educated us on the differences between each terroir.  Middle Reach has river bed clay soil and gets a little warmer.  Laguna Ridge has a more sandy loam type soil, having once been a seabed, and slightly cooler than Middle Reach.  Green Valley is the coolest of the micro terroirs, with the most fog, and is predominately Goldridge sandy loam, which is the most sought after soil in the RRV.  Unlike the other two micro terroirs, Green Valley is also recognized as an AVA, within the Russian River Valley AVA.

The Middle Reach imparts a darker, broad fruit profile and stone fruits, cherry cola, with good texture and acid, although not over high in acids.

The Laguna Ridge produced red to dark color fruit, strawberry, plum, nectarine flavors, with moderate acidity and baking spices.

The Green Valley area produces fruit that is crisp and red, with bright flavors of rhubarb, pomegranate and tart cherry, with soft tannins.

For each area presented there were 3 pinot noirs to taste from.  They were from the prominent wineries of each area.

In case you are curious, here are the wineries and wines presented:

Green Valley -
     Emerald Ridge  - Dutton Goldfield - 2012 Dutton Ranch-Emerald Ranch Pinot Noir
     Keefer Ranch  -  Kosta Browne - 2011 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir
     Fog Dance  - Hartford Court - 2011 Fog Dance Vineyard Pinot Noir

Laguna Ridge vineyards:
     Trenton Estate  -  Joseph Swan - 2011 Trenton Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir
     Goldridge  -  Dehlinger - 2011 Goldridge Pinot Noir
     Soul Patch  - Davis Family Vineyards - 2010 Soul Patch Pinot Noir

Middle Reach vineyards:
     Allen Vineyard -  Williams Selyem - 2012 Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir
     Harper's Rest - Arista Winery - 2012 Harper's Rest Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir
     Little Hill - Rochioli Vineyards - 2012 Estate Little Hill Pinot Noir

All in all the seminar was great.  There was just one thing that irked me during the whole event.  They focused on different micro terroirs and flavor profiles.  I tried to raise my hand to ask questions, but somehow was missed by the panel while others were recognized.  I wanted to ask about clones and how they play a role, as well.  Finally, someone else posed the same question and put the panel on the spot.  <insert cricket noises here>  Someone did answer, but it didn't really pertain or explain the effect that the micro terroir would have on the clones or the clones would change from the micro terroir.  But, within the wines, we could taste the differences.  But clearly, not all were the same clone.  I would have like to hear how they chose certain clones to work with their soils and climate.  By not recognizing the clones at all is like saying all apple species make the same tasting apple juice, unless they are planted in different soil.

Clearly the panels focus was on the uniqueness of these three areas.  There was even indication that some would like to have these areas become their own AVAs (Green Valley already is.).  This may not be the smartest idea, in terms of smaller appellation recognition, as the Russian River Valley is a world-renowned AVA.

There were many wineries that participated with barrel samples or pours of their released Pinot Noirs.  Some had small food samples to pair with, which was appreciated.  Some of the participating wineries we visited were Sonoma-Cutrer, Benovia, Balletto, DRKN, Chateau Adore, DeLoach, Dutton Estate, Dutton Goldfield, Hartford, in addition to the ones presented during the Panel.

Yes, I was Pinotfied.  (VinoBrotha made it a word!)

http://pinotclassic.com/

Wind Gap Wines

I have been trying to go to this winery for almost a year.  Ever since they put the sign up in the Barlow that they were opening a tasting room.

The winery has been in operation since 2006, and as an urban winery in the Barlow since 2013.  Tasting room is right off Mackenzie Street.  It has a wonderful ambiance.  Classy, country, relaxed, down to earth, Sebastopol, reclaimed barn wood, nice leather couch, and some contemporary design with a great view of the Barlow traffic.

Richie was our pourer.  He took us through all the wines they had available.  I was very excited because I knew this winery specialized in Rhones and Burgundy and a few extras.  Even though the winery is in Sebastopol (RRV AVA), most of the grapes are sourced from the windy gaps of Petaluma (Sonoma Coast AVA) (hence the name Wind Gap.)  The Petaluma wind gap is probably going to be one of the next AVAs named in Sonoma county, as it draws the nice coastal breezed through a funnel (from Bodega Bay to San Pablo Bay) to cool the grapes on hot days.

Richie did a great job explaining to us about the terroir of the wind gap and took us through the wines.  They were all great food wines.  Nice acidity.

Reclaimed barn wood and rustic fixtures gives the tasting room a unique charm.

What is unique about the wines is that some of the wines are fermented in egg-shaped cement fermenters.  This gives the wines a unique minerality.  The wines I loved the most were all Rhones - 2012 Granache, 2012 Syrah and a smoky 2008 Syrah.

Check it out.  Cheers!




http://www.windgapwines.com/

DRNK Wines

This is one of the very few wineries in the Russian River Valley that has a wine cave.  It is one of the few that the entire production (from receipt of grapes through finished wine) is all done within the cave.
It is just past the Lynmar Estate Winery, and tucked behind (and underneath) a hill.

 First time I went here I came with my wine buddy and we were very enthused about visiting but didn't check ahead to if it was open to the public or by appointment only.  (oops!)  We get there and hear some nice soft rock and acoustic jazz coming from behind the large metal doors of the cave.  We walk in and follow the echoing music past chambers of tanks and equipment.  Just about then we figure we probably shouldn't be in there looking for someone we turn to leave.  Then we were spotted by the winemaker, a nice looking young man, who greeted us and welcomed us to the winery.  He was ecstatic to show us around and gave us a wonderful tour of his wine cave and his entire operation.  He is a one man show and very proud of his operation, with good reason.  The winemaker is none other than Ryan Kunde (yes, of the famous Kunde wine family.)  I was impressed to see a young vintner in the business.  From my experience and travels it is a rarity to find someone in their 20s making wine, let alone really good stuff.

The winery is partnership between the Dougherty and Kunde families and is named for the members of the partnership - D (Dale Dougherty) R (Ryan Kunde) N (Nancy Dougherty) and K (Katie Kunde).  I vaguely recall that this partnership is him, his inlaws and his wife.  I am a huge fan of family businesses.

The first time was actually very fun, being unannounced and kind of off the cuff.  He took us through all his wines in between working tanks and his daily routine.
He has a Pinot Gris - referred to as the Orange wine - he produces in the presse method (letting the grapes sit and then pressing to the desired color rather than blending or bleeding.)  The thing that is unique about the wine is the color - orange, peachy.  The viscosity is heavy, oily, yet savory with a finish of dried stone fruit.  I was intrigued and wanted to try more.
I liked the Chardonnay - it was very good for RRV.  Flavor notes I remember, lemon creme brulee came to mind.
He had two Pinot Noirs - both RRV - and I was impressed.  Both of these wines were very complex and very good representatives of the AVA.

I returned 6 months later with my wife, as part of the Pinot Classic event.  I was very happy to see Ryan and his family participating in the event.  When he saw me he recognized me and he knew I was the Vino Brotha from our last meeting.

Hanging out with Ryan Kunde for the 2014 Pinot Classic

Since it has been a while I realized that he had a few new releases.  Besides the wines already mentioned he released a Rose and a 2012 Viognier Katie's Corner (one block in Saralee's Vineyard) RRV.  I am a huge fan of Viognier, so I was excited. I'm going to tell you about the rose first.  The rose was produced in the Saignee method and was crisp, with strawberries and light pomegranate flavors. It had a slight buttery finish, as it was barrel aged.

Now to my all time favorite white, Rhone, varietal - Viognier.  Beautiful orange blossom floral nose.  Crisp peaches, tropical fruit, nice minerality with some white pepper to the finish.  Something that is unique of Viognier is that is is one of the most tannic white wines. (it is also known as the red wine of white wines, btw.)   Definetely on my list as one of the top 10 Viogniers I've had to date.

If you are out wine exploring in Russian River Valley you might want to make this a stop on your travels.  Call ahead and get an appointment so Ryan can show you his unique operation and you can sample his great wines.  One note, don't be shy about picking up a bottle of DRNK at local grocery stores, either.  Really is good wine.

Check it out.

http://drnkwines.com/

La Follette Wines at The Barlow

In the Barlow, the new shopping district in Sebastopol, it is filled with art, wineries, breweries, tasting rooms, coffee and varied food vendors.    This winery stands out because it is one of the first tasting rooms at the Barlow opened to the public.
This winery specializes in Pinots and Chardonnay.  Well-balanced and great with food.  One thing that is unique here that they make is Pinot Meunier.
Staff here is down to earth, knowledgeable about both the wines and the area.  The tasting room always has great jazz music playing.

One fun thing is that the owner plays accordian (and so does my wife.)  He brought his in and was playing. I need to get the pics she took.  Hmmm...maybe one day they can play together in the tasting room...


http://www.lafollettewines.com/

De La Montanya Winery

Many times I've been on Westside Rd and passed the turn to Foreman Lane and the sign for this winery, until this year.  This year I said, "damn it, it's time to check it out."  Just remember to take the hard left under the bridge, as there are some turns that could detour you.  But, right below the bridge, it is there.
Outside has a cozy outdoor patio, with an outdoor kitchen, and a view of the Zinfandel vineyards, facing east.  You can literally sit on the patio and touch the vines.
The lady that poured for me and my friend was awesome.  Jet black hair and sparkling eyes, and a personalty that made you want to listen to her talk about the wines.
There were a lot of wines to taste that day.  All were good and worth trying.  Most were from Sonoma County and a few from Lake County.  But the wine that literally moved my spirit, lifted me, elevated my palate and placed a halo over my bald head, was the 1812.  What is special about it?  No, it is not vintage 1812.  This is a Zinfandel.  How the story goes, is that owner Dennis (my name brotha) attempted to make a late-harvest Zin and the yeast strain reacted differently than normal and kept eating the sugars and pushing up the alcohol.  So, instead of a late harvest wine, you have a whopping 18 percent alcohol, stand up and fire some cannons, Zinfandel.  Even though this has a high alcohol content you don't get it...it doesn't burn your palate...you get berries, cinnamon spices, and complex tannins.  But, a word to the wise, do not make this your third bottle, do not make it your second bottle, make it your only bottle for the night.  That 18 percent will creep up on you.  I saw it at the winery.  This big group of wild wine women had two bottles during a lunch stop on their wine tour and were happy and giddy walking back to the limo.
At the end of my tasting, after purchasing my bottle of 1812, the owner Dennis comes out.  He walks up to me and I introduce myself as Dennis, he says "I already know" and we both laugh.  I guess a Dennis can spot a Dennis.   It is fitting that he is named Dennis, as Dennis also means "god of wine" (from the greek Dionysis, the origin of the name Dennis).  This cat is something else.  I had a great conversation with him regarding his wines, the story of the 1812, and the challenges of picking grapes.
I came away kicking myself for not having made that turn sooner.

Check them out.  Tell them Dennis sent you.  ;)

http://www.dlmwine.com/

Matanzas Creek Winery

Matanzas Creek seems to be one of the only wineries in Bennett Valley.  They are the only one with estate grapes actually grown in Bennett Valley.
Bennett Valley AVA, is one of the small microclimates of Sonoma County - in between Sonoma Valley and Russian River Valley.  Small little island of coolness.  Gets a good amount of fog and a surprising amount of heat.  You can actually grow Chardonnay, Pinots, Merlots and Cabernets here, all in the same wine region.
The winery is surrounded by aromas of lavendar, as you enter.  Big oak trees hug the tasting room.  And the scenery is so nice that every time I go there I see professional photographers there taking either family photos or senior pictures.
The tasting room is a large redwood decked structure with even a stronger aroma of lavendar inside.  They have a whole store full of lavendar products, both culinary and personal care.  Surprisingly, it does not affect your tasting.
Tasting room staff has always been friendly, as I have tasted here many times.  I have brought family and friends here, as it is so close to the town of Santa Rosa.
Chardonnay that I enjoyed has some vanilla, lemon, creme brulee flavors.  They have Merlot, Syrah, and Pinot Noir but then they have a higher end series - called the Journey series - that you don't share with your non wine educated friends.  You take the Journey home and enjoy it yourself.  

Cheers

Fort Ross Vineyard and Winery

There are some new AVAs of Sonoma County recently that I have explored.  One of them is Ft. Ross/Seaview.  The very winery I went to was this place and they specialize in mostly Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays.  They are definitely different with the cool climate flavors yet with the high elevation production of grapes.
I was very intrigued by the pinot and chardonnay. The flavors of the pinot were earthy, blackberry and raspberries.  A little deeper in color than you'd expect, but still translucent and beautiful.  Great acidity.  The Chardonnay almost made me want to go to the nearest fish and chip place, which would have been in Bodega Bay, and enjoy with their wine.  But what blew me away the most was a very unique varietal that you don't really find anywhere else in Sonoma County - Pinotage.
Pinotage has some serious earthy flavors (cocoa, coffee, mint), soft tannins with some eucalyptus mint.  Kind of spicy finish. Very unique for me.  And this is my first Pinotage and it is also a high elevation Pinotage.
Me and the group I was with were very intrigued with the Pinotage.  The pourer educated us on the history and lineage of the grape (from South Africa and a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault [hermitage]).  They claim to be the only producers of Pinotage in Sonoma County.  So, definitely one to put in the books if you are a fan of Burgundian style wines.

So, now, I talked about the wines.  What about the winery itself?  It is a long drive, as it is up the coast.  About 30 minutes north of Bodega Bay.

Great view of the coast, as you are so high you can see above the clouds.  On a clear day you can see the ocean that is miles and miles away down a stunning valley.

The tasting room itself is a very modern redwood building.  Concrete floors, nice countertops, clean, sleek design.  Good jazz music for your enjoyment.  You can do your tasting either inside or outside on the spacious deck at a nice teak table looking out at the coast.

Bring a lunch, if you are coming here, as it will probably be your only stop for the day.  There are some places you can do 4 winerys a day, but this is a single winery trip.
On your way in, admire their huge bay laurel tree.
But, it is highly worth it.  Check it out.

http://www.fortrossvineyard.com/

Ty Caton Winery

Whenever I introduce people to the great wines of Sonoma Valley, specifically Kenwood, I always stop at Ty Caton.
This is not your glamourous Napa-fied experience.  This is your, off the beaten path, local people, kind of place.  They know the land.  They know the grapes.  And they know their wines.
All of the grapes are Estate-grown, in both the Sonoma Valley and new Moon Mountain AVAs.
Now to the wines...
They do a few whites.  Most recently is their Riesling.  Has a honeysuckle floral nose.  and not too sweet.  Then their Rose of Syrah, that has a light pink color, which is amazing as Syrah is such a dark, inky grape.  It tasted to me like crisp fresh peaches.    I love their Petite Verdot and Petite Syrah.  They were earthy, deep, dark, tannins,  Awesomeness.  You don't drink these kind of wine on the porch on a nice hot day.  You need food.  Serious food.  You need meat.  Some good beef or lamb.
Of course, my favorite of all the wines is TyTanium.  It is a blend of all the inkiest wines you can think of - Syrah, Petit Syrah, Malbec, Cab Sauv, and Merlot.  This is probably one of their best wines.  Either way, if you are in the area, don't pass this place up.

Cheers.


http://www.tycaton.com

Lynmar Estate Winery

There are wineries that you go to for it's beauty, ambiance and quality of wine.  This one has all of it.
It is kind of secluded, but within the Russian River valley. When you actually find the sign for it you might think you are not actually at the winery yet.  It is very understated.  But, as you walk in it is like Dorothy opening the door to Oz...you get it.  The interior is all a natural palette, with a feel of an upscale wine cellar.  I did not have a chance to tour the entire facility, only downstairs and the garden.  The tasting hostess greeted me warmly and took me through their awesome offerings.  This is a Pinot Noir/Chardonnay house.  (Burgundy)  All of them were very good, but each had their own unique personalities.
There was also a patio with a wonderful canvas canopy covering.  It has an awesome view of Taylor Mountain and the estate vineyards surrounding.  My favorite feature was the organic gardens.  There was kale, chard, lavendar, herbs, vegetables and happy bees.
While this was just a quick stop for me it will be one I return to.  Next time I will try out their lunch offerings and get deeper into the wines.

Cheers.

http://www.lynmarestate.com/

Brassfield Estate Winery

This world-class winery also luxuries on par with the finest Napa houses, and certainly wines to stand up to anyone.  This winery is 4 miles away from  the lake, but it appears to be deceptively long, but you will know when you get there.  You will see statues among the grounds of deer, monks, lamb and other wildlife, all surrounded by the beautiful vineyards and the volcanic basin surrounding it.
They do a great Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Noir, zinfandel and cabernet saugivnon.  I liked all of them.  Matter of fact, there was nothing that I didn't like, which is rare for me.  The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon jumped out at me, as it had some smoke qualities.  The late harvest Riesling was also very good.  All of them had a nice minerality that is distinctive of Lake County.
The staff was very friendly, knowledgeable and educated me about both Lake County history, volcanic history and the various microclimates.  They explained how they're able to grow so many different varietals, from Pinot to Cabernet.  It is possible to order a food plate with your tasting, or get a bottle and go out to the picnic areas.  I plan to do just that in the spring time, when me and my wife return during bud break.
Check it out.

http://www.brassfieldestate.com/

Anaba Winery

I have always passed by this winery when I was in the area.  And, finally, the inner voice told me not to pass it and to go into Anaba.  It was Anaba, calling to me.  This winery does mostly Pinots and Rhones, which I love.  I was pleasantly surprised to have a wine with Granache Blanc, which is rarely used or grown in Sonoma County.  Their white Rhone blend (Alder) was delightful.  Their Pinots were ambrosia, especially the Gap Pinot.  (ask for it...).  Their Syrah and Petite Syrah was nice, rich, smooth all the way, without the glottal stop you get from some.  Our pourer was Douglas.  This moustached-Sommolier, walking encyclopedia of wine knowledge, was such a personality.  He made us feel welcome and educated us, and we had a great time.
Kind of an aside...this winery is wind powered.  As a fan of green technologies, I appreciate their attention to this.

http://www.anabawines.com/

Ledson Winery

Depending on what you are looking for, if you are looking for glamour and decent wine then this is the place.   The huge mansion, that some people refer to as the castle, is immaculate.  Its woodwork and craftsmanship is something to be in total awe of.  Walking inside the staff is very friendly and the tasting associates are sharply dressed with black slacks, classy black shirts and nice ties.  Though I am not a man of the past you get an old-time classy upscale bar vibe.
This winery sources grapes from all over Sonoma County and a few from Napa.  I was impressed with the Sauvignon Blanc from Napa County, their Viogner and their Cabernet Sauvignon from the Knights Valley AVA.  We, unfortunately, had to have two different people pouring for us.  We went from a gentleman we had developed a bit of a rapport with and were enjoying his service and experience to a young chap who, while he knew his wines, he really "pushed" the wines and "pushed" the club, like he is trained to do, but no one wants to experience the hard sell while enjoying an afternoon of tasting with family.
All in all, this is the kind of place I will experience once.  If you are out, go ahead and make a stop, enjoy the facility, gardens and take some pictures.  It really is a beautiful winery.

http://www.ledson.com/

Buena Vista Winery

As a Sonoma county local, a visitor or as a vinophile, if you want to understand and know the history of this region you must visit Buena Vista winery.

It is the oldest commercial winery in California.  Has gorgeous landscaping, wine caves, and a tasting room that is in an original building over 100 years old.  That says a lot right there.  You will see historical artifacts all throughout the tasting room and get a wonderful history lesson from the well trained staff.  

Now...to the wines!  

Leading the tasting menu was a French champagne imported by the new owners.  As a lover of all wines Sonoma County it was a treat to have a true French champagne.  The bubbles were finer than what i've experiences before and that made for a wonderful mouthfeel.

Following was a chardonnay that was aged in French oak that was exquisite and balanced with a scent of cloves and baking spice...creamy...like creme brûlée with a little touch of lemon curd.  Incidentally, it was the bes

t value on the menu at only $20.  It should have been $30+ in my opinion.

Next came two Pinot Noirs...Bela and Geza.  The Geza spoke out to me the most with her supple baked blackberry and toasted marshmallows.  Toasted marshmallow is a quality i look for in my top pinot picks and i've only appreciated in wines aged in french oak.  

The "Legendary Badge" was big jammy red blend with white pepper and baking spice and can stand up to any red meat for dinner. 

The wines here are good.  The experience here is good.  It is very educational.  When you are in Sonoma honor it by visiting Buena Vista.