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/