Best Sonoma wineries you've never heard of
Mar 1st, 2013, 11:07 AM
#101
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I would suggest these 2 as my favorite Sonoma wineries:
Ram's Gate (http://www.ramsgatewinery.com) - Amazing architecture, small bites of food prepared in their kitchen, lots of space, great design, tasty wines, and a perfect place to post up for an hour or five with a bottle of wine
Viansa (http://www.viansa.com) - Good winery for a different style of wine that you might normally find in Sonoma. Unpretentious and affordable, with a great marketplace of olive oils, food, and gifts
Ram's Gate (http://www.ramsgatewinery.com) - Amazing architecture, small bites of food prepared in their kitchen, lots of space, great design, tasty wines, and a perfect place to post up for an hour or five with a bottle of wine
Viansa (http://www.viansa.com) - Good winery for a different style of wine that you might normally find in Sonoma. Unpretentious and affordable, with a great marketplace of olive oils, food, and gifts
Mar 11th, 2013, 12:19 PM
#103
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@tenthumbs definitely try Ram's Gate. They are still a young brand but doing very well, and the location is just spectacular. Glad you liked Viansa - a bit different than many other Sonoma wineries in a way that's more broadly appealing I think.
Also, with the latest drama between Mr. Galloni and his Sonoma wine reviews that he plans to publish on his site, we might have some new gold to mine through.
Also, with the latest drama between Mr. Galloni and his Sonoma wine reviews that he plans to publish on his site, we might have some new gold to mine through.
Mar 16th, 2013, 07:09 PM
#105
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Hi.
I would recommend the following places for Pinot Noir: The tasting rooms for WALT and R2, in the town of Sonoma ( they source from all over the state so its a great way to experience many different terroir and the fruit from multiple areas in the state); Sojourn, also in the town of Sonoma and requires an app't; Nicholson Ranch, in Carneros almost to Napa ( short drive from Sonoma); Matrix if you head up to the Dry Creek area. Sunce', next door to DeLoach also has made a very nice Pinot in the past. And of course,
Merry Edwards is a fairly go-to name, but she is now available at Total Wine, so I don't know if that fits your criteria.
For crisp Chardonnays- Haywood, in the town of Sonoma; Glen Lyon- shares tasting room space with Two Amigos in the town of Sonoma; Hawkes- has tasting rooms in Sonoma and in north county next to the Jimtown Store; Iron Horse in Russian River- they are best known for their sparkling wines, but the still Chard is lovely- we just had it last night.
For more ideas, look up the results from Harvest Fair on either the Fair website or the Press Democrat.
I would recommend the following places for Pinot Noir: The tasting rooms for WALT and R2, in the town of Sonoma ( they source from all over the state so its a great way to experience many different terroir and the fruit from multiple areas in the state); Sojourn, also in the town of Sonoma and requires an app't; Nicholson Ranch, in Carneros almost to Napa ( short drive from Sonoma); Matrix if you head up to the Dry Creek area. Sunce', next door to DeLoach also has made a very nice Pinot in the past. And of course,
Merry Edwards is a fairly go-to name, but she is now available at Total Wine, so I don't know if that fits your criteria.
For crisp Chardonnays- Haywood, in the town of Sonoma; Glen Lyon- shares tasting room space with Two Amigos in the town of Sonoma; Hawkes- has tasting rooms in Sonoma and in north county next to the Jimtown Store; Iron Horse in Russian River- they are best known for their sparkling wines, but the still Chard is lovely- we just had it last night.
For more ideas, look up the results from Harvest Fair on either the Fair website or the Press Democrat.
Apr 17th, 2013, 01:34 PM
#106
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Just got back from a weekend in Sonoma with DD and my mom. I visited Ram's Gate~beautiful place, great wine. I didn't get to spend much time there as I arrived at 3:30 and they were closing at 4 for a private function. I bought a bottle of the Chardonnay even though it was a bit out of my price range. Unlike some of the other wineries, they did not waive the tasting fee if you buy a bottle. I would like to go back when they aren't so rushed.
Apr 17th, 2013, 02:07 PM
#107
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We're going in a few weeks, and I plant to comb through this thread before then for some fresh ideas. We visited WALT when it was Roessler--hit or miss, I thought, but it's a different winemaker now, right? Merry Edwards is sold at Total Wine? How on earth? They don't make that much!
Apr 19th, 2013, 10:33 AM
#108
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Merry Edwards produce more than 15,000 cases a year.
This weekend is April in Carneros
http://www.carneroswineries.org/events/
A few of the 8th Street wineries will be open - Enkidu, Tin Barn, Ty Caton and Talisman.
This weekend is April in Carneros
http://www.carneroswineries.org/events/
A few of the 8th Street wineries will be open - Enkidu, Tin Barn, Ty Caton and Talisman.
Apr 19th, 2013, 12:14 PM
#109
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Merry Edwards produce more than 15,000 cases a year.
Are you sure? The Prince of Pinot pegs production at 6k cases, though maybe that is only the Pinot production?
Merry Edwards is sold at Total Wine? How on earth?
You would be surprised at what they carry at Total Wine. I only wish they had a store in MA.
Are you sure? The Prince of Pinot pegs production at 6k cases, though maybe that is only the Pinot production?
Merry Edwards is sold at Total Wine? How on earth?
You would be surprised at what they carry at Total Wine. I only wish they had a store in MA.
May 27th, 2013, 11:09 PM
#110
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We attended a seminar hosted by Merry herself in the spring and she announced that her wines would be available through Total Wine. She didn't specify which wines, other than it would be Pinot and would be sold at the same price as is available at the winery.
WALT is indeed a different winemaker now. That would be the folks at HALL. The Roesslers are producing under the label R2.
Some other unoaked Chardonnay producers are Windsor Oaks, Bennett Valley Cellars and Mayo Family; I haven't had these, but they won awards at Harvest Fair last fall.
If you don't care for the oaky Chards, you might like the Sauv. Blanc at Wilson, Mauritson or Martin Ray's Angeline line. These are the crisp, citric style, not the "grassy" New Zealand style.
WALT is indeed a different winemaker now. That would be the folks at HALL. The Roesslers are producing under the label R2.
Some other unoaked Chardonnay producers are Windsor Oaks, Bennett Valley Cellars and Mayo Family; I haven't had these, but they won awards at Harvest Fair last fall.
If you don't care for the oaky Chards, you might like the Sauv. Blanc at Wilson, Mauritson or Martin Ray's Angeline line. These are the crisp, citric style, not the "grassy" New Zealand style.
Jun 5th, 2013, 11:01 AM
#112
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Has anyone ever tried Williams Selyem? Any thoughts in advance?
I have upwards of 4 or 5 cases of it laying about. Great stuff. Easily one of the best producers of CA Pinot.
But... I take it you aren't on the mailing list? If so, then I am pretty sure you can't visit or buy wine from them. Note that there is a waiting list to get onto the mailing list, so just signing up today won't get you in in mid-July.
I have upwards of 4 or 5 cases of it laying about. Great stuff. Easily one of the best producers of CA Pinot.
But... I take it you aren't on the mailing list? If so, then I am pretty sure you can't visit or buy wine from them. Note that there is a waiting list to get onto the mailing list, so just signing up today won't get you in in mid-July.
Jun 5th, 2013, 11:20 AM
#113
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@travelgourmet - I'm very glad to hear the excellent review of Williams Selyem. As for a tasting, thankfully, we were introduced through someone who is on the mailing list and have a tasting set up already.
Jun 5th, 2013, 02:06 PM
#116
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@travelgourmet - my wife and I are quite fond of pinots. Any other Sonoma pinot winemakers you would recommend?
Littorai would be good. Paul Hobbs is good too, though not exactly under the radar. I love Kosta Browne, but pretty sure they aren't open to the public. I also like Fritz.
Littorai would be good. Paul Hobbs is good too, though not exactly under the radar. I love Kosta Browne, but pretty sure they aren't open to the public. I also like Fritz.
Jun 12th, 2013, 07:58 AM
#119
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My husband and I drove up to Sonoma in April (I was speaking at a conference there), mainly because we knew we'd buy a little wine while we were there (we had to ship back about 2 cases of wine from Napa four years ago during our belated honeymoon). We booked a Sonoma Valley Wine Trolley Tour (www.sonomavalleywinetrolley.com); four boutique wineries in the greater Sonoma area, catered lunch from the Girl and the Fig (awesome place for dinner too, BTW), and no driving (and no risk of DUI)!! What could be bad about that?
The largest winery we visited was Benzinger-- well worth it. The wines were quite good, and we really got a good education in wine country agriculture and wine making. A Benzinger sibling runs a smaller outfit called Imagery-- original art for the labels, small runs of very, very, VERY tasty wines (we really liked this place), artisanal olive oils and spreads, a tiny run of port (which they sample accompanied by buttons of fine artisanal chocolate from Seattle). The third was Buena Vista, which was fine but not mind-blowing. However, the fourth was an offbeat little roadside tasting shack for Paradise Ridge, whose main facility is a super-picturesque, super-popular destination winery in Santa Rosa. The Paradise Ridge wines were superb; I was totally blown away by a wonderful sparkling shiraz (or was it zinfandel?), and normally I hate sparkling reds.
Two cases of wine bought, much money blown. Worth every penny and the slight hangover.
BTW, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn was heavenly. Even given the lobby renovations. And the hotel restaurant, Santé, was just phenomenal. We are totally in love with Sonoma now. To the point where my husband wants to retire up there, buy a house with vineyards and lease them to a winery. Good god almighty....
The largest winery we visited was Benzinger-- well worth it. The wines were quite good, and we really got a good education in wine country agriculture and wine making. A Benzinger sibling runs a smaller outfit called Imagery-- original art for the labels, small runs of very, very, VERY tasty wines (we really liked this place), artisanal olive oils and spreads, a tiny run of port (which they sample accompanied by buttons of fine artisanal chocolate from Seattle). The third was Buena Vista, which was fine but not mind-blowing. However, the fourth was an offbeat little roadside tasting shack for Paradise Ridge, whose main facility is a super-picturesque, super-popular destination winery in Santa Rosa. The Paradise Ridge wines were superb; I was totally blown away by a wonderful sparkling shiraz (or was it zinfandel?), and normally I hate sparkling reds.
Two cases of wine bought, much money blown. Worth every penny and the slight hangover.
BTW, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn was heavenly. Even given the lobby renovations. And the hotel restaurant, Santé, was just phenomenal. We are totally in love with Sonoma now. To the point where my husband wants to retire up there, buy a house with vineyards and lease them to a winery. Good god almighty....
Jun 17th, 2013, 10:25 AM
#120
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I just started planning my trip to Sonoma today and am writing down all these wineries for reference. My question is, where is the most convenient location to stay while visiting? I just looked at a map and there is Sonoma and Glen Ellen way down south and Healdsburg and Geyersville up north. If I stayed in Sonoma how long would it take me to get to Healdsburg on a weekend (in November). What area has the most wineries that you recommend?
