Looking for recommendations for small wineries in Napa/Sonoma
 

My DH and I will be in Napa/Sonoma in September. This is our third visit to the area and we've been to most of the larger wineries and taken the wine-making tours. We are looking for suggestions for small wineries that make noteworthy wines that are not available outside of the area. On our last visit, a local we met recommended Paloma in St. Helena. Their Merlot was later chosen by Wine Spectator as the #1 wine for that year. At the time we visited, Paloma was not well known outside of the area. We were lucky to get on their mailing list, which is now closed. So if anyone has any recommendations for good, undiscovered wineries, we would love to hear about them. Thanks!

Napa: William Harrison, Zahtila, Regusci

Sonoma: Locals (Geyserville) carries only tiny production wines and is a blast, Meeker, Papapietro-Perry, Wilson, Dutcher Crossing, Amphora. Sapphire Hill, Camellia Cellars

My favorite Sonoma winery is Preston on West Dry Creek... there are lots of small wineries on that road. Start at the Madrona Manor on Westside Rd. and drive to the end of W. Dry Creek, stopping where you want. Preston is near the end of the road, and Bella, which has a neat cave tasting room, is just beyond it. If you are looking for a different place to stay check out www.sonomacountyvacations.com They have interesting vacation rental properties that make you feel like you really live in the wine country!

man....what has happened to my brain....we loved the Alexander Valley as well....you simply MUST go to Johnson Family Vineyards. It's a hoot! Also on the list Fieldstone where they filmed the Bartles and James commercials. William Young (not the actor) and try the Cyrus at Alexander Valley. Beautiful drive, too.

I really liked Kaz in Kenwood. It's literally one of the smallest wineries in the Sonoma County that is open for tasting (or so the owner's son told us while he poured), and they don't distribute any of their wines. Everything is sold either on site or shipped to individual buyers and wine club members.

Napa - Clos Pegasus (spelling?)

Rochioli and August Briggs for great wine.

Casa Nuestra - on Silverado Trail between St Helena and Calistoga. It is very rustic, as it has been for over 35 years. The picnic area is pleasant and the tasting room is in the old barn. Try the Tinto Reserve. The Tinto wine is harvested from a very very old vineyard - planted in the original recipe. This is an informal place, but the wines are very good.

Thanks for all the responses. You've given us a lot to check out. I appreciate all the suggestions!

Just had a bottle of Maximus by Bennett Lane near Calistoga. Yum.

V. Sattui in St. Helena (Napa). We bought a cabernet and the makings of a picnic lunch. Sat outside in a little picnic area, so relaxing.

http://www.vsattui.com/

Domaine Careros: At the end of the day, we had appetizers in the outside table area, gorgeous view. Wonderful.

http://www.domaine.com/

V Sattui was relaxing? I've never seen it when it wasn't teeming with tour buses and hundreds in the picnic area....even lots of kids! And that was off season!

LLinda, it was a Thurs, late in August, probably before noon. My BIL was our tour guide, lives in Danville and it's one of his favorites, my first time.

No crowd at the tasting counter, either. I guess we were fortunate. :)

And I misspelled Carneros.

Well, V. Sattui is neither small nor undiscovered- as Linda has noted-it's a tour bus and limo favorite (and do remember the discovery of the field mice sandwiches there, LOL!)
http://tinyurl.com/2ul7ph

Seriously, do seek out Keller Estate
near Petaluma in Sonoma County for
some terrific wine that is just beginnning to get discovered.

R5

A. Rafanelli (Sonoma - Dry Creek Valley) - Not undiscovered, but small. Appt needed.

Bell Cellars in Yountville. Great wine and the owner is from South Africa where his family still makes wine.

I am sure you have more ideas than you need but I still wanted to share the name of a Sonoma winery we visted in 2005. It is the Benziger Family Winery (not to be confused with the large Beringer Winery). My wife and I are interested in organic products and found the winery to be very interesting to visit. Sampled several of their wines and even had a case shipped back to our home in Ohio. Here is their website.
benziger.com