2 Best Sights in Graton, Napa and Sonoma

Winemaker Alex Bowman learned his craft as a lad, making hobby wines with his father, an electrical contractor with deep West County roots. By his late 20s the wine-making bug had bitten Alex hard, inspiring him to make wines "for real." His debut wine won a double-gold ribbon at the local county fair, prompting him to draw on the experience of several wine-industry relatives to establish Bowman Cellars with his wife, Katie, whose family has long owned a roadside produce market in Sebastopol. The two pour their wines (reservations required, same-day possible) in a casual tasting room fronted by a patio twice as large. Alex shows a light but knowing touch with Russian River Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the winery's two stars.

With experience that includes stints as a winery tour guide, cellar rat, sales rep, vineyard developer, and finally winemaker, owner Mat Gustafson knows how to produce and market his single-vineyard wines. Gustafson specializes in low-alcohol, food-friendly Russian River Valley Pinots, also crafting Gewürztraminer and Viognier whites and Grenache, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah reds. On a hot summer day, his rosé and Blanc de Noir sparkler make for delightful sipping in the picnic area behind the appointment-only tasting room, which occupies a century-old Edwardian storefront.