Fodor's Expert Review Hamilton Family Wines

Olive trees ring the outdoor wine garden attracting most of the action at Greg and Lindsay Hamilton's joyful roadside tasting room. The couple—he's from Scotland, she's a Californian—started their journey as vintners making garage wine together. These days, Sonoma Valley native Jess Wade crafts a sparkling blanc de noirs, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, a GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) blend, and The Phoenix, a lush mix of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. The last wine's name refers to Greg and Lindsay's rise from the ashes of the home they lost in the 2017 Wine Country fires. Though a calamity, the Hamiltons credit the blaze with spurring them to achieve more quickly their goal of establishing a wine brand. Hamilton Family Wines is next to Vaughn Duffy Wines; the two operations pair well as examples of newer first-generation labels.