• Blog
  • About Me
    • Press Release
  • Back Road Wineries
    • California Wine Trail
    • Tuscany Wine Trail
    • Baja California Wine Trail
  • Wine A Bit ~ Editorial & Reviews
  • Contact Me

UNCORKED WINE TRAVELS

Musings Along The Wine Trails

Melville Vineyards & Winery ~ Santa Rita Hills AVA

June 1, 2014 by Deborah Mines

IMG_7039

Head west out Highway 246 toward Lompoc and discover the Santa Rita Hills appellation, one of the newest and fastest-growing AVAs in Santa Barbara County.  Home to over 59 vineyards with more than 2,000 acres planted in Pinot Noir, 500 acres of Chardonnay, and over 140 acres planted in Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and other cool climate varietals.

IMG_7035

One of Santa Rita Hills’ crowning jewels is Melville Vineyards and Winery, a beautifully appointed Mediterranean-style winery that exclusively produces 100% estate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah.  The unique microclimate of the Santa Rita Hills AVA is characterized by the cool temperatures, coastal winds and early morning fog, and is perfectly suited to growing these Burgundian grape varietals. [Read more…]

Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Chardonnay, Robert Parker, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, sustainable farming, Syrah, Viognier, Wine Tasting, Wine Tour

Russian River Valley’s Hip Hop Kiln Winery Is A Real Treasure

May 20, 2014 by Deborah Mines

IMG_6153Arriving at Hop Kiln Winery in Russian River, I was awestruck.  Upon closer look, a brass California Registered Historical Landmark plaque (No. 893) read, “This structure served the important hop industry of California’s north coast region, once the major hop-growing area in the west. Built in 1905 by a crew of Italian stonemasons, it represents the finest existing example of its type, consisting of three stone kilns for drying hops, a wooden cooler, and a two-story press for bailing hops for shipment”.

IMG_6155

Prior to the Walters Ranch Hop Kiln, the 250-acre property was known as Sweet Water Springs, which originally served as a stagecoach stop.  Visiting the Hop Kiln homestead is like stepping back in time to the early 1900s.  There’s a stately, but weathered, plantation house complete with a covered veranda and a few abandoned outbuildings all which overlook a scenic pond and the vineyards in the distance. [Read more…]

Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Chardonnay, Historical Landmark, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Rose of Pinot Noir, sustainable farming, Syrah, Wine Tasting, Wine Tour

Russian River Valley’s Upscale Lynmar Estate Is Trendy & Chic

May 9, 2014 by Deborah Mines

IMG_6612

Russian River Valley is pretty laid-back and casual as far as wine regions go.  That’s what I like best about visiting this enclave in Northern Sonoma County.  No pretentious know-it-alls, not a lot of flash and show… winemakers are approachable and very down-to-earth and the locals are friendly and quick to start conversations with strangers.

IMG_6616

By happenstance, I discovered  Lynmar Estate and now it’s one of my all-time favorite tasting room stops in the northern Sonoma wine country.  Contemporary and chic, Lynmar Estate has an ethereal draw the minute you pass through the front gates.

IMG_6624Lynmar Estate is comprised of 70 rolling acres of 15 clones of Pinot Noir, four clones of Chardonnay, and a block of Syrah,  The original vines are more than 40 years old, and provided early grape stock to noted Russian River Valley Pinot Noir wine makers Merry Edwards and Tony Soter. [Read more…]

Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, sustainable farming, Wine Road, Wine Tasting

Green Valley Is Russian River Valley’s Sweetest Spot

March 27, 2014 by Deborah Mines

IMG_6125

Mention Green Valley-Russian River Valley to any Pinot-lover or Chardonnay enthusiast and watch their eyes light up!  Green Valley is the smallest appellation in Sonoma County, located in the southwestern corner of the Russian River Valley.

Bordered by the tiny towns of Sebastopol, Occidental and Forestville, Green Valley is home to over 100 growers and eight key wineries:  DeLoach Vineyards, Dutton Estate, Dutton-Goldfield, Emeritus Vineyards, Hartford Family Winery, Iron Horse Vineyards, Marimar Estate and Orogeny.

screen saver_0

The trademark rolling fog and the Goldridge soil, (the most sought after soil in Sonoma County), makes the Green Valley a very special place for growing the delicate Pinot Noir grapes and the coveted Chardonnay.

IMG_6117

Green Valley‘s unique weather is considerably colder than the rest of the Russian River Valley.  With the Russian River to the north and the Petaluma Wind Gap to the south, cold air streams across the Green Valley.  The coastal hills lying along its western border help to moderate the strong winds from the ocean.  All things combined, the cool nights and early morning fog, followed by warm days, give the right balance of ripeness, good sugar levels, ripe tannins and high acid. [Read more…]

Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, sustainable farming, Syrah, Wine Tasting, Wine Tour

Sunce Winery Exudes True Old World Charm

March 14, 2014 by Deborah Mines

IMG_6010

Winter Wineland 2014 was the perfect venue to visit over 36 wineries in the Russian River Valley in January, plus another 100 or so wineries in Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, Healdsburg, Geyserville and Santa Rosa.  My wine trek started along Olivet Road, my favorite stretch of vineyards  in the heart of the Russian River Valley, which led me to Sunce Winery.

IMG_6017Third generation Croatian-born winemaker, Frane Franicevic, has certainly perfected his love of winemaking over the years.  Frane released his first wines in 1990, created in a barn off Piner Road, later moving his winemaking operation to the current Sunce Winery site in the late 1990s.

IMG_6011

Sunce is a Serb-Croatian word for “sunshine”.  And, plenty of sun shines in the Russian River Valley in the peak growing season.  Sunce Winery is named after one of Frane’s daughters, Sunce, with another vineyard and a varietal wine blend named after his other two daughters, Zora and Zemlja. [Read more…]

Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: barrel tasting, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir clones, Reisling, Rhone, Russian River Valley, Sangiovese, sustainable farming, Syrah, Wine Road, Wine Tasting

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next Page »

Wine Trail Search

Follow My Wine Blog

    Your Name

    Your Email

    A Little About Me

    To many, I’m simply known as a wanderlust ~ a free-spirited adventuress with a passion for travel and a lover of great wines!Read more...

    Vintage Posts

    • Jordan Winery’s Chateau Block Vineyard Tasting Is Unforgettable November 26, 2021
    • Trending Now ~ Top 3 Wineries in Temecula September 12, 2021
    • Freeman Vineyard & Winery’s Cave Tasting Is A “10” August 8, 2021
    • 2021’s Top 10 Winery Picks off Russian River Valley’s Iconic Westside Road July 5, 2021
    • Kickstart The Weekend In DRNK’s Wine Cave June 6, 2021
    • Cannabis in Wine Country? NIMBY. May 29, 2021
    • Ojai’s Spiritual Vortex (And Great Wine) Soothes The Soul April 4, 2021
    • Book Review: The Billionaire’s Vinegar January 3, 2021
    • Book Review: Sonoma Wine And The Story Of Buena Vista November 29, 2020
    • California Wineries Are Now “Waiting For The Other Shoe To Drop…” November 15, 2020
    • Russian River Valley Welcomes Visitors in Uncertain Times… September 20, 2020
    • BOOK REVIEW: A Wine Journey Along The Russian River May 30, 2020
    • US Wine Market Update: A Regional Perspective Webinar Unites Top Industry Leaders April 17, 2020
    • The Lifecycle of a Grape Vine ~ From Vine To Wine March 26, 2020
    • 2019’s “Top 10” Eclectic RRV Wineries December 29, 2019
    • Russian River Valley’s Arista Wines Earn Top Accolades From Wine Spectator September 24, 2019
    • Littorai Wines ~ A Tale of Two Coasts & Three Pinot Noir Styles September 13, 2019
    • After Much Ado, “House of Flowers” Debuts In Russian River Valley August 29, 2019
    • Best Backroads For Cycling In RRV-Healdsburg Wine Country August 16, 2019
    • Experience Cave-Aged Wines At DRNK Winery in Russian River Valley July 3, 2019
    • Best Kept Secret in Sta. Rita Hills ~ Spear Vineyards & Winery May 17, 2019
    • Spring Is An Ideal, And Uncrowded, Time To Visit Wine Country April 19, 2019
    • NEW BOOK RELEASE: Root Cause, A Novel by Steven Laine February 19, 2019
    • Discover the Hidden Wine Caves in Sonoma Wine Country December 17, 2018
    • Vin Santo Reigns In Chianti’s Medieval Hamlet of Castello di Volpaia November 16, 2018
    • Hidden Gem Alert ~ Dry Creek’s Unti Vineyards Is A “10” October 31, 2018
    • Windsor’s Notre Vue Estate’s Unabashed Views Are Worth The Drive October 20, 2018
    • Cheers To Russian River Valley’s “Uneventful” 2018 Harvest! September 21, 2018
    • Add Healdsburg’s Raford Inn To Your Wine Bucket List August 9, 2018
    • A Walk Between The Vines At Emeritus Vineyards… June 29, 2018

    Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in