sustainable farming

Melville Vineyards & Winery ~ Santa Rita Hills AVA

June 1, 2014 by Deborah Mines

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.

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…]

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

May 20, 2014 by Deborah Mines

Arriving 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”.

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…]

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

May 9, 2014 by Deborah Mines

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.

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.

Lynmar 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…]

Green Valley Is Russian River Valley’s Sweetest Spot

March 27, 2014 by Deborah Mines

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.

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.

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…]

Sunce Winery Exudes True Old World Charm

March 14, 2014 by Deborah Mines

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.

Third 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.

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…]