Winter Wineland

Get Your Sips Off Route 116… Sonoma Co’s Crown Jewel Wine Road

March 9, 2018 by Deborah Mines

Known as the Gravenstein Highway to the locals, California State Route 116 gently meanders along the Russian River from the shores of Jenner through Guerneville, past Forestville and Graton, ending in North Sebastopol. Once a mecca for Gravenstein apples in the 1930’s, less than a square mile of orchards remain, outpaced and out priced by the value of the almighty grape crop. For a mini wine tasting tour down the infamous Gravenstein Highway, read on…

In sleepy Forestville, Joseph Jewell Wines is sure to please the most discriminating Pinot Noir or Chardonnay palate. Winemakers Micah Joseph Wirth and Adrian Jewell Manspeaker have it dialed in with their artisan Chardonnay and Pinot Noir sourced from six designated single vineyards. Specialized tours are offered, including a helicopter tour over the vineyards.

Take a slight right turn off Gravenstein Highway to Ross Road to find Ektimo Vineyards. Not much tasting room ambience, but tasting room manager, Julius Orth and their variety of wines are sure to entertain ~ Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Chardonnay, Russian River Pinot, Zinfandel and a Cabernet plus a few other surprises, like a barrel tasting. Ektimo Vineyards operates a custom crush pad and winemaking facility as well, so there’s plenty going on here. [Read more…]

Battaglini Winery Touts “Viti Vecchie, Vini Buono”

May 30, 2016 by Deborah Mines

Italians have a wonderful saying, “Viti Vecchie, Vini Buono” which translates to “Old Vines, Great Wine.” This is certainly the case at Russian River Valley’s Battaglini Winery off Piner Road. Unassuming at best, it’s easy to pass the driveway on the windy country road mistaking the Battaglini Winery as another of the area’s old farmhouses with colorful red outbuildings and antique lawn art.

Being an Italian wine aficionado, I ventured down the gravel lane. Giuseppe,, aka Joe, Battaglini, sauntered out to unlock the tasting shed for me on a rainy winter’s day following the 2016 Winter Wineland weekend festivities. Joe warmly welcomed me to Battaglini Winery and invited me to taste his award-winning wines.

Ribbons were proudly strung across the back wall and photographs of Italy adorned the walls. Quite a bit of history in this tiny rustic tasting room! Roots run deep, literally speaking, on this old homestead.

Giuseppe and his wife Lucia, immigrated from Italy to California in 1956, seeking a similar Italian lifestyle amongst the vines.

The original owner and vintner, Bartholomew Lagomarsino, also an Italian immigrant, planted Zinfandel and Petite Sirah in 1885 on this very site.

Today, the 1885 vines still flourish and produce incredible full-bodied Zinfandel and Petit Sirah, which have become the Battaglini Winery flagship wines. In addition, the vineyards are planted to Chardonnay.

For a truly authentico experience, stop by for a game of bocce and a glass of Old Vine Zin! www.battagliniwines.com

Dry Creek’s Wilson Winery Wins Gold Medal

March 13, 2016 by Deborah Mines

Just because you perceive something a certain way, doesn’t make it true. Thank goodness! Exploring the Dry Creek Canyon road in all it’s glory after much rain during the 2016 Winter Wineland festival, I decided to stop at Wilson Winery.

Admittedly, the Wilson Winery roadside facade was truly understated and I have driven by it often over the years. The allure to visit the Dry Creek winery was to confirm the scuttlebutt heard at nearly every winery by fellow winery employees throughout the valley. Who was this Diane Wilson, woman winemaker extraordinaire? My curiosity and love of Dry Creek’s big bold reds got the better of me but not before I rounded the corner…

Lo and behold, stood a magnificent wolf iron sculpture standing guard to the entry to Wilson Winery, probably howling at the moon in elation after tasting the decadent estate Zinfandel, Petit Sirah, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon! [Read more…]

Jordan Winery’s Wine & Food Pairing Is Alexander Valley’s Crown Jewel

December 20, 2015 by Deborah Mines

For one of the most memorable wine tasting experiences in Sonoma Wine Country, visit Jordan Winery in the stoic Alexander Valley. Founded in 1972, Tom and Sally Jordan had a vision to produce great “approachable” Bordeaux-style California Cabernet Sauvignon.

Inspired and fashioned after a French château, the Jordan Winery is at the top of the A-list for winery tours. No detail is too small, nor overlooked. Guests meet in the stately lobby for a guided walking tour of the grounds and production area, followed by a first-class private seated wine and food pairing in the château.

“Unique amongst Healdsburg wineries, more than three-quarters of the scenic estate has been preserved as natural habitat—an oasis where craggy oak trees pepper the landscape, geese and ducks swim the lakes, and rabbits and turkeys roam the hills. The property includes 112 acres of grapevines, 18 acres of olive trees, a one-acre garden, two lakes and several grazing pastures. The diversity of ecosystems on the estate encourages beneficial insects and other predators that support our sustainable farming practices”.

[Read more…]

Dry Creek’s Sbragia Family Vineyards Sono Molto Belle

October 22, 2015 by Deborah Mines

Driving through the scenic Dry Creek Valley AVA reminds me of Tuscany with very similar climate, topography and grape varietals. As a matter of fact, there is a collective of Italian immigrants and wine growers that have settled in Dry Creek for that very reason.

Soft rolling hills and long meandering roads lead to Sbragia Family Vineyards at the far end of Healdsburg’s Dry Creek Road. Climbing up the steep driveway, the panoramic view spans from the Rockpile AVA and Sonoma Dam to the Alexander Valley. Sbragia Family Vineyards is truly one of the prettiest views in all of Northern Sonoma County.

The Sbragia family has deep roots, literally, in Dry Creek Valley, having farmed the area for over 100 years. Grapes are sourced from the family vineyards located in Healdsburg, Alexander, Sonoma and Napa Valleys. [Read more…]