Limerick Lane Cellars: A Healdsburg Gem
Just recently, I had the opportunity to visit Healdsburg; and, of course, tasting wine was a priority. Our first stop that day was Limerick Lane Cellars. This winery is located just 5 minutes outside of downtown Healdsburg (which is also a growing culinary town). Limerick Lane is a 53-acre estate located in the northeast corner of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley. It’s in a rustic setting that harkens back to earlier times. The tasting room is quaint and relaxed, and they also offer outdoor seating among the vines. Tastings are by appointment only. On this day, we were in the winery itself as the rain had been falling.
Our host, who l enjoyed greatly, is an experienced wine veteran who loves sharing the wine with his guests. Andy has been at Limerick Lane for over five years and fully appreciates the opportunity to share the fine wines produced at the winery. This is a journey themed by Zinfandel. The vines here are almost 100 years old, and that is a great treat that Andy enjoys sharing with visitors. Zinfandel is a varietal that does well in Sonoma. There are many excellent wineries that produce lovely wines from this grape, and Limerick Lane is one of them.
Wayfarer Pinot Noir — The Road to Take!
I recently opened a Pinot Noir that literally stopped me in my tracks. The sweet fruit aromas wafted from the glass and the flavors sailed on through the finish. The aromas and flavors were so compelling that it truly deserved my full attention. The finish sailed on for over a minute and left me really wanting more. It was truly beautiful. This Pinot Noir was a standout.
Wayfarer Vineyards is the baby of Jayson Pahlmeyer who truly has a passion for Burgundian wines. The vineyard itself was brought to Jayson’s attention by Helen Turley and planted by David Abreu. It is located in the Sonoma Coast hills less than five miles from the ocean and bears some gorgeous fruit. The proprietor of the winery now is Cleo Pahlmeyer, Jayson’s daughter.
Rivers-Marie: First Class Wine and Service
Located in the quaint town of Calistoga, Rivers-Marie is a must visit. That is a bold statement yet the wine, the tasting room and the staff are all worthy of that. First and foremost, this is the home of Thomas Rivers Brown’s personal label. He is one of the most highly regarded winemakers in the valley. His credits are wines such as Outpost, Schrader, Maybach, Mending Wall, Pulido-Walker, Hestan, and so on. He has twenty-five 100 point scores for the Cabernets he has crafted and, simply put, that is a record in the valley. All this alone should lead you to taste his personal label wines that do not disappoint.
Secondly, the staff that support this winery are top notch. They are professional, learned and talented. The space is open and expansive as you sit in a wide open space with glass doors at both ends of the tasting room. You can see out to the back which is a private farm (in process of updates). There is a live wall which brings nature in, and all is done in very comfortable seating.
Bedrock Wine Company: Tasting on the Sonoma Square
Bedrock Wine Company is a relatively new winery (2007) yet with very deep roots in the business. Morgan Twain-Peterson is the owner/winemaker and began his journey being exposed to wine and wine tasting as a young boy. When he was five, he crafted his own Pinot Noir! He grew up with the wine business as his father is the founder of Ravenswood Winery. Morgan is distinct among winemakers in that he is a Master of Wine. This is an intense training program that requires several years of study. He is one of 45 MWs in the U.S. and is one of only two winemakers in California to carry that designation.
Bedrock is dedicated to preserving and rehabilitating old vineyards around California. This mission and vision contributes to the quality of the wine. Quality is what you will enjoy when you visit the tasting room located on the Sonoma Square. It is a peaceful, relaxing space to experience the well-made wines.
Giving Thanks
Cheers to all of you on this Thanksgiving holiday. May your holiday season be spirited and sparkling. Thanks for your support and for following Diana’s Wine Blog!
Kutch Wines’ Pinot Noir and Chardonnay: A Good Discovery
Kutch Wines is a small production, artisan winery in Sonoma. I found their wines through reviews and wanted to check it out for myself. Again, I use the wine critics as resources, not as gospel. Given the number of wineries in Napa Valley (500+) and in Sonoma County (400+), it would be near impossible and costly to spend time visiting every winery, even if I could. Many do not welcome visitors. With that said, setting out on a Pinot Noir day with my good friend Eric, we journeyed to Kutch.
The address took us to an industrial area of warehouse style buildings with many small production sites. Our host this day was the associate winemaker, Joanna Wells. Kutch is a two-person production, and Joanna is a very capable associate in the enterprise. This is a small 1000-case total production. Joanna has worked with Jamie Kutch for over 6 years and clearly is very dedicated to the winery goals. Many times when visiting wineries, you rarely get someone as knowledgeable and involved with the wine to lead you through a visit. This was a rare treat.
Vérité Wines: In Search of Consistent Perfection
Vérité is a winery in Healdsburg, California that takes on perfection as their goal at every turn. The winemaker himself brings diligence to each step in the winemaking process, even down to the selection of the wood for the barrels. This is their ambition. The efforts are clear – there is a big commitment to quality.
Donelan: A Family Affair
Donelan Wines is a family winery that takes great pride in delivering quality wines for your drinking pleasure. The venture began back in 2000 under the name of Pax wine. I originally joined the mailing list after visiting the industrial setting winery for a tasting. Their Syrahs were getting high marks from reviewers, and that always peaks my curiosity. I am not one to take it solely on a critic’s review and need to try the wine firsthand. The wines were wonderful then, and they continue to deliver with every year.
This is a working winery located in Santa Rosa. It is situated in an industrial setting that is home to several smaller wineries. The driving force in the winery is Joe Donelan. It is his vision and passion that set the stage for these winning wines. Joe has been quoted as stating that quality is the most important goal with every vintage. The scores and accolades the wines receive demonstrate his commitment. He is supported full time by his two sons, Tripp and Cushing. Tripp is the Director of Sales, and Cushing is the Director of Marketing. This is what really makes it a family affair.
Seghesio: A Bright and Fruity Wine at a Nice Price
The primary flavors of Zinfandel are jam, blackberry, black pepper, cherry and plum. You can even find boysenberry, cranberry and licorice in bottles as well. Sounds to me like a great party wine, and that season is just around the corner.
Seghesio is a great buy with a huge production that should not be missed. I have drunk many bottles of this wine. Seghesio has a tasting room in Healdsburg; and, if you ever get to that city, stop in and enjoy the tasting. If you can’t get to Healdsburg, you should you should be able to find this wine in several outlets. For the price, it is quite a delicious bottle.
Go with “Pride”
This past Sunday, we enjoyed a ride up the mountain to tour and taste at Pride Mountain Vineyards. This famous winery is located atop Spring Mountain and provides glorious views of Mount St. Helena and the Mayacamas Range. The expanse of vines provides picture perfect scenery for the photographer in you. Many times I have visited and never tire of the beauty of the setting.
While I am doing my best to explore the 500 wineries in Napa County and almost 450 in Sonoma County (yes, that is a lot), there is one winery I always seem to come back to — and that is Pride Mountain Vineyards. It is the winery I have the longest history with and always enjoy visiting. The people are gracious, the views are lovely and the wine – oh, yes, the wine is quite pleasurable to drink.