The first stop of my trip
(after some serious plane delays!) was Gloria Ferrer. Although I didn't have a
lot of time here, I was lucky enough to sample a few things (unless on a
tour, they only have glass pours available, but at $5-$10 a glass, a stop here
is certainly worth it!). They have a gorgeous property perched atop a hill,
just outside downtown Sonoma, with sweeping views of the vineyards. I
would recommend the guided tour (daily at 11am, 1pm or 3pm) which is $10 per
person and includes two tastes. Their staff is very welcoming and
knowledgeable, really enhancing the experience. But the best part is their
bubbly! They have a bubbly for EVERYONE. Seriously. I was really impressed with
the incredible variety of flavors that were brought out with different bottles.
I definitely had my favorite though, the 2000 Carneros Cuvée. It
was absolutely incredible..creamy, smooth, and my favorite way to describe it "eminently delicious." If you are bubbly fan, this one is worth the
investment!
Another winery I visited is Mauritson Wines. WOW! This place is
wonderful. Very small, quaint, family owned with some incredible wines and a
great outdoor grass/patio area, perfect for relaxing on a summer day with a
glass of wine, or even for a picnic. I must admit, their Zin was one of my
favorite wines of the entire trip (I even bought a bottle to bring back to San
Francisco to give to the friends I stayed with in the city as a thank you...luckily
they opened it while I was there, but it made me wish I'd bought a bottle to
bring home). The 2010 Dry Creek Zinfandel from Mauritson was the winner.
Mauritson is known for their zins and I can see why.
A few others wineries I visited worth quick shout outs were:
Trione (pronouced Tree-oh-knee)
J Vineyards
J Vineyards
Twomey
Ferrari Carano-I didn't taste here but
the grounds (and gardens) are absolutely gorgeous!!
Passalacqua (pronounced Paw-Saw-Law-Qwah)
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| Trione was playing country music when we walked in and had a huge BBQ out back...I liked it from the start. This was a great spot with a casual, sexy, modern vibe, a knowledgeable & very cute tasting room manager (always a plus, right ladies?) and some interesting, unusual wines. Overall a great experience. |
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| J Vineyards is known for their delicious bubbly..they even have a "Bubble Room" where you can schedule private sparkling tastings. A gorgeous property with a unique interior, I highly recommend a visit here. |
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| Amazing views from Twomey, known for their Pinot Noirs. This stunning tasting room has sweeping views of vineyards and a gorgeous fountain out front. Also available are cheese platters to accompany your tasting experience. |
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| Although I didn't taste at Ferrari Carano, the grounds, views and gardens are worth a visit. The property was impeccably manicured with a luxe, European feel. Very beautiful. |
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| Passalacqua, a family run winery with a long history in the Dry Creek Valley, is a spot where you will have a wonderful experience. So small, their wines are only available online and at the tasting room. One of my favorite wines of the trip was their DELICIOUS 2010 Dry Creek Valley Bevill Heirloom Vineyard Zin, an incredible wine made from special block planted with Zin budwood from five legendary vineyards that date as far back as the 1800's. I don't know if I've ever had a wine from plants this old, but I can now say I am a HUGE fan of old vines if they are capable of this! |
There are SO MANY wineries
to choose from in the Sonoma area (over 250!!). While I didn't make it to about
5 or 6 that I had on my original itinerary, I would suggest doing a bit of
research before you go as there are some misses in this area. Go with a small
plan, then go with the flow. There are so many knowledgeable tasting room
people that are more than willing to guide you based on what you enjoy at their
winery...so always be honest! Whether you are just starting to like wine or
have been drinking it for years, the Sonoma/Healdsburg area is stunning and a
VERY different feel from the traditional California Napa tasting experience.
I've done both, and while I think I prefer Napa, I had a wonderful time in
Sonoma. The hospitality was superb, and we met some great people. I would
definitely suggest experiencing this part of California wine country!
Big Money Saving Tip: If you have a Visa Signature card, there are about 80 wineries that offer free or discounted tastings with your card. Many of the wineries I visited were on this list, and were excellent. I would suggest doing some research about this program before making the trip, as it can save you hundreds of dollars!
Contact
Information:
23555 Arnold Drive Sonoma, CA 95476
(707)
996-7256
Twitter:
@GloriaFerrer
Maurtison WInes
2859 Dry Creek Road Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707)
431-0804
Twitter: @MauritsonWinery
Trione
Winery
19550
Geyserville Avenue Geyserville, CA 95441
(707)
814-8100
Twitter:
@trionewinery
J Vineyards
11447 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg, CA 95448
888.594.6326
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JWinery
Twitter: @JWInery
Twomey
Cellars
Healdsburg
Location: 3000
Westside Rd Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 942-7122
Calistoga
Location: 1183
Dunaweal Lane Calistoga, CA 94515
(707) 942-2489
Twitter: @Twomey
Ferrari Carano
8761 Dry Creek Road Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 433-6700
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ferraricarano
Twitter: @FerrariCarano
Passalacqua Winery
3805 Lambert Bridge Road Healdsburg, CA 95448
(707) 433-5550
(707) 433-5550
Thank you for including J in your wonderful article “A Few More Sonoma Recommendations” as a highly recommended winery to visit, we are thrilled you enjoyed the J Bubbly and look forward to your next visit to experience the J Bubble Room, cheers!
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