Entries from May 2007
“Virginia has emerged in the last few years as one of the leading states outside the West Coast in making wine, and now has the fifth largest number of wineries (over 100) after California, Washington, Oregon and New York.” - Paul Franson, Regional Editor of Wines & Vines.
There are seven Virginia Wine Trails as listed below. Click on the name of the wine trail to get additional information.
Bedford Wine Trail
Blue Ridge Wine Way
Heart of Virginia Wine Trail
Loudoun’s Wine Trail
Monticello Wine Trail
Norther Neck Wine Trail
Shenandoah Valley Wine Country Trail
Tags: Virginia Drive One of 7 Wine Trails
I was in California visiting family towards the end of 2005. From California, I flew to Vegas to meet up with my boyfriend who was there for a conference. Our evening started at the Wine Cellar at the Rio Suites Hotel & Casino. “The Wine Cellar showcases some 50,000 bottles valued at more than $10 million. As you stroll upon rustic rock tile and pass through rock and brick archways, you’ll come across rare museum pieces like a bottle of 1800 Madeira from the cellar of Thomas Jefferson or the 1855 to 1990 vertical collection of Chateau d’Yquem, valued at $2 million.” We were introduced to Cakebread wine that evening. A year later, we were at the Cakebread Cellars.
Jack Cakebread went to Napa Valley to take pictures for his book. He returned home only to come back to Napa that same afternoon to make an offer on a vineyard. Cakebread was born. Cakebread is dedicated to making the highest quality wines. It is now an internationally distributed wine company.
Location: 8300 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford, CA
Phone: (800) 588-0298
Hours: Open daily, 10am - 4pm, by appointment only
Wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Rubaiyat, Merlot
Direction: Take highway 29 North (Follow signs to Calistoga). Pass through Napa & Yountville. At Oakville you are approximately 1 mile south of the winery. It is on the right side of the highway with no sign. Look for the black mailbox with Cakebread Cellars, 8300 St. Helena Highway.
Tags: Cakebread Cellars
GB has been producing wines for 150 fruitful years through six generations of family.
Click here for additional photos: http://www.gunbun.com/wine_social/photos.html
Gundlach Bundsche Winery (GB)
Location: 2000 Denmark Street, Sonoma, California 95476
Phone: (707) 938 5277
Hours: Open daily: 11am - 4:30pm, except major holidays
Tags: Gundlach Bundsche Winery
“The
Buena Vista historic stone press tasting house is located five minutes from downtown Sonoma. Buena Vista has 1000 acres of estate vineyards in Carneros, the largest vineyard holdings in Carneros. Carneros is a truly exceptional winegrowing appellation. Straddling the southernmost tips of Sonoma and Napa counties, wind and fog sweep in daily from San Pablo Bay to cool the vines and extend the growing season.
The stars of the region are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but the rocky soils and cooler climate produce intensely rich Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon on warmer hillsides further inland.” Have a taste of the Buena Vista Pinot Noir and you will ask for a glass.
Historic Buena Vista Tasting Room
Location: 18000 Old Winery Road, Sonoma, CA 95476
Phone: (707) 938-1266 or (800) 926-1266
Hours: Open daily: 10am - 5pm
Tags: Buena Vista Winery
Ravenswood claims to have no wimpy wine. I totally agree. It is true that no visit to Sonoma is complete without a visit to Ravenswood Winery. Their commitment is to full-flavored varietal wine, notably Zinfandel. To me, they are the “King of Zin.” Taste the Reserve or you will forever regret it. Click on the link for more Zinformation.
Ravenswood Winery
Location: 18701 Gehricke Road, Sonoma, California 95476
Phone: (707) 933-2332 or 1-888-669-4679
Hours: Open daily: 10am - 4:30pm
Tags: Ravenswood Winery
Some of the oldest vineyard sites in northern California were acquired in 1904 by Samuele Sebastiani, the founder of Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, who immigrated from Tuscany, Italy in 1895. He began making fine Sonoma Valley wine, a craft he learned before immigrating to America. It is now tended by the fourth generation. The tasting room is huge but crowded with visitors stopping by to get a taste of the wine. The marketplace offers many items from wine accessories to decorative plates.
Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery
Location: 389 Fourth Street East, Sonoma, California 95476
Phone: (707) 933-3230 or (800) 888-5532 x3230
Hours: Open daily: 10am - 5pm
Tags: Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery
Schug is one of the few wineries that does not charge visitors for tastings (except for the Reserve wines). The winery building is tucked on a hillside with underground barrell caves. “Behind the German style post-and-beam building, there is a vista point with a 360º view of the surrounding area and the opportunity to see as far as Mount Diablo on a clear day. ”
Schug Carneros Estate Winery
Location: 602 Bonneau Road, Sonoma, CA 95476
Phone: (707) 939-9363 or (800) 966-9365
Hours: Open daily: 10am - 5pm
Tags: Schug Carneros Estate Winery
A few months prior to my trip to California, I was at Willow Restaurant in Arlington, Virginia for a wine tasting gathering. I was introduced to Cline Cellars Viognier and that is how I ended up at Cline Cellars. “The tasting room is located inside an original 1850’s farmhouse, and is wrapped by a large and pleasant, old-fashioned porch for outdoor seating. Six spring-fed ponds, with lush green lawns, rustling willow trees, ever-changing gardens and the glorious, fragrant blossoms of over 5,000 rose bushes, surround the grounds. ”
Cline Cellars
Location: 24737 Arnold Drive (Highway 121), Sonoma, CA 95476
Phone: (707) 940-4000 or 800-546-2070
Hours: Open daily: 10am - 6pm
Tags: Cline Cellars
Judging from the outside, it doesn’t seem like this place has much to offer. To my surprise, it turned out to be a truly captivating “wine tasting” experience. The Mayo Family Winery produces small lots of Single Vineyard wines under the premise. The world’s most interesting and highest quality wines usually come from a single vineyard source. The wines are distributed across the country. They also have four other tasting rooms in Sonoma County, which I did not have a chance to visit but it is on my “to do” list.
Mayo Family Winery
Location: 13101 Arnold Drive (at Highway 12), Glen Ellen, CA 95442
Phone: (707) 938-9401
Hours: Open daily, 10:30am - 6:30pm
Tags: Mayo Family Winery
I was driving by on Highway 12 when I noticed this magnificent “castle” situated between acres of rolling vineyards. My curiosity led me inside one of the most stunning interiors with several tasting bars (as many as six), gift shop and gourmet marketplace . Located in the heart of Sonoma Valley, it was originally designed as the Ledson’s family home. With intense public interest and passers-by going so far as to climb the fences to get a better look, the family decided to turn it into a winery and tasting room. You will not regret your visit to this vineyard.
Ledson Winery and Vineyards
Location: 7335 Sonoma Hwy (Hwy 12), Kenwood, CA 95409
Phone: (707) 537-3810
Hours: Open daily: 10am - 5pm
Tags: Ledson Winery
“Virginia has emerged in the last few years as one of the leading states outside the West Coast in making wine, and now has the fifth largest number of wineries (over 100) after California, Washington, Oregon and New York.” - Paul Franson, Regional Editor of Wines & Vines.
