We had a tasting here, since we are wine members. This…read morewinery is known for their Chardonnay's . 9 in total I believe. Madison was warm and inviting. She gives good assistance. We had good conversations with her. If you love Chardonnays , then definitely check this place out.

We splurged on the Hummer Wine tasting Tour and are so glad that we did! The wine was obviously…read morewonderful (and Maddy, our tour guide, really catered the wine selection to all of our individual tastes), the tour itself was fun and interesting, and we really felt special! We will definitely do the tour again -- a great way to treat guests to something extra special!

I guess the secret is out about Calluna! Amazing experience and incredible wines! I emailed David…read morefor a tasting appointment and he promptly replied, this is a unique experience in Sonoma. Driving up the hill you realize this place is special. A slice of paradise with absolutely gorgeous views from the top of the hill in the Chalk Hill area. David does the tastings himself, it was great sitting with him going though the history of the vineyard, the harvest and of course the wines! Specializing in Bordeaux grapes, everything I tasted was spectacular. Starting with the Estate Blanc (Sauv Blanc with Semillon), through the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and his Cuvee.. Leaning towards more of the French influences, they were elegant and very balanced, fruit comes through beautifully. I have found my new favorite!

I have taken some time to think about this review due to the founder, David Jeffrey, the short…read morehistory of his new winery and where he intends to take it (at least in my opinion). I did an extensive amount of research trying to uncover emerging brands in NSV and within the highly competitive category. After talking with several people I know, cultivating additional information about Calluna Vineyards, and more importantly, what is Mr. David Jeffrey all about, I decided to reach out to him and seek an invitation from him. What intrigued me about David and his approach were: 1. His studious approach to the entire process of creating a tremendous product 2. How he gathered his knowledge 3. Who he approached for insight into the business 4. The total vertical approach to the wine-making "business" and how he selected the site he is on. 5. Where the stage of the vintages are and where he intends to take it. 6. Combining old world knowledge and using what the land gives him from the Chalk Hill AVA. The visit to Calluna Vineyards got arranged in February, 2017, and it was an amazing day. After a brief break from the brutal weather in Napa, the day I visited David had a crisp wind and blue sky. I knew this would be a good day. We drove to the site and it is a bit tricky to find, even using GPS. We called on the intercom and was greeted by David who admitted us on to the property. We reached the summit after about a 5 minute drive from the gate. I kept thinking about what he saw with no vineyards and just grass over ten years ago, within the 80 acre parcel he eventually purchased. Did he think about the Chalk Hill AVA and that it is a "transitional" area with the cool Russian River Valley and the warmer climes of Alexander Valley and Napa? Where was she going? What knowledge was he pulling with him when he started Calluna Vineyard and his studies at Fresno State in the Winemaking programs? And what direction will he impart on the land and delivery of the finished product? After all David did study as well at Chateau Quinault and Alain Raynaud, who consults in the Bordeaux region. I was curious what he inserted into the Calluna methodology and the traditional wine-making techniques he learned and the other emerging practices occurring. David focused in Bordeaux on double sorting tables and how to separate single berries from raisins, stems and leaves (You will have to visit Callunna to learn more!), among other things. You can learn other aspects during your visit such as why he named it Heather Ridge, why he planted certain grape varieties on the Calluna Vineyards and where, and also he showed me where the semillion grapes are grown and the blending with the sauvignon blanc. Semillion is barrel aged. David is still looking for the California terroir to give what it has and apply Old World to it as well from his Bordeaux experience. So how did the 1 hour visit go? Needed more time with David. He opens the door to his home and we walk through it and I get a pleasant sensory note and I realize he is cooking a pork dish for guests tonight and it was a terrific aroma. It felt like home, and it was David's home. We step out to the back with the vistas of the valley and various peaks. What an amazing 180 degree view. We sip on the sauvignon blanc and the notes added with the semillion are creative. After proceeding back indoors we sit at the table with a view of the extraordinary Russian River Valley. Now I see why David picked this 80 acre parcel, did all of the soil samples and carefully marked out his vision and not what "professionals" are telling him. David spent an incredible amount of time detailing where he is and wants to be. We next went to the merlot tasting, and as David stated, the movie Sideways did not impact his merlot strategy and he even commented that at the end of the movie Miles drank a glass of Chateau Cheval Blanc that has a lot of merlot in it. But the ratings given to each Calluna wine are deserving of their 90+ points and Merlot did not suck. The final tasting was their flagship wine, the Calluna Estate Cabernet Sauvignon with the classic cabernet,, merlot, petit verdot, malbec and cab franc. David does his own blending and wine-making and as he structures each vintage his expertise and notoriety will grow. This is a 5 star visit and when you combine the tasting, wines, location, history and David's amazing treatment of his guest as a host, I wish I could add an additional star. THIS WINE IS THE BEST VALUE IN ALL OF THE NSV AND ONCE CONSUMPTION, AWARENESS AND WORD OF MOUTH GROWS, LOOK OUT. KUDOS TO DAVID AND A DON'T MISS SPOT WHEN TRAVELING INTO THE RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY AND CHALK HILL AVA.

Stressed Vines is super dog friendly (please stay off the furniture). It's been quiet the couple…read moretimes we have gone and they often bring a bed out for our older pup to rest on. She doesn't typically go into any bed and plopped right in to nap, always a good sign. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The focus is Pinot and Chard and there is a lovely bubble too across two flights. Highly recommended trying one of each flight in your group to find your faves across both. They don't offer a wine club discount as you see that if you get your wine shipped. They have events throughout the year including in the summer with the music in the plaza series, members can reserve a seat from them and take a bottle or glass to enjoy the vibes.

Wow, this was such an accidental find and well worthwhile. I stumbled into stressed minds after…read morehaving lunch and were promptly welcomed by the owner. We opted for tastings which started with a complementary glass of bubbly. The owner was so knowledgeable and friendly and we thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the comfortable lounge and tasting fantastic wines. We will definitely return!

Oak Tree Winery is a small family owned winery in the heart of Windsor on the Town Green with…read moreamazing wine. We came here to sip wine and listen to music. It was a nice and relaxing way to enjoy an evening together. We even met the owners, who were very kind and welcoming. They have wine by the glass and have a nice variety of wines for whatever you are in the mood for. They had a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Red blend, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and a Rosé of Pinot Noir. I had a glass of the Viognier and my husband had a glass of their Cabernet Sauvignon and a glass of their Sauvignon Blanc. We both absolutely loved the wines we had and highly recommend this place when in downtown Windsor. You have the option of getting wine by the glass, bottle, or doing a wine tasting. They have lots of music events and other events such as Paint and Sip for you to enjoy. We enjoyed sipping amazing wine and listening to good music before walking to dinner at a nearby restaurant.

From the owner: Oak Tree Winery is a small, family-owned winery in the heart of Windsor, California. We pride…read moreourselves on producing small-batch, handcrafted wines sourced from the finest grapes in Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley. We strive to produce the best possible quality wines by minimally handling and processing the grapes to preserve the most natural flavors.

Ava was welcoming as soon as I walked in. She quickly gave me the lay of the land (I walked in…read moreduring Happy Hour, of which glasses are $10 each.) Being a first time patron I opted for the House Wine Flight and charcuterie, so that I could get a little taste of everything. The charcuterie had salami, duck breast, 2 cheeses, nuts, prosciutto and olives/peppers. I'd definitely order this again... a nice smokey duck breast with any glass of wine is fine by me! While I enjoyed each of the wines I tried (Sauvignon blanc, Rose, Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Syrah and Malbec), I don't know that any one style screamed out at me more than the next. The Sauvignon and Rose were probably the two more at the top for me. I look forward to not only checking out this cute town again, but also spending some time at Baldassari to see what else they have to offer!

My wife and I had a wonderful time here. The young lady serving us made us feel welcome from the…read morestart with a warm smile. We enjoyed a chardonnay and pinot noir, both excellent! We also shared a beautiful charcuterie board. Great vibe.

Wow. This is my absolutely favorite wine tasting I have done in Sonoma, especially at this chapter…read moreof my life. They are so family friendly - including small kids and dogs! A really well-kept picturesque property where any picture you take is social media ready. We picnicked with the food that they gave us. That was enough, really well packed and delicious. The beet salad/spread was my favorite - so good! We did order their pizza, fries and some additional wine glasses. Enjoyed all the additions. The staff were genuinely nice. And the ambiance was casual enough to bring both the kids and canine family members.

We had reservations for the lunch and wine pairing on a weekday. We were the first to arrive…read more Employees were very helpful. We were shown to our table and they offered us some time to walk the grounds, garden and view the lake. They said we could spend more time after lunch, viewing the rest of the property. The garden was beautiful. Lots of herbs and flowers, with labels. The restaurant itself was gorgeous. Wood. High ceilings. Nice decor. Our server seemed pretty new. He made a few errors throughout, but that did not significantly deter from our experience. It was really neat that the chef came out with every pairing and explained each course. We never felt rushed. There was plenty of wine. The food was exquisite. We ended up buying a few bottles of wine and even though I filled out the shipping information and told the server my preferred vendor was ups over FedEx because I have an account - he managed to bring our bottles of wine all bagged up, to our table. Yikes. We were curious about the pizza oven upon arrival. We saw it and hoped for pizza but they did not have that on the lunch pairing menu. So after we finished our scheduled lunch, it was pretty slow there, so we asked if we could stay and order more food. Our server brought the menu for us (after our third request) and we ordered a pizza and the fries which basically stated on the menu that they were the best fries you've ever had. Well, I can attest that they are not. Yes, they are shoestring fries for you lovers out there. But also, they're not a step too far from McDonald's. So that's all. Not the best of my life. Not life changing. Just like McDonald's. But the pizza was good. Unfortunately I had asked if it was red sauce and was given a yes answer. But you can see the pizza doesn't have any red sauce on it at all. I probably would've ordered a different one, if I was properly informed. Also, I asked for no balsamic glaze and of course it came with balsamic glaze. Yet another error. Whatever. I'm not sure what's up with people who swear by balsamic? Keep it off my bruschetta, it doesn't belong there. And don't put it on Brussels sprouts either. Yuck. Too much sugar and it's not necessary. On the pizza, it was fine, but not my preference. But it probably saved the pizza because there a was NO SAUCE. Anyhow- their little gift shop area is super cute and I perused the items. Also- they have a shelf of board games! How fun! It would be great to come by, get some light bites, a ton of wine, and play games and take a walk to enjoy the property. It's such a gorgeous place. I would recommend this place. The lunch and wine pairing was expensive, but the food was superior quality. The wine here is great. We did not become members but I can see why people do. Their Sauvignon blanc was one of my faves, so that was two of the bottles we purchased. Our order was eventually packaged and sent to us, via FedEx, not UPS, and was in good shape upon arrival.

Don was pouring wine at the door of the winery and even though we thought we were done wine tasting…read morehe was such a good salesman we stopped. He was full of information about the wines which were all delicious. I liked the Barbera and the viognier best, so I bought one of each - but all the wines we tasted were very, very good. Service is, obviously, great and the tasting room is cute. I will enjoy a return visit here. There are a few wines I didn't have time to try.

The wine was very good and the staff was very friendly and shared much about the wine. Cute little…read morespot with comfy seating and yummy snacks.

The owner contacted me to apologize after I had to file a dispute with my credit card company in…read moreorder to finally get a refund for tickets to a tasting experience at a location that no longer existed. He seemed sincere and told me he was going to send me a bottle of wine to make up for charging me $400 for two tasting experiences when the tasting room was forever closed for business. I never got the wine. Out of curiosity I went to the website to see if they ever closed the tasting room experience. Nope!! I can still buy tickets for $200 a piece to go to a winery tasting room that no longer exists. Very tacky.

Don't skip a stop to the Bellacana Tasting Room in Downtown Windsor. Of course, you should do a…read moretasting of their red and white wines, but start of with a bottle of Sparkling, it's the best. Their friendly and knowledgeable team will ensure you're taken care of. Sit indoors our outside, both are comfortable environments to enjoy. They have a complimentary phone charger to use.

We were exploring downtown Healdsburg recently during the Christmas break. Since there were so…read moremany intriguing tasting rooms, we decided to check one out. We chose to drop in Marine Layer Wines. The tasting room is located in a very nice area in beautiful downtown Healdsburg across Healdsburg square. Parking is accessible all around the street and Healdsburg square. The modern decor was beautiful and bright. There were plenty of tables and couches to accommodate all different size parties. The vibe was inviting and family friendly. There was a cozy fireplace in the front as well. We ordered a glass of Lyra Pinot Noir and a glass of Aries Chardonnay. My Pinot Noir was smooth while the wifey's Chardonnay was crisp and refreshing. The wine was great quality. Overall we enjoyed our experience at Marine Layer Wines. The staff was nice and helpful. We appreciated the family friendly environment. It was nice to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Christmas, by relaxing with a nice glass of wine.

We came to check out this tasting room after a friend's recommendation. The space is beautiful, and…read morethey offer two different types of tasting. We went for the Pinot flight (Sonoma coast Vineyard series) and really enjoyed the Bohemian and Whistler. Staff was great in explaining each pour and giving us space to just relax.

We walked in without an reservation, and Todd graciously took us in on a tour. We had phenomenal…read moreguest experience. He was amazing , friendly, and knowledgeable. 5 star experience!! I can highly recommend coming here. !! Their service was memorable. We met Justin for a quick sec , but gave us extraordinary service . He was welcoming, and made us feel comfortable. Beautiful winery, with beautiful views. If in the area definitely check out Verite Winery.

I usually write my reviews in chronological order, but I want to cover Vérité while my taste buds…read moreare fresh! Like the saying goes, you save the best for last. After visiting over twenty wineries in Napa and Sonoma, we arrived at Vérité and discovered a war zone, we had to walk over debris, "dead bodies", and struggled to find the tasting room, it was due to construction, they are actually in the middle of building a new facility. Luckily Pierre saved us, he walked over to us and guided us to the elegant tasting room. When we entered the immaculate tasting room we were greeted by Justin, In a matter of 3 seconds we forgot about the war zone, he poured us a glass of beautiful champagne and we all four toasted and had a nice chat, took some pictures and then got the stage ready for the anticipated moment... Before going into wine's details and technicality I have to say that Vérité was my favorite wine of the entire trip and my Sonoma FAV wine of all times! Justin set up an impressive table with 4 glasses for each of us and 3 were already poured. From left to right; La Muse, Le Joile, Le Desir, all 2014. 2014 La Muse: The wine is extra dark, full body, dense, with perfumes of graphite and chocolate, the finish goes and goes for ever. I can see this wine getting much better in 5+ years but it's hard to resist drinking now. 95+ PTS in my scale. 2014 Le Joie: The wine is almost black, dense, the body is as bold as it can get, you can also feel the graphite and chocolate notes which make me believe it's coming from the oak they used to age the wines. A persistent minerals with truffle and menthol emerge from this fruit driven (not sweet at all) Cabernet based blend, the complexity is so manifested that I will called this the perfect example of a multidimensional wine, it keeps on changing as time goes by and getting better & better. I would give this bottle at least 3 years but peak should happen somewhere 5-15 years from today. 98+ PTS for me! 2014 Le Desir: The wine is dark purple, also bold as the other siblings, the nose in confusing and complex, on the palate you get this infrequent combination of tobacco, black raspberry, valley mist and a touch of red bell pepper. This is the best Cabernet Franc I have ever had, coming from a non Cab Franc fan this should tell a lot, Pierre Seillan is doing a magnificent job. I would hold it for 2-3 years and drink over the next 10 or so. 95+ PTS in my tough scale. Then when we though the "party was over" Justin poured more juice in the fourth glass that was mysteriously empty until this point. I asked him not to reveal what it was so we could guess... To me it was a super complex, multidimensional and beautifully aged wine, being here it must be a Vérité wine but which one? I thought it was a 2004 La Muse because of the delicate notes and subtle combination of berries, chocolate, caramel and coffee beans. To my girlfriend it was a 2007 La Joie, you will have to read her review to see why. The reality is that we both had something right. It was a 2004 Vérité La Joie! Beautiful and what I will call a perfect wine 100 PTS for me! Despite having a handful of Vérité bottles in my cellar I never had the chance to taste any until that point, which Justin accurately pointed out "it's very risky". I have bought a few in the last year because of the consistent high scores from multiple experts as well as consumers in CellarTracker. Now I'm a fan, maybe more than a fan, I think I'm addicted to Vérité and I will run in financial distress very soon...