About 4 months or so ago I ran across this wineries name in an email I had received. I checked out their website and liked what I read so I then check to see if they had a Yelp page, which they didn't so I quickly created a page and then bookmarked it as I wanted to visit this tasting room on my annual day after Thanksgiving yearly wine tasting with my friend (this year it was postponed by one day but still fun none the less!). Since this seemed like a small winery, I was definitely interested in tasting their wines. I like small wineries, not the big commercial conglomerates, because to me after a while the large wineries tend to be more commercialized and all about the dollar rather than perfecting the taste of the wines, trying to find that right balance.
On 11/26/22 I drove us to William Henry Wineworks to start our tasting. There's ample parking outside, a few tables/chairs in front for outdoor tasting and inside there are several options for your seated tasting from table/chairs, a couch to barstools at the bar. There is also a television set and a record player (yes you heard me correctly, record player as in vinyl albums) so you can pick all types of music to listen to while you are tasting. We were greeted by Mark Ray, owner and winemaker who is originally from South Carolina. Marks wife, Melissa, does the sales & marketing for the company. They actually named the winery after their 2 sons, William & Henry. Mark went over the various tasting options that he had to offer and we decided to let him be our guide! We started with a 2016 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay called Melissa Kelly, named after his wife. My friend and I liked it so much we each bought a bottle. Actually, I bought 2 bottles as one was for my daughter. From there Mark took our palates on a world wind tour of their fabulous wines! We tasted in the following order:
2021 Grenache, Dry Creek Valley, Emmitt-Scorsone Estate
2021 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Balletto Vineyards
2021 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, La Vista Vineyards
2018 Perception Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Bernie Orsi Vineyards
2012 Perception Pinot Noir Charlatan, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir
2012 Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, Collins Vineyards, Old Vine (1934)
Though, for me, it would be hard to choose a favorite besides the Chardonnay, I'd have to say I really enjoyed the Grenache as it was a lighter body Grenache. I really liked the 2018 Perception Pinot Noir over the 2012 Perception. And nothing can beat that Old Vine Zin! But they were all very good! I ended up getting a bottle of the Grenache to go along with the Chardonnay that I got and my friend purchase a mix of 4 bottles.
This is definitely a tasting room that I will take out of town friends & family as well as good friends that love to taste wines! Who knows, I might be persuaded to cancel my current wine club and join theirs! Mark also mentioned that they were going to adding charcuterie and cheese plates in the future, which will pair splendidly with their wines! You won't be disappointed if you stop by here and try their wines!! read more