Cali's verdant vineyards produce bountiful harvest for oenophiles

Cali's verdant vineyards produce bountiful harvest for oenophiles

Guide

California Wine Country 101

Best Boutique Wineries

Daniel Dawson was sommelier at the French Laundry for over a year before opening Back Room Wines (backroomwines.com) in the city of Napa, where he specializes in small-production gems. Here, his insider picks.

NAPA
Barlow Vineyards (barlowvineyards.com): This family winery near Calistoga makes wonderfully big cabernets, merlots, and zinfandels from their own vineyard (tastings by appointment).

Neal Family Vineyards
(nealvineyards.com): At this open-by-appointment winery near Calistoga, owner and second-generation vineyard manager Mark Neal crafts hearty cabernet sauvignons with grapes from all over the Napa Valley.

SONOMA
Sojourn Cellars (sojourncellars.com): Already known for their pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon, Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley launched Sojourn wines (tastings available by appointment) just five years ago.

Mauritson Wines
(mauritsonwines.com): Clay Mauritson started his winery on land near Healdsburg that had been farmed by his family for more than a hundred years. Try his bold, delicious zinfandel, petite sirah, and sauvignon blanc at the tasting room.

MENDOCINO
Londer Vineyards
(londervineyards.com): Larry and Shirlee Londer produce superpremium, bigger-style chardonnays and pinot noirs, along with dry Gewurztraminer. They host informal tastings in the area by appointment.

Claudia Springs Winery
(claudiasprings.com): This nearly 20-year-old winery makes  some of California’s better value premium wines. Sample the especially good pinot noir at the winery’s tasting room near Philo.

See San Francisco Travel Guide | See Napa Valley Travel GuideSee Sonoma Travel Guide

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