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A vineyard in Sonoma

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California Wine Country 101 Best Boutique Wineries

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.