A Great Day!

Bryter

http://bryter.com/

25 E Napa Street

Sonoma, CA

What a little gem off the Sonoma Plaza. This place is at the end of an alley but don't be fooled. Lots of windows and light, it's a very welcoming space. Beautiful bar made from reclaimed wood and zinc. A comfy window seat, cool light fixtures and an easel for group interactive art. Impressive art on the walls from Chagall and Nieman. We were given different stemware for each round of wines. Great sparkling in beautiful flutes. Some nice Rhone whites, and great goblets for the reds. I especially enjoyed the Cabernets. The owner was very knowledgeable and personable and made us very comfortable. An overall very enjoyable tasting!

Spann Vineyards

http://spannvineyards.com/

111 E. Napa st.

Sonoma. CA

Sharing space with an impressive photo gallery Spann pours some very nice wines in a very comfortable setting. Specializing in Malbec, Cab Franc and Merlot. A small stand-up bar, very friendly service, I recommend this place for a quick stop on your way to...

Sojourn Cellars

http://www.sojourncellars.com/

141 E. Napa st.

Sonoma, CA

I've been trying to get here for a couple years now and always forget that it's appointment only. You need to call ahead as the tasting space is very limited. Located in a small house off the square, Sojourn tastes you in a small salon at a table set for eight guests. Its a great intimate little room with nice soft lighting and a big window that looks out onto Napa st. You'll be poured three Pinots side by side in big beautiful goblets. These are some of the best Pinots I've tasted. It's great to have them all together so you can go back and taste them against each other. Then we moved on to the Cabernets. Wow! Also very impressive. Our server was super friendly once he warmed up to us and answered all our questions. I think this would be more fun to be with a group as it can be a little close quarters when its just you and the server. He was great though and recommended a couple other place for us to go, like...

Kamen

http://kamenwines.com/

21692 8th st. East # 300

Sonoma, CA

Located in the warehouse district Kamen pours their tasting in a little room off their wine making facility. It can be a little chilly in there, but its a small tasting and goes pretty quick. We had three fantastic Cabs and I wish we could afford to buy some. The tasting is also $20 so be prepared. These wines are great and so is the story of the screenwriters purchase of the land they grow on.

Tin Barn Vineyards

http://tinbarnvineyards.com/

21692 8th st. East # 34o

Sonoma, CA

What a great way to finish out our day! I really enjoyed my tasting at Tin Barn. Our server Meghan was fabulous! Another tasting room off the actual wooking warehouse facility, so once again bring a jacket. It's very clean and bright though. Nice little bar with interesting art. We had six tastes for $6.00. The wines were decent but hard to stand up to everything that came before. This might be a good place to start your day rather than finish it. I take that back, this was the perfect end to a perfect day!

Sonoma!

Audelssa

http://www.audelssa.com/

13750 Arnold Drive

Glen Ellen, CA 95442

We started our day at Audelssa. What a beautiful tasting room. On a main street in the little town of Glen Ellen in the historical Charles J. Poppe Building (1893). It features a nice bar with seats for 6. There are also tables and couches for overflow. Our server was a very pleasant man who treated us great and the wine was excellent as well! I especially enjoyed the Summit. A Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec.

Eric Ross Winery

http://www.ericross.com/

14300 Arnold Drive

Glen Ellen, CA 95445

This is another favorite of mine. Nice big room with an L shaped bar. They always remember us and make us feel welcome. Great Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel. Also a Tempranillo that I love. Lots of room for two big parties with extra couch seating and clean bathrooms. We all bought wine and they sent us off with additional gifts Great place!

Kaz

http://www.kazwinery.com/

233 Adobe Canyon Road

Kenwood, CA 95452

What a character Kaz is. This is a nice, small family run winery. You can't beat the $5.00 tasting fee. Very small prodution, but will pour 6-9 wines from their ever changing menu. A little stand-up bar in a real working facility, so it can be a little chilly. No place to sit but very entertaining time with a very personable fellow. The wines are hit or miss.

Wellington Vineyards

http://www.wellingtonvineyards.com/index.php

11600 Dunbar Road
Glen Ellen, CA
95442

You know how some wineries are just unforgettable? This is not one of those.

Enkidu

http://www.enkiduwines.com/

8910 Sonoma Hwy.

Kenwood, CA 95452

This is an interesting place. Beautiful tasting room with plenty of room to stand along a great wooden bar. The story behind the name is a literary reference that was explained to me but by this time I couldn't follow the magical tale of dragons and wizards and princes, Oh my. I did however enjoy the wines and the gentleman that poured them. If you like Rhone style wines this is a good selection. Right next door is Ty Caton and Muscardini so you can hit three places with one stop. We did not however so I can't comment on the other two.

Deerfield Ranch

http://www.deerfieldranch.com/

10200 Sonoma Hwy.
Kenwood, CA 95452

Wow. So many things to say about this place. The grounds are beautiful with rolling grasses and huge statues of Giraffes wandering the veldt. They invite you into their elaborate wine caves for the tasting, seating us at a long table. There is also a small bar for maybe four or five. We had six and one by one they all wandered off until I was sitting alone at our long table with 5 empty glasses around me. I don't know what it was but nobody liked this place. The wine was fine, but our server obviously wanted nothing to do with us. He was like John Geilgud in Aurthur. Not amused!

Latest tastings

Cinnabar

http://www.cinnabarwinery.com/

14612 Big Basin Way # A

Saratoga, CA 95070

Much excitement over Grand Re-Opening of The Mudd Room! Looks exactly the same to me. Still small and overheated with too many people clogging the counter. Find a spot at the end and get a Sauv. Blanc from a little troll. He actually says "This one goes good with fish or chicken." I completely ignore him and after staring wordlessly, mouth agape, several minutes he retreats under the bridge. Sharon comes over, she is super fun and friendly and enthusiastic. She tells me its her third day. I imply I'm in the wine club and get extra tastes. A Flamenco guitarist plays live music in the corner. A plate of salami and cheeses attract my attention, several times. They provide toothpicks to stab the little cubes but NOWHERE to dispose of them. I carry around a fistful of picks, repeatedly trying the bathroom door, it's unisex which means its always busy. Finally breaking them in little pieces I scatter them across the floor like a prisoner on the yard disposing of dirt from a dig. I tell Sharon I'll be back next weekend and leave without paying.

Page Mill Winery

http://www.pagemillwinery.com/

1960 South Livermore Avenue Livermore, CA 94550

They have moved from their little red bordello room with the tiny bar and chandelier into the much

roomier and more sterile new tasting room next door. Nice little outdoor area as well. The indoor bar

is a long granite top that can serve close fifteen or so comfortably. Nice use of light and plenty of River

Rock.They are pouring 8 wines. Susie is very knowledgeable and friendly and gives us recommendations

on where else to go that she likes. The wines are tasty and the prices are reasonable.

We buy a couple bottles and move on to...

John Christopher

http://www.johnchristophercellars.com/

Blacksmith Square,

25 South Livermore Ave, Suite 103

Livermore, CA 94550

Nice small room in town. Tall bar for 10 with assorted tables and outdoor shared seating. Friendly staff and wine dog. A guy I can only assume must be John Christopher is holding court and entertaining with his stories of snorkeling Hawaii. Two whites and three reds, decent enough, but a little pricey. Crackers for the patrons, better looking biscuits for the wine dog who entertains the crowd with a number of activities, all of which include biscuit munching. I'm hungry and try a few trick myself but only get a cracker, so we head across Blacksmith Square to...

Swirl on the Square

http://www.swirlonthesq.com/

21 South Livermore Ave. #105

Livermore, CA 94550

Pretty cool wine bar with several flights of interesting wines. A few plates of food are offered including pasta, salads, and sandwiches. We try the house terrine of goat cheese with fig jam. Very tasty on perfect crostini. Our server was excellent and trying hard to find me a wine I would enjoy when he was admonished by the owner for "too many two ounce pours!" What a dick, he's prowling around with an ever present glass and wine stained mouth pouring free tastes to his friends, but embarrasses the server and I with this uncalled for outburst. Luckily the place is divided into to halves so I retreat to the other side where some very nice people are pouring...

3 Steves Winery

http://3steveswinery.com/

21 South Livermore Ave. #105

Livermore, CA 94550

Two of the 3 Steves are here and pouring several of their creations. Very friendly and personable. This side is packed and you can tell everyone is enjoying themselves. You can bring your food over from Swirl. Big hassocks and comfy couches along the walls. Stand up bar for eight. The Steves are having a good time and introducing their guests to each other.. When the music starts in Swirl this is the place to be. The guitarists were very talented and doing excellent covers of rock hits and people were singing along. Turned into a very enjoyable evening! Thanks Steves!