Love this winery! Discovered it a few years ago and joined their club. We had a fantastic tour and…read moretasting with Eric, even in the pouring rain. When we went back this fall with a group of friends, we again requested Eric. It was a lovely day and we took our first tasting out to the vineyards, where he explained all about the winery, their employees, the history, the grapes, etc. Then we went to the communal garden, that employees can use, and which also contributes to the local food banks. Our tasting was set up outside, overlooking the vineyards. We were presented with a cheese plate, and it was explained that each cheese would go with one of the wines. (Btw, the cheeses were amazing.) It was such a fun and educational tasting, with Eric throwing in a few wines that were "off the menu." Everyone enjoyed it so much, we laughed a lot, and we were so happy to be back.

The surroundings were beautiful, and all the wines we tasted were great. Considering the price, the…read moreportions of cheeses and crackers should be a bit larger. Eric was a fantastic companion on the tour of the facilities and wa The surroundings were beautiful, and all the wines we tasted were great. Considering the price, the portions of cheeses and crackers should be a bit larger. Eric was a fantastic companion on the tour of the facilities and was very knowledgeable about the wines. It wasn't easy to find with GPS, probably due to a weak cellular signal. I highly recommend visiting this quiet, remote corner of Wine Country. Don't forget to tip if the service was great.

Beautiful winery and location. If you enjoy a good Cab, this is the place. Did a wine tasting and…read moregot to try many different years of Silver Oak Cabs as well as their sister winery Twomey Pinot Noirs and the best part was that they offered vintage Silver Oak Cabs from their library which was a super treat! They provided use a chocolate box each which had 2 decadent chocolate. The staff assigned to us for the tasting was super knowledgeable and made it a fun experience. Tip: Don't come here expecting anything other than a Cabernet Sauvignon. Silver Oak only makes Cabernet Sauvignons and offer only Cabs for tasting and for sale. However, they may offer you other types of wine as a complimentary tasting such as a Pinot Noir from Twomey etc.

We had planned off for a quick stop and ended up having the best time with the staff. It was a…read morebeautiful, sunny day and we popped in without a reservation and requested a bar tasting. We are Silver Oak fans but thought this stop would be overly corporate and boring. Couldn't be further from reality. We had several wines with the amazing staff, including a couple 30-40 year old library wines which a customer happened to bring in. They helped give recommendations for our next stops

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!

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.

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.

Excellent wine tasting experience in charming Healdsburg. Our sommelier, Trevor, was super…read moreknowledgeable and went out of his way to ensure we had an appreciation for every sip. Patrons can have wine by the glass or bottle and opt for single vineyard or seasonal tasting menus. Modern, beautifully appointed tasting room. Highly recommend.

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.

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.

The wine was tasty and the service was warm and attentive. No complaints! What a cute neighborhood.read more

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!