NotJustGrapes

ARBOR HILL WINERY

Posted on July 20, 2018 by notjustgrapes_co83cy

Naples, NY

Another favorite stop for us when we visit upstate New York is Arbor Hill 20180610_152936 …I am not sure that you would actually call it a winery. It is more of a Disneyland for Grown-ups. There is a small complex of fun things to do here. In the main building there is wine tasting. For $5 you can taste 6 different wines. The fee is refundable depending on what you purchase.

There is another building behind the Gift Shop / Tasting Room and that is called Brew and Brats. I have checked this out a couple of times. The brats are delicious and there are several kinds to choose from. I have tried both the hot andouille sausage and the sort-of hot chicken supremo. A friend tried the milder sherried wine sausage. They were all excellent. They also have some tempting side dishes. I have enjoyed their sauerkraut as we as the German potato salad and would recommend both.

You can certainly enjoy a pitcher of craft beer with your brats, as we did. The Turtle Crawl Porter is robust and flavorful, and the Frog Hollow Pale Ale hit the spot of a warm day. You can also have a glass of wine or a home-made root beer.

Arbor Hill has lots of fun events Often on Friday nights they have open mic night and steak night. There are often Saturday concerts.

We really enjoyed the gift shop. It is loaded with delicious items and great gift ideas including the famous “Naples Grape Pies”. There are lots of grape items – from candies to dressings and preserves. You can even take home their sauerkraut and one of the items I had to have – Frog Hollow Pale Ale Pub Mustard and the Horseradish Pretzel Dip.

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I guess that we were having so much fun that the only thing we tasted on our visit was the craft beer. That means another trip coming up this fall with a promise to try ALL their wines.

Susan’s Score – I can’t score the wine yet, but I would definitely come for the craft brews, brats and fun!

Posted in Canandaigua Lake, Upstate New York, Wine Tasting, Wineries | Comments Off

Hazlitt Red Cat

Posted on June 21, 2018 by notjustgrapes_co83cy

1 Lake Niagara Lane, Naples, NY

It is summer and that means I have been spending time in New York State’s Finger Lakes Region. What better way to spend that time than to check out some of Canandaigua Lake’s wineries.

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Six generations of the Hazlitt family have been farming in the Finger Lakes Region since 1852. In 1985, Hazlitt Vineyards was born. They produce Hazlitt Red Cat and advertise it as unpretentious and I do agree with them. 20180610_155310

On the day we visited, the tasting room was busy – very busy. Kia was pouring for us and she had a great sense of humor and a relaxed friendly attitude. Leandra popped over from time to time to help and to make sure we were enjoying our tastings. There was a lot of energy in the tasting room and it was clear that people were having a great time. This is a fun place!

My friend, Theresa, and I have very different tastes in wine, so as you will see we tasted a wide variety:

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2016 Sauvignon Blanc – $15 – Nice dry white – a bit of a rough finish

2014 Merlot – $24 – a good “Tuesday Wine” for the price – maybe good with a meat lover’s pizza

2013 – Cabernet Sauvignon – $24 – Grapes from the 1852 vineyard and a silver medal winner

2014 Cabernet Franc – $25 – This was my favorite wine that we tasted, and a bottle followed me home. Definitely a good choice with red meat.

NV White Cat – $8.49 – Theresa really liked this semi-sweet white – it comes in various sizes

NV Cabin Fever – $8.49 – You have to try it – it is served with chocolate! It is a semi-sweet blush that would be great to drink ice cold in the hot tub!

NV Bramble Berry – $9.49 – Made with the Catawba grapes of your youth – Bramble Berry feels like it should come in a juice pouch.

Hazlitt Red Cat also has a variety of logo’d apparel, wine related gift items and snacks – bread with cheese spreads, cheese and crackers and chips and salsa. There are tours available of the facility and walking trails that you can enjoy. We also tried a wine slushy. It was super cold, and I think you could drink way too many of them on a hot day. If you are not a wine drinker, premium hard ciders beer is available.

Check their website for live music and other special events. And, very important to me, they donate to and do fund raisers for the local Humane Society.

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Susan’s Score – Is Red Cat the greatest wine in the world? No. Will I visit their tasting room most times that I am in the Finger Lakes Region – Yes! The wine is good, but more important the place is fun, and they don’t take themselves too serious. The servers are knowledgeable and have personality plus. Go – you will have a good time.

Posted in Canandaigua Lake, Finger Lakes Wineries, Upstate New York, Wine Tasting, Wine Tasting rooms, Wineries | Comments Off

JM Cellars

Posted on May 19, 2018 by notjustgrapes_co83cy

Bramble Bump, Woodinville, Washinton

JM sign

Just when you think that you have visited every winery, a new one pops up on your radar! Recently, a friend introduced me to her favorite winery – JM Cellars. While located in Woodinville, it is a bit off the beaten path on a seven-acre hilltop parcel named Bramble Bump. It is a private arboretum with trails that visitors can explore while sampling the wine.

The tasting room itself is gorgeous and there is outdoor seating available (I want to come back in the summer). It was quite crowded the day we visited, but service was still very good. Reservations are required for groups of six or more. Parking is limited, but valet parking handles it quite well.

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On the day we visited (they are open Friday, Saturday and Sunday), both Laura and Emily were pouring for us. Both friendly and fun with great knowledge about the wines and the history of the winery. I like the fact that JM Cellars is a family affair. John and Peggy Bigelow have been producing limited-release wines since 1998.

All the wines are delicious. I particularly liked Tre Fanciulli which we were told means Three treasured sons after their boys: Jack, Tom and Joe. We were also told that one year that the boys were particularly unruly, the wine was simply called, “Tre”. Maybe I identified a bit too much with that story.

Here are the wines that we tasted that day:

2015 Tre Fanciulli – $49 – This cabernet, merlot, syrah blend was well balanced.

2015 Red Mountain Syrah – $49 – 100% Syrah – lots of berry favors.

2015 Bramble Bump – $28 – I thought this was a great value for a remarkable wine and bought a case! Cabernet, Malbec, merlot and petit Verdot – it is yummy now and will be even better after a few years in the cellar.

2016 Cinsaut Red – $35– a favorite of my friend. It was a bit too light for my taste.

Susan’s Score – a great place to visit. Really good wines, friendly staff. The only sour note for me was when my friend and I chose to purchase a case and enjoy the 10% discount the person handling the transaction tried to tell us that since we were splitting the case we had to split the discount also – 5% each not 10% total. They almost lost a $600 sale over this. I suggest a little basic math review for anyone operating the cash register.

Posted in Wine Tasting, Wine Tasting rooms, Wineries, Woodinville wine | Tagged JM Cellars, Tasting Rooms, wine, Woodinville wine tasting | Comments Off

Sandeman

Posted on June 23, 2017 by notjustgrapes_co83cy

Jerez de la Frontera

House of Sandeman Visitor’s Center

No visit to Jerez de la Frontera would be complete without a visit to the world-famous House of Sandeman. You probably know the label by the man dressed in the Portugese student’s cape and wide brimmed hat.

Sandeman has a deep history in Spain’s “Sherry Triangle”. The facility is huge and very well run. We had an excellent tour when we visited at the end of March. Our guide was a student who donned the traditional cape and hat that you see on the label for the beginning of our tour.

First he gave us some of a the history. The company was founded in 1790 by George Sandeman who came from Perth. It remained a family-owned company until 1993. Then we had a 30-minute tour, which included a ten-minute video, of the original cellars. It was very well-organized and the spaces we visited were clean, well-lit and in many cases had information signs. The tour was followed by a tasting. They also offer Port tastings and if you are very nice to your guide – brandy tastings also.

If you want to visit Sandman or any of the local sherry bodegas, be sure to reserve your space either online or by phone. They fill up quickly, especially in the summer months. This is also the way to ensure that your tour will be in your preferred language. The tours range in price between 8 euros and 22 euros depending on how many sherries and brandies you want to taste. There is also a very nice gift shop that is worth a few minutes of your time.

There was a stork feeding the babies on top of the Sandeman sign

We planned our visit to Sandemans to coincide with a visit to the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art. The horses and riders were truly amazing. We went during their practice period. The next time we will be sure to catch a performance.

Posted in Wine Tasting, Wine Tasting rooms, Wineries | Tagged Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera, Sherry, Sherry Wine Bodegas, Spain, Spainish wines, Tasting Room | Comments Off

Bodegas Tio Pepe

Posted on April 28, 2017 by notjustgrapes_co83cy

Jerez de la Frontera

In March I had the opportunity to visit Jerez de la Frontera in southern Spain. Jerez is famous for three things: flamenco dancing, dancing horse and sherry production – not necessarily in that order. Sherry is a fortified (read as potent) wine that is made from the white grapes that grow in the region of Cadiz.

Tio Pepe is one of the most well-known sherry bodegas in the world

The Phoenicians began making sherry in this area about 3,000 years ago. Tito Pepe was established in 1844 and has operated continually since that time. It is owned by Gonzalez Byass (the founder was Manuel Gonzalez Angel). We signed up online and took the 90-minute tour and tasting. There are several different options for tastings with both wine and tapas. Since it was lunchtime we opted for the tour with tapas.

The tour is well worth it. It is a beautiful facility – you will be transported back in time. Our English-speaking guide was knowledgeable and very friendly. He began with a short film on the sherry making process and a bit of history hosted by “Uncle Pepe”. I learned a lot about the sherry making process – prior I knew very little. Sherry comes from two types of grapes: most common is the Palomino grape which makes a wide range of sherry, from fino (light, dry and pale) to oloroso (heavy, dark and dry). The second is Pedro Ximenez grapes. This is used to make the sweet, desert wines.

The train ride is part of the Tio Pepe tour.

One of the things I really enjoyed was a barrel room that had the signatures of many celebrities who had visited the bodega. Among them are Steven Spielberg and Winston Churchill. There is also a little train that takes you around the grounds. I had only seen this once before at Freixienet. It makes it much more efficient to tour the immense grounds and facilities. The tasting was also quite nice. Our tapas included a bit of jamon, potato salad and cheeses.

The tasting room at Tio Pepe

One plus is that Tio Pepe is one of the few bodegas open on the weekends. They usually offer tours in Spanish, English and German. Cost ranges from 14euros to 20 euros depending on the number of wines that you taste and if you include tapas. Unless you are a true sherry lover, you will probably be happy with the 2 wine tasting.

Susan’s Score – A must visit if you are in Jerez de la Frontera. It is probably the most famous sherry producer in the world. You will learn a lot about sherry and a bit about the history of the area. You may even find a bottle or two that you will want to take home.

Posted in Wine Tasting rooms | Tagged Sherry, Sherry wine, Spain, spanish wine, Tasting Room, Tio Pepe Jerez | Comments Off

Fidelitas

Posted on December 1, 2016 by notjustgrapes_co83cy

2016-09-30-at-17-37-13 Red Mountain

After our wonderful visits to Hedges and Col Solare, we stopped by Fidelitas, also located on Red Mountain. The tasting room is spacious and modern with all the focus on the vines and the view. There are tables and chairs outdoors so that you can drink in the view along with your wine.

Charlie Hoppes is the owner and winemaker. He has been involved in winemaking since the 1980’s and has worked along side such notables as Dick Boushey, Mike Januik and the Antinori family. He has been the red winemaker at Canoe Ridge and also Three Rivers Winery.

2016-09-30-at-17-40-32 Tammy was pouring for us the day we visited. She did an OK job, maybe a bit of a let down after the stellar service we received at Col Solare. She did not have very much information about the wine or the winery.

The wines were excellent. We tasted the following:

2015 Klipsun Vineyard Semillion – $22 – This is a very nice summer wine. It is a dry white with a bend of Semillion and Sauvignon Blanc.

3013 Champoux Merlot – $50 – Very thick and juicy. It was a favorite of our group.

2013 Red Mountain Malbec – $40 – Fruity with some pepper. Has a very nice finish.

2013 Optu Red Mountain – $50 – We were told this is Charlie Hoopes (the winemaker / owner) signature wine. I thought that this was good but would really benefit from 5-10 years of cellaring to smooth off the rough edges.

2012 Ciel du Cheval Cabernet Sauvignon – $65 – In my opinion, this is the most elegant wine that Fidelitas produces. Of course I had to have a couple of bottles for future research. There is a subtle floral aroma and a bit of fig. Delicious!

Susan’s Score – Definitely worth a stop if you are on Red Mountain. Take the time to relax and enjoy the view with a glass of fabulous red wine.

Posted in Wine Tasting, Wineries | Tagged Fidelitas, Red Mountain, Tasting Rooms, Wineries, wines | Comments Off

Chalk Hill Winery

Posted on October 20, 2016 by notjustgrapes_co83cy

Healdsburg, CA

ch-wine Chalk Hill Winery is a bit out of the way and I had high expectations. Unfortunately, our experience shows how much impact the person in the tasting room can have on your experience and your impressions of the winery and the wine.

Chalk Hill Winery is located in a breathtaking setting – nearly 1,500 acres surrounded by woods. The tasting room is set up on a hill with a beautiful outdoor patio. There is an Olympic-size equestrian center that is used for many events. The tasting room has a beautiful outdoor patio, spacious tasting room and a very small gift shop area.

Our tasting started off pleasant with a nice young man who began pouring a 2013 North Slope Pinot Gris. It was cool and refreshing and we were enjoying ourselves and his conversation. Then “Hannah” sashayed in and shooed him away and took over our tasting. Things went south very quickly. I wanted more information on the winery, especially interested in its history. I asked Hannah how long the winery had been there, obviously she misunderstood and said she had been there since February. I clarified and asked if I could take a few photos and she launched into a story about how someone had come in recently and still had her photo from when she worked in another tasting room. Again, I clarified, I wanted to take photos of the winery and tasting room, not of her.

We continued our tasting with a 2014 Mt Eden Pinot Noir, which is made from grapes from Santa Cruz that have been cloned onto grapes in the Russian River Valley – interesting – this is what I was looking for info on grapes, not her personal life. J

We then tried the Cabernet Sav/Carmenere, which is a gorgeous color. This is a delicious wine and even though I was put off by its $85 price, I could not resist buying a bottle to take home. As 4:30 approached, Hannah must have had a hot date because we felt practically thrown out.

Chalk Hill is lovely and the wine is very good. Having a tasting with someone like Hannah makes me appreciate all the true professionals we have met that treat their job with enthusiasm and passion.

ch-3 While I enjoyed the scenery and the wine, I would call first to see who is in the tasting room pouring before I spent time with Hannah. The fee was $20 for the tasting and lasted about 15 minutes with three wines.

2013 North Slope Pinot Gris – $30 – This was very refreshing on a gorgeous sunny day.

2014 Mt Eden Pinot Noir – $60 – It was a nice wine but not my favorite of what we tasted.

Cabernet Sav/Carmenere – $85 – Delicious. Gorgeous color. Bold. Would cellar very well.

Susan’s Score – I would try the wine but skip the tasting room until they upgrade their staff.

Posted in California Wineries, Healdsburg Wineries, Uncategorized, Wine Tasting, Wine Tasting rooms | Comments Off

Murrietta’s Well Estate Vineyards

Posted on September 30, 2016 by notjustgrapes_co83cy

Livermore, California

murriettas-well

Another Livermore winery that is definitely worth talking about is Murrietta’s Well Estate Vineyards. One of the original California wine estates, Murrietta sources all the grapes from the estate. The vineyard was started with cuttings from the famed French winery – Chateau Margaux in the Bordeaux region and the Chateau d’Yquem in Graves.

Our visit to Murrieta’s Well got off to a rocky start. The day before our visit I went on their website and saw that we needed reservations. I was looking at the various reservation options when I got a pop-up from Cellar Pass. I communicated with “Spencer” who told me that the only way that we could taste at Murrietta’s Well was with a reservation – they do not accept walk-ins. Not True. He also could not answer basic questions about the winery or wine and did not think that we could share a tasting – which we always do.

We arrived at Murrieta’s Well on a gorgeous sunny day and were immediately greeted by Kayla who gave us each a glass of Muscat Canelli as a “welcome wine”. It was very welcome – a light refreshing wine perfect for a summer’s day. We explained our confusion with Cellar Pass and they made it all good. They found us a table on the patio and we ordered a delicious charcuterie board as well as the mac and cheese (recommended by Ben who is a self-proclaimed mac and cheese aficionado.

lunch

Ben, a charming fellow from Yorkshire, England, took over for Kayla and served us lunch as well as our wine tasting. He had a great sense of humor and a good knowledge of the wines that we were sampling. He was our “wine ambassador” He had us save a little of the white (chardonnay) to try with the mac and cheese and the tempranillo was excellent with the fattier meats and cheeses. The Zarzuela 2015 was a big favorite for us.

During our delightful lunch, Lindsay, the General Manager, stopped by to give us a bit of history of the winery, which traces back to 1884 when Luis Mel built a gravity flow winery into the hillside and planted the vineyard. In 1922 the property was sold to Ernest Went and became part of the Wente Family Estate.(Check out the previous blog about Wente Wines). In 1990 Philip Wente partnered with winemaker Sergio Traverso and they named the winery Murrieta’s Well after Wakene Marietta who was a sort of Robinhood of that era. He would rob the rich and then ride on stolen horses to take the riches back to the poor in Mexico. There is an artisan well from 1884 that is dedicated to him and the day we visited there was a wedding being set up in front of it. Truly a gorgeous spot for a wedding.

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tasting-rm While we enjoyed lunch and a tasting on the patio (I would really recommend this) you can also enjoy the indoor Tasting Bar. It has gorgeous views and also a very knowledgeable staff. Tastings are a bit pricey at $25 for 4 wines. Members can enjoy the Club Lounge, A special area that includes wine and a food menu.

Here are the wines that we tasted during our visit:

Muscat Canelli – $35 – This was our “welcome wine. Crisp & refreshing – ideal for a picnic.

2015 Sauvignon Blanc – $35 – It went nicely with the Mac and Cheese.

2014 Tempranillo – $48 – This was ideal with the charcuterie board – nice long finish.

Zarzula – $60 – this is a red blend that includes Tempranillo, Souzao, Touriga, Counoise and Petite Syrah. Very nice. I am told it is a favorite of the winery regulars.

This is a charming winery with a genuinely nice staff. It is obvious they work hard to make their Guest’s experience as pleasurable as possible.

Susan’s Score – A great spot for a warm day. I would recommend lunch as well as the tasting.

Posted in California Wineries, Livermore Wineries, Uncategorized, Wente Winery, Wine Tasting, Wine Tasting rooms, Wineries | Comments Off

Wente Vineyards

Posted on August 30, 2016 by notjustgrapes_co83cy

Livermore, California

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On our most recent trip to California, we were a bit pressed for time, but wanted to spend a day wine tasting and really wanted to try somewhere new. A little internet research came up with Livermore, California. I had never heard of it, but it was located just east of San Francisco. It fit the criteria perfectly. Now the big question…how was their wine?

One of our stops was at Marietta’s Well (more on that later and they recommended that we go to Wente Vineyards. With the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating, family-owned winery in the US It was established in 1883.
The Wente Estate is like an adult Disneyland! It includes a golf course, tasting rooms and a restaurant. During the summer they host concerts in the vineyards with some big name artists like Diana Krall and The Doobie Brothers.

Wente has several tasting room experiences: The Estate Winery & Tasting Room offers daily tours at 11am and 2pm to see the winemaking process. Wine flights are also available. The Vineyard Tasting Room includes a tour of the sandstone caves as well as information on wine appreciation and a chance to experience some of their wines via $10 tasting flights. There is a large gift shop that includes wine accessories and gourmet food.
We went directly to the Winemaker’s Studio and met with Cheryl and Darrell. What a treat. Both of them are very passionate about wine and wine education. Darrell is a certified sommelier and one of five wine educators employed by Wente Vineyards. Cheryl is the tasting room manager. We were certainly in good hands to explore what Wente had to offer.

phone photos 239 The Winemaker’s Studio is a must for anyone who would like to learn more about wine appreciation. There are lots of hands-on educational activities. My only regret is we don’t live closer so I could attend them all! There were four classes being offered by appointment. They included: Black Glass Blind Tasting – where you use senses other than sight to determine a wines color. (I tried looking at wine in a black glass and had no idea if it was red, white or rose). Wine Aroma Seminar – this is a class where you learn how people come up with the terms you read on the wine notes such as notes of blackberry, hints of tobacco and my favorite, fresh cut garden hose. The Wine and Food Pairing – where you learn why certain foods pair well with a particular wine and the class I really want to try – Winemaker’s Blending Experience – where you get to taste various barrels of wine and create a bottle of your own blend. (I am hinting to Al this would be a mind-blowing Valentine’s Day gift).

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Darrell mentioned they are always coming up with new classes. Another one that sounded interesting to me was the Size and Shape Glassware Class – here you get to experiment with different types of glassware to see if the size, shape and thickness of the glass really does have an effect on the taste of the wine.
Wente has currently has five winemakers / assistant winemakers on staff. Each one brings their own personality and experience to the small lots that they create. We were told that Wente is considered a “winemaker’s Playground” and we can confirm that after tasting several excellent wines. Here are some of the wines we tasted and our thoughts:

2015 Morning Fog Chardonnay – $15.This was a bit too mineral tasting for me (not a huge Chardonnay fan anyway), but Al liked it. Great price point & I think I have seen it at Costco and Total Wine for about $11
2014 Eric’s Chardonnay –$30. Unoaked and is nice and crisp.
2015 Small Lot Pinot Noir Rose’ -$30. – Fermented in stainless steel so it is crisp and dry. Ideal for summer.
2012 Charles Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon – $30. A legacy of the vines brought from France by Charles Wetmore, this is a deep rich wine. Would hold up great with beef.
2014 Nth Degree Pinot Noir – $95. Delicious. Would go well with food or by itself.
2013 Nth Degree Cabernet Sauvignon – $120. I did taste chocolate and figs. It was a wonderful wine, deep rich color and a great consistency.

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We were intrigued by the wines and fascinated by Cheryl and Darrell but on our next trip we will have to allocate more time to the property itself. Besides the winery and concert venue, there is an 18-hole Greg Norman Golf Course. The Grill includes indoor dining as well as patio service. There is also a gourmet restaurant that we did not get to sample (yet). It serves lunch, dinner and brunch. The menu showed interesting and seasonal offerings like steelhead trout and roasted baby beets along with more typical fare such as burgers and steaks. The property also has several venues for weddings and other events. They include the fabulous lawns, sandstone caves as well as the restaurant and Grill.
My biggest complaint about Wente Vineyards is that we did not allocate enough time to fully enjoy everything that they have to offer. It is definitely on my “return soon” list. I am very excited to experience some of the classes that Darrell described and to hear more from Cheryl about the wines and the interesting history of the area and of Wente. Be sure to check out their website (there is a lot of information there).

Susan’s Score – Cannot Be Missed (be sure to allow enough time, this could easily be a half day visit or more if you are golfing.

Posted in California Wineries, Livermore Wineries, Uncategorized, Wente Winery, Wine Tasting, Wineries | Comments Off

Kunde Family Winery

Posted on August 16, 2016 by notjustgrapes_co83cy

Kenwood, CA

Kunde Family Winery 9825 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, CA

This was our first visit to Kunde Family Winery and it quickly became one of our favorite stops. The property itself is a spectacular 1,850 acres that includes twenty different varietals grown in six micro-climates. Most of the grapes are grown in what is referred to as “Red Hill Soil” which is what remains of a 5-million-year old lava flow.When grapevines struggle in poor conditions, they produce better wines.

We walked into the tasting room and were immediately greeted by Mike. He is super-friendly, knowledgeable and very passionate about wine. He was preparing to lead Kunde’s Mountaintop Tasting Tour (unfortunately for us it was sold out – but more about that later).

Kunde Retail Shop and Main Tasting Room

Kunde’s retail shop is impressive. Instead of the same old, ho-hum assortment of merchandise they have some unusual items; cork purses, a rustic decanter that I would have bought if I could have figure out how to get it home in one piece, some great books, gourmet food items and an amazing vase made from a Portuguese cork tree.

Kunde offers a variety of tours and tastings that should fit everyone’s preference. There is a basic tasting in the Main Tasting Room for $15 per person. The outdoor venue, 202 Lounge, was our choice since it was such a gorgeous day. Similar to the tasting in the Main Bar the fee is $15. A private, seated tasting is offered in the Kinneybrook Room, a gorgeous space that allows you to relax and really get to savor Kunde’s wines. The wines are paired with a cheese plate for $30.

The $50 Mountain Top Tasting, sold out the day we were there, is set 1,400 feet at the top of the mountain above the winery. It sounds amazing and on our next trip I will be sure to make a reservation. It also includes a wine tasting.

Kunde Wine Cave Entrance

Mike suggested that we join the complimentary Cave Tour lead by Duck. (No that is not a typo. You know your tour is ready to leave when you hear the duck call – very fun). Duck was fabulous! He is very knowledgeable about Kunde, the area and the wine. He has a dry sense of humor that I found delightful. We were lead into a wine tunnel that was carved from a volcanic lava flow. Along the way Duck gave us a colorful history of the Kunde Winery.

The cave itself is extraordinary. It was dug between 1989 and 1990 and is ½ mile long. It holds 6,000 barrels of wine and has a year-round temperature of 58-62 degrees Fahrenheit. The natural 75% humidity of the cave is perfect for aging wine in barrels with minimum evaporation (called the “Angel’s Share” by winemakers). It was very refreshing on the warm summer day that we were there.

At the end of the tunnel is a dramatic dining area complete with chandelier and formal tables. The back of the cave was left with the red volcanic rock exposed like a stunning piece of art. This would be the perfect setting for a wedding, milestone birthday party or another special event.

An interesting tidbit that Duck shared with us is that about 80% of the movie “Bottle Shock” was filmed at Kunde. They have even left the boxing ring from the movie and you can see it on the mountain top tour.

When we finished our cave tour, it was time for some wine tasting. Kat was pouring for us and she was amazing! She was taking care of a group of ten bridesmaids as well as four couples and we were all feeling the love. She poured and chatted and joked and no one felt left out. Also, at the other end of the tasting bar, fifth generation, Jordan Kunde looked like he was also doing a good job of pouring wine and keeping his customers entertained.

202 Lounge is perfect for outdoor tasting

Kat did a great job of making our tasting experience unique by giving us side-by-side tastes of each varietal. On this visit, we tasted the following wines:

2015 Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc – $17. I don’t consider myself to be a true white wine drinker but this was fruity and fresh. It would be fabulous with a summer salad or early evening watching the sunset. Great price point.

2015 Kunde Sauvignon Blanc, Block 4SB20 – $25. I thought the finish of this wine was a bit harsh and prefer the Magnolia Lane.

2013 Kunde Red Dirt Red – $35. This is a six grape blend. The color is gorgeous.

2013 Century Vines Kunde Meritage 202 – $35. This is a blend of five different Bordeaux varieties. It has a velvety texture.

2013 Kunde Sonoma Valley, Family Estate Series Zinfandel – $22. Drinkable now with a nice hint of berry.

2013 Kunde Reserve Century Vines Zinfandel – $50. This was a nice wine but would really benefit from being cellared for about ten years to really round out the sharp notes.

2012 Kunde Cabernet Sauvignon, Drummond Vineyard – $50. Delicious.

2012 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – $60. This was a bit more peppery and could really stand up to a steak or a bit of dark chocolate.

2012 Kunde Red Wine, Moon Mountain District – $100. We were lucky enough to try this wine-club only blend. Good enough to join the wine-club for it.

Non-Vintage 1904 Dessert Cuvee – $40. This is named 1904 because that is when the land was bought to plant the first grapes. This was smooth and had some undertones of caramel. Really nice.

Kunde also has a wine club that seems to be packed with events. I looked over the list and it is quite a range from a Sweetheart’s Dinner in February to a Harvest Celebration and Barbeque in October. But the one that really caught my eye was the Wine Club Dog Hike and Lunch. I chatted with Kat about it as she was involved in setting it up. She told me that the one in April was a lot of fun and raised money for the local humane society. I will have to try to take Angel to that next year (but she truly is a wine dog and we will have to keep her away from the tasting bar J)

If you are tasting in Sonoma, Kunde Family Winery is truly a must visit. Everyone is friendly and makes you feel like part of the family. It is relaxing with plenty of space to explore and really get to know the wines.

Susan’s Score – Cannot Be Missed

Posted in California Wineries, Sonoma Wineries, Uncategorized, Wine Tasting, Wineries | 2 Comments