New App Additions: Inman, Medlock Ames, Russian River
Vineyards, Cahill
The other day we went to northern Sonoma to take pictures
and update information for the Sonoma Winery Tour iPhone App. We came back with
some great photo and some new additions. A couple of these came to our
attention because users of the App let us know about them via the comments
section in the App. How cool is that, we have a community of App users.
Inman Family Winery
They have been making very good wines grown on this property
wine for a good number of years and now they have been able to build a wine
making barn and tasting room. The wine maker is Kathleen Inman who very much
controls the process and her green and sustainable ethic is built into the
place, including a solar power station where users of electric cars can
recharge their rides.
The tasting room is charming and friendly; Kathleen is often
around since wine making is a hands on process for her. The tasting bar counter
is made of recycled wine bottles which is why we featured it in the photos. Their
location of the corner of Olivet puts them near some other equally fantastic
producers. Located at the junction of Olivet and Piner Road, the tasting room
is open Thursday through Sunday: Wines: Rose of Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, Pinot
Noir.
3900 Piner Road Santa Rosa, CA. 95401
Medlock Ames Tasting Room
This very hip tasting room is located in Alexander Valley at
the moderately busy crossroads of Hwy 128 and Alexander Valley Road. The place
converts into a bar that opens when the tasting room closes. It is surrounded
by fragrant herb and vegetable gardens and they also sell some wonderful
produce and packaged foods.
They have a nice outdoor seating area, a good sized parking
lot and very good wines. The vineyards and winery are creations of a
partnership who each contributed a name and they have a very high environmental
ethic in their approach. Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc,
Chardonnay, Rose, Pinot Noir.
3487 Alexander Valley Road Healdsburg, CA 95448
Russian River Vineyards
This property had really fallen apart a few years ago but
now it's been taken over by an new energetic partnership with a firm commitment
to natural agriculture. They have restored the old farmhouse and revived the
restaurant with a very good team in the kitchen, and a pleasant dining room and
outdoor patio shaded by redwood trees. The wines are moderately priced and a
nice variety. The tasting bar sits in the midst of the restaurant with a view
out to the trees. Wines: Syrah, Pinot
Noir, Chardonnay, Reisling, Sauvignon Blanc, Sparkling
5700 Gravenstein Highway North Forestville, CA 95436
Cahill Winery
This winery opened in 2005 in an older wine making facility
just a few minutes from the Iron Horse winery. They do a remarkable variety of
wines and Ports of high quality at a very attractive price point, $15 to $25.
The wine maker is first rate and has the rare distinction of also being a
distiller so he makes the brandy that is used in the port. He also makes a
Grappa which they can't pour and an Angelica which is an old style Mission wine
which they do pour. It is unique and tasty.
This place is a hidden gem, albeit in the rough because they
are in the process of renovating their tasting room, so the current space as of
September 2010 has a wild west feel, not a bad thing in this day of overly
slick wineries, but it fits in well with their neighbors who mostly share a
casual approach that is big on country hospitality. We thoroughly enjoyed the
place and look forward to going back.
Navigation Tip: They have an A Frame sign that they put at
the intersection of Ross Station Road and Gravenstein Highway when they are
open. Ross Road is the first left off of Ross Station. After you turn you will
go straight and then the road will curve to the right. Just where it curves to
the left again the driveway is straight ahead. Look for the numbers 4950 and a
wine barrel sign by the side of the driveway. Drive down past the large
buildings and just around the corner from the final building is the tasting
room.
4950 Ross Rd. Sebastopol, CA 95472
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