California is home to hundreds of winemakers and vineyards. Having been to many vineyards in Sonoma and Napa Counties, I have been able to experience great wines and connect with many wine lovers from all over the world. My recent travels took me to Anderson Valley, California. Because of its close proximity to the Pacific Ocean, mountainous topography, soil composition and cool weather, Anderson Valley is another region that produces great California wines. Known primarily for producing great pinot noirs and sparking wines, the valley covers a massive land area and sparsely populated region in Northern California approximately 100 miles north of San Francisco.
Historically, early European American settlers of Anderson Valley developed the economy through farming and timber harvesting. As these industries declined, the wine boom began in the 1980s and is now the dominant contributor to the economy in this region.
Anderson Valley has a sleepy town atmosphere and it's the type of place where you may have a breakfast sitting next to a winery owner or vintner. It’s definitely the type of place that is conducive to a great relaxing weekend getaway for a drive along the Mendocino coast, a great meal and tastings at some of the best tasting rooms in Northern California.
There is no pretense in Anderson Valley. Winery owners and restaurateurs alike are amiable, welcoming and will sit down with you to engage in lively conversation and friendly banter over a great meal and a glass or two of many of the region’s great wines. It's also important to mention that most, if not all winemakers here grow their grapes using sustainably organic practices. That means they take sufficient measures to produce wines using the purest methods to cultivate cleaner grapes and thus produce great tasting wines.
Seebass Vineyard - 14077 Highway 128 Boonville, CA
www.seebassvineyards.com
Located in the Mendocino Appellation, Seebass Vineyard celebrates a long family tradition of producing great wines in the region. Seebass produces varietals such as Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot, Grenache and even Zinfandel from old-vines planted in the late 1800’s.
I had the pleasure of visiting Seebass tasting room with Proprietor, Michelle Myrenne Willoughby at its helm. Michelle was very welcoming as my party of 3 entered the premises to enjoy some wine and conversation. She was immediately friendly and it quickly became apparent to me that she does not meet a stranger.
Michelle greeted us with a smile and immediately began a pouring of several of Seebass’ remarkable wines consisting of the Family Chardonnay, Rose of Grenache, Merlot , Syrah, Romantik, Old Vine Zinfandel and Mysterios to name a few. Each pouring represented a crescendo of composition as each wine was more complex as if to render the family secret in a bottle to wine drinkers near and far. Apparently Michelle did not mind because we enjoyed each tasting, as well as the friendly conversation.
Michelle shared a lot with us about her family's history in the wine business. In my opinion, winemakers like Michelle represent pillars in the winemaking community who love what they do and constantly try to produce great wines that are remarkable in their own right.
At the end of our visit, we inquired as to where we should imbibe next. Michelle did not hesitate to suggest Toulouse Vineyards. Seebass quickly became a favorite that I will definitely return to not just for the wine but also for the great company.
Toulouse Vineyards - 8001 Hwy 128 Phila, CA
www.toulousevineyards.com
On the drive up the wooded hillside, Toulouse is neatly and quietly tucked away off the meandering country Highway 128 in Philo California. Rounding the drive that entered the parking lot, we parked and noticed that the winery and tasting room is perched on a hill that provides great views of the Alexander Valley countryside.
Upon entry into the tasting room, I noted a beautiful, rustic decor on 160 acres of spectacular wooded property, complete with the owners' home comprising a part of the real estate. The owners; a retired Oakland CA Fire Department Captain and retired former flight attendant for a major airline, have done a remarkable job by marrying a comfortable space that functions for both winemaking and living.
The winery staff quickly greeted us with glasses for our tasting. Sitting at the bar to receive your tasting, you can’t help but notice the view of the Anderson Valley countryside from the raised balcony. I also quickly took note of the lodge like feel of the décor.
Toulouse Vineyards, like most of the vineyards in Anderson Valley, produces great Pinot Noir wines. Toulouse was no exception as we sat down to sample some great bottles.
Roederer Estate - 4501 Hwy 128 Phila, CA
www.roedererestate.com
Similar to Toulouse Vineyards, Roederer Estate sits on 580 acres atop a hillside in along the same highway a few miles away. Jean-Claude Rouzaud, former President of Champagne Louis Roederer selected this site as home to Roederer Estate in 1982. Because of the cool climate near the Mendocino Coast and soil composition, this area suited the winemaker’s needs to produce great sparkling wines.
The property is a wonderful statement of the owner’s commitment to understated luxury and simplicity, just like the wines produced here. Hospitality Supervisor, Elaine immediately welcomed us into the tasting room with a smile to enjoy several sparkling wines that included Brut, Brut Rose and L’Ermitage Rose. If you are a lover of sparkling wines, Roederer Estate uses long standing wine making processes and traditions from its European parent company to produce sparkling wines that underscores the making of good wines. Each tasting teased my tastebuds with the promise of fruits such as peach, orange, lemon zest and grapefruit. These wines are refreshing and perfect for a spring or summer day at a bar-b-que, a day at the beach or on the coast.
What I found interesting in this winery, along with others in the area is that their pricing was very reasonable considering the quality of the wines they produce. Each bottle we tasted resulted in a new component of the complexities in Roederer's products.
In between tastings my party went outside to snap a few pictures and enjoy the views of the valley from the patio. After about 15 minutes we returned inside and resumed our tasting. We departed for dinner after a great day of wine tasting.
Lula Cellars - 2800 Guntly Road Phila, CA
www.lulacellars.com
Lula Cellars is a boutique winery that produces a relatively small number of cases of wine per year. Winemaker Matt Parish has brought his expertise and reputation as a great winemaker to further Lula’s mission to provide some of the state’s best wines.
Interestingly, prior to coming to Lula, my party and I were eating breakfast at a local eatery. Unbeknownst to us, a seasoned gentleman by the name of Dan Reed sat next to us with his dog, a beautiful golden retriever and ate his breakfast as well. When we arrived at Lula we learned that Dan operates the tasting room at Lula.
We took our places at the tasting bar and watched Dan do his thing with the wines. He exhibited equal parts of skill, knowledge and personality as he entertained us with jokes and wine speak. He cut up some cheese from a local farmer to accompany the wines we were drinking.
Ultimately, Anderson Valley was both an enjoyable and informative experience for me. Having never been to this region of the California wine country, what I surmised in my readings about this region before getting there was confirmed upon my arrival. It presents a low key, small town feel. It's citizens are families, wine makers, restaurateurs, small business owners, seamstresses, cooks and chefs. The feeling here is that you can come and partake in the local cuisine, buy groceries from the local farmer, stop by the tasting room and enjoy a glass of wine, a coffee, a brownie and a smile. Overall the experience here in Anderson Valley is very personal. It is personable experience that offers the oenophile and foodie an opportunity to take time to enjoy your passion, take in beautiful vistas of mountains, wooded areas, streams, rivers, quaint farmhouses and most importantly, interact with a wine community that has been centered here for years past and definitely for years to come.
Wine means many things to many people. Some like the hustle and bustle of large vineyards and tasting rooms where dozens of people hover over the tasting bar to sample good wines. Others like to enjoy their wines in more quiet quarters to actually connect with the winemaker or proprietor and engage in lighter conversation or grab a book and a table and unwind. Whatever your flavor, California has the right environment that will afford you the experience you want in which to enjoy your wine!
Drink in good health!