Tag: wines

The vineyards of Larson Family Winery speak of a colorful history, but what matters most to Tom and Becky Larson is their commitment to family and making world-class wines.

In 1899, Tom’s great-grandfather, Michael Millerick, bought 101 acres of land that had once been the last landing point of Sonoma Creek. Millerick Ranch saw many rodeos, racehorses, and polo ponies—but not a single grapevine until 1977, when Tom and his father, Bob, decided to plant Chardonnay. The 40-acre block provided the family with wine for their own consumption.

Grabbing a bottle of wine that will go with your holiday meal can escalate anxiety—and who needs that? We've compiled these four wineries that might be the first gift you open this year.

The Four Graces

When Paul and Steve Black purchased their first vineyard in the Red Hills of Dundee in 2003, they set out to make rich, complex wines that elegantly expressed their unique terroir. They named their winery The Four Graces in honor of their four daughters.

With a history that dates back more than 150 years, Madrone Vineyards Estate is one of Sonoma Valley’s most historic wineries. The first vineyards were planted on the property in 1863, and a stone barrel cellar, built in 1887, still stands there today. Over the years, the property has changed hands through a few illustrious owners including Senator George Hearst, Italian sausage makers Enrico Parducci and Peter Domenici (who renamed the winery Valley of the Moon), and F. Korbel Brothers.

When the talented team of Donald Patz, James Hall, Anne Moses, and Heather Patz founded Patz & Hall in 1988, they were fueled by a shared passion for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. That passion has never waned and, today, Patz & Hall is one of California’s most highly regarded wineries with a portfolio of exceptional single-vineyard Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.

Since its founding in 2001, family-owned Maryhill Winery has won more than 2,500 awards, including the San Francisco International Wine Competition’s 2014 Winery of the Year, the Indy International Wine Competition’s 2013 Winemaker of the Year, Wine Press Northwest’s 2009 Washington Winery of the Year, and Seattle Magazine’s Best Destination Winery.

Maryhill Winery is the answer to an entrepreneurial dream shared by Owners Craig and Vicki Leuthold, who saw great potential for a winery in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, perched on the Northern side of the Columbia River, in the Southern tip of the Columbia Valley in Washington.

It seems only fitting that a winery by the name of Napa Cellars should embody the sense of place for which the famed Napa Valley is known. Every day in the winery's tasting room, guests discover great wines in a friendly setting that celebrates the Napa Valley legacy.

Founded in 1968, Napa Cellars crafts wines that express the characteristics that have become widely recognized as the classic Napa Valley style: ripe, rich, and balanced. Quite fittingly, 1968 was also the year that the Napa Valley was granted the status of agricultural preserve, protecting it from becoming a residential community. Its founder, Charlie R. Woods, built a geodesic dome on the five and one-half acre property to store barreled wine and concentrated on making Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and other red wines.

When B Cellars opened its doors along the renowned Oakville Cross Road last August, it was the first winery to do so in 18 years. Founded in 2003 by Duffy Keys and Jim Borsack, the winery is a fitting addition to the neighborhood, which includes Opus One, Silver Oak, PlumpJack, Groth, Gargiulo, and Rudd.

"We’re honored to find our permanent home amidst the celebrated wineries who help define Napa Valley’s esteemed Oakville AVA," Duffy says.