Is there any producers worth visiting around Healdsburg?

B

BJ

BJ
We are spending the week before Christmas in Healdsburg with family. Any producers round there that would be worth visiting?
 
Definitely check out Kathleen Inman's wines.

Benovia is pretty close by - the wines are a little riper and more showy, but I find them nicely balanced and very enjoyable.
 
Ridge's Lytton Springs winery, with those wonderful century-old zinfandel and petite sirah vines, plus the chance to taste or buy some of those ATP wines that are only available at the winery, such as the 2006 Syrah-Grenache or the 2006 Lytton Estate Zinfandel (actually, I see it has 16% petite sirah in the blend - under European rules, you couldn't call it a zin, but who cares about those bureaucratic details?)
 
The Ridge Sonoma winery and tasting room is practically next door. Head west and you're in Dry Creek region. Nice tasting room, organic wines, bread, olive oil, bocce courts at Preston. Dry Creekish and non-oafy Zins at Nalle, Quivira, Rafanelli, Preston, Amista, Alderbrook (except Reserve) and Dry Creek vineyards itself. On the non-Zin side, I've been impressed by Rafanelli's recent Merlots, Preston makes interesting Rhonish whites, Dry Creek a zesty Chenin. If you find most California wines too heavy, Pedroncelli tends to be lighter and more restrained, especially their basic Dry Creek Zin. On the Alexander Valley side (north and east), Sausal makes interesting rather old-fashioned mellow Zins from very old vines. Trentadue has slightly rustic, quite complex heavyweight Petite Sirah, Zin and blends that are a nice break from the ripe bland smoothness of so many modern wines.
 
Preston of Dry Creek, Swan, Ridge, Nalle, Porter Creek.

You could drop by Gallo, too. They is not long to where you is.
 
Holdridge and Davis Family are not far off the square and worth a trip.
Holdridge is mostly pinot and Davis Family makes a number of good varieties, including a very tame but delicious syrah.
Best, Jim
 
I had a few fun visits at Duxoup (Duxoup.com). They are officially not open to visitors but were always willing to spend some time with me in their mini winery run by the couple alone. The wines are fun and reasonably priced and not easily found elsewhere. Syrah, Charbono, Dolcetto, Sangiovese and Gamay (or whatever this one exactly is).
 
originally posted by georg lauer:
I had a few fun visits at Duxoup (Duxoup.com). They are officially not open to visitors but were always willing to spend some time with me in their mini winery run by the couple alone. The wines are fun and reasonably priced and not easily found elsewhere. Syrah, Charbono, Dolcetto, Sangiovese and Gamay (or whatever this one exactly is).
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Their "Gamay" is Valdigui...
 
originally posted by Steve Edmunds:
Unti is gradually making more and more interesting wine, I think.
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It's funny, he just did a tasting at a local shop here, his bottles were on the table when I swung by last night. I noted a decent amount of new oak on the Syrah, is that their general style?
 
I have to admit, when I taste there, at times I'm there to visit the vineyard, I block the wines I didn't care for from my memory. They made a Grenache/Syrah/ Mourvedre blend in '09 that was pretty credible, and I had to calibrate only a little bit for the oak. So I can't speak for the Syrah. And, I did say gradually...
 
I noted a decent amount of new oak on the Syrah, is that their general style?
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They're not afraid of oak, or size for that matter. They're well-made wines, but they're in a style about which we don't often enthuse here.
 
originally posted by Thor:
I noted a decent amount of new oak on the Syrah, is that their general style?
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They're not afraid of oak, or size for that matter. They're well-made wines, but they're in a style about which we don't often enthuse here.
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Yeah, when I visited they were quite excited about biodynamie and talked about their foudres, but the wines didn't excite me.

Mark Lipton
 
originally posted by Steve Edmunds:
originally posted by georg lauer:
I had a few fun visits at Duxoup (Duxoup.com). They are officially not open to visitors but were always willing to spend some time with me in their mini winery run by the couple alone. The wines are fun and reasonably priced and not easily found elsewhere. Syrah, Charbono, Dolcetto, Sangiovese and Gamay (or whatever this one exactly is).
Click to expand...

Their "Gamay" is Valdigui...
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Thank you. I remember you saying it was something different when you were visiting Boston but could not remember what.
 
originally posted by BJ:
Is there any producers worth visiting around Healdsburg?We are spending the week before Christmas in Healdsburg with family. Any producers round there that would be worth visiting?
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I tried to respond a minute ago but it seemed to vanish so hopefully I am not doing a doubleup.

Healdsburg is a good base. Others have commented on some Zins so I will start there. You are close enough to get to Ravenswood who do a great range of Zins. However, it is also very close to great Pinot country. Papapietro Perry and Anthill farms on Dry Creek Road is a great place to start. There are several excellent makers at their complex and they can probably suggest other great producers/cellar doors within a 30 min drive, There is a quirky general store in the area where you can get a simple sandwich style lunch too. Other nearby producers do Zin such as Teldeschi and Forchini.
 
Nearly forgot. Firstly, if you have a European palate, check the alcohol levels on the Pinot labels. Often you will find alcohol levels a % or 2 higher than you are used to, usually associated with lower acid levels than Burgundies. That said, the Pinots at higher alcohol and lower levels can have beautiful expressions of red cherry fruit purity. A useful reference is Pinotfile by Rusty Gaffney, google it and you will find an excellent resource by a true Pinotphile. Gamay has been mentioned a few times and as far as I am aware there is only one commercially available TRUE Gamay, made by Steve Edmunds, seek it out and enjoy. Good gamay being one of the last of the wine worlds hidden treasures.
 
You know, it occurs to me that this board would really be improved if we discussed the hidden treasures of gamay more often.
 
originally posted by Thor:
You know, it occurs to me that this board would really be improved if we discussed the hidden treasures of gamay more often.
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As a gamay producer I may be accused of bias. However, I only make ~ 100 cases and probably by almost that much from other producers each year. At this very moment I am trying to BUY 2 bottles of Marcel La Pierre Morgon from a shop in Paris to have sent to me in Australia. However, they will not post it because of its delicate nature. It is sealed under cork, surely the biggest risk factor. I digress, this is off topic and I am letting my Gamay obsession overtake the OPs question. However, another great place to visit and rent a gite is Beaujolais. I have rented an excellent gite in Le Perreon and another in Fleurie. A region of great food and wine with super value. I am trying to work out how to get there and to Healdsburg area next year. Please report back on your visit.
 
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