Welcome to Hook & Ladder!

Hook & Ladder Winery is the baby of, growers first,  Cecil and Christine DeLoach with their son, Jason DeLoach, covering the wine-making honors, and all other business covered by sibs.  Cecil, formerly a San Francisco firefighter, brings the “hook & ladder” theme completely to life from the Hook & Ladder firetruck out at the entrance to the winery, to the toy firefighting equipment in the TR as well as an incredible, extensive collection of FD shirts sent by and collected from firefighters from all over the US and internationally.  The colorful shirts hang from the rafters and grace the walls in amazing displays, pulling my eyes upward and instilling a warm feeling of pride and patriotism.  The TR, approached by a tidy garden path past the winery, is casual and welcoming- jeans and flip flops and fun are the vibes with a nice array of wines displayed and ready to taste at the bar.  This is a small, person-specific operation and Jason can often be found in the TR.  Tours are offered by appointment and occur when staff is available to guide guests around.  This is a personal wine experience.

Look up!

Hook & Ladder Toy Mode; Search and Rescue Badge from Shasta

The Wine Society Wine Club offers something for everyone.  Estate produced olive oil will soon be another offering.  Wine & food is a major focus and H & L  recipes are always available.  I visited in the Fall- the sky was full of clouds but the warmth of the TR, family and staff shone through.

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Martin Ray's famous landmark water tower.

Call ahead to Martin Ray to arrange for a tour of their historic winery including their concrete fermentation tanks and purchase red wine decanted into a jug while you watch among the huge old storage casks. Next stop, Merry Edwards, with one of the most famous female winemakers out of UC Davis.  Next visit Graton Ridge where every day a portion of their proceeds goes to fight breast cancer. Head into Graton and have lunch at the Underwood Bistro- afterward, browse merchandise and pick up snacks for later at sister Willow Wood Café and Market across the street.  Head over to Hartford Family Winery for some extraordinary wines at a lovely winery isolated off River Road.  Head now to your lodging, the Raford Inn, lovely queen of Victorian’s perched on her hill looking out over the vineyards.  Relax on the veranda or in the garden and enjoy wine or tea and cookies.  Dinner tonight is at the Farmhouse Inn, Zagat-rated and one-Michelin-starred, newly renovated décor, close to your inn.

View from a Burke's canoe.

Wake to a delicious breakfast and then head over to Forestville to pick up a picnic lunch at Aioli then head over to  Burke’s Canoes (seasonal late May – October) for a day on the Russian River where you will see Great Blue Heron, turtles, osprey and sometimes, even a  bald eagle.  Dinner tonight is at delicious, with a great wine list, Mosaic in Forestville. (Please note: they are temporarily closed but ask that prospective diners check back soon- December 2010 message.)

Welcome to Hook & Ladder!

Heading back to Santa Rosa and eventually to SF, make a stop on Olivet Road just off River Road: stop in at Hook & Ladder Winery and DeLoach Vineyards before heading home.

Friday’s Blog will feature Hook & Ladder Winery.

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TR

Spectacular architecture (and wines) @ DeLoach

On a recent visit to DeLoach Vineyards I actually had to pause here at the entrance to keep out of the way of the many guests who were photographing the buildings, grounds and outdoor sculptures.  Making my way into the elegant TR, I spotted darling little oak barrels emblazoned with DeLOACH which house, for home use, in two sizes, DeLoach pinot, cleverly hidden inside the re-usable barrels in a sealed bag for easy serving- the program is called Barrel to Barrel and gives a cellar to glass experience on a daily basis.

I also tasted and purchased the very special DeLoach Vinthropic Chardonnay.  DeLoach is working with the Redwood Empire Food Bank to end hunger- all proceeds from the wine go to the REFB.

DeLoach also offers very personalized and specialized tiers of their Wine Club with something for every guest to enjoy and reap the VIP rewards while visiting the winery.  Founded in 1973, the winery employs biodynamic, sustainable and organic practices in farming and winemaking; here the soil is perfect for pinot noir and chardonnay, and at  DeLoach, all practices and production must be friendly to the land.

Often photographed sculpture at the entrance to the TR @ DeLoach.

The simple fleur de lis, a universal symbol for beauty, is the logo at DeLoach- perfect personification of the care of the land, the vineyards, the estate and the exquisite wines produced here.  Driving out along the beautiful curving driveway,  past the estate cottages and the vineyards, I am struck by how lovely this place is.

Wednesday look for TR’s Itinerary: On the River- Forestville & Graton.  Friday will feature member Hook & Ladder Winery.

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TR

Balletto's Field of Dreams on their self-guided vineyard tour.

I recently learned about Balletto Vineyards & Winery‘s incredible self-guided vineyard tour which includes their hidden gem: the Balletto Field of Dreams Full-Sized Baseball Diamond snugged up below the irrigation pond, right in the vines.  The tour is fun to walk, well-structured and well-explained, covering all sorts of information and offering great explanations about farming.  Speaking of farming, Balletto Vineyards is BASED on farming; the family originally farmed vegetables prior to becoming grape growers.  As they say: “As grape growers first, we strongly feel that with good grapes comes good wine.  We invite you to come Taste the Bounty that is Balletto.”  Recently picking up yet more golds from the Sonoma County Harvest Fair for pinot, Balletto offers great hospitality in their TR daily as well as The Balletto Bounty Club for great discounts, events and perks.  Balletto farms 500 acres in the Russian River Valley AVA, selling 90% of the fruit to other wineries, and using the remaining delicious 10% to make about 15 thousand cases annually.

Welcome to Balletto!

Balletto is an expression of the seasons of the year as it is so strongly tied to the seasonal rhythms of the vineyards in which it is located.  From the roses at the end of the rows of the vineyards to the Sunday employee baseball games in the Field of Dreams, Balletto is a reflection of the weather, growing seasons and incredible bounty produced in their estate vineyards.

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Eight at the Gate is your gateway to the Russian River Valley; eight wineries which produce and present excellent pinot noir and chardonnay.

Stop in at Hanna’s charming cottage TR on Occidental Road, followed by Balletto Vineyards & Winery, modern structure among the vines, with a distinctive outer courtyard and water features outside the TR- a wee bit down the road- stop in at Taft Street Winery followed by a visit to Lynmar Estate- reserve their picnic wine lunch by Chef Sandra Simile, and eat and taste on their visitor center terrace overlooking the Laguna de Santa Rosa and their Quail Hill Vineyards. Next stop is Occidental, tiny hamlet snuggled in the Redwoods, less than 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean where you will check into the Inn at Occidental.  If it is a Friday afternoon in the summer/fall, hit the Occidental Farmers Market 4pm to dusk for incredible organic produce, flowers, breads, foods, crafts and entertainment.  Stroll over to the Bistro des Copains for dinner, then retire.

TR's basket of Occidental Farmers Market goodies.

After the full breakfast in the morning at your Inn, you will be ready to head out to explore the scenic Pacific Coast or you can “Zip the Redwoods” at Sonoma Canopy Tours just up the road where you will have 2.5 hours of thrills in the coastal Redwoods, with seven zip lines, one 1000’ feet long, two sky bridges and a majestic spiral staircase high in the air.  Back to Occidental to grab a casual dinner at El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant or the Union Hotel Pizzeria.

Ziplining at Sonoma Canopy Tours in Occidental.

On the way back to SF the next morning, following breakfast, visit Marimar Estate, then Dutton-Goldfield in their new location, Dutton Estate-Sebastopol Vineyards and then Iron Horse, ending your quest for 8 @ the Gate.  Visit Kozlowski Farms for some great preserves then tasting at  Russian River Vineyards and lunch at their Cork’s Restaurant.

The gardens at The Inn at Occidental.

Friday’s blog will feature Balletto Vineyards & Winery.

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TR

Old World Winery displays a meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship most likely seen more often in the Old vs the Newer World.  On the grounds are a lovely, painstakingly renovated 1916 Craftsman-styled home/office, green-friendly outbuildings and the welcoming tasting room.  Inside the TR, the walls are a particularly lovely shade of warm, deep brick red- and the color is actually derived from brick dust, gathered when the recycled bricks in the exterior courtyard were cut to fit, mixed with a decoupage type material.  The top of the TR bar is part of an old Trowbridge family redwood tree that was saved for years awaiting this perfect home.  The front of the bar is dark, distressed wood- turns out it was part of a pig barn and the distressing was actually caused by pig hooves.  Very cool.

Darek Trowbridge, winemaker/proprietor/viticulturist and, renovator of this place, has been studying wines, wine-making and viticulture since he was born- he is also a Martinelli.  Only grapes from biodynamic or organic, spectacular vineyards are used with the added requirement that the vineyards be owned and operated by the grower, and in most cases these are farms/ranches that have been passed down through the family for several generations.  The lineage shows in the wines.  A Wine Club is available at the TR, as are the wines; Old World is open for visitors and welcomes inquiries.

Darek and staff really take the time to explain their wine-making philosophy and wines; the renovations here, so lovingly done, pay tribute to the craftsmanship found inside the bottles.

Old World Winery TR, courtyard and side patio: Welcome.

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TR

Medlock Ames

Medlock Ames, centrally located where the Alexander Valley Road meets Highway 128, is an amazingly green, sustainable, mindful reincarnation of the former Alexander Valley Store & Bar.  This graceful, beckoning structure houses the Medlock Ames Tasting Room by day, and after hours, the best-kept locals’ secret,  Alexander Valley Bar. (Be sure to check out the vintage Photo Booth.)  The late autumn sunshine lit the sunflowers around the Petanque court in that way it sometimes does, imbuing the interior of the building, too, with a magical light.  Beautiful jars of estate-grown and produced vegetables and fruit glowed along the walls next to the estate-produced wines; Wine Club has first chance to be presented with these preserves.  Embracing the Slow Food Movement, partners Ames (winemaking) and Medlock (business practices) exemplify farming and wine producing protocols that are organic and sustainable, employing solar power, collecting rainwater and housing owls on the property for natural pest control.

Medlock Ames, being a small producer, is sometimes a wee bit difficult to find;  to help those that quest for their wines, they have started a Wine Club- the Three Bottle Club and The Six Bottle Club- to accommodate their friends.  (I hear that Wine Club members are also offered the chance to tour the winery, up the road off Chalk Hill.)  Food & Wine Pairings, changing as the garden ripens, highlight the wines with fresh produce- the offerings are written up daily on a sandwich board at the crossroads.  Picnic on the deck or out in the gorgeous garden- you will find the perfect blending of nature with the coolest amenities of a hip TR.  This is Medlock Ames.

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Make an appointment to visit Lancaster Estate for their tour and tasting and start there, at the top of the Valley, stopping next at Field Stone Winery & Vineyard for a tasting in their rustic, partially below-ground cellar in the midst of old vineyards.  Next stop is Sausal, where some of the oldest vines in the Valley can be found as well as their famous cellar cats.  For lunch, stop at historic and delicious Jimtown for wonderful country-store merchandise, tasty food and wine and a great outdoor patio shaded by a grape arbor.  Head south to check in and rest at your lodging, the Belle de Jour Inn, close to Healdsburg, but peacefully quiet and away from it all.  Rest up before driving through town to your special, romantic dinner in the Victorian dining room at Madrona Manor, built in the late 1880’s as a country retreat for folks from San Francisco, and now an inn and Zagat-rated restaurant with Chef Jesse Mallgren- and yes, technically in the Dry Creek Valley, but good food knows no boundaries!

Start your next day with the full-breakfast at Belle de Jour, zip into town to grab your picnic from Costeaux French Bakery and head back out to the Alexander Valley, visiting by prior appointment Jordan Winery for their fantastic tour of the winery, grounds and tasting of wines and estate produced olive oil.   Next stop, Medlock Ames Tasting Room where you can not only taste wines paired with food, but purchase site- grown organic produce.  (After hours, when the TR is closed, check out the locals’ best kept secret: Medlock Ames’s reincarnation of the Alexander Valley Bar!)  Continue up to deLorimier Winery where you can picnic in their beautiful grounds right in the vineyards.  Catch Vintners Signatures as you head back towards town- next stop, Big John’s Market where you can stock up on deli and produce items for a picnic supper back at Belle de Jour where you can sit on your porch or out on their grounds and enjoy your romantic pick-up supper paired with wine you purchased today.

Belle de Jour Inn

Friday’s Blog will be about Medlock Ames.

Here’s looking at you, kids.

TR

Welcome to Fritz Underground Winery!

Driving along in the gorgeous, pristine northern end of Dry Creek Valley, the approach to Fritz Underground Winery, along a private driveway, across a little bridge, and then up- ends in an architectural wonder: this Gaudi-inspired winery building, portions underground, looks a bit like something one would find in Barcelona, not on  lovely hillside with gardens above a small pond in the countryside in northern Sonoma County.  Fritz, though secluded, is not off the beaten-track- it is handily located for folks bridging their winery visits from the northern Alexander Valley (like Silver Oak and Souverain) on over to the Dry Creek Valley by way of Dutcher Creek Road.

Fritz focuses on sustainability, gravity flow, the importance of terroir, and natural ways to get the job done.  If you arrive on a weekend, be sure to give a call ahead to arrange for an Underground Winery Tour in addition to your tasting, joining up with the Underground Wine Clubs and picnic on the terrace outside the TR or over underneath the oak trees overlooking the estate.  On a recent visit there were repeat guests all the way from Germany who shared the name “Fritz”- they purchased wine to bring back home as a tasty remembrance of their time at their favorite spot.

The Patio outside the TR

The Patio is often the site of some fantastic Fritz wine and food pairings; recently, Pigs & Paella, more recently, Pizza on the Patio.  These Events are open to guests and Wine Clubbers, but Wine Clubbers have yet another perk of membership here: getting in free!

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TR

Silver Oak Cellars nestled at the end of Chianti Road.

Back in the early 1970s Silver Oak Cellars emerged as a dream tied to an intrepid idea: to create a Cabernet Sauvignon of fully developed flavors and velvety soft textures on the day it was released for sale.  After all, “Life is a Cabernet”- these folks are cabernet sauvignon experts.  Their quest for perfection means that they believe that they have yet to make their best bottle of wine- and they will never stop trying.  The Silver Oak cabs are intense, opulent, lush- velvety with great balance and depth for longevity and yet, ready to enjoy.  100% American Oak is used in the Silver Oak barrels; winemakers here believe that the American Oak provides less harsh tannins than its French counterpart- this is quite an innovative idea and practice.

Pass the filigreed gates and sweep through the estate gardens, and the surrounding estate vineyards can be seen, encircling the striking winery building.  Very guest friendly, the TR, past a shaded courtyard with a beautiful fountain, offers up tastings of new releases and verticals.  The Silver Oak Logo Glass is included as a great souvenir. Tours can be arranged by appointment.  Though there is no Wine Club, there is a Preferred Customer List that allows you to be privy to the inside scoop on new releases, release parties and other events- it also allows you to keep track of your cellar notes and purchases.

Come to the Cabernet!

Here’s looking at you, kids.

TR