Lauterbach Cellars
Lauterbach Cellars- tucked away on Woolsey Road, RRV AVA.
One of our newest Wine Road members is Lauterbach Cellars, solar driven, open by appointment only, where each and every visit is also a tour, a Wine 101, with video enhancement and clarification, and barrel tasting- sometimes bottled wines are totally extraneous in a visit to this hidden-in-the-vineyards winery. Only about 300 cases are produced annually and it all happens right here, in this small and bright space- harvest, stemming, pressing, bottling- and all is captured on video to explain and chronicle the process. Owners, Stew or Barbara, will be your guide- owner/proprietor/winemaker/enthusiasm driven host with contagious knowledge and love of wine; you will come away with a good, solid appreciation of a true “garagiste” wine operation.
Lauterbach is housed in a country-style garage, utilizing space extremely well to fit in all that is needed to make their pinot, syrah and syrah rose- utilizing family and friends “who will work for wine”, at every step. (Syrah Dessert Wine, 1/2 barrel- a port-like treat- is in the offing now too.)
The approach to Lauterbach- beautiful countryside, vineyards, peaceful- off the radar.
Their renovated barn- stumped all callers on Facebook, "Where is Wine Time TR?"- I was here!
Eclectic blend of flora on the approach....
Garagiste here!
Doors open on this choice, efficient wine operation- all you need!
Clean, efficient, perfect lab with love of wine....
Barrel storage- full and empty- fit in this efficiently-temperature/humidity controlled space.
Case storage, too.
Now that's a REAL corker!
On my visit, Stew took me on a Vineyard Walk, right outside the doors of the winery. We ambled through vineyards of different pinot clones, looking for veraison. And we found a wee bit- it was, after all, just late July….
Heading out into the vines, just off the winery.
Searching the rows....
Eureka! Veraison!!
Just ripening.
Stew and Barbara (Swary) Lauterbach have taken an adventurous approach to life- combining many aspects- such as a love of farming and the outdoors, hiking and boating- with careers in medicine and law- truly full and fully-lived adventures. This winery, too, is their impassioned adventure- and all who visit them, can share in it.
Here’s looking at you, kids.
TR
