Chris Lewland and her parents moved to Healdsburg in 1981, restoring a two story Victorian house and opening Camellia Inn. As amateur winemakers, they made wine in the basement for friends and guests of the inn. Winemaker Bruce Snyder was introduced to the winemaking in 1985. After continuing to help make wine at the inn for years, they made the transition to a bonded winery in 1997 when they founded Camellia Cellars.
They make two Zinfandels. The first is the Lencioni Vineyard from the Dry Creek Valley, and the second in their "Bountiful", from the Sonoma area. Both are 300 case production lots, with alcohol coming in at 14.1% and 14.8%.
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In 1997 Barry and Phyllis Rodgers bought an overgrown, unkept cattle ranch off Chalk Hill Road. After some major cleanup work, they planted 24 acres of vines in 1998. Their older daughter, Genevieve, who was to become the winemaker, joined then to help manage the project. In 2000 they had the first estate harvest, which was their third crush.
They produce just over 500 cases of Zinfandel. Most of their production is the Chalk Hill Estate, and just under a third is the Chalk Hill Reserve. Both are 100% Zinfandel from estate fruit, and come in at 14.5% alcohol.
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John and Carri Holdredge own this small winery that has only a 2,000 case annual production. Their first vintage was 2001. While concentrating mainly on Pinot Noir, they manage to make about 650 cases of Zinfandel.
The Alexander Valley Zinfandel uses fruit from the Stone Ranch. This vineyard is on the western edge of the valley, and has volcanic soil with a "Boatload" of rocks. In '05 John blended in about 4% Syrah to add some structure.The Dry Creek Zinfandel comes from the Sopressa Vineyard, which is a terraced vineyard since the mountainside site is so steep. About 5% Petite Sirah was blended into this wine.
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The original winery was founded in 1977 in the Dry Creek Valley. In 2005 they opened a tasting room in Healdsburg, just off the square. While it is now owned by Gary Heck of Korbell fame, it still has the feel of a small winery. Winemaker Dan Abella is making smaller lot wines that maintain the great flavors associated with small lot Zinfandels.
Lake Sonoma Winery offers three dry Zinfandels, and a Port. The "Dry Creek Zinfandel", "Russian River Zinfandel" and "Saini Farms Zinfandel" all came in at 15%. The desert is a "Dry Creek Zinfandel Port". These are all reasonably priced and offer an excellent value.
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Jack and William Salerno first visited Sonoma County in 1990, but waited until 1996 to make it their home. They founded Manzanita Creek Winery in 2001. It was dedicated to making small lot, "Boutique" wines. They currently make about 3,000 cases of their own label, and provide winery services to other "Virtual Labels". Don't look for a fancy tasting room. This is a real working winery in a commercial building in the north side of town.
They make a number of Zinfandels, some of which have been discontinued but have some bottles available. The "Three Vines" is a blend made with fruit from three different vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley. This is a big Zin, with the '03 coming in at 16%. The "Carreras Ranch" is a small run, less then 400 cases, from some old vines in the Dry Creek Valley. They have one Zinfandel made from Napa Valley fruit, and a final offering from the "Erlands Vineyard" in Lodi. All of these spend 24 months resting in the barrels.
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Although the winery, and main tasting room, is located in Alameda, the tasting room in Healdsburg is what most people know as Rosenblum Cellars. Kent Rosenblum is an icon in the Zinfandel business. He features more different bottlings than anyone else. He also produces Syrahs, Petite Syrahs, unique dry red and white wines, and desert wines. It is with the Zinfandels that he really shines. Along with winemaker Jeff Cohn, who was made Vice President of Winemaking in 2004, Kent produces a dazzling array of Zinfandels. Even though they make a lot of wines, each one is produced as a small lot, with individual attention to yeast, barrels, and whatever is required to keep the best of each lot.
Rosenblum wines are made with fruit from all over the region. While I will not list all that he produces, a few of my favorites include "Eagle Point" from Mendocino County, "Monte Rosso" from Sonoma County, "Lyon's" and "Rust Ridge" from Napa, "Rockpile Road" from the Rockpile, "Harris Kratka" from the Alexander Valley, "Alegria" from the Russian River Valley, "Carla's" from the San Francisco Bay area, and "Richard Sauret" from Paso Robles. There is a style for everyone in this lineup.
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In 1989 four friends and winery partners bought the Sapphire Hill Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. They planted 32 acres of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. In 1997 they started making their own wine after years of selling the grapes. Sapphire Hill Winery was founded in 2002 in Healdsburg. Tom Meinken, own of the original four, is the winemaker.
The Zinfandels are made with fruit purchased from two well known vineyards in the Russian River Valley. The "Tom Feeney Ranch" has 60 year old vines. They made only 275 cases, which came in at 14.7% for the '02. The "Winberrie Vineyard" vines clock in at 98 years old. Recent vintages of this had 15.9% alcohol.
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Eduardo Seghesio left Piedmonte, Italy in 1886, ending up in Northern Sonoma County working for Italian Swiss Colony. He married Angela Vasconi and they purchased a home in Alexander Valley in 1895. The surrounding 56 acres were planted with Zinfandel, the "Home Ranch" vineyard. Seghesio Winery was founded in 1902, with a second winery opened in 1949 in Healdsburg. Until 1983 all of the wine was sold in bulk. Ted Seghesio, a fourth generation family winemaker, produced the first wine to be bottled with the Seghesio label in 1983. In 1993 Peter Seghesio joined the company and set up national distribution. By 1993 they were up to an annual production of 130,000 cases, and the younger generation had assumed control of the company. Total production is down to 30,000 cases with a concentration on estate wines.
Seghesio Family Winery process eight different Zinfandels in three distinct categories. The entry level "Sonoma" is a blend from the four estate vineyards. The next four are the "Home Ranch", "Cortina" from the Dry Creek Valley, "San Lorenzo" from southern Alexander Valley, and "Old Vine" from head pruned vines in Dry Creek and Alexander Valley which average 90 years old, with all older than 60 years. The small production wines are "Aradou", "Passalacqua Ranch" and "Saini". These are available only at the winery or for club members. These wines all offer consistently great flavor for the price.
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Dave Selby and his daughter Susie founded Selby Winery in 1993. Before his death, Dave passed along his passion for wine to Susie. She worked her way up through the tasting room, cellars and warehouse to become the assistant winemaker, and is now the sole owner and winemaker. Production has increased from 150 cases the first year, to the current 10,000 cases. Susie spends most of her time in the vineyards, since she knows that great wine begins is the vineyard, but is also likely to be found in the warehouse or tasting room.
Two Zinfandels and a Zinfandel Port are produced. The "Old Vine" Zinfandel comes mainly from vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley, but also includes fruit from both Alexander Valley and the Russian River Valley. It is aged 16 months in both French and American oak, The "Bobcat" Zinfandel fruit also comes from Dry Creek. The Zinfandel Port rounds out the trio, and is also from Dry Creek fruit.
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When Frane Franicevis was a child in Croatia, he spent some of his days helping his grandfather pick Mali Plavic, the offspring of Zinfandel. After coming to the United States, and spending some time in New Orleans as a fisherman and in Atlanta in school, he ended up in San Francisco working on his Ph.D. He was drawn to Sonoma County, and in 1991 founded a winery. Sunce was re-launched in 1997. The word "Sunce", pronounced "Soon-say", is Croat ion for "Sun". The winery and main tasting room is in the Russian River area, but a second tasting room is located just off the square in Healdsburg.
Sunce produces three Zinfandels, and a Late Harvest Zinfandel. The "Young Buck" Zinfandel is from the Russian River Valley, and the "Pena Creek" is from the Dry Creek Valley. These are both made from old vine fruit. The "Baker Vineyard", from the Russian River Valley, is a very limited production wine, with about 6 - 8 barrels being produced. The fruit for the Late Harvest Zinfandel is from the "Buck Hill Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. It is also from some old vines.
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