Forgive me if you’ve heard me say this before. When I lived
in the Napa Valley, I was conditioned to think that [good] wineries in Sonoma
were few and far between. The resistance that Napa has for Sonoma reminds me of
the rivalry between Northern and Southern California.
As a Bay Area native who went to USC, I received flak
from my friends about moving to Southern California. And while I lived in Los
Angeles, I was constantly having to defend the upper half of
the state.
(So it seems the NorCal-SoCal antagonism is
similar to the competition between Napa and Sonoma.)
Alas, this is not a blog post about East and West. This is
about two fantastic wineries I recently visited on Westside Road in Healdsburg.
Westside Road is home to many wineries; although I wouldn’t
recommend a walking tour, there are many tasting rooms within a very short
distance of each other (and a quick jaunt from the Healdsburg Square). The
selection of wineries located along this road is vast, featuring older
establishments as well as some newer wineries.
Hop Kiln Winery is an historic landmark located about 6
miles from the 101. The winery has an old-world feel to it and beautifully
appointed grounds, including a colorful rose garden and serene duck pond.
Inside, you’ll find the tasting room has a kitschy feel to it; there are
gourmet mustards and vinegars, wine knick-knacks, T-shirts and coffee table
books. There is also a selection of cheese and salami. This is a great place to
buy a bottle and some snacks and sit at one of the outside picnic tables to
enjoy the pretty scenery.
The staff at Hop Kiln is super-friendly and accommodating.
The atmosphere is inviting and relaxed with nice music playing in the
background. You have the option of sitting at a high-top table or standing at
the tasting bar. For $7, you taste your choice of five estate-grown wines (this
is cheap compared to Napa tasting standards!).
I would recommend starting with the 2010 HKG Chardonnay
($28/bottle). It is light and crisp with nuances of green apple and lemon zest.
The 2010 HKG Chardonnay, North Bridge Selection ($34/bottle)
is a richer style of Chardonnay with more new oak. Although you can quickly
identify the vanilla and baking spice notes, this wine is very balanced and
good acid.
Don’t miss the 2011 HKG Rosé of Pinot Noir ($24/bottle).
With aromas and flavors of guava and sweet strawberry, this pink refresher is
dry and delicious! The perfect summer wine. There’s also a Pinot Grigio
available.
Like most wineries in Sonoma County, Hop Kiln offers a few
vineyard-designate Pinot Noirs. Tasting these beauties side-by-side illustrates
the diversity that different vineyard sites provide.
The 2010 HKG Pinot Noir ($34/bottle) is soft and supple.
With juicy blackberry and black cherry flavors, it is very easy to drink. Good
value for Russian River Pinot Noir and would pair great with everything from
pizza to paella.
The 2010 HKG Pinot Noir, Twin Corners Selection ($42/bottle)
is a little darker in the glass with ripe fruit flavors, lively acidity, and a
touch of baking spice.
The 2010 HKG Pinot Noir, North Bridge Selection ($42/bottle)
is firm and full-bodied. Great intensity and concentration with robust fruit
flavors and a long-lasting finish. This would be a great match for duck breast
or tri-tip. Yum!
For a completely different experience, check out
TwomeyCellars (from the Silver Oak family). The tasting room is very modern; all
smooth concrete and shiny surfaces. The wall behind the tasting counter is
clear glass, so you can admire the sweeping vineyards views as you taste.
For $10, you taste all five of the Twomey current releases,
starting with the 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ($25/bottle). Bright and zesty, this
white is a great palate cleanser and would be nice with oysters.
I tasted two vintages of the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. The
2009 ($51/bottle) has red fruit flavors with notes of caramel and lots of
spice. I preferred the 2010 vintage ($46/bottle), which has bright acidity and
tastes of ripe strawberry. Medium-bodied with a dry finish, I would pair the
2010 Anderson Valley Pinot with pork tenderloin.
The 2010 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($50/bottle) blew
me away! It has attractive aromas of violets and rose petal with gobs of black
cherry and red currant on the palate. The finish is huge, leaving your mouth
begging for more!
The 2007 Napa Valley Merlot ($50/bottle) seemed a bit out of
place in what I think of as Pinotland, but it was a wonderful wine to finish
with. This Merlot is blended with 5% Cab Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is
dense and broad-shouldered with bold flavors of cherry cola, blueberry,
blackberry, and dark chocolate. You could easily pair this wine with a filet
mignon or rib-eye.
Other wineries on Westside Road include John Tyler Wines,
Matrix Winery, Armida Winery, Mill Creek Vineyards, and VML Winery. With so
many to choose from and the town of Healdsburg just a few miles away (with such
fabulous restaurants and luxurious hotels), this is a great avenue for
back-to-back wine-tasting. Cheers!
And then—surprise!—we tasted a few sparkling wines. It
seemed a little untraditional to try sparkling wines after the still wines, but
it provided a refreshing change of pace. The J Cuvée 20, Russian River Valley
NV ($28/bottle) was just as tasty as I remembered it with bright acidity,
subtle lemon notes and a clean finish. 
