Angel's share

The Great 72 Hour Wine Escape - ESCAPE TO SONOMA

DAY 3

Rochioli Vineyard

Year after year, wines coming from the Rochioli vineyards rank at the top of virtually every winelover's wish list. After spending more than a decade farming the land, Joe Rochioli Sr. purchased the vineyards in the late 1930s. He was certain that specific varietals would do best in the unique microclimate of the Russian River Valley. This special bond with the land has been handed down to the next generation of the Rochioli family. Joe Jr. has spent nearly forty years planting, nurturing and tending to the vines. When his son, Tom, began to produce the first Rochioli estate wines in the mid 1980s, the immediate results were spectacular. The outstanding quality of the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, which come from this vineyard, made it clear that the Rochiolis were not only outstanding grape growers, but also outstanding winemakers.

The 161-acre Rochioli vineyard is exceptional producing some of the most sought-after fruit for well-respected Pinot Noir producers such as Williams Seylem. Their Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are some of the most beautifully crafted wines in California, and rarely make their way out of the Golden State.

Bella Vineyards

Bella is located in the heart of the Dry Creek Valley. A small winery operated by husband and wife Scott and Lynn Adams, they are turning out some of the most amazing zinfandel and syrah ever. Their goal is to make small lots of the highest quality wines crafted from distinct parcels, wines which truly show the “terrior” in every sip. Bella farms three of the most distinctive vineyards in Sonoma County—two in Dry Creek and one in the Alexander Valley. Many of the vines are between 80 and 110 years old, making the fruit quite concentrated and flavorful. We’ll taste the reserve wines and their acclaimed Hillside Select series.

Gary Farrell Vineyards

This Russian River winery is on our list because year after year Gary consistently makes hand crafted pinots and chardonnays in the artisan style. Having worked with wine country legends like Joe Rochioli, Davis Bynum, and Tom Dellingher, Gary has put his winery on the map for his ultra premium pinot noir wines. His first release was in 1985, achieving overnight critical acclaim. The current winery we’ll visit was built in 2000, conceived specifically to craft small-lot, limited production wines. Today, Gary Farrell wines are found on prestigious wine lists and in well stocked cellars across the country. His wines typically earn 90+ scores in tastings and reviews. The wines showcase the incredible textures, intensity of flavor, elegance of the Russian River appellation,

We think this quote says it all: “For sheer consistency, I can think of no one who has made such high quality wines that evoke the region's uniqueness, and no one who has improved the quality of his wines so regularly as Farrell has. In my mind, he stands with the great winemakers of the world." - Dan Berger , Syndicated columnist and wine writer for the Los Angeles Times