Eric Schwartzman

Eric Schwartzman

Eric Schwartzman is president of wine marketing agency Schwartzman & Associates and editor of the Sonoma Wine Tasting Blog. He is a twice best selling author and has written for Fast Company, Tech Crunch, Wine-Searcher, the Sonoma County Gazette, the Healdsburg Tribune, the Marin Pacific Sun and many others. He is also a twice published nonfiction author and served as special digital communications advisor to the US Dept of State in the run up to COP 21 - the Paris Climate Agreement.

The Epitome of Coastal Elegance: Introducing Halleck Vineyard Balletto Russian River Valley Chardonnay

By Eric Schwartzman

Halleck Vineyard is pleased to unveil a wine that embodies the quintessence of Russian River Valley’s terroir, our 2022 Balletto Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay. This exquisite white wine varietal manifests the art of winemaking and the unique coastal charm of the Russian River Valley.

“Each bottle of our 2022 Halleck Vineyard Balletto Russian River Valley Chardonnay is like a whispered secret between the verdant lands of Sonoma County and the relentless waves of the Pacific.…

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Halleck Vineyard Three Sons Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Awarded Top Honor at 2023 Sommelier Challenge

By Eric Schwartzman

Halleck Vineyard, a Sonoma County winery renowned for its artisanal approach, is basking in the glory of its 2019 Halleck Vineyard Three Sons Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, which clinched the prestigious Best Pinot Noir Award at the 2023 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition. Only 198 cases remain of their extraordinary vintage, available online only.

This exquisite Sonoma County Pinot Noir earned a remarkable 96-point score and secured the much-coveted Best Pinot Noir title amidst fierce competition from over 900 wines.…

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Sonoma Wine Tasting Report

Sonoma Wine Tasting Prices Up 11% Countywide

By Eric Schwartzman

The entry-level price of a Sonoma wine tasting rose 11% from $36 in 2022 to $40 in 2023. Adjusting for those cities with at least 15 wineries in the sample, we found that prices in Sebastopol increased the most at 27%, from an average of $37.36 in 2022, to $47.50 in 2023.

While the 27% jump in Sebastopol is massive, the actual price increase of $10 is less than the price of one movie theater ticket or a quick-service restaurant meal.…

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Top executives from Spire Animation Studios, P.J. Gunsagar and Brad Lewis, joined Ross Halleck at a recent wine tasting event at The Amarano Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The event offered guests the opportunity to sample the latest white and red wine releases from Halleck Vineyard's Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast vineyards. As the trio raised their glasses in a toast, they couldn't help but marvel at the expert craftsmanship and complex flavors of the wines they were enjoying. The event, which was held at a chic wine bar in the heart of Hollywood, was just one of many wine tastings and events that Halleck Vineyard has hosted across the state. From vineyards in Sonoma to wine bars in Los Angeles, Halleck Vineyard's wines have become a favorite of spirits enthusiasts across California. With accolades from top restaurants and wineries, it's clear that Halleck Vineyard is a force to be reckoned with in the world of wine. As Gunsagar, Lewis, and Halleck savored each sip of their drink, they couldn't help but feel grateful for the vineyards, wineries, and restaurants that have made California a destination for wine lovers around the world. And with each bottle of Halleck Vineyard's premium wines, they were reminded of the incredible skill and dedication that goes into every sip.

Wine Club Gathers for Los Angeles Wine Tasting at Amarano

By Eric Schwartzman

Winemaker Ross Halleck of Halleck Vineyard has always believed in the power of wine to bring people together and build communities. To this end, he has been tirelessly promoting his wines beyond the borders of Sonoma County, seeking to share his passion for exceptional Sonoma Pinot Noir with a broader audience.

Ross hosted a wine-tasting event for his Inner Circle Wine Club members and hotel guests at The Amarano in Burbank, California,…

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Best Wine with Duck Confit: Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

By Eric Schwartzman

The best wine with duck confit and other duck dishes, according to wine aficionado Jennifer LaRue, is a little-known small-production Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir from Halleck Vineyard, which is not available in stores.

When LaRue hosted an intimate wine dinner at her Colorado Springs home earlier this year, she set out to find the best duck wine pairing to serve with  Duck Confit, Pear, and Fennel Bites, a recipe from Food52 that incorporates confit duck breast baked in crispy phyllo dough. …

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Guests enjoy the annual Wine Harvest Party at Halleck Vineyard's estate winery in Sebastopol, featuring live music, delicious food and wine pairings, and a chance to mingle with local winemakers. The event also included a silent auction of rare and collectible wines, as well as artisanal cheeses and fresh seafood from the nearby bay. Attendees were able to experience the earthy aromas of the vineyard and the stunning views of the surrounding valley, while sipping on the winery's award-winning wines, including their sparkling and white wine selections.

Inner Circle Gathers at Sebastopol Winery Harvest Party

By Eric Schwartzman

On Saturday Oct. 15th, over 100 Inner Circle Wine Club Members and their guests from across the US gathered at the Halleck Vineyard Sebastopol Winery Estate for their annual wine harvest party.

The Sebastopol estate winery – surrounded by a single-acre Pinot Noir vineyard whose maiden vintage in 2001 earned Best of Class at the Pinot Noir Summit – drew wine club members and their guests for a library tasting with local cheeses,…

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Average Sonoma County Wine Tasting Prices in 2022

Sonoma Wine Tasting Prices Surge Post Lockdown

By Eric Schwartzman

Since the California stay-at-home lockdown order was lifted, the average price of Sonoma wine tasting County rose 44% over average prices before the lockdown, according to the 2022 Sonoma Wine Tasting Report.

The average price of an entry-level Sonoma wine tasting was $25.75 before the lockdown on March 19, 2020. But since the lockdown was lifted on June 15, 2021, the average price of an entry-level wine tasting in Sonoma County has risen to $37. …

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Best Time to Visit Wine Country

By Eric Schwartzman

“The odds are against every farmer. All the time,” says Samantha Dorsey, president of McEvoy Ranch on the Point Reyes Petaluma Highway. And finding a way to overcome those odds in the age of climate change and create a top-tier, artisanal product has become increasingly challenging. 

Over the last three years, two of the top ten costliest fires in the US – The Glass Fire and CZU Lightning Complex Fire were in Northern California,…

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Wine Dinner at La Mar

By Eric Schwartzman

This Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 6pm La Mar on The Embarcadero in San Francisco will be hosting a special wine dinner with Halleck Vineyard.

Executive Chef Victoriano Lopez, Sous Chef Ricardo Younis and Vintner Ross Halleck will pair cool climate Sonoma wines paired with La Mar’s award-winning Peruvian cuisine for an intimate sit-down dinner in a private dining room, which was once the ticket office to the Piers with oversized windows overlooking the Financial District.…

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Catapult Vineyards at sunrise in the Petaluma Gap AVA

Impact of Climate Change on the Petaluma Gap AVA

By Eric Schwartzman

Petaluma Gap AVA wines are said to have a bit more balance and refinement because the wind hardens and thickens the grape skins producing more tannins, which render the feeling of texture in your mouth. The microclimate produces wine with a combination of freshness, refinement and elegance with more intensity from the tannins. 

But like the rest of the Bay Area, the Petaluma Gap climate is changing. At the Golden Gate Bridge, sea level rose 9 inches between 1854 and 2016 as a result of melting land ice and the thermal expansion of ocean water.…

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