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Family of Friends Newsletter

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Wine Tasting FAQ with Sonoma Vintner Ross Halleck

By Eric Schwartzman | December 9, 2024

For anyone planning a trip to Sonoma or simply curious about the wine tasting experience, award-winning winemaker Ross Halleck of Halleck Vineyard in Sebastopol, answers your most pressing wine tasting questions.

Drawing on years of expertise in Sonoma’s celebrated Russian River Valley, Ross offers practical tips and insider knowledge for a memorable tasting experience.

Ross Halleck on the deck of our Wine Lodge surrounded by our estate Pinot Noir Vineyard in West Sonoma County.…

Sonoma Wine Tasting Review 2024: Exploring Halleck Vineyard’s Current Releases

By Eric Schwartzman | October 23, 2024

In this Sonoma wine tasting video with Ross Halleck, vintner at Halleck Vineyard, and Harris Miner, the winery’s director of wine education, share tasting notes on their latest releases, offering viewers an informative look at the distinctive varietals produced from Sonoma County’s acclaimed American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).

The pair guide us through the wines with careful attention to the nuances of each, providing an educational perspective on how the region’s terroir influences flavor profiles.…

Wine as Plant Medicine

By Virginia Piazza | August 29, 2024

Wine is dynamic.

Euphemisms include elixir of the gods, social lubricant, poetry in a bottle, and (penned by Ernest Hemingway) the most civilized thing in the world. Less romantic monikers describe it as glogg, plonk, Jesus juice, and porch-pounder.

Wine is rife with evocative metaphor. It can be dry, flabby, cloying, chewy, racy, or a fruit bomb. It can have great legs, impressive structure, a round mouthfeel, even a clean finish. Its aroma can suggest bright red berries,…

Wine tastings at Halleck Vineyard in the Sebastopol area of Sonoma County hosts intimate wine tasting salons for up 16 guests by reservation only.

Wine Tasting Sonoma Style – Choosing Wineries, Tasting Rooms, and Vineyards for a Wine Tasting Weekend in Sonoma

By Averi Melcher | March 21, 2024

Looking for the best wine tasting Sonoma has to offer?

Whether it’s a romantic getaway, a girls’/guys’ vineyard tour weekend, or a family event, we’ll narrow down the best wine tasting Sonoma, California has to fit your preferences. 

When visiting Northern California’s majestic wine country, you want to get the most out of your wine tour. But you’ve only got one weekend. And with over 600 vineyards spread amongst various rural neighborhoods,…

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

By Eric Schwartzman | November 6, 2023

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.…

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

By Eric Schwartzman | October 24, 2023

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.…

Sonoma Wine Tasting Report

Sonoma Wine Tasting Prices Up 11% Countywide

By Eric Schwartzman | July 26, 2023

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.…

Russian River Valley

Top 7 Russian River Valley Wineries to Visit

By Scott Butterfield | June 7, 2023

The Russian River Valley has a viticulture history unlike any other in California. Just 50 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, grapevines were first planted by immigrants from the Mediterranean region in the 19th century. Most were “gardens” that families used for personal consumption, using cuttings brought from their European homesteads. This is how Zinfandel, now a flagship US grape, first appeared in the country. 

By the early 20th century, over 200 Sonoma County wineries were making wine in the region.…

Best Pinot Noir Wine: 15 Bottles to Try Right Now (2023 UPDATE)

By Averi Melcher | June 7, 2023

Want to experience the best Pinot Noir wine this world has to offer? Pinot Noirs that are so bold and fruity you might mistake them for Syrahs? Then we have the perfect list for you – our favorite bottles of Pinot Noir from Sonoma County, California. While the average wine drinker might be focused on Pinot Noir pairings, whether Pinot Noir is sweet or dry, or the differences between Pinot Noir vs Cabernet Sauvignon. …

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