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Family of Friends Newsletter

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Russian River to East River: Sharing West Sonoma County Wines with Gramercy Park’s Cultural Elite

By Ross Halleck | June 26, 2025

Last week, I ventured from Halleck Vineyard Winery and Wine Tasting Room in Sonoma to the Sculptor Garden Room of the historic National Arts Club in Manhattan’s Gramercy Park to pour our California wines for a room full of artists, philanthropists, and musicians. It was my second Sonoma Wine Education Seminar at the club, and it was completely full—oversold, in fact.

I designed this event with intention: shorter than a traditional vintner dinner, more welcoming to people with all levels of wine knowledge,…

A Toast to Hospitality: Pouring My Russian River Pinot at Gramercy Tavern

By Ross Halleck | June 20, 2025

Last night, I had the honor of pouring my wines for the team at Gramercy Tavern, a Michelin Star Restaurant in New York City that has been serving our wines for over a decade.

For a winemaker, there are few experiences more gratifying than sharing varietals and vintages with professionals who understand the nuances of food, service, and hospitality at the highest level. And Gramercy Tavern — one of the most celebrated restaurants in America — sets the gold standard.…

Ross Halleck shares his acclaimed estate grown Pinot Noir at a wine tasting for guests on the deck at Halleck Vineyard.

The Forgotten Entheogen: A New Way of Experiencing Wine

By Ross Halleck | June 14, 2025

For most of my career, I’ve talked about wine through the lens of flavor, food, and family. But over the last few years, something shifted for me. I began to ask a deeper question: What if wine could be more than a drink? What if it could be a spiritual tool?

That question led me down a path I didn’t expect.

I’ve spent decades exploring sacred plant medicine traditions — in Peru, with ayahuasca and shamanic ceremonies,…

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.…

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