
Family of Friends Newsletter

Sonoma Wine Tasting Prices Up 11% Countywide
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.…
Top 7 Russian River Valley Wineries to Visit
The Russian River Valley has a viticulture history unlike any other in California. 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 wineries were in operation. However, Prohibition devastated the nascent winemaking industry. Nearly all wineries closed.…
Best Pinot Noir Wine: 15 Bottles to Try Right Now (2023 UPDATE)
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. …
Wine Club Gathers for Los Angeles Wine Tasting at Amarano
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,…
Wine Wars: Tasting Showdown Between French Wine and California Wine at Bar Boulud
What goes better with French food? French wines or California wines? Winemaker Ross Halleck of Halleck Vineyard in Sonoma County collaborated with Bar Boulud Sommelier Victoria Taylor in Manhattan on a private vintner dinner to find out.
They compared 4 award-winning, small-production California wines from the Halleck Vineyard boutique Sonoma winery in the West Sonoma County town of Sebastopol with 5 French wines, all carefully paired with contemporary French dishes from one of the most celebrated French chefs in America.…
Sustainable Wineries: The Future of Wine Production
The wine industry has long been at the forefront of sustainable farming. Long before organic became a buzzword, eco-friendly California winemakers in highly respected regions like Sonoma County became ambassadors for climate protection through stakeholder engagement. The rise of the sustainable winery, carbon accounting, and climate-neutral viticulture are their responses to the decades of depletion and contamination that pesticides and commercial fertilizers have caused.
Table of Contents
Sustainable Wineries
Sustainable Viticulture
What is Sustainable Wine? …
Pour Decisions: Favorite Sonoma Biodynamic, Organic or Natural Wines
Natural wine and organic wines are rising in popularity.
Despite the wide-ranging and heated discussions around natural and organic wine, ultimately, the difference, here in the US, is quite simple.
Organic wine is certified by the FDA. Natural wine is not.
This is just fine for many passionate, anti-authoritarian, and raucous natural wine community members who suspect the futility of effective government regulation. The initial cost of organic certification (around $6,000), the price of annual inspections required to maintain certification,…
Romantic Wineries in Sonoma for Lovers
Thanks to the ample rains from the heavens, Sonoma Valley vineyards are teeming with life. What could be better than a romantic wine tasting getaway in Sonoma? It’s time to get creative with your amorous planning.
But with a wealth of wonderful Sonoma wineries and hillside screaming out with abundant greenery, it may be challenging to pick and choose the most romantic wine tasting rooms.
Not to worry!
No need to blindly search for a ‘romantic winery near me’…
2023 Wine Festival Calendar
We scoured the web to put together this 2023 Wine Festival Calendar. It features 16 California Wine Festivals (including the big event in Santa Barbara), Nantucket, Oregon, and Colorado wine festivals, plus a wine festival reopening in France. All the festivals serve food, but these are true wine festivals, organized to appeal to aspiring wine enthusiasts and serious wine collectors.
Now a lot has changed, but one thing remains the same. We still enjoy gathering together to share our passion about wine with others.…
