Beautiful Landmark Vineyards in Sonoma Valley
Landmark Vineyards is located in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains in Kenwood, California, beautiful Landmark Vineyards offers daily tastings featuring signature wines that include small-production, winery-only chardonnays and pinot noirs. Landmark Vineyards was founded in the early ’70s by a group of proprietors that included Damaris Deere Ford, the great-great-granddaughter of John Deere, inventor of the first steel plow.
Shortly after moving to Sonoma Valley in 1989, Landmark began producing chardonnay exclusively and in 1991 created the first vintage of its flagship wine, Overlook Chardonnay. Landmark’s 1995 Overlook Chardonnay landed a spot on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 List, the first of six times for the chardonnay. In the mid ’90s, Landmark produced its inaugural vintage of pinot noir and in 2014 released its first Overlook Pinot Noir.
We love visiting Landmark for a midday picnic lunch and tasting of their wonderful chardonnays or a tour of the estate via horse-drawn carriage! The stunning grounds include a pond, vineyards, lots of flowers and trees, a large patio, and a bocce court. Grab your favorite person, or a group of friends, and spend some time enjoying everything Landmark has to offer, including their fantastic wines! Landmark is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for estate tours, wine tastings, cheese and wine pairings, and lunch. Visit landmarkwine.com for details.
Breathtaking St. Francis Winery & Vineyards
We love St. Francis Winery & Vineyards. This stunning Sonoma Valley, California winery was voted #1 Restaurant in America by “OpenTable” in 2013 and #1 Best Place to Get Married by The Press Democrat in 2014. St. Francis Winery is known not only for its superb wines but also its stunning grounds and breathtaking vistas.
We recently visited St. Francis for an afternoon tasting. Wouldn’t you love to have a glass of their Zinfandel while taking in this view?
Next time you’re in Sonoma County plan a visit to the tasting room and gift shop for sweet treats, gorgeous home decor, books, gifts and lots of wine accessories, including our Wine Glass Writer. Be sure to “like” St. Francis Winery on Facebook to get the latest news about their wonderful wines and fabulous events!
Have you had the pleasure of visiting St. Francis Winery?
Mumm’s the Word
Mumm Napa has been making hand-crafted sparkling wines in California since the late 1970s and offers a variety of wines from Rosés to Bruts and Sparkling Pinot Noir. Whether you choose to enjoy table service outside on the patio or taste sparkling wines in the Mumm salon, both feature stunning views of the Rutherford vineyards in Napa Valley. Reserved seating in the lovely Oak Terrace ensures you’ll be savoring library wines while enjoying a fabulous view.
We love bubbly tastings by flights, which offer an assortment of Mumm sparkling wines, then follow up with our favorite by the glass. Mumm WGWAlong with their fabulous bubbles, Mumm Napa has a beautiful gift shop full of treasures including our Wine Glass Writers!
For the adventurous, a 45-minute walking tour of the estate and exploration of the sparkling winemaking process begins at the winery entrance. To satisfy your inner artiste, experience amazing photography exhibits in the Galleries while enjoying a glass of wine from the Visitor Center. Mumm Napa is also available for private events. Why not make Mumm Napa a regular getaway? Members of Mumm’s Club Vivant enjoy complimentary tastings for up to four people per month.