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Cobb Wines, Occidental
The Cobb family has been producing single-vineyard, Sonoma Coast, pinot noir since 2001. The first pinot noir grapes were planted in 1989 by David Cobb, who had the intention to only sell the grapes. However, his son, winemaker Ross Cobb, had other thoughts - and so Cobb Wines was born. All their vineyards are hand-tended, inspired by the old world way of France. cobbwines.com. (Courtesy photo)
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Corison Winery, Napa
Winemaker Cathy Corison has been producing her Corison Cabernet since 1987, using only small French oak barrels sourced from specific forests and letting her vineyards speak for themselves with a hands-off approach. Her wines are so revered that they are often scored - highly - before they are even released to the public. By appointment only, Napa, (707) 963-0826, corison.com. (Courtesy photo)
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Diamond Creek, Calistoga
When Diamond Creek was founded in 1968, it became the first California winery devoted exclusively to the production of cabernet sauvignon. By 1978, founder Al Brounstein was selling his wine for $100 a bottle - making him one of the first local producers to sell their wine at a high price. Today, his widow Boots Brounstein carries on the tradition with award-winning wines. By appointment only, Calistoga, (707) 942-6926, diamondcreekvineyards.com. (Photo: Napa Wine Project)
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Duckhorn Vineyards, Saint Helena
This year marks the 40th vintage for Duckhorn, which was founded by wine power couple Dan and Margaret Duckhorn in 1976. Two years later they produced their first cabernet sauvignon and merlot and haven't looked back since. This is Duckhorn's seventh year on the Top 100 list. By appointment only, (707) 963-7108, duckhorn.com.(Courtesy photo)
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Dutton-Goldfield Winery, Sebatopol
All it takes is a handshake between a grapegrower and a winemaker and great wine can be produced. Sebastopol's Dutton-Goldfield is that very story: two friends (Steve & Dan) coming together to make cool-climate wines that they'd want to drink at their own dinner tables. They produce pinot noir, chardonnay, syrah, and a few surprises, like pinot blanc and riesling. 3100 Gravenstein Hwy. N., Sebastopol, (707) 827-3600, duttongoldfield.com. (Courtesy photo)
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Frog's Leap, Rutherford
Frog's Leap first wine was released in 1981, a sauvignon blanc. In 1988, they made a mark with their zinfandel and cabernet and went organic. Today, they grow a little bit of everything, including chardonnay and petite sirah. Their wines are not only organic, but also dry farmed. Fun fact: the name of the winery comes from combining Frog Farm (the winery was founded on the grounds of an old farm) and Stag's Leap. By appointment only, (707) 963-4704, frogsleap.com.
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Green & Red Vineyard, St Helena
Founded in 1977, Green & Red produces zinfandel, syrah and sauvignon blanc from their steep Chiles Valley AVA vineyards. Founder and winemaker Jay Heminway fell in love with zinfandel, opting to plant zin vines in 1972 rather than trendy cabernet sauvignon. Green & Red are veterans to the top 100 list and this year their sauvignon blanc was named one of the best new world sauvignon blancs, (707) 965-2346, greenandred.com.
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Iron Horse Vineyards, Sebastopol
Founders Audrey and Barry Sterling drove down Ross Station Road in February 1976, in the pouring rain, fell in love with the rolling hills that surrounded them and two weeks later bought the property. By 1978, Iron Horse had released its first still wine (chardonnay) and two years later released their first sparkling wine - the latter which would mark their place on the winemaking map. By appointment only, (707) 820-1506, ironhorsevineyards.com. (Courtesy photo)
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Lioco, Santa Rosa
Inspired by the wines of Europe, Lioco was founded in 2001 with a goal to make wines, from family-owned vineyards, that contrasted the heavy, big wines of the time. Producing their wines in Santa Rosa, they use grapes from Sonoma, Mendocino and Santa Cruz, which include chardonnay, pinot noir, and carignan. All wines continue to be made from independently owned vineyards. By appointment only, (707) 331-3582, liocowine.com.
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Radio-Coteau, Sebastopol
Sebastopol-based Radio-Coteau produces chardonnay, pinot noir, syrah zinfandel and riesling from cool climate vineyards from the Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley and Anderson Valley. Many of the vineyards where they gather fruit from are organic. Proprietor Eric Sussman describes his winemaking style as "non-interventionalist" due to his lack of meddling with the wine during the winemaking process. radiocoteau.com. (Video: Radio-Coteau bottling)
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Ravenswood, Sonoma
"No Wimpy Wines" has been the motto since the winery's founding by Joel Peterson in 1976, who claimed the raven as the winery's mascot as a conspiracy of ravens looked down upon him during a thunderstorm-threatened harvest. Ravenswood's Vintners Blend can be found at dinner tables around the world, while their sought after single vineyard designates gain reviews alongside their county-focused wines. 18701 Gerhicke Rd., Sonoma, (707) 933-2332, ravenswoodwinery.com. (Photo by John Burgess)
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Red Car Wine, Sebastopol
Another West County winner, Red Car creates rustic, old world-inspired pinot noir, chardonnay and syrah, many which are sourced from their biodynamic and organically farmed estate vineyard a mere 3.5 miles away from the Pacific Ocean in the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. They pour their wines, including a rosé, in a Sebastopol tasting room, laden with vinyl records and pinball machines. Wine & Spirits described the 2011 vintage of their estate syrah as having a "lively presence that's seductive rather than impactful." 8400 Graton Rd., Sebastopol, (707) 829-8500, redcarwine.com.
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Ridge Vineyards, Healdsburg
With a story dating back to 1885, Ridge Vineyards is a standard on wine lists, with their zinfandels being grown from mainly historic, old vineyards including from their Lytton Springs winery, which is surrounded by 115-year-old vines. Their East Bench Zinfandel was poured at the last state dinner of the Obama Administration. According to Wine & Spirits, their zinfandels are the most requested zins at restaurants. 650 Lytton Springs Rd., Healdsburg, (408) 867-3233, ridgewine.com. (Courtesy photo)
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Silverado Vineyards, Napa
Named after the abandoned mining town, in Napa Valley, where Robert Louis Stevenson lived briefly, Silverado Vineyards was founded by Diane Disney Miller, the only child of Walt Disney, and her husband, Ron. They produce sustainably grown cabernet sauvignon from their estate vineyard, which was one of the first to be planted with cabernet in the Stags Leap District. 6121 Silverado Trail, Napa, (707) 257-1770, silveradovineyards.com. (Courtesy photo)
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Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Napa
The winery that put California wine on the map, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars was founded in 1970, and six years later their cabernet sauvignon would win at the Judgement of Paris. In fact, a bottle of that wine - 1973 SLV Cabernet Sauvignon - resides in the collections of the Smithsonian Institution. Their winery has 34,000 square feet of wine caves, which includes one of a handful of Foucault Pendulums in the world. 5766 Silverado Trail, Napa, (707) 944-2020, cask23.com. (Courtesy photo)
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von Strasser, Calistoga
Winery founder and winemaker Rudy von Strasser originally set out to create hard cider, but after working at Robert Mondavi Winery, he fell in love with winemaking and never looked back. Earning his winemaking chops as the first American intern at Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, today, he produces cabernet sauvignon in the Diamond Mountain District. The winery has been named winery of the year 13 times by Wine & Spirits. 965 Silverado Trail, Calistoga, (707) 942-9500, vonstrasser.com.
