On June 2, the Specialty Food Association announced the winners of the 2026 Good Food Awards, honoring producers whose products excel in taste, craftsmanship and responsible sourcing.

Now in its 16th year, the awards recognize artisan food and beverage makers committed to sustainable production, ethical business practices and high-quality ingredients. More than 1,200 products from across the United States were entered this year. After an initial round of judging narrowed the field to 349 finalists, judges selected 242 winners.

Producers in Sonoma, Napa and Marin counties were well represented among this year’s honorees, earning awards for products ranging from cheese and cured meats to cider, olive oil, coffee and pasta.

Sonoma County

Basket Ricotta

Bellwether Farms, Petaluma

Sheep Cheese-Sonoma Herb

Bellwether Farms, Petaluma

Culatta

Canteen Meats, Petaluma

1870

Ethic Cider, Sebastopol

Tuscan Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Gold Ridge Organic Farms, Sebastopol

Meyer Lemon Olive Oil

Gold Ridge Organic Farms, Sebastopol

Apple Cider Balsamic Vinegar

Gold Ridge Organic Farms, Sebastopol

Strawberry Snap Pea shrub

Land + Local, Healdsburg

Organic Chili Lime Olive Oil 2025 Harvest

McEvoy Ranch, Petaluma

Napa County

Organic Savory Onion Jam

Clif Family Winery & Farm, St. Helena

Marin County

Antica Collection-Hourani Flour Fazzoletti

Mill Valley Pasta Co., San Rafael

Colombia Las Flores Thermal Shock Pink Bourbon

Equator Coffees, San Rafael

Point Reyes Fennel Blue

Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese, Point Reyes Station

The post North Bay Producers Win Big at 2026 Good Food Awards appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

At the 2000 Napa Valley Wine Auction, a 6-liter bottle of the cult Cabernet Sauvignon blend Screaming Eagle set a world record for the highest price ever paid for a single bottle of wine: half a million dollars. Heidi Peterson Barrett made that wine. Today, you can taste Barrett’s offerings at much more down-to-earth prices at her first tasting room in downtown Calistoga.

The story

Barrett grew up in the vineyards and cellars of Napa Valley, working alongside her father Dick Peterson, a legendary innovator in California’s post-Prohibition wine industry. She became one of the region’s most sought-after winemakers in the late ’80s and ’90s, making top-scoring wines for Dalla Valle, Screaming Eagle, Grace Family and other cult producers.

The winemaker founded her own brand in 1994 somewhat on a spur of the moment. She had been hired to make a Sangiovese for a client who suddenly needed to abandon the project. Instead of letting the client sell the wine on the bulk market, Barrett decided to buy it herself and start a winery. She called it La Sirena, inspired by the mermaid on Mexican Lotería cards and a nod to her love of scuba diving and the ocean.

In April, after a decade-long search for just the right spot, Barrett opened her debut tasting room in Calistoga.

“I would either be priced out of the market, or it was way too big of a place, or it came with a large home or more vineyard land,” she said. “I was really just in need of a tasting room, and this place has a little barrel cellar with the potential to make some of the wine here. It was a perfect fit.”

The tasting room showcases La Sirena wines, along with selections from Barrett & Barrett, co-founded with her husband Bo Barrett of Chateau Montelena, and Aviatrix, a collaboration between Barrett and her daughters Chelsea and Remi Barrett. Made from the family’s vineyards and purchased fruit, wines range from Moscato and Grenache to serious red blends. Annual production totals about 3,000 cases.

The vibe

Barrett describes her fledgling tasting room as “joyous,” and it’s hard to argue with that. Set on Foothill Boulevard next to Rivers-Marie and close to Lola Wines, La Sirena is filled with nautical whimsy, awash in cheery cobalt and aquamarine hues. Barrett, also an artist, painted the mermaid mural in the women’s bathroom.

The concrete-topped bar is decorated with blue mosaic tiles, and Barrett’s colorful paintings line the walls on both the main floor and in the upstairs loft. Outside, you’ll find two fun surprises: a petite side patio overlooking a neighbor’s vineyard and a set of swings — yes, swings! — hanging beneath a vine-covered arbor in the parking lot. Go ahead and take a ride (I did). In addition to wine, the tasting room sells Barrett’s handmade ceramics, jewelry and paintings.

On the palate

Though Barrett made a name for herself with Cabernet Sauvignon-based trophy wines, the offerings at La Sirena venture beyond typical Napa Valley varieties.

The 2021 Grenache from Aviatrix ($40), made from Bennett Valley grapes, has a bright and juicy profile that’s all about ripe red fruit. Also on the fresher side, La Sirena 2023 Moscato Azul ($34) from Lake County and Calistoga has lovely floral aromas, plus peach and tropical fruit flavors. With barely a half-percent residual sugar, it’s crisp and dry.

Fans of serious reds will appreciate the La Sirena 2021 Studio Series from Napa Valley ($125). An unconventional blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Franc, the wine is rich in leathery spice aromas and black fruit flavors.

Tasting flights include a $25 mini tasting for walk-in visits, a signature tasting ($50) and two different reserve tastings ($75-$100).

Beyond the bottle

Calistoga is a walkable town, but it can be more fun to travel by cruiser bike. It’s an easy, flat ride between La Sirena and other downtown tasting rooms, including Lola and Tank Garage, plus shops and restaurants. Beyond downtown, riders can pedal alongside vines to visit local wineries. Bring your own bike or rent from Calistoga Bikeshop.

La Sirena, 810 Foothill Blvd., Calistoga. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Reservations required for reserve tastings. 707-942-1105, lasirenawine.com

Tina Caputo is a wine, food, and travel writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including SevenFifty Daily, Visit California, HuffPost, and Sonoma magazine. Follow Tina on Bluesky @winebroad, view her website at tinacaputo.com, and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.

The post A Napa Wine Icon Brings La Sirena Tasting Room to Downtown Calistoga appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Happy hour usually means heading to a neighborhood bar or brewery, but increasingly, North Coast wineries are getting in on the act. At happy hour events across Sonoma County and Napa Valley, wineries encourage visitors to sip and socialize without the formality or expense of standard tastings. No reservations required.

With the industry navigating a prolonged downturn, happy hour events are more than a trend; they’re a smart survival strategy. According to Wine Business Monthly’s 2026 Tasting Room Survey Report, winery visitation in Napa County dropped 18% last year and Sonoma County tasting room traffic dipped 8%. Digging deeper, the survey found that visitors are looking for a more relaxed, affordable experience when visiting wineries — a fun space to hang out rather than a place to learn the nuances of sniffing and swirling.

At Dutton-Goldfield Winery in Sebastopol, happy hour events reflect a deliberate shift toward more social experiences. On the third Thursday of each month, the winery invites walk-in visitors to enjoy discounted wines by the glass and bottle service. Small bites are free. To create a more casual atmosphere, the winery recently revamped its tasting room in favor of a brighter farmhouse feel and added a large-screen television for communal viewing.

“Consumers are looking for occasions that are easy to say ‘yes’ to, with lower commitment, more flexibility and a stronger social component,” said Dutton-Goldfield co-owner Karissa Kruse. “We’ve found that when you lower the barrier, you actually deepen the connection. People engage more when the experience feels natural.”

Kruse also points to a growing desire for wine to fit seamlessly into people’s everyday lives rather than being reserved for special occasions and structured tastings.

“That’s especially true for younger consumers and locals,” she said. “We see this as where the industry is heading to be more approachable, more social and more integrated into how people actually live. It’s about building relationships over time, not just one visit.”

The strategy appears to be working. Dutton-Goldfield’s general manager Ed Thralls credits the tasting room team’s ability to set a tone that’s welcoming and authentic rather than transactional.

“What started as a seasonal series quickly proved its value,” he said. “We’ve seen such strong and consistent turnout that it’s now become a regular part of our programming.”

That’s not to say that seated wine tastings are on their way out.

“This complements the traditional tasting experience. It doesn’t replace it,” Thralls said. “There will always be a place for more structured, in-depth tastings, but not every occasion calls for that.”

In Napa Valley, St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery hosts weekly “Social Hour” gatherings. Curated tastings at the Rutherford tasting room normally run $46-$145 or more. But during social hour events, wines by the glass start at just $10.

“We want this to be an opportunity for our neighbors and friends to gather and share their wine stories, to learn more from people who have a passion for wine and the people who make it,” said chief executive Emma Swain. “Enjoying wine with friends in a relaxed, beautiful setting is one of life’s luxuries. Does it get any better?”

Where to find winery happy hours in Sonoma County and Napa Valley

Wine and Vibe at Bella Union Winery

The St. Helena winery invites guests to gather at its outdoor Wren Bar. Sip wines by the glass or bottle and nibble on elevated bar bites. The patio bar is open 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, spring through fall. 1695 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena, 707-956-5120, farniente.com/visit-bella-union

Happy Hour at Benovia Winery

Walk-ins are welcome from 4:30-7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month, when the Russian River Valley winery offers small-production Pinot Noir and Chardonnay by the glass, plus complimentary snacks. 3339 Hartman Road, Santa Rosa, 707-921-1040, benoviawinery.com

Street Food Happy Hour at Clif Family Winery

On Wednesdays, the St. Helena producer’s Bruschetteria Food Truck features a rotating street-food menu inspired by global flavors and made with ingredients grown on the family’s organic farm. Drop by for discounted happy hour pricing on wines by the glass between 4-7 p.m., along with live music. 709 Main St., St. Helena, 707-968-0625, cliffamily.com

Third Thursdays Happy Hour at Dutton-Goldfield Winery

The Sebastopol winery welcomes walk-in guests from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, with happy hour pricing on wines by the glass and bottle service. Small bites are free. 3100 Gravenstein Highway N., Sebastopol, 707-827-3600, duttongoldfield.com

Third Thursdays at Markham Vineyards

The St. Helena winery opens its historic Stone Cellar from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month for wines by the glass, live music and local food trucks. The events are family- and dog-friendly. 2812 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena, 707-963-5292, markhamvineyards.com

Food Truck Saturdays at Roche Winery & Vineyards

Roche welcomes a rotating lineup of food trucks to the Sonoma winery from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday. Vendors cook up wine-friendly casual eats, from tacos to pizzas to grilled sandwiches. 22097A Bonness Road, Sonoma, 707-935-7115, rochewinery.com

Thursday Happy Hour at Russian River Vineyards

Through October, head to the Forestville winery on Thursday evenings, from 5-7:30 p.m., for special pricing on wines by the glass, plus local craft beer and housemade appetizers. Wines start at $8 per glass. 5700 Highway 116 N., Forestville, 707-887-3344, russianrivervineyards.com

Social Hour at St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery

The Rutherford winery offers selected wines by the glass for $10 and bottle offerings starting at $40. Social Hour runs 2-4 p.m., Wednesday to Friday, through the end of May — or longer. Reservations are recommended for larger groups. 8440 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford, 707-302-3488, stsupery.com

The post Sonoma and Napa Wineries Embrace Happy Hour With Casual Tastings, Food Trucks appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

A Scandinavian wellness ritual has found its way to Wine Country, and its growing popularity suggests Northern Californians are willing to sweat for better sleep, lower stress and a brief escape from their phones.

From the Sonoma Coast to the redwoods, saunas are appearing across the region, tucked beside rivers, marinas and boutique resorts. Central to Nordic culture, the practice of sitting in a small heated room has been linked in studies to benefits ranging from stress reduction and muscle recovery to improved cardiovascular health and sleep quality.

“There’s a benefit to it, both physically and mentally,” said Alex Zelaya, founder of Sundrop Sauna in Petaluma. “I love just educating and informing people.”

More than a decade ago, Zelaya traveled alone to Finland, where he spent a late-summer day at a lakeside sauna. The experience introduced him to a culture of wellness built around heat, cold water and slowing down, something he felt was largely missing on the West Coast outside spas and health clubs.

With a background in architecture, construction and the glamping industry, Zelaya pivoted in 2023 to focus on building high-end prefabricated saunas with expansive windows that connect bathers to the outdoors, whether framed by forests, rivers or the Pacific coast. He built the first mobile sauna in his parents’ Sonoma backyard, launching what would become Sundrop Sauna.

Warming Wellness

That backyard experiment quickly expanded. About two-and-a-half years ago, Sundrop’s mobile sauna hit the road, first parking at Boon Hotel + Spa. Among its earliest clients was the team behind Shelter Co., the hospitality production company perhaps best known locally for creating Guerneville’s River Electric resort and swim club.

Word spread quickly. Soon, Sundrop pop-ups were appearing at Grand Central Petaluma, Valley Swim Club in Sonoma, Old Caz Beer in Rohnert Park and Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville.

In August 2024, Sundrop Sauna opened its first permanent location at Lakeville Landing Marina along the Petaluma River. Community sessions include shared access to a sauna, cold plunge, outdoor shower and lounge areas. Heated by propane, the sauna typically reaches 190 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, enough to produce a serious sweat within 10 to 15 minutes.

Ninety-minute sessions are capped at eight people and cost $45. Memberships offering multiple visits each month are also available.

“Our vision is to have multiple locations that we own and operate and create these immersive experiences where you can sauna and get in the cold water in nature, directly outdoors,” Zelaya said.

The team behind River Electric was impressed enough by the experience that they invited Sundrop to host a two-week residency during the resort’s inaugural season last summer.

“The response was incredible, and we’re already planning to bring it back this year,” said River Electric co-owner Kelsey Sheofsky. “There’s something magical about moving from the heat of the sauna to a cool outdoor shower, then slipping back into the warm pool, all surrounded by towering redwoods. It’s the ultimate water therapy ritual.”

Sauna FAQs

In countries such as Finland and Sweden, sauna culture often includes nudity, even among strangers — a practice generally viewed with little self-consciousness. At Sundrop Sauna, however, bathing suits are required.

Guests are encouraged to sit on towels, as wooden benches can become extremely hot and to hydrate before, during and after a session. Glass and metal water bottles are discouraged because they can quickly heat up in the sauna.

Mostly, though, sauna culture asks participants to surrender to something increasingly rare: stillness.

“You can’t bring a phone into a 200-degree space. Conversations happen, friends meet each other, people meet each other,” Zelaya said. “It’s this really cool way to just disconnect.”

Turn Up the Heat in These Saunas Across the Bay Area

Timber Cove Resort, Jenner

The Sonoma Coast hotel recently introduced a Reset & Restore Suite that pairs recovery technology with sweeping Pacific views. Alongside air-compression boots and zero-gravity recliners sits a rock sauna heated to 160 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, plus a 37-degree outdoor cold plunge overlooking the ocean.

The experience is available to both hotel guests and the public from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Hour-long sessions cost $95, with an additional $45 for a second guest. 21780 Highway 1, Jenner, 707-847-3231, timbercoveresort.com

Stanly Ranch, Auberge Collection, Napa

Perched above Napa Valley, the Halehouse spa at Stanly Ranch spreads across several buildings anchored by an adults-only infinity pool. The co-ed sauna, powered by four electric burners and heated to roughly 180 degrees, features massive windows framing vineyard views.

Non-hotel guests can access the sauna with the purchase of a 60-minute spa service, a $300 day pass or an $850 monthly Halehouse Unlimited membership. 200 Stanly Crossroad, Napa, 707-699-6260, auberge.com/stanly-ranch

Lodge at Marconi, Marshall

After hiking the nearly 5 miles of trails winding through Marconi State Historic Park, hotel guests can recover in the property’s gas-powered sauna overlooking Tomales Bay. Access is complimentary and available on a first-come, first-served basis. 18500 Highway 1, Marshall, 415-663-9020, lodgeatmarconi.com

Fjord, Sausalito

Built from upcycled shipping containers mounted atop a salvaged marine barge, Fjord’s floating Finnish saunas are docked in Sausalito with panoramic views of Tiburon, Angel Island and the San Francisco skyline. Electric heaters warm 300 pounds of stones, bringing the saunas to roughly 190 degrees Fahrenheit before guests plunge directly into the bay.

Bookings open at 9 a.m. on Sundays. Shared 90-minute sessions cost $45 and accommodate up to eight people. 2310 Marinship Way, Sausalito, thisisfjord.com

The post Wind Down at Wine Country’s Newest Hot Spots: Saunas appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

If your personal wheel of fortune has landed on “a grand Wine Country estate with soul-soothing views,” Ryan Seacrest may have the answer: his St. Helena property is on the market. The five-bedroom, seven-bathroom compound spans 40 acres and is listed for $19.8 million, down from its original $22 million.

Mansion Global first reported that the home, previously listed in 2024, has returned to the market with an adjusted price. The Tuscan-modern style home, built in 2004, underwent a remodel from 2023 to 2024.

Seacrest, host of “American Idol” and “Wheel of Fortune,” told Maison Global he purchased the home for the “absolutely stunning views” — vistas of mountains, vineyards and the verdant valley floor.

A main home, a pool house and a guest cottage make up the compound, which, in total, offers 10,750 square feet of living space. The home’s rustic grandness epitomizes the Napa Valley design ethos.

The main home has chiseled limestone walls, a repeat of substantial, reclaimed-wood beams, and seven fireplaces. A checkerboard floor gives the kitchen — complete with views and a pizza oven — a classic playfulness. Richly toned wood offers handsome warmth in the cabinetry, millwork and on the steeply vaulted ceiling of the living room. Pocketing doors deliver spectacularly in connecting the indoors to the lush setting.

The grounds include an infinity pool and spa, a bocce ball court and — to double-down on the tranquility — an olive grove with 220 trees.

For more information on this listing at 232 N. Fork Crystal Springs Road in St. Helena, contact listing agent Cyd Greer, 707-322-6825. Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley, 1200 Main St., St. Helena, cbnapavalley.com/properties/326018600

The post Ryan Seacrest’s St. Helena Home on the Market for $19.8 Million appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Book clubs are typically low-key affairs — conversations over snacks, perhaps a bottle of wine, in someone’s living room. In Sonoma and Napa counties, however, a growing number of restaurants, wineries and lounges are reimagining the format, turning literary gatherings into immersive, food- and wine-centered experiences.

At Songbird Parlour in Glen Ellen, that reinvention comes with an unusual twist: guests are encouraged to bring their own food. The restaurant’s quarterly cookbook club doubles as both a discussion group and a potluck.

“I’m into food, obviously, and I love building community,” said owner Lauren Kershner, who launched the Songbird Parlour Cookbook Club in early March. “So, to pull those two together was just a natural thing for me.”

Each quarter, participants prepare a dish from a selected cookbook and share it with the group. They bring their own plates and utensils, while the restaurant offers a curated list of wines for $10 a glass.

About 25 people attended the inaugural gathering, cooking from “Kachka: A Return to Russian Cooking” by Bonnie Frumkin Morales. Many discovered the event through the Sonoma County Foodies Facebook page.

While cooking for self-described “foodies” might sound intimidating, Kershner emphasized that the atmosphere is intentionally relaxed.

“Let’s just get together and have no real agenda,” she said. “You don’t have to overthink it or commit a lot of resources to it. People can just show up and be themselves.”

At Dutcher Crossing Winery in Geyserville, wine is the lead character in the Sips & Stories Book Club.

The quarterly gathering pairs a featured book with themed wines and light bites for purchase. At its February kickoff, about a dozen attendees discussed “The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It,” sipping as they traded impressions. The club is open to both wine club members and the public.

“We’re all about fostering community and creating meaningful connections,” said Lauren Fairlee, the winery’s wine club manager and the club’s founder. “[This] felt like a natural extension of that spirit.”

Ultimately, she added, “It’s about conversation, shared experiences and building relationships in a relaxed, welcoming environment.”

In Napa, Leilani Baugh, known as Chef Leilani, has taken a similar approach at Vin En Noir, her hybrid wine lounge and bookstore, where offerings spotlight people of color and women winemakers.

Her Books and Bottles club meets on the second Saturday of each month.

Baugh, an avid reader who often unwinds with a book and a glass of wine, said the idea came easily as book clubs surged in popularity.

“We already had a wine lounge,” she said. “Creating a book club there felt like the perfect idea.”

Though she gravitates toward thrillers and romantasy — a blend of romance and fantasy — Baugh lets members shape the reading list.

“I like talking with everyone to learn their reading tastes and preferences, so the book selections reflect the group as a whole,” she said. “That means we tend to explore a mix of genres — romance, romantasy, thrillers and other page-turners that spark great conversation.”

The evenings are deliberately informal, with wine and small bites available as guests discuss characters and themes. For Baugh, the aim is less about promoting products than about creating a sense of belonging.

“What started as people gathering to talk about books over a glass of wine quickly grew into something bigger,” she said. “It’s really about creating a place where people can slow down, enjoy a good book, sip a great glass of wine, and connect with others who love being a little bookish.”

Wine Country Book Clubs

Azur Book Club: Monthly meetups at the Napa winery feature wines by the glass and bottle. Azur Winery, 1014 Clinton St., Napa. 707-812-4203, azurwines.com

Books and Bottles: The club meets every second Saturday to discuss the latest book and sip wines by people of color and women winemakers. Vin En Noir, 1001 Caymus St., Napa. 707-637-4088, vinennoir.com

Silent Book Club: Not in the mood to mingle? Each month, members of the Santa Rosa chapter meet at a local bar or restaurant to silently read in each other’s company. silentbook.club

Sips & Stories Book Club: Quarterly gatherings include book-themed wines and snacks for purchase. Dutcher Crossing Winery, 8533 Dry Creek Road, Geyserville. 707-431-2700, dutchercrossingwinery.com

Songbird Parlour Cookbook Club: Members meet quarterly at the restaurant to share dishes from a designated cookbook. Email info@songbirdparlour.com to sign up. Songbird Parlour, 14301 Arnold Drive, Suite 3, Glen Ellen. 707-343-1308, songbirdparlour.com

Sonoma Valley Regional Library Cookbook Club: Each month, members browse a selection of themed cookbooks, then prepare and share their dishes. Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 W. Napa St., Sonoma. 707-996-5217, sonomalibrary.org/events

The post In California Wine Country, Book Clubs Are Getting a Culinary Upgrade appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

An estate with storybook Mediterranean style situated near the iconic Silverado Trail in St. Helena is currently listed for sale. The 40-acre property — which includes a four-bedroom, four-bathroom main home, two guesthouses, a tennis court, two pools and a Cabernet vineyard — is currently listed for $18,500,000.

Built in 2003 and recently renovated, the 8,500-square-foot main home has a striking traditional style with a courtyard, loggias and mature plants climbing the stucco walls, all crowned with a steeply pitched, tile-clad hipped roof.

Interiors are elegant with Venetian plaster walls, walnut hardwood and French limestone floors, but are topped and trimmed with earthy and oversized raw wood beams. Fireplaces, arched doorways and floor-to-ceiling, black steel-frame windows add additional charm. The indoor-outdoor connection is present throughout the home, but the vibe doubles down in the solarium dining room.

The main home’s pool is perched above Lake Hennessey, almost appearing to merge with it from certain angles. A 60-foot lap pool sits by the guest homes. There is a bocce ball court and multiple alfresco dining spots sheltered by impossibly lush vine-wrapped trellises. 

For more information on this property at 40 Long Ranch Road in St. Helena, contact listing agent Ginger Martin, 415-516-3939, 707-200-2488; Sotheby’s International Realty – St. Helena Brokerage, 1229 Adams St., St. Helena, sothebysrealty.com/winecountry/eng/sales/detail/726-l-86828-lc7vc5/40-long-ranch-road-st-helena-ca-94574

The post Storybook Estate in St. Helena Boasts Striking Lake Views and Traditional Style appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

At Royal We Wines in downtown St. Helena, wines spanning six brands are all crafted by the same duo: winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown and viticulturist Matt Hardin. Together, they bring a meticulous, nuanced touch to wines from Caterwaul, Matthew Wallace, Aston Estate, Switchback Ridge, RIV and Maybach Family Vineyards.

The story

Thomas Rivers Brown likes to keep a low profile, yet he’s considered one of Napa Valley’s top winemakers. His wines have earned more than 60 perfect 100-point scores from critics — not bad for a South Carolina native with no formal enology training.

Brown entered the wine world in 1997, taking an entry-level cellar job at Turley Wine Cellars in St. Helena, where he worked with winemaker Ehren Jordan. After several years, he moved into consulting, making wines for cult Cabernet Sauvignon brands like Schrader Cellars and Pulido-Walker. The prolific winemaker now works with 50 clients in addition to helming his own brands.

Matt Hardin represents the farming side of Royal We. As a sixth-generation Napa Valley farmer, he grew up among the vines. After working under his mentor, viticulturist Jim Barbour, for more than a decade, Hardin founded his own vineyard management company in 2021. He is married to fourth-generation vintner Alicia Regusci, co-founder with Hardin of the Matthew Wallace brand and founder of RIV Wines.

After years of collaboration, Brown and Hardin founded Caterwaul Wines in 2014. In the fall of 2025, the friends opened Royal We in St. Helena. Along with their own brands, including Brown’s Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir project Aston Estate and Hardin’s Matthew Wallace, the tasting room features rotating selections from their clients.

The vibe

Yao Family Wines closed its downtown St. Helena tasting room in 2020, and the space sat empty for four years before Royal We moved in. They revamped the tasting room to tone down the Vegas-style décor and added rich tones of royal blue and orange. There is plenty of seating at the circular bar, flanked by two smaller rooms for seated tastings. The atmosphere is sleek and understated. Stylish, but not stuffy.

Royal We does not serve food but encourages tasters to take a bottle next door to Gott’s Roadside for the world’s most elevated burger pairing. The restaurant’s buzzers work in the tasting room, and corkage at Gott’s is just $5.

On the palate

You may wonder how a winemaker who works with so many brands — and mainly with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon — keeps them from tasting the same. The distinctions lie in the vineyards. Brown and Hardin avoid overlapping sites between their brands, and each vineyard has its own variations in clones, soils and row orientations. Made with minimal intervention, the resulting wines lean toward power without going overboard.

The 2024 Matthew Wallace Hardin Ranch Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($40) has a flowery, peachy aroma, with vibrant citrus flavors and subtle grassy notes. At the higher end of the price spectrum, the 2023 Caterwaul Regusci Vineyard Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon ($125) is a gorgeous wine with a deep, opaque color and aromas of tobacco spice. It has enough acidity for aging, but it’s already delicious.

Tastings range from quick bar samplings ($25) to more leisurely seated options ($50-$75). If there’s a particular brand or focus you’d like to explore, they’ll gladly create a customized tasting.

Beyond the bottle

Love Italian markets? Check out the newly expanded — and quite spectacular — Mercato del Gusto at V. Sattui Winery. It has everything you could want for a Wine Country picnic, from prepared salads to panini to charcuterie boxes. Oh, and did I mention the house-cured salumi and 200 cheeses from around the world? The market also sells harder-to-find Italian deli meats like mortadella, guanciale and bresaola.

For a simple Italian market, Napa Valley Olive Oil Manufacturing Co. is just five minutes away. Hidden on a quiet St. Helena back road, it has been run by the same family since 1931. The space is small, cramped and wonderfully authentic. Along with jugs of housemade extra-virgin olive oil, the market is packed with imported pastas, sauces, cured meats, condiments and candies. Matt Hardin says the place smells like his childhood, but he is wrong about that. It smells like my childhood.

Royal We Wines is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. 929 Main St., St. Helena, 707-339-2492, royalwewines.com

Tina Caputo is a wine, food, and travel journalist who contributes to Sonoma magazine, SevenFifty Daily, Visit California, Northern California Public Media, KQED, and more. Follow her on Bluesky at @winebroad.bsky.social, view her website at tinacaputo.com, and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.

The post Royal We Wines Is a One-Stop Destination for Top-Scoring Cabernets appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

The blushing bubbles of a sparkling rosé are enough to make any bubbly buff swoon. So, what is it about this elegant pink drink that makes it so special?

Believe it or not, the bubbles in sparkling wine were initially considered a nuisance in the Champagne region of northeast France, where the first wines were pale pink with nary a bubble in sight.

Produced primarily from Pinot Noir, the wines often struggled to finish fermentation under cool autumn temperatures unbeknownst to vintners who bottled them anyway. In the spring, the warmer temperatures awakened the dormant yeast, producing carbon dioxide and an effervescence winemakers found infuriating.

Eventually, sparkles were embraced and methods improved, thanks especially to Madame Clicquot Ponsardin. Prior to Clicquot, sparkling rosé was often produced by crushing red grapes (like Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris), then allowing the juice to macerate on the skins until the desired color was achieved. Without modern winemaking techniques, the resulting wines were cloudy, inconsistent, and unstable.

Clicquot saw a better way. Utilizing a riddling rack (a device she pioneered), she was able to produce consistently clear red and white wines, which she blended together with precision — a method still in use by most Champagne producers.

While French Champagne rosé must be produced with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, or a combination, California winemakers have the freedom to use any grapes they choose. That means local sparkling rosés vary wildly in flavor. With fruity notes of watermelon, strawberry, and raspberry, and floral aromas like rose petals, they truly offer something for everyone. Whether you’re celebrating the season of love with your partner, your mom, or your best friends, these delicious sparklers will help you do Valentine’s Day right.

Three to Try

Chandon (NV) Brut Rosé, California, $27

This sparkling rosé from Chandon winemaker Pauline Lhote is a blend of 57% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, and 3% Pinot Meunier. Produced using méthode champenoise — a lengthy process that involves a second fermentation in the bottle — the wine offers notes of strawberries, red cherries, and pomegranate, with raspberry tart on the finish. chandon.com

Breathless (NV) Rosé, Sonoma County, $29

Winemaker Penny Gadd-Coster is the talent behind Breathless’ sparkling wines, winning the Healdsburg-based brand countless gold medals. A blend of 83% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay, and 6% Pinot Meunier, this sparkling rosé is buoyant on the palate, with flavors of pear and apple enveloped in a fine creamy mousse. breathlesswines.com

SEPPI (NV) Brut Rosé, California, $32

Founded by Kelsey Phelps, Healdsburg’s SEPPI is named in honor of her celebrated winemaker grandfather, Joseph Phelps, who inspired her passion for wine. Produced in méthode champenoise with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this sparkling rosé offers aromas of strawberry, raspberry, and a touch of citrus blossom, followed by cranberry, strawberry, and a hint of tart crab apple on the juicy finish. drinkseppi.com

The post Celebrate the Season of Love With Wine Country’s Best Sparkling Rosés appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.

Chardonnay remains Napa Valley’s top-selling white wine, but in recent years, Sauvignon Blanc has stepped out of the shadows to steal the spotlight. While many wineries have added Sauvignon Blanc to their lineups to capitalize on its growing popularity, St. Supéry had a decades-long head start. The Rutherford winery still shows the bandwagoners how it’s done with its complex and juicy wines.

The story

Third-generation French vintner Robert Skalli dreamed of creating a prestigious Napa Valley wine estate, so in 1982, he bought a 1,500-acre cattle ranch in the region’s northeastern mountains and planted a vineyard. He named it Dollarhide Ranch after the previous owner and dedicated the property to growing Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.

Soon after, Skalli purchased a winery estate in Rutherford and, in 1989, opened St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery. The producer entered a new chapter in 2015, when Skalli sold it to Chanel, Inc. — yes, that Chanel, of fashion house fame — which also owns winery estates in Bordeaux.

Today, the winery farms nearly 600 acres of estate vineyards, including 200 acres of Sauvignon Blanc at Dollarhide Ranch and another 42 acres on a newly acquired Rutherford property. Certified Napa Green for its winery and vineyards, St. Supéry is a gold-level member of the International Wineries for Climate Action.

The vibe

You might expect a winery owned by a legendary Paris fashion house to look like a fancy-pants chateau, but St. Supéry is not ostentatious. The boxy, concrete-hued building is mostly embellishment-free, aside from black-and-white striped awnings and a few bistro tables out front.

Inside, the atmosphere is decidedly more stylish. There’s a tasting bar on the main floor, but most experiences take place on the second level. The modern, sunlit space features various seating options, from a tasting bar to contemporary lounge setups, plus an art gallery with rotating exhibits. Through a large window, visitors can glimpse the winery’s production area below.

On the palate

The consistent quality of St. Supéry’s wines owes much to the longevity of its winemaking team. Vice president of winemaking Michael Scholz joined in 1996, and winemaker Brooke Shenk came on a decade later, in 2006.

Tasting Sauvignon Blanc is a must at St. Supéry, and the winery makes four versions to explore. The 2023 Dollarhide Estate Cold Concrete Fermented Sauvignon Blanc ($42) is bright and citrusy, with juicy pink grapefruit notes that linger. The 2023 Dollarhide Estate Sauvignon Blanc ($42), fermented in stainless steel and French oak, has a creamier texture, with a whiff of toasted marshmallow and fresh grapefruit on the palate.

Red wine fans won’t be disappointed, either. During a recent visit, I gravitated to the 2019 Dollarhide Estate Malbec ($70). With a dark, inky color and black-plum flavors, the wine walks the line between power and elegance.

Along with food-pairing experiences like the four-course Taste of the Estate ($148) and Mustard Season Tasting Flight ($92), the winery hosts two appealing options at $46 each: the Winemaker’s Selection and White Wine Discovery.

Beyond the bottle

Dollarhide Ranch isn’t just home to hundreds of acres of grape vines. It’s also a peach farm, with 70 varieties and 1,200 trees. The fruit is used to make varietally labeled jams — I like to swirl them into plain Greek yogurt — which are available for sale in the tasting room while they last. The ranch also grows apple trees for the winery’s tasting-room-only hard cider.

St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; reservations recommended on weekends. 8440 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford. 707-302-3488, stsupery.com

Tina Caputo is a wine, food, and travel journalist who contributes to Sonoma magazine, SevenFifty Daily, Visit California, Northern California Public Media, KQED, and more. Follow her on Bluesky at @winebroad.bsky.social, view her website at tinacaputo.com, and email her story ideas at tina@caputocontent.com.

The post St. Supéry Estate Is the Place To Sip Stylish Sauvignon Blanc appeared first on Sonoma Magazine.