3 Amazing Wineries with Humble Roots

These wineries marry the passion of husband and wife teams and other familial ties to produce exceptional wines.
BY TOURING & TASTING

Moshin Vineyards

What to Buy:
'12 Pinot Noir Estate, Russian River Valley - $40
Cherry, cloves, dried strawberries, bacon

'12 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley - $30
Tropical fruits, lemon peel, toasted brioche

Tasting Room Hours: Open Daily 11–4:30

When Rick Moshin and his family founded Moshin Vineyards in 1989, Rick was a San Jose State University math instructor with a dream of producing Pinot Noir of the highest quality. He designed a unique four-tier gravity flow winery for minimally invasive production and, with his family, purchased a Pinot Noir vineyard in one of the most esteemed areas of the Russian River Valley. Rick has since retired from teaching and devotes himself full time to winegrowing and winemaking. Moshin Vineyards now produces a distinctive selection of small-lot, handcrafted wines. Besides an impressive collection of world-class Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast Pinot Noirs, the portfolio includes Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Many vintages are produced in such small quantities that they are only available through the Moshin Wine Club, a pre-release tasting program that invites members to order their favorites before they’re introduced at the tasting room and beyond.
www.moshinvineyards.com

ROCO Winery

What to Buy:
'13 Gravel Road Pinot Noir - $30
Briar spice, bright cherry and a hint of vanilla

'14 Willamette Valley Chardonnay - $40
Guava, pear and vanilla

Tasting Room: Thursday – Monday 11–5

For nearly three decades, Rollin Soles has been crafting exemplary Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Rollin is the only Oregonian winemaker whose wines have been ranked in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the World 13 times. He and his wife Corby planted Wits’ End Vineyard in 2001 and founded ROCO Winery in 2004 to showcase his acclaimed winemaking skills, and they have certainly succeeded. Wine lovers can taste this for themselves in ROCO’s inviting tasting room in a park-like setting at the foot of the renowned Dundee Hills.
www.rocowinery.com

Mount Aukum Winery

What to Buy:
'10 Cabernet Sauvignon - $50
Rose petals, raspberries, blackberries, plum, vanilla

'08 La Trois Rouge - $40
Blackberries, cherry pie, strawberries, Asian pear, Indian spices

Tasting Room Hours: Open Daily 11-5

The steep, winding drive to Mount Aukum Winery tells guests something about the wines they’re about to taste. These are wines with altitude. In fact, the winery is situated at an elevation of 2,615 feet above sea level. Here, guests can sample the acclaimed Zinfandels, Rhône varietals, and blends for which the winery is now known. Mount Aukum uses grapes predominately grown in its own estate vineyard or within the Fair Play or El Dorado appellations, resulting in rich, multifaceted wines that prove elevation matters. The intimate tasting room celebrates its singular location with plenty of windows to show off its vista views of California Gold Country. Guests who call ahead can arrange a private tasting, tour, or barrel tasting. With such wonderful wines and splendid scenery, it’s no wonder that Mount Aukum Winery is a popular spot for picnics, small weddings, and receptions.
www.mountaukum.com