Dutton Goldfield Tasting Room
3100 Gravenstein Hwy N, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Website: http://www.duttongoldfield.com/
Dutton Goldfield is located in Green Valley, the smallest appellation in Sonoma known for their Pinot Noir. The winery is a partnership between grape grower Steve Dutton and winemaker Dan Goldfield. Steve is a 5th generation member of the Dutton Family of grape growers who provide grapes to approximately 60 wineries today. The Dutton Family is probably most known for their exceptional Chardonnay. Steve was born the year his dad planted the first Chardonnay grapes and still manages that vineyard today along with over 60 other plots of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Zinfandel. Prior to owning his own winery, Dan worked for Robert Mondavi and Schramsberg in Napa Valley, and then La Crema in Sonoma. He also started Hartford Court Winery upon request of Jess Jackson of the Kendall Jackson Family to focus on cold climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
My visit to Dutton Goldfield was the first introduction I had to the Dutton wines. This tasting room is in a quiet area of Sebastopol in the Green Valley. We parked behind a building that looked like a warehouse and I learned during our tasting that the place was a former night club. Red Car Tasting Room is right across the parking lot. Dutton Goldfield’s Tasting Room had been recently remodeled.
Dutton Goldfield Tasting Room
As we walked to the entrance we went through an outdoor patio area with several tables and chairs framed by arbors covered in leaves that separated it from the road. This space seemed completely different than the “warehouse” looking exterior. The tasting room is very clean and bright. It has a very comfortable feel. The space is wide open with couches and arm chairs in front of a fire place. There were some window seats in front of bay windows. There were tiled floors both inside and on the patio and a large horseshoe-shaped wine bar.
Dutton Goldfield Tasting Bar
The host behind the wine bar was very friendly and forthcoming with information throughout our tasting. He made us feel very comfortable. As a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay fan, I loved the wines. This winery focuses on cool climate wines, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in particular, but they also produce Riesling, Pinot Blanc, and a couple other reds.
Dutton Goldfield’s Patio
There are a number of different tasting options to choose from. When the weather is nice, they offer an outdoor sensory tasting on the patio. They also have a unique Wine and Sushi pairing or Beast and Pinot pairing with charcuterie. I tried the typical tasting experience and sampled several whites and Pinot Noirs. My personal favorites were the Pinot Blanc, Rued Vineyard Chardonnay, Freestone Hill Pinot Noir and Emerald Ridge Pinot Noir. I found all of their Pinot Noirs to have lots of berry flavor, but they each had different nuances based on the location the grapes came from. After all, this is what Sonoma is known for. I truly enjoyed visiting this tasting room and definitely would return when I’m in the area again. It’s a simple, laid back place, but it has a lot to offer.