glenellen | Wine Tourist

Arrowood Vineyards

14347 Hwy 12, Glen Ellen, CA 95442

Website: http://www.arrowoodvineyards.com/

Arrowood Winery is located in lower Sonoma off Sonoma Highway 12 in Glen Ellen. It is right behind Imagery Winery. The winery actually looks like someone’s home from the exterior with gray siding and white trim. There is a huge veranda that wraps around the front. To get to the tasting room there is little bit of a hike up the walkway and steps to the entrance. As you follow the pathway you will pass by some vines and beautiful roses and greenery.

Arrowood Tasting Room

Inside the tasting room has a modern lodge feel with polished wood floors, cream colored walls, a fireplace and comfy leather armchairs. There are a couple of candle chandeliers hanging from ceiling. The tasting bar has a dark wood frame with a marble countertop and it is situated in front of a large window looking out toward the vineyard. The area is very spacious and can accommodate 8 to 10 people comfortably at the tasting bar.There is also a private tasting room upstairs with a long wood table that can seat 10. It resembles a dining room and has an open railing looking down over the tasting room below.

Arrowood’s Private Tasting Room

When we arrived we were given the option to do a tasting at the bar inside or go outside on the veranda. It was a beautiful day and the veranda was very inviting. There were a number of benches and tables for couples and small groups. We grabbed a high top table looking out toward Sonoma Highway. We had a very pretty view of the vines straight ahead and could see the mountains in the distance. I really loved getting to sit on the huge veranda taking in the surroundings.

Arrowood produces 100% Sonoma wines. Their signature wine is Cabernet Sauvignon which they make from different vineyards in Knights Valley, Alexander Valley, and Sonoma Valley. This winery was founded in 1986. It has been a part of Jackson Family Wines since 2006. They also produce other varietals like Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Merlot, Malbec, and a Proprietary Red Blend. There are a few different tasting options available aside from the traditional tasting that my husband and I tried. The options include a private tasting where guests can sample limited release and library wines, or guests can select a cheese and wine pairing.

To sum up my experience, I liked the casual atmosphere and roominess of the winery. I also felt the wines were casual, easy drinking but still high quality. I enjoyed the Merlot and Justi Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon the best from my tasting experience.

The view from Arrowood

Valley of the Moon at Madrone Estate

777 Madrone Rd, Glen Ellen, CA 95442

Website: http://www.valleyofthemoonwinery.com/

Valley of the Moon Winery at Madrone Estate is located in the southern end of Sonoma Valley. It neighbors B. R. Cohn winery. The stone structures of the winery date back to 1863, making it the oldest operating winery in Glen Ellen. Since that time the winery has gone through several owners and was converted to a more contemporary winemaking facility in 1998 when Heck Estates purchased the property. The most currently owners, Dan Zepponi and Tony Stewart of West Cost Wine Partners LLC, purchased the winery in 2012. Despite the modern winemaking facility, the winery takes pride in its history as they state on their website, “As we celebrate the renaissance of Valley of the Moon Winery, our mission is clear: To at last honor the rich history of our Sonoma Valley winery, its true sense of place and sustained sense of purpose with wines of exceptional quality and of genuine provenance.”

Historic barrel cellar at Madrone Estate

The name “Valley of the Moon” is what enticed me to visit. I had driven by it on several occasions on my way to different wineries but was always intrigued by the name. There is nothing on the website that indicates how the winery got its name, so I did a little research of my own. There is a legend of Valley of the Moon that is tied to a book of the same name written by Jack London in 1913. In the book, London claims that Sonoma is a Native American word that means Valley of the Moon. Although there is some dispute about this translation, Sonoma is often referred to as Valley of the Moon today.

Valley of the Moon at Madrone Estate Tasting Room

The renovated winery is elegant, warm, and inviting all at the same time. The entire facility is rather large. From the outside, the woodsy looking exterior blends in nicely with the surrounding landscape. The original barrel cellar from the 1800s is still in use. My favorite part of the property is the field of old vines right out front of the winery. I couldn’t resist stopping to take a picture before heading into the tasting room. In contrast, the interior has a very modern feel. The tasting room is very spacious with a large semi-circular stone tasting bar on the left side of the room. There are several tables with chairs scattered throughout the room. There was a small lounge area to the left of the tasting bar. Outside is more tables under umbrellas right next to the vines. I felt that the staff was friendly in welcoming us to the winery, but they didn’t offer a ton of information about the wines that they poured for my husband and me. There is a good selection of wines at three different tier levels – Reserve, Madrone Estate, and Valley of the Moon. The Valley of the Moon wines are the more commonly distributed ones. They actually did not talk much about those wines during the tasting. The tasting menu was all of the Madrone Estate or Reserve wines. Overall, I enjoyed the winery and appreciate the old vine wines the most.

Old vines at Madrone Estate

Wine Tourist

My journeys in wine country.

Tag Archives: glenellen

Arrowood Vineyards

Valley of the Moon at Madrone Estate