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Northern California
Our Story and Mission- Ever since we were old enough to drink wine, we have been frequenting winery tasting rooms throughout California. Our trips in the late 70’s involved stops at 6-8 wineries (or maybe more) in a day. My first date with my wife was a day of wine tasting in Sonoma 31 years ago. So we are experienced with this stuff. I think there are several ingredients to a satisfying Tasting Room experience. The wine has to be good for starters and generally the known wineries all put out pretty decent wine. But there are other key factors in making the experience memorable. Sometimes a classy tasting room works for us, but sometimes standing around a barrel outside does the trick. At other times it is just good service that pleases us. Certainly one of the keys is the person serving the wine. So there are a whole bunch of things that make visiting a Tasting Room a positive experience. The point of this blog is to talk about and recommend Winery Tasting Rooms where we have had good experiences.The blog was conceived after spending a weekend with my sisters who normally do not frequent wineries and running into a couple of disappointing stops.

Saturday, June 23, 2012


Toulouse Vineyards
Anderson Valley

We have been tasting wine in the Anderson Valley for 20+ years and it is nice to have a newer tasting room that is open on a regular basis and has a really friendly tasting room staff.  Toulouse started making wines in 2002 and opened a full time tasting room just outside of Philo in the last couple of years.  Like most Anderson Valley wineries, Pinot is the focus. However, unlike some wineries in the area the tasting room is in the corner of the winery itself (a barn) which presents a real casual environment.  Dan and Kathy were the hosts and seem to have a very intimate understanding of all aspects of the operation and the wine itself.  It feels like a family operation.  We were greeted by Tess, the winery Labrador, on our arrival.

Tasting is free, which is a real treat even up in the Anderson Valley.  We tasted 5 or 6 wines including a Pinot Gris (at $24.00), a Gewurztraminer, a Rose of Pinot and a couple of Pinot Noirs (topping out at $50.00) and a second label red wine blend.  All wines were good including the 2008 which was the year of the fires in the valley and most of the wines tasted of smoke.  An added bonus was the snacks that were served along with the wine.   

Nearby are quite a few wineries- some that have been around for years and some that have just opened in the last year or two.  Navarro Vineyards, Handley Cellars, and Husch Vineyards are all good and have been around for years.  Then there are a couple of Sparkling wine facilities including Roederer and Scharffenberger (Handley also makes Sparklers). You will also find many places that specialize in Pinot Noir.  Goldeneye from Duckhorn, Breggo, Foursight and Phillips Hill are all premium Pinot places.

What we liked (besides the wine)- Casual and friendly atmosphere and hosts
What we bought- The bargain priced second label red wine blend and the Anderson Valley Pinot.

Vitals:
8001 Highway 128
Philo, CA  95466
707 895-2828

www.toulousevineyards.com
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