One of our favorite wineries, Esterlina Vineyards, was in the process of moving its tasting room from a mountain top in the Anderson Valley with a spectacular view to a more accessible location further south in Healdsburg, so we didn't get a chance to visit them this time. To get to their former tasting room, you had to drive several miles up a twisting, mostly dirt road with the increasing belief that you surely must have taken a wrong turn somewhere and you'll probably end up in Canada, before you finally arrived at their tasting room, only to find that their wines, and the view, were definitely worth all that a effort.
However, their move did give us the opportunity to explore two new, at least new to us, Anderson Valley wineries.
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| Handley Cellars |
First up was Handley Cellars, a few miles west of Philo on Highway 128. We felt right at home before we got in the door, with their terrace of drought tolerant lavenders and grasses. We loved their Pinot Noir, too, and signed up for their wine club, so we should be able to enjoy more of their wines over the next year without having to lug it all home in our suitcases, although, of course we did lug a few bottles home with us.
The next stop, recommended by our friends in Mendocino, was Lula Cellars, currently located in a shop in Philo. Lula Cellars is a new winery, established in 2010, but the wines are definitely the work of an experienced and highly skilled winemaker. While we were tasting their wonderful wines, we heard all about their plans to establish their tasting room a few miles to the west. So we bought a few bottles of their wine and joined their wine club, too.
A wonderful trip, and so much to look forward to, as well.
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