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Amphora Winery

Updated: Jan 12


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Ambiance

  • Have you ever been to a wine collective?

  • A group of wineries with their tasting rooms collectively in the same area.

  • It’s actually a BRILLIANT concept that benefits the wine taster.

  • Instead of having to drive all around wine country, you go to Timber Crest Farms Wine Collective and spend the day popping between several tasting rooms: Amphora, Kokomo Winery, Papapietro Perry Winery, and Peterson Winery.

  • In this post I focus on Amphora.

  • Now, be warned…

  • Don’t expect fancy-shmancy, roll-out the red wine tasting carpet, chandeliers, and epic vineyard views.

  • The Wine Collective is kinda like going to wine warehouses but cozier and personable.

  • Amphora has a barrel room which makes you feel like you’re hanging with the wine.


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Cost:

  • $10 per person waived with wine purchase.

  • Wines range from $30 to $58 per bottle.

Appointment Needed? 

  • Walk-ins ok.

  • Open daily, 11:00am-4:30pm

Wine Pick

  • Both my friend and I really liked the 2015 Grenache.

  • There are a range of wines to try here: Zin, Petite Sirah, Mourvédre, Aglianico, Tempranillo.

Dog Approved

  • Yes!

  • The owners have an adorable lab named Rickie.


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Social Media Worthy

  • Being a warehouse type one collective you wouldn’t think there would be many photo ops.

  • Wrong.

  • Taking photos inside by the barrels is cool.

  • I also really like the photo below.

  • Amphora is named after Amphorae of clay jars that were used by the ancient Greeks and Romans to store/transport wine and olive oil.

  • At the entrance to the tasting room sit two statuesque amphora’s that look so statuesque and european in photos.


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Feel Good Vibes

  • Name some hobbies a winemaker might have?

  • What first comes to mind might be cooking.

  • Well, Rick Hutchinson, owner/winemaker/president of Amphora has a fascinating hobby you might not be able to guess.

  • Pottery Making!

  • Years ago he stumbled into a pottery making class and realized he had talent behind a potter’s wheel.

  • This was before he owned Amphora and had been working in the Sonoma County wine industry since he was 20.

  • While in the pottery class, he made several Amphorae clay jugs like the one you see below.

  • When he started his own winery in 1997 his Amphorae became the symbol.

  • A few things I’ve learned about wineries


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1) Never judge a winery by it’s cover.  Sometimes the wineries with the best stories and passion, and grit are the ones off the beaten path. 

2) Wineries are a lot like Goodwill.  You go int o Goodwill and you have to HUNT.  You have to look carefully to find a unique treasure you are looking for.  Same with wineries.  Thank goodness I asked the gal doing my tasting several questions.  I was so fascinated to learn about the pottery making winemaker!  

I can’t wait to share this wine with friends and tell them about the amphora significance. 


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Wine Nerd Facts

  • Ruins from wine cellars 6,000 years ago show that amphoras were used to make wine.

  • Rick has 1000 liter and 800 liter amphoras special ordered from Tuscany, Italy in his barrel room.

  • They don’t just sit there and look pretty.

  • Rick uses these large amphora’s to age and ferment some of his wine.

  • I don’t know of any other winery in Sonoma County with amphoras!


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Wine Club? Fun Events?

  • Rick is a character.

  • I met him.

  • He has this mischievous smirk on his face as he walks around the tasting room.

  • He looks like he’s about to tell a joke or pull a prank or do some sort of magic trick.

  • You can tell he loves winemaking and being around the people who love his wine.

  • On Amphora’s Wine Club info sheet is listed all the membership benefits.

  • The very last item on the list is is a hug from Rick and his wife Bridget. lol!

  • Being in the wine club is being part of the family owned winery.

  • For the past 5 years it looks like they have a sell-out Paella event in May.

  • They also have a popular Luau event in July.

  • Amphora is a tasting room that knows how to throw a PARTY!


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 Sheila’s Tasting Notes

  • Dress me up as an ancient Roman.

  • Plop me down on one of those chaise lounge chairs.

  • Fan me with palm leaves.

  • Feed me bunches of grapes and turkey legs.

  • Pour me wine out of an Amphora.

  • I’m all about it.

  • That’s what I’ll be thinking of when I drink Rick’s wines.


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AMPHORA

#CabernetSauvignon #Merlot #Chardonnay #Teroldego #Tempranillo #CabernetFranc #Zinfandel #Carignane #GSM #Rosé #Port #Malbec #Barbera #Bubbles #Mourvedre #PetiteSirah #PetitVerdot #Aglianico

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