Carol Shelton Wines
Updated: Jan 12

Ambiance
Carol Shelton Wines is located in an industrial section of Santa Rosa.
Kinda like driving into a warehouse/office complex.
No vineyard views and no frou-frou-fancy tasting room.
You might even wonder if the GPS steered you wrong.
Nope, keep going!
Carol Shelton Wines is towards the back of the complex.
Several other wineries are located at this same facility:
Inspiration Vineyards, Donelan Family Wines, Pisoni Vineyard & Vines

While tasting today at Carol Shelton Wines, I MET CAROL!
She describes the industrial warehouses turned winery/tasting rooms as:
“BARRIO DE VINO”
Meaning:
The facility (aka Barrio) itself is not “high falutin” or pretentious, BUT one thing is for sure:
DE VINO (of wine) OR DIVINE wines are being produced and poured here.

I personally love this type of wine experience.
Several fantastic wineries all in one location.
So much easier to wine taste when each tasting room is a short walk away.
Sure, getting the quintessential vineyard experience is great sometimes.
Here at Carol Shelton Wines you get so much more:
1) CAROL
Proprietor and Winemaker (see pic below).
One of the FIRST dozen women to graduate from the UC Davis wine course back in 1978.
Carol is very hands-on and is often around.
She is welcoming and very willing to answer wine related questions.
Called, The QUEEN of Zinfandel.
As she took me on a little tour of the barrel room and production facility, I felt very at home in her winemaking home.
She oozes winemaking pride.
Her philosophy: If you put a lot into it, you get a lot back.

2) AWARD WINNING WINE
In fact, she is the highest awarded winemaker in the country.
3) CHARACTER
From the beautiful mural of Rockpile Vineyards behind the tasting bar.
To the many awards and recognitions displayed all over the tasting room.
To the incredibly knowledgeable tasting room hostess.
The tasting room is for sure an interesting spot filled with unique wine treasures.
Cost:
Tasting is $10 Per Person.
Waived with wine purchase.
Wines range from $18-$50 per bottle.
Appointment Needed?
No appointment needed.
Open daily 11:00am-4:00pm

Wine Pick
Black Magic 2017 Late Harvest Zinfandel.
I NEVER go for a dessert wine.
This wine enchanted my tastebuds. Not tooooo sweet. Just right.
Plus, I LOVE anything and everything mystical, witchy, magic so this bottle screams me.
I already have the bottle surrounded by my most magical crystals (see below)
Advice from Carol’s husband, Mitch: Taste the wine first, THEN nibble the chocolate, then take another sip of Black Magic at the end.
I also HIGHLY recommend all of Carol’s zin. They are delectable.
OOOOOOO and if you try some of their Wild Thing Wines they may press a special hidden button that plays the song ‘Wild Thing’ by The Troggs!
