Moshin Vineyards

Updated: Jan 12

Ambiance

California-picnic-wine-casual is how I’d describe the ambiance of this winery.
Very down to earth vibe.
A spectacular metal hummingbird sculpture is at the winery entrance and designed by Sonoma County’s famous junk art creator, Patrick Amiot.
Hummingbirds are one of my spiritual animal totems.
Whenever I spot a hummingbird I think it’s a good luck sign.
The message of the hummingbird is: seek the sweetest nectar. They remind us to forever seek out the good in life and the beauty in each day.
In 1989, when the vineyard was purchased, it was overgrown with wildflowers and hummingbirds were everywhere!
Don’t be surprised if on a visit you spot hummingbirds buzzing around.
You’ll also spot a hummingbird on the label of Moshin wines.

I went for the 2014, Pinot Noir, Rosalina Vineyard from the Russian River Valley.
Why did I go for this particular bottle?
The name Rosalina. I instantly thought of my mom, Rosalie.
I think her name is beautiful, but it seems NO ONE is ever named Rosalie.
I thought she’d get a kick out of the name. I’ll share this bottle with her for a special mother-daughter occasion.
I also chatted with Richard Milkovich the grower.
He named the vineyard Rosalina in honor of his mother, Rosalie, and his Grandma, Gina. He blended the two names to make Rosalina.

Dog Approved

Yes!
Your dog could join you for a little picnic out on the benches while you sip wine.

Right by the tasting room door is a wing sculpture.
I see fashionista instagramers taking pics in front of colorful mural wings in LA.
Well, here in WINE COUNTRY, we have fabulous sculpture wings!
Lots of great insta worthy wine pics need to happen in this special spot.
See above a pic of Rick and Amber Moshin in front of the wing!

I’m a sucker for smoked salmon.
One of my FAVORITE breakfasts is smoke salmon on avocado toast, or smoked salmon with my scrambled eggs, or smoke salmon on it’s own with capers.
Well, Rick Moshin, OWNER and winemaker, smokes his own mouth watering salmon!
Hummingbirds, plus award winning PINOT, PLUS SALMON!!!!
I tried some of Rick’s salmon.
Apparently, he has quite the reputation for being a smoked salmon expert.
He smokes salmon using PINOT VINES. Salmon infused with pinot essence.
For pick-up parties and industry parties, Rick rolls out his smoked salmon on large platters. Within seconds the salmon has vanished.
It’s a great sign when a winemaker cooks with passion.

Visiting Moshin, I learned all about Gravity Flow.
Gravity flow is the gentle process of moving wine through the winemaking process.
Rick, a former San Jose State math instructor, talked me through the process of Gravity Flow.
4 tiers built on a slope.
Wine moves from Crush, then falls into tanks below, then free-run and pressed wine is drained into tanks, next into barrels, then into bottles, and finally into YOUR MOUTH.
Without Gravity Flow, an entire winery operation is on one floor.
Moving the wine without Gravity Flow from a crusher, to a press, to a tank or barrel requires pumps, conveyors and other such machines.
This means using LOTS of force.
The fear of using excessive force is producing a wine that becomes tannic, has too much oxidation, or just tastes overly harsh.
Gravity Flow works best with the delicate and thin-skinned Pinot Noir grape.
Taking a tour of their gravity flow facility is a super fascinating experience.

Rick’s smoked salmon ALONE gives me a solid reason to want to join the wine club and be at all the pick up parties.
They also do an Annual Summer BBQ where Rick takes you out on a vineyard to walk to the top of Rosalina Vineyard. Wine club members get a discounted ticket.
I want all the bottles of hummingbird wine! Ship them to me!

Be like a hummingbird.
The hummingbird brain might be the size of a pea, BUT they remember EXACTLY where they found their most delicious nectar meals from the day before.
I won’t forget Moshin. It’s marked on my must visit tasting room map.
Hummingbirds reach deep into flowers with a long thin tongue and lap up sweet nectar.
Get your nose and tongue deep into Moshin wines. You won’t regret it.
No wonder hummingbirds flock to this place. They are on to something.