Nalle Vineyards

Ambiance

• Friendly

• Casual

• Hidden Gem

• No-frills but quality wine.

• Situated on an 100+ year old vineyard.

• Family owned and operated.

• When you go to the winery for a tasting, I bet one of the Nalle family members will be around.

• Originally the Nalle’s wanted a wine cave on the property.

• Due to restrictions they could not build one.

• Instead, they built an above ground cave/wine cellar.

• This “cave” has a living roof covered in rosemary.

• The barrels inside require no heating or cooling thanks to the living roof.

• They call the tasting room a “potato bunker”.

• One of Sonoma County’s few above ground caves.

• Out back are places to picnic and play horseshoe.

Cost:

• Saturday Tasting Fee: $10 for a flight of four wines.

• One fee waived for each bottle purchased.

• Modestly priced wines ranging from $48 to $60 per bottle.

Appointment Needed? 

• Thursday & Fridays appointment needed.

• Limited hours so be sure to make this winery a priority on your tasting adventure.

Wine Pick

• ALL THE ZIN!!!

• Balanced.

• Not overly ripe.

• Seriously drinkable.

• Not a heavy or hot zin!

• I also purchased their Pinot because it was delicious!

Dog Approved

• Yes!

Social Media Worthy

• Take a pic by their 90 year old Zinfandel vines.

• Planted in 1929 by the winemaker’s great-grandfather during Proibition.

• The Nalle gnarly zin vines are works of art.

Feel Good Vibes

• I find it fascinating that winemakers/owners back in the 70’s and early 80’s are now passing the baton on to their children.

• My generation!!!!

• Andrew Nalle, winemaker and now owner of Nalle, is the son of Doug Nalle.

• Doug Nalle is Zin Master.

• The respect Andrew has for his dad, Doug, is heartwarming.

Wine Nerd Facts

• What does it mean to be completely dry farmed?

• Nalle is all about dry farming.

• Nalle Zin vines are so old that the roots probably go down 25 feet straight to the water table.

• In dry farming, farmers rely on the annual rainfall for growing their grapes.

• Dry farmed grapes are thought produce more intensely flavored grapes.

• Dry farmed grapes are supposed to be smaller and more packed with flavor.

• Vines must be planted far enough apart so that they have a chance to extend their roots down far enough to get as much moisture as possible.

• Dry farming is a more hands-on farming practice.

• France, Italy, Germany and Spain have been dry farming for ages!

• The first grapes in CA were dry farmed.

• Why did it move from dry farming to predominantly irrigation?

• Water can shield emergent buds from frostbite.

• AND irrigating produces larger grape yields.

• Nalle is committed to never sacrificing quality for quantity.