Pendleton ESTATE VINEYARDS & WINERY

Ambiance

• Hidden jewel and treasure are words I’ve heard to describe Pendleton winery.

• Driving to the winery is an adventure. Nothing treacherous but it’s fun to imagine, as you head out there, that you are galavanting around the European wine countryside.

• Think Austria. Green rolling hills surround the winery. The kind of hills Julie Andrews frolics down while singing ‘the hills are alive!’

• Located 2,000 feet above Alexander Valley. Getting here is a much needed retreat from civilization.

• A 20 acre wine growing estate. On the property is the winemaker’s French Style Villa with Air B&B options for guests who want to stay.

• Seriously, if I didn’t live so close by, I would be staying here for weekend getaways.

• Pendleton is the NORTHERN MOST winery in Sonoma County.

Cost:

• Honestly, I can’t remember….is there even a tasting fee? I don’t think so.

• If there is a tasting fee it is 100% worth it!

• Michall, the winemaker, is incredibly down to earth. I get the sense he wants guests to savor his wines.

• He’s not caught up in expensive barriers that limit people from approaching his wine.

• Moderately priced wine between $24-$30 considering the fact everything he produces in 100 cases or less.

• His wine goes fast!

Appointment Needed? 

• Yes. Essential to make an appointment.

• Don’t be like me and call the day of…luckily Michall was available.

• This is the type of wine tasting experience you plan around.

• Make the appointment. Go around lunch time. Put together a yummy picnic.

• Possibly consider bringing a swimsuit to enjoy their pool on a nice day.

• Plan to spend at least an hour and a half here.

Wine Pick

• I went home with the 2015 Mourvedre.

• Pendleton produces the only 100% Mourvedre in the entire valley!

• Such a treasure.

• I found his Rosé captivating as well. A GSM: Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre.

Dog Approved

• Yep!

• The winemaker and his family have two Golden Retrievers.

• Jackson and Misty Mae!

Social Media Worthy

• Totally. Vineyard and rolling hill views for days!

• Need I say more?

• This is an iconic wine tasting experience:

• become friends with the winemaker

• frolic in the vines

• pose in front of a breathtaking view…

• This is what everyone envisions when they think of a dreamy wine tasting experience.

Feel Good Vibes

• The winemaker’s daughter, Leslie, might be your new spirit animal.

• The girl is an ARTIST!

• A funky, sassy, colorful, hilarious, whimsical, knock your socks off artist.

• Her watercolors turn into labels for some of dad’s wine.

• I purchased some Bad Dog Wine because hello?!?!? My chocolate lab is a total bad dog and needs to pose with the bottle.

• My boyfriend is not much of a wine lover like me. I kinda dragged him to this tasting.

• 1) Because I’m horrible with directions and he is my navigating hero.

• 2) Because a private wine tasting experience is much more fun with a buddy.

• Low and behold, we step out of the car and the winemaker is wearing a Firefighter T-Shirt.

• My boyfriend is a firefighter.

• They had an instant connection and it was fun to hear them shoot the breeze about firefighting.

• Plus, drinking wine that came from the hands of a former firefighter is special.

• Michall does everything: vineyard picking, wine making…the only thing he doesn’t do is bottling.