100 amazing Sonoma County and California wines 2023
In Wine Country, with an endless array of wines to drink and a new vintage each year, how do you choose which ones to try now?
This year for The Press Democrat’s list of 100 Amazing Wines, we asked sommeliers and wine experts across Sonoma County and the Bay Area to give their recommendations, drawing from their knowledge of varietals that are popular or worth exploring now. These are new releases, the latest vintage, wines from venerable wineries and emerging producers. And the sommeliers, many of them judges at annual wine competitions, who chose these wines give insight into how they picked amazing wines for their lists.
A note on the prices: The price listed for each wine is the price on the winemaker’s website as of early November. However, you may find a lower price for the same bottle at a grocery store or major online wine retailer.
The exception to prices listed on winery websites is our list of wines under $20, put together by Barry Herbst, wine buyer at Bottle Barn. In this list, the prices listed are Bottle Barn prices, which are often similar to prices for these wines at other major retailers.
Sparkling wine, by Peg Melnik
Sauvignon blanc, by Alexandria Sarovich
Aromatic white wine, by Sarah Doyle
BONUS: Value wines under $20, by Barry Herbst
Rosé, by Debra Del Fiorentino
Russian River Valley pinot noir, by Peg Melnik
Pinot noir from other regions, by Peg Melnik
Zinfandel, by Paul Coker
Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon, by Peg Melnik
Uncommon varietals, by Sarah Doyle
Rhone wines and BONUS: 6 Italian-style wines, by Chris Gaither
BONUS: Bordeaux-style wine, by Chris Sawyer
About Press Democrat Wine Writer Sarah Doyle and Press Democrat Wine Critic Peg Melnik
Sparkling wine
Recommended by Peg Melnik, wine critic at The Press Democrat
Benovia, 2018 Blanc de Noir Sparkling Wine, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County ($60): This elegant sparkler is striking, with irresistible charm. Buoyed by crisp acidity, it has flavors of cherry, hazelnut and lemon. Winemaker Mike Sullivan proved his gift for crafting sparklers right out of the gate. His first vintage was 2012, released in 2017 after five years of aging, and he’s been on a winning streak ever since.
Bricoleur, NV Isla Rose Brut Rosé, Sonoma County ($60): A feminine sparkler, this breezy brut rosé is impressive. It has refreshing notes of watermelon, strawberry and mineral coupled with a note of rich brioche. The sweet story behind this sparkler is that vintner Mark Hanson named it after his granddaughter, Isla Rose.
Domaine Carneros, NV Cuvée de la Pompadour Brut Rosé, ($45): This is a racy brut rosé, crisp and refreshing with notes of wild strawberry, peach and mineral. This sparkler is a nod to the late Madame de Pompadour, the great courtesan and mistress of Louis XV who is credited with introducing Champagne to the court. If you visit Domaine Carneros in Napa Valley, you’ll see a large portrait of her in the entryway of the chateau. This playful bottling is typically only available in the tasting room.
Flaunt, 2019 Brut Sparkling Wine, Russian River Valley ($48): This lovely sparkler is nice and dry, with notes of nectarine, brioche and mineral. Well-crafted, this layered bottling finishes crisp. It’s interesting to note that Flaunt’s founder, vintner Dianna Novy, was the co-founder of Siduri. That house of pinot made a splash at the White House when Siduri wine was selected for holiday parties in 2013.
Gloria Ferrer, 2013 Carneros Cuvee, ($94): This sparkler has spent eight years en tirage (aging on the yeast), and the passage of time has served it well. Complex and elegant, this sparkler has yeasty aromas with apple and brioche on the palate. Jose Ferrer and his wife, Gloria, bet on the cool climate of the Carneros for their venture in the 1980s, and this bottling shows their instincts were spot-on.
Iron Horse, 2019 Classic Vintage Brut, Green Valley ($58): This sparkler is impressive, with stone fruit marrying well with citrus. And while rich with brioche and toasty notes, this bubbly is buoyed with crisp acidity and has pitch-perfect balance. This sparkler comes from incurable romantics, founding partners Audrey and the late Barry Sterling. They first saw the Sebastopol property for Iron Horse in pouring rain in 1976 and said the 300 acres of rolling hills looked like Camelot. They bought the property within two weeks and built their house of bubbly.
J. Schram, 2014 Blancs, North Coast ($140): Stone fruit and citrus are coupled with notes of brioche and ginger in this tasty sparkler. This bottling hails from Schramsberg, a winery with a role in history. Its Blanc de Blancs was uncorked for President Nixon’s 1972 “Toast to Peace” with Zhou Enlai, Premier of the People’s Republic of China.