While the United States doesn’t have grand and premier cru classifications for its greatest vineyards like Burgundy, France does, for wine lovers who covet California Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs there are certain vineyards that are spoken about with the same reverence. As one of the first wineries to focus almost exclusively on single-vineyard Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, Patz & Hall has been seeking out and championing some of California’s most iconic vineyards for more than a quarter century.
“From Mendocino to the far Sonoma Coast to Carneros all the way down to the Santa Lucia Highlands, I couldn’t imagine how many miles we’ve racked up searching the back roads of California’s wine country,” said Patz & Hall’s cofounder and winemaker James Hall. “Finding great new vineyards is like being a treasure hunter. You have to explore, and dig in the dirt.”
At Patz & Hall’s stunning Sonoma House, guests get to do their own vineyard exploring. Located within easy biking distance of Sonoma Square and the shops of downtown Sonoma, the Sonoma House at Patz & Hall is a must-visit for anyone with a taste for great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In fact, Food & Wine has hailed Patz & Hall as “one of the country’s most sought-after names in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir,” and Wine & Spirits has honored it as one of the “Top 100 Wineries in the World."
In Patz & Hall’s luxurious Salon, guests are welcomed for private, by-appointment seated tastings that feature six to eight of the winery’s sought-after vineyard-designate wines, from renowned vineyards such as Hyde, Hudson, Dutton, Zio Tony and Pisoni. These tasting are also fantastic opportunities to discover some of California’s up-and-coming vineyards, such as Jenkins Ranch and Gap’s Crown. And since exploring great vineyards can make you hungry, these seated tastings also feature delicious bites created by Chef Natalie Niksa of La Saison, including a duo of tea-smoked duck, sage chicken salad with rose petals, and a nori cone with barbecue Niman Ranch pork and vegetable slaw.
While Patz & Hall is always on the hunt for wonderful new vineyards, many famed winegrowers have planted new sites specifically for Patz & Hall. Renowned vineyard manager Charlie Chenoweth planted his now-acclaimed Chenoweth Ranch for Patz & Hall. The Dutton family planted their Big John’s Vineyard with Patz & Hall in mind, and master winegrower Larry Hyde planted several blocks of Hyde Vineyard for the winery. “We are families working with other families,” adds cofounder Heather Patz. “It is very much a collaborative approach.”
This collaborative, family approach is one of the delights of the Sonoma House. Even though it offers some of California’s most desirable wines it also delivers one of the most relaxed, friendly and welcoming wine tasting experiences in Sonoma County, making it a perfect destination for any thirsty wine explorer. // patzhall.com
