In The News

by Sara Schneider
May 2018

“A slow, quiet evolution has transformed Sonoma’s wineries into the best places to taste this summer.”

“In western Sonoma—and the Russian River Valley in particular—the Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are second to none in the world. Yet many of the tasting rooms where the wines have been poured have, until recently, been a little dated and more than a little rustic. Over the past several years, though, a stealth remodel has taken hold and a handful of new tasting rooms have redefined the Sonoma style—rustic still, but modernized and refined. Weathered wood shares space with glass and steel, and lounge seating turns Pinot and Chardonnay tastings into a luxurious experience. You might say the tasting rooms have caught up with the wines—together making an excellent destination for wine touring this spring and summer. Here are six of the best new spaces.”

MacRostie Winery and Vineyards

MacRostie’s stand-alone tasting ‘house’ combines weathered ceilings and tables with concrete for immense appeal. But its use of glass to take full advantage of the tasting room’s elevated perch is ingenious. The roof extends over the terrace outside for an indoor-outdoor view that stretches east over the valley to the Mayacamas Mountains and beyond, all the way to Mount St. Helena on the east side of Napa Valley. Reservations required on weekends.”

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by Sara Holzman
April 18, 2018

STAY: The Farmhouse Inn in Forestville, Calif.—a boutique hotel with chic rooms equipped with fireplaces, patios, and customizable bath scrubs—partners with 23 local wineries offering complimentary tastings to Farmhouse guests. A favorite: The MacRostie Estate House, producers of Sonoma Coast Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Located on a hilltop in the heart of the Russian River Valley, the winery has three patio terraces for tastings, each with an epic view of the valleys below. After a long day of tastings, kick back and roast s’mores (with homemade marshmallows) at one of Farmhouse’s outdoor fire pits.”

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by Jean Saylor Doppenberg
April 2018

MacRostie Winery & Vineyards
“The elegant Estate House has three patios and indoor seating for tasting single-vineyard designated Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, most sourced from Russian River Valley fruit, with free from $20-$25. Two stars of MacRostie’s portfolio are the 2015 Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay and 2015 Thale’s Vineyard Terrace Block Pinot Noir. An elevated tasting ($75) available on weekends includes a tour and wines paired with bites of cheese and chocolate. Reservations are required on weekends and strongly encouraged for weekdays.”

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by Brian Freedman
January 29, 2018

“We’ve all heard it before; maybe we have even been guilty of uttering the words ourselves: California Pinot Noir? It’s just too fruity, and everyone knows that Burgundy is so much better…”

“…Here are a dozen wines, listed alphabetically, that embody all of the excitement of Pinot Noir in the state right now. If you can’t find these particular ones, fear not: Just explore the shelves of your local wine shop. The possibilities, and the potential to be charmed, are infinite.”

2015 MacRostie Thale’s Vineyard Pinot Noir
A particularly elegant expression of Russian River Valley, with a gorgeously floral nose preceding harmonious flavors of red cherries, violets, and exotic spice.”

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by Lyle Norton
December 3, 2017

“Sonoma County has experienced tragedy from the recent fires. There was loss of life and property, and we all see areas of scorched earth where beauty once prevailed. The land will recover, and the community has begun the healing process with an outpouring of community support.

Thanks to the efforts of firefighters and other public service personnel, most of the landscape remains unchanged, including our famous vineyards. Sonoma County is open for business, and the experience of great wine, food and natural beauty is very much intact. The following recommendations are intended to deliver it all for a memorable day-trip.

…Leaving town and traveling west, Healdsburg Road, passing over Highway 101, soon intersects with the iconic Westside Road that weaves through the heart of the Russian River Valley. Not all estates along Westside Road are open to the public, but MacRostie Winery and Vineyards, Gary Farrell and Thomas George Estates offer special tasting experiences that focus on cool climate chardonnay and pinot noir. All of their single-vineyard releases feature noted local vineyards like Olivet, Durrell and Wildcat Mountain.

They all offer a broad menu of tasting experiences, held in modish settings, that are both exceptional and pricey. Indulge yourselves while enjoying fine wines like the 2014 Gary Farrell Durrell Vineyard Chardonnay Sonoma Valley (94-pt). Reservations are required at each.

…Sonoma wineries are surely open for business and many are dedicating profits to assist fire victims. Enjoy some of the finest wines on the planet and help Sonoma County rebuild itself. Your taste buds will thank you.”

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by Linda Murphy
December, 2017

Let’s be honest: Sonoma’s most acclaimed and highest-quality wines are expensive.

Top-tier Sonoma Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, the current darlings of critics and collectors, command $60 a bottle and up. That’s painful for many of us, yet Sonoma wines are less pricey than Napa Valley bottles of similar quality. Heck, even some Napa types slink into Sonoma to source their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, so admired are our county’s grapes.

While this list is studded with wines most would consider special-occasion purchases, there are also many reasonably priced bottles and some crazy-good values. In addition to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, our Top 100 showcases rosé — its popularity soaring now that sweet White Zinfandel is firmly in the rear-view mirror. ‘Red’ Zinfandel remains historically and deliciously important, with high-alcohol versions largely giving way to wines with balance and freshness. Sauvignon Blanc, Rhône Valley-style wines, Bordeaux varietals and sparklers are all represented here, underscoring Sonoma’s ability to produce a diverse range of fine wines.

Drink up, in moderation.

2015 MacRostie Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay
“A new wine for MacRostie, it’s rich and polished, with unfolding layers of pear, green apple, hazelnut and caramel. The finish is lemony and brisk, making it a great mate for Caesar salad, grilled salmon cakes, chicken salad and seafood pasta.”

2015 MacRostie Thale’s Vineyard ‘Terrace Block’ Pinot Noir
“Named for Steve MacRostie’s wife, Thale (THAY-lee), this inaugural bottling from the estate vineyard on Westside Road is arguably the winery’s ‘biggest’ Pinot Noir. Yet it’s still balanced and refined, with silky texture and refreshing acidity carrying the juicy black currant and blueberry fruit and hints of mocha and spice.”

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The Best of Wine Country Awards recognize the wine country community for its excellence in all things that make wine country so great — the creative, innovative, philanthropic, eco-friendly and unique components of wineries we know and love. Earlier this year, we invited you to check out the award categories and submit your entries. All nominees had to be located in Northern California from Lake County to Carmel.

On June 15th, 2017 The Best of Wine Country Awards Steering Committee voted on the final nominees and winners based on the nominations received online.

On August 23, 2017 all nominees plus guests of San Francisco magazine gathered at The Pearl SF for a celebration and awards gala announcing the winners.

We are incredibly grateful and proud to have been named ‘Best Winery in Sonoma’ and ‘Best Tasting Room in Napa and Sonoma’. Thank you to our extraordinary team, our partners and especially to our amazing guests.

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by Tim Fish
June 15, 2016

MacRostie’s single-vineyard Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs take center stage at its stylish new tasting room. Perched above Westside Road, the space offers sweeping views of the Russian River Valley, the distant Maya-camas mountains and Mount St. Helena. Visitors are met at the entrance with a glass of rosé or Chardonnay, followed by a sit-down tasting curated by a “wine ambassador.” Take a seat on one of the elegant outdoor patios or relax in the airy lounge and revel in the beauty of the scenery while learning about the different vineyards the label sources. Tastings range from a mini-vertical of Pinot Noir to a flight of six wines. You can also book a tour of the estate, which includes a private tasting paired with local bites.

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by Mary Orlin
February 4, 2016

“The standard winery tasting bar is so 2012. Who wants to elbow their way in, just to taste a few $20+ sips? In Napa and Sonoma, the term tasting room is out — and ‘hospitality house’ is in. Instead of bellying up to the bar, you relax in intimate living rooms and wine lounges, served by a ‘wine educator,’ in lieu of a ‘pourer.’ And you don’t winery hop, you relax and stay a while. Here’s just a sampling of new winery tasting experiences.”

MacRostie Winery and Vineyards
“Sip wine in the winery’s new Estate House, where the patios overlook 13 acres of pinot noir vines, and the indoor lounge, with its soaring wood ceilings, concrete floors and modern industrial decor, boasts views from every angle. Try the Estate House Tasting ($20-$25), with MacRostie’s exceptional Russian River and Sonoma Coast chardonnay and pinot noir wines, or the Elevated Tour & Tasting ($55) of single-vineyard wines paired with savory bites.”

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New reviews of rich whites from the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley

by Augustus Weed
January 18, 2016

“Tax season is peeking around the corner, so now is a good time to take stock of your wine budget. We’ll help you stretch your dollar further with six exciting Chardonnays for $30 or less.

Take MacRostie’s Sonoma Coast bottling for example. At $25, it offers plenty of zesty, citrus-kissed fruit and mouthwatering acidity, making it a welcome guest at the dinner table. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed, with some of the lots fermented in stainless steel to emphasize the bright fruit and aromatics.”

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by Virginie Boone
December 2015

2013 MacRostie Sangiacomo Vineyard Chardonnay
91 Points: Excellent; Highly recommended
“From two blocks of the vineyard, this light, crisp, medium-weighted wine stays refreshing on the palate and remains complex in acidity. Nutmeg dances throughout its soft layers, while the finish burnishes in rich vanilla brioche.”

2013 MacRostie Russian River Valley Chardonnay
90 Points: Excellent; Highly recommended
“From a vineyard site farmed by the Duttons called Matthew’s Station, this is a gentle wine, medium in weight, with nuances of green apple and fresh-squeezed lemon. Balanced, it offers a twist of toffee and oak beneath its crisper notes, finishing warm in nutmeg and ginger spice.”

by Gabe Sasso
November 13, 2015

“…The experience at MacRostie is exceptional. From the moment I stepped out of me car I was greeted by a welcome wine, until I was bid farewell on the way out the door I had a fantastic time.

To begin with, the room is warm and inviting with a welcoming wine country feel. There are a number of spots you can sit with different types of seating both inside and out. A lot will depend on your group size and some will depend on where you’re going to be most comfortable. The unvarnished truth is it would remarkably difficult not to feel at home anywhere on their property. There are several tasting options in a number of price levels and options that are suited for both small and larger groups. Some involve food pairing and a personal wine ambassador for the length of your stay.

The experience at the MacRostie Estate House is as good as the wine has always been, which is to say fabulous…”

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by Garrick Ramirez
September 3, 2015

MacRostie Winery & Vineyards

Designed by San Francisco’s Gould Evans, the stylish MacRostie Estate House raises the stakes for its tasting room peers. With interiors layered in warm wood, tan leather, and polished concrete, it feels more akin to the chic Wine Country abode of a well-to-do friend. Sip the region’s famed pinot noir and chardonnay as you take in sweeping, hilltop views through floor-to-ceiling windows or from one of three outdoor patios.

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by James Laube
September 2015

…“Both 2012 and 2013 delivered Pinot Noir of exceptional quality throughout Sonoma County,” says Steve MacRostie of MacRostie. “While the two vintages are quite similar, we are seeing a little more intensity and concentration in our 2013s.”

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by Paige Porter Fischer
April 25, 2015

“Westside Road winds through some of the most picturesque vineyards in Sonoma, past hillsides that look like green corduroy, ribbed with grapevines producing some of the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in California.

The drive — beginning at Wohler Bridge, which crosses the Russian River, for which this valley is named — snakes through tunnels of statuesque oak trees, past weathered barns that beg for photos, and venerable wineries like Rochioli, Gary Farrell and Williams Selyem. But there’s one new driveway along this hallowed back road that demands that you put on the brakes…”

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April 24, 2015

“And suddenly it’s Friday.

Might we suggest a jaunt to the MacRostie Winery and Vineyards, the esteemed estate that’s finally got a “What’s a new word for idyllic?” tasting room, open now.

…And then you’ll find yourself gazing off into the sun setting on the horizon, working your way through one of the three tasting options (the “Evolution” is three pinots), and maybe, as a thought exercise, trying to come up with a single thing wrong with this entire scenario.”

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by Greg Walter
March 18, 2015

“…it’s great to be able to write about a winemaker who has been a fixture here in the Sonoma Valley for decades who in the last five years or so has hit some truly high points on the “dreams realized” list.”

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by Rusty Gaffney
January 22, 2015

“[the wines] were highly approachable and elegant, with modest tannins and minimal oak overlay. The wines represent outstanding value relative to quality and should be sought out.”

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