Founder and winemaker, Erich Russell earned his nickname “The Rabbit,” as a world-class runner at San Jose State College. After graduation he took a teaching job at San Diego High School, in Southern California. During the summer of 79’, while on summer break, an entry into an amateur winemaking contest won him a job at Chateau St. Jean. Taking a chance, Erich quit his job and began working in the winery.

Three years later, in 1981 Erich opened Rabbit Ridge Winery and Vineyards in Healdsburg, California. His first release of Rabbit Ridge was two barrels of Zinfandel and two barrels of Chardonnay. Erich states: “I only made enough wine so that if it didn’t sell, I could drink all of it.” Today Rabbit Ridge produces just under 100,000 cases of wine per year.

In 1996 Erich discovered the potential of the Paso Robles, California area and began buying ranches and planting vineyards, motivated by his belief the area had the potential to produce some of the finest red wines in California.

In 2001, Rabbit Ridge, having outgrown the Sonoma facility, broke ground on a new 55,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art winery in Paso Robles. The grand opening was celebrated in May 2003 when Rabbit Ridge moved all its production to their new facility. Today, Erich owns 700 acres on the Westside of Paso Robles, 400 of which are planted and producing. Rabbit Ridge sold its tasting room and 20+ acres in Sonoma County in October 2007.

Rabbit Ridge Winery & Vineyards
Paso Robles, California

Visit: www.rabbitridgewinery.com home page of Rabbit Ridge Winery & Vineyards

2007 Chardonnay-Estate Grown Barrel Cuvee

Winemaker Justin Mund, born in 1974, grew up in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California. After high school, he attended Santa Rosa Junior College where he earned an A.S. degree. While at S.R.J.C., Justin became fascinated with the wine industry and focused his coursework on Viticulture. Justin then spent three vintages at Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery where he split his time between the cellar and vineyards.
In 2000, Justin moved to the Central Coast to attend Cal Poly, SLO and earned a Fruit Science degree while working as a cellarman for Laetitia Vineyards and Winery. This is where Justin developed a passion for the Central Coast’s wines – especially Pinot Noir. In July, before the 2002 harvest, Justin became the Assistant Winemaker for Laetitia in which capacity he remained until June 2006.

Addamo Vineyards
Old Orcutt, California

Visit: www.addamovineyards.com home page of Addamo Vineyards

2006 Estate White Riesling

When Andrew Rich moved from Santa Cruz, California, to Portland, Oregon, in 1994, after a six-year stint at Bonny Doon Vineyard, it was with the idea of giving Rhone varietals a particularly Northwest spin. Pity the grapes just weren’t there yet. With the 1999 vintage, the Syrah finally came in, but in the meanwhile Rich turned his attention to Pinot Noir and Cabernet, the flagship grapes of Oregon and Washington. Mainstream, sure, but in a brave act of redemption he has taken up the cause of the noble and greatly underappreciated Chenin Blanc, and continues to make a case for Rose. His Sauvignon Blanc has a following that buys up his entire supply a few months after release.

Andrew Rich Wines
Carlton, Oregon

Visit: www.AndrewRichWines.com home page of Andrew Rich Wines

2003 Reserve Syrah

2004 Syrah

2004 Tabula Rasa Red Blend

2005 Rousanne

2005 Gerurztraminer Dessert Wine

Begining with a career in geology, folowed by an MBA and a career in the food and beverage industry, Ken started Post and Trellis Vineyards, a vineyard development company, followed shortly thereafter with la Honda Winery

La Honda Winery
Redwood City, California

Visit: www.lahondawinery.com home page of La Honda Winery

2006 Lonehawk

Kristin Belair is the winemaker of Honig Vineyard and Winery, a family-owned winery in the heart of California’s Napa Valley, which uniquely produces two wine varietals: Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. In January of 1998, Kristin joined the Honig team as winemaker, bringing with her more than 17 years of experience in wineries in the Napa Valley. Since that time, she has worked with the family to craft nationally recognized, award-winning wines.

After graduating from University of California at Davis with a Bachelor of Science degree in Enology, Kristin began her winemaking career as a harvest intern at Trefethen Vineyards in 1981. A short stint in Australia and a second harvest at Trefethen led to an Assistant Winemaker position at Lakespring Winery in 1983. In 1985, she was hired as the winemaker for Turnbull Wine Cellars where she stayed until 1997.

Kristin is a member of many wine industry groups, including: the Napa Valley Wine Technical Group; Napa Valley Viticulture Technical Group; American Society of Enology and Viticulture; and California Enological Research Association, as well as several wine tasting groups.

She lives in Napa, California, with her daughter Adrienne, and two cats.

Honig Vineyard and Winery
Rutherford, California

Visit: www.honigwine.com home page of Honig Vineyard and Winery

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Bartlucci Vineyard

2007 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

2006 Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford

2007 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc Dessert Wine

In 1977, Dr. Peter D. Oldak, an emergency physician and his wife, Brenda, moved to a 12 acre farm in South Hampton, New Hampshire. In 1982, merely as a hobbyist home gardener, he planted six individual grape vines. Four years later, he started making wine. Each year more vines and varieties were planted to see which would do best in our climate, soil, and location, and which varieties would make excellent quality wine in the chilly climes of the Northeast.

Jewell Towne Vineyards
South Hampton, New Hampshire

Visit: www.jewelltownevineyards.com home page of Jewell Towne Vineyards

2007 Landot Noir

2007 Leon Millot

NV Marechal Foch Private Reserve

2007 Aurore

2007 Cayuga White

2007 Vidal

2007 Vignoles

2007 Stueben

NV Rhapsody In Blue Dessert Wine

2006 Vidal Ice Wine Dessert Wine

I’m in a New York State of Wine

Wine maker Tim Benedict and his crew continue the careful stewardship of the grapes as they come in from the vineyards at harvest. Tim’s philosophy reflects the passion of the Hazlitt family for making great wines and not cutting corners. Our philosophy is that great wines can only come from great grapes. Our wine growing begins with constant, meticulous, and sustainable care in the vineyard in order to maximize ripeness and flavor development of the resulting fruit. Once in the hands of the wine making team, we make every effort to gently bring these flavors along into the finished wines.

Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards
Hector, New York

Visit: www.Hazlitt1852.com home page of Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards

2007 Chardonnay

Scott Harvey ranks among California’s most celebrated and accomplished winemakers. He fi rst came to the attention of wine lovers and the wine trade as winemaker at Santino and Renwood where he crafted wines from some of California’s oldest vineyards and helped put the Sierra Foothills on the winemaking map. In 1996 he partnered with Richard Peterson, Ph’D at Folie a Deux winery in Napa Valley. There the winemaking duo garnered a reputation for outstanding Napa Valley wines produced from estate fruit as well as from vineyards across the Valley.

After selling Folie a Deux in 2004, Harvey created a series of new brands that took advantage of his experience in both the Sierra Foothills and Napa Valley. One reason Scott chose to work with Astrale e Terra is his extreme admiration for Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the Atlas Peak appellation. According to Scott, “some of the best wines I’ve made have been produced from Cabernet Sauvignon grown in the Atlas Peak Appellation.”

As Astrale e Terra’s Consulting Winemaker, Scott is charged with overseeing harvest, winemaking procedure and the blending of the various lots that Astrale e Terra bottles from its estate vineyards.

Astrale e Terra
Napa, California

Visit: www.astraleeterra.com home page of Astrale e Terra

2004 Astrale e Terra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

2004 Astrale e Terra Estate Merlot

2004 Astrale e Terra Estate Syrah

2004 Arcturus Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

2008 Astrale e Terra Sauvignon Blanc

At Sierra Vista John has been a pioneer in the establishment of the Rhone movement In El Dorado County with the planting of Syrah in 1979 followed later by Grenach, Mourvedre, Cinsault and Viognier. His two trips to the Rhone valley has, together with his experience, have given him valuable insight into the value of Rhone style wines.

Since being in the wine industry John has been the president and vice president of the El Dorado Winery association and has been inducted into the Knights of the Vine. Is a past and founding president of the Rhone Rangers, an organization dedicated to educating the public about Rhone style wines.

Sierra Vista Winery
Placerville, California

Visit: www.sierravistawinery.com home page of Sierra Vista Winery

2006 Grenache