Hidden Gems in Sonoma: Arista Winery and Mauritson Wines

The day was rife with rain and drizzle, but the elements didn’t damper our wine loving spirit in any way. Melanie Ofenloch (Dallas Wine Chick) and I continued our pre-conference DIY press trip (click here for our first day experiences) with plans to visit both Arista Winery and Mauritson Wines. And because drinking and driving never make a good pairing, Melanie and I were escorted to the day’s vineyards by an expert (and entertaining) driver who is someone you should know: Chris Pittman of My Napa Valley Driver. I encourage you to contact Chris when you plan your Sonoma (or Napa) wine country visit.

Arista Winery

The first winery of the day was Arista Winery (7015 Westside Road, Healdsburg). The Pavilion, Arista’s new tasting room that presented breathtaking views of the Russian River Valley, was the location for our tasting of five wines. Each memorable selection was paired with inspiring farm (literally, we could see the organic garden from the window) to table “small bites” creatively prepared by Executive Chef, Tim Kaulfers. I could wake up like this every day!

Arista Winery was founded in 2002 by Al and Janis McWilliams. Since 2012, their sons, Mark and Ben, oversee the family business and are responsible for day-to-day operations. At the core of the family’s winemaking philosophy is the belief that the “finest examples of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are produced in small lots. This belief has always led to an emphasis on quality over quantity and a determination to discover and develop unique vineyard sites that reflect the distinct characteristics of the Russian River Valley”.

Michael Kanbergs, Estate Sommelier, guided Melanie and me through a delicious tasting of five superb wines. After we finished gushing over the beautiful Pavilion and views, he explained that the first vintage year was in 2003. From 2003 to 2012, Arista crafted “delicious wines”, and now, with the addition of winemaker Matt Courtney, who was hired in 2012, Arista is offering “excellent wines”. Courtney is “trying to make a wine that expresses place – each vineyard has its own characteristic”.

Kanbergs remarked that the winemaking process does not include additional sulfur or yeast. “Letting native yeast do the work” is crucial, as is allowing malolactic fermentation to occur naturally. In Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines from Arista, there is no alcohol adjustment or fining and filtering. As a result, wines I tasted were rich, luscious, and voluptuous… with a mineral backbone, a striking characteristic of wines cultivated on Russian River Valley terroir.

The wines I swirled and sipped that morning were truly expressive. The 2015 Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($56), with grapes from the Richie, El Diablo, and Banfield Vineyards, displayed notes of herbs, salinity, creamy custard, and touch of lemon. The Chardonnay was fermented in oak for 12 months, then 5 months in stainless steel “so the wine can settle”. Our next pour was the 2015 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($56), a blend of grapes from estate vineyards. This classic Russian River Valley example expressed muscular notes of black cherries, cola, and allspice; only 2000 cases were produced.

The 2015 Perli Vineyard Pinot Noir ($80) was an “ahhhhh”-worthy selection from Mendocino Ridge, located north of Arista, at an altitude of 1200 feet. Boasting a broad and rustic profile, I discovered notes of exotic spice, herbal notes, and minerality that I loved. The complex, structured 2015 Mononi Vineyard Pinot Noir ($80) was of grapes cultivated in this specific vineyard used exclusively by Arista since 2004. Intense aromas of dark fruit and barnyard led to a palate bursting with red fruit and framed with firm tannins and brilliant acidity. Our last taste was of the 2015 Banfield Vineyard Zinfandel ($55) from the Russian River Valley. Powerful, with a few nuances of Pinot Noir, I appreciated each sip of this delicious wine that offered a full mouthfeel and intense red fruit aromas and flavors.

This impressive boutique winery, a hidden gem indeed, offers 95% of their wine direct-to-consumer and only 5% to fortunate restaurants. I encourage you to visit Arista Winery on your next visit to Sonoma for exquisite wines and vistas that are truly memorable. Thank you, Michael, for welcoming us and sharing your expertise and kudos to the McWilliams family for allowing this to happen!

Mauritson Wines

After a quick ride by Chris Pittman to a local deli in Healdsburg, Melanie and I picked up a few sandwiches to share with Carrie Mauritson, responsible for sales and marketing at Mauritson Wines (2839 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg). This casual lunch, held in the beautiful Library adjacent to the winery’s tasting room, was paired with wines that were anything but!

As we appreciated each sip of wine, Carrie shared that the Mauritson family has lived in the Dry Creek Valley since 1868. They’ve been growing grapes since that time and, through the years acquired a plethora of vineyards. The business entailed delivering “superior fruit for regional winemakers to work with year after year”. Currently, the family manages 310 acres under vine throughout Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, and Rockpile Appellations.

Cue Clay Mauritson, Owner, Winemaker, husband of Carrie, and sixth generation of this well-respected grape growing family. Armed with a business degree (with emphasis in marketing and a minor in economics) from the University of Oregon, Clay returned to the family business in the 1990s with a determination to add winemaking efforts to its already stellar operations. After sharpening his winemaking skills and learning as much as he could about vineyard operations at a variety of area wineries, Clay released the first Mauritson Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel in 1998.

Since 2002, he has worked full time in the Mauritson Family Wine Project. The premise is simple: “you need exceptional fruit to make exceptional wine”. And I tasted just that.

Our first wine was the 2016 Mauritson Chardonnay, Alexander Valley ($34). I found lovely elements of stone fruit, florals, juicy citrus, and minerality from beginning to end. All proceeds from purchases of the 2014 Mauritson Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley ($35) are donated to the Sonoma County Resilience Fund that supports recovery from the wildfires of October 2017. Dark, rich jam, cocoa, blackberry, and raspberries were just a few aromas and flavors bursting from the glass.

The next three selections were from the Rockpile AVA, where Mauritson’s largest vineyards are located. The 2015 Rockpile Zinfandel, Cemetery Vineyards ($50) was a lip-smacking wine that revealed luscious notes of fig, maple, cocoa, and dark, ripe blackberries. A Library Selection, the 2012 Rockpile Zinfandel, Rockpile Ridge Vineyard ($54) was absolutely mesmerizing with its elegant notes of red fruit, spice, minerality, and soft tannins. I was especially smitten with the 2014 Rockpile “Buck Pasture” Red Wine ($70), a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. I explored intense aromas and flavors of tobacco, herbs, earth, red and black fruits, and chocolate…all leading to a rich, persistent finish.

Last and certainly not least, Carrie poured tastes of the 2009 SUTHER Cabernet Sauvignon ($95), another Library Selection. From their LOAM series, one that highlights just three barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon from a single soil from a single vineyard, the wine we tasted is from Suther soil. (Other soils include Loam, Positas, and Clough.) Weathered from “sedimentary and extrusive igneous rock, the Suther soil is a gravelly loam found on broad ridge tops and side slopes of mountains with elevations ranging from 800-4000 feet”. The profile of this extraordinary wine? I noted herbs, chocolate covered cherries, minerality, exotic spice, dark fruit, and a hint of oak. This was impressive, indeed.

Another hidden gem, Mauritson Wines must be an addition to your wine country list if you’re looking for a superb winery producing forward thinking, magnificent wines. Who isn’t? And Carrie, many thanks to you and the Mauritson family for your genuine hospitality and friendship.

Cheers! ~ Cindy

Please click here for Melanie’s story about our visit to Arista Winery and Mauritson Wines.