 |
Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery 8761 Dry Creek Road • Healdsburg, Calif., 95448 (707) 433-6700 • www.ferrari-carano.com Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily Tasting fees: $5 (Villa Fiore; refundable with $25 purchase); $15 (Enoteca; refundable with $80 purchase); $20-$35 (private tasting by appointment for parties up to six people) Varietals offered: Pinot Grigio, Fumé Blanc, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Malbec, Syrah, Grenache Rosé, Fior di Muscato and various blends Appointment necessary: For tours and private tastings only Food pairing available: With private tastings Picnics: No |
The first thing you’ll notice when you visit Ferrari-Carano are the immaculate, beautiful gardens. Always with seasonal flowers, trees and shrubs in bloom, meticulously groomed landscaping and gorgeous views—they’re something to behold. There are five acres surrounding the winery, which took co-owner Rhonda Carano 16 months to plan and begin planting back in 1987. Today, her efforts, along with head gardener Pat Patin, are widely recognized.
If you visit now (springtime), you’ll see more than 10,000 tulips and daffodils in full bloom. There are also waterfalls flowing into fish-filled ponds, Portugese cork trees, exotic flowers, a rose garden and sculptures placed throughout.
Don and Rhonda Carano discovered Sonoma County in 1979 and fell in love with it instantly because it reminded them of Northern Italy—what’s more, they knew the wines produced here were outstanding. They purchased their first property in Alexander Valley shortly thereafter and established the winery in the Dry Creek area in 1981. Today, they own more than 2,500 acres, 1,200 of which are planted with 17 different vineyards.
The garden pathways lead to the hospitality center, Villa Fiore. The entrance leads to an Italian marketplace featuring wine, gourmet food items, clothing, jewelry, kitchen accessories, books and more. The mahogany and black granite tasting bar backs to large windows that overlook the estate. This is where you can taste Ferrari-Carano’s classic wines: A soft, round Fumé Blanc with citrus and floral notes; a Chianti-style red with a touch of pepper, called Siena; and an earthy Merlot with dark fruit and mineral elements are only a few of the many you can try, including the lush 2007 Chardonnay, to be released this April.
Venture downstairs to the Enoteca (which translates in Italian to “wine library”), to taste the reserve selections. The space is a former cellar and features dark wood furnishings, a long tasting bar with a black granite top, backed with a glass-enclosed wine cellar. The room also features Italian tile flooring and custom iron and crystal chandeliers. You can sit at a table or belly up to the bar.
The private Prevail Room, which sits right off the Enoteca, can be reserved for parties of up to six. It has eye-catching paintings by local artist Dale Terbush, and plush furnishings with rich gold and blue hues. You can select the wines you want to taste, and a charcuterie plate is included. Wines you can choose from include a rich, smooth 2005 Chardonnay; a 2006 Cabernet with chocolate, dark fruit and tobacco elements; a classic Bordeaux blend called Tresor (meaty, smoky); and some wines under the Prevail label including the multi-layered 2004 West Face Cabernet Syrah blend and the 2004 Back Forty, which is a stand-out Cabernet blend made from a mountainous vineyard—definitely age-worthy but lovely even now (it rivals any Napa Cabernet I’ve tried); and a 100 percent black Muscat, to name just a few.
Ferrari-Carano has two separate winemaking facilities (and winemakers), one for red and one for white. Sarah Quider heads up the white program, while Aaron Piotter does red. Original winemaker George Bursick (who began working with Ferrari-Carano in 1985) also continues to make wine for the company. Steve Domenichelli is director of vineyard operations.
If you make an appointment for a tour (free Monday through Saturday at 10 a.m.), it includes a bit of winery history; a walk through the gardens; a visit to the crush pad and barrel room(s) where you can learn about the winemaking process; the underground cellar; and the tasting areas. You can schedule one via email at tourinformation@farrari-carano.com or by phone.
Members only
The winery’s club is called Circle of Friends. Members receive regular, two-bottle wine shipments (four or five times per year, depending on your preferences); a newsletter with winemaker notes, wine and food pairings (featuring Rhonda’s recipes), and upcoming events; and discounts on wine and merchandise purchases. There are also special events including members-only Wine Country weekends (one in winter and one in spring), which include lodging, food and, of course, fabulous wine.
Did You Know?
• Don and Rhonda Carano own casino properties in their hometown of Reno, Nevada, including the Eldorado, the Pioneer Inn and a joint venture in the Silver Legacy.
• The Vintner’s Inn and Event Center and its adjoining restaurant, John Ash & Co. is part of the Ferrari-Carano family.
• Ferrari-Carano bottles olive oil, made from mountaintop estate olive trees and pressed at McEvoy Ranch.
