Sonoma favorite Auteur Wines expands to Healdsburg

It’s not often I get to compare and contrast wine tasting experiences, so when I was invited to partake of some really fabulous wines in two completely different settings, how could I say no?

Small-production pinot noir and chardonnay house Auteur Wines has been welcoming guests to its downtown Sonoma bungalow since 2013. A post-WWII, Sears Roebuck kit house located just off the plaza, it’s unfussy and charming. Despite its small size, it’s plenty accommodating. There are guest tables in the front, on the porch, indoors, throughout the shaded backyard and (where we landed) in the “barn,” a cozy, wood-lined structure where a garage once stood.

In the valley

In April, winery owners Kenneth (winemaker) and Laura (COO) Juhasz debuted Auteur Russian River, a striking new visitor center located on 8 acres (three planted to vine) outside of Healdsburg.

Unlike its modest city cousin, the new space is expansive and elegant. A wall of floor-to-ceiling windows and a welcoming outdoor space showcase the view, which includes sweeping vineyards at the fore and distant mountain vistas. It’s a modern, majestic tasting space that nestles into its surroundings and seems to float above the valley floor.

The newly constructed facility includes an onsite catering kitchen, a private tasting space (for elevated experiences) and a large, open visitors area with plenty of room to host multiple parties.

Getting started

Between our two visits, we tasted six on-menu wines (each facility has its own selections, some of which overlapped). At each venue, we were greeted with a pour of 2023 Rosé of Pinot Noir. It’s Provénce style—fragrant, floral and crisp with reserved fruit.

Both tastings started with the 2022 Green Acres Chardonnay (Carneros), which has a beautiful, round mouthfeel and an essence of orange blossoms and meringue. It’s just one of the five chardonnays that Auteur produces, each distinct and delicious while adhering to the Burgundian style preferred by the owners.

Auteur produces pinot noir wines from seven different Northern California AVAs. Thanks to clonal variety and diverse terroirs, each one is a knockout. The 2021 Manchester Ridge (Mendocino Ridge AVA), which was featured in both settings, gives exotic spice on the nose and a lush dark berry and fig flavor profile.

All the pinots

Between the two experiences, we tasted four additional pinot noirs, each distinct and enjoyable. In no particular order (we loved them all), the 2021 Ferrington Vineyard (Anderson Valley) called out for Thanksgiving dinner, with a bright and woodsy finish. The 2021 Attune Vineyard (Carneros) offers big blue fruit, sharp spice and a hint of caramel.

A 2021 Savoy (Anderson Valley) has an earthy, forest floor element and aromatic clove and floral touches. Tasting notes (created collaboratively by Auteur staffers) peg the 2022 Labyrinth (Russian River Valley) as restrained and elegant, brimming with cocoa-dusted raspberries. Spot on.

“This is my kind of problem,” says my husband. “Try multiple great pinots and try to pick your favorite.”

Whether you select the elegance of Russian River Valley or the casual vibes in Sonoma, you can’t go wrong if you’re choosing Auteur.

 

Did You Know?

In addition to winemaking, Kenneth Juhasz personally oversees vineyard management of the 16 individual blocks (and growing!) across Northern California where he sources fruit.

Auteur Wines

373 First St. W.

Sonoma, CA  95476

and

10520 Wohler Road

Healdsburg, CA 95448

Tastings

Appellation-Series: Curated flight of terroir-driven wines from blended appellations of Northern California coast. $40 per person

Single-Vineyard Series: Curated flight of limited vineyard-designate wines sourced exclusively from a specific vineyard. $60 per person