Winery Woodenhead Winery

The winemaking at Woodenhead is pure and simple, or if you will, Burgundian done California style. Our wine is handcrafted from a hard labor of love in tune to the natural rhythm of the land, the water, the air and the seasons. No mechanical pumping is employed. Inoculated yeast and malolactic cultures, hand punching, basket […]

Woodenhead Winery / Sep 30, 2011
Wine awards 2019 Zinfandel, 1925/1939 Old Vine, Alexander Valley

Medium dark ruby in color. Aromas of sweet briar predominate, dark fruits with a little creamy toasted oak. Maybe a little rose and Earl Grey tea also. Mouthfilling, almost explosive (in a good way). Dark plums and berries, blueberries and blood orange. Asian spices underlay with interesting herbal characteristics. Not a blockbuster, but restrained in […]

Woodenhead Winery / Mar 21, 2022
Wine awards 2019 Chardonnay, Piper Ranch. Manchester Ridge

A remote coastal vineyard on Manchester Ridge overlooking the ocean and the town of Manchester in the distance below. The vineyard itself is on a mesa about 7 miles off of pavement in a wild and scenic spot. Clean air, ocean breezes, ridge heat and Ornbaum-Zeni complex loam soils are the characteristics of this terroir. […]

Woodenhead Winery / Mar 21, 2022
Wine awards 2018 Pinot Noir, Conzelman Vineyard, Anderson Valley

A new wine for us. Planted by Bruce and Moira Conzelman in 2001, but the block I worked with is from 2014, low hillsides. These vines were initially used for their own label, Harmonique wines. The winemaker was Robert Klindt, owner of Claudia Springs winery. The vineyard is also considered Deep End in Anderson Valley. […]

Woodenhead Winery / Mar 21, 2022
Wine awards 2019 Pinot Noir, Mendocino Ridge

Planted in 2003 and 2004 by a company called Manchester Ridge LLC, on land leased from the Piper Family, which in the end gave up and was then taken over by the family and managed by Martin Mochizuki. I discovered this wine under the La Follete label and was enamored. Made by some distinguished names […]

Woodenhead Winery / Mar 21, 2022
Wine awards 2019 Sparkl;ing “Naturale” Methode Champenoise, Russian River Valley

Racy and tart, bone dry, with mineral expressions. A pick-me-up for the palate. Great with oysters on the half shell.

Woodenhead Winery / Apr 25, 2022
Wine awards 2017 Pinot Noir, Ritchie Vineyard, Cinder Cone, Russian River Valley

The Vineyard: This block is planted to 9 double rows of both Martini #58 and Pommard #5 clones. A total of 910 vines planted in 1972. 45 years old this vintage. One of the oldest plantings of Pinot Noir in the State of california. The soil profile is two feet of Goldridge loam on top […]

Woodenhead Winery / Apr 25, 2022
Insider Perks Nik’s Favorite

Come in on a Sunday and mention “Nik’s Favorite” to receive a 30% discount on the 2018 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.

Woodenhead Winery / May 19, 2022
Wine awards 2021 French Colombard, “Halfshell White” Wes Cameron Ranch, RRV

French Colombard is a moderately aromatic white wine with plenty of juicy acidity and pronounced minerality, it’s delicious! We make ours in a dry, crisp style as a single varietal, (which by the way is very rare now on the North Coast), and makes it suitable not only for raw oysters, but for cooked oysters […]

Woodenhead Winery / Jun 17, 2022
Wine awards 2019 Zinfandel, 1925/1939 Old Vine, Alexander Valley

The Vineyard: The grapes from this vineyard came to me via an old friend, Darryl Miller, who is a wine marketer and worked for the former White Oak Winery property in Alexander Valley. As the winery went up for sale, the grapes had no buyer. Enter Woodenhead…I did due diligence on trying to locate the […]

Woodenhead Winery / Jun 17, 2022