I am always amazed at the people that read my blog! This week I was contacted by Stephanie Honig from Honig Winery. She had come across my blog while searching for articles on Honig. We exchanged emails and I decided to go over and check out what they are doing at the winery. The name Honig stands for honey in German hence the Bee in the middle of the H in their label.
Honig has been growing grapes since the 1960's when the now owner Michael's Grandfather Louis bought a prune ranch and decided to plant grapes. They only grow Sav Blanc and Cabernet. In the 1980's they decided to make wine and now have two levels of Cabernet and Sav Blanc. The Sav Blancs are the Napa Valley version and the more specific single vineyard Rutherford version.
The Cabernet is a Napa Valley version. The Spring Mountain, Bartolucci Vineyard, a single vineyard Cabernet, is their Flagship.
The winery is a example of Michael's vision of what a winery should be. He said he wanted a tasting room that was a reflection of his home, a family winery, with no tasting bar but a table to sit, taste and enjoy his wines. The tasting room is informal, there are no accessories to be purchased, with the exception of several wine books in which his dogs are featured or the winery mentioned. He said he wants his place to be about the wine and that is it, no consumer stuff.
Although the winery is not CCOP or certified organic, it is Solar. They use biodiesel in their tractors and they call their methods sustainable. They keep prices down to make their wine more approachable and they want their clients to feel at ease and not feel they are in an environment which is" snotty" by their exclusivity, as they feel much of the valley has gotten. Their Sav Blanc is $16 and the Rutherford $24. The Cabernet $40 and the Bartolucci $75. For the quality of their product I would agree these prices are very reasonable!
They also make a LH Sav Blanc which is very very good, $55 for a 375 ml. It is a dessert unto itself!
This is a place not to be missed!
850 Rutherford Crossroad, Rutherford Ca 94573 10-4 by Appointment, 707.963.5818 honigwine
The Bartolucci Cab is to die for! Honig makes some incredible wines.
Posted by: Agent Red | February 29, 2008 at 10:06 AM