Patz & Hall Winery
It’s a beautiful thing driving through the bustling urban city and into the rolling hills of the wine country. Our team just had this experience as we visited the Sonoma House at Patz & Hall to meet our new marketing partner, see the winery and learn about the history of their grapes and land.
Donald and Heather Patz, James Hall and Anne Moses started out as friends who enjoyed drinking wine together. Once they decided to make their own wine, it was so to their—and all of their friends’—liking, they founded Patz & Hall in 1988. Today, Patz & Hall makes an acclaimed collection of nearly 20 coveted single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines and a new Brut sparkling wine.
Just last year, the four founders unveiled their stunning new Sonoma House. Amid a majestic backdrop of vineyards and mountains, the Sonoma House is an idyllic setting for sipping wine and learning about the rich history of where it came from.
As we entered into the luxurious Salon for our tasting experience, the walls were decorated with black and white photography of some of California’s most famous grape farmers—many of who have been working with Patz & Hall for decades, and whose vineyards span some of the finest winegrowing terrain on the Sonoma Coast, Napa Valley, Russian River Valley, Mendocino County and Santa Lucia Highlands.
At each of our seats, there were six symmetrical wine glasses, three each of Chardonnay and Pinot, waiting along with delicious artisanal bites from La Saison to accompany our tasting.
Kathy Gordon, our wine educator, explained the history of each farmer, the terroir, and why each vineyard was chosen by Winemaker James Hall and his cofounders. Each wine had its own distinctive flavor, all so good it was hard to pick a favorite. One of my personal standouts was the Brown Ranch Pinot Noir with an aroma that hinted of the eucalyptus trees growing near the vineyard.
The Patz & Hall team was hospitable and knowledgeable about the wines, the viticulture and their origins. We were sad to leave, but will definitely be going back. Stay tuned for some fun collaboration with Patz & Hall in the months to come!
