My Best Kept Secret is… Hang Out with the Proprietors!

One of my favorite parts of having been a winery tour guide for the past 18 years is getting to know the hardworking people who own and manage the vineyards and nearby businesses. They’ve helped create so many memorable experiences for me and my clients, whether it’s picnic lunches in their Redwood groves, special tastings on their patios, or homemade meals at their dining room tables. They freely share their in-depth knowledge of winemaking and always come through with the best personal recs on wine, food, and area attractions. Hanging with the proprietor is a true perk of visiting local hotspots with a guide, so I’m spotlighting some of my best kept secrets here. These folks are programmed into my phone so I can contact them directly to book tastings. I’m not being biased when I say they make some of the best wine around!

Brad Alper - Square Peg Winery (Russian River AVA)

Square Peg is run by a wonderful father/son duo. Brad’s the laid back, easy-to-talk-to guy known to take guests on an ATV ride through the vineyard while talking about dry farming techniques. His son Alex is always friendly and personable, whether he’s chatting about wines or his Star Wars collection. Their Pinot Noir is a favorite of mine.

Here's Brad in his own words: “Before this, I was a 777 International Captain for American Airlines. I left Los Angeles in search of a slower, more grounded lifestyle. This property gave me just that—and opened the door to a whole new chapter. I retired early to focus full-time on Square Peg and haven’t looked back.  

I love walking guests through our farming techniques. Grafting always sparks curiosity. It’s a great way to show how hands-on the work really is. I also enjoy sharing how we approach sustainability and dry farming, as well as telling the story of how I ended up here and some of the rich history of the area. It makes the tasting feel more personal and meaningful.

We pour Estate-grown Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Rosé—all made from grapes grown right here on the estate. We’re truly a family operation. I work closely with my son, Alex, and we’re both hands-on with everything we do. Our tasting room sits right on the vineyard, so you get an incredible view while you taste—it really feels like you’re right in the vines. It also doubles as a fine art gallery, featuring paintings, mosaics, and bronze sculptures by my wife, Alanna Roth. It adds a whole other layer to the experience.”  

Greg and Lindsay Hamilton - Hamilton Family Wines (Sonoma Valley AVA)

In addition to their Tasting Room in Kenwood, Lindsay and Greg often host guests on their own property, setting them up at the sweet little barn or near the vineyard’s walnut tree. The Tasting Room allows walk-ins, but you need an appointment for the rest. Hamilton has delicious Rhône varietals as well as Pinot Noir.

Here’s Greg in his own words: “Lindsay and I started making wine in our garage in 2011. In August 2016, we moved to Kenwood in the heart of Sonoma Valley with a long-term goal of starting Hamilton Family Wines. In 2017, we lost our home in a wildfire. A few weeks after that, we were drinking wine one evening when we looked at each other and said, “What are we waiting for?” So, in June of 2019 we launched Hamilton Family Wines.

During our exclusive vineyard tour, only available through trusted partners like Leone Wine Tours, I get our guests up from the table, glass in hand, and walk them into the vineyard. I typically do this while tasting our Pinot Noir so I can talk about clonal selection, one of the most crucial concepts to understanding Pinot Noir, more so than terroir. I work hard to foster a safe space for questions and try to avoid jargon unless I'm explaining its use and relevance to the topic at hand.

Our fruit comes from organic and sustainable vineyards, is native fermented, typically unfined, unfiltered, and vegan friendly. We do not use heavy-handed winemaking techniques, preferring our wines to express themselves, and we avoid additives (beyond yeast food and sulfite) and adjuncts (like animal products).  

We like to showcase the breadth of what Sonoma County is capable of producing. We have crisp and refreshing, cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc, estate grown, gold-medal winning Rosé of Grenache, Pinot Noir with dark cherry and red current underpinned with savory and earthy notes, a single-vineyard GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) red blend, and a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the slopes of Moon Mountain - a guest favorite!”

Bill Pesonen – William Gordon Winery (Alexander Valley AVA)

William Gordon Winery has a warm atmosphere, and Bill is at the heart of that. In addition to growing grapes and fruits for wine, William Gordon grows olives and presses them into their own olive oil. When Bill’s partner Roy isn’t at his frame shop, The Frame Up, he joins in and goes out of his way to make sure everyone’s having a great time. I’ve even seen him bring someone a cocktail because they were wined out! Their lovely garden patio is a perfect spot for a picnic.

Here’s Bill in his own words: “Agriculture has always been in my blood. From an early age, in the 60’s, my folks would take the family up to the Napa Valley for wine tasting and exploring the vineyards. I’ve always loved those experiences. After a long aviation career, I wanted to do something different and something I felt passionate about. Growing grapes and making wine was always a dream. It was time to make that dream come true.

In the vineyard, I love working with the grapes, nurturing them to become fruitful, and working the land in a minimal way to support grape vitality. That makes me feel good about my farming and connection with the land. It’s a responsibility. In the winery, I love harvest and working with each varietal as they go through fermentation. The aromas and changes as the juice becomes wine is magical.  

Our tastings are personal. When you and your group are here, it’s just you and your group, no others.  We offer a personalized experience. Our tastings go through several of our wines and offer a brief tour of our boutique winery. I enjoy getting to know our guests. After introductions and some information about our wines, I want to become familiar with these people - what they like, where they live, what they do, and what they’ve accomplished. Making that connection helps me remember them and know what they love about wine. I love their stories.”

Allie Ketcham - Ketcham Estate Winery (Russian River AVA)

Allie is incredibly welcoming, literally hosting folks at her dining room table, which has beautiful windows overlooking the vineyard. One of her special offerings includes homemade lunch or dinner to pair with Ketcham’s wines. For folks wanting an intimate, heartfelt experience, Ketcham is an excellent choice.

Here’s Allie in her own words: “My late husband Mark Ketcham acquired the vineyard property on Eastside Road in 2000. In 2007, we married, moved up to the property together, and raised our children. Savannah was born in 2008 and Nick in 2010. When you make wine, it is an all hands on deck operation. From early on, I traveled with Mark and hosted people from all over and assisted in all aspects of the process. 

I enjoy welcoming guests to my home with an elegantly set table and a view of the vineyard below. Guests will sample a variety of our wines beginning with Rosé & Viognier followed by a selection of Pinot Noir followed by Cabernet Sauvignon. Guests will gain an education about Russian River Pinot Noir, the wine blending process, and what to look for when enjoying wines—aromas, taste, finish. 

We offer a private tasting with light snacks, wine paired lunches, and wine paired dinners. We also travel to people’s homes and offer private tasting for wine enthusiasts. I love getting to meet people from all over and sharing our delicious wines. Come visit us next time you are in Healdsburg.”

Dalya Sachs – The Dalya Estate (Russian River Valley and Green Valley AVAs)

When looking for a special place to stay in the Russian River area, I recommend The Dalya Estate. It’s set up well for groups (up to 14) and has lovely smaller accommodations for a couple. There’s a lap pool overlooking the vineyard, serene gardens, and a fully equipped kitchen. Dalya is a wonderful host. You’ll never want to leave!

Here’s Dalya in her own words: “Purchasing this estate was the very happy result of a personal quest to reclaim my piece of California, my lifelong home until I moved to Austin a few years ago. I grew up just 45 minutes south of the estate, so having my own place close by was very important to me.

The Dalya Estate is a boutique vineyard property producing award-winning organically farmed Chardonnay in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County. Our luxury vacation rental homes, the Main House, Pool House and Guest House offer 7 bedrooms and 5 baths and are surrounded by breathtaking gardens and vineyards. There’s a relaxed elegance, set in lush landscaping, that recalls Tuscany or Provence. 

Guests can experience Sonoma’s coastal charms and its small-town vibes with pampering spas, majestic drives along the Pacific Coast, serene hiking trails through the redwoods, a vibrant local music and art scene, and world-class culinary creativity. 

I love to show people around the property, pointing out things that I love, like the secret garden - a fabulous place for dinners with friends or even a sunset dance party! I like helping them understand, geographically, how close the estate is to the Pacific Ocean, where the Russian River runs in relation to where we are, the way to nearby Bohemian Grove, and what wonderful wineries are within view. Iron Horse, Littorai, Gary Farrell, Lynmar Estate, Small Vines, Ryme, DRNK, Emeritus, Merry Edwards, and so many more are literally minutes away. Our screen porch is a sweet spot that always surprises and charms people. It’s a great place to settle in with a good book and wonderful glass of wine - ideally Mascarin Wines’ Dalya Estate Vineyard Chardonnay!”

Ethic Ciders – Ned Lawton

Besides grapes, there’s another popular crop grown in the Sebastopol area - apples! It’s particularly known for Gravensteins, but there’s also other special varietals like Jonathan, Nehou, and Golden Russet. Those looking to try something different should visit this super cute tasting room and cidery, which makes some of the best ciders I’ve had. On a recent visit I enjoyed a cider mimosa with fresh OJ. Join me for one on Ethic’s sweet little patio by the cidery where we can chat with Ned about all things cider!

Here’s Ned in his own words: “Six years ago, we began a journey, and the journey came to cider. I love that we get to preserve the heritage of apples in Sonoma County. For us, it’s about keeping the truth of the fruit together, that is the ethic of our fruit.

We offer 5 oz. pours of our latest cider blends, including rare single-varietal ciders. We also offer orchard tours and have special learning events on the farm. One my favorite things is showing guests the whole process, from growing apples to making cider and tasting the results.

We’re quite proud of our sustainability. We’ve placed plants and vegetation around the outside of the orchard so we can have greater biodiversity of birds and insects. That helps us pollinate our trees and brings local bees to the area.

What we are ultimately about is bringing the community together around a shared glass of cider and helping them understand where their fruit comes from.”