Anderson Valley’s Acclaimed Certified-Sustainable Pinot Noir House Welcomes Guests for Tastings
June 16, 2015; (PHILO, Calif.)—Lazy Creek Vineyards, one of Anderson Valley’s cult wineries, has opened its doors for the tasting season. The charming, rustic winery, which produces just 6,500 cases of wine a year, is open from Spring through Fall for tastings Friday-Monday between 10:30am and 4:30pm. It has been a big year for Lazy Creek Vineyards, so first-time and returning visitors will have a lot to experience when visiting this hidden gem of Mendocino County.
In October of 2014, Lazy Creek Vineyards was named a California Certified Sustainable Winery (CCSW). Lazy Creek’s entire ranch has been sustainably-farmed since its beginnings more than 40 years ago, and current owners Don and Rhonda Carano have extended their vision of land preservation from the vineyard to the winery. Lazy Creek Vineyards closed between 2012 and 2014 for a two-year-long renovation. The winery added a cave barrel storage facility, which allows wine to age in a passively-cooled environment that requires no air conditioning, as well as a Bioreactor waste water processing system, which takes used runoff and cleans the water for use in vineyard and farm irrigation, doubling the use of every gallon of water. Landscaping around the tasting room utilizes drought tolerant plants, adding beauty to the property without impacting the environment.
Aesthetic enhancements of the renovation include an L-shaped winemaking facility made from corrugated metal and timber redwood. The buildings maintain the scale and ambiance of the original farmhouse, so guests can relish the winery’s quaint country appeal, while savoring its award-winning wines.
Winemaker Christy Ackerman produces elegant single-vineyard pinot noir from estate vineyards using gentle cellar practices. The current-release 2012 Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir received a 92-point score from Wine Spectator and a 95-point score from Wine Enthusiast, appearing in their Top 100 Cellar Selections for 2014. Perfect for spring and summer are Lazy Creek Vineyards Rose of Pinot Noir, with its bright acidity and fresh berry flavors; and Lazy Creek Vineyards dry, Alsatian-style Gewurztraminer. Lazy Day is an affordable pinot noir, made from grapes blended from both estate vineyards, and available nationwide.
For more information about Lazy Creek Vineyards, please visit www.LazyCreekVineyards.com.
About Lazy Creek Vineyards
Lazy Creek Vineyards sits on a 95 acres ranch in Mendocino County’s bucolic Anderson Valley. Its vineyards were first planted more than 100 years ago, by the Italian Pinoli family. The winery was established in 1973 by Hans and Theresia Kobler, and quickly earned its reputation for excellent pinot noir and Alsatian-style gewurztraminer. In 2008, Lazy Creek Vineyards was acquired by Don and Rhonda Carano, who have continued a winemaking program emphasizing single-vineyard, terroir-driven pinot noirs and gewurztraminer, under the direction of winemaker Christy Ackerman. In 2014, Lazy Creek Vineyards was designated a California Certified Sustainable Winery (CCSW) by the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA).
Lazy Creek Vineyards is part of the Ferrari-Carano family of brands.
About Ferrari-Carano
Founded initially as a small wine farm in 1981 by hospitality-industry pioneers Don and Rhonda Carano, the Ferrari-Carano family of brands now comprises the very best in hospitality, wine and food experiences in California’s North Bay region. The portfolio comprises destination wineries in Sonoma (Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery) and Mendocino (Lazy Creek Vineyards) counties; three wine production facilities; more than 20 estate-owned vineyards spanning nearly 2,000 acres across three counties; the 44-room Vintners Inn and John Ash & Co. Restaurant; and Seasons of the Vineyard Tasting Bar & Boutique in Healdsburg. Ferrari-Carano is one of the region’s leaders, setting the bar for the highest standard in hospitality, wine quality and sustainability.
