Russian River Valley Estate Provides a Beautiful New Setting for Wine Tasting, Gatherings, and Culinary Adventures Led by Acclaimed Chef Shane McAnelly
WINDSOR, Calif. (March 5, 2020) – Bricoleur Vineyards, an exciting new family-owned winery, tasting room, culinary showplace, retreat and event venue in the Russian River Valley, is pleased to announce the celebration of its Grand Opening on Saturday, May 2, 2020. The beautiful 40-acre estate is conveniently located in Windsor (recently named number one of the Top 10 Places to Visit in California in 2020 by the San Francisco Chronicle), just minutes from the Santa Rosa Airport and popular attractions, such as the new Russian River Brewing Company location. Family owned by Bay Area natives Mark and Elizabeth Hanson and daughter Sarah Hanson Citron, Bricoleur Vineyards is Sonoma County’s newest gathering place, dedicated to building connections and communities.
An ambitious vision meticulously and lovingly brought to fruition by the Hansons, Bricoleur Vineyards is unlike anywhere else in Sonoma County. Abundant with premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards, groves of olive trees, intimate picnic spots, magnificent gardens and vine-covered trellises, the estate features a charming stone pavilion, bocce ball courts, serene ponds for rowing or fishing, a refurbished historic milk barn and the newly completed Winery Barn. Farm-to-table pairings from the property’s own garden highlight the winery’s 12 stand-out varietals from prized vineyard sites.
“It’s such an exciting moment for our team to celebrate Bricoleur Vineyards’ grand opening and begin welcoming guests to enjoy our estate,” said CEO and founder Mark Hanson. “It’s been a long but rewarding journey building this special place and we are so proud of how everything came together. We can’t wait to share it with our supportive Founder’s Club members, with the extended local community that has been so welcoming, and with visitors from the Bay Area and around the world looking to create memorable experiences in Sonoma County.”
Bricoleur Vineyard’s grand opening will also mark the unveiling of the estate’s Winery Barn, designed in partnership with Ty Fiscus and Michael Gutherie & Co. The focal point of the expansive property, the Winery Barn sits just to the north of a welcoming pollarded tree courtyard overlooking the estate vineyards. Built using reclaimed wood, aligning with the winery’s sustainable practices, the Winery Barn has soaring 25-foot high ceilings, a 144-foot hay rail with vintage hay trolleys, 12-foot-tall retracting glass doors to bring the outside in year-round and afford stunning views of the surrounding vineyards, ponds and rose garden. Rustic yet refined, interiors feature plush, intimate hospitality seating areas for guests to relax and enjoy.
A beautiful, fully appointed commercial kitchen will provide guests with imaginative culinary experiences curated by Executive Chef Shane McAnelly. For the past seven years, McAnelly served as the executive chef of two popular Healdsburg restaurants, The Brass Rabbit and Chalkboard. From small bites to elaborate farm-to-table wine-paired meals, McAnelly will create fresh, seasonal dishes inspired by the bounty of Sonoma County to highlight Bricoleur’s standout wine portfolio. Examples of menu items include wood-fired pizzas, hand-made pasta, and freshly harvested vegetables from the garden starting at $55 with wine pairings. Guests can enjoy Sip & Savor dishes or the full Bricoleur Atelier wine and culinary experience in the kitchen in the Winery Barn.
Under the direction of acclaimed winemaker Cary Gott and assistant winemaker Tom Pierson, Bricoleur produces award-winning, hand-crafted, sustainably farmed Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from its estate property. Additionally, the team produces varietals from its other sustainably farmed, highly regarded vineyard, Kick Ranch in Santa Rosa, including small lots of Rosè of Grenache, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon. The viticulture team includes and the highly respected firms Advanced Viticulture and Atlas Vineyard Management.
Bricoleur is a proud and passionate supporter of local and national charities. During the summer and fall growing seasons, the winery supplies the Redwood Empire Food Bank Kitchen Collective with hand-harvested produce from the garden on property, contributing to the preparation and delivery of 4,000 fresh and nutritious meals per month for low-income seniors and families. Following the devastating Tubbs Fire in 2017, three families found refuge at Bricoleur Vineyards and the Hanson family proudly supports a number of Sonoma County charities that continue to help the fire victims. Additionally, the winery will host a number of upcoming fund-raisers, including Wishes on the Vine presented by Make-a-Wish Greater Bay Area. Already a sought-after venue for Wine Country gatherings, Bricoleur will also welcome the Russian River Valley Winegrowers for the 2020 Russian River Paulée Dinner and will be one of the vintner hosts for this year’s Sonoma County Wine Auction.
Starting on Saturday, May 2, Bricoleur Vineyards will be open to the public Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with reservations required for all wine-paired culinary experiences. A rotating series of events and programming will be announced throughout the year. Located at 7394 Starr Road in Windsor, Bricoleur Vineyards can be reached by calling (707) 857-5700, emailing info@bricoleurvineyards.com or visiting www.bricoleurvineyards.com.
About Bricoleur Vineyards
Bricoleur Vineyards is a unique wine country retreat nestled in the Russian River Valley in Windsor, California, about an hour north of San Francisco. Visitors can visit the newly renovated Winery Barn to enjoy Bricoleur Vineyard’s hand-crafted, estate-grown wines or an elaborate, wine and culinary experience guided by celebrated local Executive Chef Shane McAnelly. The 40-acre estate features a number of picturesque gathering places to relax and create memorable experiences, such as a picnic in the stone pavilion overlooking the rows of Chardonnay, strolling in the rose gardens admiring the vast array of colorful and fragrant roses, playing a friendly game of bocce ball, or simply enjoying one’s family and friends while watching the ducks and native birds by one of two serene ponds Family owned by Bay Area natives Mark and Elizabeth Hanson and daughter Sarah Hanson Citron, Bricoleur Vineyards is Sonoma County’s hidden gem, dedicated to enjoying the beauty of Sonoma County while building meaningful connections and communities.
