As we give thanks this November, this time offers an opportunity to express gratitude to the many family-owned wineries that produce great grape juice here in our Golden State. I know that I am guilty of grabbing a quick, occasional bottle at corporate behemoths like Kroger or Target, but if there were ever a time to shop local, it’s right now. This holiday, please consider ordering directly from the families who nurture these vines as you pass the pie with your own people. Buying “direct-to-consumer,” or DTC, means joining a wine club or ordering from a winery’s website, thus cutting out the middleman and related distribution costs. We are lucky to have this option in California!
Below are six small wineries that make exceptional, small-batch products worthy of a pour at your Thanksgiving table. Because the flavors of the feast are so diverse, there’s a recommended pairing here for every palate and price-point. We are grateful for the opportunity to share these recommended bottles with you, and we wish you and yours a joyful holiday season ahead.
Foursight Wines
Easily one of my favorite producers in the cool-climate Anderson Valley of Mendocino, Foursight Wines is both a reference to four generations of the Charles family’s winegrowing and to their vision of stewardship for the land they still call home.
Recommended Bottle: Sauvignon Blanc, “Charles Vineyard” (Anderson Valley, 2022) SRP $32
Kaena Wine
Winemaker Mikael Segouin was raised in Hawai’i by his great-grandmother Tutu who called him “Ka’ena’ai”—meaning “potential for greatness.” Kaena Wines is his tribute to her, as he looks to bottle greatness and to spread aloha in the Santa Ynez Valley. Mikael’s mantra is to “Work as hard as you possibly can. Ask questions. Be aware. Most importantly, be humble.”
Recommended Bottle: Grenache Rosé (Santa Ynez, 2023) SRP $30
Hook & Ladder Winery
The De Loach family has grown grapes in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley since a San Francisco firefighter named Cecil bought the Barbieri Ranch there in 1970. Hook & Ladder is his family’s tribute to him and with over fifty years of viticultural experience, they remain a benchmark winery in the valley with grandson Jason De Loach now at the helm.
Recommended Bottle: Zinfandel, “Marucci Farms” (Russian River Valley, 2021) SRP $48
Ward Four Wines
Justin Michelle Ward Trabue is a fourth-generation native of Washington DC who makes four wines, one for each of her “core four”—the four family members who’ve inspired her on her winemaking journey. A true micro producer, she makes tiny quantities of ultra-premium wines that sell out quickly so try to join her mailing list if you can.
Recommended Bottle: Barbera, “Algerfield / Favalora Vineyards” (Sonoma / Contra Costa, 2023) SRP $40
Fort Ross Vineyard
Lester and Linda Schwartz were told they were crazy when they planted their landmark vineyard perched at the very edge of the Pacific along the Sonoma Coast. Undeterred since 1988, Fort Ross Vineyard has since become sacred ground for cool-climate chardonnay and pinot noir. Adding winemaker Jeff Pisoni to the team in 2009 has solidified Fort Ross as one of California’s true grand cru sites.
Recommended Bottle: Pinot Noir, Estate (Sonoma Coast, 2021) SRP $54
Lang & Reed
John and Tracey Skupny settled in Napa in 1984, and their winery is a combination of their two sons’ middle names. If there’s nicer people in the business, I’d like to meet them because I think it’s impossible. Bucking trends is their forte as they’ve consistently eschewed high-alcohol cabernet sauvignon and buttery chardonnay in favor of herbaceous cabernet franc and delicious chenin blanc.
Recommended Bottle: Cabernet Franc, “2-14” (Napa Valley, 2019) SRP $90
