Hanzell Vineyards

Ambassador James D. Zellerbach founded Hanzell in 1953 with the explicit aim of making California wines that could compete on the world stage, a genuinely radical ambition at the time. He named it for his wife Hana.

The estate sits at the southern toe of the Mayacamas range, overlooking the south-western end of Sonoma Valley and San Pablo Bay. Seven decades of continuous farming later, it is certified organic, and the family frame stewardship as an ethical, social and ecological responsibility rather than a marketing position. Everything is estate grown and produced: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Michael scores ambiance and wine at 8 apiece. Appointments required. Essential for an organic Sonoma tour with historical depth.