Iron Horse

Iron Horse is a pioneering estate winery founded in 1976 in Green Valley, tucked inside the Russian River Valley, and it makes some of California's most celebrated sparkling wines. It is marking fifty years.

Michael's note captures it well: rustic, very fun atmosphere, reasonably priced. That combination is genuinely rare among sparkling houses, which tend toward formality. Tastings are outdoors, looking across the estate vineyards, and the setting does most of the work. Alongside the sparkling, the Chardonnays are radiant and the Pinot Noirs balance elegance with depth. Appointments required. Michael scores ambiance and wine at 8 apiece. One of the strongest value stops on a Sonoma sparkling itinerary.