Why you should visit Russian River wineries that farm organically or biodynamically
This blog post covers the best wineries in the Russian River Valley of California. These Russian River wineries make organic and biodynamic wine.
The Russian River Valley is known for its world-class wines and beautiful vineyards. Pinot Noir is the name of the game here.
The American Viticultural Area is notoriously prone to mildew due to its foggy marine layer and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Many local wineries reach for chemicals to combat mildew. But not the wineries on this list.
These four wineries reject chemicals in favor of natural solutions. They farm organically or biodynamically. And, as a result, they make great wines that are also good for the earth.
Each of the wineries on this list offers something special whether it’s an outdoor tasting with fabulous vineyard views or a delicious wine made from old-vine Zinfandel or single vineyard Pinot Noir.
These wineries are also deeply personal. They’re typically family-owned, which means a close-knit team of people makes the business decisions. Sometimes the roles of grower, winemaker, and owner are fulfilled by just one person.
The Russian River Valley AVA boasts some of the finest vineyards in Northern California. These four organic and biodynamic wineries make some of the best wine available in this special region.
How to access the Russian River Valley of California
If you already live in Northern California, then great! You can easily drive to the wineries on this list. But if you’re not based in California then you should fly into a nearby city, rent a car, and drive to the wineries on this list.
The four wineries we’ll discuss in this blog post are based near the towns of Forestville, Guerneville, Santa Rosa, and Healdsburg, California. Healdsburg is the most famous of these four towns.
The region’s biggest commercial airports are San Francisco Airport (SFO) and Oakland International Airport (OAK). Let’s say you fly into San Francisco. Santa Rosa is the nearest of these four towns; it’s located about 69 miles from SFO. Forestville is located 80 miles from SFO and Healdsburg is 82 miles away. Guerneville is the furthest; it’s located 87 miles away.
As you can see you’ll definitely need a car in order to reach the wineries listed in this blog post. It’d be wise to make a list of the wineries you’re most interested in visiting. And then choose a nearby town as your home base.
Hopefully this list of the four best Russian River Valley wineries that make organic and biodynamic wine offers inspiration!
The best Russian River wineries for a biodynamic or organic wine tasting
Horse & Plow (Sebastopol, CA)
Horse & Plow makes handcrafted wine and cider in Sebastopol, California.
They’ve got a barn-style tasting room and plenty of outdoor seating. On Sundays Horse & Plow hosts live music events from 2-4 PM for guests who are 21 and over.
Owners Suzanne and Chris started Horse & Plow in 2008. They craft a variety of white wines, red wines, and dry sparkling ciders. They work with Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Riesling, Carignane, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir grapes.
Chris is a California native who attended the Enology program at UC Davis. Suzanne is a Georgia transplant who’s worked harvest in France (Comte Armand) and California (DeLoach, David Bruce and Goldeneye wineries). Together they’ve created a winery where organic farming, traditional techniques, and small lot fermentations are their bread and butter.
Horse & Plow offers several tasting options. The wine tasting costs $30 per person and includes a taste of four wines. The wine and cider flight includes two of each and costs $25. The cider-specific tasting has four tastes for $20.
If you’d like to dive in headfirst with a guided tasting then book the “Winemaker Private Tasting,” which costs $50 per person. It’s typically offered on Saturdays at 1 PM and 3 PM. All of these tasting experiences are available to book via the Horse & Plow Tock profile.
The Horse & Plow tasting room in Sebastopol, California is open Thursday through Monday from 12-5 PM. They’re closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Porter Creek Vineyards (Healdsburg, CA)
Porter Creek Vineyards makes organic wine in Healdsburg, California.
Since 2003 their estate vineyards have been certified Organic and Biodynamic. Owner Alex Davis focuses on biodiversity by allowing native plants to flourish alongside the vines. When it comes to preventing mildew he eschews strong pesticides in favor of careful timing and tending.
Porter Creek Vineyards grows roughly two-thirds of the fruit they use. The remaining third comes from growers who share similar ideals. In a nutshell, this means that “no synthetic chemicals” were used on the fruit.
Guests can enjoy a sit-down tasting at tables located just outside the tasting room. The seated tasting includes samples of five wines for $30 per person. For every two bottles of wine purchased you can waive one tasting fee.
Walk-ins are welcome depending on availability. But it would be better to book a tasting in advance via the Porter Creek Vineyards Tock profile.
By the way, this family-owned winery offers complimentary tastings to local wine industry professionals. If you’re an employee at a winery in the Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, or Alexander Valley you can enjoy a tasting on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.
Deloach Vineyards (Santa Rosa, CA)
Deloach Vineyards is a Northern California winery with a French soul.
In 2003 the Boisset family of Burgundy, France purchased DeLoach. Boisset Family Estates manages the winery with the idea that people should treat the land well so future generations can enjoy it too.
Deloach Vineyards is certified organic and Biodynamic. In 2008 the California Certified Organic Farmers agency awarded Deloach Vineyards an organic certification. In 2009 the Demeter Association granted this 21-acre property a Biodynamic certification.
Today the winery continues to encourage biodiversity by allowing chickens, bees, and a variety of plants to thrive at their small estate winery.
Deloach Vineyards works with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel grapes. They even make Blanc de Noirs sparkling wine from their estate-grown grapes.
The winery offers a variety of tasting experiences including the “Appellation Tasting,” “Franco-American Tasting,” and “Taste of the Estate” tastings. There’s even a guided garden and estate tour, which includes a walking tour of the vineyard and garden.
Some experiences require advance reservations, which you can make via the DeLoach Vineyards Tock profile. DeLoach Vineyards in Santa Rose, California is open Thursday through Monday from 12-5 PM. They’re closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Porter-Bass Vineyard & Winery (Guerneville, CA)
Porter-Bass Winery offers outdoor tastings beneath their beautiful walnut tree.
Owner Luke Bass grew up on the property. He learned about winemaking by watching his parents make homemade wine. He later honed his skills at Flowers Winery, which is one of the best wineries in Healdsburg, California.
Bass ferments his wines with indigenous yeasts. His minimal intervention approach produces wines that truly let the grapes shine.
Coastal fog cools Porter-Bass Vineyard in a way that maintains the “acidity, minerality and freshness of the fruit.”
Porter-Bass Vineyard & Winery hosts wine tastings beneath the walnut tree that overlooks their vineyard. Tastings typically last 45 minutes. The $25 per person tasting fee is waived if you make a purchase. You can book your tasting via their website.
Porter-Bass Winery in Guerneville, California is open from 10 AM to 4 PM Monday through Saturday. On Sundays they open at 11 AM.
Other wine regions to explore
California wine country destinations you should visit
The Russian River Valley AVA occupies the geographical heart of Sonoma County. But the Sonoma Coast region is not the only California wine area worth a visit.
Los Olivos is located in California’s Santa Ynez Valley. Los Olivos is home to several wineries that make excellent organic wine. These wines are often handcrafted, single varietal, and single vineyard. Our list of the best Los Olivos, California wineries shows you where to find organic wines that are absolutely delicious.
Los Alamos is similar to Los Olivos. It’s another small town nestled in the Santa Ynez Valley. And it’s only 13 minutes by car from Los Olivos, so it’s very easy to visit both towns during the same trip. Here are four amazing organic Los Alamos wineries to round out your Santa Ynez adventure.
If you journey north you’ll find Northern California’s crown jewels: Napa, Yountville, Healdsburg, and Sonoma.
Our lists of the best boutique Napa wineries and the best downtown Napa wineries gives you great info on the Napa Valley. The wineries in and around downtown Healdsburg are also worth a visit. Our list of the best Healdsburg wineries is a good jumping off point.
Sonoma is another Northern California wine country gem. These wineries in Sonoma Square make wonderful organic and natural wines. Plus they’re within easy walking distance of one another. They’re easy, accessible, and delicious. What more could you want?
Although Southern California is not as famous in the wine world, it’d be a shame not to mention our latest SoCal finds. This list covers six amazing Los Angeles wineries that offer everything from fresh natural wines to big bold reds.
Malibu is just up the road and it’s got a few surprises. We cover several Malibu wineries and wine bars nestled in the Malibu hills and perched near the Pacific Ocean.
Oregon wine regions worth a second look
Oregon’s Willamette Valley and California’s Russian River Valley have one key thing in common: they both produce stellar Pinot Noir wines. Our list of the best Willamette Valley wineries showcases over a dozen top wineries with great wine tastings.
The Applegate Valley is a fifty mile stretch of land in Southern Oregon State near the California border. These six Applegate wineries make unique and delicious wines.
Ashland is another Southern Oregon destination. Best known for its Oregon Shakespeare Festival, this small gem of a town is also home to several wonderful wineries that make beautiful wines. Our list of the best Ashland wineries shows you where to grab a glass in between plays.
