Sip & Swirl

It's our namesake product – the heady nectar that's the essence of Wine Country. Red or white, sparkling or still, wine is omnipresent on our tables and in the vineyard views out our windows. Many local jobs are connected, directly or tangentially, to the substance dubbed “bottled poetry” and to those who come here seeking it – from tasting rooms, labs, bottle manufacturers, and shippers to hotels, restaurants and spas. Whether or not we draw our paychecks from the wine business, it's an undeniable presence; the reason life here has the refinement and beauty we savor. This year's winning establishments are the essence of the essence – the places to go to swirl, sniff, and sip –and experience the Wine Country's heart and soul.

>>2007 Winners in the Sip & Swirl Category

Best Tasting Room

A good winetasting experience is about more than what's in the glass. Knowledgeable staff, a hands-on tour, a picturesque setting and a welcoming spot for a picnic can all enhance a winery visit. For an added treat explore California's winemaking's roots with a stop at tasting rooms that serve a bit of history with their chardonnay. Buena Vista Winery's Stone Press House in Sonoma is where it all began in 1857, when Count Agoston Haraszthy planted vines from cuttings he brought from Europe; today, the winery's knowledgeable staff lead guided tours into the cool, musty depths of the building, where history hangs in the air along with the bouquet of fine wine. Over in Napa Valley, the grounds of Rubicon Estate are similarly evocative: The elegant chateau, with sweeping terraces and magisterial gardens, was originally constructed as Inglenook by Gustav Niebaum in 1880, and produced world-class wines long before its sale to Heublein in the late 1960s kicked off Napa's multi-national era. Now owned by Francis Ford Coppola, Rubicon's storied halls are home to art in many forms – top-tier wines as well as memorabilia from Coppola's superstar film career. Finally, for a purely modern take on the winetasting experience, head to Artesa Winery in the Carneros, where stunning views, sleek fountains and sculpture, and dramatic minimalist architecture make for a sophisticated complement to the wines. From past to present, it's an all-around intoxicating experience.

Best Local Winemaker

“First-growth.” In France, the words honor the finest wines at the pinnacle of a centuries-old winemaking tradition. In Wine Country, they equate with one name: Harlan Estate. When real estate magnate Bill Harlan began purchasing vineyards on the slopes above Oakville in 1984, he had in mind nothing less than creating a true “first growth” – a wine to rival Lafite, Petrus and Mouton-Rothschild. The man he chose to make his vision a reality? Bob Levy, a winemaker whose passion for perfection borders on obsession. It took twelve years to release Harlan Estate's first vintage, so insistent were the pair on attaining perfection. And it has paid off: It's not unusual for Harlan lots to fetch six-figure bids at Auction Napa Valley, and individual bottles are sold for hundreds of dollars to the lucky few who can find them. Levy and Harlan's second venture, Bond Estates, promises more of the same: Small-lot, single-vineyard cabernets hailing from premier territory, such as Spring Mountain and the Rutherford Bench. Once again, Levy's mandate is the same: Producing wines that are the ultimate expression of the land. And once again, the result is first-rate – and deserving of the term first-growth.