My first real posting...Bella.

Bella is by far my favorite winery (at the moment, anyway). It's in a region of Sonoma County called Dry Creek Valley, and it lies about 15 minutes away from the adorable (and ridiculously expensive) town of Healdsburg. The winery is fairly young but it has quickly become known for killer Zinfandels, of which they make a few versions. The best of the lot are their Big River Ranch Zinfandel and the Lily Hill Estate Zinfandel, the grapes of which lie on the hill adjacent to their tasting room and above their wine cave.

Let me start out by saying that I hate the owners. Actually, they are incredibly nice...my feeling towards them is more of a deep, gnawing, envious one. They are young, outgoing, attractive, and gosh darn it, I'd like to be in their shoes! Oh well...that ain't going to happen anytime soon. What they've achieved in a very short time is amazing. They've created a strikingly beautiful property (supposedly previously owned by the famous Meeker Family since the 1970's) with an incredible wine cave in which they pour wine for tastings and hold events. Most importantly, they've kept it casual and contained. When you visit them, you feel like you're visiting your friends at their home (your very, very wealthy friends)...certainly not the typical experience in many of the corporate-driven wineries these days.

We've been wine club members at Bella for several years now, and they consistently produce some of the best Zinfandels available on the market. Try their 2005 Lily Hill Estate Zinfandel. It has HUGE fruit with very high alcohol (15.5%). The substance and density of the wine is incredible, and you can't not feel satisfied after drinking it down with a good meal among friends. It's not for the faint of heart, though, and you won't want to be driving after a couple of glasses of the stuff. The bottles are also not cheap, (the 2005 Lily Hill Estate Zin is priced at $36/bottle for example), but it is truly one of those bottles that is worth the price. I have never been disappointed. And once you visit with Scott and Lynn Adams and remember the feeling that you had when you were on their property...you'll know why I continue to go back.