As the Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railroad of the West Sonoma County hills was true to its mission of carrying the folks who lived there to town, carrying their produce and fish to market, and to safely seeing their children to school, and then back home again, we at Orchard Station Winery are dedicated to our mission of producing wines which are true to the grapes from which they are made.

Thanks to stainless steel fermentation which accentuates its zesty qualities, the grapes true distinctive and penetrating aromas are not lost in our Orchard Station Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Russian River. The clean green apple aromas are strikingly crisp, while pink grapefruit flavors satisfy even the driest of palettes.

Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most versatile food wines, refreshingly complementing everything from fresh shellfish and Caesar salad, to fried chicken and aged Jarlsberg cheese

Those of us, who chanted “ABC” (Anything But Chardonnay) because of the fad beginning in the 1980s to make Chardonnay grapes into heavily oaked and buttery wines, are increasingly singing a new song. We the anti-chardonnay set are thankfully finding a leaner, crisper, and fresher version of the wine. Orchard Station Chardonnay –Sonoma County 2006 and 2007 vintages have just the right amount of oak to promote a crisp spiciness, while the true fruit qualities of apples, pears and lemons, dominate the palette.

A good rule of thumb for wine pairings is to find foods from the same region where the grapes were grown. Thus, this Chardonnay perfectly compliments crab cakes, oysters, clams, stuffed salmon, and corn on the cob.
. A cool honeydew melon for dessert completes the ultimate Sonoma County feast.

Along with the cool coastal breezes of Sonoma County’s western hills and valleys comes the afternoon marine fog layer. The fog settles in the river valleys and spills over the coastal mountains slowing grape ripening to a crawl. Orchard Station Russian River Gewurztraminer 2007 loves it. The grapes bloom early in the spring making them susceptible to spring frosts and freezes. But the ocean breezes help to keep a temperate cool cloak protecting the fragile grapes allowing for a long “hang-time”. It is a mimic of the cool Alsatian home to the varietal along the Rhine River of France. From this precarious situation comes a full- bodied spicy wine with perfumey aromas and rose overtones. A bit of residual sugar left in the wine during fermentation lends an exotic pleasant finish.

The Orchard Station Clarksburg 2006 vintage more resembles the version of warmer climates. Its dark pink grapes turn to a rich golden wine of strong floral aromas and distinctive exotic fruit flavors. It is slightly high in alcohol after fermentation leaving a crisp and clean acidic finish masked ever so gingerly by a bit of residual sugar.

Only a lucky few experience a picnic at the coast of Sonoma County. The perfect picnic includes a hot pepper spicy fish or chicken sandwich, fresh local fruit and cheeses, and of course a chilled bottle of Gewurztraminer. This wine also compliments oriental 5 spice, curries and even the Thanksgiving Turkey!

All of our wines can be purchased on-line or in-person at The Wine Room

	“We’ll meet you at the station.” Rose petals stick to the nose, while sweet-ish floral and light apricot flavors dutifully follow like a caboose
	Sonoma County - Zesty citus and spice. Perfectly balanced with just the right touch of oak. The chardonnay for the anti-chardonnay set.
	Strikingly crisp green apple. Granny Smith was hiding in the wine cellar. So clean, it squeaks. Limited Winner Silver Medal- SF Chronicle Wine Competition.

All of our wines can be purchased on-line or in-person at The Wine Room