Spring Update
Now that 2018 is here, we are looking forward to new beginnings for Paradise Ridge. With the fires taking so much from so many, the last few months of 2017 were a surreal and difficult time. The grief of our community’s loss was softened by the incredible LOVE Sonoma County received from all over the world. It is true, from the ash springs hope. With each new green leaf and blade of grass, we see life coming back to the beautiful land we call Paradise. The love our incredible community continues to give us the inspiration we need to move forward.
I’m sure many of you have been wondering what we have been up to. To be honest it has been a bit of a rollercoaster. Each week seems to bring challenges and unexpected obstacles in our path to rebuild. As with many others who lost their homes and property, we have found that navigating our way through recovery is not easy. With each step forward it seems we find more problems than answers. Rebuilding our database, finding a new home for our winemaking, setting up a new office, navigating insurance, debris removal, permits, renewing licenses and the piles of paperwork that need to be filled out has definitely created stress and emotional hardship. Yet every day also sends us a little something to keep us going; a club member stopping by Kenwood to see how we are doing, an email from a friend letting us know they are thinking of us, a post on social media showing our friends enjoying their cherished bottle of Paradise Ridge wine. It is these little things that bring us strength and healing.
A couple of weeks ago Dan (my husband and our winemaker) and I were in Fort Worth Texas visiting friends. These friends happen to also be wine club members and after the fires they immediately set about arranging a Paradise Ridge gathering for their friends and family. Spending an evening surrounded by people who share our loss and also our hopes for the future was magical. You may see Dan on the road a little more this year, touching base and sharing wine with our friends and supporters. Please be sure to reach out and let us know if you would like him to visit your town.
For the more practical minded people reading this, you are probably wondering how is the rebuild moving along? This is the big question and it is difficult to know exactly what the next two years will bring. We are finding the costs to rebuild to be much higher than anticipated and unfortunately our insurance will not cover those costs. We are looking into many different options, trying to find the best solution for our family and future generations.
In the meantime we are working on ideas to offer tastings and events back on the estate some time mid to late summer 2018. Whether this will be a picnic table in the vineyard or something more formal is still unknown. I would personally be thrilled to see small weddings take place at the LOVE sculpture this year.
Thank you to each one of you for being our inspiration. The stories and pictures shared of your time in Paradise is beautiful. For those who have ordered wines and visited us in Kenwood, we definitely feel your love.
Wishing you a year filled with happiness & of course extraordinary wine.
LOVE,
Sonia
Happy New Year
Happy New Year!!! A new year and a new place to make our wine. It is beautiful and has a fantastic view. Our 2017 vintage wines are going to be special!! Thanks to all your support. 2018 is going to be a great year!!!
Prwinery Updates
There is a lot going on at the winery lately. We met with the architect today discussing the rebuild and we’re also re-planting some of our estate vineyards. Things don’t seem to be slowing down.
Storied Haven
Storied Haven (The Boot) has arrived in Paradise. The newest piece to add to the collection. The grounds are still closed, but we are rebuilding to make things even better than before. Thanks Harold for an amazing truck driving skills display!
LOVE is Our Theme
Wonderful to have LOVE be the theme to help bring visitors back to Sonoma County. Thank you Sonoma County Vintners
At the intimate Paradise Ridge tasting room in Kenwood, tasting room manager Annette McDonnell, a former chef, likes to guide visitors through a 75-minute sensory wine and food exercise with the goal of helping them relax about pairing
This Sliver of Sonoma Paradise delivers a dose of art, history, nature and fine wines in one stop
Everything was flawlessly executed and surpassed our expectations… The wine was outstanding; the venue was beautiful and intimate, both inside and outside; and the ambiance lent itself to the best wedding, reception, dinner, and party in the history of mankind.
This place has the feel of an insider’s secret…it’s well worth the effort to find.
Visitors are encouraged to wander down from the tasting room and then meander in no particular order among natural paths lined only in low fieldstones smothered with moss.
Thanks from the bottom of our hearts for making our wedding day so very perfect and beautiful. It greatly exceeded our expectations!
As lizards scamper about and red tailed hawks fly above, visitors can spend as little as 10 minutes or as much time as they like.
One of the Top 10 Cellar Doors (Tasting Rooms) in California
A visit to Paradise Ridge Winery in the daytime is lovely. On summer nights with the view and the sunset, it’s a special treat
Thank you all for all your hard work in putting together what forever in our hearts will be the best day of our lives.
Join our Wine Club
- No Membership fees
- Four times each year, members receive a superb shipment of preselected wines.
- Receive a personal invitation to our annual MEMBERS ONLY party.
- First option on our limited release wines.
- and much more!
Visit us
Russian River Valley Estate
Santa Rosa, CA
Tasting Room Hours
Russian River Valley Estate - Closed
Hours: Open daily from 10am to 4:30pm
Reservations recommended
[email protected]
Phone: 707.528.9463