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48 reviews for A Rafanelli Winery
48 reviews in English
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Review from Steve D.
San Carlos, CA
12/12/2011
You go here for the wine. You don't go here for a grandiosely beautiful tasting room. You don't go here to get an ass kissing by incredibly friendly staffers. You make an appointment in advance. They give you the gate combination. You show up on time. You buy the maximum # of zin, cab, and merlot bottles that you can per person. You pay them. You leave. And the wine is fantastic. Always has been, and as this is a multi-generation family operation, I trust it always will be.
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Review from SassyCassy B.
Fort Bragg, CA
2/21/2012
A Rafanelli came highly recommended to me so my husband and I made a reservation for a tasting. We were very disappointed about the whole experience. The service was poor, we were barely greeted when we walked in the door and it was far from busy. The staff was cold and unfriendly, I felt that I was being "judged" as well. However, I did enjoy the wines and decided to buy a bottle of their 2009 Zin. When I brought it home and opened it the bottle was definitely corked and undrinkable. The next day, I called A Rafanelli asking if they do anything to compensate for corked bottles and they were far from accommodating. Their policy is that you must mail back the wine for testing before they mail you a new one. Most wineries will send another bottle immediately, including the winery I work at.
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Review from Marlene G.
Livermore, CA
10/27/2011
I visited A Rafanelli winery in mid October. I was anticipating an unforgettable tasting experience.
Unfortunately I got my hopes up way too high.
I first tasted a 2005 cab from Rafanelli at a restaurant in Mendocino county. I instantly fell in love with that cab! Finally a couple years later I called and scheduled a tasting appointment for 5 people.
As we arrived we were greeted by an extremely cute and friendly yellow lab. Unfortunately he was the friendliest of the staff.
Once in the tasting room... we were poured our tasting by a lady whose name I can't recall because she just wasn't that memorable. She poured the wine and told us the name of each and didn't give any sort of explanation of the wine or opinion of it or suggestions on what flavors to look for in the wines. She simply walked away after each pour.
The wines we tasted were definitely quality wines but nothing compared to the 2005 Cab that got me first interested in Rafanelli. Plus it was a little hard to fully appreciate the full experience of the wines when the owners seem more bothered by your presence than they are happy to share their creation.
One wine was listed at the bottom of the list we were tasting from but only available for purchase and not tasting. It was a 2005 Cab that costs $110. I was extremely curious as to weather or not this would be similar to the first Rafanelli wine I originally fell in love with.
I ended up buying the bottle that was not available for tasting and surprisingly the service became a little friendlier after that. We even were given a free bottle of olive oil.
I'm guessing our group was not initially seen as serious wine enthusiasts when we first walked in and therefore received less than friendly service until we made an expensive purchase.
If the forgettable lady serving us would have engaged in a little typical wine conversation with us, maybe she would have learned early on how much we truly love and appreciate wine and a nice wine tasting experience.
If Rafanelli ever decides to sell their wine at stores, I wouldn't hesitate to buy some but I will never make the effort to return to their tasting room to taste or just to purchase.
My hopes were up so high for this place and I was really let down. -
Review from Michelle V.
San Jose, CA
7/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
We came here for Rafanelli's 100th Year Celebration and boy was this event fun-filled and kept my wine glass "filled" too! ;)
We actually took the SBBF's dad's invitation since he was away golfing that weekend. You gotta be an exclusive member on their mailing list to even get an invite. Talk about sexy VIP status baby!
The SBBF is a big fan of Rafanelli wine and honestly he's opened a few bottles (Zin & Cab) for us before and I was never really obsessed with the flavor BUT...their Terrace Select wine is definitely to die for. I had to confirm it myself when I had a glass or two poured from the founder of this winery.
They had this event catered with extremely delicious appetizers and mini entrees. The dessert station was one where we paid a few more visits than we should have. Can ya blame us? Those lil chocolate-truffle-pop-in-your-mouth-orgasm bites were the best!!! And made a great topping for the gelato.
Food aside, we got to tour the winery and I really enjoyed walking through the "cave" where they actually have a hosted dining table for guests who make reservations for special dinners. Totally a cool factor! They had a really nice garden right outside where they had most of the food and their signature wines being poured. The band was also a very good one; played very cute and lively Italian songs.
I would love to come back here for another event and/or wine tasting. I could seriously have a whole bottle of that Terrace Select to myself right now... -
Review from Dani N.
San Gabriel, CA
9/29/2011
We made our reservations for the beginning of July and was told we were on standby because they were bottling that day. The day of our appt we got a call as promised and was told they would take us, we were thrilled and it made our day.
The grounds are amazing and there is such a sense of history and pride(in a good way) at this winery. The wines are amazing and the hostess was very courteous and did not rush us. We enjoyed every moment we spent here. This is a definite must if you are in Healdsburg.
Amazing Zins, cabs and merlot, we bought everything we tasted and added it to our Rafanelli collection. We will be back for more! -
Review from Celeste S.
El Granada, CA
6/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
A small private (means by appointment only) winery off the beaten path. No hordes of drunk bachelor and bachelorette parties. The grounds are gorgeous and the family and employees are super friendly and fun to talk to.
Oh - and the wine is quite yummy :) I do not believe you can buy it in stores but can get it at some nice restaurants in the area. So it's best to try and get on their invite list here. But I am selfish so hope they never get too big! -
Review from Jerry S.
Oakland, CA
8/17/2011
OK! Last eve (Aug 16th) my friends and I went to the Amos Lee concert at the Wells Fargo center in Santa Rosa. Before the concert we stopped at that Restaurant/Hotel (down the street from Willi's wine bar?) and following my description preference, the wait staff recomended A. Rafanelli 2009 Zin @ $54.00. Frankly, I did'nt expect anything too great. What a pleasant surprise! All of us were giggling with excitement over this perfectly arranged elixer.
The next morning, I called Stacy Rafanelli and had a lovely conversation with her (In fact, I called her twice) about her family and winery particulars; she was very generous with her time. These folks obviously take this art/science very seriously. I ordered 4 bottles of Zin @ $40 each to ship and I'm going to make an appointment to visit this island of wine-paradise as soon as I get time off work! lol
July 30, went to Chris Issak at Mondavi. Let me assure you NOTHING at Mondavi compares to this 2009 Rafanelli Zin! Nothing! -
Review from charles h.
San Francisco, CA
1/1/2011
This is my favorite winery in the US. No, I'm not a plant--I have reviewed a lot of other wineries, and there is only one "best".
The Cab is as good or better than any from the big-name wineries in Napa, and a third the price.
The Zin is simply the best in the world, better than some of the famous cult Zins (think Turley), at a fraction of the price.
For the poor souls here who couldn't get their heads around $45 wine, just remember you'll have to pay $150 or more to get anything comparable from the more famous boutiques, let alone the factories like Opus One and Silver Oak.
If you want Disney-style tours and cute-sy buffets, forget it. This place is about blow-your-doors-off good wine. The tastings are often led by David Rafanelli himself, who is about as down-to-earth as you could ask for. The reviewer who claims other local proprietors made negative remarks about the Rafannellis obviously fabricated the story. He doesn't know the culture of the winemakers here--they are a tight-knit group and would keep any criticism to themselves.
Yes, you have to make an appointment, and yes it can take time to reach someone. That's partly because they are all working multiple jobs there. But for those afraid of being pestered to join a wine club, not to worry--there is a LONG waiting list! -
Review from Gretchen T.
San Francisco, CA
11/18/2007 2 photos
One of my top three favorite wineries in this region. Spectacular grounds and views and red wine you will want to drink now and later and did I mention now? Merlot, Zin, Cab--all knee-weakeningly good. It was also the only place we visited where they don't push their wine club on you. I don't even know if they have one.
A few important notes:
*By appointment only, and while we got lucky and got a day-of Sunday appt., I think that's rare so call the week before. It's worth it.
*Be on time. I thought the tasting room guy might actually give us 50 lashes with grape vines or worse (sending us away) for being late.
*Cash or check only.
*Bottle limits. 1 or 2 bottles per person (not per couple or group though) on most wines. I was ready to pay off grape pickers to go in and buy us just a few more bottles, but I'm sure they are on to that trick. We'll just have to keep going back!Listed in: Wino Forever
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Review from Tracee E.
San Rafael, CA
3/8/2009
If you don't call weeks in advance you are out of luck tasting at Rafanelli- but we lucked into tasting there when they were open to the public for Barrel Days and were really excited because we had heard so many fabulous things about their wine.
To say that we were underwhelmed is an understatement. The wine itself isn't 2 stars, but the overall experience was. The staff wasn't overly warm and welcoming, but hey maybe after winning so many awards for so many years you don't have to try, right? If the wine spoke for itself, that would be true however I just never quite had the Cabernet speak to me $45 worth. The Zin (at $32) was not even close to the zins that you can find pretty much any where in the area to being a good value for your money. There was an estate wine for $115, but even the thought of that one makes my Marin mortgage go into a tail spin.
On the overall, the place seemed fit for the pretentious crowd that buys wine for the label and bragging rights on how expensive it is rather than those that appreciate good wines for the quality and value.Listed in: Wine Tasting in Healdsburg
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Review from David G.
Castaic, CA
8/24/2009
This story started in maybe 1999 or 2000: After a week of trying, I was finally able to get an appointment for a tasting at A. Rafanelli. My boss had told me they were his favorite wine, and said I should not miss out if I was going to Dry Creek Valley. I called every day, sometimes multiple times, during the week we were in the area. There was no answer. I left a message the rare times an answering machine picked up, but never got a call back. Our hotel concierge and several people we asked in the area suggested this was par for the course.
Finally, on the day we were to leave, I got through and got an appointment for a tasting.
I am so glad I persisted.
This was by far the best wine we had in a week of tasting. The Zin and the Cab Sav are to die for.
We've since gone back several times, and buy as much wine as we are allowed. Yes, the experience can be a bit daunting, but it is so worth it. The very special, select friends to whom we've introduced the wine become instant, rabid fans.
I hate to say this, but many of the people who have problems with the Rafanelli's would seem to be basically clueless. Case in point: On one of our visits several years ago, David Rafanelli was describing with great pride the care that goes into making their "Terrace Select" premium cabernet: How his vineyard manager picks the grapes personally, how David culls the bunches from the manager's selections with his own hands. Et cetera. He says, "This is a wine that should be put down for 10 years, maybe even 20." He explains that due to all the extra work, this bottle sells for $90, which at the time, was double or triple what their regular cab sold for.
A woman in a group that was tasting at the same time as ours hears all this, and says, "If I buy a bottle, could we drink it tonight?"
He answers, "Sure, if you're a complete IDIOT!"
So, our group gets a good laugh, but her group is a bit upset, poor babies.
I think this tale perfectly describes the self-selecting audience that makes up Rafanelli's fans. If you "get it," you get treated well, you get fantastic wine, you can even get a tour of the caves (though they will deny it angrily if you ask when you call). They don't suffer fools well at this winery, and, much like Seinfeld's soup nazi, if you don't play by the rules, then it's NO WINE FOR YOU!
This is a place for people who truly love wine for its taste. It is not for people who like fancy tasting rooms, mansion-style wineries, chatty pourers, or who believe there is "glamour" about wine. It is not for people who read glossy wine magazines and can tell you the number of points their favorite cab is rated. If you like Fess Parker, Opus One, Beringer, etc., then simply stay away.
If you like Regusci, Prager, Pezzi King, Trentadue and other small, more "rustic" wineries (and their wines), then A. Rafanelli may be for you.
Or maybe, another way to think of it is: If you are the kind of person who would rather have a beer with Anthony Bourdain or Gordon Ramsey, than Rachel Ray or Alton Brown, then maybe you are the kind of person who will appreciate the off-kilter beauty of A. Rafanelli Winery. -
Review from phil h.
No trip to Healdsburg would be complete without a stop at A. Rafanelli. As usual we had a fantastic tasting experience and walked out with a case of half bottles of Zin (normally you can't buy the half bottles at the winery so this was a great score)
And to top things off, Stacy gave me a bottle for free since we were visiting during my birthday weekend (which we promptly enjoyed in the hot tub that evening) Thanks to Stacy and everyone at Rafanelli for making my birthday weekend extra special!Listed in: Wine no? Wine yes!, The best of 2010, Wine Country Living, One day in Healdsburg..., Birthday weekend in…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/15/2007
*Barrel Tasting Update!*
While I didn't love my barrel tasting experience at most of the wineries I… Read more »
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Review from John R.
El Monte, CA
3/9/2009
2005 Zinfandel
A. Rafanelli Zinfandel was also a very big hit in our Zinfandel Wine Tasting Tour. A wine that can only be bought at the winery.
Forget about finding it people!
Why do a review then??
Well you can still call them and visit them and I also heard that one day a year in May you can visit the winery and buy the wine directly from them.
The Zinfandel was my favorite wine on the nose this night. The aromas were classic Zin. Baking Spices, hints of cloves. lots of pepper. I leaned more toward the Radio-Coteau on the finish but A. Rafanelli did start to catch up later on in the day as it sat in the decanter. At $32.00 per bottle the price was not bad.
I am not sure if they even sell to restaurants, but if you catch it on a wine list, definitely give it a try.
Cheers -
Review from Reed N.
5/25/2009
Dave and his family do a great job of growing and making wines their way... the old way.
Not the top hospitality or ambiance around, but a timeless location and wines produced are worthy of the price in my opinion. I'd drink a $45 A.Rafanelli over a $65 Larkmead from Napa, for example. Besides, the Rafanellis will let you taste their wine without milking you for $20 and then pressuring you to join a wine club. And they give you some of the BEST chocolates on earth to go with the wine... no kidding.
Their is a good kind of quirkiness to the place, and that said it may not be for everyone. And Mrs Rafanelli is just fine if you don't question their direct distribution model and argue with her about it! That is what will get her going, and you deserve the blasting you get if you play rude. It is their business to run their way. Shut up and drink! -
Review from Jesse R.
Willows, CA
1/8/2009
Wonderful. classic red wines. The Rafanelli Cab has been my benchmark for years. $45 may seem pricey but many Napa Cabs are well north of $50 for your run of the mill bottle. The Rafanelli is definitely a special wine with a huge mouth feel, solid tannins, and a long finish.
Regarding the limit on bottle purchases, I asked for additional bottles and got them with no problem. If I were going to be anywhere in the vicinity, I 'd give them a call and try to get in. It's worth a little persistence.
Nearby Mauritson Winery keeps getting better and better. Really tasty reds at fair prices. Try the Cemetery Zin. -
Review from John G.
9/13/2006
3rd generation Italian family runs this one. It is small, and requires appointment only for tasting. Mr. Rafanelli is very pleasant, and knowledgeable on wines.
Zinfandel is king in this Dry Creek Valley, and Rafanelli is no exception. Great complex wine, with berry aroma, and long lasting finish. I first had it at Boulevard Restaurant in San Francisco.
Call to make an appointment in advance. Nice stop along the road.Listed in: Dry Creek Valley Wineries
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Review from Jenn C.
7/14/2008
Rafanelli is a family-run winery - though it seems obvious, this means that there are some limits on what they can accommodate in terms of traffic to the tasting room and production. Some of the reviewers mention they had a bad experience -- but it seems like their bad experience was due to their own discourtesy (ie, showing up with twice as many people as planned).
Usually, there's one person in the tasting room - and she's also the same one answering the phone. I had the pleasure of talking to Stacey, one of the young daughters of the owner, who was very knowledgeable and friendly. She grew up around wine and she is lovely, smart and gracious.
We were late for our appointment, so I called to advise and she asked me to try to arrive between her other two tastings which were scheduled 30 minutes apart. We arrived a bit early and enjoyed inspecting her father's garden (killer squash! great ideas for staking tomatoes!). The grounds are beautiful.
The wines are also fantastic. My sweetie and I had some of the 2005 zinfadel at River's End in Jenner back in March and swore we'd have to find some for our selves. They were out of zin when I called for reservations in May, so this weekend we took the opportunity to pop in to taste the wines.
The 2006 zin wasn't as good as we remembered the 2005 -- but we bought some to keep for a year to try next winter. I've never been a huge fan of Merlot but they have 10% cab which really improves the taste for me. The cab was also fantastic and I ended up buying 9 bottles of wine, half to keep in the back of my closet, er, cellar, for a few years.
I'll definitely go back and plan to get on their mailing list. They limit their sales per person because they want to make sure someone doesn't just buy them out -- they don't sell retail. The limits change over the season and they try to stretch it out so that they can keep their tasting room open as much of the season as they can. Makes sense to me, I'll be back! -
Review from Tom S.
Kenwood, CA
1/18/2008
Bambie absolutely loves Rafanelli wines, I merely like them. We visit every year during the summertime Dry Creek Valley Passport weekend. We partake in the massively popular Rafanelli Italian food feast. It is the highlight of the Passport wine weekend. I usually blow $400 on Rafanelli wine (which gets me just 8 bottles !!!).
The wines are good. Robust, rich flavored. These are food wines, not sipping wines.
I think that Rafanelli wines are priced abot 100% higher than the quality merits. Thier $48 zinfandel is hardly any better than the Kunde that costs only $24. On 2nd thought let me re-phrase that; "The Kunde $24 century vine Zinfandel is a Better wine than the Rafanelli $48 Zin".
Other reviewers lament that they can't get Rafanelli wine at their home wine shops. Rafanelli does not sell wine to stores. It can be found in very few local Italian restaurants and at the winery, that's it. No distribution.
So if you like the wine during your Rafanelli visit, purhase as much as you'll need until your next visit, 'cause you ain't gonna find it anywhere else. -
Review from Christian S.
San Francisco, CA
3/11/2007
I beg to differ - I must admit that thier wines are quite good - but customer service is a big fat zero in my book in thier winery.
I find the people working here big snobs and very very rude. Ive spoken to a lot of smaller winerier in the Dry Creek Area - and they agree that the proprietors at Rafenelli are how should i describe it -full of themselves.
Not only is it difficult to get an appointment - people on the phone who answer are just outright rude and Arseholes!
Stay away from this establishment --
Try Unti Vineyards or Preston - you will be happier. -
Review from Irene S.
Castro Valley, CA
5/23/2009
I'm SO glad I am a mailing list member. We got to pick up our wine today, and they had chocolates, truffles made with Rafanelli Cab, Chocolate mousse cups with Chambord and a fresh raspberry, pieces of biscotti... and of course their wonderful Cabernet, Merlot and Zinfandel .
Don't let the appontment issue and lack of distribution get you upset. They do that to guarantee you get the best wife they can produce. Just call up and see them.
I've always been treated very nicely ere. The Rafanelli's are doing what they choose to do by limiting the availability and keeping to their business plan. When one makes a lot of wine, and has high distribution, expect the quality to go down. They don't call their wines reserves. But compared to some other places, they are the quality of a reserve.
And I appreciate the quality of their wine. -
Review from amy r.
Las Vegas, NV
5/7/2009
If you are a total California wine geek, you must make an appointment to visit Rafanelli.Their wines can be very hard-to-get, but unlike some cult wines, they really are worth it.
Because they don't have a tasting room open to the public, Rafanelli offers a tasting experience that is a little unusual. In other words, you're being served wine by someone who performs another job at the winery, not by a salesperson whose sole job is to sell wine. So they may not lay out the big, warm sales speech, but the wines speak for themselves. And there is something to be said for tasting wine in an intimate and relatively understated setting. -
Review from Reggie G.
Washington, DC
10/9/2008
I love this winery. You need to make an appointment but that is pretty much true for any good winery and you can make one from your cell outside the front gate when you get there (sometimes.)
The tasting room is cute - it is in a barn. We met 2 generations of Rafanellis and also got a chocolate pairing with our wine. Fabulous. -
Review from Tracy A.
Oakland, CA
11/8/2006 2 photos
We were a party of 12 at our largest. Bob secured the 12:30PM Sunday tasting for us weeks prior. They said they would only take 6-8 people. We showed up with 12 anyway. BIG MISTAKE! The gentleman barrels out of the barn asking us who was in charge of our party. Bob sheepishly comes forward and said our group of 6-8 had swelled to 12. NO WAY! He exclaimed. I usually only take 6 and I will take 8 at the most. I was traveling with some high-powered and classy sales people (in their professional lives) and they could not sway the guy to let the entire party enter even if we swore not to taste the wine or buy any bottles.
There is a 1 bottle limit per person on the Cab and a 2 bottle per person limit on both the Zin and Merlot. I guess they are afraid of selling out of wine and try to make it last by limiting tasting parties. We bought it and almost all of us walked out with our limits. My husband and I only bought 8 bottles all weekend (we hit 10 wineries) and we bought 3 of them here. The wine was that fabulous. We aren't even every day/week/month wine drinkers. We just couldn't pass these up.
The surly greeting just added to the whole experience, in a good way. If you are planning a wine trip to the Healdsburg area, make the effort to secure an appointment at A. Rafanelli. You will enjoy the experience. -
Review from Yvette K.
San Francisco, CA
9/19/2007 5 photos
Update 4/28/08. I was finally able to get a reservation the most recent time I went wine tasting at Dry Creek and finding there was a cancellation.
Unfortunately, they were out of their yummy Zinfandel, but they had their Cabernet. I bought a couple of bottles since they were very good. I believe they were both around $45.00 each. A little pricey and I will have to decide later if it was really worth the price.
Sadly, we didn't get much attention because another party who was very late for a previous appointment showed up a few minutes after we arrived. She practically ignored us after that other than to recommend another winery (for their Pinots) that I actually didn't like much.
2 star deduction for only having Cabernets to sample and getting almost no attention.
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I tried to get a reservation at A. Rafanelli recently, but they were out picking grapes and could not accomodate me. I spoke to someone (a woman) on the phone a couple of times and she was very helpful.
For my girlfriend's birthday in August we went to One Market (was just OK), a restaurant in San Francisco, I ordered a bottle of A. Rafanelli Zinfandel (don't remember the vintage) and I LOVED it. So, when I wanted to go tasting in the Dry Creek area a few weeks ago, I tried to go here. I will try again because I loved the zin and want to try the cab.Listed in: Get your wine buzz on
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Review from Ye W.
San Francisco, CA
6/23/2011
This has been one of my husband's all time favorite winemakers, particularly their trademark Zins. One of our friends' fathers has the privilege of being in their wine club--it's a very long waiting list, which reflects the quality of their wine. We noticed they recently re-did their website.
Many years ago I mailed them a letter asking if they could waive their wine allotment (usually two bottles per person limit when visiting at the winery) for our wedding. We needed 20-24 bottles. My husband told me, "Good luck hearing from them...we're nowhere on their wait list..." but actually one of the Rafanelli daughters called me personally and told me Mama Rafanelli was willing to let us buy six bottles total. Alas, after discussion, I had to call her back and say we couldn't do that but thanks so much for at least calling us.
That has always stayed in my mind as a wonderful and thoughtful gesture upon their part.
We made a long weekend trip off-season in 2010 (Feb 14th Valentine's Weekend) to Sonoma Co. and a month in advance was able to make an afternoon appointment at A. Rafanelli. It turned out to be a busy day for all of Sonoma Co. and Dry Creek/Healdsburg area wineries because it was Valentine's weekend.
The gate code let us in and we found several others already in the cozy tasting room. They served small chocolates along with the wine, and Mama Rafanelli was both warm and humorous, sharing different stories (about installing solar panels and how much energy they're generating) and when some customers she knew/recognized arrived, she had to tend to them. Stacy was pleasant and friendly. With our two bottle per person limit we bought four bottles of Zin, but they also allowed people to buy extra bottles of Cab if desired.
They have never been pretentious nor rude at all. How many wineries (in Sonoma or Napa Valleys) are still family-owned and run? More and more we're finding large conglomerates taking over smaller wineries...and they focus on the tourist attraction aspect over the heart and soul part of making great wine. Here, the wine is the star and they show pride in their work and the Rafanellis are extremely friendly in every encounter we've had with them. -
Review from Megan H.
San Francisco, CA
6/15/2009
Did I miss something? A friend of mine recommended this place because she knows my undying love for Zinfandel, but I was really disappointed. The wine was great, but why did I make an appointment?
We walked in and there was a blonde lady helping us. She didn't give us any information about the winery, the wine, the production, the owners, the background.....nothing. This place would get 5 stars for the wine, but the lack in everything else makes me give it three.Listed in: Healdsburg!
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Review from Dibital N.
Los Angeles, CA
9/19/2006
Call ahead and if you're lucky you'll get an appointment. We got one the day before, but some other guy there claimed getting his appointment was nearly impossible. They'll give you the gate code, you'll cruise up the driveway and notice the impossibly beautiful and fragrant garden overflowing with roses. At the top, some old guy will crack the door to the barn, call out to you, and bring you in for top notch and highly unique Zin and Merlot, with an ageable Cab in the repertoire as well.
The Zin had none of the overly fruity jamminess that can drag down that varietal. Thanks to being 12% Cab, the Merlot had a nose that separates it from its Sideways stigma. The Cab was too young - they say wait 5-7 years on that one.
After tasting with the old guy, the third generation Rafanelli who currently runs the place will show you around, take you into the caves, crack jokes about his dog's wobblying behind, and understate the greatness of this place at every turn. Coming here is such a relief after all the big whoop wineries that produce juice of similar caliber. -
Review from Shannon M.
Santa Rosa, CA
10/6/2010
Rafanelli has the best Zin on Earth. Nothing tops it. :)
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Review from Peter L.
Santa Monica, CA
6/1/2011
Great wines, solid family, and a beautiful setting. This is a working winery folks, not a gift shop that happens to sell wine, so if you're looking for phony appreciation that you happened to stop by, keep driving. Get on the mailing list, visit occasionally (call first), and enjoy some of the best wines Sonoma County has to offer.
Keep it up Famiglia Rafanelli! -
Review from J S.
Boston, MA
3/23/2011
Though hard to find, Rafanelli's wines are worth the search, especially the zins. If you find them somewhere or see them on a restaurant menu, I say order a steak and go for it. (In the South Bay, Flea Street Cafe in Menlo Park regularly has it on their list -- this is where I first had Rafanelli).
Since we've been fans of their wines for awhile, my fiance and I decided to make an appointment and stop by their winery when we were in Dry Creek with some friends. It is by appointment only, and it really is a one-on-one tasting experience...so much so that I actually found it a little awkward. Maybe the chemistry was just off that day (our tasting was being lead by a staff member not the winemaker), but I think we were all a little eager to get out of there at the end. Despite that, the wines were great and we left with as much as we could handle. If you can't find Rafanelli in your area, I would still say it is definitely worth stopping by. -
Review from angel c.
Arlington, TX
4/9/2009
Intimate tasting room. Probably the smallest tasting room we visited. It requires an appointment well in advance but we had someone pull some strings and get us in same day. The wine was great and we purchased a bottle to have with dinner that night. At the restaurant the staff was curious to know who we were figuring we must be someone to have a bottle of A. Rafanelli wine to bring in with us. There was no tasting fee so that was a bonus.
I'd give it overall 3 1/2 stars but there's no 1/2 increments.
And I'd give the wine at least 4 1/2 stars. -
Review from Gregory M.
Altadena, CA
5/17/2011
I have to strongly agree with the other reviewers who complained about Rafanelli's lack of hospitality. We have not one, but three horrible stories about Rafanelli. Firstly, after making a reservation well in advance of our trip, we were rudely screamed at by the proprietor after entering the gate that they were by appointment only. Looking embarrassed, the daughter apologized and we had a rather awkward tasting. Secondly, a friend of ours who had an appointment was treated like she and her husband didn't deserve to be there. Thirdly, on a trip to Sonoma last week, we tried to make an appointment and Mrs. Rafanelli exasperatedly told us that their wine club members were picking up their shipments and that it would be very unlikely they could squeeze us in.
My thinking is that if you can't treat people nicely, then don't offer public tastings by appointment or at all! There are plenty of other GREAT wineries like Preston up the road who not only welcome you, but give you great bread, olive oil and pizza while visiting. Boycott Rafanelli and support businesses who welcome your business. -
Review from Frank B.
San Francisco, CA
1/8/2011
You can get their wines in some stores but under the table. Strong Zin's and lovely Cab. By appointment only except during passport event.
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Review from Mike L.
CA
2/22/2007
One of my favorites of all time. I got started years ago because of a passion for Zinfandel and the name Rafanelli is synonymous with great Zin. However, more recently, I've had some of the Rafanelli Cab...like 1976...and Wow! what a great surprise! It was excellent. If you're not on the mailing list, find someone who is and beg, borrow or steal...
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Review from Zac A.
San Francisco, CA
8/2/2005
Great wines, but you do need an appointment. It is truly a family run place, so they won't always have room the day of. Lots of other great wineries to visit in the area however. They are known for their Zin, but their Cab is really underrated.
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Review from Kelly N.
San Francisco, CA
6/16/2009
Having heard of Rafanelli's cult status in Dry Creek Valley, I had to (call for an appointment) and stop in when I was visiting the DCV. Beautiful grounds, lovely dogs (and cat), and delicious wine. Katja/Katia and Stacey were very hospitable and welcoming. The wines were soft and delicious. Being somewhat of a "cult" producer I expected extravagant prices for the wines. Thankfully, they were on the lower end of the premium wine prices (around $30-45) and they specialize only in Zinfandel, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Worth checking out for a cool experience and not to be missed by lovers of Zin, Merlot, and Cab. These wines will make you crave them over time because of the softness and approachability.
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Review from Cara J.
Houston, TX
3/15/2009
Probably my least favorite on the wine tasting trip I took this weekend. It is a smaller operation and is quaint and had two cute yellow labs. However, they had a sheet saying they were tasting 3 items, but only offered the first 2. I don't know if I was late in the day or what, but it was a little odd the way the staff talked about it. Worth going to see, especially if you like red wines, I hear they are fantastic (not my experience though, I was mildly underwhelmed).
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Review from Jeremy S.
11/7/2004
I've heard the wine is legendary. But I didn't realize you need an appointment! Be sure to call ahead if you want to check it out.
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Review from craig j.
Corte Madera, CA
5/23/2008
This small winery but large grape produces is putting out some very solid and reasonably priced wines. Their Cab, Zin and Merlot are all worth buying and aging. The family is a little quirky but fun and been doing this for a long long time. A lot of their grapes are going to undisclosed wine makers which just goes to their care and quality of fruit.
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Review from raphael s.
Santa Rosa, CA
3/12/2009
I moved off their list a few years ago when their prices shot up. They managed to keep their Zin under $20 for a time after lesser wineries (almost all of the others!) were cranking up prices. Man am I sorry! Now, you need a letter from the Pope to crack the list. The trick to tasting if you're not on their order list is to call the morning of your visit, about 9AM. They usually know then when folks are on site and other parties are coming. I have been served by Dave Rafanelli and later by his wine-making daughter, and both have been pleasant, gracious, knowledgeable, and attentive. I don't know what these nay-sayers did to piss them off!
