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Sawyer Cellars
Rating Details »
8350 Saint Helena Hwy
Rutherford, CA 94573
(707) 963-1980
Rutherford, CA 94573
(707) 963-1980
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9 reviews for Sawyer Cellars
Even though we were popping in at closing time the ladies were nice enough to serve us anyway and I didn't feel rushed.
My only problem was it's another winery that charges for tastings even if you purchase a bottle of wine. Don't get me wrong I liked the wine, but it wasn't cheap at $44 for a bottle of Meritage. The $6.90 + tax tasting fee should be waved even though it was a cheap fee for Napa Valley.
We are working our way through all the wineries. Looking for the next club to join. We went here April 2009 but just getting to the review.
Just opened a bottle of their 2004 Cab Sav that I brought back a year ago on my last visit. One word can sum it up......Delish! Great little winery and great staff. Only reason you need to make an appointment is due to the fact that there are very few staff members, which of course helps keep the price of their wines down.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
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A stop on our Rutherford passport weekend that didn't look like much but was quite enjoyable.
Highlights:
- Located in a dark colored barn from the 1920s
- On the main road but very small and few staff members
- Merlot: I'm not a merlot-er but this award winning wine was fantastic. Smooth and fruity and not at all gritty.
- Relatively new: open 9 years
- Serene soft music in background: very calming, almost spa-like quiet experience. But with wine in a bar. Yeah I know, sounds weird but it's the vibe I got and liked a lot compared to some other crowded spots.
- Passport specials: had some of the best cheeses I've had (piave, old amsterdam, old quebec cheddar) to pair with a set of merlots we tried in the back room
- Bathroom walls: so very cool covered in corks!
Lowlights (my flip side to highlights):
- Appointment only so if you want to come on a normal day, you'll have to call ahead.
I'll put this on my to stop at list for another Napa trip.
People thought this was:
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Yep, overrated and won't be back. Always on the hunt for great tucked away places and this was kinda one (tucked away that is). The wine was nice, but expensive for what they sell and there are so many better places to get just as good wine for $10 - $20 cheaper. Head over the hill to Sonoma or NW to Mendocino or even around the corner.
What ruined it was that they still charged a tasting fee when we bought wine.
Come on, too many great places to go, and this ain't one of them.
I will be spreading the word in SF to avoid this place.
Very pleasant atmosphere, we were immediately greeted by the owner and cellarmaster Brad Warner. Thank you Brad if you read this site. We were on a more or less business trip and Brad and his wife made this stop a memorable one. Tastings were generous along with full descriptions of each wine along with a tour of his modest facility. We ended up purchasing a few bottles, but the most memorable one of them was the Meritage which was REALLY good.
For the price you really cannot beat their quality and service. They were very professional along with a real genuine "labor of love" passion for their wines.
God when I go back to LA I'm having beer to reverse all these wine-crazed headaches :(
I've been wanting to stop here for years, but never stopped in because of the silly "appointment rule". I enjoyed the wines, though they weren't my cup of tea. Everyone else I was with was raging about them. We received great very friendly and knowledge service.
This winery is beyond charming. Set back from the 29 and definitely not the 29 "scene". It's a beautiful setting for photos and a taste.
We left with a bottle of sauvignon blanc and a merlot.
Tip: Make an appointment, they are required, and they do accept walk-ins, but better safe than sorry.
Tasting Fee: $10
People thought this was:
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Overrated. Our first stop of the day and what a disappointment it was. The women behind the bar were very sweet, but they declined to waive any tasting fees, even though Dawn bought a case or two of wine. We were a bachelorette party, for goodness' sake! I bought a bottle of the Sauvignon Blanc anyway, but I have to say I was let down that the purveyor of two-buck Chuck was not more reasonable. Will not be back. Three stars only b/c they make an SB that is not grapefruity, the way I like it.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
We came here as walk-ins on a surprisingly quiet Saturday, around noon. The women behind the bar, who took turns helping us with our tasting, were knowledgable, friendly, and rather generous pourers. They chatted with us about our opinions on the wine, gently offered tasting technique tips without coming across heavy-handed, steered my friend to a free magazine with a good map of wine country in it (instead of letting her buy the map they sold in the gift store), and suggested a couple of great, budget-friendly (for Napa) spots for lunch. Between their friendliness and the small, quiet ambience of the tasting room, we had the makings of a happy, relaxing hour.
And then there were the wines, which were wonderful. I loved the woody, spicy, Cabernet Sauvignon best of all; the Meritage was probably my least favorite--nothing wrong with it, just not too exciting to me. I thought the tasting fee was perfectly reasonable for the quality and quantity of wine we got to taste.
Correction: The first review for this winery describes them as the "purveyors of two-buck Chuck". That's Charles Shaw. Sawyer's not affiliated with them at all.
http://en.wikipedia.or...
Overrated is right. I came here on a recommendation to see a specific person (Candace) who did seem nice. However, she was busy with other tasters, and we got the big ole Texan snob. Boy did she think she was special, though we left scratching our heads as to why. Admittedly we did not have an appointment, but given that we were the only other tasters there, we clearly weren't putting anyone out. For such mediocre wine, you would think they'd waive the tasting fee if you buy their swill. We only tasted about half the wines on the list because they just weren't that good. We still walked out with a couple bottles of wine, but that's because we had decided before realizing we were being charged for full tastings regardless.
