Palm Trees and Grapevines

By Sara Hayden

Hawks peacefully circle over Saralee’s Vineyard at La Crema Estate in the town of Windsor on a January afternoon.

Little pools linger between the grapevines. Smooth as mirrors, the stillness belies flood conditions that caused staff to evacuate on a recent day as winter rains overwhelmed Northern California, including Sonoma County. After hunkering down, people are slowly coming back out in a place that wears the effects of climate change on its sleeve.

“It’s not that we have flood or fires or drought, [Fifth District Supervisor Lynda Hopkins] said; it’s that we have all three and that sometimes, we get hit by one while we’re still recovering from another. Not many other areas in the nation—let alone the world—experience that,” Sonoma Gazette publisher and editor Amie Windsor wrote in her January 2023 letter to readers.

Amid Mother Nature’s humbling conditions, the property’s cozy barn is a welcome retreat—at any time of the year, but especially after a storm.

At La Crema Estate, there’s space to cozy up inside, as well as outdoor picnic tables atop a hill. There, one can find a moment of awe overlooking an expansive, postcard-worthy view of rolling vineyards with a glass of wine in hand.

Enjoy wine by the glass or bottle, or a tasting guided by a friendly and knowledgable host. Choose from whites or reds.

La Crema focuses on cool-climate appellations, and is particularly known for its chardonnay and pinot noir. These grapes do well locally, thanks to the Russian River Valley’s fog. It keeps the sandy, pebbled land cool in the morning and evening while the sun warms it in the afternoon.

La Crema has vines in other cool climes too, including Willamette Valley, Los Carneros, and Monterey.

For a leaner, more acidic sip, try the 2020 Anderson Valley Chardonnay. For something creamier with more oak, try the 2020 Durell Vineyard Chardonnay.

Not usually big on reds, but interested in dabbling? Try the 2018 Sealift Vineyard Pinot Noir. This soft pinot from the Sonoma Coast is especially lovely with notes of currant, blackberry, and anise.

“When people say they don’t like red wine, I say, ‘You haven’t had the right red wine. There are so many,” lead estate host Pedro Martinez says. “This is a good one to start with.”

“La Crema Vinera,” the estate’s original name, points to the team’s history of seeking “the best of the vine” since its founding in 1979. Through a tasting of your own, you can seek the same.

—

La Crema Estate
lacrema.com
3574 Slusser Rd.
Windsor, CA 95492