Cloverdale Travel Guide

----- quote from their website -----

At 2000 feet above sea level, Rezonja Wine Cellars is the highest winery in Sonoma County. First said, this may not mean much to you. But when put into perspective, the 2000-foot elevation is why Rezonja Wine Cellars is a wine to be looked up to. The mountainside terroir is crucial viticulturally. The winter rains drain quickly through the steep, rocky landscape, forcing the vines to search deep for their lifeblood - water. As the morning marine layer begins to release from the mountain landscape, the deep blue sky beckons the summer sun to ripen the berries. And so we wait for the optimal time to pick, with vineyard and winery both anxiously waiting for Bacchus to give his blessing.

Since Rezonja Wine Cellars is located in the heart of Sky Pine Vineyards, the grapes begin their transformation into wine literally as soon as they are picked. This is a critical factor in making premium world-class wines. For those that have never made wine, I use the analogy of a great apple pie. Have you ever made one with fresh, fully ripened, hand-picked apples? Well, making a great wine works the same way.

Winemaker Steve Rezonja by himself:
I began appreciating the magic of winemaking at a very early age. When I could barely lift a bucket of grape juice, I was helping my father make wine, using seasoned European techniques - techniques my grandfather taught him in their native country of Slovenia.
During my last 20 years as a winemaker, I have incorporated both the proven Old World European methodolgy my father and grandfather followed with New World advances in analysis and quality control. This synthesis allows the grapes to express themselves fully from year to year, yet ensures the process proceeds in its magnificent due course.