Hourglass Winery

Hourglass Winery is back!!! This is a terrific winery with one of the most outstanding tasting rooms inside the cave. You need to experience it. Brian gave us a tour of the property and then took us into the cave for a great tasting experience. During our tasting Jeff Smith came by and told us some wine and music stories. The wine was bold and elegant with a few standouts. My favorite was the 2022 Blueline Estate Cabernet Franc - terrific and not too green like many Francs.

Our welcoming and knowledgeable host walked us through the different spaces stopping for brief descriptions at each (and including a barrel tasting). We ended in the incredibly photogenic and spectacular cave room for the actual tasting of four different bottles. A spit bucket is provided, but we did not need it. My only real peeve was the one glass offering. For such a highly​ priced experience, I would have enjoyed a side by side tasting using separate glasses for each bottle instead of sipping all the way through until it was empty enough for a new one. Beautiful wine and property, worth a visit.

This is a memorable vineyard experience. We were greeted as soon as we pulled up to the old, Southern-style home. We got to know the property and see the production, before moving in to the cave and cellar areas. The tasting in the cave was such a fun experience! Our hostess was very knowledgeable and did a great job answering our groups questions. I loved the wines and hope to order more in the future! We also met a new furry friend too!

Private tasting. Originally, winery was planted with zin vines. But vine disease plagued it and the vines were replanted with cab vines. It's funny about the story. Foley wasn't there so Alicia our private taster presenter and was telling us how at a blind tasting of Harlan, Screaming Eagle and Bryant...Hourglass won!!! It was on accident...but Hourglass was formed as a result. When you first walk the premises...feels like some Ninja is about to jump out of the caves and attack you like in an old James Bond movie...I make no sense at all right now But what I remember the most out of the tasting was their 05 Merlot out of the barrell. It was so sweet and robust. The 4 or 5 other Cab blends that we had after that were flat. Should've had the cabs first Alicia...tsk tsk tsk. Palate fatigue set in...keep in mind this is at 10am.

Hourglass Wine is in limited quantities so you have to get waitlisted. I waited for less than a year and received an allocation of 6 bottles. I initially bought 2 bottles of their 2014 Estate Sauvignon Blanc. imho, at $40 a pop, Hourglass is for special occasions and to be savored. I threw an intimate birthday party for my 2 best friends and had it corked at Willy's Seafood and Raw Bar in Healdsburg (review forthcoming). We had it with bread, oysters, and a couple light small plates. The first sip was eyebrow raising. This is literally the best Sauvignon Blanc we've had. Ever; and we're not spring chickens. I've brought my friends up a quantum level as far as wine. I don't think you'll find Hourglass in any stores. If you find it in a restaurant, I expect it would be an $80 bottle of wine. I bought the remaining 4 of my 6 bottle allocation. I am anxious to try their Estate Cabs, which run a lot more. If you want to go for a tasting, you have to be either an existing customer or be on their waiting list. So I recommend getting on their list.

This review is for their wines only, I have not visited their winery....yet. Whatever you drink from their winery will have you coming back for more. I attended a tasting with my wife here in town and the selection showed that this lesser known winery is on par with the "big boys". If you see a bottle, grab one (or a case) and invite us over to share a glass or five. The name Hourglass comes from the unique hourglass shape of the winery's geographic region. It creates a special microclimate perfect for wine and unique to the other surrounding regions. Basically, someone was really lucky when they bought this property a long time ago and today we all benefit from their great wines. http://www.hourglasswines.com/Vineyard/History

Hard to get in to, but if you are able to, it is a very unique experience. Wine tasting in a cave with high end wine. The French Laundry carries Hourglass wine if that says anything about the quality of wine.

We visited the last week of February 2014 and suffered tongue orgasms. All of the wines were exceptional, but the Merlot and Right Bank were stunning. My wife and I had a tour by Mary Beth and it was only us. Very relaxing and made us true believers in their wines. All were exceptional and we do not plan to approach the Cab for another decade.

Small winery with great cave that includes a giant blue marble table for tasting. Our host Ian was very friendly and informative about the wines as well as generous with the sample pours. We tasted mostly reds, but I was very impressed with the Sauvignon Blanc, and ordered two bottles. This is a great way to spend a few hours on an afternoon in St. Helena.