Jason F.
Yelp
Looking for a beautiful hidden oasis that also provides unique wine pairings from olive oil to mustard? Then look no further than McAvoy Ranch, which provides everything from wine tastings to lunchtime bites set against a backdrop of the beautiful green hills that make up the border that is the area that is the Petaluma Gap. McEvoy Ranch was founded by the McEvoy family led by the late Nan McEvoy, whose family founded and previously owned the San Francisco Chronicle and son still runs Chronicle Books. When it began over thirty years ago as an organic olive oil farm, Nan McEvoy probably never could envision the impressive vineyard and tasting room that it has grown into today. A friend and I had wanted to enjoy the splendor of the wineries along the region that comprises the Sonoma and Marin county borders for quite some time and a chilly weekend in October provided the best opportunity to do as my friend went onto McEvoy Ranch's website and found out that they were offering a twenty-five dollar wine pairing with a selection of wines and mustards, both of which are processed right at their vast estate as well as a Bavarian pretzel in honor of Oktoberfest! Once we drove down their long private road to get to their tasting room, we were greeted with a pour of their 2020 Rosebud Rosé, which was one hundred percent Pinot Noir and with its slight acidity was reminiscent of a Rosé Champagne. From there, we sat out on their lovely patio overlooking their pond they have at their estate. Chris, our tasting room associate, told us for the Oktoberfest pairing, we had the option of ordering a glass of wine from their regular wine tasting menu or their Oktoberfest Flight, which featured four pre-selected wines that they felt would best pair with their new mustard collection.
Since we were here to see which of the wines at McEvoy Ranch we loved the best, and Chris admitted he was a pretty heavy pourer, we opted for the Flight and we were not disappointed, as for 25 dollars we drank five wines that had a variety that was engaging all on their own with a food item as varied as mustard and pretzel bread. We began with their 2019 La Cruz Vineyard Chardonnay, sourced from nearby Keller Estates and was not too buttery as it encompassed a lot of fresh fruits on the nose. Our second pour, their 2018 Evening Standard Pinot Noir, whose name harkens back to their newspaper publishing days and is estate grown but mainly sourced from nearby Azaya Vineyards and had a fresh finish to it that made this wine a standout, especially when paired with their mustards. Our third pour was their 2018 Red Piano Syrah which was estate grown and named after the owner who won a contest that awarded them a piano from none other than Elton John and had more savory notes than the other wines. Our fourth pour was their 2019 Il Poggio Montepulciano, which is estate grown on rolling hills that are similar to that of the Tuscany region of Italy and is a rare light red wine that also has tannic notes after each sip. When paired with their three mustard samples that we presented with, each wine had a different appeal to it, as their Chardonnay mustard was a little lighter, their Sweet & Spicy became a personal favorite thanks to that extra kick, and their Jalapeño Whiskey was deceptively smooth. Although we were slightly disappointed to be a pretzel bread roll instead of an actual Bavarian Pretzel as the promotion promised, our taste buds were surprisingly excited to sample all three unique mustard varieties, so much so that we both purchased a jar of their Sweet & Spicy mustard inside their gift shop.
We enjoyed ourselves so much so at McAvoy Ranch thanks to the wonderful customer service and hospitality we received that afternoon even after we had to move underneath their tent area when the rain started to come down that a mere two weeks later my friend and I were both back to take advantage of their end of year wine and gift sale that took place in their adjoining warehouse. This sale also featured a number of skin care products, candles, home goods and olive oil products that we couldn't resist. Also upon our second visit in a month to McAvoy Ranch we were there to take advantage of their Olive Oil Tasting, which for 25 dollars we were guided by Pamela who taught us how to smell, taste and savor no fewer than six different olive oils they sell at their estate alongside some fresh sourdough bread. We were greeted with a wonderful splash of their 2019 Sparkling Wine and also decided to order an additional pour of their 2018 Saimuun Vermentino which is sourced from grapes near Tuscany and had a delicate saltiness to the finish, which combined well with the olive oil. McAvoy Ranch features a solid amount of wine pairings, as they work with a caterer to provide exceptional bites for one to enjoy the great weather and atmosphere that wine lovers will love to take advantage of, and who doesn't want to experience that? I know I do, over and over again!
