Handley Cellars, a small family-owned winery in Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California was founded in 1982. It is located six miles northwest of Philo, on Highway 128. Anderson Valley wine country is located just north of Sonoma County, about a two-and-a-half hour drive from San Francisco or Napa, and roughly 30-45 minutes from Healdsburg. As you arrive at the property you will see a refurbished ranch house, barn, and the original water tower. This is a perfect winery to let the magic of Anderson Valley wine country unfold.
Handley Cellars History
Milla Handley, one of Anderson Valley's wine pioneers founded Handley Cellars. Handley was more than just a visionary for the remote and rural Anderson Valley, but she also helped put the area on the wine map. Moreover, she was a trailblazer for women in wine. In 1975, Handley became one of the first female graduates in fermentation science from UC Davis. In 1982, she became the first woman winemaker in the United States to establish a namesake winery. Milla's goal was to make balanced wines that possess distinctive varietal characteristics and reflect where they were grown. The current winemaker, Randy Schock, carries on the tradition, by crafting elegant, fruit-driven wines, which complement a wide variety of cuisines. Milla’s daughter, Lulu now runs Handley Cellars, with the help of her husband Scott Handley and their son Golden.
We had come to see and experience some of that history.
Handley’s tasting room offers tastings in their garden courtyard. Visitors can also view their unique display of folk art from around the world collected by Lulu’s grandfather Ray Handley.
The winery produces around 12000 cases of wine a year. Their CCOF Certified Organic Estate Vineyards (59 acres), have been certified since 2005. The vineyards are located at the northwest end of the Anderson Valley on the original Guntly Ranch. The wines produced include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Alsatian/aromatic varietals. The wines we tasted included the following:
The Whites
We enjoyed our wine tasting in the courtyard area.
Leaving Handley Cellars I paused to take in the vineyard views.
Handley Cellars is located in the Mendocino wine region, part of the larger North Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA), one of the largest and diverse wine regions in California. In 2004 Mendocino County voted to become the first county in the United States to become GMO free. This effort was supported by the wineries in the region. It is also important to note that 25% of Mendocino County's wine production is organic, making the county the largest producer of organic wine in California. With the addition of the Anderson Valley AVA in 2017, Mendocino County is now home to 12 AVAs. Anderson Valley AVA petitioned to become an AVA in 1982.The Anderson Valley is known for its (1) organic and sustainable wineries, and (2) world class Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Alsatian-style varietal wines. Anderson Valley’s four most widely planted grape varietals are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, and Riesling.
Our travels on Highway 128 have taken us by the beautiful Roederer Estate. Given Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay do so well here, the Anderson Valley is an ideal place for California sparkling wines.
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| Roederer Estate, Anderson Valley © Spaswinefood |
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| Entrance to Roederer Estate © Spaswinefood |
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| Anderson Valley's Roederer Estate © Spaswinefood |
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| Trillium Restaurant, Mendocino © Spaswinefood |
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| Mendocino County © Spaswinefood |
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| Toulouse Vineyards & Winery, Anderson Valley © Spaswinefood |
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| Boonville, Mendocino County © Spaswinefood |
Anderson Valley
