Get Ready for the 2025 Sonoma County Barrel Auction (SoCoBA)! Mark your calendars—Friday, May 2nd, 2025, is the day Sonoma wine lovers and collectors have been waiting for! Hosted at the stunning Landmark Vineyards Hop Kiln Estate, SoCoBA 2025 promises a day filled with exceptional wines, heartfelt honors, and record-breaking auction energy.
In a region where Cabernet Sauvignon often takes center stage, Rutherford Hill Winery is quietly leading a Merlot revival—one that’s not just about bringing a grape back into favor but about reshaping how Napa wine is experienced altogether. But Rutherford Hill isn't stopping with Merlot. White wine innovation is thriving here, with a standout stainless-steel fermented Vermentino and a texturally layered Sauvignon Blanc that incorporates a splash of Sauvignon Gris. Recent renovations have amplified the experience. The newly built Skylofts and Valley Vista Terrace overlook Napa Valley in stunning fashion—higher even than the famed patio at Auberge du Soleil. Add to that a renewed focus on wine quality, and the transformation feels complete.
Morgan Maureze, a fifth-generation winemaker with deep roots in both Muscadet and Saint-Émilion, shares the origin and philosophy behind Ampleur Cellars, his boutique wine project in Napa Valley. After a significant family dispute led to the sale of his family estate in France, Morgan returned to California to rebuild his career, working with top wineries such as Dominus, Ovid, Marciano Estate, and Seven Apart under the mentorship of Andy Erickson. It was at Marciano Estate that he met his future business partner, Andrew Wesson, formerly of Schaefer Vineyards. Together, they founded Ampleur Cellars with a shared vision of "affordable luxury"—producing site-specific, small-production wines that reflect elegance, restraint, and authenticity without billionaire backing. Drawing on Morgan’s education and thesis work with DRC in Burgundy, the wines emphasize subtlety over showmanship, modest oak use, and the purity of fruit. The name "Ampleur," a French term referring to magnitude and texture in wine, was chosen to honor Morgan’s heritage; securing the trademark involved acquiring the rights to “Magnitude” to protect the brand. Still, Ampleur remains focused on growing organically and responsibly, crafting wines that reflect both legacy and integrity.
From cool Carneros elegance to groundbreaking non-alcoholic pours, this tasting lineup from WineSpokenHere.com highlights the evolving diversity of wine today. The Donum Estate leads with precision-farmed Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Rosé grown on their fog-kissed Carneros property—wines that speak clearly of place and patience. Pacific Veil introduces a budget-friendly, multi-county Pinot that offers early glimpses of potential. But perhaps the most thought-provoking entries come from Bolle, a producer redefining what non-alcoholic wine can be. As the category gains momentum, Bolle stands out for crafting options that feel celebratory, inclusive, and genuinely enjoyable. Whether you're cutting back, not drinking, or just curious, these wines invite everyone to the table—no compromises required.
When I decided to set out on my own, I knew I wanted to build something from the ground up—something that reflected my passion, my journey, and my commitment to authenticity. Choosing to put my name on the website wasn’t about vanity; it was about transparency. By putting my name on it, I wanted people to know that what they see is the real me—no pretense, no compromises, and no shortcuts. It’s a promise of honesty and integrity, a commitment to authenticity in everything I do. From the start, I envisioned a bold and dynamic logo inspired by the black and red color schemes of some of my favorite rock bands. But as I refined my vision, I realized the logo needed to do more than look sharp—it needed to represent who I am and convey my passion for wine to anyone, even at first glance. I’ve always believed that the best way to start your wine education is to get a good wine key and start pulling corks, discovering the stories hidden inside each bottle. So, changing the "T" in my name to reflect a wine opener felt like the perfect blend of simplicity and elegance—a small detail that signifies a deeper meaning to me. As I looked over the finished logo, it reminded me of a special wine key in my small arsenal of wine-opening devices, a piece that holds great sentimental value to me. At that moment, I knew I had to rethink my color scheme. Instead of the original red and black, I chose "International Orange and Black," a nod to the iconic hue of the Golden Gate Bridge. Let me explain why…