Medlock Ames Tasting Room Photo: Joe Fletcher
In the heart of Sonoma County's Alexander Valley, nestled between grapevines and the area's rolling foothills, is the modern yet rustic Medlock Ames Tasting Room and Alexander Valley Bar. This tasting room is the only place in town where you can enjoy all of the lovely wines made by Medlock Ames just up the road at their Bell Mountain vineyard. And just as they shout out the last call, the bar next door starts serving up fresh, garden-inspired cocktails using ingredients grown on location. It's all too convenient, well...convenient, tasty and so very much appreciated.
As I have said before, they make some of the best Californian wine you'll ever drink. So where to start? Well, if you can get your hands on it, I suggest their first vintage--a 2001 Merlot. It's like blackberry cobbler. And it's ready for drinking now, so do not cellar this wine. Another favorite of mine is their Rosé, and I say that as a non-Rosé fan. It proves that Ames Morison (the winemaker) is a genius. The wine tastes like a freshly picked organic strawberry.
Now, admittedly, having your tasting room separate from the vineyard kinda goes against a very established wine country paradigm. And at first, I confess, I did find it a bit strange. But Ames explains in the video below the very reason for that decision.