Battaglini Estate Winery

The Olivet Road section of Santa Rosa has become one of my favorite areas for wine tasting. There is so much diversity in a small strip of road. One could blink and miss a winery sign subtly marking a driveway. Such is the case with Battaglini Estate Winery. There amongst the houses and barns is a tasting room.

Battaglini Estate Winery Tasting Room

I was first introduced to Battaglini Estate Winery in February while attending Wine Road's barrel tasting event. This appointment only winery opened up the nearby wine production facilities to better accommodate the crowds of people that participate every year. I did not have the pleasure of meeting Giuseppe Battaglini, the owner and winemaker, that visit but I fell in love with his Zinfandel and later returned to share that love with some friends. We were greeted by Joe, as his friends refer to him, and promptly taken to the vineyards for a tour and history lesson.

Battaglini's historical vines date back to 1885 when Bartholomew Lagomarsino first planted Zinfandel and Petite Sirah however Joe did not make his first wine until 1994. Battaglini produces Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Rosato, and Chardonnay. All are high quality, low production wines.

I came home with a handful of bottles including the 2002 Reserve Chardonnay, a smooth and creamy wine with an apricot flavor. And we saved the 2003 Proprietor's Reserve Zinfandel for our anniversary. It is a jammy Zin with hints of pepper and it won Double Gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Gold at the 2005 Sonoma County Harvest Fair, Bronze at the 2005 California State Fair, Double Gold at the 2005 Pittsburg Seafood Festival.

2002 Battaglini Reserve Chardonnay

2003 Battaglini Proprietor's Reserve Zinfandel

To find out more you can visit their website: www.battagliniwines.com.