Wood Family Vineyards: Still All Good at Wood
The catch phrase, “It’s all good at Wood” has become the prevailing mantra at Wood Family Vineyards, a small producer situated in the eastern foothills of the Livermore Valley in California. Wood Family Vineyards maintains a relaxed and casual atmosphere- bring your dog- while producing a variety of specialized and limited production wines.
Rhonda Wood, a commercial airline pilot by trade, was on maternity leave for nine months and had always loved wine as it was a great way to bring people together. She and her husband Michael would spend many a day touring wineries and had gotten the bug.
It started in 1991, when they planted 18 vines at their house in Fremont. Rhonda got really into home winemaking and to this day continues to take extension classes through UC Davis.
In 1995, while at a harvest festival, a property (14 acres of vineyard) came up for sale in Livermore that was too tempting to pass up and decided to purchase the winery. Their first release was a Merlot, which was met with critical success as the varietal still occupies a large majority of the vineyard.
“Rhonda makes wines that gives you something from start to finish,” noted Holger Hornisch, general manager at Wood Family Vineyards, “From the aroma to the front pallet and back with a nice finish whether it’s a Rose’ of Grenache or Petit Verdot, there’s something to be said about the wines.”
The winery continues to expand its online presence and is hoping to increase its overall offerings. For instance, Rhonda is getting ready to plant four clones of Zinfandel in the Spring.
Close proximity to the Bay Area and a fun family atmosphere make Wood Family Vineyards a great place to go hang out and take in some of the amazing wines Livermore has to offer. “Our staff is friendly and knowledgeable and will spend as much time with you as work allows,” said Hornisch as it’s still all good at Wood.
2017 PARA MAS AMIGAS CHARDONNAY
A full bodied white wine. Citrus on the nose with a slight pear and apple flavor with subtle hints of a caramel on the finish. This wine will have you craving a Maine Lobster seared in butter and all the quintessential New England seafood comfort accoutrements that make for a fisherman’s delight.
Sourced from two different Vineyards. Aged in 100% French oak
Alcohol: 14.3%
800 cases produced
2016 GSM BLEND
A light cherry colored, full bodied Rhone style blend Grenache 43%/Syrah 33%/Mourvèdre 24%. Acidic with a little touch of black cherry on the finish. The chilly Pacific fog air that blows in keeps this wine restrained. ABV 14.2%.
This wine goes great with a nice pork shoulder and a green peppercorn sauce.
263 cases produced
2017 “AGAINST THE GRAIN” RED WINE BLEND
Aged in bourbon barrels, hits you with that beautiful black currant scent with a deep, dark red lusciousness that has you craving a grilled steak with a potato side. The blend of 30% Petit Verdot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec, 10% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre and 2% Late Harvest Zin is a great representation of a Holiday go to wine as people start gearing up for year end celebrations. This big red, ABV 15.8%, has you yearning for cool temperatures and comfort food. All types of game would go really well with this wine. Beer be damned, don’t be afraid to open this bottle on a Sunday afternoon during a football game and pair it with some Buffalo Wings and tons of blue cheese.
88 cases produced