Alexander Valley Vineyards

It shares the name of the historic valley for good reason. The founders of the winery bought a large chunk of the original homestead of Cyrus Alexander, the mountain man who became a ranch manager and finally a landowner credited with planting the valley’s first vineyards in 1846.

Whether Alexander ever made wine from those grapes is not known, but today’s vineyards provide the grapes for the 100,000 cases of mainly red wines the winery produces.

About half that volume is cabernet and merlot with another quarter accounted for by chardonnay and the two decadent zinfandel blends, Sin Zin and Redemption Zin.

Other varietals include chardonnay, pinot noir, sangiovese, syrah, and viognier, together with some interesting red blends and the flagship wine called Cyrus, a bordeaux-style wine honoring the winery’s namesake.

Historical sites pepper the current estate, including a wooden schoolhouse built by Alexander in 1853, and the Alexander family gravesite up the hill behind the winery. Educational tours of the expansive wine caves are also available by appointment (8644 Hwy. 128, Healdsburg, 800/888-7209, www.avvwine.com, open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, free tasting).