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Vino Noceto Review

Vino Noceto Review

Address: 11011 Shenandoah Rd. Plymouth,California 95669.
Phone Number: 209-245-6556
Tasting Hours: Mon-Fri 11:00-4:00, Sat-Sun 11:00-5:00 and by appt.

Region: Sierra Foothills AVA, Amador County, California Shenandoah Valley AVA, California
Reviewer: Yvonne Kochanowski
Review Date: 10/18/2012
Reviewer: Yvonne Kochanowski
Rating: 4

The Review

It may look small and unassuming from the outside, but don’t pass up some of the best Sangiovese anywhere! Vino Noceto is nestled at the north end of the Shenandoah Valley and can be easily overlooked among its flashier winery neighbors. What they offer, though, are unique wines, consistent award winners in many regional and national wine competitions.

The Place:  ‘Noceto’ means walnut orchard in Italian, and the theme of leaf and walnut is used for the logos and taglines at Vino Noceto Winery. They are the premier producer of Sangiovese in its various styles in California. Their wines are further enhanced by block-designated productions in specific styles. A ‘block’ is a vineyard area in which only one clone of the grape varietal is used for all plantings. Four blocks are offered in addition to reserve styles.

The Experience: &nbspThe tasting room is informal and features the many ribbons the winery has won over the recent years for its wines. It is small and simple. Seating outside consists of tables with umbrellas and a vineyard view.

The Wines: &nbspIf you love Sangio, you must stop at Vino Noceto. Think of it as a too-short visit to Italy to enjoy Chiantis, Brunellos and Super Tuscans – but without needing a passport. Their best all-around selection, easily agreed-upon by everyone in the tasting room that day, is the Noceto Sangiovese, a Chianti style that could pair with many different foods, as well as being enjoyed as a sipping wine. The block-designated Sangios are all awesome as well. White wine lovers, don’t despair – their Pinot Grigio is terrific too! And as an added bonus, Vino Noceto offers three grappas, something that is hard to find in this region.

The People: &nbspOn the day we visited, the tasting room staff was augmented by the cellar master, who added a unique dimension to the discussions. Everyone is friendly and enthusiastic about their products. As it typical in many family-run wineries, you never know who you’ll meet, which only adds to the experience. Consider one of their personalized tours of their vineyards and winemaking process to learn more about not only their production but also the history of the Sangiovese grape in California and in Italy.

Insider’s Tip: &nbspWhat’s best to enjoy with fine wine? Fine food of course! Check out the Vino Noceto website for a variety of recipes provided by the family and staff. Each recipe brings you a bit of their personal stories while pairing so well with their wines.