Yorkville Cellars, Mendocino County

cellar Even though Edward and Debbie Wallo had traveled and lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for several years, they had never visited Mendocino County until one day in 1988 when they went wine tasting in Yorkville (Population 25). When the heard that the property was being put up for sale the young couple took a giant step and became the new proprietors of the 110-acre piece of land that included 10 acres of organically farmed vineyard. Additional plantings since then have brought the vineyard acreage to a bit over 30.

After buying Yorkville Cellars, Edward and Debbie took short courses at the University of California at Davis, but without the intention of becoming hands-on winemakers. “We’re just the owners,” says Edward, “and we’re fortunate to have discovered Greg Graziano, our winemaker, and Steve Williams, our vineyard manager, early on.”

There are nine wines now being produced under the Yorkville Cellars label, but none in a greater quantity than 1,000 cases, and some lots are a good deal smaller. Two of the nine wines are proprietary blends, given their unique names by Debbie – Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lion-Heart. In exploring the history of the Bordeaux region formerly known as Aquitaine, Debbie, being English, was fascinated by the story of Queen Eleanor, an incredible woman, renowned for her beauty, intelligence and quiet power; once queen of France, then queen of England, and mother of two later English kings one of whom was Richard, the Crusader King. Eleanor is also given credit for having fostered the production and shipment of wine to England, where, known as claret, it became the favorite wine of the British.

The entry road leading up the hill to the tasting room is bordered by 450 Red Simplicity rose bushes. There is ample parking, most of it shaded, and it is an easy walk to the steps leading up to the broad deck. All of the wines are available for sampling, and there is no charge.

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