Andeluna, located in the foothills of the Andes in the Uco Valley of Mendoza province, has both a state of the art winemaking facility and a warm lodge style building where guests can take cooking classes or have a gourmet six course lunch. Winemaker Silvio Alberto, recently an ”Outstanding Young Winemaker of the Year” in Argentina delivers the winery’s internationally styled Malbec and other French varietals.

The younger, dynamic, fruit-forward member of the Pulenta family of wines, the Arido Sauvignon Blanc and Malbec are perfect for everyday drinking while delivering quality at half the price of comparable varietals.

Former educators at the University of Michigan, Clay Thompson and Fredericka Churchill brought their love of Alsatian wines to the Edna Valley in 1983. Since then they have created the benchmarks for this traditional dry style with their Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Riesling. The winery was rebuilt in 1995 as an environmentally correct straw bale building that maintains a cellar temperature without heating or cooling mechanisms.

A California legend, David Bruce was one of the participants in the infamous Judgment of Paris tasting of 1976. A pioneer of the Santa Cruz appellation where the winery is based, the winery refuses to rest on its laurels and continues to showcase refined, terroir- driven Pinot Noirs from appellations across the state.

The project of the Mas brothers, Finca La Anita was born in the early nineties out of an obsessive idea: recreating the traditional European model in an old wine esate in Mendoza, reviving the style of the small Argentine winery, which was becoming increasingly rare, and expressing a singular personality in each of the varietals and blends.

One of SFWE’s oldest clients, Foppiano was established in 1896, and is the oldest family-owned winery north of San Francisco. The winery built their reputation on estate grown Petite Sirah, but today they are increasingly attracting attention for their Russian River Estate Pinot Noir. Winemaker Natalie West recently joined Foppiano and is adding her expertise as they move forward in their third century of California winemaking.

With its origins dating back to 1835, Gonzalez Byass has no shortage of rich history in wine making. This fifth-generation winemaking family combines a balance of tradition with modern innovation in their portfolio of sherry, still and sparlkling wine bodegas which also include Gonzalez Byass Sherries, Tio Pepe Fino, Altozano varietals, Beronia (Rioja), Finca Moncloa (red blends), and Villarnau (Cava) wines. They continue to evolve while remaining industry leaders with a commitment to preserving the environment.

The Gonzalez Byass iconic Tio Pepe logo is a familiar site to anyone who has spent time in Spain. As Spain’s first registered trademark and arguably the world’s finest Fino Sherry, Tio Pepe is an icon and a reminder of the Gonzalez Byass roots.

Justin Vineyards and Winery concentrates on constantly raising the quality bar for their estate grown Burgundian-style Chardonnay and full-bodied Bordeaux grape varietals in the Central Coast region of Paso Robles. Proprietors Justin and Debbie Baldwin’s vision also included an inn and destination restaurant, which are almost as much in demand as Justin’s flagship Isosceles blend.

Mills Reef is located in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand's oldest wine region, whose growing conditions strongly resemble Bordeaux which explains why it is gaining an international reputation for sophisticated examples of varietals like MillsReef’s Reserve Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot Malbec. The winery is located in the Gimblett Gravels Growing District, which has been singled out for the particular gravelly soil composition that is rapidly becoming recognized as producing wines of world-class character.

Brothers Butch and Jerry Milbrandt had already built a reputation as premier grape growers in Washington State’s Columbia Valley when they made their minds up to apply the same expertise and dedication to their own “Milbrandt Vineyards” brand. Their collaboration with veteran winemaker Gordy Hill showcases the quality of their fruit in the “Traditions” line of Riesling, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, “The Estates” Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, and their single vineyard “Sentinel” red blend.

Two generations of Bennetts now work together, continuing the tradition of creating first-rate wines while honoring the land and people who work there. Located in Mendocino, Ted Bennett and his family built Navarro from a sheep farm, and today use sheep as part of their firm commitment to sustainability. While most renowned for their Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir, the winery has received thousands of awards and national acclaim for their numerous production and artisanal wines.

The entrepreneurial and innovative Andrew Quady revolutionized California dessert wines beginning in the 1970s. He was inspired to elevate underappreciated Muscat grapes, port-style wines, and aperitifs while creating a line of labels each with their own distinct personality. The unique and creative labels are enticing entrees to the serious quality of the wines.

Terra Valentine’s home is a striking artisan built stone building that resembles most a secret castle nestled in Napa Valley’s esteemed Spring Mountain District. Grapes are sourced from two estate vineyards, Yverdon and Wurtele. The owners and winemaking team combine their state-of-the-art fermentation system with their commitment to sustainable farming to produce exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon.

From the second winery of Carlos Pulenta, these wines are 100% varietals; all graceful, fresh, and fruity. They are named in honor of the tomero, who, to this day, controls the life-giving flow of pure Andes snow runoff water that irrigates the vineyard lands based on a 100 year-old system that enabled Argentina’s wine growing appellations to flourish in one of the wine world’s most arid regions.

Carlos Pulenta, whose family were among the leading founders of the Argentina wine industry, crafts Bordeaux blends with varying ageing potentials from his family estate within the Lujan de Cuyo region. The winery, built of stone in the Argentine “criollo” style, is constructed to utilize gravity transfer of the wines with temperatures controlled by an elaborate water system. On the winery property is an elegant posada where guests can stay and dine in one of the best regarded restaurants in Argentina, the sister restaurant of Buenos Aires' renowned “La Bourgogne”.

California native and former abalone diver Quintin Quider selected an untamed, stunning alpine location for his vineyards in the Central Otago district. He recognized its potential for growing outstanding Pinot Noir to rival the world’s best. Quintin’s vineyard choice was affirmed when his Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2006 was selected as “Best Pinot Noir in the World” at London’s acclaimed International Wine Challenge in 2008.

Nelson-natives Philip and Chan Woollaston partnered with renowned Nevada businessman Glenn Schaeffer to develop estate Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Their striking winery in Nelson, the sunniest region in New Zealand, was built to showcase their mutual love of art and eco-friendly approach to grape-growing and winemaking. The winery, set into a hillside, is flanked by outdoor sculptures and a stunning gallery facility with a changing exhibition of internationally celebrated artists.