BARRA of Mendocino: A Gem in the North Coast Wine Region
About two hours north of San Francisco and two and a half hours west of Sacramento, Mendocino County is a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of these two metropolitan areas.
Located on the North Coast, Mendocino has some of the best Northern California has to offer – rugged coastline with stunning picturesque views, remote wilderness, small towns with an eccentric and welcoming vibe, a maturing culinary scene, and our favorite, thousand-year-old redwood forests.
Mendocino is also home to some of Northern California’s best wines, and if you love wine as we do, especially undiscovered wines, consider a visit to this unique wine region.
The area is one of California’s largest wine-producing counties, with over 500 vineyards and over 50 wineries. With so many options to choose from, where do you start?
We recommend starting your wine country adventure at BARRA of Mendocino. The tasting room is on 50 beautiful acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Pinot Noir. The winery's unique architectural design is sure to please the eye. The BARRA family wines are excellent renditions of local varietals made from estate-grown, certified organic grapes.
Whether you are seeking a relaxing time away from the daily grind or undiscovered wines to explore, BARRA of Mendocino is an excellent choice to start your journey.
Old Oak Tree in the Redwood Valley Vineyards. Courtesy of BARRA of Mendocino.
Mendocino Wine History
California offers some of the world’s best wine destinations – and Mendocino County is arguably one of the most beautiful in the state. In addition to its rolling hills, warm sun-filled days marked by cool evenings, soaring redwoods, and breathtaking views of the Pacific, Mendocino is home to the largest acreage of certified organic vineyards in the U.S. It’s also a lot less crowded than neighboring Napa and Sonoma.
Mendocino County's grape-growing and winemaking history dates to the mid-1800s when the first Italian immigrants settled in the area. The topography and climate are similar to that of the Piemonte region of Italy – rolling hills, benchlands (e.g., a narrow strip of level or gently inclined land bound by distinctly steeper slopes above and below it), fertile soil, and a moderate climate.
Mendocino County offered early immigrants the opportunity to support themselves and their families by utilizing old-world farming and winemaking they had learned from past generations. The immediate result was quality grapes that produced some of California’s earliest wines.
Today, most vineyards remain in the hands of family farmers, many of whom trace their roots to these early settlers.
An illustration of the rolling hills flanking a vineyard in Mendocino County. Photo by Mario Mesaglio on Unsplash
The History of BARRA of Mendocino
The story of wine in Mendocino County would be incomplete without Charlie Barra, an iconic figure in California wine history.
In the mid-1940s, Charlie leased his first vineyard and sold grapes to a wine company based in Sonoma County. He was still in high school.
His grandfather, Guiseppe Rovera, immigrated to California from the Piemonte region and initially settled in San Francisco. After the great 1906 earthquake, Guiseppe moved his family to Mendocino County, where he planted and sold grapes to winemakers.
Working in the vineyards was a family affair, and Charlie grew up helping his grandfather and father, Antonio Barra, tend to the vines. Here he learned old-world farming techniques that would serve as a foundation for his winemaking success in the decades to come.
While in high school, Charlie sold grapes from his leased vineyard to a winemaker in Sonoma County who made traditional table wine. Early in Charlie’s entrepreneurial endeavors, he learned that varietal winemakers were selling wines almost twice the price of conventional table wines. He made a bet that the varietal market would grow, and he started planting varietals to sell to these winemakers. His bet paid off, and by 1955, he had purchased the first 175 acres of his estate in Redwood Valley. He became a premier supplier to Mondavi, Wente, and other regional winemakers.
Redwood Valley Vineyards in the early 1960s. Courtesy of BARRA of Mendocino
Charlie’s contributions to Mendocino County and winegrowers cannot be understated. Shortly after expanding his vineyards, Charlie partnered with other growers to establish the California North Coast Grape Growers Association. This Association provided more substantial bargaining power to negotiate fairer rates between the growers and winemakers. The Association was also instrumental in establishing the California North Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA).
He was one of the first growers on the North Coast to plant Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir. He would add another six varietals, including Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, Merlot, Pinot Blanc, Muscat Canelli, and Zinfandel. Charlie is also credited with spraying vines with water to protect them against frost in the winter months, learning this technique from an article about Israeli farmers that protected vegetable crops this way. The idea spread through the winegrower community and is now used across the U.S.
Redwood Valley Vineyards today. Courtesy of BARRA of Mendocino
Following a downturn in the grape market in the late 1990s, Charlie and his wife Martha decided it was time to make wine with some of the premium grapes they were producing. Thus launched the brand BARRA of Mendocino, with The Girasole Vineyards brand joining the family in 2003.
Today, the Barra Family wine operation is headed up by Martha Barra, who oversees everything from growing to winemaking to entertaining. Martha is supported by winemaker Randy Meyer, vineyard manager Roberto Gonzalez, her daughter Shelley Maly, and her son Shawn Harmon. The growth of the family wine business is impressive and includes over 350 acres of certified organic vineyards, two wine brands, and a 2.8-million-gallon custom crush facility.
The Wines
The Barra family has a wine to fit the flavor profile of nearly every wine drinker, from a Rosé, with aromas of freshly pressed strawberries and a hint of citrus, to a Chardonnay with aromas of lemon verbena, peach, white nectarine, and flavors of citrus, lime zest, and ripe honeydew. Yum!
For the red wine lover, a Pinot Noir with aromas of Queen Anne cherries, fresh cranberry, and notes of cola, to a Cabernet Sauvignon, with aromas of cassis, currant, and black plum, and sweet toasty oak flavors of toffee, caramel, and roasted nuts on the palate. Double yum!
If you need a little more guidance on where to start, we recommend trying the 2021 Girasole Vineyards Pinot Blanc and the 2019 BARRA of Mendocino Petite Sirah. These two signature wines will give you a taste of two separate vineyards on the estate and serve as an excellent entry point into Mendocino wine.
2021 Pinot Blanc
Of the 600,000 plus acres of wine-type grapes in California, approximately 425 are Pinot Blanc. The Barra family has 14.5 acres in the Mendocino County appellation. All Barra family wines are certified organic, and 2021 Pinot Blanc is no exception. Originally planted as a blending varietal to be sold to other wineries, this well-balanced Pinot Blanc is delicious and sells at an excellent price.
The wine is a light pale yellow with subtle notes of citrus, white peach, and lychee fruit on the nose. Crisp and refreshing, with a nice balance between dry and sweet, and a medium body. We had flavors of pear, unsweetened apricot, and lemon zest – which may account for the tangy finish. A lovely bottle by itself or with food would be a welcome addition at a beach picnic or hanging out at the Barra Vineyards. We would pair this with mild cheeses (e.g., Brie), a roasted chicken salad, seafood, or even a mildly spiced Thai dish. Bottles are an affordable $15 each.
2019 Petite Sirah
If this is your first introduction to BARRA or Mendocino wines, go with the classic signature varietal that launched the BARRA of Mendocino brand in 1997. Petite Sirah is one of our favorite red varietals, especially when we plan to grill meat or prepare a hearty meal. Hand-picked from the family’s Bella Collina vineyard, located 925 feet above the Ukiah valley, this is a bold wine that can be served today or cellared.
Deep, dark, and ruby in color, we experienced strong fruity notes of blackberry, black currants, tobacco, and oak. This wine is smooth and full-bodied, with medium tannins and a palate of dark fruits, including blackberries, plums, cherries, oak, spices, and tobacco.
This wine is good out of the bottle and even better after 30 minutes to an hour. A good sipping wine, but we couldn’t help but think that this would go perfectly with a smoked tri-tip or a Thanksgiving and Christmas day meal of either turkey and assorted dishes or a rack of lamb. An excellent Petite Sirah in the mid-$20 range.
You will agree that the BARRA family wines are some of the best-undiscovered wines available today.
How to Taste BARRA of Mendocino Wines
You have a few options to try the beautiful wines of BARRA of Mendocino.
Visit the Tasting Room
If you are looking for a beautiful drive through the heart of Mendocino wine country, head to their tasting room and vineyard.
There is a $10 per person tasting fee that is waived with any wine purchase. Reservations are not required, but they do ask that parties over eight calls in advance.
The tasting room hours are Monday through Friday, 10 AM – 5 PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 11 AM – 5 PM.
Click here for directions to the tasting room, which is located right off Highway 101.
Shop Wines Online
Check out their online store to learn more about the BARRA family wines. Wine club members receive a discount depending on the membership level. Click here to learn more about their wine club.
Connect With BARRA of Mendocino
Phone: (707) 485-0322
Email: info@barraofmendocino.com
Instagram: @barraofmendocino
Facebook: BARRA of Mendocino Wines