Fog Crest Vineyards, Sonoma County – Making Good Wine is the Easy Part

If you had asked me what the hardest part about making a successful vineyard was, I would have said it was probably making great wine, but Rosalind Manoogian, the owner of Fog Crest Vineyards, disagrees. With no intention of slighting her winemaker, Manoogian says the hardest thing about having a successful winery is actually selling the wine.

Competition

At the start of 2024, there were 4,947 wineries in California, with at least 405 in Sonoma County and another 475 in neighboring Napa Valley. Making a name for your new winery in that crowded space will take more than an “if you build it, they will come” approach. It doesn’t help that the consumption of wine has dropped since the pandemic years when a bottle of wine on the patio was as close as some of us came to going out on the weekends.

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Standing Out

Fog Crest Vineyard is located in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, California, and is renowned for producing award-winning wines, particularly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Established in 1998, the vineyard benefits from the region’s unique terroir (long, warm growing days and cool nights), which is ideal for crafting high-quality Burgundian-style wines. 

One of Fog Crest’s advantages is Manoogian herself. She is noted for being a trailblazer in the wine industry as a black woman owning and running a vineyard in Sonoma County. Under her leadership, Fog Crest Vineyard has grown in reputation and continues to carve out its niche in the competitive wine market.

Manoogian is leaning into her heritage. On the day of our visit, they had just bottled a wine that commemorates the Port Chicago disaster in nearby Martinez.

Rosalind emphasizes the importance of connecting with customers and building relationships, which is a central part of her philosophy as a vineyard owner. She enjoys interacting with visitors in the tasting room and aims to make wine accessible and enjoyable for everyone. The architect who built their home also built the tasting room, which she considers an extension of the family home.

On the day I interviewed her, Rosalind had just returned from a conference in the airport industry, where she was making connections to sell a new label of her wines in airports. She is looking for innovative ways to combine her Stanford economics education with her love for the wine industry.

Egg whites are often used in winemaking to clarify and stabilize wine. The “fining” process is often used in the final step before bottling. At Fog Crest, egg whites are avoided so that the wines can be sold as vegan as one more way to stand out from the competition.

Fog Crest Vineyards Wines

Here are some of the notable wines produced by Fog Crest Vineyard:

1. Pinot Noir: The vineyard’s Pinot Noir is one of its flagship wines, known for its elegance and complexity. The Russian River Valley is renowned for its ability to produce exceptional Pinot Noir due to its cool climate and diverse soil types. To me, the Pinot had hints of plum.
2. Chardonnay: Another standout wine from Fog Crest is their Chardonnay. The winemaking process involves barrel fermentation and aging, which adds depth and complexity to the wine. We bought a bottle of the Chardonnay to take home.
3. Rosé: Fog Crest also produces a Rosé, which is praised for its refreshing qualities and vibrant fruit flavors. The Rosé is made using Pinot Noir grapes.

Some of their notable awards include:

1.  2018 Estate Chardonnay: This wine received Best of Class at the 2021 San Francisco International Wine Competition.
2. 2018 Estate Pinot Noir: Also awarded a Double Gold Medal at the same competition.
3. 2018 North Coast Pinot Noir Rose: This wine was recognized with a Double Gold Medal at the 2020 San Francisco International Wine Competition.

History of Fog Crest Vineyards

The history of Fog Crest starts with a love story, but it is not the love of wine per se. Rosalind and her second husband, James, were looking for a place to move their blended family. James was running the South of Market restaurant called Limbo. When they bought an aging apple orchard in 1998, the plan was to plant some grapes to make the land pay for itself. One thing led to another: they opened the winery in 2008 and the wine-tasting room in 2014. 

Their winemaker, Jérôme Chéry, studied viticulture at the University of Burgundy in Dijon. He came to California to make a world-class Pinot Noir and has been at Fog Crest for 11 years.

Visiting Fog Crest Vineyards

One of Fog Crest Vineyards’s nicest aspects is the lovely patio. As the name suggests, the winery sits on a crest, with views of the Vineyard and the Russian River Valley.

• Location: 7606 Occidental Road, Sebastopol
• Hours: 11 am to 5 pm, Daily by Reservation Only
• Appellation Wine Tasting – $30: Includes 1 Rosé, 2 Chardonnays & 2 Pinot Noirs
• Pinot Noir Only Wine Tasting – $40:  Includes 4 current release Pinot Noirs

Cheese platters, charcuterie platters, and lunch options are available for an additional price.

Visit the website to make a reservation.