It’s a hot July afternoon. The sun is still high, ensuring the day still has hours left to be enjoyed while you cruise down Highway 20. As you weave your way along the shoreline of Clear Lake, sunlight dances on the water’s surface while waves roll onto the beachline from a passing boat. Where’s your destination? Brassfield Estate Winery, located just off High Valley Rd. Far above Clearlake Oaks and nestled against the Mendocino National Forest, your wine experience begins.
A large metal gate marks the entrance, opening to a narrow road that cuts through rows of green vineyards full and lush with the new season’s fruit. The distant estate grows larger, revealing a garden of etched shrubbery and roses. To the left of the parking lot, wine presses, storage tanks and wine processing paraphernalia stack against a large building, a reminder that an estate winery is always working.
But to the right, you’ll find the tasting room, a few steps down a trellised walkway, next to the thoughtfully planned garden, where the butterflies flit among the fragrant flowers. There, near the bubbling of a large fountain, you’ll find two large doors leading the way to the tasting room. Inside, it’s just as beautiful as the gardens. Here, you’ll find original artwork, photos of different views of the estate, and a doorway that heads out to a picnic area.
But now it’s time to enjoy more than just the atmosphere. Whatever you taste at Brassfield, you can be sure that it’s going to be complex, well-crafted, and a delight to the senses. Take their Serenity White, for example. You’ll first notice the tropical notes in the bouquet, which are gently reinforced in the first sip–think mangoes, passionfruit, and kumquat. This wine has a slight effervescence, which leaves pleasant, bright notes in the finish. If you are looking for something to take to the lake for a beach day, chill this one well and sip on it all afternoon.
Or, if reds are more up your alley, you can’t miss Brassfield’s 2019 Petit Verdot, a 94-point Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection. This wine sits deep and dark in the glass, the red-violet color almost opaque. The terroir brings out earthy notes of marjoram along with stone fruits in the bouquet. From the first sip, this wine fills the mouth with smooth tannins that run the length of the palate, combined with a jamminess that stretches long into the finish. It’s a wine meant to be sipped slowly and savored.
In between sips, it’s hard not to notice all the artwork placed around the tasting room. Why not take a stroll? Spend a few minutes looking at the large photographs of the vineyards with samples of their dirt placed next to each, then meander up the stairs to enjoy more art, and if you’re in the mood, chairs to relax. If the glass is empty, simply return to the bar for the next tasting.
To make a full afternoon of wine tasting, pack a picnic and enjoy the spacious gardens and gazebo. And if the fancy strikes but you forgot to bring food, Brassfield’s servers will gladly offer a charcuterie board so you can stretch out your stay and soak in more of the quiet and peace.
Brassfield stills the mind, making every moment last. Its spell lingers even after leaving, only to becon your soon return.
Brassfield Estate Winery
10915 High Valley Rd, Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423
(707) 998-1895
