Goldeneye Winery

9200 Hwy. 128, in Philo, (800) 208-0438, (707) 895-3202. W-M 10am-4pm; tasting $20; reservations required.

exterior of Goldeneye Winery tasting room in Philo, California

The specialty at Goldeneye Winery is pinot noirs. (In case you are wondering, as I was, “Golden eye” refers to the yellow eye of the Northern diving duck.) Though the tasting room is inside a small, attractive craftsman-style house surrounded by manicured gardens and flower boxes, currently many visitors are opting for the heated tasting tent in back. The tent provides a gorgeous view of the vineyards and of a ridge of pines behind them, and that is where I enjoyed tasting six pinots poured into stemless Riedel globes. Most had bright fruity notes as well as the earthiness that I favor in this varietal, and the color of these wines was especially marvelous in the bright sunlight. I learned that the general heat of the day here in the Anderson Valley is usually followed by a cooling fog that rolls in in the evening--providing the perfect conditions for a good Pinot Noir. My favorite of the group was the 2018 Goldeneye Pinot from The Narrows Vineyard, which was described as having boysenberry, pine needle, and wild truffle notes, as well as an earthy mushroom finish. Divine, indeed! An accompanying snack of truffled popcorn and San Juaquin Gold cows’ cheese enhanced the experience. Duckhorn Wine Company is the parent company of this and several other West Coast wine brands. Each has a separate tasting room.