Great wine tells a compelling story—a story about the land, the seasons, the grapes, and the people who weave it all together. These kinds of narratives take time to nurture and develop. They take time to tell. And they’re worth waiting for. This is the essence of what Lambert Bridge represents today.

The winery was founded in the heart of the Dry Creek Valley in 1975. In the early years, the winery quickly grew to 25,000 cases a year with most of the wine distributed to states across the county. When Patti Chambers took charge in 1992, she asked a tremendously important question that has had a fundamental impact on their business and quality: "Could we offer more by producing less?" She believed so. Since then they’ve pared back what they produce to less than a quarter of what they once made, a mere 7,000 cases. Each year, Lambert Bridge rigorously fine-tunes their sourcing of Sonoma County’s best fruit from its finest appellations. No detail is too small – no stone is left unturned.

The result: Wine that is elegant, complex and intriguing. Wine that commands attention.

The winery is worth a visit. The gardens and tasting room are beautiful. Enjoy a seated tasting in the Redwood Barrel Room or the Private Cellar Room then picnic in the gardens. For bike enthusiasts, the winery is located on West Dry Creek Road and a great bike ride from Healdsburg or the Club. Reservations for tastings and picnics are required.

Please note that Lambert Bridge does not sell their wine retail outside of their membership and tasting room...the exception being Mayacama. Here is a great opportunity to grab some outstanding wines to share with your friends and neighbors.

The Wines

2018 Sauvignon Blanc, Coronation Vineyard, RRV, Sonoma County
Coronation Vineyard, situated in the Russian River Valley, is beautifully farmed to the winemaker’s specifications. In contrast to the dry, hot summers of Dry Creek Valley, this vineyard enjoys cool foggy mornings and mild temperatures. Coronation Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc smells like lemon verbena and tastes of grapefruit and lemon curd. It is crisp yet velvety in texture and screams to be paired with oysters. This is a one-time-only offering and, with only 150 cases produced, is sure to sell out. Don't let it get away!

2016 Chardonnay, Chamber’s Vineyard, Fountaingrove District, Sonoma County
All of their signature Lambert Bridge elements come together in this Chardonnay, making 2016 one of their favorite vintages yet. The color of pale golden straw, this wine has aromas of lemon blossom, peaches and cream, and just a touch of caramel. It has a wonderfully creamy mouthfeel, thanks to its full malo-lactic fermentation. Apricots and peaches are first on the palate, followed by a more tropical fresh, ripe mango note, with a hint of vanilla. There is a delightfully acidic lemon-curd element here as well, that keeps with wine lifted throughout, all the way through to its long, satisfying finish.

2015 Crane Creek Cuvee, Sonoma County
This is a complex wine that evolves in the glass. It opens with aromas of dusty rose, caramelized berry, fresh nutmeg, and plum. Then come hints of chaparral, vanilla, and pomegranate. A first sip will give you juicy raspberries, followed by deeper red fruits, Marcona almonds, and just a touch of clove-studded orange. While the components of this wine are never the same from year to year, the wine is always true to itself. It represents the best of the best lots in their program, and is a wine with great density, supple tannins, firm acidity, and a long satisfying finish.

2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Gilfillan Vineyard, Moon Mountain, Sonoma County
A sub-appellation of the Sonoma Valley AVA, recognized back in 1981, Moon Mountain has been a source of prized wine grapes since the 1860s. The full moon rises over Gilfillan, at an elevation of 1,200 feet above the valley floor.

Moon Mountain is known for its thin, volcanic soils on ancient lava flows beneath craggy peaks. Exposure is extreme with Gilfillan Vineyard basking in the hot afternoon sun and receiving cooling in the crosswinds from the Pacific Ocean to the west, and San Pablo Bay to the south.

They allow Gilfillan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon to age for 24 months in new French oak barrels. Once bottled, the wine receives two more years of maturation before being released.

The result is a wine in perfect drinking condition. The aromatic and flavor profile is as distinctive as the vineyard. Aromas of dark fruit are lifted by pretty floral and deep dried herb characters. On the palate, the wine is dramatic and dense with spicy notes, cassis and silky tannins that provide a structured mouthfeel. Gilfillan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a captivating wine with the ability to age for more than 20 years in the cellar. Production of the 2015 Gilfillan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon was a minuscule 80 cases.

2016 Cabernet Franc, Sonoma County
The 2016 vintage produced fruit of exceptional quality with depth of flavor and texture. The nose is extraordinary: Dried cranberry and red cherry infused with dark gingerbread spice, orange peel, anise, and a peppercorn medley. Pfeffern̈usse comes to mind! The aromas match the flavors - juicy red fruits laced with savory notes that bring dimension and complexity to the winery. The texture feels both weighty and delicate as a result of its gentle tannins. We recommend decanting for an hour or two to enjoy the full experience.

2014 Malbec, Chambers Vineyard, Fountaingrove District, Sonoma County
Dark and bright, this Malbec consistently delivers intriguing florals, deep fruit, and vibrant acidity. The 2014 boasts an abundance of spice and forest berry, with a beautifully smooth structure on the palate. This is a delicious and balanced wine from start to finish. The Chambers Malbec is a pleasure to drink upon release but it could also mature in the cellar for many years to come.

The Offer

2018 Sauvignon Blanc, Coronation Vineyard, RRV - $48

2016 Chardonnay, Chamber’s Vineyard, Fountaingrove District - $70

2015 Crane Creek Cuvee, Sonoma County - $125

2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Gilfillan Vineyard, Moon Mountain - $195

2016 Cabernet Franc, Sonoma County - $75

2014 Malbec, Chambers Vineyard, Fountaingrove District - $70