Fodor's Expert Review Acorn Winery
Editor's Note: This location is no longer in operation.
A throwback to the era when a hardworking couple forsook sensible careers and went all-in to become grape growers and vintners, this low-tech operation earns high praise for wines that include Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, and the rare-in-America Italian varietal Dolcetto. Betsy and Bill Nachbaur share their output in a garage-style, appointment-only tasting room amid their Alegría Vineyard. In 2020, the two released their first white wines, Albariño and Grüner Veltliner. Each Acorn wine is a field blend of multiple grape varietals interplanted (grown side by side) and then crushed and fermented together. In the wrong hands, this old-school approach produces muddled, negligible wines, but the reds, made by Bill in consultation with local winemaker Clay Mauritson, soar. Family- and dog-friendly Acorn invites guests to bring their own food for a picnic before or after a tasting.
