Along a winding country road, up an unpaved drive and past Gus, a big, friendly, chocolate lab and Bella a German shorthair, you’ll find one of the most unpretentious, down-to-earth tasting rooms around. The Pope Valley, one of the California wine region’s hidden treasures, is home to the Pope Valley Winery. This serene, bucolic setting offers a wine tasting experience far, far away from the ostentatious fare to be found at some of the more well-known wine country destinations. Here, you will be treated less like a visitor and more like a friend. To reach the Pope Valley Winery requires a leisurely country drive that is, in itself, a significant part of the experience. Wending through picturesque fields, undulating vineyards and oak-studded hills, one gets the feeling of being transported back in time. The pace here is slower, more peaceful than the flurry and commotion found along the main thoroughfares of the Napa Valley. Photo opportunities present themselves around every bend in the road.

A visit to Pope Valley Winery allows wine lovers to step back in time and experience 40 acres of history. The bubbling sounds of Haus Creek can be heard as you roam the grounds of this historic winery. The original farmhouse still graces the property, as well as a blacksmith’s workshop, complete with the tools of the trade. The winery itself is housed in an historic building that was designed; before electricity was brought to the site. It was fashioned as a three-story gravitational flow winery with a hand-dug cave, to allow the wine to flow from crusher, to press, to barrel.

The Pope Valley Winery was founded in 1897 by Ed Haus as Burgundy Winery & Olive Oil Factory. A century later in 1997, the Eakle family, purchased the historic winery and gave it a new life as Pope Valley Winery. In 2009, the next generation of Eakle’s stepped in to continue building and furthering the family’s vision for Pope Valley Winery as a fine winemaking establishment. Currently siblings, David Eakle as winemaker along with consulting winemaker Shaun Richardson and Diana Eakle Hawkins as general manager, are making great strides in bringing Pope Valley Winery to the next level.

You’ll enjoy the drive to the Winery, but the true prize comes when you arrive at Pope Valley Winery. This isn’t just a pretty place; this is where some truly amazing wine is made. Pope Valley Winery produces high-quality, handcrafted, single-varietal wines. The winery’s vineyards include more than 80 acres planted to Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Zinfandel and Merlot. The rich, intense and flavorful wines are created by combining superior fruit and oak barrel aging in the century-old cave. Although located off the beaten track, Pope Valley Winery has definitely been discovered by wine critics. In fact, five medals were awarded to Pope Valley wines at the 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition alone, including a double gold for the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve.

Come visit Pope Valley Winery and experience more than 100 years of history. The winery has picnic grounds, a bocce ball court and a horseshoe pit for guests’ enjoyment as well as cheese baskets for sale.

To visit Pope Valley Winery, “turn left and go back 100 years” to 6613 Pope Valley Road in Pope Valley. Complimentary and reserve tastings are Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit the website at www.popevalleywinery.com or call (707) 965-1246.