Anaba’s wind turbine stands tall above the towering palms as you drive towards the tasting room, flanked by the winemaking barn to the left and pickleball courts and vineyards to the right. Every element of the property is designed to manage the impact of these two driving natural forces — sun and wind. Arriving at the tasting room, a generous patio with tables shaded by giant industrial-strength umbrellas, provides the perfect spot to contemplate either the Elements Tasting ($45) or the Legacy Tasting ($65). Or perhaps to enjoy culinary treats, including innovative food and wine pairings, prepared by global traveler Chef, Maria Lynn.

Beyond a windproof glass wall stretches a vast open patio, generously furnished with comfy seating and fire pits for enjoying the tranquil view of the surrounding hills, where dairy cows still graze. The Anaba setting is upscale pastoral: the vibe is casual yet carefully curated, providing a relaxed atmosphere in which to recharge your batteries and enjoy some truly excellent wines.

Inside, Anaba’s newly constructed Vintners House, is stunning. Designed to be a warm and welcoming extension of Proprietor John Sweazeys’ family home, the space boasts high ceilings and a massive fireplace. It sets the stage for the main performance, the wines, crafted by longtime winemaker Katy Wilson and her team, including assistant winemaker Ian McClellan, who met Katy more than 10 years ago as a harvest intern, and has now been on the production team with Anaba for over seven years. Sourced from some of the area’s best vineyards, Anaba wines echo both the land from which they come, and the sure and steady hand of an experienced winemaker who learned to operate a tractor on her family’s Central Valley walnut farm, long before she took driver’s ed. Farming is in Katy’s blood, which makes her a natural for making wine that shows off the personalities of each vineyard.

As Winemaker at Anaba, Katy Wilson crafts world-class Rhône- and Burgundian-style wines that showcase the best of Sonoma County. Katy’s personal grower relationships with some of Sonoma’s most prestigious vineyards, coupled with her attention to detail is critical. From walking the vineyards and evaluating optimal harvest timing, to determining the best-performing blocks that will ultimately supply the fruit for Anaba’s esteemed portfolio of wines, every wine Katy oversees is tended to with her singular precision and care.
Katy joined Anaba in 2014. Her devotion to the land and passion for winemaking is contagious. She believes in letting the vineyard speak for itself, with minimal intervention. The result is a portfolio of elegant, sophisticated, and balanced wines that showcase the truest expression of each varietal.
The Vintners House tasting room overlooks the new Estate plantings of Picpoul. This year will be the first harvest from the vineyards. Picpoul has been a longtime favorite of Anaba’s members. Owner John Sweazey has had a passion for Rhône varieties since the 1970s when he traveled throughout France. He has been a proponent of bringing these varieties to Sonoma County for many years. Not only did he recently plant Picpoul at Anaba’s organically farmed Estate, but he also teamed up with four other small vineyards in Sonoma to plant more Picpoul as well as Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Grenache, and Cinsault. All of these properties are also organically farmed.

“We are looking forward to the first harvest of our Estate Picpoul this year!”

The eye-catching new packaging for Anaba’s Turbine line of wines, featuring the same original watercolor in different shades to differentiate the wines, is also reflective of the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship. “For the Turbine line, we are using the lightest possible glass and no capsules. Our Estate is 100% carbon neutral now, and working toward carbon storage next,” says Katy.

Anaba Wines Not to Miss

• 2021 Turbine Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, (12.3%, $40): sourced from Sonoma Coast vineyards, done in 100% stainless steel. Lively lemonade and biscuit meet green papaya, lime and green apple, creating a crisp and lip-smacking expression of coastal Chardonnay.
• 2022 Turbine Grenache Rosé (12.5%, $38): from the Landa and Flora Marie vineyards, this juicy wine is packed starfruit, strawberry lemonade, papaya, mango and tangerine.
• 2019 Pinot Noir, Wild Cat Mountain Vineyard (13.5%, $74): from a vineyard above Sonoma Raceway at 1200ft owned by the MacRostie family. Meaty and earthy, with dried currant, apple butter, clove and nutmeg.

Culinary Offerings and Private Events

Whet your appetite with Chef Maria Lynn’s culinary program, forged from global experiences in Nambia, as well as Manresa Bread in Los Gatos, the girl & the fig and Sur La Table. Her cuisine will focus on seasonality and weekly specials, offering more in-depth forays into the marriage of wine and food. A new two-course pairing will soon roll out, taking the Anaba tasting experience to a new level.

Looking to hold a private event, reception or grand celebration? The newly built Vintners House, Courtyard, Patio, and the original historic Farmhouse are all uniquely suited to host personalized, memorable gatherings. Located so close to San Francisco, Anaba Wines is ideal for guests traveling from the Bay Area. Contact Alaina Murphy, Events Manager about booking your event, alaina@anabawines.com