westbrook wine farm

Several years ago we were fortunate to learn of a wonderful diversion on trips to from southern California to Yosemite National Park. Whether backpacking Sierra Nevada trials or visiting Oakhurst’s elegant Chateau du Sureau, Westbrook Wine Farm, its exceptional wines and winemaker, Ray Kraus, are more than worth a side trip. Ray humbly shares his knowledge and is passionate about his excellent wines. From bone dry Riesling to the complex, co-fermented Fait Accompli, his wines are a delight.

We just visited the winery and Ray allowed us to taste his "Reds", as we needed to stock up on our red selection. I think we bought 4 cases, as we found plenty of options we liked. We were introduced to Westbrook Wines years ago through The Elderberry Inn in Oakhurst, CA and we have been buying the wines directly ever sense. This is a small, boutique winery with an authentic feel, in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains near Yosemite Park (Southern entrance). You need an appointment to visit, but it is a treat to meet and visit with the actual wine maker. These are seriously great quality wines and we taste and buy from all over the world. I highly recommend this winery, if you are serious about top quality wines.

Ray and Tammy Krause are very gracious hosts and Ray is extremely knowledgable about gorwing grapes and making wine. We always have a great time when we venture up to Westbrook Wine Farm; the wine is the best in Madera County and Ray never fails to teach us something new. I highly recommend Westbrook Wine Farm.

Ray once told me, "Do you know how to tell if a wine is hand made? By the fingerprints on the bottle." He said this as he was putting labels on bottles of wine, one at a time, by hand. He has a passion for creating the fine wines and sharing them. I have known Ray and Tammy for a decade and my wife and I have always found something amazing at Westbrook Wine Farm. Definitely worth a visit.

We met up with some friends and had an enjoyable time learning about the process of making wine and tasting the results. :)

2009 Uber Rhenish, Dry Riesling, Madera – This wine is crisp, sassy with a hint of the expected Riesling “petrol”. Barrel fermentation to total dryness serves to bevel the naturally sharp edges of this naturally acidic fruit. It received 90 points and Editor’s Choice in the Wine Enthusiast Magazine, September 2007 issue. Tasting notes: dry, clean, refreshing aftertaste. Suggested pairing: sashimi, oysters on the half shell2011 Savvy, Sauvignon Blanc, Laurie’s Vineyard – Tasting notes: floral aroma, fruit centric back end2010 Chardonnay, Barrel Fermented, Lodi – Tasting notes: fruity nose. Suggested pairing: Grilled fish or herb roasted chicken2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Peterson Family Vineyard, Lodi – This wine has flavors of dark cherries, dark roses, chocolate, truffles, cedar, and Cabernet sauvignon fruit. Tasting notes: smooth, well-balanced. Suggested pairing: Grilled ribeye steak2009 Petite Sirah, John Simpson Vines, Madera County – The grapes harvested from John Simpson Vines provide for naturally proud tannins and alcohol. It is a more floral than fruit forward wine. Tasting notes: peppery nose, flavor coats the entire palate. Suggested pairing: Sage rubbed, flamed charred venison2009 Fait Accompli, “10th Anniversary” Estate - This is Westbrook Wine Farm’s flagship wine which is a co-fermented field blend of the grapes from the estate. “Fait accompli” translates to accomplished fact. Like red wines from Bordeaux, it is full-flavored, deeply colored, and highly extracted. Their proprietary field blend is Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petite Verdot, and Carmenere. Tasting notes: complex, strong Cabernet Sauvignon bouquet, peppery, oak flavor

We have been fans of Westbrook Wine Farm, and owners Ray and Tammy Krause, since 2004, when we were first introduced to Ray and Tammy and their wines by the sommelier at Erna's Elderberry House in Oakhurst. Tasting with Ray and Tammy is not to be missed, nor an event to rush through. Ray crafts amazing wines. The reds (both from estate fruit as well as fruit sourced from other Madera and Mariposa County vineyards) are the standouts (a no longer vinted blend of Viognier and the white juice from Valdigue so sorely missed now that it is gone!!). We have visited and tasted many times over the years, each time a delight. In fact, the wines from WWF hold the #1 spot in our cellar in terms of the highest number of bottles from a given winery. Best of all, Ray's pricing is amazingly reasonable, so one gets the perfect combination of superb wine, made by a true craftsman, at prices others charge for far lesser wine. Westbrook Wine Farm is a "must stop" location if you are a wine geek and in the area. Even if you aren't in the area, if you are a wine geek or looking to experience a unique wine tasting experience hosted by the winemaker himself, find a reason to be (is Yosemite not reason enough???), and go to WWF.